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<|description|>Mina Hākā (English Name- Lucy Harker) Her Theme- Mein Herz Brennt Gender ♀ Dorm: Ra Yellow Personality: Mina has been known to be very eccentric around those around her. Wanting to be the best duelist in the world, she does not take losing very well. When she does loses she will go into a catatonic-like state, walking away to her safe place to recover. Acting jovial and cheerful around people she considers "friends", and being overly protective of people she considers close. Using this positive outlook to try and mask the trauma of her past. She also has quite a sadistic side to her, finding pleasure in humiliating other people in and outside of duels. During duels much to her determinant, she would prolong the duel, so that her opponent will suffer longer. History: Mina's parents were well-known and skilled duelists in Japan, although time and time again they were humiliated by The King Of Games. They were determined to beat him, eventually using their daughter to complete their goal. Her father used his impressive computer skills, to help her daughter beat all kinds of opponents in every known situation. But when she would fail, which was quite often she would be abused by her parents. Mina wants the love and attention of her parents, she worked hard to be the best duelist in the world. Because of her parents wanted her to be the best duelist, she did not have many friends during her childhood. Hearing a voice one day, she found she could see and communicate with the spirit of her cards. The spirits of the monsters on her cards became her friends, talking to them even in front of people. Causing her to be further alienated from her peers and even her own parents. When she was old enough, she applied for the Duel Academy able to get placed at Ra Yellow. But this didn't bother her, as she knew she could get to Obelisk Blue pretty easily. During her time in the academy, she had gained a reputation for taking her opponent's most valuable cards. Using these cards either in her own deck, or selling them for money. So most people avoid duelling her, although she has been known to bully people to duel her. Or convincing them to duel as part of a high-risk bet. Spirituality: Mina is able to speak and communicate with her spirit partner. Although she could only see and communicate with her spiritual partner. Spirit Partner: Vampire Retainer Ace Card: Crimson Knight Vampire Bram Waifu/Husbando: Celtic Guardian Deck(s): Effect Monsters- x2 Shadow Vampire x2 Vampire Dragon X2 Vampire Drake X3 Vampire Familiar x2 Vampire Fraulein x2 Vampire Grimson X2 Vampire Lady x2 Vampire Lord x2 Vampire Baron x3 Vampire Retainer x2 Vampire Scarlet Scourge x3 Vampire Sorcerer Spell Cards- x2 Vampire Kingdom x2 Vampire Desire x2 Vampire Domain Trap Cards- x2 Haunted Shrine x3 Vampire Domination x2 Vampire Takeover Extra Deck: XYZ Monsters- x3 Crimson Knight Vampire Bram x3 Dhampir Vampire Sheridan Link Monsters- x3 Vampire Sucker</s> <|message|>Valerie Durand Valerie Durand Valerie blinked once, and then all she saw was black. The only thing that stood out in the void was the possessed Slifer girl, brandishing her Duel Disk and cards. "Fine, let's get it started." She huffed in response, Ceruli hovering anxiously by her side. "Take this seriously, Valerie." The Duel Spirit hissed, a bead of sweat dripping down his head. "Should you lose, even I cannot fathom what consequences will befall you at the whim of these spirits." "I hear you, I hear you. Can't exactly control what I draw though, can I?" Valerie responded as Haruko started with the first turn. ___ "Well, damn." Valerie sighed ruefully, a slight grin still on her face from the thrill of the duel as the last of her life points ran dry. She'd made a bad read on Haruko's deck from her first move, and paid the price accordingly. Whereas Valerie had thought that Haruko's Scapeghost was in aid of going for link summons, instead the Slifer had decided to just go for zombie beatdown by drawing multiple Solidarities. For someone like her that didn't run too much backrow removal, it'd been a bad matchup. Her own draw luck past the first turn hadn't helped much either. "No! Valerie! I told you to not take this lightly!" Ceruli screeched in despair, eyes wide and desperate as the darkness surrounded Valerie. "Sorry, Ceruli." Valerie gave him a weak smirk as everything seemed to start to fade. "I screwed up pretty badly. Just...if this kills me, it's been real fun. Hell, I owe you pretty much everything. This isn't your fault..." Was the last thing she managed to utter before the void surrounded her. "Damn you little wretches to the underworld!" The spirit bellowed as the darkness started to take him too. "By the Lord Grapha, I will do everything in my power to ensure you suffer once I break free of these confines!" The last of his yells were swallowed up by the same darkness as he joined Valerie in defeat.</s> <|message|>Rin Sato As the nine students finish their duels with Haruko, the inky blackness slowly recedes around them, depositing all nine of them back into the small forest clearing. It was just in time, too, because the geyser of spirits had just began to peter out, coming to a gradual yet unceremonious end as the last of the spirits flew up into the supernatural storm above. Haruko lied unconscious on the grass, doted on by her flock of Scapeghosts. At least at first, things finally seemed to be over. And then four of the students spoke in eerie unison. "It seems the worst of it is over." Cassandra, Pine, Sina, and Valerie all spoke, turning to give their fellow students a grin as the realization of what had happened dawned on their peers. "We said it was a duel with your lives on the line, didn't we? We meant it." The four of them all walked to one end of the clearing before turning to the other students and raising their duel disks. "Come. The calamity may resolve itself, but we aren't yet satisfied." Renho grit her teeth. "You guys go. I barely won my duel. I'll look after Haruko." The four possessed students laughed. "At least one of you recognizes a fluke. Come. It's been so long since we've been able to duel like this. You kids want to save your friends, don't you? All you have to do is defeat them. Come! Double or nothing!"</s> <|message|>Helena Ries Helena had hoped that this was all over, the spirits were an annoyance but she got through them, only to duel Haruko, or Haruko's clone? Copy? It didn't matter. What mattered was saving her friend from this spiritual mess that she got forcibly dragged into. Helena got into the mindset that if this was just a copy of Haruko, maybe she wouldn't be too hurt by her psychic abilities. Helena went all in on the duel, promising to save her friend, and she won the duel. The void slowly opened back up into the forest and the copy vanished too. Was it over? Not by a long shot. Some of the other duelists that were in the forest, for one reason or another, seemingly lost their duels and had been possessed as a result. All of this was becoming too much for Helena to bare, she held her head in pain and frustration as she gritted her teeth. "Why can't you all just leave us alone!? We've done nothing to you!" She yelled out, breaking her usual quiet tone. "Helena! Calm down!" Chosen tried to comfort her but it wasn't going to work. "I've had it with all this running around and dealing with you spirits! Now let go of those people or else I'll make you!" She exclaimed as she brought out her duel disk. It ended up becoming a tag duel, Helena was paired up with the girl she had seen before. Mina? At least that's what she remembers anyway. The duel, in all honesty, was a mess. Neither her or Mina could do anything to break Cassandra and Sina's defenses. One last ditch effort from Helena in summoning Faerie Master to protect her and Mina wasn't enough as Cassandra easily got rid of him using her Reptiliannes. The duel ended in the disaster, Cassandra and Sina barely taking any life point damage. While Helena and Mina were slowly but surely taken out of the game. Helena couldn't believe it, she didn't want to believe it. Was she dead? Did she fail to save Haruko? She couldn't take it. Helena had no way to release her psychic abilities during that whole duel, and with a loud cry of pain, a small shockwave blew out from her as she collapsed to the ground. Her mind overloaded from the stress of her psychic powers, causing her to pass out. In her last moments of consciousness, all she could think of was her failure to save Haruko and the others, before drifting away.</s> <|message|>Rin Sato After a series of tag duels that played out like tournament semifinals: Cassandra and Sina vs. Helena and Mina, Pine and Valerie vs. Kaison and Leo, and finally Kaison and Leo vs. Cassandra and Sina, the last possessed student was freed from the control of the duel spirits. Although most disappeared without so much as a trace, the spirit of Master Kyonshee stuck around, hovering above Renho and Haruko. It simply held out its hand and dropped a card - itself, before fading away like smoke. Renho, unable to see the spirit, simply took the card and raised an eyebrow. Wasn't this in Haruko's deck? As things settled down, Kaison took charge. "Is everyone alright?" A clear answer or nod from most of them. Although the finalists - Cassandra, Leo, Sina and him all had some scratches from the duels with their psychic opponents, they were mostly unharmed, and the previously possessed students all managed to stand up, except for Pine and Helena. Although it was rather worrying that neither had woken up since their duels ended, both were still breathing, confirming that neither has died, at least. There was the more insidious possibility that they had lost their souls, but it didn't make sense given their respective partners were fine. Renho picked up Haruko, carrying her piggyback. "I'll bring Haruko back to her room. Lemme know what it was that woke everyone up later, kay?" Kaison joined her, carrying Pine, who had fallen unconscious. "Same here. I'm curious, but this has been a weird night and I'm suddenly a lot less curious after all of that." Sina grumbled. "What the heck was all of that? How am I supposed to ignore such a crazy event!?" She let out a long-suffering sigh as she mimicked Renho, struggling to carry Helena on her back. "But a hero's work is never done. I'll bring Helena back. It looks like things are over, but you guys be careful, okay?" With that, the six of them headed back, leaving Cassandra, Leo, Mina, and Valerie in the clearing. They could go back now and forget this ever happened... Or they could go see what it was that caused that massive light. Decisions, decisions. About half-way to the origin of the pillar, the students will notice an old, abandoned well. It's long since been dried up, and if one were to look closely with a light from their PDA, has quite a few cards sitting at the bottom. Tuckered out though the spirits might be, it will nonetheless give the students an uneasy feeling, like they should let sleeping dogs lie. Walking on further, beyond the well, resting under a tree like any other, lies a large, orb-shaped machine. It has a windowed hatch that readily opens to reveal a single cushioned seat within, in front of dead screens and a bunch of unlabeled buttons surrounding the window's view. Besides a tacky pair of fuzzy dice hanged over one of the screens, there doesn't seem to be any discerning marks for companies, brands, or its owner, and the interior has very little wear and tear, as if it was hardly used. On the side of the machine, there seems to be a large gash, burnt black around the edges and up the side of the machine, passing over a small circular indentation that looks like it's supposed to open to reveal something, but nonetheless refuses to budge. Above the machine, tilted off towards the side with the gash, is a large circular hole within the tree branches, as if something cut straight through it, leaving burn marks on the leaves and branches that remain. There doesn't seem to be any further explanation to be found.</s>

<|message|>Mina Hākā (English Name- Lucy Harker) Mina felt like she couldn't breathe, she was sure that she was going to lose the duel. She had not been drawing a lot of good cards, and what cards she did play were quickly snuffed out by her opponent. She was mentally preparing herself for the loss, and the consequences that would follow, but when it finally came, nothing seemed to happen. opening her eyes, she noticed she did not end up like the others. Neither did Helena, for that matter, though something else seemed to be wrong. Helena, along with Pine, was unconscious. "Shit." She ran to Helena. She came to a stop beside her, crouching down to get a closer look. "Hi, are you okay?" She shook Helena, thinking that shaking her would be able to wake her up. She was not sure if the academy had a hospital, but there was the school nurse. Mina thought the nurse could try to help her and Pine, though they might also end up in trouble for breaking curfew. She placed two fingers on Helena's neck, thanking the big man in the sky she was breathing. She announced it to the others, and the ones who still weren't possessed were relieved. Mina wanted to help Helena get medical attention, in case she needed it, but she was curious about the spirits still duelling. What would happen if Kaison and Leo lost? She was paralyzed by indecision, monitoring both the duel and Helena worriedly until the duel came to a close, luckily without Helena's condition getting any worse. Sina went ahead and volunteered to carry Helena back, so Mina went ahead and started walking towards the source of the pillar, along with the others. About halfway there, they found a creepy looking well, and a bit further, an equally creepy looking machine. Making her way toward the machine, she felt a cold wind beating against her body. It was unnerving being here, but for some reason, she could not help but feel drawn to it.</s>

<|description|>Mina Hākā (English Name- Lucy Harker) Her Theme- Mein Herz Brennt Gender ♀ Dorm: Ra Yellow Personality: Mina has been known to be very eccentric around those around her. Wanting to be the best duelist in the world, she does not take losing very well. When she does loses she will go into a catatonic-like state, walking away to her safe place to recover. Acting jovial and cheerful around people she considers "friends", and being overly protective of people she considers close. Using this positive outlook to try and mask the trauma of her past. She also has quite a sadistic side to her, finding pleasure in humiliating other people in and outside of duels. During duels much to her determinant, she would prolong the duel, so that her opponent will suffer longer. History: Mina's parents were well-known and skilled duelists in Japan, although time and time again they were humiliated by The King Of Games. They were determined to beat him, eventually using their daughter to complete their goal. Her father used his impressive computer skills, to help her daughter beat all kinds of opponents in every known situation. But when she would fail, which was quite often she would be abused by her parents. Mina wants the love and attention of her parents, she worked hard to be the best duelist in the world. Because of her parents wanted her to be the best duelist, she did not have many friends during her childhood. Hearing a voice one day, she found she could see and communicate with the spirit of her cards. The spirits of the monsters on her cards became her friends, talking to them even in front of people. Causing her to be further alienated from her peers and even her own parents. When she was old enough, she applied for the Duel Academy able to get placed at Ra Yellow. But this didn't bother her, as she knew she could get to Obelisk Blue pretty easily. During her time in the academy, she had gained a reputation for taking her opponent's most valuable cards. Using these cards either in her own deck, or selling them for money. So most people avoid duelling her, although she has been known to bully people to duel her. Or convincing them to duel as part of a high-risk bet. Spirituality: Mina is able to speak and communicate with her spirit partner. Although she could only see and communicate with her spiritual partner. Spirit Partner: Vampire Retainer Ace Card: Crimson Knight Vampire Bram Waifu/Husbando: Celtic Guardian Deck(s): Effect Monsters- x2 Shadow Vampire x2 Vampire Dragon X2 Vampire Drake X3 Vampire Familiar x2 Vampire Fraulein x2 Vampire Grimson X2 Vampire Lady x2 Vampire Lord x2 Vampire Baron x3 Vampire Retainer x2 Vampire Scarlet Scourge x3 Vampire Sorcerer Spell Cards- x2 Vampire Kingdom x2 Vampire Desire x2 Vampire Domain Trap Cards- x2 Haunted Shrine x3 Vampire Domination x2 Vampire Takeover Extra Deck: XYZ Monsters- x3 Crimson Knight Vampire Bram x3 Dhampir Vampire Sheridan Link Monsters- x3 Vampire Sucker</s> <|message|>Leo Wilde Leo Wilde – Slifer Red Okay, so he was right; Helena could see those duel spirit things. She admitted to it a lot more easily than that Ra girl had as well, which made things easy. Maybe this meant he was on the right track with what he was thinking. But, things were awkward again. The girl clearly didn't want to speak about this topic, either because of guilt or just because he was a stranger asking personal questions. Maybe someday he could have a conversation with a classmate that didn't leave him either confused or uncomfortable, but it wasn't going to be this conversation. "Well, sorry, but I need to ask you. Because you had that duel with Donte and now he's in the infirmary and they're not telling us why." He let out a sigh. "Look, I don't know anything about spirits; I'm not sure I even really believe in them, but I gotta ask. Are they dangerous? Did your spirit… do something to Donte?" Angel</s> <|message|>Valerie Durand Valerie Durand What a shitshow. She hadn't found Roche at all, and her roommate just randomly showed back up in the dorms with no recollection of where she'd been or what had happened to her. Just great. Mina and Miles had found Roche before Valerie managed to, it seemed. Although judging by Miles's crap excuse, there was something else going on behind the scenes there. Seriously, tree bark against his face in the moonlight? Who the hell thought that passed for an alibi? Besides her entire dorm, apparently, that was. Speaking of her dorm, it burning down really didn't help her mood. Most of Valerie's stuff was replaceable, and she'd managed to snag her deck with her upon exiting the burning building. But her autographed Chazz Princeton posters were absolutely priceless. Those were a limited-edition online order, damn it! So she wasn't exactly the happiest of campers at the moment. Literally, considering they were stuck sharing tents outside the Slifer dorm grounds now. Really, the past few days had been an absolute god damn mess. So here she was, hanging out with Roche as they huddled around a small fire pit, grilling some sausages. "Well, I'm glad you're alright, at least." Valerie murmured to her roommate as she slowly rotated their food over the makeshift grill. "Sorry I didn't get to actually meet your dad, by the way. That just...wasn't really a great day for it. Seriously, you don't remember a single thing about what happened with you disappearing?" She paused. "You talk to that Miles kid at all?"</s> <|message|>Helena Ries Helena glanced at Leo before thinking of what to say. Her spirit wasn't the issue, it was her. But how does she explain it? She has the ability to potentially kill people in a duel? She mulled it over before giving a quiet sigh. "No… At least, my spirit doesn't… I can't say for all. But it's not my spirit that does it, it didn't hurt Donte… I… I did." She finally said. "I have… A condition I guess you could call it. I'm somehow able to… Project my cards to physically harm someone. But I can't control it. Donte wanted a way out of interacting with his father so… We dueled and well… The rest is history… Bloody, horrible history…" "Helena…" Chosen of the Celtic Guard appeared by her side and patted her shoulder. "It's not your fault… If anything, Donte wanted you to do that." He stated. "… What would've happened if I killed him? What then? Nothing about what happened is ok even if he wanted it…" Realizing she was talking to thin air in Leo's eyes she looked back at him. "Sorry… My spirit always insists on trying to cheer me up…"</s> <|message|>Leo Wilde Leo Wilde – Slifer Red "You… wait, what?" A condition? One that let Helena project cards physically and that was enough for her too… put someone in the hospital? And this had nothing to do with the duel spirits thing that Leo was already struggling to get his head around? Except, Helena could see spirits as well so maybe it was related to that. "Well, I guess this explains the whole 'no duelling without supervision' thing… wait, does that mean that other kid can hurt people too?" It was strange, watching someone speak to thin air as if they were having a conversation with someone. Leo squinted at the air in front of Helena's face as if trying to see whatever it was she could see, but there was nothing there no matter how hard he tried. Guess he just didn't have whatever it was, gift or curse or something else, that he needed to be able to talk to his cards. "Great, so some people can talk to their cards and other people can kill you during a duel and my roommate got put in the hospital and people keep going missing and the Ra dorm burnt down. Man, this sucks; I just came here because I wanted to become a better duellist. Maybe I should have studied harder and gone to a real school." Well, he was here now, so if this was something he had to deal with Leo might as well learn as much as he could about it. Hopefully when he became a pro he wouldn't have to worry about his opponent's killing him. "You didn't kill him, so don't beat yourself up too hard. But, yeah, you should probably listen to the teachers not duel anyone else anytime soon. Although, why are you even duelling people in the first place if this is what happens? Why try to become a duellist?" Angel</s>

<|message|>Mina Hākā (English Name- Lucy Harker) Mina walked with Miles to meet with the mysterious person. She had many questions in her head. Mina looked quite nervous, fiddling with her hands. She should be careful with her questions if this guy has a short temper. When the two stood in front of the homeless looking guy, Mina coughed loudly and spoke up. Although she was not sure how this guy could be the mastermind, he didn't look very threatening. "How did you get the millennium eye anyway? I thought Kaiba had all of them. How the hell does it work anyway?" Mina's duelling spirit was floating around behind her. "I sense something behind this man's eyepatch. He most definitely has the millennium eye. I would be careful speaking to this man Mina." This made Mina nod her head in agreement.</s>

<|description|>Sina Elaqueri Gender: ♀ Dorm: Slifer Red Personality: Sina has her head in the clouds and it shows. She tends to speak in a grandiose manner, and has egregious chuuni tendencies. She has a strong sense of morality, though she also tends not to think too deeply on complex issues. Really, she just wants to be a hero. Not for others, but for herself. She wants to be someone people can rely on. Someone people look up to, not because of her strength or ability, but because of her character and deeds. That's the kind of person she aspires to be, though that's easier said than done. History: ??? Spirituality: Schrodinger's duel spirits: Is she sensing them, or just talking to herself? Honestly, the latter is more likely. Spirit Partner: ??? Ace Card: Penguin Brave Waifu/Husbando: None Deck: ♪Everything's Better Down Where it's Wetter♪ Monster (18) 3x Penguin Squire 3x Penguin Soldier 3x Star Boy 3x Flip Flop Frog 3x Dupe Frog 3x Puny Penguin Spell (13) 3x Jam Breeding Machine 3x Solidarity 3x Wetlands 2x Book of Taiyou 1x Giant Trunade 1x Moray of Greed 1x Terraforming Trap (9) 1x Aqua Chorus 1x Mythical Bestiamorph 3x Token Stampede 1x A Major Upset 2x Gravelstorm Extra (6) 3x Penguin Brave 3x Mistar Boy Ra Yellow: Duel against this student to unlock this information Name: Miles Lark Gender: ♂ Dorm: Ra Yellow Personality: Miles is bitingly cynical, disillusioned with seemingly everything. His demeanor is overdramatic and sassy, though it's mainly just his brand of humor, and he loves being a sarcastic asshole. He's the type to make self-deprecating comments when he's down, and to throw hands immediately when he's mad, but overall he's pretty easy to get along with. History: ??? Spirituality: Capable of seeing and communicating with duel spirits. Spirit Partner: ??? Ace Card: ??? Waifu/Husbando: ??? Deck: ??? Duel against this student to unlock this information Name: Chris Agzhen Gender: ♂ Dorm: Ra Yellow Personality: Chris is a small mountain of a lad, and he knows it. He's snarky, irreverent, and generally unafraid of pissing people off. Although he's not one for social gatherings, he makes friends fairly easily, and while he'll often claim to be disinterested in various activities, preferring to just read a book alone, he's likely to go along with them to spend time with his friends anyway. History: ??? Spirituality: None Spirit Partner: ??? Ace Card: Number 52: Diamond Crab King and Number 82: Heartlandraco, though he rarely actually summons them. Husbando: Gagaga Cowboy Deck 1: Playing Coy Monster (12) 3x Stone Statue of the Aztecs 3x Destiny HERO - Defender 3x Big Shield Gardna 3x Stronghold Guardian Spell (4) 1x Savage Colosseum 1x Pot of Duality 1x Pot of Extravagance 1x Reinforcement of the Army Trap (24) 3x Fairy Box 1x Metal Reflect Slime 1x Battle Mania 3x Cross Counter 3x D2 Shield 1x Defenders Intersect 1x Dimension Wall 3x Lost Wind 3x Magic Cylinder 2x Magical Cylinders 3x Rise to Full Height Extra (15) 3x Number 55: Gogogo Goliath 3x Gallant Granite 3x Number 50: Blackship of Corn 3x Gagaga Cowboy 3x Number 52: Diamond Crab King Deck 2: The Direct Approach Chris prides himself on his ability to cheat out wins when dueling people for the first time. However, since he prefers cheesy strategies that can be countered relatively easily, he decided he needed a second deck he could switch to against opponents that have dueled him before. Monster (12) 3x Drillago 3x Wattgiraffe 3x Drill Barnacle 3x Raging Flame Sprite Spell (4) 2x "Infernoble Arms - Hauteclere" 1x Pot of Duality 1x Pot of Extravagance Trap (26) 3x Robbin' Goblin 1x Unending Nightmare 3x Blazing Mirror Force 3x Drowning Mirror Force 3x Mirror Force 3x Quaking Mirror Force 3x Radiant Mirror Force 3x Storming Mirror Force 2x Trap Trick Extra (15) 3x Number 50: Blackship of Corn 3x Number 106: Giant Hand 3x Number 82: Heartlandraco 3x Gagaga Cowboy 1x Battlecruiser Dianthus 1x Knightmare Phoenix 1x Knightmare Cerberus</s> <|message|>Mina Hākā (English Name- Lucy Harker) Mina was wandering off inside the forest, ignoring the pleas of her partner to come to her senses and return to the dorm. "Leave me alone." Mina yelled out while walking deeper into the forest. "It was just a friendly duel Mina, there was nothing of stake to it?" This made Mina turn around to retort, "Everyone in the dorm saw our duel, and how I was humiliated. So it was quite a huge deal." Her dog like spiritual partner thought at first that Mina was overrating, but remembered her past and how that shaped Mina's behaviour. Her partner could only try to calm her down. "Well, I thought you need very well in that duel. I think you are still the best." He watched as Mina was now sitting down underneath a tree. Feeling like if he said anything more to try and calm her down, it would only make her more agitated. All he could do now was lay down beside Mina. This was a common occurrence, where her partner would comfort her when she would lose a duel. Mostly he would do this every time her parents would abuse her for losing.</s> <|message|>Renho Bushida --- --- Oooh, this was so exciting! As of late, Renho had been quietly dreading each visit to her old school, ending up lonely and dejected as usual, but not this time! While it had been kinda last minute, she'd been signed on for Duel Academy's new year, and she couldn't be more stoked! Sure, she never considered herself too much of a Duelist, but....At least it'd be a fun change of pace. With any luck, maybe learning here would help her figure out her own situation! Or at the very least, maybe become a better Duelist. The boat ride went by without a hitch, and before she knew it, they were getting peddled away to change into their school uniforms. And truth be told? Renho really digged the jackets! Probably because she usually wore one anyways...Regardless, after that, it was time for them to find their classroom, where they got a speech from Mr. Shepherd himself!...Well, Renho wished she could've been more excited about it, but it was pretty dull stuff all around. Thankfully, she at least woke up before they started passing out some equipment, that being their Academy-sanctioned Duel Disks and PDA! After that, they were let go, and told to come back here for tomorrow's first classes of the semester. Renho decided that, as much as she wanted to wander the island a bit (and maybe get some jogging in for good measure), it was probably best for her to hit the dorms and handle her luggage sitch. It didn't take her too long to make it (though she got a bit distracted trying to make it through the wall of text about Duel Points); Room 103. "Excuse me!" She exclaimed to no one in particular, just in case her roomie was already inside; didn't want to give them a jump for no reason! With that, she confidently barged her way into the room, a cursory glance showing her to be the first arrival. A glint entered her eye. Yes, this was her chance! Surely there was a good corner to put this in.... Sliding near the bunk bed, Renho opened her pack and pulled out a treasured piece of memorabilia, an action figure of Great Magnus! It was nearly the size of the lamps that adorned the desks present in the room. Hmm....The desks? "Nah, too obvious. Hrm..." She kept her search up, too absorbed into her desire to find the perfect spot to hear the door opening once more. Needless to say, her roommate didn't have the same courtesies Ren did... The sudden exclamation from behind her caused the poor girl to flail in a panic, then desperately maneuvered herself to catch the priceless figurine she had unceremoniously hurled into the air, eventually claiming it once more, pressed painfully hard to her chest. Whew, she dodged a bullet! Quickly, she slid the Mecha King back into her pack for a moment, actually confronting her new companion. Surprisingly, it wasn't her bright blue hair that caught her eyes first, but... An absolutely AWESOME pose! She couldn't help but beam back at her new roommate, an equally sparkling smile gracing her face in response to Sina's own as her eyes seemed to gleam in wonder. "Awesome! You've really got poses down pat!" Her smile briefly shifted to a friendly grin before she gave a polite bow; she was raised right, after all! After that, she points her thumb to herself, as vibrant as before. "My name's Renho Bushida, but friends call me Ren! It's great to meetcha too, Sina! Hope we can be good friends!"</s>

<|message|>Sina Elaqueri Sina Sina finally breaks her jojo pose to pump both her fists animatedly. "Yes! That would be most excellent! With our powers combined, nothing can stop us from making our dreams come true!" Sina strikes yet another pose, raising one fist slightly and looking upwards, as if to the future and beyond. She eventually breaks it without prompting this time, and suddenly realizes she left her luggage behind in favor of her grand entrance. "Oh, right!" She awkwardly walks back through the door to retrieve it from outside, dragging it in and unceremoniously dropping it next to the foot of the bunk beds. "By the way, if I may inquire, what is that strange and spectacular contraption within your embrace?"</s>

<|description|>Leo Wilde Gender: ♂ Dorm: Slifer Red Personality: Brash, aggressive, unmannered. Leo is the type who is quick to anger, quick to confront people he has a problem with, and to hold a long grudge afterwards. He is also the type to quickly latch on to people as friends, the type to go to bat for people and the type to be loyal. In other words, his first impression of you decides a lot about how he will interact with you from that point on and it takes a long time for him to change his mind about someone once he has had that first impression. History: Leo is an orphan. Or at least, that's what he says he is. To be honest, he doesn't know if his parents are still alive or not, nor does he know if he has any other family out there; all he knows is that when he was around ten his parents disappeared. He woke up one morning and he was alone, his parents were both gone, packing their belonging and taking everything with them except for him. He doesn't know if they chose to leave him behind or just forgot about him, but ever since and that he has been living at the Verdant Sanctuary Orphanage ever since. So he is an orphan; whether he has parents or family out there or not. They chose to forget about him so he chooses to forget about them. It's better that way. The orphanage he spent the rest of his childhood in wasn't the most well-funded place; he and the other children living there didn't have a lot, even compared to their old lives most of the time, but the people who ran the place were kind and caring and that counted for a lot. What little they had beyond the necessities mostly came from donations and that happened to include a number of Yu-Gi-Oh cards; a motley collection made up of donations, cards left behind by previous residents and cards that Leo and the other kids bought themselves. The kids would share all of the cards between them, mixing and matching them so that they could all play together. Leo was always the best among them and would always be the one to teach the younger and newer kids when they wanted to learn. Over the years Leo even managed to build up something resembling a proper deck, which he would use to duel people outside of the orphanage, either at school or just around town; sometimes betting against people to earn a little extra money or for some of their cards, his winnings always going straight to the other kids at the orphanage and his losses coming out of his own pocket. Though he still attended school, he was never a very good student and knew that he didn't have many prospects waiting for him when he graduated and when he was old enough that he would need to leave his home behind. For the most part, his plan was to try and get a job at the orphanage itself, both so that he would be able to stay and also so that he could pay back the people who had raised him and continue to look after the younger kids there, most of whom looked up to him as a sort of older brother. A part of him did also want to become a professional duellist, to out one of the few skills he had to work so that he could become famous and earn a bunch of money. That was just a dream though. Not something that a person like him could hope for. Until he heard about the duel academy and its entrance exams. Anyone could apply, anyone with the right skills could pass and anyone with the right drive to get that far could eventually use that school as a stepping stone towards greater things. Gathering his cards and packing his few other possessions, Leo set out from the orphanage with the duel academy in his sights. Spirituality: They have a feel for the presence of spirits, but cannot see or hear them. The sensation they get is something more akin to animal instinct than true spirituality; like feeling eyes on the back of their head, or another presence in the room, or even a feeling of danger when their opponent's spirit is particularly active. Spirit Partner: N/A Ace Card: Elemental HERO Nova Master Deck(s): Monsters (17) 3x Elemental HERO Stratos 3x Elemental HERO Blazeman 2x Elemental HERO Shadow Mist 3x Elemental HERO Ocean 2x Elemental HERO Woodsman 3x Elemental HERO Neos Alius 1x Elemental HERO Honest Neos Spells (16) 3x Polymerization 2x Miracle Fusion 3x Mask Change 1x Form Change 2x H – Heated Heart 2x R – Righteous Justice 1x Reinforcement of the Army 2x A Hero Lives Traps (7) 2x Hero Blast 2x Hero Barrier 2x Hero Signal 1x Magistery Alchemist Extra Deck (14) 1x Elemental HERO Gaia 1x Elemental HERO Sunrise 1x Elemental HERO Nova Master 1x Elemental HERO Escuridao 1x Elemental HERO Absolute Zero 1x Elemental HERO Great Tornado 1x Elemental HERO The Shining 1x Masked HERO Blast 1x Masked HERO Dian 1x Masked HERO Anki 1x Masked HERO Divine Wind 1x Masked HERO Acid 1x Masked HERO Koga 1x Contrast HERO Chaos</s> <|message|>Mina Hākā (English Name- Lucy Harker) Mina was wandering off inside the forest, ignoring the pleas of her partner to come to her senses and return to the dorm. "Leave me alone." Mina yelled out while walking deeper into the forest. "It was just a friendly duel Mina, there was nothing of stake to it?" This made Mina turn around to retort, "Everyone in the dorm saw our duel, and how I was humiliated. So it was quite a huge deal." Her dog like spiritual partner thought at first that Mina was overrating, but remembered her past and how that shaped Mina's behaviour. Her partner could only try to calm her down. "Well, I thought you need very well in that duel. I think you are still the best." He watched as Mina was now sitting down underneath a tree. Feeling like if he said anything more to try and calm her down, it would only make her more agitated. All he could do now was lay down beside Mina. This was a common occurrence, where her partner would comfort her when she would lose a duel. Mostly he would do this every time her parents would abuse her for losing.</s> <|message|>Renho Bushida --- --- Oooh, this was so exciting! As of late, Renho had been quietly dreading each visit to her old school, ending up lonely and dejected as usual, but not this time! While it had been kinda last minute, she'd been signed on for Duel Academy's new year, and she couldn't be more stoked! Sure, she never considered herself too much of a Duelist, but....At least it'd be a fun change of pace. With any luck, maybe learning here would help her figure out her own situation! Or at the very least, maybe become a better Duelist. The boat ride went by without a hitch, and before she knew it, they were getting peddled away to change into their school uniforms. And truth be told? Renho really digged the jackets! Probably because she usually wore one anyways...Regardless, after that, it was time for them to find their classroom, where they got a speech from Mr. Shepherd himself!...Well, Renho wished she could've been more excited about it, but it was pretty dull stuff all around. Thankfully, she at least woke up before they started passing out some equipment, that being their Academy-sanctioned Duel Disks and PDA! After that, they were let go, and told to come back here for tomorrow's first classes of the semester. Renho decided that, as much as she wanted to wander the island a bit (and maybe get some jogging in for good measure), it was probably best for her to hit the dorms and handle her luggage sitch. It didn't take her too long to make it (though she got a bit distracted trying to make it through the wall of text about Duel Points); Room 103. "Excuse me!" She exclaimed to no one in particular, just in case her roomie was already inside; didn't want to give them a jump for no reason! With that, she confidently barged her way into the room, a cursory glance showing her to be the first arrival. A glint entered her eye. Yes, this was her chance! Surely there was a good corner to put this in.... Sliding near the bunk bed, Renho opened her pack and pulled out a treasured piece of memorabilia, an action figure of Great Magnus! It was nearly the size of the lamps that adorned the desks present in the room. Hmm....The desks? "Nah, too obvious. Hrm..." She kept her search up, too absorbed into her desire to find the perfect spot to hear the door opening once more. Needless to say, her roommate didn't have the same courtesies Ren did... The sudden exclamation from behind her caused the poor girl to flail in a panic, then desperately maneuvered herself to catch the priceless figurine she had unceremoniously hurled into the air, eventually claiming it once more, pressed painfully hard to her chest. Whew, she dodged a bullet! Quickly, she slid the Mecha King back into her pack for a moment, actually confronting her new companion. Surprisingly, it wasn't her bright blue hair that caught her eyes first, but... An absolutely AWESOME pose! She couldn't help but beam back at her new roommate, an equally sparkling smile gracing her face in response to Sina's own as her eyes seemed to gleam in wonder. "Awesome! You've really got poses down pat!" Her smile briefly shifted to a friendly grin before she gave a polite bow; she was raised right, after all! After that, she points her thumb to herself, as vibrant as before. "My name's Renho Bushida, but friends call me Ren! It's great to meetcha too, Sina! Hope we can be good friends!"</s> <|message|>Sina Elaqueri Sina Sina finally breaks her jojo pose to pump both her fists animatedly. "Yes! That would be most excellent! With our powers combined, nothing can stop us from making our dreams come true!" Sina strikes yet another pose, raising one fist slightly and looking upwards, as if to the future and beyond. She eventually breaks it without prompting this time, and suddenly realizes she left her luggage behind in favor of her grand entrance. "Oh, right!" She awkwardly walks back through the door to retrieve it from outside, dragging it in and unceremoniously dropping it next to the foot of the bunk beds. "By the way, if I may inquire, what is that strange and spectacular contraption within your embrace?"</s>

<|message|>Leo Wilde Leo Wilde – Slifer Red As it turned out, the island the academy was built on was deceptively small. I mean, that wasn't to say Leo wasn't still incredibly blown away by the whole things; guy who built this place still bought a whole damn island complete with its own volcano just to make a school, but once you looked past that the place was really just the main building, three and a half dorms and a lot of forest. All of this was to say that when Leo went looking for an opponent, there weren't too many places for him to search. He pretty much just walked down the winding path leading from the Slifer dorm to the main academy and found someone along the way, someone with a blue jacket, blonde hair and glasses. More importantly he also had a duel disk on his arm and two, two, deck boxes at his waist, which meant he was perfect for what Leo had in mind. "Hey, yo! Wanna duel?" If Leo had any reservations in challenging an Obelisk, someone who was supposed to be way better at duelling than a Slifer like him, he didn't show it with the way he just walked up to the guy and challenged him. Relent</s>

<|description|>Leo Wilde Gender: ♂ Dorm: Slifer Red Personality: Brash, aggressive, unmannered. Leo is the type who is quick to anger, quick to confront people he has a problem with, and to hold a long grudge afterwards. He is also the type to quickly latch on to people as friends, the type to go to bat for people and the type to be loyal. In other words, his first impression of you decides a lot about how he will interact with you from that point on and it takes a long time for him to change his mind about someone once he has had that first impression. History: Leo is an orphan. Or at least, that's what he says he is. To be honest, he doesn't know if his parents are still alive or not, nor does he know if he has any other family out there; all he knows is that when he was around ten his parents disappeared. He woke up one morning and he was alone, his parents were both gone, packing their belonging and taking everything with them except for him. He doesn't know if they chose to leave him behind or just forgot about him, but ever since and that he has been living at the Verdant Sanctuary Orphanage ever since. So he is an orphan; whether he has parents or family out there or not. They chose to forget about him so he chooses to forget about them. It's better that way. The orphanage he spent the rest of his childhood in wasn't the most well-funded place; he and the other children living there didn't have a lot, even compared to their old lives most of the time, but the people who ran the place were kind and caring and that counted for a lot. What little they had beyond the necessities mostly came from donations and that happened to include a number of Yu-Gi-Oh cards; a motley collection made up of donations, cards left behind by previous residents and cards that Leo and the other kids bought themselves. The kids would share all of the cards between them, mixing and matching them so that they could all play together. Leo was always the best among them and would always be the one to teach the younger and newer kids when they wanted to learn. Over the years Leo even managed to build up something resembling a proper deck, which he would use to duel people outside of the orphanage, either at school or just around town; sometimes betting against people to earn a little extra money or for some of their cards, his winnings always going straight to the other kids at the orphanage and his losses coming out of his own pocket. Though he still attended school, he was never a very good student and knew that he didn't have many prospects waiting for him when he graduated and when he was old enough that he would need to leave his home behind. For the most part, his plan was to try and get a job at the orphanage itself, both so that he would be able to stay and also so that he could pay back the people who had raised him and continue to look after the younger kids there, most of whom looked up to him as a sort of older brother. A part of him did also want to become a professional duellist, to out one of the few skills he had to work so that he could become famous and earn a bunch of money. That was just a dream though. Not something that a person like him could hope for. Until he heard about the duel academy and its entrance exams. Anyone could apply, anyone with the right skills could pass and anyone with the right drive to get that far could eventually use that school as a stepping stone towards greater things. Gathering his cards and packing his few other possessions, Leo set out from the orphanage with the duel academy in his sights. Spirituality: They have a feel for the presence of spirits, but cannot see or hear them. The sensation they get is something more akin to animal instinct than true spirituality; like feeling eyes on the back of their head, or another presence in the room, or even a feeling of danger when their opponent's spirit is particularly active. Spirit Partner: N/A Ace Card: Elemental HERO Nova Master Deck(s): Monsters (17) 3x Elemental HERO Stratos 3x Elemental HERO Blazeman 2x Elemental HERO Shadow Mist 3x Elemental HERO Ocean 2x Elemental HERO Woodsman 3x Elemental HERO Neos Alius 1x Elemental HERO Honest Neos Spells (16) 3x Polymerization 2x Miracle Fusion 3x Mask Change 1x Form Change 2x H – Heated Heart 2x R – Righteous Justice 1x Reinforcement of the Army 2x A Hero Lives Traps (7) 2x Hero Blast 2x Hero Barrier 2x Hero Signal 1x Magistery Alchemist Extra Deck (14) 1x Elemental HERO Gaia 1x Elemental HERO Sunrise 1x Elemental HERO Nova Master 1x Elemental HERO Escuridao 1x Elemental HERO Absolute Zero 1x Elemental HERO Great Tornado 1x Elemental HERO The Shining 1x Masked HERO Blast 1x Masked HERO Dian 1x Masked HERO Anki 1x Masked HERO Divine Wind 1x Masked HERO Acid 1x Masked HERO Koga 1x Contrast HERO Chaos</s> <|message|>Rin Sato Kaison & Jon Dad didn't show up. It wasn't surprising. He was busy as hell with his work even before his kids were put on an island, so this was nothing new. Caleb & Lexa Caleb and Lexa likewise did not seem surprised to see that neither of their parents showed up. They didn't do any more than share a meaningful glance before splitting up separately. Chris Chris seemed to get a phone call in lieu of a visit. He smiled as he talked. Haruko An elderly woman stepped off the boat, wheeling an elderly man off it in a wheelchair. Both were wearing similar clothes to Haruko's, and just as they appeared, were apparently Haruko's relatives. Their relation was unclear, however, since they both began chatting with Haruko in a foreign language. Sina Her mother stepped off the boat and smiled warmly as Sina ran into her open arms. "Mom!" She hugged her daughter tightly. "Hello, dear. How has school been for you?" "Great! Just a couple of days ago, I got possessed by genocidal duel monster ghosts! I got saved by a friend before being I started plotting world domination though, so it all turned out okay!" Her mother's smile didn't so much as flinch. "That's nice, dear." "I even got to save one of my friends afterward, when she collapsed. This place really makes me feel like I'm getting closer to becoming someone like Yugi Muto." Her mother began fawning over her only daughter. "Oh, my baby's growing up~! Just don't forget to visit your dear old parents when you become a big, famous duelist, okay?" "Of course!" Miles "Father." "Miles." They simply stared at each other for what felt like an eternity. Miles looked annoyed while his father, who bore quite the resemblance to him, looked like he was expecting more. When he didn't get anything, he sighed, looking annoyed himself. "Come on, show me around." Miles turned and led the way wordlessly. Roché A man in a luxurious white suit wearing sunglasses and smoking a fancy cigar walked off the boat. Roché ran up to him and they began chatting animatedly. The man seemed to be perfectly capable of talking while keeping the cigar between his teeth, which was a bit odd, but not as odd as when he suddenly exclaiming "THAT'S MY GIRL!" before laughing heartily like he was in on the grandest joke in the world. He was loud enough that nearly everyone at the docks turned to look, though Roché didn't seem to mind, laughing along with her father. Melony Like Roché's father before her, Melony's mother proved to be visibly rich, stepping off the boat wearing a dress one might describe as gaudy and dramatic. It was poofy, like a fairy tale princess dress, but about half of it was cropped off to reveal purple-black thigh highs that matched the woman's lipstick. She was bedecked in similarly almost-gothic black and purple jewelry and her hair was a complicated series of braids and loops while somehow remaining long enough to reach past shoulder length. Melony took small, sullen steps towards her mother with her eyes affixed to the ground. "Hey, mom." "Oh, dearie, what's the matter? You look terrible!" "I... it's..." Melony looked like she was about to cry in public again. "Oh, baby, don't worry, mommy's here for you." She crouched down awkwardly in her heels to hug her daughter. "Why don't you show me where you've been living, and tell me all about it there. Mama will make it all better." "I don't... I'm not sure I even..." Melony covered her face with her hands again. Melony's mother leaned in and whispered something in a curt tone. "Not in public, dear." She gave Melony a push while maintaining her bright smile and they began the walk back to her room. Rin Rin's father wore a black suit and carried a black briefcase. He had short black hair and didn't particularly stand out among the other parents. He walked up to Rin, who greeted him with a smile. "Hey, Rin. How have you been?" "I've been doing alright. Welcome to the island, dad." "Good to be here; good to see you. I heard from the school that you'd be giving me a tour?" "Sure, dad. Though, I don't know much about places other than the main building and the Ra Yellow Dorm." "Why don't we start with your room, then? Students of all dorms are paired with roommates nowadays, aren't they? How's yours?" "She's great. I feel like I didn't understand her that well at first, but she's very nice." "That's good to hear." They continued to make idle conversation as they walked back to Ra Yellow Donte He's here. Donte grit his teeth. "You're still wearing that all that?" The bespectacled man in a neat black suit walked up to Donte looking irritated. "Nice to see you too, dad," Donte deadpanned through gritted teeth. "Maybe you'd be nice to see if you didn't look like a thug straight out of juvie." Donte glared at the man. "Why'd you come?" "What kind of question is that? You haven't even been here that long and you're already failing everything but P.E. You're the one who wanted to be a duelist." "No. I said I liked dueling once and you enrolled me without telling me anything." "You've got to do something with your life, and since you refused to decide where to go, I decided for you, like any good father would." "A GOOD FATHER WOULDN'T-" "HEY. Don't you talk back to me! If you want to go to a military school, just say the word, boy." Donte put a hand on his face and let out a deep breath. He wasn't any stranger to corporal punishment, though his father gracefully avoided stuff like that in public in favor of other threats that were, to him, arguably worse. He considered making another remark, but the man before him had absolute control over his life. It didn't matter the context, talking back could mean anything, because it was just his dad's way of saying it was time to shut up before he got really mad. He crossed his arms and did just that. It was gonna be another one of those days. "Show me your room. Now." Donte turned and began walking back to Slifer Red, stuffing his hands in his pockets. His father lectured him the whole way there about his attitude, clothing, grades, posture and future. Donte tuned it out. He was used to it.</s> <|message|>Helena Ries After a while, the spirit incident in the forest became just another bad memory to Helena. While she was happy that Haruko was safe and sound, she still didn't feel good about the loss she suffered to the other possessed students. If things hadn't turned out like they did… She didn't even want to think about it. It did, however, open her eyes to how her deck wasn't performing well. Against other students anyways. Once she had gotten a few card packs, Helena looked through her deck and patched up anything that might've been a weak link. That mostly came down to her Gearfried cards. While she liked them, she knew that they weren't doing her deck any favors. Before making the adjustments, she thanked Gearfried for at least being there to start the duel off for the past few duels, and put him away with the other cards she took out of her deck. Once that was done, she gave a heavy sigh. Mr. Monoma had said earlier that today was parent visitation day. Helena was dreading it, for it'll be the proof she needs on whether or not her parents really do care about her. She made her way to the docks to wait with everyone else. "Try to be optimistic, Helena. I'm sure they'll come see you." Chosen spoke up, trying to comfort her. Helena just gave a slight nod and stood by the edge of the docks. She watched as the boats soon came to the docks, but as the parents of the other students got off them, her heart started to sink more and more. "Figures…" she mumbled to herself as she just sat on the edge of dock, tears welling up in her eyes.</s>

<|message|>Leo Wilde Leo Wilde – Slifer Red Huh, okay. That was kind of a hostile reception. It seemed like he wasn't the only one that found these kinds of parent/teacher days stressful; Leo could sympathise, but that wasn't going to stop him from asking his questions anyway. "Yeah, I want someone to give me a straight answer about what the hell happened last night." Subtlety had never been Leo's strong suit, surprisingly enough. Maybe he was being too blunt just asking straight out like this, maybe he'd have better luck if he tried to make friends with this girl first, but he wanted answers so why not just ask for answers? "Why was everyone in the middle of the woods and why were you all acting like you were possessed or something? And don't tell me it was 'angry spirits' like that weird Obelisk girl did; I want the real answer." Landshark</s>

<|description|>Leo Wilde Gender: ♂ Dorm: Slifer Red Personality: Brash, aggressive, unmannered. Leo is the type who is quick to anger, quick to confront people he has a problem with, and to hold a long grudge afterwards. He is also the type to quickly latch on to people as friends, the type to go to bat for people and the type to be loyal. In other words, his first impression of you decides a lot about how he will interact with you from that point on and it takes a long time for him to change his mind about someone once he has had that first impression. History: Leo is an orphan. Or at least, that's what he says he is. To be honest, he doesn't know if his parents are still alive or not, nor does he know if he has any other family out there; all he knows is that when he was around ten his parents disappeared. He woke up one morning and he was alone, his parents were both gone, packing their belonging and taking everything with them except for him. He doesn't know if they chose to leave him behind or just forgot about him, but ever since and that he has been living at the Verdant Sanctuary Orphanage ever since. So he is an orphan; whether he has parents or family out there or not. They chose to forget about him so he chooses to forget about them. It's better that way. The orphanage he spent the rest of his childhood in wasn't the most well-funded place; he and the other children living there didn't have a lot, even compared to their old lives most of the time, but the people who ran the place were kind and caring and that counted for a lot. What little they had beyond the necessities mostly came from donations and that happened to include a number of Yu-Gi-Oh cards; a motley collection made up of donations, cards left behind by previous residents and cards that Leo and the other kids bought themselves. The kids would share all of the cards between them, mixing and matching them so that they could all play together. Leo was always the best among them and would always be the one to teach the younger and newer kids when they wanted to learn. Over the years Leo even managed to build up something resembling a proper deck, which he would use to duel people outside of the orphanage, either at school or just around town; sometimes betting against people to earn a little extra money or for some of their cards, his winnings always going straight to the other kids at the orphanage and his losses coming out of his own pocket. Though he still attended school, he was never a very good student and knew that he didn't have many prospects waiting for him when he graduated and when he was old enough that he would need to leave his home behind. For the most part, his plan was to try and get a job at the orphanage itself, both so that he would be able to stay and also so that he could pay back the people who had raised him and continue to look after the younger kids there, most of whom looked up to him as a sort of older brother. A part of him did also want to become a professional duellist, to out one of the few skills he had to work so that he could become famous and earn a bunch of money. That was just a dream though. Not something that a person like him could hope for. Until he heard about the duel academy and its entrance exams. Anyone could apply, anyone with the right skills could pass and anyone with the right drive to get that far could eventually use that school as a stepping stone towards greater things. Gathering his cards and packing his few other possessions, Leo set out from the orphanage with the duel academy in his sights. Spirituality: They have a feel for the presence of spirits, but cannot see or hear them. The sensation they get is something more akin to animal instinct than true spirituality; like feeling eyes on the back of their head, or another presence in the room, or even a feeling of danger when their opponent's spirit is particularly active. Spirit Partner: N/A Ace Card: Elemental HERO Nova Master Deck(s): Monsters (17) 3x Elemental HERO Stratos 3x Elemental HERO Blazeman 2x Elemental HERO Shadow Mist 3x Elemental HERO Ocean 2x Elemental HERO Woodsman 3x Elemental HERO Neos Alius 1x Elemental HERO Honest Neos Spells (16) 3x Polymerization 2x Miracle Fusion 3x Mask Change 1x Form Change 2x H – Heated Heart 2x R – Righteous Justice 1x Reinforcement of the Army 2x A Hero Lives Traps (7) 2x Hero Blast 2x Hero Barrier 2x Hero Signal 1x Magistery Alchemist Extra Deck (14) 1x Elemental HERO Gaia 1x Elemental HERO Sunrise 1x Elemental HERO Nova Master 1x Elemental HERO Escuridao 1x Elemental HERO Absolute Zero 1x Elemental HERO Great Tornado 1x Elemental HERO The Shining 1x Masked HERO Blast 1x Masked HERO Dian 1x Masked HERO Anki 1x Masked HERO Divine Wind 1x Masked HERO Acid 1x Masked HERO Koga 1x Contrast HERO Chaos</s> <|message|>Leo Wilde Leo Wilde – Slifer Red Okay, so he was right; Helena could see those duel spirit things. She admitted to it a lot more easily than that Ra girl had as well, which made things easy. Maybe this meant he was on the right track with what he was thinking. But, things were awkward again. The girl clearly didn't want to speak about this topic, either because of guilt or just because he was a stranger asking personal questions. Maybe someday he could have a conversation with a classmate that didn't leave him either confused or uncomfortable, but it wasn't going to be this conversation. "Well, sorry, but I need to ask you. Because you had that duel with Donte and now he's in the infirmary and they're not telling us why." He let out a sigh. "Look, I don't know anything about spirits; I'm not sure I even really believe in them, but I gotta ask. Are they dangerous? Did your spirit… do something to Donte?" Angel</s> <|message|>Valerie Durand Valerie Durand What a shitshow. She hadn't found Roche at all, and her roommate just randomly showed back up in the dorms with no recollection of where she'd been or what had happened to her. Just great. Mina and Miles had found Roche before Valerie managed to, it seemed. Although judging by Miles's crap excuse, there was something else going on behind the scenes there. Seriously, tree bark against his face in the moonlight? Who the hell thought that passed for an alibi? Besides her entire dorm, apparently, that was. Speaking of her dorm, it burning down really didn't help her mood. Most of Valerie's stuff was replaceable, and she'd managed to snag her deck with her upon exiting the burning building. But her autographed Chazz Princeton posters were absolutely priceless. Those were a limited-edition online order, damn it! So she wasn't exactly the happiest of campers at the moment. Literally, considering they were stuck sharing tents outside the Slifer dorm grounds now. Really, the past few days had been an absolute god damn mess. So here she was, hanging out with Roche as they huddled around a small fire pit, grilling some sausages. "Well, I'm glad you're alright, at least." Valerie murmured to her roommate as she slowly rotated their food over the makeshift grill. "Sorry I didn't get to actually meet your dad, by the way. That just...wasn't really a great day for it. Seriously, you don't remember a single thing about what happened with you disappearing?" She paused. "You talk to that Miles kid at all?"</s> <|message|>Helena Ries Helena glanced at Leo before thinking of what to say. Her spirit wasn't the issue, it was her. But how does she explain it? She has the ability to potentially kill people in a duel? She mulled it over before giving a quiet sigh. "No… At least, my spirit doesn't… I can't say for all. But it's not my spirit that does it, it didn't hurt Donte… I… I did." She finally said. "I have… A condition I guess you could call it. I'm somehow able to… Project my cards to physically harm someone. But I can't control it. Donte wanted a way out of interacting with his father so… We dueled and well… The rest is history… Bloody, horrible history…" "Helena…" Chosen of the Celtic Guard appeared by her side and patted her shoulder. "It's not your fault… If anything, Donte wanted you to do that." He stated. "… What would've happened if I killed him? What then? Nothing about what happened is ok even if he wanted it…" Realizing she was talking to thin air in Leo's eyes she looked back at him. "Sorry… My spirit always insists on trying to cheer me up…"</s>

<|message|>Leo Wilde Leo Wilde – Slifer Red "You… wait, what?" A condition? One that let Helena project cards physically and that was enough for her too… put someone in the hospital? And this had nothing to do with the duel spirits thing that Leo was already struggling to get his head around? Except, Helena could see spirits as well so maybe it was related to that. "Well, I guess this explains the whole 'no duelling without supervision' thing… wait, does that mean that other kid can hurt people too?" It was strange, watching someone speak to thin air as if they were having a conversation with someone. Leo squinted at the air in front of Helena's face as if trying to see whatever it was she could see, but there was nothing there no matter how hard he tried. Guess he just didn't have whatever it was, gift or curse or something else, that he needed to be able to talk to his cards. "Great, so some people can talk to their cards and other people can kill you during a duel and my roommate got put in the hospital and people keep going missing and the Ra dorm burnt down. Man, this sucks; I just came here because I wanted to become a better duellist. Maybe I should have studied harder and gone to a real school." Well, he was here now, so if this was something he had to deal with Leo might as well learn as much as he could about it. Hopefully when he became a pro he wouldn't have to worry about his opponent's killing him. "You didn't kill him, so don't beat yourself up too hard. But, yeah, you should probably listen to the teachers not duel anyone else anytime soon. Although, why are you even duelling people in the first place if this is what happens? Why try to become a duellist?" Angel</s>

<|description|>Florian Pine I'll find one later It's mostly just for fun, though it can indirectly describe the vibe your character gives off during a duel as well. Gender: ♂ Appearance: Pine is a tall and lean man. He stands at six feet tall, and has a slim physique. He used to be rather awkward looking when he was younger, but has since grown into himself. He has a heart shaped face with a firm jaw. His eyes are as green as the forest. He has a mop of blonde hair on top of his head Pine doesn't have much of a taste for fashion in his day to day life. He dresses in casual jeans and T-shirts, often green in color and with floral patterns on them. Then other days he just wears floral patterns head to toe. He has even been known to wear flowers in his hair. In all of his outfits, he always wears a pair of thick green glasses, as he his near sighted. Dorm: Slifer Red Personality: Once upon a time, Pine was a shy and nerdy young man. He didn't have an easy time socializing with people, and also didn't have much confidence. He often preferred his plants and Pokemon more than other people's company. After joining Duel Academy, Pine developed a bit more confidence, but he's still awkward when it comes to interactions with people. He is interested in science, and is particularly fascinated with plants and Plant based cards. He treats plants, and the monsters in his deck as if they were his babies. Some days, Pine hates humanity. His experiences with being bullied and how people take the environment for granted contributed to this. He can be rude to people when he first meets them. He can still be rude even after he first meets them. There are moments where he thinks he's smarter than everyone else, and the people around him are idiots. He's not opposed to using his Psychic abilities on humans if they bother him too much. Even though he often feels like the world would be better off without humans in it, he understands that they are needed. If only to provide carbon dioxide for the plants. There are other times when Pine longs for human companionship. If anyone shows him even the slightest hint of kindness, he will be all for it. He'll cling to that person and be their best friend whether they like it or not. He will talk their ear off about whatever he's interested in. Maybe he'll care about what the other person has to say... Maybe. At least until he perceives they did him wrong in some way. Then he'll be furious and seek revenge. He can even be flirty with people he finds attractive. In general, his emotions can vary wildly at any given time. History: Florian Pine was born to a pair of scientist parents. They studied exotic plants in their natural habitats. Due to the fact that they were often out in the field researching, they weren't around very much to raise their son. Sometimes they took him on research trips with them, but when they did, they often left him to his own devices. Growing up, Pine always had a fascination for plants. Something he got from his parents. On his free time, he would frolic in the flowers, climb the trees, etc. He saw how often people would casually leave their trash on the floor in the forest, which could harm the environment. Pine would tell them to pick up their trash, and they'd just laugh him off. Others found his intense fascination to be odd. He was often bullied by others because he was physically weaker, psychologically delicate, and in their eyes he was just plain weird. He would be picked on, beaten up, called deaming nicknames, every kind of bullying you could imagine. He was even made fun of because his first name was Florian, which was weird. He also had to sit alone during lunch because no one else wanted to sit with him. Him trying to defend himself by saying it means flower did not help the matter. He bullied by one boy in particular, who already had a Duel Monsters deck, when most of the other kids didn't even have their own yet. He was sure to brag about that in everyone faces, but especially Pine. Pine made it no secret that he wanted a Plant Deck. Of course this got no end of ridicule from this boy. He talked about how much cooler Dragons were than silly flowersl. Pine knew he was wrong, but he hated having to hear this kid's bragging every day. It would later come out that this boy brought his father's deck to school, and it wasn't actually his, but that didn't make it better. Despite all the bullying, there was person who seemed to show him kindness. A boy named Evan often defended him from bullies. Evan was handsome and one of the most popular boys in school. Pine was shocked him of all people would take the time to defend him. They hung out together sometimes, and it was the first time Pine actually had a friend! He finally had somebody to sit with during lunch. It didn't take long for Pine to get a crush on Evan. After a long while, Pine finally built up the nerve to ask Evan out on a date. Evan politely turned him down. Pine was not happy about this, but he was able to move on with his life. Than he heard Evan talking to his girlfriend in the hallway. She witnessed Pine asking her boyfriend out, and wanted to know what happened. Evan basically admitted to his girlfriend that he didn't like Pine all that much, and thought he was as weird as everyone else did. The only reason he defended him was out of pity. He told his girlfriend she was the most important person in his life, and kissed her. Now, Pine was devasted. Over time, Pine managed to build a Plant Deck of his own, and challenged Evan to a friendly duel. Just to show their were no hard feelings. (Which was a lie. There were lots of hard feelings. He wanted to destroy him!) At first, Pine was losing badly, which just made him mad. When his anger got the best of him, that's when the tide of the duel started to turn. Whenever he did damage to Evan's life points, Evan actually got hurt for real. The environment around them also seemed to get destroyed. Pine didn't know what was going on, but he didn't care. He was finally getting the revenge he wanted. When Evan's LP fell to zero, Evan was knocked unconscious, and had to go to the hospital. His parents heard about this, and eventually enrolled him into Duel Academy. If anybody knew what was going to know what was going on with him, it would be Duel Academy. Their Pine took great pleasure in exploiting his abilities to cause pain to others, as had been inflicted on him. Even if they didn't necessarily deserve it… Spirituality: Pine can see and communicate with Duel Spirits Spirit Partner: Jerry Beans Man Ace Card: Tytannial Princess of Camellias Deck(s): Will figure out a good deck name later Monsters 2x Lonefire Blossom 2x Gigaplant 1x Seed of Flame 1x Cactus Fighter 3x Botanical Lion 1x Gigantic Cephalotus 2x Rose Tentacles 1x Tytannial, Princess of Camellias 1x Lord Poison 1x Dandylion 1x Hedge Guard 1x Jerry Beans Man Spells 2x Seed Cannon 2x Thorn of Malice 2x Solidarity 2x Fragrance Storm 1x Mark of the Rose 2x Black Garden 1x Mystical Space Typhoon 2x The World Tree 1x Rose Bell of Revalation 1x Book of Moon 2x Miracle Fertilizer Traps 1x Wall of Thorns 1x Ivy Shackles 2x Pollinosis 1x Final Attack Orders</s> <|message|>Flynn Aspadana Flynn Aspadana --- Ra Yellow Dorm --- Flynn could only stand there, his face slowly blushing as he tried to find the words to express his bewilderment at Chris' audacity. Moments would pass before he would simply turn about and head for the door. "You won this round, giant boy." he'd state before heading out. Normally, Flynn would be quick to find a witty remark to deflect such a dumb bit but perhaps he was still tired from the boat trip. Since he wasn't gonna find peace in his own room at this time, he decided to just find the nearest piece of furniture and simply crash there. While it wasn't exactly luxury decor, the Ra Yellow dorm did have serviceable common areas. Surely the rest of the yellows weren't as weird as his roommate.</s> <|message|>Valerie Durand Valerie Durand It took some time, but with Roche's help, Valerie unpacked all her luggage. She hadn't brought all too much of it, but unpacking was still a pain no matter how used she was to the process. "Thanks for all the help." Valerie thanked her roommate after they finished, her staring in admiration at her Chazz Princeton posters for a moment. "I owe you, lemme get you something once I get some more DP to spend." She told Roche as she moved to leave the room, waving goodbye behind her. "Gonna head out for a while, look around. See you later, yeah?" As she started walking through the halls of the dorm, Val pulled out her PDA, idly checking her DP balance after her first win. Did they really need to use that acronym? Whoever came up with it really hadn't thought the whole matter through, considering it was for an island of hormonal teenagers. That, or they thought it was funny. Apparently their first day's food budget had already been allotted to their balance. "Divide by three per meal..." Valerie muttered to herself, doing some quick mental math. "Subtract the win...wow. One win doesn't count for squat." Her winnings were just a fraction of a third she'd allotted from the food budget per meal. It'd get her a light snack, at most. She'd check the card shop on the island later, but considering how much cards cost on the outside, it'd probably take her several more wins to afford anything beyond a single booster. Or if she skipped meals... "Girl, your expression reveals what you're thinking." Ceruli cut in, an eyebrow raised at Valerie's expression. "Do not think to skip meals to afford additional cards. Need I remind you that you're still growing?" Valerie just sighed and rubbed the back of her head, reluctantly shrugging. As much as she appreciated having Ceruli around in place of her parents, there were times when she was reminded of the downsides of having a constant companion looking over her shoulder. "Yes, mom." She groaned quietly, after confirming that there was no one else in the hallway to overhear her even whispering. Whatever. Time to keep moving. She'd work all this out later. The dorm lounge was already somewhat filled, with some people already out socializing. Valerie idly glanced over as she made her way to the vending machine, purchasing a bottle of iced tea as she tried to decide where to sit. As much as she knew everyone was in the same situation as her where no solid friendships had been established yet and they all had a clean slate in social terms, breaking old habits was still hard. She wanted a quiet corner. But the closest she could find to that was a block of seats where some gray-haired guy was sprawled over, looking half-dead. Screw it. Hopefully this guy wasn't a creep or anything. Valerie sat down a few seats away from who she didn't know was Flynn, opening her bottle of iced tea and taking a few swigs. After seeing that he wasn't going to initiate conversation, she figured she may as well. It was still the first day. Couldn't hurt to be sociable yet. "Dead already, huh? Was the trip over that bad, or something else? Roommate a bit too much?" Not that she was speaking from experience or anything. She was totally speaking from experience.</s>

<|message|>Florian Pine Pine wished this school had a green dorm. Red was not his color… He also hoped that the school wasn't going to get on his case for adding a flower hairpin to his hair. After changing into his new uniform, he sat with the other students, and as he listened to the welcoming speech. It was the same old usual things. Pine did have to roll his eyes at the chancellors stupid joke about finding the rooms comfortable depending on your rank. Why was giving the shoddy accommodations to new and lesser skilled students funny? They were there to learn, why were they being punished for that? After everything was done, Pine walked to his assigned dorm. He was taking his time getting there, as he was busy admiring the flora that grew on the island. Along the way, another Slifer student proceeded to walk alongside him and talk his ear off about various strategies. As annoying as it was, Pine did appreciate that somebody actually wanted to talk to him… And it was a cute boy no less! We'll see how long that lasts… Pine wasn't about to get his hopes up on making friends here. When they finally arrived at their dorm, it turned out they were roommates. Kaison immediately challenged him to a duel. Pine blinked in surprise. "Y-y-you actually want to challenge a flower loving freak like me? I mean… um… I'm up for it…</s>

<|description|>Florian Pine I'll find one later It's mostly just for fun, though it can indirectly describe the vibe your character gives off during a duel as well. Gender: ♂ Appearance: Pine is a tall and lean man. He stands at six feet tall, and has a slim physique. He used to be rather awkward looking when he was younger, but has since grown into himself. He has a heart shaped face with a firm jaw. His eyes are as green as the forest. He has a mop of blonde hair on top of his head Pine doesn't have much of a taste for fashion in his day to day life. He dresses in casual jeans and T-shirts, often green in color and with floral patterns on them. Then other days he just wears floral patterns head to toe. He has even been known to wear flowers in his hair. In all of his outfits, he always wears a pair of thick green glasses, as he his near sighted. Dorm: Slifer Red Personality: Once upon a time, Pine was a shy and nerdy young man. He didn't have an easy time socializing with people, and also didn't have much confidence. He often preferred his plants and Pokemon more than other people's company. After joining Duel Academy, Pine developed a bit more confidence, but he's still awkward when it comes to interactions with people. He is interested in science, and is particularly fascinated with plants and Plant based cards. He treats plants, and the monsters in his deck as if they were his babies. Some days, Pine hates humanity. His experiences with being bullied and how people take the environment for granted contributed to this. He can be rude to people when he first meets them. He can still be rude even after he first meets them. There are moments where he thinks he's smarter than everyone else, and the people around him are idiots. He's not opposed to using his Psychic abilities on humans if they bother him too much. Even though he often feels like the world would be better off without humans in it, he understands that they are needed. If only to provide carbon dioxide for the plants. There are other times when Pine longs for human companionship. If anyone shows him even the slightest hint of kindness, he will be all for it. He'll cling to that person and be their best friend whether they like it or not. He will talk their ear off about whatever he's interested in. Maybe he'll care about what the other person has to say... Maybe. At least until he perceives they did him wrong in some way. Then he'll be furious and seek revenge. He can even be flirty with people he finds attractive. In general, his emotions can vary wildly at any given time. History: Florian Pine was born to a pair of scientist parents. They studied exotic plants in their natural habitats. Due to the fact that they were often out in the field researching, they weren't around very much to raise their son. Sometimes they took him on research trips with them, but when they did, they often left him to his own devices. Growing up, Pine always had a fascination for plants. Something he got from his parents. On his free time, he would frolic in the flowers, climb the trees, etc. He saw how often people would casually leave their trash on the floor in the forest, which could harm the environment. Pine would tell them to pick up their trash, and they'd just laugh him off. Others found his intense fascination to be odd. He was often bullied by others because he was physically weaker, psychologically delicate, and in their eyes he was just plain weird. He would be picked on, beaten up, called deaming nicknames, every kind of bullying you could imagine. He was even made fun of because his first name was Florian, which was weird. He also had to sit alone during lunch because no one else wanted to sit with him. Him trying to defend himself by saying it means flower did not help the matter. He bullied by one boy in particular, who already had a Duel Monsters deck, when most of the other kids didn't even have their own yet. He was sure to brag about that in everyone faces, but especially Pine. Pine made it no secret that he wanted a Plant Deck. Of course this got no end of ridicule from this boy. He talked about how much cooler Dragons were than silly flowersl. Pine knew he was wrong, but he hated having to hear this kid's bragging every day. It would later come out that this boy brought his father's deck to school, and it wasn't actually his, but that didn't make it better. Despite all the bullying, there was person who seemed to show him kindness. A boy named Evan often defended him from bullies. Evan was handsome and one of the most popular boys in school. Pine was shocked him of all people would take the time to defend him. They hung out together sometimes, and it was the first time Pine actually had a friend! He finally had somebody to sit with during lunch. It didn't take long for Pine to get a crush on Evan. After a long while, Pine finally built up the nerve to ask Evan out on a date. Evan politely turned him down. Pine was not happy about this, but he was able to move on with his life. Than he heard Evan talking to his girlfriend in the hallway. She witnessed Pine asking her boyfriend out, and wanted to know what happened. Evan basically admitted to his girlfriend that he didn't like Pine all that much, and thought he was as weird as everyone else did. The only reason he defended him was out of pity. He told his girlfriend she was the most important person in his life, and kissed her. Now, Pine was devasted. Over time, Pine managed to build a Plant Deck of his own, and challenged Evan to a friendly duel. Just to show their were no hard feelings. (Which was a lie. There were lots of hard feelings. He wanted to destroy him!) At first, Pine was losing badly, which just made him mad. When his anger got the best of him, that's when the tide of the duel started to turn. Whenever he did damage to Evan's life points, Evan actually got hurt for real. The environment around them also seemed to get destroyed. Pine didn't know what was going on, but he didn't care. He was finally getting the revenge he wanted. When Evan's LP fell to zero, Evan was knocked unconscious, and had to go to the hospital. His parents heard about this, and eventually enrolled him into Duel Academy. If anybody knew what was going to know what was going on with him, it would be Duel Academy. Their Pine took great pleasure in exploiting his abilities to cause pain to others, as had been inflicted on him. Even if they didn't necessarily deserve it… Spirituality: Pine can see and communicate with Duel Spirits Spirit Partner: Jerry Beans Man Ace Card: Tytannial Princess of Camellias Deck(s): Will figure out a good deck name later Monsters 2x Lonefire Blossom 2x Gigaplant 1x Seed of Flame 1x Cactus Fighter 3x Botanical Lion 1x Gigantic Cephalotus 2x Rose Tentacles 1x Tytannial, Princess of Camellias 1x Lord Poison 1x Dandylion 1x Hedge Guard 1x Jerry Beans Man Spells 2x Seed Cannon 2x Thorn of Malice 2x Solidarity 2x Fragrance Storm 1x Mark of the Rose 2x Black Garden 1x Mystical Space Typhoon 2x The World Tree 1x Rose Bell of Revalation 1x Book of Moon 2x Miracle Fertilizer Traps 1x Wall of Thorns 1x Ivy Shackles 2x Pollinosis 1x Final Attack Orders</s> <|message|>Mina Hākā (English Name- Lucy Harker) Mina was awakened by something horrific happening, standing up in her bed with sweat running down her face. Partially glad she was awoken from the nightmare she was having. In the nightmare, she was duelling someone with everyone in the academy watching them. Her parents were in the audience, with the whole crowd jeering at her. She was losing the duel, and before she was given the death blow by her opponent she woke up. "What the hell was that?" She looked over at her spirit partner, who was equally as confused as her. "I felt something terrible had happened.." The spirit floated over towards the window. Mina jumped out of her bed and towards her spirit partner. "I do not know, but i felt something as well." Her spirt was now floating towards Mina. Mina walked over towards Rin, who was sleeping soundly in her bed. "Rin, wake up. I need to talk to you." Mina was shaking Rin violently.</s> <|message|>Cassandra Moore Cassandra Moore – Obelisk Blue Rather suddenly, Cassandra found herself pulled out of the rather pleasant dream she had been having to find herself sitting up in her bed as an indistinct sense of dread gripped her heart. Glancing around the room she found nothing immediately amiss; everything was still in place, her deck was still sat beside her pillow and the shared door between her room and her neighbours was still shut and locked from her side besides. Nothing was wrong and yet she knew that something was very wrong. Taking a deep breath, she placed a hand to her chest and felt her heartbeat slow from its rapid pace to something more normal as she calmed herself down. Once that was done, all on their own her eyes drifted towards the window, to where the eerie light from outside was just barely peeking past her curtains. Too sickly looking to be moonlight, too pale and soft to be a streetlight, the unnatural beams of light danced and waved as if whatever was causing it was constantly moving. Throwing her covers off of herself Cassandra got out of bed and moved towards the window. She gingerly lifted a corner and peeked outside to see the stormy sky and geyser of otherworldly light rising towards the heavens. She also saw Naga, her duel spirit sitting on the window with her little hands pressed against the glass; when Cassandra saw her, the snake turned towards her and met her gaze with a concerned look. "Hmm, you're right; that's not good." Hurrying over to her wardrobe, Cassandra quickly put on a jacket and some shoes before rushing back to her bedside and grabbing her deck. The cards were practically vibrating as she picked them up and she could feel the warning, concern and eagerness from her friends all mixed together. "I know it's dangerous, but I have to go see. Don't worry, I know you'll keep me safe." Still in her pyjamas, Cassandra left her dorm room and ran towards the main doors of the dorm building and out into the night. ---- Leo Wilde – Slifer Red "What the hell?" Leo shot out of bed, awoken by the commotion going on in the other dorms; even if he wasn't a light sleeper, the talking, the footsteps running by outside and the banging on walls would have woken anyone up… well, almost anyone. Above him, he could hear his roommate still snoring away and Leo left him as he grumpily put on a pair of shoes and threw open the door to the balcony outside. "Hey! Keep it down, people are trying to sleep!" As he spoke, Leo found his gaze being drawn towards the forest. He couldn't see anything out there, but as he looked out towards the trees he felt a shiver run down his spine. Turning away, but finding the forest still annoyingly obvious in his peripheral vision, he walked off to try and find someone who could explain what the hell was going on.</s> <|message|>Helena Ries Helena could only stare in horror at the sight of Haruko floating amongst the other spirits. "Haruko… W-what happened?" She mumbled in fear. Chosen kept his blade at the ready. "Helena, that's not Haruko. Not anymore." He said as the two noticed the Scapeghosts being surrounded by more of the terrifying spirits. "Uh… Chosen, save them!" "But Helena.." "I said save them!" He gave a worried glance towards Helena before rushing towards the frightened duel spirits. He jumped into the middle of the group and stood in front of the Scapeghosts, slashing any spirits that approached. "This… This doesn't make sense… What… Who are you!?" Helena pointed at the possessed Haruko in a fearful manner. These spirits, all that stuff that Haruko had been doing in the forest, surely this was just a coincidence. Or was she actually responsible for this? It was like the start of a horror movie or something.</s>

<|message|>Florian Pine "My name is Pine… Just Pine…" Pine began. "Maybe one day I'll entrust you with my first name… Anyway, I like plants. It's not just my chosen deck archetype, it's my passion. I like to garden, and I like to read up on botany. Plants are fascinating. Beautiful, beneficial to the planet, sometimes deadly… I could go on and on… As for a fun fact about myself… frankly, I don't think I'm that fun… Besides gardening I enjoy the basic teenage activities of playing video games and reading… But speaking of fun facts, did you know there's a carnivorous plant in the Philippines that is capable of devouring a full-grown rat?" Pine swore he heard some other students snickering by the time he was done with his introduction, but Kaison grinned and gave him a thumbs up. In Pine's eyes, his was the only opinion that matered. And then Melony had to go and ruin it by asking him on a date. Pine cursed under his breath. That brazen little hussy! He wanted to ask Kaison out first! He was starting daggers at her as she spoke. —- After Kaison's and Melony's date, the most ridiculous rumor spread around the school. Pine denied it, but of course, humans believed whatever they wanted to believe. Of course he got no end of rude comments from He was used to this nonsense. But it was things like this that made Pine believe plants were better than people… Kaison was the only good one… He was just oblivious. That night, Pine was rudely awoken by a strange sensation. He looked out the window and saw the stormy atmosphere, and the geyser of light. He couldn't explain it, but Pine felt the need to investigate what was going on. Pillars of light don't exactly just show up out of the blue. As it turned out, Kaison had been awoken too. Since neither of them could go back to sleep, they agreed to investigate together. Pine wasn't about to turn down the opportunity to have a potentially romantic outing with his roommate. Even if these weren't the circumstances he was hoping for…</s>

<|description|>Florian Pine I'll find one later It's mostly just for fun, though it can indirectly describe the vibe your character gives off during a duel as well. Gender: ♂ Appearance: Pine is a tall and lean man. He stands at six feet tall, and has a slim physique. He used to be rather awkward looking when he was younger, but has since grown into himself. He has a heart shaped face with a firm jaw. His eyes are as green as the forest. He has a mop of blonde hair on top of his head Pine doesn't have much of a taste for fashion in his day to day life. He dresses in casual jeans and T-shirts, often green in color and with floral patterns on them. Then other days he just wears floral patterns head to toe. He has even been known to wear flowers in his hair. In all of his outfits, he always wears a pair of thick green glasses, as he his near sighted. Dorm: Slifer Red Personality: Once upon a time, Pine was a shy and nerdy young man. He didn't have an easy time socializing with people, and also didn't have much confidence. He often preferred his plants and Pokemon more than other people's company. After joining Duel Academy, Pine developed a bit more confidence, but he's still awkward when it comes to interactions with people. He is interested in science, and is particularly fascinated with plants and Plant based cards. He treats plants, and the monsters in his deck as if they were his babies. Some days, Pine hates humanity. His experiences with being bullied and how people take the environment for granted contributed to this. He can be rude to people when he first meets them. He can still be rude even after he first meets them. There are moments where he thinks he's smarter than everyone else, and the people around him are idiots. He's not opposed to using his Psychic abilities on humans if they bother him too much. Even though he often feels like the world would be better off without humans in it, he understands that they are needed. If only to provide carbon dioxide for the plants. There are other times when Pine longs for human companionship. If anyone shows him even the slightest hint of kindness, he will be all for it. He'll cling to that person and be their best friend whether they like it or not. He will talk their ear off about whatever he's interested in. Maybe he'll care about what the other person has to say... Maybe. At least until he perceives they did him wrong in some way. Then he'll be furious and seek revenge. He can even be flirty with people he finds attractive. In general, his emotions can vary wildly at any given time. History: Florian Pine was born to a pair of scientist parents. They studied exotic plants in their natural habitats. Due to the fact that they were often out in the field researching, they weren't around very much to raise their son. Sometimes they took him on research trips with them, but when they did, they often left him to his own devices. Growing up, Pine always had a fascination for plants. Something he got from his parents. On his free time, he would frolic in the flowers, climb the trees, etc. He saw how often people would casually leave their trash on the floor in the forest, which could harm the environment. Pine would tell them to pick up their trash, and they'd just laugh him off. Others found his intense fascination to be odd. He was often bullied by others because he was physically weaker, psychologically delicate, and in their eyes he was just plain weird. He would be picked on, beaten up, called deaming nicknames, every kind of bullying you could imagine. He was even made fun of because his first name was Florian, which was weird. He also had to sit alone during lunch because no one else wanted to sit with him. Him trying to defend himself by saying it means flower did not help the matter. He bullied by one boy in particular, who already had a Duel Monsters deck, when most of the other kids didn't even have their own yet. He was sure to brag about that in everyone faces, but especially Pine. Pine made it no secret that he wanted a Plant Deck. Of course this got no end of ridicule from this boy. He talked about how much cooler Dragons were than silly flowersl. Pine knew he was wrong, but he hated having to hear this kid's bragging every day. It would later come out that this boy brought his father's deck to school, and it wasn't actually his, but that didn't make it better. Despite all the bullying, there was person who seemed to show him kindness. A boy named Evan often defended him from bullies. Evan was handsome and one of the most popular boys in school. Pine was shocked him of all people would take the time to defend him. They hung out together sometimes, and it was the first time Pine actually had a friend! He finally had somebody to sit with during lunch. It didn't take long for Pine to get a crush on Evan. After a long while, Pine finally built up the nerve to ask Evan out on a date. Evan politely turned him down. Pine was not happy about this, but he was able to move on with his life. Than he heard Evan talking to his girlfriend in the hallway. She witnessed Pine asking her boyfriend out, and wanted to know what happened. Evan basically admitted to his girlfriend that he didn't like Pine all that much, and thought he was as weird as everyone else did. The only reason he defended him was out of pity. He told his girlfriend she was the most important person in his life, and kissed her. Now, Pine was devasted. Over time, Pine managed to build a Plant Deck of his own, and challenged Evan to a friendly duel. Just to show their were no hard feelings. (Which was a lie. There were lots of hard feelings. He wanted to destroy him!) At first, Pine was losing badly, which just made him mad. When his anger got the best of him, that's when the tide of the duel started to turn. Whenever he did damage to Evan's life points, Evan actually got hurt for real. The environment around them also seemed to get destroyed. Pine didn't know what was going on, but he didn't care. He was finally getting the revenge he wanted. When Evan's LP fell to zero, Evan was knocked unconscious, and had to go to the hospital. His parents heard about this, and eventually enrolled him into Duel Academy. If anybody knew what was going to know what was going on with him, it would be Duel Academy. Their Pine took great pleasure in exploiting his abilities to cause pain to others, as had been inflicted on him. Even if they didn't necessarily deserve it… Spirituality: Pine can see and communicate with Duel Spirits Spirit Partner: Jerry Beans Man Ace Card: Tytannial Princess of Camellias Deck(s): Will figure out a good deck name later Monsters 2x Lonefire Blossom 2x Gigaplant 1x Seed of Flame 1x Cactus Fighter 3x Botanical Lion 1x Gigantic Cephalotus 2x Rose Tentacles 1x Tytannial, Princess of Camellias 1x Lord Poison 1x Dandylion 1x Hedge Guard 1x Jerry Beans Man Spells 2x Seed Cannon 2x Thorn of Malice 2x Solidarity 2x Fragrance Storm 1x Mark of the Rose 2x Black Garden 1x Mystical Space Typhoon 2x The World Tree 1x Rose Bell of Revalation 1x Book of Moon 2x Miracle Fertilizer Traps 1x Wall of Thorns 1x Ivy Shackles 2x Pollinosis 1x Final Attack Orders</s> <|message|>Rin Sato After a series of tag duels that played out like tournament semifinals: Cassandra and Sina vs. Helena and Mina, Pine and Valerie vs. Kaison and Leo, and finally Kaison and Leo vs. Cassandra and Sina, the last possessed student was freed from the control of the duel spirits. Although most disappeared without so much as a trace, the spirit of Master Kyonshee stuck around, hovering above Renho and Haruko. It simply held out its hand and dropped a card - itself, before fading away like smoke. Renho, unable to see the spirit, simply took the card and raised an eyebrow. Wasn't this in Haruko's deck? As things settled down, Kaison took charge. "Is everyone alright?" A clear answer or nod from most of them. Although the finalists - Cassandra, Leo, Sina and him all had some scratches from the duels with their psychic opponents, they were mostly unharmed, and the previously possessed students all managed to stand up, except for Pine and Helena. Although it was rather worrying that neither had woken up since their duels ended, both were still breathing, confirming that neither has died, at least. There was the more insidious possibility that they had lost their souls, but it didn't make sense given their respective partners were fine. Renho picked up Haruko, carrying her piggyback. "I'll bring Haruko back to her room. Lemme know what it was that woke everyone up later, kay?" Kaison joined her, carrying Pine, who had fallen unconscious. "Same here. I'm curious, but this has been a weird night and I'm suddenly a lot less curious after all of that." Sina grumbled. "What the heck was all of that? How am I supposed to ignore such a crazy event!?" She let out a long-suffering sigh as she mimicked Renho, struggling to carry Helena on her back. "But a hero's work is never done. I'll bring Helena back. It looks like things are over, but you guys be careful, okay?" With that, the six of them headed back, leaving Cassandra, Leo, Mina, and Valerie in the clearing. They could go back now and forget this ever happened... Or they could go see what it was that caused that massive light. Decisions, decisions. About half-way to the origin of the pillar, the students will notice an old, abandoned well. It's long since been dried up, and if one were to look closely with a light from their PDA, has quite a few cards sitting at the bottom. Tuckered out though the spirits might be, it will nonetheless give the students an uneasy feeling, like they should let sleeping dogs lie. Walking on further, beyond the well, resting under a tree like any other, lies a large, orb-shaped machine. It has a windowed hatch that readily opens to reveal a single cushioned seat within, in front of dead screens and a bunch of unlabeled buttons surrounding the window's view. Besides a tacky pair of fuzzy dice hanged over one of the screens, there doesn't seem to be any discerning marks for companies, brands, or its owner, and the interior has very little wear and tear, as if it was hardly used. On the side of the machine, there seems to be a large gash, burnt black around the edges and up the side of the machine, passing over a small circular indentation that looks like it's supposed to open to reveal something, but nonetheless refuses to budge. Above the machine, tilted off towards the side with the gash, is a large circular hole within the tree branches, as if something cut straight through it, leaving burn marks on the leaves and branches that remain. There doesn't seem to be any further explanation to be found.</s> <|message|>Mina Hākā (English Name- Lucy Harker) Mina felt like she couldn't breathe, she was sure that she was going to lose the duel. She had not been drawing a lot of good cards, and what cards she did play were quickly snuffed out by her opponent. She was mentally preparing herself for the loss, and the consequences that would follow, but when it finally came, nothing seemed to happen. opening her eyes, she noticed she did not end up like the others. Neither did Helena, for that matter, though something else seemed to be wrong. Helena, along with Pine, was unconscious. "Shit." She ran to Helena. She came to a stop beside her, crouching down to get a closer look. "Hi, are you okay?" She shook Helena, thinking that shaking her would be able to wake her up. She was not sure if the academy had a hospital, but there was the school nurse. Mina thought the nurse could try to help her and Pine, though they might also end up in trouble for breaking curfew. She placed two fingers on Helena's neck, thanking the big man in the sky she was breathing. She announced it to the others, and the ones who still weren't possessed were relieved. Mina wanted to help Helena get medical attention, in case she needed it, but she was curious about the spirits still duelling. What would happen if Kaison and Leo lost? She was paralyzed by indecision, monitoring both the duel and Helena worriedly until the duel came to a close, luckily without Helena's condition getting any worse. Sina went ahead and volunteered to carry Helena back, so Mina went ahead and started walking towards the source of the pillar, along with the others. About halfway there, they found a creepy looking well, and a bit further, an equally creepy looking machine. Making her way toward the machine, she felt a cold wind beating against her body. It was unnerving being here, but for some reason, she could not help but feel drawn to it.</s>

<|message|>Florian Pine "Oh, have you come to save me? You're a little late for that…" Pine scoffed and and rolled his eyes. And so, a tag duel began. Pine summoned his strongest monster, Tytannial Princess of Camellas. But she was soon destroyed… Or rather she was forced to tribute herself to stop another undesirable effect… He summoned Jerry Beans man, and powered him up to absurd levels, and he too was destroyed. Ugh. Still, he was able to use the effect of seed cannon, and he exerted all of his psychic powers to make sure every hit he was able to land hurt. Including every seed fired from the cannon. "You know, Haruko had nothing to do with interrupting your date. I may have… borrowed her monsters, but she had no idea what was happening. That was all me. You may asking yourself, but Pine why would you do that? Hmm, well why don't you use that brain and figure it out. You never even offered me a copy of Lost in the Labyrinth. But a pretty girl asks you out, and I guess I'm just left to fend for myself huh…" Pine rolled his eyes. "I've already had my heart broken once. I put that boy in the hospital for his trouble. I was a fool to think things would be different here." Pine would have continued with a monologue, but Pine was soundly defeated. His deck had betrayed him, and his partner was of no help. Pine had passed out from over exertion, and did not wake up after being freed.</s>

<|description|>Hector Wyland "Sometimes, its a lot easier solving problems with lead instead of magic." Appearance: At a height of 5'8" with a slim build, Hector is a rather unimpressive man in terms of stature. His gray hair gives the impression of him being a lot older than he actually is, and the sullen look in his one remaining eye doesn't help that image much. Still, one can tell by the way he carries himself that he's a man of noble birth and military training. Race: Human Sex: Male Age: 26 Magic Divination: Galdr, Thaumaturgy Abilities: Ghost Line: Rather than using Galdr to call upon fully manifested familiars, Hector prefers to keep them in a semi-solid "incomplete" state. His familiars are much weaker for it, but lack a physical form to be attacked. They can also inhabit objects, such as his gun or the bullets within to manipulate them. The only consistent familiar that he has is the one that frequently inhabits the stock of his gun: Herne, who takes the form of a transparent white snake. Haunt: A spiritual invocation that sends one of Hector's familiar towards an enemy, "Marking" them in a way that allows him to see them so long as the spirit remains attached, or within 500 meters. Hector can also have a familiar "haunt" an area, causing a thick white fog to roll in and obscure it. Shot Suspend: A basic order given to spirits inhabiting bullets to "hold" them in place in the air. This can result in a loss of power compared to an actual firing, but the shot's angle can also be redirected. If Hector is in a hurry, he can even force a bullet from his hand to be "suspended", but he usually only does this to ease the process of reloading his rifle. Self Order: A bizarre Galdr spell in which the user allows a spirit to gain limited control of a body part, with Hektor most frequently using it on his arms to allow him to fire with near perfect accuracy even while running. The only part he refuses to give up his the index finger he'd use to pull the trigger, seeing as he doesn't want to risk a particularly jumpy spirit blowing away an ally by mistake. Healing Prayer: One of the basic thaumaturgical spells that Hektor knew during his time as a medical practitioner contracted by the Church. Alleviates pain, hastens regeneration, and provides some relief from toxins and poisons in the blood. Not a very powerful healing spell, but is quick to intone. Smite: A popular spell of the church devised for the purpose of eliminating monsters. Allows the user to attach a fair deal of magical energy to a weapon in order to deliver a devastating blow with significantly more force behind it. Hector chooses to use it to give his bullets significantly increased destructive power and shot velocity. Ward of Morning: A protective barrier spell used to cleanse miasma in a small area while also making it painful for non-humanoid entities to be inside. While the damage inflicted by the spell is minimal, it also makes creatures of unholy origin move significantly slower. If an Apparition enters the ward's area, they will become susceptible to physical damage and other magic types. Equipment: Freischütz: A lovingly customized magitech lever-action rifle that was hand-assembled by Hector. The make of the rifle is top of the line, durable and sleek with each part functioning smoothly for the user. The gun itself is made to be conductive to Galdr incantations, allowing the user to summon a spirit both inside the barrel, and along it for stabilization. Bayonet: A simple steel blade roughly four inches in length that can be used as a simple knife or attached to the end of Freischütz. Brief Background: As the third son of a noble house, prospects were limited for the youngest boy of the house Wyland. Situated in Flugell and having an opportunity to join the nation's armed forces to earn distinction, Hector was a typical Noble Licsuhianist that thought the world of his own skills and entrusted the usage of magic to be fully in the church's purview. Receiving training as a field doctor as well as an infantryman, Hector's prospective military would be cut short, along with the lives of his brothers in arms. The camp position was supposed to be clear of miasma, but the apparitions within had wandered far from their toxic hovels in search of prey. Its an odd feeling, having a transparent claw slice through your eye. That was, at the only injury Hector sustained from the apparitions that tore his comrades to pieces before he was sent hurtling over a nearby cliff while trying to dodge a second swipe, plummeting into a river. Through sheer dumb luck he had survived, being found by a downstream Fae community deeper within the woods. There his wound was tended, the worst outcome of corruption being avoided thanks to a skilled thaumaturge. Burning with shame and a desire to exterminate blight, he'd forsake the church's beliefs on magic to learn from the Fae in the village...albeit, as one can tell from the state of his familiars, he doesn't have a very high aptitude for magic usage. In spite of this, he's sought out the Tower to become a Reaver to hunt down menaces to the world. After all...his life had to have been saved for a reason. Anything else we should know about you: While there is still a bit of the "nobleman pomp" in Hector, he's not so proud as to think he's better than those around him anymore. While he does have a basic healing spell at his disposal, Hector's medical expertise means that he can aid the injured without magic if need be.</s> <|message|>Taltrus Olstelas --- --- The rest of the Magus who had arrived before and after him all stood out in their own way. While Taltrus kept himself fit, some of the others simply out classed him in physicality. Most did not hold the 'looks' of a Magus, although his sensitivity to mana suggested otherwise; it was certain that they were all strong in one form of magic over the other and not to be underestimated. Some may have even had ill-fated encounters with abberations or abominations like himself. The one who introduced himself as 'Hector Wyland' exuded such vibes. In-fact Taltrus had heard of a few of them by chance. The one that stood out the most was Scarlett Ishval. His eyes trailed her as she scaled the tower with relative ease with her magic. He crossed his arms. Her story made its rounds in alchemy circles. A sad and sobering story, that. One that he has decide to take to heart since both of them shared magical schools. Judging from her use of magic, her alchemy skills were no joke, but her prowess in void magic was likely better than his. He made no comment nor discernible expressions as the instructor yanked her off the top of the tower. Taltrus had also heard of Asterope. While also dabbling in Alchemy, she's an excellent and stubborn Elemental magus whose sole focus is lightning. Personally Taltrus prefers branching out to no not be bound by a single focus, but there's a certain respect to those who masters one and forgoes the others. Her lightning magic is no joke, from what he's heard. The others that stood out to him was the hulking belua, Shavis and her familiar. It was clear she did not have the air of a magus, but her connection to magic, especially Galdr, was strong. Tilnak was unique, an insect-based Belua was a rarity, to say the least. Taltrus knew of their existence, but this was the first time he had met one in the flesh. Finally, Leon, the one that seemed to be intently observing others. As for the others... well, he's certain he'll form his own opinions of them soon enough. --- The representatives of the Eon Tower were excellent Magus, as expected. The first was the one who swooped Scarlett out of the sky, Roze. The other was also someone he had heard of, Ruecian Valeniquen. Eon Tower definitely had lived up to its namesake with its decorated and prestigious Magus. Taltrus silently followed the group as they made their way through the tower. The closer he got, the more intense the thrumming of magic was against the back of his head. A reaver made a passing comment that seemed to disgruntle some of the group. Taltrus simply returned a smile, something like that wouldn't shake his desire to be a Reaver. Jeanne's face flashed through his mind, his smile slowly faded away. The group soon met the master of the tower, Navarre Irvin. To say magic clung to him would be an understatement. Taltrus wasn't sure if he'd met another Mage that was as skilled as Navarre; his reputation preceded him. While his father was a strong mage in his own right, he paled in comparison to Navarre. "A pleasure to meet you, Sir Irvin." Taltrus bowed lightly. Taltrus' eyes lit up at the mention of the magitech factory and the boundless information the tower held. It was one of the main reasons he chose to join the Tower. Other than becoming a Reaver to protect others, it would also help further his own research and magitech knowledge with their resources and help. While Taltrus did not lack 'funding', the Tower could offer more than that. It had resources one wouldn't dream of attaining through normal means. Taltrus eyed Leon leaving the room, as he awaited Navarre's next words.</s> <|message|>Aldin Rei Aldin quietly observed the going ons as others arrived, trying his best to make his peace with the situation. Those of the group who were arriving were a lively and colorful bunch, to be sure. He supposed this wasn't any surprise. Reavers were known to be powerful magi, and magi were, as a rule, eccentrics. Aldin may have been an outsider to this society in its entirety, bur he knew this all too well. As the familiar dragged the last of their numbers back to the ground, Aldin couldn't help but notice something of a nauseating kinship. A slight pang in his blood. While the hulking man who had arrived after him was bestial, this woman could only be described as feral insanity, the barest mask of humanity only just covering it. He felt it was almost the air of a chained animal, waiting to be loosed. The swordsman put off the thought. He was already dealing with enough internally to have to worry about his new companion's nature. Especially when one of the others was acting the part of the infuriating fool, gawking and gaping while playing at a gentleman. Aldin scowled slightly. By the arrival and introduction of the liasons from the towel, Aldin couldn't help but let loose a low growl. I was brought here on your own time and auspices. I cannot speak for the others, but blame your own management if you wish to complain about any tardiness. Much as he wanted to speak, he kept the thought to himself. Likewise, as they entered and passed the harried looking doomsayer of an official, Aldin scoffed. It was a joke. Magi should clean their own messes, and yet, here he was, being roped into a position that seemed it would be doing just that. A glorified janitor. He shook his head, following along until they finally reached their handler, a man whose appearance oddly mirrored Aldin's own, although with a much more sophisticated air, compared to the roughness of the backwater mercenary. Aldin quietly listened to the introduction, as well as the talk of jobs already set up. There was something off about it. An underlying urgency or a note of what could only be described as impending death. Aldin had gotten this sort of air before, of course, though there was a certain weight to it when it was coming from someone other than an alderman, even though the man was quite young. "Before we do anything, I'm presuming that the jobs you've set up for us have something to do with the distressed flop of a man we passed on the way in?" Aldin finally spoke, getting right to business. "I've no issue with this, however, before anything, I'd like to visit the infirmary to be sure that the guest I brought along is well set up. I trust that's not an issue?"</s>

<|message|>Hector Wyland Ah, and so it seemed the savage girl was brought back down to earth with the speed he'd expect from any organization that took itself seriously. Hector wanted to bite back at the Belua saying they were all late, but was already aware of seniority being a key part of any organization. His military rank didn't mean anything here, so he'd just have to bite his tongue and bear with it. Wordlessly, he would follow along for the tour of the tower while Herne coiled around his left bicep, somewhat "pulsating" in layers of transparency while he relaxed. They would soon be meeting with the head of the Tower, a man who looked the part of a mage. Though, he did seem rather young...but then again, a Veyonist was likely born practicing magic. Hector was certain that, in terms of magical expertise, everyone in the room far outstripped him. But, expertise didn't matter compared to lethal efficiency. Monsters didn't get easier just because you were more knowledgeable. At the question of whether any had questions, Hector would say: "Only one, sir. Will squad assignments be permanent, or will we be rotated out on a regular basis?" Hector had a sneaking suspicion that, just due to the way the universe seemed to love playing cruel jokes on him, he'd already imagined himself being stuck with Scarlett for a long period of time. He has no doubt that she had the social decorum of a cactus...or perhaps, of ivy would be more accurate given her penchant for climbing. He also would hate to have to stand more than ten minutes of Evelyn's boasting. In fact, one of the only people in the room that he wasn't developing a distaste for was the young woman he'd overheard introducing herself as "Asterlope," a man who had introduced himself as "Aldin Rei" who carried himself with a good amount of dignity in both his words and posture, and the...other young woman(?) adorned in green who seemed as apprehensive as one could expect of a novice.</s>

<|description|>Kargan Hoth Legion: XI - The Brass Hands Homeworld: Orichalcum - Class : Hellworld Size: Super Massive (Neptune Equivalent) A Volcanic world on the Brink of being nothing but a Molten Ball of Metal Slag, with mass quantities of Brass and Non-Ferrous Metals, making it an excellent source for War Materials. Its people have naturally adapted to the Extreme Environment, able to resist the immense Heat and handle molten metals due to an innate Epsilon Level Psyker ability amplifying their Innate Heat Resistance. They live in Underground Cities, built beneath mountains of Metal that is churned up from the core which inversely sucks the heat from the inside of the planet, causing a cooling effect within the Mantle area of the planet. Psyker Grade: High Gamma Skills/Abilities: Biomancy/Pyromancy Psyker Abilities : He is limited to the Iron Body, Endurance, and Warp Speed Biomancy Abilities Master Level Smithing and Engineering Gladiatorial Combat Expertise Defensive Dueling Master Appearance: 10'8 Ft Tall Pale white skin, his body is covered in Brass Veins of liquid metal as a side effect of his Psyker Abilities manifesting in order to adapt his body to survive his homeworlds environment. His pupils are Brass Colored and his scelra are Black Concept: One of the twenty Primarchs, Kargon Hoth was launched to the Hellworld of Orichalcum, his pod launching deep within one of the deepest crevices on the planet, which just so happened to hold the Capital of the Planety, Mythrilla. A city of gleaming Brass and titanium, cast into the cliff side. Large metallic Pillars lining the streets, as the Child Primarch landed within the confines of the Noble Hoth Family. Taking it as a Sign from the Heavens, the Hoth Family took the Child in as their Honored son and he was raised along side his two brothers and soon to come Sister. His world is one of many within the Aristocratic Military Junta that ruled the nearby sector. A total of 14 worlds, across 8 Star Systems, each colonized world a mirror reflection of Orichalcum, were considered the Midas Empire. The Hoth family was one of the Noble Sub-Families beneath the current ruling Caesar, Alexandros Midas. Legion Name: The Brass Hands Associated Primarch: Kargon Hoth Concept: A legion specialized in Attrition Warfare, masters of the slow advance favoring a heavy forward guard while the back line hammers the enemy with a sweltering rain of fire to grind down the enemy as it advances yet this is not their specialty. Given the nature of their abilities, The Brass Hands are Paramount Defensive Fighters, able to hold a position and even regain ground through the sheer losses they inflict on advancing armies. They make use of hidden defensive installations to launch flanking strikes, or automated turrets that mow down key army heavy weapons and armor before it gets within striking distance of their encampments and bastions. They have elite Ambush Units, hidden within the local terrain meant for lightning raids on Command units with in the enemy. Any attack against The Brass Hands and any fortification they are holding will be costly in the extreme. This Legion makes use of Psykers, the Molten Masters favor the Pyromancy discipline while on the field. Many of the Marines have at least Epsilon level Psyker Grades, and many manifest the Iron Body ability to endure a sweltering amount of fire unharmed. With just a handful of Marines, they could hold a pass against thousands and make the enemy pay for every step with a tidal wave of bodies.</s> <|message|>Kargan Hoth Memphos He heard the cry of battle, the thunder of guns ringing in the air, and the sounds of Battle Cries cut short followed by either the moans of the dying, or the silence of the dead. There was a sort of artistry to the sounds of battle, the staccato screams of the damned and dying painting across the canvas that was the battlefield. Using the oldest paints know to mankind, the blood of its people, a work of art was being crafted in his Emperor's name. Truly, the pinnacle on Mankind he was, for only he could craft such beings so talented in the art of death as his brothers and sisters, and even his lessers the Thunder Warriors were proving their Martial worth today. Though he found the artistry they employed to be brutish, without skill and finesse, lacking in all refinement and grace they only slathered the field with filthy finger paintings. An introductory work to be sure, but nothing worthy of the Emperor. They were a Hammer lacking chisel, stonework flying wildly with each strike, so did the mess they create sully that which he savored. Any joy he gained from his work, was offset by the barbarity. "Ugh, such animals." he whispered to himself, the sound only for his ears in the sealed compartment that was his helm. He wished for the presence of his brothers and sisters, yet had to content himself with the Thunder Warriors. He held his axe at his side, the thrumming field of power giving the blade a thin blue hue as the golden filigree along the haft and handle ran with red blood. Many of the men dying today could have been spared, had they only understood and comprehended the great works the Emperor wished to enact. His Master was Grand, his scope of sight beyond all compare, and he only wished to uplift humanity. People however are loathe to let go of power, even meager amounts, in sacrifice to the great grandeur of humanity. Selfishness, pettiness, brutality, barbarity, and most reprehensible of all, Willful Ignorance. Disgusting things, lacking in all refinement. How he wished to be back at the base, with brush in hand as he gazed at his canvas. He wished to bring life to the barren, not take it, yet he knew that this was his duty. "Duty unto Death, For Humanity, For our Emperor." he said resolutely. He opened his Vox, speaking to the Cadre of Thunder Warriors under him, ordering them forward in cohesion with the Champions own command. "Go Forth, Slay the Enemy of the Emperor. Do not fall behind the Advance." he said simply, before he stepped forward. Holding up his wrist, a wave of fresh enemy troops disappeared in chunks of sizzling flesh as he let bark the exact amount of rounds needed, minimizing Ammunition spending while maximizing effect. He could only sigh at it all, staring down as their blood stained the sand, a macabre painting showing the futility of fighting against Change.</s> <|message|>Dagon Dagon From the balcony of...his new Palace, Dagon looked out over the realm he had claimed. He stood alone, his arms crossed behind his back. Blackened feathers ruffled slightly in the wind, the only noise that the figure made. Despite his lack of motion, to say that he was inactive would be a lie. Throughout the realm, the wheels that ran a nation were adapting to the change in leadership and he was...greasing the wheels somewhat. Nothing major or as perverse as what had happened with Cardinal Tong, but simply stroking the odd thought in the right direction. Humans by their nature had something that some would call a flaw, but Dagon himself knew was a feature: A natural tendency to bend the knee to authority. All he was doing was making sure that those in the halls of power across the realm found the idea of kneeling to their new ruler to be easier to swallow then it might otherwise have been, nothing more. Of course, there were those that would refuse to even entertain the thought of submitting to him. Those in positions of actual power who's rebellion against the new order of things would pose an actual problem to things running smoothly were having other ideas implanted. Those that were currently not guilty of any crimes against humanity but simply didn't wish to serve in the new government were having thoughts of peaceful resignation eased into their minds; Dagon fully intended to accept those resignations and allow them to go off and live their lives as they saw fit. After all promoting the image of a fair and just leader above blind, petty vengeance seemed like a good idea. Those who were going to be more problematic... such as those who might rebel or sabotage documentation and thus cause instability for the new government... well, that was where the daemons came in. Weak, wretched and petty things even among their own kind... but useful if kept on a tight leash. The slaves of Desire were given simple instructions and a crushing web of restrictions before being sent out, but their goal was always the same: Influence those Dagon pointed out to them and drive them to self destruction. The method of self destruction was generally left up to the slave of Desire in question. Driving their emotions out of control to the point they ended up dying, causing their addictions and vices to spiral out of control to the point of having a terminal end, driving them insane to the point they took their own lives or slipped up and had an 'accident'... Dagon honestly didn't care what was done, as long as the manner of their death or departure didn't cause collateral in a way that would cause their replacement issues. There would be plans for the future, but before the abandoned garden of Terra and Humanity that had been left to become overgrown and infested could be restored to its proper glory, weeds and pests needed to be removed.</s>

<|message|>Kargan Hoth Regatus swung his hand backwards, the back of his fist impacting a descending warrior with such force that he could feel each individual rib that broke on impact, before the lifeless sack of meat and bone was launched away. The Corpse hurtled end over end, rag-dolling through the air in lazy spins before it impacted a wall hard enough to make a meaty splat. This had been the third person to attempt a dive attack on him, it was like pigeons splattering into the ground, utterly pointless. Yet each and every one of them did their best to defend their home, doing whatever they thought possible to stall the advance of the cadre of Transhuman soldiers. He was treated the same as his lessors, his 'Men'. It was an insulting comparison, but he understood why they did so, they were just human and there was not much difference when you craned you neck to see your killers. He killed 2 more divers and 27 more men charging him from between the streets before the sector of the city he was moving through had been finally cleared. He saw dozens of others holding weapons, and yet they only stared at him from the doors of their homes, locked in place by the dread he saw caked across their faces. Their bodies refused to move against him, and he saw fit to simply pass them by, though it didn't matter because the Thunder Warriors behind him slew them all the same. The Bark of their guns continuously filling the air as he moved towards the final bastion of force in the area. A small garrison was nestled between two large stone walls, choking off access to another part of the city. He could easy bypass the point, in order to get to the part of the city he had been ordered to take. The Thunder Warriors seemed pleased with themselves, they cheered their joy with the fight, praising the Emperor and denoting their actions as for the Lord of Mankind but he knew different. They were animals. Brutes, Hammers with no finesse, they were killers given the power to kill better. They did nothing that did not involve the shedding of blood and he lamented it. They did not see the beauty in the structure of the city they assaulted, they did not see the results of long dead cultures carved into the walls. They did not see the advancement of Humanity, they ingenuity of men who crafted a living from dirt and stone, who learned to make cooler homes out of Mud and Sticks, who paved the way for all that came after. It was their greatest tragedy, with how zealously they sought total destruction of everything around them. While he would never deny the genius of his Master, he knew this to be necessary for the salvation of mankind. Unity above all else, Sacrifice for the advancement and restoration of Mankind's greatness among the stars must start with Terra itself. But in the end, it was still a pitiable loss of History. It brought him great sadness. Yet he did it anyways. These thoughts all went through his mind in the same amount of time it took him to cross the distance in order to make his way into the Bastion. The Thunder Warriors engaged after him, breaking down the walls and slaughtering all inside as he moved past everything. Another mural in sandstone had been painted with the blood of defenders, and Regatus purged it from his mind to focus ahead. "Akus and Barnibus, move up the streets to the left. Engage the defenders as you see them, but secure the path quickly. Moritus move up the center, draw their attention to divert forces. Letticus move to the buildings roofs, kill the entrenched snipers and ambushers. Meet me again at the End of the street, we must take the Inner Gate." he said with a simple tone, keeping his words to them tight and controlled. It was time to move on to the next objective.</s>

<|description|>Mathew Kaschak Age: 28 Occupation: Janitor Hobbies: Weight lifting, jogging, cooking, gaming Personality: Ambiverted, adventurous, likes to stay active but also likes to drink. Enjoys going out to events but doesn't normally talk much. For better or worse, he will try almost anything at least once. He isn't generally mean spirited but does stupid things sometimes which might result in property damage. Other details: He prefers the bigger girls</s> <|message|>Mathew Kaschak Mathew walked cautiously into Otaku Town, recognizing the anime characters and scenery adorning the walls whether it was in pictures or painted directly onto the wall. EDM was playing throughout the bar, loud enough to notice but not so loud as to drown out people's voices. With his eyes wide in paranoid terror, Mathew sat at the bar and ordered a Health Potion. A Health Potion was a vodka based cocktail mixed with cranberry juice and soda, and served in a jar. He had no reason to fear anyone or anything at this bar, his behavior was brought about by a coming down from substances he wasn't used to. The night prior, Mathew had left this very establishment with a friend he had newly made to sample magic mushrooms. What wound up happening was the two of them consuming the friend's entire remaining supply. Earlier that day, Mathew giggled in amusement at how things which were normally still danced and waved at him. He had spent the early morning (11:45 am more specifically) still under the influence of what he had done the night before, and when the hallucinations wore off he was still laughing at his own thoughts. That lasted until night fell, when he realized he had left something of importance at his friend's house and forgot how to get to the place or contact him. So he came back to Otaku Town in the hopes of finding this person again. Music Playing: Business: Slow</s> <|message|>Dave Jones [Asuka Aki] Dave had visited this town a few times before, and is quite exited by how this place seems to live up to it's name. So this time he's decided to try bringing out his alter ego as he calls it. to play somewhat safe he's wearing a sailor fuku outfit in the same style of his favorite anime, Fruits Basket. since it's a cooler day out he's got on the long sleeved top, the knee length skirt and a pair of white tights under that. and then a nice warm jacket and scarf on top. He's also got on a long black wig that has a deep purple highlight to it, and a leather purse that matches the style of the coat. He does know that none of the characters had the purple in their hair but he thought it to be a nice touch. Bars are not usually his thing but the fact that he feels like he could get away with this here makes it all worth it. Getting inside he unbuttons his coat and heads over to the bar to sit down and get something to eat, after placing his order he places his purse don on the counter next to him and looks around spotting Mathew sitting next to him now and turns to Mathew and waves "Hello, I'm Asuka it's nice to meet you"</s> <|message|>Mathew Kaschak The coming down of drugs he had done the previous night put Mathew in an unusual place mentally. He felt jumpy and paranoid of other people while at the same time yearning for human interaction. "Hey buddy." Mathew said, his eyes wide as result of paranoia "You wouldn't happen to know a regular here who insists he is a wizard would you?" Mathew was unsure what words to use to explain his situation. This was all because of his drug withdrawal and his embarrassment in admitting that he did a whole fuck ton of drugs with someone but forgot their name or where he had gone to do them. Still, he needed his favorite leather coat back.</s> <|message|>Dave Jones [Asuka Aki] "Well I'm new here, so your the first I've met. I've seen a few that look like wizard when I came in." he shrugs and blushes a bit. "I'm not a wizard myself just a lonely school girl. uh if you'd like to talk about something I'd be happy to do so." he nods and sorta fidgets with the shoulder strap on his purse until his drink arrives, it is a soft version of one of the drinks they offer, as he's not to big on drinking himself. not that he has any hangups with others doing it, or even trying it himself once in a while, but most of the drinks with alcohol in them he's tried have had a rancid taste to them, so he tends to stick to the softer stuff. "so um are you into anime or video games?" he asks thinking/hopping that given the theme of this place Matt will be into at least one of those.</s> <|message|>Mathew Kaschak "I'm a major gamer." Mathew said. Having a conversation eased the flood of negative thoughts he was having as result of coming down from drugs. Perhaps he should curse his own curiosity, or maybe his lack of hobbies (he wasn't actually that much of a gamer). Maybe the blame lay on his lack of experiences in life at his age of 28. It was his first time with mushrooms and acid, and he had binged on both. "I'm playing a lot of Red Dead Redemption. There is always more to find in that game." Mathew said, noticing this schoolgirl was a guy in a costume. He had never thought about trying a feminine costume himself, but wondered what people's reactions would be. "Are you more of a singe player gamer or a competitive multiplayer gamer?"</s> <|message|>Dave Jones [Asuka Aki] "ooh I've heard of that game, i should try it sometime. Certainly more of a multi player type, competitive or co/op." He nods "I've been playing a mmorpg a lot lately. That has been fun, but I end up playing single player games a lot too. Rimworld is fun with mods, And there's also Yakuza 0 there's a ton of extra stuff in that game" He said giving him a smile and taking a sip of his drink. "So um, do you come here a lot? it's my first time here." He was still pretty nervous getting dressed up in a new place and such a public one at that. But it also felt good to do it and so far it seems like everyone is okay with this, so he's just trying not to let it show how he's both nervous and excited that he's able to be here pretending to be a school girl and having a normal conversation.</s> <|message|>Mathew Kaschak Mathew didn't know if the person he was talking to was just cross dressing or trans, but he had seen guys cosplay as female characters at the convention he had went to in September (it was now January.) He didn't care either way, and wasn't the type to treat someone different based on that kind of thing. If anything he just found it interesting. "I come here on and off." Mathew said "I was here last night and...partied..." He was cautious to admit that he had done harder drugs "And left something at the party now I have no idea where it was. Normally when I come here I meet someone and have a little conversation. Do you go to conventions?"</s> <|message|>Dave Jones [Asuka Aki] "That's cool, I think I'm going to be coming here more often, now." he nods. "though will probably be a while before I'm up for going to a party of anykind." he sighs. "And no, I've only recently got to the point where I have the money, and the costumes to go to one. But getting up the nerve to wear a costume in such a big place, is well both exciting and terrifying. add to that I didn't have either when the last one was in the area so I'm having to wait and hope one comes around again. to be honest this is the first time I've worn my school girl costume outside" he says and shrugs. "I hope I'm not to boring, hey maybie sometime we could meet up at the arcade."</s> <|message|>Mathew Kaschak "Well, I went to a con last year, and there was tons of cosplaying. It was pretty impressive. One person had the perfect Fallout costume with the pip boy, nuka colas and everything. There was a Link and he had rupees just like in the game, and a group of guys wearing sailor scout costumes." Mathew more vividly remembered the Misa Misa and Tifa costumes. He said this in case this guy was fearing judgement for dressing as a schoolgirl. "I also went to a costume party here last Halloween and a New Years Eve party that was anime themed. They weren't as impressive as the con, but I made out with this girl dressed as a...bat or something. Anyways I will probably be here a lot more often considering I am back into anime!"</s> <|message|>Dave Jones [Asuka Aki] [ahh no wonder there was no reply here darn thing ate my post] "ooh that's really awesome. all those people sound like they would of been fun to meet." he nods and takes a ship of his drink. "I had made my own working pipboy once. used a 3d printer for the case and slipped in a cell phone where I had made a program to look like the interface. I had even figured out how to include the maps app but have it give the maps in black and white and then change the black to green and the white to black so it looked like the pip boys maps but be of the actual area I was in. that was fun to make." he nods remember that project even if he never did get around to wearing it out. "they still sound like will be fun even if they are much smaller scale. and you seem like a nice person too I do hope to see you around more."</s> <|message|>Alexi Crane Being a local of Otaku, Alexi knew the area pretty well, just not many people as she stayed on the move a lot between work and skateboarding. It was mid day and she was just finishing up her shift at the local Music shop that had recently opened up and has been bringing a lot of attentions since the Grand Opening, bringing music hits from England and The U.S. The Rock Genre being one of the biggest things to recently come to Otaku. Alexi put in her earbuds, turned on some Dead Kennedys, slipped on her jacket, then finally grabbing her skateboard before stepping out the shop, the soft wind lifted her long very light blue, near white hair and she kicked off on her board, eventually she had arrived at the bar where Dave and Matthew were, complete strangers to Alexi, but time could change that. As she walked in, Alexi stubbed out a Joint she had smoked on the way. Her eyes a bit hazy and her body language suggested that she was in a very calm mellow state. Alexi approached the bar counter with her skateboard hanging from her backpack she commonly traveled with. "One Silent Sunrise, please" She said softly with a soft smile and she was handed a glass with a mixture of orange juice, cinnamon, and a nice splash of gin and whiskey. She then plopped in a bar stool with a sigh of relief after having a long day at work.</s> <|message|>Mathew Kaschak "I plan to come here every weekend at least until I see that wizard guy again. I'm not opposed to making friends along the way. My name is Matt." He said, noticing a woman with blue/gray hair sit down a couple seats down with a skateboard and backpack. She seemed the type who might know something about the wizard guy with the stash of mushrooms. "Hey, if you don't mind my asking, were you here last night?" His interaction with Dave had calmed him down from his anxiety, so he sounded casual.</s> <|message|>Dave Jones [Asuka Aki] "ooh that's cool, i do hope you find that guy your looking for, but it's always nice to meet new friends." he nods and and also notices the lady who had just came in and turns to wave at her as Matt does. "Hello there, that's a neat Jacket. you have." He says and reaches for his drink. wanting to give her some time to react before he tries to do anything more. also it helps him to focus a little as he's still got some anxiety over how he's dressed he looks like the picture on his character profile. Sure it was solely his decision and so far he hasn't regretted it. bit it's also his first time out wearing a skirt and tights and the rest of the school girl outfit outside and in front of other people. after a longer sip he puts down his glass and continues.. "I'm Asuka, it's nice to meet you, what's your name?"</s> <|message|>Alexi Crane As she took a sip of her drink, Alexi looked over to the man addressing her and with a hazy look in her eyes and relaxed expression, she tilted her head at his question. "Me? oh lets see.." She replied, taking a moment to remember last night, most of her memory was kind of a blur as she Is commonly under the influence of marijuana. "Oh! I got off of work late, closed up the music store for the night after some strange fellow with a pointy hat bought a a Pink Floyd album from me... I guess I was unaware there was a cosplay event or something, had quite a few customers come in with outfits.." She then looked over at what she assumed was a female, Alexi was too hazy to really determine the gender of whom complimented her jacket." Why thank you.." She said softly with a slight smile on her face. 'I've had this jacket for a few years now, I get patches and sow them on. "I'm Alexi, I recently became manager of the new music shop a ways down the street, you know the one that everyone's going to because of the U.K. and U.S. rock music we sell."</s> <|message|>Dave Jones [Asuka Aki] "ooh that sounds like the wizard guy.. uh... he was after" he says looking over at Mathew "Ya know I just realized, you never did tell me your name." he says tiling his head slightly to the side, before turning back to the lady. "Your welcome. that sounds like a neat idea I might need to find a nice coat and some nice patches to do that with." he nods "Nice to meet you Alexi, I've heard of that store. though to be honest I'm a bit more into Kpop then us rock. though there are still some rock bands I like. hum, do you like Anime?"</s>

<|message|>Mathew Kaschak "Oh...this guy just had a hood. It looked kinda sci-fi. I will just keep coming back here each weekend. I'm bound to run into him again eventually." Mathew said, finishing his drink "I don't know about any cosplay event. I'm relatively new to the cosplay and convention scene. I've also considered getting a vinyl record player just because it would be cool, but I'm a cheapass." Near the liquor shelves were two TVs at both ends. One was playing a stream of the newest Call of Duty, while the other played Parasyte. "So what animes do you guys watch?" Matt was assuming anyone who came here liked anime.</s>

<|description|>Mathew Kaschak Age: 28 Occupation: Janitor Hobbies: Weight lifting, jogging, cooking, gaming Personality: Ambiverted, adventurous, likes to stay active but also likes to drink. Enjoys going out to events but doesn't normally talk much. For better or worse, he will try almost anything at least once. He isn't generally mean spirited but does stupid things sometimes which might result in property damage. Other details: He prefers the bigger girls</s> <|message|>Dave Jones [Asuka Aki] Dave had visited this town a few times before, and is quite exited by how this place seems to live up to it's name. So this time he's decided to try bringing out his alter ego as he calls it. to play somewhat safe he's wearing a sailor fuku outfit in the same style of his favorite anime, Fruits Basket. since it's a cooler day out he's got on the long sleeved top, the knee length skirt and a pair of white tights under that. and then a nice warm jacket and scarf on top. He's also got on a long black wig that has a deep purple highlight to it, and a leather purse that matches the style of the coat. He does know that none of the characters had the purple in their hair but he thought it to be a nice touch. Bars are not usually his thing but the fact that he feels like he could get away with this here makes it all worth it. Getting inside he unbuttons his coat and heads over to the bar to sit down and get something to eat, after placing his order he places his purse don on the counter next to him and looks around spotting Mathew sitting next to him now and turns to Mathew and waves "Hello, I'm Asuka it's nice to meet you"</s> <|message|>Mathew Kaschak The coming down of drugs he had done the previous night put Mathew in an unusual place mentally. He felt jumpy and paranoid of other people while at the same time yearning for human interaction. "Hey buddy." Mathew said, his eyes wide as result of paranoia "You wouldn't happen to know a regular here who insists he is a wizard would you?" Mathew was unsure what words to use to explain his situation. This was all because of his drug withdrawal and his embarrassment in admitting that he did a whole fuck ton of drugs with someone but forgot their name or where he had gone to do them. Still, he needed his favorite leather coat back.</s> <|message|>Dave Jones [Asuka Aki] "Well I'm new here, so your the first I've met. I've seen a few that look like wizard when I came in." he shrugs and blushes a bit. "I'm not a wizard myself just a lonely school girl. uh if you'd like to talk about something I'd be happy to do so." he nods and sorta fidgets with the shoulder strap on his purse until his drink arrives, it is a soft version of one of the drinks they offer, as he's not to big on drinking himself. not that he has any hangups with others doing it, or even trying it himself once in a while, but most of the drinks with alcohol in them he's tried have had a rancid taste to them, so he tends to stick to the softer stuff. "so um are you into anime or video games?" he asks thinking/hopping that given the theme of this place Matt will be into at least one of those.</s> <|message|>Mathew Kaschak "I'm a major gamer." Mathew said. Having a conversation eased the flood of negative thoughts he was having as result of coming down from drugs. Perhaps he should curse his own curiosity, or maybe his lack of hobbies (he wasn't actually that much of a gamer). Maybe the blame lay on his lack of experiences in life at his age of 28. It was his first time with mushrooms and acid, and he had binged on both. "I'm playing a lot of Red Dead Redemption. There is always more to find in that game." Mathew said, noticing this schoolgirl was a guy in a costume. He had never thought about trying a feminine costume himself, but wondered what people's reactions would be. "Are you more of a singe player gamer or a competitive multiplayer gamer?"</s> <|message|>Dave Jones [Asuka Aki] "ooh I've heard of that game, i should try it sometime. Certainly more of a multi player type, competitive or co/op." He nods "I've been playing a mmorpg a lot lately. That has been fun, but I end up playing single player games a lot too. Rimworld is fun with mods, And there's also Yakuza 0 there's a ton of extra stuff in that game" He said giving him a smile and taking a sip of his drink. "So um, do you come here a lot? it's my first time here." He was still pretty nervous getting dressed up in a new place and such a public one at that. But it also felt good to do it and so far it seems like everyone is okay with this, so he's just trying not to let it show how he's both nervous and excited that he's able to be here pretending to be a school girl and having a normal conversation.</s> <|message|>Mathew Kaschak Mathew didn't know if the person he was talking to was just cross dressing or trans, but he had seen guys cosplay as female characters at the convention he had went to in September (it was now January.) He didn't care either way, and wasn't the type to treat someone different based on that kind of thing. If anything he just found it interesting. "I come here on and off." Mathew said "I was here last night and...partied..." He was cautious to admit that he had done harder drugs "And left something at the party now I have no idea where it was. Normally when I come here I meet someone and have a little conversation. Do you go to conventions?"</s> <|message|>Dave Jones [Asuka Aki] "That's cool, I think I'm going to be coming here more often, now." he nods. "though will probably be a while before I'm up for going to a party of anykind." he sighs. "And no, I've only recently got to the point where I have the money, and the costumes to go to one. But getting up the nerve to wear a costume in such a big place, is well both exciting and terrifying. add to that I didn't have either when the last one was in the area so I'm having to wait and hope one comes around again. to be honest this is the first time I've worn my school girl costume outside" he says and shrugs. "I hope I'm not to boring, hey maybie sometime we could meet up at the arcade."</s> <|message|>Mathew Kaschak "Well, I went to a con last year, and there was tons of cosplaying. It was pretty impressive. One person had the perfect Fallout costume with the pip boy, nuka colas and everything. There was a Link and he had rupees just like in the game, and a group of guys wearing sailor scout costumes." Mathew more vividly remembered the Misa Misa and Tifa costumes. He said this in case this guy was fearing judgement for dressing as a schoolgirl. "I also went to a costume party here last Halloween and a New Years Eve party that was anime themed. They weren't as impressive as the con, but I made out with this girl dressed as a...bat or something. Anyways I will probably be here a lot more often considering I am back into anime!"</s> <|message|>Dave Jones [Asuka Aki] [ahh no wonder there was no reply here darn thing ate my post] "ooh that's really awesome. all those people sound like they would of been fun to meet." he nods and takes a ship of his drink. "I had made my own working pipboy once. used a 3d printer for the case and slipped in a cell phone where I had made a program to look like the interface. I had even figured out how to include the maps app but have it give the maps in black and white and then change the black to green and the white to black so it looked like the pip boys maps but be of the actual area I was in. that was fun to make." he nods remember that project even if he never did get around to wearing it out. "they still sound like will be fun even if they are much smaller scale. and you seem like a nice person too I do hope to see you around more."</s> <|message|>Alexi Crane Being a local of Otaku, Alexi knew the area pretty well, just not many people as she stayed on the move a lot between work and skateboarding. It was mid day and she was just finishing up her shift at the local Music shop that had recently opened up and has been bringing a lot of attentions since the Grand Opening, bringing music hits from England and The U.S. The Rock Genre being one of the biggest things to recently come to Otaku. Alexi put in her earbuds, turned on some Dead Kennedys, slipped on her jacket, then finally grabbing her skateboard before stepping out the shop, the soft wind lifted her long very light blue, near white hair and she kicked off on her board, eventually she had arrived at the bar where Dave and Matthew were, complete strangers to Alexi, but time could change that. As she walked in, Alexi stubbed out a Joint she had smoked on the way. Her eyes a bit hazy and her body language suggested that she was in a very calm mellow state. Alexi approached the bar counter with her skateboard hanging from her backpack she commonly traveled with. "One Silent Sunrise, please" She said softly with a soft smile and she was handed a glass with a mixture of orange juice, cinnamon, and a nice splash of gin and whiskey. She then plopped in a bar stool with a sigh of relief after having a long day at work.</s> <|message|>Mathew Kaschak "I plan to come here every weekend at least until I see that wizard guy again. I'm not opposed to making friends along the way. My name is Matt." He said, noticing a woman with blue/gray hair sit down a couple seats down with a skateboard and backpack. She seemed the type who might know something about the wizard guy with the stash of mushrooms. "Hey, if you don't mind my asking, were you here last night?" His interaction with Dave had calmed him down from his anxiety, so he sounded casual.</s> <|message|>Dave Jones [Asuka Aki] "ooh that's cool, i do hope you find that guy your looking for, but it's always nice to meet new friends." he nods and and also notices the lady who had just came in and turns to wave at her as Matt does. "Hello there, that's a neat Jacket. you have." He says and reaches for his drink. wanting to give her some time to react before he tries to do anything more. also it helps him to focus a little as he's still got some anxiety over how he's dressed he looks like the picture on his character profile. Sure it was solely his decision and so far he hasn't regretted it. bit it's also his first time out wearing a skirt and tights and the rest of the school girl outfit outside and in front of other people. after a longer sip he puts down his glass and continues.. "I'm Asuka, it's nice to meet you, what's your name?"</s> <|message|>Alexi Crane As she took a sip of her drink, Alexi looked over to the man addressing her and with a hazy look in her eyes and relaxed expression, she tilted her head at his question. "Me? oh lets see.." She replied, taking a moment to remember last night, most of her memory was kind of a blur as she Is commonly under the influence of marijuana. "Oh! I got off of work late, closed up the music store for the night after some strange fellow with a pointy hat bought a a Pink Floyd album from me... I guess I was unaware there was a cosplay event or something, had quite a few customers come in with outfits.." She then looked over at what she assumed was a female, Alexi was too hazy to really determine the gender of whom complimented her jacket." Why thank you.." She said softly with a slight smile on her face. 'I've had this jacket for a few years now, I get patches and sow them on. "I'm Alexi, I recently became manager of the new music shop a ways down the street, you know the one that everyone's going to because of the U.K. and U.S. rock music we sell."</s> <|message|>Dave Jones [Asuka Aki] "ooh that sounds like the wizard guy.. uh... he was after" he says looking over at Mathew "Ya know I just realized, you never did tell me your name." he says tiling his head slightly to the side, before turning back to the lady. "Your welcome. that sounds like a neat idea I might need to find a nice coat and some nice patches to do that with." he nods "Nice to meet you Alexi, I've heard of that store. though to be honest I'm a bit more into Kpop then us rock. though there are still some rock bands I like. hum, do you like Anime?"</s> <|message|>Mathew Kaschak "Oh...this guy just had a hood. It looked kinda sci-fi. I will just keep coming back here each weekend. I'm bound to run into him again eventually." Mathew said, finishing his drink "I don't know about any cosplay event. I'm relatively new to the cosplay and convention scene. I've also considered getting a vinyl record player just because it would be cool, but I'm a cheapass." Near the liquor shelves were two TVs at both ends. One was playing a stream of the newest Call of Duty, while the other played Parasyte. "So what animes do you guys watch?" Matt was assuming anyone who came here liked anime.</s> <|message|>Alexi Crane Alexi then dug in her pocket, remembering she had a duplicate of a patch on her jacket the was sent to her as a bonus for a sale on these particular patches. "Here you go, your first battle jacket patch when you get it." she said as she gently slapped a Pokeball patch into his hand with a smile. "It's nice to meet you too... uh I didn't catch your name." Now hearing the other man ask about animes, she quickly compiled a short list of her favorites in her mind. " For me I'd say Full Metal Alchemist, Death Note, Beserk, and Yu-gi-oh." With hat comment, she grabbed her leg where a pouch was strapped, pulling out her tournament Yu-gi-oh deck and flashing it up. " Active player as well..." she added on with a hint of pride.</s> <|message|>Dave Jones [Asuka Aki] Dave smiles big as Alexi hands over the patch "ooh, thanks so much. this will look great on there." he nods. "Oh I'm Asuka, thanks again for the patch." He goes to put it into his purse that was sitting on the bar next to him. "I've heard of all those but haven't actually watched any." he says and you can see his eyes light up when you pull out the cards "ooh that's so cool, I was thinking about trying that game sometime but never had anyone to play it with" he shrugs. "As for me, my Fav's are Fruits Basket, Excel Saga, Last Exile, and My Hero Academia"</s>

<|message|>Mathew Kaschak "I haven't played that game since I was 22" Mathew said, referring to Alexi's Yu Gi Oh deck. It was clear to Matt that he wasn't going to be getting his jacket back, but he felt a lot better. "I like Attack on Titan, Spy Family, Dr Stone, Death Note oh and have you guys seen Boccano?" He asked finishing his drink and ordering another.</s>

<|description|>Sullivan "Sully" Zucco Age: 18 Birthday: May 15th Height: 6'3" Body Type: Athletic Eyes: Green Hair: Dark Brown Pronouns: He/His Orientation: Pansexual Voice Musical Theme Personality Sully is considerably intelligent and wise when he wants to be, but often suffers issues due to his sharp tongue and witty, sarcastic sense of humor. He just barely passed many of his classes, due to constant suspensions as a result of fights in school. His mother would often say: "Again, Sully?! Jesus Christ, if it wasn't for that fucking mouth of yours, you wouldn't get bullied so much!" To which he would reply something in the vein of: "But where would the fun be in that? Deprive people of this angelic voice? Oof. Sounds dreadful!" Although he derives an immense amount of joy out of triggering religious bigots, fanatics, racists, fascists, so-called "alpha" males, and anyone else bearing what he considers "fragile little manbaby egos," he also holds a deep sense of justice and equality and wants to see positive change in the world. He views his rebellious and reckless behavior as challenging what he perceives as a corrupt system, and has served stints in juvenile detention throughout his adolescent years for engaging in peaceful protests against police brutality, racism, bigotry, religious indoctrination, etc. His arrests during these events almost always resulted from police officers becoming offended by his remarks, and one time his family successfully sued the LAPD after officers had severely beaten and tased Sully during a protest when he was sixteen. Although he views attraction regardless of gender, his shenanigans tended to draw attention primarily from his female peers. Girls always seemed to be fawning over him at underground punk shows or the cafeteria at school, and while he did cycle through a lot of girlfriends, he always treated them well. Talents & Skills Sully is a talented musician, providing songwriting, lead vocals, and rhythm guitar for his pop-punk band, the Rabid Trash Pandas. He has also developed a keen sense for creative writing, drawing, sketching, digital painting, and graphic design. He bears a decent understanding of science and technology, but his passion has always been more with the arts. He grew up speaking both English and Italian, as much of his extended family still lives in Italy and they visit frequently. Additionally, through independent study and conversations with friends, he has become fluent in Japanese to read manga in its native form and watch anime without subtitles. Sully keeps his body in fairly good shape, working out a few times a week. He has received some basic instruction in Taekwondo and self-defense, but never really pursued it beyond that despite being in constant fights. He often prefers to allow his attackers to hurt themselves when he dodges out of the way rather than throw a punch himself, if it can be helped. He will strike back, however, if he feels it's his only option. Faerie Powers Sully can channel, project, and manipulate green Life Energy, which is converted from absorbed essences in his environment, such as solar radiation, ambient heat, and other natural power sources that have organic or nuclear roots. He can form blasts, spheres, waves, beams, and even vines made of green light, as well as channeling his energy into plantlife to accelerate and control its growth. Biography Sully was born fifteen minutes after his twin sister, Cammy, and raised with their older brother Teddy in the Harper Grove neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Their mother Sarah tried her best to provide her children a good life, but the kids' father Reece spiraled deeper and deeper into alcoholism, drug addiction, and gambling as time went on. He seemed to have better control when they visited family in Italy, but always fell off the bandwagon again upon returning to L.A. Eventually, Teddy followed in his father's footsteps, and it wasn't long until they were both serving long prison sentences for drug-related criminal charges. The twins were only fourteen when their brother and father were hauled away in handcuffs, and while Cammy made a point to visit them every week, Sully was furious and refused, claiming "Those fucking idiots chose drugs over US! Dad and Teddy are dead as far as I'm concerned!" His anger at them would ease considerably as he matured, but by age eighteen, he still hadn't felt ready to re-open the lines of communication. He participated in a number of protests throughout his teens (more info on that in the above sections), earning a reputation as a rebellious youth and troublemaker among the conservative and religious residents of their community. He had formulated a plan to top anything he had done before on the last day of school, when he knew a group of politicians were going to be speaking to students in the auditorium… Camelia "Cammy" Zucco Age: 18 Birthday: May 15th Height: 5'5" Body Type: Athletic Eyes: Green Hair: Dark Brown Pronouns: She/Her Orientation: Bisexual Voice Musical Theme Personality Cammy was every teacher's favorite student, always kind, caring, compassionate, and absorbed knowledge like a sponge. She has a sense of justice and equality very similar to Sully, but is nowhere near as reckless or rebellious. She prefers to stay on peoples' good sides as much as possible, which made her one of the most popular girls in school. She can be charming and romantic, but has only dated a couple guys throughout high school, her studies always taking priority. Although she always tries to show kindness to everyone, she at times has a shorter temper with her brothers when they pull their reckless antics. Talents & Skills Cammy is a bright young woman with perfect grades and scholarship offers to multiple prestigious universities, where she intends to pursue a career in medicine. Additionally, she has a deep understanding of modern technology and is far more adept at computer programming and web design than her brothers. Like Sully, she also speaks English and Italian, and maintains a similar workout routine as him. She continued studying Taekwondo for a couple of years after he quit, but didn't stay long enough to reach the higher belt colors. Faerie Powers Cammy's primary ability centers around channeling and manipulating purple electrical energy. She can form bolts, spheres, and blasts, as well as funnel lightning into items, such as projectiles or melee weapons. Additionally, she can supercharge her abilities by absorbing energy from an electrical power source. Biography Cammy was born fifteen minutes before her twin (was mostly already covered in Sully's bio), and has always taken pride in being older than him. She was adored by everyone growing up, and would often help her mother with volunteer work at their church. Her brothers and father always refused to attend on Sunday morning, so it was just Sarah and Cammy who went. She did begin to dislike religious institutions as she matured, but kept going for her mother's sake. She had always dreamt of becoming a doctor, wanting to one day open a network of free clinics for low-income families. For most of her first eighteen years of life, she frequently imagined herself being hailed as a hero some day by people everywhere, spreading joy and prosperity anywhere she stepped. Little did she know that fate would take her down a… darker path… Kamran Qaarn Age: 18 Birthday: January 22nd Height: 6'0" Body Type: Athletic Eyes: Brown Hair: Dark Brown Pronouns: He/His Orientation: Heterosexual/Sapiosexual Voice Musical Theme Personality Kamran is kind and charming to most, but can be unapologetically ruthless to those he feels deserve such treatment. He shares many of the same values as Sully and Cammy, but unlike them, he will absolutely throw the first punch if a severe threat seems imminent. His mentor, Tamreon Erko, has reprimanded him in the past for resorting to direct violence prematurely, which he feels betrays the teachings of Jeet Kune Do. Outside of combat training, he is quite the bibliophile, with a soft spot for ancient history and archeology pertaining to Pakistan and the surrounding area, where his mother's side of the family hails from. He has an average understanding of modern technology, but prefers literary pursuits away from electronic screens. An exception to that is anything to do with Disney, who several members of the Watchers' Guild have worked for over the years. A number of their fantasy movies and shows were inspired by material stored in the Qaarn Private Library, Kamran's favorite being the Gummi Bears, which was based on a real family of bear faeries his father knew as a young boy. When engaged in relationships, he has a penchant for being smooth and romantic. He does enjoy the company of beautiful women, but he finds intelligence a far greater factor in attraction than appearance alone. A supermodel could approach him, but if she can't stimulate him intellectually, chances are he'd lose interest very quickly. Talents & Skills Kamran is a polylinguist, speaking, reading, and writing at least a dozen languages fluently, and a passing knowledge of several others. Additionally, he is quite adept at martial arts despite his young age, having trained since infancy. His primary focus centers around Jeet Kune Do - the philosophy of Bruce Lee - which Kamran learned from his father's former apprentice, Tamreon Erko. Adding to that, he also trained with a variety of melee weapons, including swords, staves, nunchaku, and spears. Unlike most of his peers, he has actually known about the existence of faeries for years, as did his father before he went missing. They have a sizable private library in the family mansion that houses a great deal of knowledge about the occult and magical secrets of the world, which is frequented by other members of the secretive Watchers' Guild, an organization of which Kamran's father, Alistair Qaarn, was a member. Faerie Powers Kamran has the ability to move through and channel Shadow Energy from the Void, a parallel realm that sits in the dark space between the Mortal Plane and the Astral Plane. This allows him to utilize a form of teleportation, cloak himself from sight, and absorb Shadow Energy to amplify his physical capabilities. Biography Kamran was born into a mixed-race family, growing up in a large mansion in the Bowerstone Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles, a hilly upscale district that sat adjacent to Harper Grove. His father Alistair was an Irish-American journalist, archeologist, and explorer with a focus on researching the occult and uncovering ancient magical secrets. His mother Yasmin was a Pakistani-American writer and archeologist who documented the adventures her family went on, portrayed them as fictional stories starring anthropomorphic dogs, and turned them into a series of bestselling young adult novels - The Chronicles of Captain Husk. Qaarn Manor was also home to the Qaarn Private Library, a repository of all the knowledge Kamran's family and their allies had gathered. His father was a member of the Watchers' Guild, which monitored magical activity around the world. They were all sworn to secrecy, and so the boy could never talk to any of his friends about the truth of his family's exploits. Throughout his youth, he was trained in a variety of martial arts and fighting styles - primarily through the lens of Jeet Kune Do - by his father's former apprentice, Tamreon Erko. The man often accompanied the boy anytime they traveled abroad, and was also seen as his protector and bodyguard. When Kamran was fifteen, Alistair never returned from a Watchers conference in Paris, and as of 2023 has been missing for three years. Some considered foul play may have been involved, but ultimately the investigators came up empty-handed and the case was closed. That never sat well with Kamran, and to this day he is convinced there are bad actors within the Watchers' Guild. Previously, he had attended classes at Briarstead Academy, but due to a major fire that destroyed much of the building, everyone had to transfer elsewhere for their senior year. Many of his classmates relocated to other private campuses, but he chose Harper Grove High School because it was closer to his home. As graduation came closer, Kamran began to overhear discreet, hushed chatter about a secret, no-rules party. It would apparently be held in an abandoned industrial plaza at 10:00PM on the last day of school, and it seemed quite a few people would be going. Normally, he would not attend such an event, but he had this persistent nagging feeling that he should be there. Little did he know what fate had in store for him…</s> <|message|>Sullivan "Sully" Zucco Sully locked eyes with Conner and grinned at the compliment. "Thanks! Figured I'd make Principal White shit-stain his old man whitey-tighties one more time before I left! That one'll be haunting him for years!" When shaking his hand, he held it a bit longer than usual as he smiled. "Nice to meet you properly, Conner! I've seen you around school, it's a shame we never hung out before! That's a fantastic tan, by the way! At least from what I can see. I take it you're a surfer guy?" He looked him over slightly, the grin never leaving his face. Meanwhile, the holier-than-thou girl from earlier - who, for some reason, still joined everyone inside the club - was holding her phone up trying to get reception. Mr. Dude saw this from across the room and approached her. "You're wasting your time, my young friend," he called out over the music as he flashed his big plastic teeth. "This entire plaza is designed to block cellular signals. Wouldn't be very wise to have a secret party like this and allow cops to trace the GPS coordinates, now would it? Didn't you notice you lost service back at the garage?" "What if there is an emergency?!" she asked, suddenly alarmed. "I demand to leave right now. Let me out of here!" "Of course, of course!" The masked partyman smiled. "No one is held here against their will! Security, see to it that she is… taken care of." The two guards nodded and escorted her out of sight as the party continued. Kamran made note of this from where he was sitting, still suspicious.</s> <|message|>Conner Waters "Absolutely! Surfing is my passion! The beach is practically my second home." Conner answered with a big grin on his face. "I love catching the perfect wave, the sand beneath your feet, the hot guys in swimsuits. It's the best!" Conner realized what he said, and laughed. "Aw yeah. You should probably know. I'm gay. It really shouldn't be that big of a deal, but for some reason some dudes have a problem with it." He shrugged.</s>

<|message|>Sullivan "Sully" Zucco "It's all good, I'm pansexual," he revealed, then smirked. "I love me a big skillet! Melt some butter, throw in some meat, things get nice and slippery. It's great!" After the laughter subsided, Sully leaned in a little closer. "You'll have to teach me how to surf some time!"</s>

<|description|>Conner Waters Age: 18 Birthday: June 21 Height: 6'0" Body Type: Athletic Eyes: Brown Hair: Dark Brown Pronouns: He/His Orientation: Gay Voice Musical Theme Personality Conner is a spontaneous and outgoing young man. He likes to have fun. His favorite activities are surfing, swimming, playing video games, and reading comic books. He enjoys socializing with others and being the center of attention. He is an handshaking, touching kind of guy. He openly expresses affection through hugs, holding hands, as well as stroking and grabbing shoulders. He particularly likes flirting with attractive guys. He makes friends easily, and will happily chat up strangers if they interest him somehow. He enjoys social situations, and believes that everyone else would too. He's likely to convince people who he perceives as being lonely to come along with things like 'come on, you'll enjoy it!' or 'you don't know what you're missing!' While he does need to spend time alone once in a while, he gets bored if he does it too long. He values all his relationships, and will happily stick with anyone he considers a friend. He can often be found with a smile on his face, even during stressful situations. He often makes jokes, when the situation is tense to lift people's spirits. He may tease others in a 'playful' way, and expect them not to 'take it so seriously.' He does feel bad if somebody does actually get their feelings hurt by what he says. Sometimes his attempts at humor are read as him not taking the situation seriously. While he does joke around a lot, he is capable of getting things done. He just doesn't feel the need to be so dour about it. He often suggests that others not be so serious. Conner enjoys showing off his skills for others in order to get praise. He is prone to bragging about the things he is good at. He does it in a 'look at this awesome thing I can do!' way, rather than an 'I'm better than you.' way. He likes to live in the moment rather than dwelling on the past. This means Conner is not the best when it comes to organization, or planning. Due to his lack of planning ahead, it makes him impulsive, and he tends to jump into things without a second thought. He gets bored when he is not sufficiently stimulated, and will complain about being bored. He is also not the most tidy person. He does clean up his mess after the fact if it's pointed out to him, but he has trouble avoiding making a mess in the first place. Growing up a member of a rich family that has high standards, and a seemingly perfect older sister has given him a number of insecurites. He's always worried about not being good enough, and that he doesn't belong anywhere. He feels like he has something to prove. He wants to have a purpose in life. He tries to hide his worries behind a mask of cheerfulness, but they're always there. It manifests as envy torwards others he thinks are better than him. Talents & Skills Conner lives up to his last name, and loves everything to do with water. His passion is surfing. He also enjoys swimming, and is good at both. He also has an interest in marine biology. He knows he could probably go to college to pursue any one these things. He hated school, and isn't sure he wants to do more school. Faerie Powers Hydrokinesis: Controls Water Aquapathy: Can talk to and command all forms of sea life. Underwater Breathing: Can breathe underwater (Duh) Conner also gets enhanced strength and speed while in contact with water Biography Conner grew up in an upscale area of Los Angeles. Comner was the youngest son of the wealthy and prominent Waters family. His parents were quite strict, and they had high standards for their kids. Conner had an older sister named Arianna, and she was the the apple of the family's eye, at least it appeared that way to Conner. She was beautiful, talented, intelligent, and it felt like she could do no wrong. To him, it always seemed like anything he could do she could do better. In his teenage years, Conner gave up trying to live up to the high standards set by his sister. He only did just well enough in school to get by, and spent a lot of time slacking off. He would often act up in class, and get himself into trouble. There were days where he would cut class to go to the beach and surf. Surfing was one of his favorite activities. It was definitely something Arianna wouldn't do. He enjoyed the thrill and adrenaline high of catching a big wave. That, and he also flirting with the hot guys in swimsuits on the beach. He continued coasting through life trying to have as much fun as possible. Even though his grades weren't the best, he was rather popular with other students, and had a few close friends. His parents wished he would put more effort into his studies, and better represent his family name, but Conner didn't really care to try. His sister was obviously the shining star of the family, so why did they need him for? He barely managed to graduate, and isn't entirely sure he wants to go to college… Age: 19 (Close to turning 20) Birthday: Height: Just barely over 5 feet Body Type: Petite Eyes: Brown Hair: Dark Brown Pronouns: She/Her Orientation: Closeted Lesbian Voice Ariana Grande Musical Theme Personality Arianna is primarily known for being graceful, beautiful and even "perfect", both inside and out, by everyone. She excelled in school, and was an overachiever. She was popular with other students and teachers. She tries very hard to please others. She cares very much for her family. She is the golden child of her family, however she does not appreciate the expectations placed upon her by them. However due to the pressure of being the "perfect golden child", she hides these feelings away. While she loves her brother dearly, she is jealous of the freedom he is able to have that she cannot. She wishes she could live her life how she wants and not have to carry the burden of being the golden child. Talents & Skills Arianna is a bright young woman, who excelled in school. She attends a prestigious university in New York. Her parents wanted her to be a doctor, but unbeknownst to them, she's actually studying musical theater. Her passion is in the arts. She enjoys Acting, Singing, Dancing, and Playing Piano. She Speaks English, Spanish, French, and Italian. Faerie Powers Arianna has powers related to Ice, Snow, and Cold. She can create, shape and manipulate Ice in all forms, as well as lower the temperature of the air around her. Biography As the oldest siblings, Arianna had all of her family's hopes and expectations placed on her. She worked very hard to please her parents and make them proud. She worked hard to maintain straight As in school, and excel in her extracurricular activities. She enjoyed all the praise she got from others, but the pressures of being perfect all the time was a burden. Her passion was the arts, and she especially enjoyed performing in the musicals put on by the school. Her parents went to her performances, and supported it, but they did not expect her to pursue it seriously. They thought it was something she was doing to look good on her resume. They wanted her to be a doctor. She got a scholarship to a prestigious university New York, and hightailed it out of LA. Her parents don't know she's studying musical theater. She returned to town to visit her family, and they asked her to watch Conner's graduation ceremony, since they were too busy to attend themselves.</s> <|message|>Conner Waters "I don't understand why you have to be here?" Conner complained. "Don't you have things to do at your hoity toity school in New York?" As if he needed any more reminders of how perfect his sister was. She had everything, and now she had to come here and rub it in his face. "I told you, I happened to be in town, and mom and dad asked me to tag along and keep you out of trouble." She put her hand on his shoulder. "I'll be in town for a while, so I'll be here to watch your graduation ceremony. Mom and dad are busy, so they won't be able to attend." Conner swatted her hand away. "Bah, but they dropped everything to watch you walk on the stage and get a rolled up piece of paper." He scoffed and walked into the auditorium. Arianna sighed and walked in after him. If only he understood how easy he had it. He didn't have to live under every one's microscope at every moment of the day. It was exhausting. Just as she had these thoughts, random teachers approached her to talk about how their star student was doing after her graduation. —- Conner had expected this presentation to be boring, but it turned out to be anything but. The Trash Pandas hacked the ceremony, and Conner laughed out loud during the whole thing. This made this stupid thing way more exciting. The principal was losing his shit. Arianna felt bad for the principal and the speakers who had their speech interrupted by some egotistical teens. The music was loud and obnoxious too. —— Conner and Arianna had differing opinions about this presentation of course. "That was awesome!" "Obnoxious is what it was." Arianna replied. "They couldn't have found another venue to promote their band?" "Come on Ari. Live a little. That… whatever it was boring as hell. That made the whole thing. That lead singer was hot too." He had seen him around school before, but he was constantly surrounded by girls, he figured he was straight. Doesn't mean he couldn't admire from afar. Arianna rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Let's just go home." The two siblings went home, but Conner didn't stay home. He changed into his beach clothes, grabbed his surfboard and headed for the beach without his older sister in tow. Arianna realized he had snuck out some time later, and followed him. If he got into trouble, both of them would never hear the end of it from their parents. —— Conner spent hours on the beach surfing. Out on the waves was the one place where he could truly be free. No parents, no annoying sister, just the perfect wave! He stayed on the beach for hours. He didn't care about being out past curfew, he wasn't in the mood to be home and hear his parents lecture him and praise his sister. "How can this boy do this for hours?!" Arianna complained. Conner was very predictable. She knew where he was going. She didn't bother stopping him, she just took the opportunity to relax on the beach for a while. As long as Conner didn't hurt himself, everything was fine. At 10:00 PM, Conner finally left the beach to go to a secret location. Arianna followed. "Now where is he going?" Conner had gotten word from his friends about some secret party thing. Conner wouldn't miss it for the world! This Mr. Dude person seemed awesome, but Arianna thought he was creepy. Why would some stranger host a party for a bunch of teenagers? Regardless, Arianna had to go in after him. Inside was a like a nightclub with loud thumping music, and a real DJ. All the kids were dancing, but Arianna couldn't help but find this whole situation weird. She sat at one of the tables, and kept an eye on her brother. If anything bad happened, she would have to be the big sister whether he liked it or not! Meanwhile, Conner hit the dancefloor. During his time, Conner happened to lock eyes with Sully, and it wasn't long before the two of them crossed paths on the dancefloor. "Hey Sully! Bro!" He made a hang loose gesture with his hand. "That show you and your band pulled off was awesome! Really made that boring presentation more exciting!" Conner shook Sully's hand. "Name's Conner by the way."</s> <|message|>Sullivan "Sully" Zucco Sully locked eyes with Conner and grinned at the compliment. "Thanks! Figured I'd make Principal White shit-stain his old man whitey-tighties one more time before I left! That one'll be haunting him for years!" When shaking his hand, he held it a bit longer than usual as he smiled. "Nice to meet you properly, Conner! I've seen you around school, it's a shame we never hung out before! That's a fantastic tan, by the way! At least from what I can see. I take it you're a surfer guy?" He looked him over slightly, the grin never leaving his face. Meanwhile, the holier-than-thou girl from earlier - who, for some reason, still joined everyone inside the club - was holding her phone up trying to get reception. Mr. Dude saw this from across the room and approached her. "You're wasting your time, my young friend," he called out over the music as he flashed his big plastic teeth. "This entire plaza is designed to block cellular signals. Wouldn't be very wise to have a secret party like this and allow cops to trace the GPS coordinates, now would it? Didn't you notice you lost service back at the garage?" "What if there is an emergency?!" she asked, suddenly alarmed. "I demand to leave right now. Let me out of here!" "Of course, of course!" The masked partyman smiled. "No one is held here against their will! Security, see to it that she is… taken care of." The two guards nodded and escorted her out of sight as the party continued. Kamran made note of this from where he was sitting, still suspicious.</s>

<|message|>Conner Waters "Absolutely! Surfing is my passion! The beach is practically my second home." Conner answered with a big grin on his face. "I love catching the perfect wave, the sand beneath your feet, the hot guys in swimsuits. It's the best!" Conner realized what he said, and laughed. "Aw yeah. You should probably know. I'm gay. It really shouldn't be that big of a deal, but for some reason some dudes have a problem with it." He shrugged.</s>

<|description|>Conor Abraham Smith Age: 19 Sex: Male Your S.P.E.C.I.A.L. / Skills: Going by the 40 points of FNV S - 6 P - 6 E - 6 C - 7 I - 8 A - 6 L - 1 Speech Repair Medicine Appearance: Conor is red haired, and of a pale complexion freckled and tanned by his ceaseless travels. He is taller than most wastelands - namely tribals, raiders, and the other chronically malnourished - but about average for a Vault Dweller or NCR citizen who has three meals a day as a child. His eyebrows are rather bushy, and just like facial hair are carefully trimmed to avoid becoming a ruler-sized unibrow. His eyes are a very light brown. The lad's ears are large and round relative to the rest of his face, whilst his nose has been flattened against his face by many impacts since youth. His appearance will always be as close to immaculate as is possible, with his Mormon suit always cleaned, his body washed and head groomed when time permits. His right shoulder has tribal tattoos, which he typically hides and will never mention. Armor and Equipment: From suit and tie to fine leather shoes, Conor dresses as his distant ancestors going about Utah did, though in harsh terrain he may switch into a more rugged outfit. He doesn't have any armour, preferring to instead be quick on his feet and instead use cover and terrain as his armour. He does however carry a handy-dandy satchel full of ammunition, medical supplies and survivalist tools to fare in the wild, as well as to help wastelanders. A respirator and geiger counter for hazardous environments will similarly be with him. His left index finger has a Choose The Right ring. Weapons: Modified Automatic Rifle - just like the 1911, favoured weapon of Joshua Graham, it is designed by a member of the Mormon tribe. With rails, bayonet, tape, tuning, much like the ship of Theseus it has no components of the original. But it is still a memory of home, and a great tool to hunt fauna with, to flick onto automatic for breaking raiders with its high caliber .308 munition, or to use the blade on the end to open cans of food. No more or less is needed for Conor. Personality: Conor will typically shift from a choleric to melancholic disposition. Having seen so much of both of the best and worst of humanity, he has a hatred for people of the wasteland that must somehow coexist with a desire to cultivate the best in them; though once this was exhibited in a rather condescending manner, he has for the most part grown out of this habit. One may mistake him for being rather reserved, but truth be told he simply doesn't believe he has much to share. As of late he has been struggling with his Mormon faith, the validity of a God above being a hard question after witnessing a sufficient volume of blood. But though not sure if the ultimate truth is there in his book, he is certain it at the very least shows a better way of life. History / How they came to be part of Whitlash: Conor was born in Ogden, or New Canaan as the men of the day called it. Supposedly a distant descendant of Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon Church, his family and their friends were sure the line was destined for great things. Though his childhood very briefly had all the prosperity and happiness that the New Canaanites had very briefly relative to the tribes that encircled them, this all disappeared in the blink of an eye with the arrival of the White Legs. Privately Conor was always happy that this happened sufficiently early in his life that he wasn't too soft to survive in the wasteland. It was thus that his family became travelling missionaries typically going along with Mormon caravans, for though the city of Ogden was a charred ruin, the civilization of the New Canaanites went on as did their effort to spread the word. Travelling to spread the word of God, Conor got to see much of the world. The ruined remains of the Twin Mothers tribe out East, the tales of the Cyphers' mathematical mystics and insane stealth boy junkies coming from bunkers. He saw the vice and decadence of New Vegas and New Reno alike, and even set foot in the great civilizations of the Bear and the Bull when marching with traders. But though the as a mere boy he saw so many wonders, Conor would hazard calling them adventures. All the visits were part of a series of unfortunate events. In one adventure a sister died of a radscorpion's bite in the night. On another, his father was vapourized by a raider's bundle of dynamite. His mother disappeared in a snowstorm, whilst a tribal girl that was his sole love was kidnapped by slavers he was powerless to set her free from. With the passage of time, Conor foudn that he was losing people he held dear faster than he made new ones. But as a wise man of his people said, there was always his tribe. Though disheartened to his core, he was still happy to join a mission to proselytize distant Montana. It was thus that he ended up as part of the Mormon mission in Whitlash. Though the place was civilized and not a mere tribe to be wooed by electricity their pro-bono medical assistance, help in getting people off of the particularly addicting drugs like jet, and general sharing of the fruits of their higher education has still lead to some inroads being made within the settlement and its surroundings. Extras: He sings in a fine baritone, and is acquainted with guitar, harmonica and most other instruments one will see in the wasteland. He is acquainted with Spanish and several tribal and Native American languages, as well as Latin.</s> <|message|>David Clark David sat back as he listened to the mayor his frown having somehow grown even deeper. It seemed like there quiet little town had been visited by a group of raiders. They had taken over a factory and even had a few hostages. David snorted at that as he was sure that was the main reason the mayor was so adamant about saving the hostages. He had stopped petting Honey and had clinched his fists so tight he early drew blood. He didn't like most people but raiders well he didn't really see them as people, worse than locusts just pests that needed kill'n. He was pulled out of his anger induced stupor to his name being called, along with a few others. It seemed Nicholas wanted them to take care of the raiders. This caused his frown to morph into a cruel smile. If there was one thing he was all ways up for it was a good old raider hunt. He listened as the rag tag group that was his 'team' start to ask questions and make plans. A few of them he agreed with like the old ghoul, especially the end bit, and others he didn't like Conor who seemed to want to take a softer approach. He went back to petting Honey who was carefully watching the others, every now and then she'd clean her eyes with her tongue. That was when Walker seemed to ask a pretty important question going forward. If this group was going to work, they'd need a shot caller. "I agree with Walker, we need someone to keep this cluster fuck on the tracks. Cause it ain't bout to be me, I don't like people on the best of days so I don't think I'd be too good at leading them." He said as Honey started to let out a faint raspy rattling purr as he scratched her under the chin. "And since it seems I'm the only one thinking it, Are we getting paid? I mean most people in town know, so you should know, I don't work for free." He knew that asking to get paid most likely wouldn't earn him any favors and honestly, he didn't give a dame.</s> <|message|>Eliza O'Connor Eliza sat quietly for the mayor's speech, in the years she spent travelling West this was all too normal for her. Raiders were once again causing trouble for a settlement, yet, this time it was her home, her settlement. Certainly she may not know those being held hostage, beyond a friendly greeting in passing but it made it all seem more… personal. A hushed chatter made its way around the room before the Mayor could continue with his address. It was not until the Mayor got to reading out names of those volunteered to go and fix the problem that Eliza's attention peaked and It was seemingly inevitable that her name was on the list. "Fuck. I just wanted to go back to bed." she muttered under her breath. The Mayor was quick to finish the rest of the address and upon its conclusion the remainder of the townsfolk made their way out of the hall, muttering and glancing at those staying behind all the while. With the hall cleared Eliza made her way to the front with the others. There was a flurry of questions and ideas from those assembled, each one had their own merits and downsides. But there was one that truly stood out to her, Sam, the Ghoul. A few years ago the thought of even standing next to a Ghoul would have made her sick to the stomach yet here she was. But it was the words he spoke that truly caught her off guard, there was venom in them, honestly it reminded her of something her father would have suggested to do to Sam and other Ghouls. Once the others had finished she felt ready to say her piece. "Look I don't really like the idea of just being volunteered for this sort of work, but say I play ball the only advice I could offer would be that, despite what my gut says, it may be best to at least try the negotiation path first. These are Raiders at the end of the day, psychopaths and drug addicts." The irony of that last point was not lost on her. "The moment we start; picking off a few, breaching the compound... Drugging them somehow or generally acting shifty, they could start executing hostages. And as for a leader, while I'm all for democracy, personally, I think for something like this it'd be best to be appointed with absolute authority, trying to vote on how to save lives could just end up costing those lives instead."</s> <|message|>Alexander Whitmoore Alexander Whitmoore "Fine, I'll take the burden. Given the input so far, here's the plan." Whitmoore finally spoke up, having simply observed and listened while the others chimed in and said their pieces. Questions of whether or not a group this size could take on the raiders, dissent in that they could, questioning as to a million different possible ways to take the situation on. Whitmoore gave himself a moment to compose himself, reminding himself of what his brothers and sisters taught him growing up back in the bunker on leadership. One leader, one vote. Advisement was all fine and well, but it was ultimately the leader, whether its a scribe or a paladin, who makes the call. And takes the fall, if the call is wrong. There was makings of a good plan here, a lot of ideas to digest, but end of the day, they were raider scum. They would gladly take them for a ride and not turn a single hostage loose as 'leverage' for future extortion, while keeping them barely alive and thoroughly abused. No, there would be no honest negotiation with them, but who said anything about honest negotiation. "We have the manpower and resources to make this happen. While every one of these raiders have to be put down for the good of the area, she's right, the moment gunfire starts, they start executing, if for no other reason than spite. So, we don't give them the chance. We have a map giving us a rough layout, and as we get closer, we have our best sneak case the place ahead of us, find a good backdoor. Places like this never only have one door, and once that's determined, we split into two teams. The backdoor team takes the best sneak, and two supporting. Ideally those who can break and enter, and fight well enough to hold a line if things go south. They go in, find the hostages, get em out. If they can't, they hunker down and keep the raiders from getting trigger happy. The rest back up our best talker, who's going to sell the raider leader such a line of brahman shit that he won't even know it stinks. Keep him talking, keep him and his goons distracted until one of two things. A predesignated signal, or shooting starts. And then? Not a single raider gets out alive, and we push to clear the place as quickly as we can. Make sense?" Whitmoore had, during his little laying out of a plan, walked up to where the map was, and gave it a once over while considering his own words. He wasn't a fan of giving orders or, hell, taking them either. That being said, someone had to do it, and he was prepared to take the fall if this didn't work. He could always move on, even if it meant being exiled for failure, the rest could simply lay the blame at his feet. Objectively, he had the least the lose in this situation. The woman had spoken truly, and while he wished they had time for fancy drugs and waiting, they didn't. The raiders would be expecting a group to come with the supplies, or to negotiate, or something. Snow had been mentioned which, in better circumstances, would have brought a fond smile to his face. "Long as we keep our bearings straight, the snow will help us actually. Because the raiders will be just as blind as we are, with some experience leading the way, we can get a good count of things before they ever realize we are there."</s>

<|message|>Conor Abraham Smith Conor raised and eyebrow at Elijah, the man's words clearly marking him out as someone who would certainly die first of the group. How could he possibly know a small group could take care of this problem? What if there were a hundred of the raiders? What if they had trained mercenaries in their number? The man's words were born either of genuine but clearly unfounded arrogance, or alternatively simply part of an effort to impress strangers for whatever reason. He nodded along the words of Sam, at least vaguely agreeing that the raiders needed to be exterminated, and there was no moral obligation to not lie to raiders of all people. The Californian pitched his own ideas, which while not bad were quickly undone by the suggestion of attempting to pick them off from long range. The notion was seemingly were born out of underestimation of exactly what raiders could do - a fact he knew had plagued the NCR and his own people alike - which had lead to the downfall of so many people. Walker spoke the least of the people so far, but certainly his words had the most sense. He respected the man with the gecko for acknowledging he wasn't fit to lead owing to his anti social tendencies. Eliza similarly spoke briefly but with sense, but then Alexander at last seemed to volunteer for leadership. His plan made sense, but certainly needed ironing out. "Okay, suppose we do that." The Mormon replied. "We're going to need radios to communicate. The Mayor I am sure would be happy to subsidize this. For the sake of his daughter if anything." the lad said, looking meaningfully to the mayor. "At least two, for communication between the teams. Though more for communication within them would be even better." He drummed his fingers on a lap for a second. "We should bluff. Spare guns, even if they're broken down, put them behind mounds of snow. Flashlights on hills pointing at the factory, tents, campfires. Give the impression there's enough of us to take them in a fair fight."</s>

<|description|>Strata Art by none other than me --- "Somewhere out there, underneath a different sky full of different stars, I think they sing of me. They'll sing of us together one day, if we make it far enough." Nicknames The Drifter from the Light Starface "Arveia-toth" Age 108 Gender Nonbinary | They/Them Ship Role Singer of shanties, pleaser of pissed off, people pisser-off of pleased people, and knower of things. Race Strata is a plasmoid. Plasmoids are a species of formless, gelatinous creatures with enough intelligence to equal other sentient creatures. Plasmoids lack a defined shape, and therefore are capable of some minor shapeshifting. Their bodies are made of plasma, as the name implies, and the only organ in their body is what is called a ganglia. This can be found where a human's heart is, and simulates everything from five senses to every function needed for survival. The plasma that makes their body simulates touch, and is incredibly stiff. Because it's essentially slime, it means bullets or other puncture wounds are largely harmless to them. Pieces of their bodies cut away can be stuck back together with some effort, and a plasmoid is never truly dead unless the core in their body is destroyed completely. Plasmoids tend to take on characteristics of the environment they live in, which is why Strata looks like a walking galaxy. Personality Strata is the definition of "chaotic neutral." They hold no respect or disapproval for authority figures, they make friends and enemies as their heart desires, and are as honest or cheating as is suitable for a given moment. Strata is naturally an easygoing and free-spirited slime creature, and easy to get along with despite their track record of gaslighting the most threatening people in a room. When Strata takes a liking to people, they follow them like lifelong friends with the intention of being there for the laughs and shenanigans. The stories that are to be told and the battles to be fought are like guilty pleasures to Strata, and are as tempting to them as the prospect of getting drunk is to someone after a hard day's work. Strata doesn't seem to take many things seriously unless they threaten someone's life. If it's their life on the line, the first sign of Strata acknowledging so is a sudden spike in humor, and maniacal cackling that someone usually needs vocal chords for. Strata treats moments of peril and disadvantage like pure comedy, and these are the times when their less restrained side can be seen. When Strata is in the right situations, they'll go from the calm and mellow bard with a story to tell to the maniac that jumps into the mouth of a giant monster just to throw a grenade down its throat. Strata's philosophy of life is to never let it get one over on you; If you laugh at death as hard as you do at a man falling over drunk, you stay winning either way. Powers/Skills Shapechanging While Strata can't impersonate someone else, they are capable of altering their body's shape in some ways. This can include growing extra arms, becoming a ball of sludge on the floor, or oozing their way through holes in a floor. If you ever wonder why Strata doesn't wear pants, this is why. Plasmic Body Certain things, such as the vacuum of space or a lack of breathable air, tend to do little to affect Strata. They can survive being stabbed or slice up, but taking out their ganglia would be like decapitating a human. It's also pretty easy to imprison Strafa. Plasmoids revert to a blob state in their sleep, making them very suitable for being put in a glass jar and stored on a shelf. On top of all that, plasmoids might be hard to kill, but they literally don't have muscles. Don't bet on Strata in an arm wrestling competition. Musician Drifting alone through space for a century, you tend to get good at entertaining yourself. Strata is a damn fine musician capable of playing virtually any instrument. Their personal favorite are the ones with strings. Been Around the Block Strata's older than your grandparents, and probably their grandparents too. There isn't much that surprises them anymore. You name it, they've probably heard of it once or twice before. Equipment Mysterious Lute Something Strata has had with them for decades now. It resembles a guitar, and has a very foreign and almost regal aesthetic. Strata claims was once a vessel for magical power that they were gifted when they saved a priest from a burning ship, but no longer has any power left. A wild claim, and likely just another story, but it sounds beautiful in Strata's hands. Laser Gun A very simple and mundane pistol that fires lasers. It has six shots that it can fire before it must be reloaded. Surprisingly enough, Strata doesn't haven't a fantastical story attached to this weapon, and according to them, they bought it in a back alley somewhere next to a bakery. It's always good to have an actual weapon. Storybook Strata's pride and joy. A very old, and very full notebook full of everything Strata has done in the last century. It is full of all manners of things, ranging from accounts of naval warfare to the last wishes of old friends whose names have been forgotten by all but Strata. Somewhere in this book's few thousand pages is the exact hand that Strata used to win a poker match against a dragon… Assuming such a tale is true. Biography Many, many years ago, there was an empire. This empire was one of truants who held a galaxy in its hands and devoured planets a whim, with not so much as a passing though spared for its trillions of victims. This empire no longer exists. The legend says that after the empire was destroyed, its capital fell inwards to the star which it orbited, and from the resulting chaos emerged a meteor. On that meteor was a creature who would sing of lost comrades and freedom for decades, streaking across the dead empire's territory in such a spectacle that many believed a god had fell from the heavens. Alas, that creature was not a god, and would never be seen again. Billions upon billions of light years away from the greatest tale Strata ever witnessed, the meteor they rode through space one day crashed against a planet in this region of space. When Strata managed to jump off, they landed on solid ground. Strata stayed on that rock for a few hours, reflecting on the events of their journey, and mourning the fact that they'd never hear the ending of that story. And then they collected their things, and did as they'd always done: Move on. Strata's life was a long and erratic one. Years would pass without any interaction with intelligent life in space, and then they would spend a decade living more thrills than one lifetime could handle. In recent memory, they traveled from place to place, entertaining crowds across the galaxy with their songs, and getting into more bar fights than they could count. One of these bar fights was where they met the Star-Breakers. A drunken rat thought Strata insulted his mother, and Strata simply clocked him over the head with their lute. After the incident, Strata offered to join the group and get off that rock to start the next chapter of their life.</s> <|message|>Aftershot Sitting there, as quiet as can be, not a creature was stirring. Just the ten discs floating in midair around the metallic being sitting on the bed. Their soft hum sweet music to his ears. Perfect for what that individual from their last job suggested, meditation. Mask covered, visor down, almost all light was blocked. Just a bot and his thoughts. Initially nothing but the hum of the discs. Large black cushions covering the walls to help prevent any noise from getting in or out beyond what was necessary. That saxophone in the corner. Focus. In and out. Let the electrons flow. Energy is coursing through you. Feel its ever calming presence flow like the rivers. Back to nothingness. Just the flow of energy. The presence of the hum. It matches the swirling of the blades. The clashes of war. Aftershot twitched under his mask, but said no more. Back to the flow. Back to the rest. Nothingness took over again. Loud bangs and clangs echo across the void. Many people screaming and cursing. Large flashes go across the darkness. No more. Darkness sets again. Just a bot with his thoughts. Relax. Peace. Safety. The smiling citizens now under the watchful eye of the democratic state. Those smiles change to fear. Large blasts are heard. Ships flying through the sky. Some dropping bombs. Metallic rust quickly overtaking them. Aftershot tensed up with fear as everyone around him slowly faded. All those he held dear. Slowly, heads started to appear. Malicious laughter and smiles. Here for the pain. One shot and the laughter begins to fade. Two shot and another smile flies. More come, more disappear. Until a claw grasps over the cybertronian, transforming him into the cannon. One shot and many are dead. --- Aftershot opens up his mask and visor to look out, gasping for air. All of his discs are embedded into the walls, and his hand was changed into his blaster. Never doing that again, he thought to himself as he slowly recalled the discs and changed his hand back. The robot sat there for a little bit, staring off into the walls, not paying much attention to everything. Three months. All it's been since the war for Cybertron ended. Many of the Decpticons behind bars. Aftershot felt where his allegiance symbol was on his chest, covered by a small panel, and sighed. At least they are safe now. And no one has to go through that bombing again. I hope they caught that scientist Shockwave. It was about that time again, a new job, a new crew. Aftershot stood up and made his way to the deck. Hopefully no one heard that outburst. No one had to witness it. --- The five foot eleven bot waked into the mission deck, having his wings retracted so it was just his slim metal form. Calmly, and without a word, he sat himself closeby to the terminal, and said nothing. Just gave the captain an acknowledging nod.</s> <|message|>8702, Subject 8702 --- Captain Kura's spy cam switches over to Slink's room, only to show a black screen. It had been like that for a week or so with him making renovations to his room. But the space rodent hadn't really blacked out the cam, Kura's discerning eye could pick up traces of discoloration and dust on the surface. It was Slink's newest addition of a giant black cube in the middle of his quarters. An arm popped into the view then half the rodents body as he passed by, crawling like a gecko across the surface. The sheer proximity of Slink to the camera's lens made it evident that there couldn't be much more than the rodent's width between the cube and the wall. Certainly the Saiyan warrior would have no dream of accessing the room without destroying something. Just what the hell was he doing in there? --- Slink couldn't be more at home with his new addition. No one would be able to reach him in here. Not even the crew. It not necessarily because he didn't trust the crew, which to be sure he doesn't trust them. He just felt at home in enclosed spaces, being out in the open brought nothing but unnecessary stress. Plus his new metallic labyrinth of choking crawl space had everything. A bedroll to sleep on, a surface to eat on, and a soundproof box for tests. On weekends, he does all three things in the same place. That is a treat. "Rise and shine, crew. Get your asses to the Mission Deck in ten, gotta brief everyone before we touch down." Captain pays bills, I should make pace. Take the fastest route. Slink crawled along the cube and up top to the place where the cube's vent meet the ship's. As if it were an everyday occurrence, which is was, he popped the grate of and slipped into the ship's ductwork. --- From the ceiling of the mission deck, the rodent descended down. Head first, then body with the tail supporting the weight as he inched closer to the set. And finally, a short drop into his seat.</s>

<|message|>Strata We should die for the things we believe in But live our lives in the dark, self-deceiving. In the snow, all the world that we knew is ice And so we are cold, dead and gone. Shine a light till the dark sky is burning Wolves are howling, and fortune is turning. But our hearts and the words that we say are ice And so we are cold, dead and gone. "Hmm..." In one of the rooms this ship was built with for residency, a plasmoid lay across a bed against the wall, plucking away at the strings of an instrument. The opening to a song they picked up in another galaxy far from here. Unlike the rest of the crew, Strata had nothing to do currently, so they simply entertained themself on the strings. The ship was quiet, and the cameras were their only company. When the small prying eyes looked at Strata, they just stared back in disinterest. Multiple ration bars lay next to Strata, which the captain may or may not have been conveniently missing up to this point. Some of the wrappers were empty and some were yet to be devoured whole in the process of Strata contemplating what this leg of their life would lead to. Winning a game of poker against a dragon, and then detonating a star on top of a tyrannical empire were great stories to tell around the proverbial campfire, but what else could happen in this place, so far away that such things may as well not exist? That was what Strata intended to find out. They were about to start again when a speaker crackled to life. "Rise and shine, crew. Get your asses to the Mission Deck in ten, gotta brief everyone before we touch down." Time to go to work, it seemed. --- A few minutes later, the glowing humanoid was on deck. A blue human silhouette with veins of violet-white veins spiraling all throughout their body, leading to what could only be considered a heart of some sort. Their face was nothing but the same glow, swirling in a similar shape to a spiral galaxy. Foggy clumps of paler shades of blue danced across Strata's "skin" like impurities in a stone. At what would've been a human's right hip was a laser pistol jammed into the leg. Not in a holster, but directly stuck in the volume that made Strata's body. Inside their right arm could be seen a small number of rectangular shapes, other objects stuck inside them like a living backpack. Strata showed up to the briefing like this, ready for whatever they needed to do, even if it looked a little odd to be impaled by a gun. They looked around and saw their new crewmates. The Gas Giant, as they named her, the rat, the bird, and the robot. Three others had yet to show up so far. The doctor, the co-pilot and the tech support. "I see we've yet to crash into an asteroid. Clearly, someone aboard this ship knows what they're doing." Banter mixed with small talk. Silence bored Strata to tears and made them want to do something stupid, so they filled it until they were expected to do something stupid. "Don't keep us in suspense, captain."</s>

<|description|>Mougin Bighorn Aliases: None Race: Beastfolk - Highland Cow Age: 17 Gender: Male Appearance: Mougin is huge, as all giant foot tribesmen tend to be, though not as large as some species, and somewhat small even when compared to members of his own tribe. The bighorn tribe were originally a cattle species from the highlands, sporting sturdy builds and thick, fluffy fur to block out the wind. Mougin's coat of golden brown fur is particularly fluffy, and his eyes are large and brown. Besides his height, there is little that differentiates him from his brethren, though he usually wears clothes, whereas they do not. When he takes human form he turns into a surprisingly small (rather average for humans, but not any less surprising) and youthful form, though his voice is still very deep. Crystal: N/A Current Location: K7, Riotifu port town. Current Status: Active. Travelling, discovering more about human society. Faction: Giant Foot Tribe, Bighorn Occupation: None Personality: Mougin is quiet, often going days without saying a single word or noise. When he does, he usually does so in simple sentences, partially because he likes being efficient, and partially because his grasp of human language is still fairly loose. He thinks a lot and prefers to be cautious, carefully planning his actions before moving. Unfortunately, this means he can take a long time to come to a decision. He is rather intelligent for his species but is prone to misunderstandings due to a lack of experience. As a result, his common sense often leaves much to be desired. Finally, Mougin doesn't get angry very often, but he can be quite stubborn at times. The Giant Foot tribe are often thought to be gentle giants, unworryingly living their lives away from outside influences. And, well, that's mostly true. The Numgam continent is a blessed land in many respects, and there is a rich variety of tribes occupying the continent's every environment. In the center of the continent lies The Mountain (that was what the tribes called it, because it was the only mountain they knew), an immense rock that towers over the forest beneath it. A somewhat barren environment, it is nonetheless occupied by several different tribes, most notably the Bighorn tribe. As descendents of highland cattle, they were well suited to the barren, rocky environment and took quite well to it, though not as well as the nearby mountain goat tribe. Nevertheless, they settled, ate, and prospered. and eventually, Mougin was born. At a young age Mougin had already explored the whole mountain range, and was promptly bored. Despite looking like just another Giant Foot beastman, he had been born with what most wouldn't have for their entire lives - a burning curiosity. Unfortunately for young Mougin, there was nothing around to sate his curiosity. Rocks, trees, birds, and little else. With nowhere to turn to, he retreated into his mind. After thinking, and thinking, and thinking some more, he became a strange person to his tribesmen. Day in and day out he sat on the mountain and stared into the horizon as he thought. At that time, a traveller appeared on The Mountain. He introduced himself as a philosopher and stayed with the Bighorn tribe for a time. Most of the tribe didn't want anything to do with him, but Mougin stuck to his side like glue. They interacted with each other for most of the traveller's stay, and when he finally left, Mougin also left. He had decided to journey to the lands of the humans, where he believed that he would be able to finally satisfy his curiosity. Most of his tribesmen had never so much as stepped off the mountain, but his steps were light. There was a world of possibility out there, just waiting to be explored. Key Items: * Traveler's satchel * Strength * Stamina * Observation * Strength of the Earth: Draws power from the ground beneath. The stronger the substance below the user, the greater the conferred strength, although metal floors will not allow their strength to be drawn. The user must be touching the floor to be able to use this ability. * Breath of the Wind: Listen to the voices carried by the wind. In places where air flows, this skill allows the user to listen to faraway speech as if it was nearby. Poor airflow will make it difficult to hear. * Heart of Fire: Draws out the heat of the heart to warm the user. Useful for keeping warm in cold nights, and to make the user sweat into unconsciousness in summer. If, for some reason, they need to do so. * Coins: 20 * Large pants Beastman sized pants. Pants are essential in human society, after all. * Normal clothes Normal sized human clothes, for the rare occassions when Mougin takes a human form.</s> <|message|>Mougin Bighorn As the food truck vendor called out to him, Mougin couldn't help but stare at him as he thought to himself. The minotaur rested his chin on his fist as he paused to think. Then he paused to think some more, staring at the vendor all the while. It was most likely a casual question thrown out by this Tempum City native, but as a stranger to the human world, it was one he had to consider carefully. After a long pause, he finally came to his answer. "Yes." He said, the brevity of his words serving as a stark contrast to the long period of silence that preceded it. When he thought about it, the question that was asked was fairly common, even back in his home village. His siblings, neighbours, and cousins would ask him something similar when he joined them on their hunts. Yet this man was neither a sibling, neighbour, or cousin. So why did they address him in such familiar terms? And the enticing smell that wafted through the air... As Mougin pondered, he realized more and more that, even though it seemed to be completely different, the situation was beginning to resemble a trap. Baited like a mere beast, he had fortunately stopped before the rope had tightened around his neck. And yet, it seemed like he would be forced to fall into the snare regardless. He, like all living creatures, required food. And the man in front of him seemed to sell something that was somewhat familiar to him. It would be a risk to eat anywhere else. He had finally divulged the truth of the matter. The man in front of him, while projecting a friendly facade, was a fiendishly skilled hunter of beings such as himself. An experienced trapper that set a truly irresistable bait in front of him, daring mougin to step into his snare. The minotaur lumbered to the front of the food cart and slowly brought his fist to the counter, opening his fist and dropping his entire fortune - the 20 gold coins he had bartered so hard for - onto the countertop. It was a reward to the shrewd hunter, for managing to catch him so cleverly. "Please." He added, for that was, apparently, the custom in human society.</s> <|message|>Suns Dhagar Suns Dhagar - Yellow Crystal Bearer Leemo City - Noon --- Suns felt his embarrassment grow cold and snarky. He scrunched his face up, a light mirth in his voice as he repeated the question under his breath. Now that he eyed the "woman" closely; he could see the telltale signs of circuitry replacing flesh and blood. It all made sense now; why he always felt detached from the woman. He pondered if Bolis had told him she was metal and code before. He probably has, he decided. In the midst of his musing, Bolis' door slid open with a near-silent hiss. Suns often considered the dull sound a purposeful function. Just loud enough to be registered. He strode inside with his hands still held behind his back and hearing the hiss of the door close behind him, his small smile widened and his eyes softened. Bolis was perhaps his oldest friend and really the only good thing about being in Leemo City. Suns lowered his head to acknowledge his friend's gratitude then grew quiet to acknowledge Bolis' oncoming request. His smile shrunk and an odd impulse seemed to fluctuate between himself and the Crystal. Was it trying to influence him again? "Exactly whose help do you need, Bolis? Suns' or the Crystal Bearer's?" he asked.</s> <|message|>Pietro Bolis Tempum City (K7), Early Afternoon --- --- At first, the food truck vendor was puzzled by how long the large minotaur took to respond and move. Then, it started to amuse him. Having been doing this job for many, many years, he could recognize someone from the Giant Foot Tribe, and this one looked fresh off the boat. Amusement gave way to surprise, when Mougin placed 20 chips onto his counter. "Oh my!" he thought out loud, letting out a soft whistle. With an expert hand he swiped up all twenty chips and looked Mougin in the eyes. He then spoke in an audible, yet hushed voice, "My brother, you shouldn't be showing off this many coins." The hand in which he held the coins was inside a glove. A small display on the backhand of the glove displayed '20 Coins'. These chips actually contained one coin each. Someone must have swindled this minotaur, hoping to impress him with twenty shiny pieces of metal. They must have gotten something very valuable in exchange, something he didn't even realize was valuable. Keeping five coins, he handed the other fifteen back to Mougin. Even one coin would normally buy a meal from his truck. Three would be enough for a large meal, one suited for a beastfolk of Mougin's size. The other two, well those were his tip, for not outright robbing the poor sap. "Here." The boar-man reached below the counter, opened some kind of door, and then produced a large bag. "This is for you." The bag was full of food, enough to fill even Mougin's stomach. "Now, do me a favor, and hide those coins. And when you want to buy something, ask how much it costs first." --- --- Leemo City (F5), Noon --- --- General Bolis sighed at Sun's straight forward remark. "I need the power of the crystal. You know this." He bowed his head in respect. He then raised his head, his honest smile returning, "But your company is always appreciated." Usually when Sun came here, he and Pietro would just talk. They would talk about life and about the war. Other times, Pietro would ask Sun to place his hand on his shoulder, which would amplify his psychic abilities. This was one of those times. "The last of our soldiers will be arriving in an hour. Once they are all here, I'll need to borrow some of your power, so that I can use my ability to scan all their minds at once. I have to be sure they haven't been brainwashed or even worse, cursed." He then turned to look out the window at the back of the office. "We owe it to these soldiers and their families, to make sure they are in good health when they return home." The tone of his voice lightened as he turned his head back to Sun. He now sounded like he did when Sun first entered the room. "It's been two months since the last time you visited. How have you been?"</s>

<|message|>Mougin Bighorn Mougin nodded gravely. "Thank you." He said. Food was precious, even in the land of the giants, but wisdom was even more precious. Especially to this young minotaur so far from home. He swept the remaining coins from the counter into his traveller's bag before taking the sack from the shopkeeper's hand. With that, he was gone. The sky was darkening as Mougin walked down the street, reflecting on his experiences. It had been one thing to hear about human society, but it was quite another to experience it for himself. There was much to reflect on. For example - money. 5 coins he had lost, for one meal. He had 15 coins left, another 3 meals perhaps. More, if he rationed what he had already received. Perhaps more, perhaps less, it was difficult to tell. Was what he received typical for the price he had paid? The heft of the bag showed there was quite a bit in it, and if he disciplined himself, he believed he could make it last for a few more meals yet. But how was the quality? Mougin opened the sack and took out one of the foodstuffs. It smelled of fruit but was golden brown, like bread. A pastry, that was what humans called it. It smelled quite divine, but things were not always as they seemed. He brought it to his mouth and bit down. The minotaur stood there in shock. In the darkening sky another firework exploded, mirroring his state of mind. He absentmindedly swallowed the treat, and looked down into the sack. Rationing this food would be very difficult. Mougin stood there on the street corner, slowly munching on one pastry after another, oblivious to the fact that he had unconsciously walked to a much quieter part of the city. There were only a scant few wandering the streets here, and only the distant sound of merriment broke the silence. That, and the sound of crunchy baked treats being crushed between his teeth.</s>

<|description|>Mougin Bighorn Aliases: None Race: Beastfolk - Highland Cow Age: 17 Gender: Male Appearance: Mougin is huge, as all giant foot tribesmen tend to be, though not as large as some species, and somewhat small even when compared to members of his own tribe. The bighorn tribe were originally a cattle species from the highlands, sporting sturdy builds and thick, fluffy fur to block out the wind. Mougin's coat of golden brown fur is particularly fluffy, and his eyes are large and brown. Besides his height, there is little that differentiates him from his brethren, though he usually wears clothes, whereas they do not. When he takes human form he turns into a surprisingly small (rather average for humans, but not any less surprising) and youthful form, though his voice is still very deep. Crystal: N/A Current Location: K7, Riotifu port town. Current Status: Active. Travelling, discovering more about human society. Faction: Giant Foot Tribe, Bighorn Occupation: None Personality: Mougin is quiet, often going days without saying a single word or noise. When he does, he usually does so in simple sentences, partially because he likes being efficient, and partially because his grasp of human language is still fairly loose. He thinks a lot and prefers to be cautious, carefully planning his actions before moving. Unfortunately, this means he can take a long time to come to a decision. He is rather intelligent for his species but is prone to misunderstandings due to a lack of experience. As a result, his common sense often leaves much to be desired. Finally, Mougin doesn't get angry very often, but he can be quite stubborn at times. The Giant Foot tribe are often thought to be gentle giants, unworryingly living their lives away from outside influences. And, well, that's mostly true. The Numgam continent is a blessed land in many respects, and there is a rich variety of tribes occupying the continent's every environment. In the center of the continent lies The Mountain (that was what the tribes called it, because it was the only mountain they knew), an immense rock that towers over the forest beneath it. A somewhat barren environment, it is nonetheless occupied by several different tribes, most notably the Bighorn tribe. As descendents of highland cattle, they were well suited to the barren, rocky environment and took quite well to it, though not as well as the nearby mountain goat tribe. Nevertheless, they settled, ate, and prospered. and eventually, Mougin was born. At a young age Mougin had already explored the whole mountain range, and was promptly bored. Despite looking like just another Giant Foot beastman, he had been born with what most wouldn't have for their entire lives - a burning curiosity. Unfortunately for young Mougin, there was nothing around to sate his curiosity. Rocks, trees, birds, and little else. With nowhere to turn to, he retreated into his mind. After thinking, and thinking, and thinking some more, he became a strange person to his tribesmen. Day in and day out he sat on the mountain and stared into the horizon as he thought. At that time, a traveller appeared on The Mountain. He introduced himself as a philosopher and stayed with the Bighorn tribe for a time. Most of the tribe didn't want anything to do with him, but Mougin stuck to his side like glue. They interacted with each other for most of the traveller's stay, and when he finally left, Mougin also left. He had decided to journey to the lands of the humans, where he believed that he would be able to finally satisfy his curiosity. Most of his tribesmen had never so much as stepped off the mountain, but his steps were light. There was a world of possibility out there, just waiting to be explored. Key Items: * Traveler's satchel * Strength * Stamina * Observation * Strength of the Earth: Draws power from the ground beneath. The stronger the substance below the user, the greater the conferred strength, although metal floors will not allow their strength to be drawn. The user must be touching the floor to be able to use this ability. * Breath of the Wind: Listen to the voices carried by the wind. In places where air flows, this skill allows the user to listen to faraway speech as if it was nearby. Poor airflow will make it difficult to hear. * Heart of Fire: Draws out the heat of the heart to warm the user. Useful for keeping warm in cold nights, and to make the user sweat into unconsciousness in summer. If, for some reason, they need to do so. * Coins: 20 * Large pants Beastman sized pants. Pants are essential in human society, after all. * Normal clothes Normal sized human clothes, for the rare occassions when Mougin takes a human form.</s> <|message|>Mougin Bighorn The teenage beastman's statement was met by an expression of bafflement, as much as could be depicted by the low emotional range that Mougin's face possessed. The confusion was plain on his face, nonetheless. "No, I am not in possession of your back..." He said in befuddlement. If a 'back' could be said to belong to anyone, then surely one's back would be in the possession of one's self. A human witticism, perhaps? If so, the meaning eluded him at the current moment. In addition to that, the youth made mention of 'kicking their asses'... If this beastman wished to fight the 3 other youths across the street then this would indeed be a sound tactical decision. One's behind was usually a weak point, after all, and attacks from that direction were difficult to defend against. Ah, Mougin whispered, as he was hit with a sudden burst of enlightenment. This youth had expressed his desire to strike his enemies from the back - therefore, when he asked Mougin if he 'got his back', he was in fact asking him to ensure that his own tactic wasn't used against him. Mougin nodded to himself, content with his reasoning, but tilted his head as he continued thinking. Why had this youth asked him this? Surely it would be wiser to pick someone more familiar to themselves to protect them. He mulled it over for a moment or two, but couldn't come up with a satisfactory answer. This wasn't a situation he had encountered in his life. If so, Mougin could only ask one question. "...Why?" Well, it probably wouldn't hurt to ask, right?</s> <|message|>Verus Strice Stallo City (D9), Early Morning --- --- Having approached from behind, Verus appeared to Zara's right, his left hand on her right shoulder. He waved as Jorath got into their car. After his employer's door shut, Verus let go of Zara's shoulder and put both hands behind his back. "Mr. Jorath has taken a liking to you it seems." His speech patterns were proper, with little sign of any emotion besides pride. "Let's get going, shall we?" he said, as he motioned to the inconspicuous black aircar that would be following Jorath's much more extravagant car... The inside of the car was as plain looking as the outside, but at least it was comfortable. The seating arrangement was limousine style: couch-like, leather seats with a back row that elbowed around the driver's side wall and ended just before the wall that separated them from the driver. Optional armrests could be lowered down from the backs of the seats. When Verus and Zara entered, there was already one other inside. He had black hair with a normal human build, nothing remarkable about the man. He wore the same suit Zara was wearing. His right armrest was down, and he was leaning on it when the doors opened. Upon seeing Verus however, he sat up straight, without a word. Verus motioned for Zara to sit along the wall seats. There was plenty of room, so she didn't have to sit next to the new guy. Verus sat in the middle of the back row and put both arm rests down, on either side of him. It wasn't until the car had started moving that anyone said anything. "Jackson, this is Zara." Verus said, breaking the silence. "She is our hired hand for this little excursion." The human man known as Jackson simply nodded in understanding. Verus continued. "Jackson is one of my men." he said to Zara. Then, addressing both of them, he dove right into the details. They were headed to an air ship, which would then take them to the Sutisu Capitol. The entire trip would only take 3 hours. When they set foot in the capitol, it would still be early in the afternoon. From there, their vacation would begin. Jackson would be sticking with the son, who would be going straight to the hotel to be alone and play video games. Verus would be going with Jorath's wife and daughter as they went on a shopping spree. Zara, would be going with Jorath, himself, as he went to visit some of his business contacts. There was a spark of something in Verus's eyes when he told Zara that she would be with Jorath. Was is jealousy? He hid his emotions well, but obviously something was upsetting him. The spark was gone in an instant, faster than it appeared. With that, his briefing ended. --- --- Tempum City (K7), Late Afternoon --- --- The rough skin young man glanced back in momentary confusion and repeated Mougin's question. "Why?" Then he turned his full attention back to the three humans across the street. He growled his answer, so that only Mougin could here. "Because people like them, humans... they think they're better than us." His intensity rose. "And I can't stand for that." Without waiting for Mougin's response, the young man stepped off the sidewalk, into the street. As he stepped, his body began to change. His baggy clothes started filling out, as he grew in size. His skin grew darker and small spikes started protruding all over his body. His transformation was complete in only five steps. "Now, how about you tell me why you were laughing!?" He screamed in a much deeper voice. During the distraction created by the dramatic transformation, the snake-girl had emerged from the alley behind Mougin. With a touch of concealing magic and natural grace, she quickly but quietly snuck forward. Her eyes were on the minotaur's satchel, where she knew he was carrying all his coins. Her plan was to quickly and carefully cut a hole in the bag and empty its contents into the bag she was carrying. Then it would just be a matter of escaping back into the alley...</s>

<|message|>Mougin Bighorn Mougin watched the beastman (beastboy, perhaps?) transform with some interest, though it did not show on his face. While beastmen and humans apparently lived quite well together on the Riotifu continent, strife was unavoidable. He had heard it was much worse in other places, but regardless, he hadn't thought he would see it so soon. He had no particular thoughts on joining the fight, as he had nothing against those humans, and he didn't have any particular thoughts on superiority. Nonetheless, it was something other people thought of, in this society, and if he wanted to be a part of it, he would have to think on it too. Yes. he had much to think about, even as he took another pastry from the bag and munched it down. As he watched, though, he was suddenly alerted to a very light tugging sensation coming from his back. The minotaur frowned. On his back was his bag, and inside his bag were his clothes, his money, and nothing. Were they after his clothes or his money? Rather than feeling anger or indignation, Mougin felt rather disappointed in himself. How long had it been since he had arrived in this city? In such short a time, he had already been targeted as prey. Twice. It seemed that he had been enraptured by the human world so much that his instincts had run away from him. Well, he would have to address that later. There were more immediate problems at hand. Pretending not to notice the intruder behind him, Mougin continued staring ahead while keeping his senses tuned. He could confront the would-be thief immediately, but the odds of capturing them would be better if he waited a little. The moment when a hunter is at their most vulnerable is when they think that they've captured their prize. He waited for a minute, and then a little longer, slowly inching his free arm towards his back. He suddenly lashed out, grabbing the perpetrator's arm. His bag to swung around as he whirled to face the thief, causing 5 loose golden coins to free themselves from the gaping hole inside his bag. The thief had made quite a lot of progress it seemed. The coins plinked and plonked as they bounced to a rest on the street. The minotaur stared impassively at the snake-like beastman before him. "I would advise you to stop this action." He said quietly. Though he tried his best to take a calm approach, his rumbling voice sent tremors into the teenager's (comparatively) frail arm.</s>

<|description|>Mougin Bighorn Aliases: None Race: Beastfolk - Highland Cow Age: 17 Gender: Male Appearance: Mougin is huge, as all giant foot tribesmen tend to be, though not as large as some species, and somewhat small even when compared to members of his own tribe. The bighorn tribe were originally a cattle species from the highlands, sporting sturdy builds and thick, fluffy fur to block out the wind. Mougin's coat of golden brown fur is particularly fluffy, and his eyes are large and brown. Besides his height, there is little that differentiates him from his brethren, though he usually wears clothes, whereas they do not. When he takes human form he turns into a surprisingly small (rather average for humans, but not any less surprising) and youthful form, though his voice is still very deep. Crystal: N/A Current Location: K7, Riotifu port town. Current Status: Active. Travelling, discovering more about human society. Faction: Giant Foot Tribe, Bighorn Occupation: None Personality: Mougin is quiet, often going days without saying a single word or noise. When he does, he usually does so in simple sentences, partially because he likes being efficient, and partially because his grasp of human language is still fairly loose. He thinks a lot and prefers to be cautious, carefully planning his actions before moving. Unfortunately, this means he can take a long time to come to a decision. He is rather intelligent for his species but is prone to misunderstandings due to a lack of experience. As a result, his common sense often leaves much to be desired. Finally, Mougin doesn't get angry very often, but he can be quite stubborn at times. The Giant Foot tribe are often thought to be gentle giants, unworryingly living their lives away from outside influences. And, well, that's mostly true. The Numgam continent is a blessed land in many respects, and there is a rich variety of tribes occupying the continent's every environment. In the center of the continent lies The Mountain (that was what the tribes called it, because it was the only mountain they knew), an immense rock that towers over the forest beneath it. A somewhat barren environment, it is nonetheless occupied by several different tribes, most notably the Bighorn tribe. As descendents of highland cattle, they were well suited to the barren, rocky environment and took quite well to it, though not as well as the nearby mountain goat tribe. Nevertheless, they settled, ate, and prospered. and eventually, Mougin was born. At a young age Mougin had already explored the whole mountain range, and was promptly bored. Despite looking like just another Giant Foot beastman, he had been born with what most wouldn't have for their entire lives - a burning curiosity. Unfortunately for young Mougin, there was nothing around to sate his curiosity. Rocks, trees, birds, and little else. With nowhere to turn to, he retreated into his mind. After thinking, and thinking, and thinking some more, he became a strange person to his tribesmen. Day in and day out he sat on the mountain and stared into the horizon as he thought. At that time, a traveller appeared on The Mountain. He introduced himself as a philosopher and stayed with the Bighorn tribe for a time. Most of the tribe didn't want anything to do with him, but Mougin stuck to his side like glue. They interacted with each other for most of the traveller's stay, and when he finally left, Mougin also left. He had decided to journey to the lands of the humans, where he believed that he would be able to finally satisfy his curiosity. Most of his tribesmen had never so much as stepped off the mountain, but his steps were light. There was a world of possibility out there, just waiting to be explored. Key Items: * Traveler's satchel * Strength * Stamina * Observation * Strength of the Earth: Draws power from the ground beneath. The stronger the substance below the user, the greater the conferred strength, although metal floors will not allow their strength to be drawn. The user must be touching the floor to be able to use this ability. * Breath of the Wind: Listen to the voices carried by the wind. In places where air flows, this skill allows the user to listen to faraway speech as if it was nearby. Poor airflow will make it difficult to hear. * Heart of Fire: Draws out the heat of the heart to warm the user. Useful for keeping warm in cold nights, and to make the user sweat into unconsciousness in summer. If, for some reason, they need to do so. * Coins: 20 * Large pants Beastman sized pants. Pants are essential in human society, after all. * Normal clothes Normal sized human clothes, for the rare occassions when Mougin takes a human form.</s> <|message|>Mougin Bighorn Mougin's hands paused. Not being well versed in the ettiquette of using cutlery, he had opted to use his tongue to carefully sample each dish. He would usually go at it hands and all, but that would probably be rude. Each dish was quite delectable, regardless of how he ate it. But he still ate carefully. Food didn't come from nowhere, and it required effort to make. Thus, there was an unspoken desire for reciprocation. A return for their efforts. Mougin suspected that his man was the same. The man's request was suspect. It was in what he said, or rather, what he hadn't said. 30 coins were earned for a hard day's work, and this man claimed that he could let Mougin do the same work for a lesser amount of time, with the same amount of pay. The math didn't add up. It was true that things would be harder after the sun went down. As everyone knew, mana came from the sun. Living beings absorbed mana from the sun's rays during the day, and when the sun went away at night, the flow stopped. It wasn't as if the mana was gone all together, though. Perhaps the tiny trickle that seeped in through the night came from the moon. Or the stars. Mougin wouldn't know, he was no astrologer. In any case, the minotaur had regained a healthy stock of mana over the sunset period. Tired as he was, he never forgot to save some his resources for an emergency. With that stockpile he should be able to complete the task fairly easly. That was what made the man's request suspicious. Even so, the man had treated him to dinner. "Very well." Mougin said, getting up from his seat. "In return for the meal, I will cooperate." Effort for effort. Goodwill should be reciprocated, even to the most suspicious people.</s> <|message|>Conner Silum --- Tempum City (K7), Night at the Docks --- --- "Wonderful!" proclaimed Mr. Silum, as he placed his utensils on the almost empty plate in front of him. He then stood and motioned for Moujin to join. "Let's get going then, if you're done. We're in no rush as of yet, but if the boat arrives early, I'd like to get started right away." The two walked in relative silence back to the docks, with desert pastries in hand. The sky above still relentless with fireworks and music still dancing in the air. It was a joyful veil of ignorance. As assumed, the boat arrived early, as others were pulling away from the dock. Mougin waited for the ship, along side two others. One of whom, Mougin had already worked with earlier today, a brawny man with no hair and cyborg arms. The other was female with pale skin and a frail looking body. She wore all black casual clothes, and did not look prepared for heavy lifting. As soon as the boat docked, the doors slid upward quickly, and a ramp descended just as fast, down to dock where Mougins and his coworker's stood. A man with a fresh cut on his bearded face appeared in the ship's opening. He wore black armor and was armed with a large assault riffle and a visible sidearms as well. "Things went as planned Boss." he announced. "Wonderful" Mr. Silum replied, before directing his orders to Mougin and the others. "Alright everyone, you know the deal." The doors on the warehouse behind them also opened, revealing workers on floating forklifts, that would be meeting them as they got off the boat.</s> <|message|>Mougin Bighorn Once again, Mougin's attention was taken up by differences. One familiar face nearby, and another unfamiliar face. But why only 3 workers? Compared to the immense scale of the docks, their work was tiny. Furthermore, the security was stronger. The dock didn't have much security, and they just sort of let Mougin through when he said he was looking for work. The security for this operation was clearly much more thorough. The minotaur stared at the guard. His clothes were thicker, and he was holding something. Armour and a weapon, presumeably. He didn't know what armour or weapon though, because he was never interested. Beastmen tended to rely on magic and their own bodies, so he didn't even know where to start with what the guard was wearing. Regardless of how protective the armour was, surely the absence of head protection would pose its own challenges? What, the weapon? What about the weapon? He didn't know a single thing about human weapons. Real men only use their fists, or so his father had told him. Although, Mougin didn't really agree with that... The brown furred minotaur snapped out of his reverie as instructions were yelled. Right, work. Perhaps the exhaustion was getting to him. He quickly got back into the groove, picking up boxes and handing them down to the forklifts. When there were no forklifts he moved them himself, drawing a little strength from the earth to alleviate the burden. The work was somewhat easier than this afternoon's, so he had a little more strength to spare. He paused whilst holding a crate and scanned the area, wondering how his fellow workers were doing.</s> <|message|>Conner Silum --- Tempum City (K7), Night at the Docks --- --- While Mr. Silum and the man in all black combat armor stood off in the distance talking quietly among themselves, Mougin and the two others unloaded the ship. The bald man with cybernetic arms handled the smallest crates, though he kept insisting that the heaviest, densest materials were always in the crates he chose. After the first twenty minutes he had to stop to rest his legs. While resting he was sure to let everyone know what he would be spending his money on, a set of cybernetic legs to match his arms. The pale skinned lady in all black clothes was actually the one carrying the largest crates, and she made it look effortless. Without a sound, she would grab entire crates with one hand each and slowly walk them off the boat. In fact, she typically took two at a time, one in each hand. The way she carried them, made no sense given her size, and the way she gripped them. It was as if she were escorting giant balloons, not solid metal containers. As the ship was nearly unloaded, blue flashing lights appeared on the docks. The source of the lights were two police officers, each riding their own hover cycles. One of these officers looked familiar to Mougin; it was the same officer that spoke with him the day before. The other officer, was clean shaven with a standard haircut. "Sorry to bother you Mr. Silum." the clean cut officer called out, as he turned off his lights and dismounted from his bike. Officer Charles, as he had introduced himself the day before, did not turn off his flashing lights as he dismounted his bike. Meanwhile, back on the boat, Mougin heard a feint thud coming from inside one of the larger containers...</s>

<|message|>Mougin Bighorn Mougin almost thought he didn't hear it. He supposed he could have ignored it, but curiosity got the better of him this time. There was a lull in the proceedings anyway. The minotaur sauntered onto the ship and looked around for the crate he heard moving. It was difficult, now that it wasn't making noise anymore. Mougin breathed deep and asked the wind to carry sound to him. Another foundational technique of the Bighorn tribe. Though it was easier to use on the wind swept plateaus, it should be enough to satisfy his curiosity. Various conversations floated through the air. Officer Charles was talking with his current employer (perhaps he should greet him later on), the man with metal arms was talking with their lithe (but apparently very strong) co-worker, and he could even here the beeps and whirs of the machinery busily ferrying crates to and fro. He ignored all of that and focused on the crates. Soon enough he could hear a light thumping from one of them, and he walked towards it. The mystery deepened as he got closer. A familiar scent wafted from the crate, the scent of home. But if that was the case, why was it moving? There seemed to be crying coming from the container too. Now he had to know. Briefly, he contemplated if it was worth risking the ire of his employer to simply satisfy his own curiosity. The minotaur's broad fingers pried the opening of the crate, lifting. The lid of the crate opened with a loud crack and revealed the 'cargo'. Children were inside, very obviously beastmen children, in various states of distress. Mougin was very confused.</s>

<|description|>Mougin Bighorn Aliases: None Race: Beastfolk - Highland Cow Age: 17 Gender: Male Appearance: Mougin is huge, as all giant foot tribesmen tend to be, though not as large as some species, and somewhat small even when compared to members of his own tribe. The bighorn tribe were originally a cattle species from the highlands, sporting sturdy builds and thick, fluffy fur to block out the wind. Mougin's coat of golden brown fur is particularly fluffy, and his eyes are large and brown. Besides his height, there is little that differentiates him from his brethren, though he usually wears clothes, whereas they do not. When he takes human form he turns into a surprisingly small (rather average for humans, but not any less surprising) and youthful form, though his voice is still very deep. Crystal: N/A Current Location: K7, Riotifu port town. Current Status: Active. Travelling, discovering more about human society. Faction: Giant Foot Tribe, Bighorn Occupation: None Personality: Mougin is quiet, often going days without saying a single word or noise. When he does, he usually does so in simple sentences, partially because he likes being efficient, and partially because his grasp of human language is still fairly loose. He thinks a lot and prefers to be cautious, carefully planning his actions before moving. Unfortunately, this means he can take a long time to come to a decision. He is rather intelligent for his species but is prone to misunderstandings due to a lack of experience. As a result, his common sense often leaves much to be desired. Finally, Mougin doesn't get angry very often, but he can be quite stubborn at times. The Giant Foot tribe are often thought to be gentle giants, unworryingly living their lives away from outside influences. And, well, that's mostly true. The Numgam continent is a blessed land in many respects, and there is a rich variety of tribes occupying the continent's every environment. In the center of the continent lies The Mountain (that was what the tribes called it, because it was the only mountain they knew), an immense rock that towers over the forest beneath it. A somewhat barren environment, it is nonetheless occupied by several different tribes, most notably the Bighorn tribe. As descendents of highland cattle, they were well suited to the barren, rocky environment and took quite well to it, though not as well as the nearby mountain goat tribe. Nevertheless, they settled, ate, and prospered. and eventually, Mougin was born. At a young age Mougin had already explored the whole mountain range, and was promptly bored. Despite looking like just another Giant Foot beastman, he had been born with what most wouldn't have for their entire lives - a burning curiosity. Unfortunately for young Mougin, there was nothing around to sate his curiosity. Rocks, trees, birds, and little else. With nowhere to turn to, he retreated into his mind. After thinking, and thinking, and thinking some more, he became a strange person to his tribesmen. Day in and day out he sat on the mountain and stared into the horizon as he thought. At that time, a traveller appeared on The Mountain. He introduced himself as a philosopher and stayed with the Bighorn tribe for a time. Most of the tribe didn't want anything to do with him, but Mougin stuck to his side like glue. They interacted with each other for most of the traveller's stay, and when he finally left, Mougin also left. He had decided to journey to the lands of the humans, where he believed that he would be able to finally satisfy his curiosity. Most of his tribesmen had never so much as stepped off the mountain, but his steps were light. There was a world of possibility out there, just waiting to be explored. Key Items: * Traveler's satchel * Strength * Stamina * Observation * Strength of the Earth: Draws power from the ground beneath. The stronger the substance below the user, the greater the conferred strength, although metal floors will not allow their strength to be drawn. The user must be touching the floor to be able to use this ability. * Breath of the Wind: Listen to the voices carried by the wind. In places where air flows, this skill allows the user to listen to faraway speech as if it was nearby. Poor airflow will make it difficult to hear. * Heart of Fire: Draws out the heat of the heart to warm the user. Useful for keeping warm in cold nights, and to make the user sweat into unconsciousness in summer. If, for some reason, they need to do so. * Coins: 20 * Large pants Beastman sized pants. Pants are essential in human society, after all. * Normal clothes Normal sized human clothes, for the rare occassions when Mougin takes a human form.</s> <|message|>Conner Silum --- Tempum City (K7), Night at the Docks --- --- The beast children looked up at Mougin in surprise. Their crying quickly came to a stop as confusion took over. Why was another beast person looking down at them? Was he here to rescue them? Or was he with the bad guys? Now that Mougin could see the captors, he could also see a collar on each of their necks. He had heard about such collars once. They were were designed with a magic curse that kept the wearer from turning into their beast form, and it also dampened their strength and magical powers while in human form as well. Basically, they were as defenseless as a non-magical human. Even worse, removing these things without deactivating them first would result in death for the wearer. Then came a quiet voice that Mougin had not yet heard. "What do you think we should do?" It was the pale skinned girl. She floated in midair, eye level with Mougin, also looking into the crate. "They are beast-folk like you yes?" This was the first time she had spoken since Mougin laid eyes on her. Meanwhile, outside the ship, Mr. Silum was assuring the clean cut officer that everything was normal. Their last ship had arrived a little later than scheduled, that was all. The officer accepted his explaination without question and looked as if he was about to leave. But then Officer Charles stepped forward. "Even so, a ship arriving after the dock master has gone is out of the normal. Would you mind if I saw the manifest and had a look inside?" The other officer looked angry with his partner, but he didn't say anything. The Boy Scout was doing what he always does, making a fuss about nothing. Mr. Silum responded back with confidence. "I have the manifest here." He took out a tablet and turned it on. It pulled up a manifest document right away. "However, there isn't much left to see on the boat itself. Almost everything is already inside the warehouse, and unfortunately, you would need a warrant for that." Mr. Silum's armored body guard, shifted his weight slightly as he listened to the conversation. This caught Officer Charles' eye, but it wasn't enough to cause alarm. However, it was enough to raise suspicion. Back on the boat, the shorter coworker with mechanical arms stepped into the opening of the boat. "What are you two looking at?" He asked clumsily from across the large room.</s> <|message|>Mougin Bighorn That was what he wanted to know. At a glance it was fairly obvious what they were looking at; a collar created for containing beastmen was upon beastmen children, who were inside of a crate. But Mougin wasn't entirely sure why they were here, his tired brain not working quick enough to glean an answer. People weren't cargo, as far as he knew, but the box was on a cargo ship, so it was presumeably cargo. For what, though? Or rather, to where? To the not particularly worldwise minotaur, this was a strange turn of events. So, he decided to ask. And conveniently, there were two people here to answer him. "What profit is there in ferrying children?" He wondered aloud. That was probably his most pertinent question.</s> <|message|>Conner Silum --- Tempum City (K7), Night at the Docks --- --- Floating in the air, next to Mougin, the pale skinned, black haired young woman answered his wondering question. She spoke softly and without much emotion. "Slavery. Most likely." "The hell are you two doing?" The bald muscular man said as he closed the gap between them. "Whatever's in that crate, it's not worth crossing the mob." He stopped a few feet away, outside of anyone's reach. "You need to put the lid back on that crate, and forget what you saw. Or we're all in for it." Meanwhile, on the dock below, Officer Charles was handing the ships manifest back to Mr. Silum. "I hear you, sir, but I'm still going to have a look inside that ship. It won't take long." Not waiting for a response, he started to walk in the direction of the ship's wide open door, the one Mr. Robot Arms entered through. The black armored guard moved quickly to intercept, but Mr. Silum's words stopped him. Officer Charles also paused to listen. "You can absolutely look around the ship. However, you'll still need a warrant to open any locked containers. Privacy must be respected after all." Looking over his shoulder, Officer Charles simply nodded in understanding. He had some sharp words for the business man, but he held his tongue, for now... And so, as Mougin and his coworkers were just starting to debate their next move, they were already running out of time. Officer Charles was quickly approaching. Right on his heals, Mr. Silum's body guard was looking ready to pounce. And bringing up the rear was Mr. Silum himself and the second officer.</s>

<|message|>Mougin Bighorn Mougin is aware of what slavery is (though he wasn't really aware about how people profited from it), and he knows what a mob is. He doesn't know what the mob is, though. Even if it was only a one word difference, it seemed to hold a much larger significance. Another annoying quirk of human linguistics. The minotaur sighed and closed his eyes. Understanding was one thing he was bad at, but he had always been a good listener. The wind brought the sounds nearby towards his ear. More information to glean from. More to understand. Already he was making new associations in his brain. The metal-armed man feared The Mob, thus their employer was probably part of that group, whatever they were. Mougin and the metal-armed man were of similar status, from what he could see, so The Mob clearly had significant influence. Yet a member of theirs deferred to officer Charles, an enforcer of the Law. And even then, it seemed that The Mob were active outside of the city itself, as far away as his own home continent. He felt as if he was catching a glimpse of a large tangled web of connections. As an outsider it was hard for him to say where to step. Which lines were safe to cross and which would thrust him into the spider's mouth? But, truth be told, it didn't matter that much to him. His people's opinions were that humans always overthought. Mougin thought that his peers could stand to think some more, but he agreed. His understanding of spoken language was shaky, and the deceptions they weaved, obvious or obfuscated, didn't help at all. But he was starting to be able to see through the smoke. At its core, the metal-armed man's statement was borne of concern for his position in society. To live, one needs food. In this city, one bought food with gold. For gold, one had to work. Control the work, control food, control the individual. Their mutual employer, Mr. Silum, was the one who gave them work, thus it was obviously possible for them not to do so. And apparently he also had the means to prevent future work. But did that matter to Mougin? No. His people were of the wilds; if he needed food, he was confident that he could find it. But employment was only one part of the puzzle, and perhaps Mr. Silum and The Mob could make sure he would never have a comfortable stay in Tempum city. Did that matter to Mougin? No. There were many nations of men, and while there were some less friendly to beastmen than others, he had come to this city mostly because of its proximity. True, it would be difficult to live outside of a city, and quality of the food in the wild was vastly inferior to what human chefs made. True, if he went through with this stunt, Mr Silum, or The Mob, or anyone else could end his life. Cut his journey just when it had begun. But again, none of that mattered. His mind was made up. He had a choice, and these little ones did not. In front of humans, in front of his own, he would never be the lesser man. Mougin opened his eyes. The plan was coming together in his mind, slowly. But time was not kind. He would have to work it out while he acted. "If you do not wish to be involved, then do not be." He said, rising to his feet. "All that I ask is that you do not interfere." It was best if neither of his two co-workers involve themselves in the forthcoming events. Implication of some kind was inevitable, and nothing they did would be able to soften the blow. Not to achieve what he wanted to achieve. He stared down at the lid of the container in his hands, the overheard words of Mr. Silum echoing in his ears. Mougin leaned over the edge of the container. He whispered some comforting words to them in the mother tongue, before gently placing back on top of the container. Then, he slowly lifted the crate up above his head, letting it rest on his shoulders like a yoke. It was... extremely heavy, and very large, making it extremely awkward to maneuver. His head was bowed forward, making it difficult to see where he was going. He knew his strength wouldn't last very long. But that was fine - if he timed it correctly, he wouldn't be holding it for very long. And besides, the plan wasn't relying on brute strength, but humankind's beloved deception. He was relying on his previous experiences in the city, brief as they were, along with some tenuous connections he had not had the opportunity to check. The plan was built on shaky foundations, but it was the best he could come up with on short notice. It was simple, and held little consideration for his future in the city. But he didn't really mind. If he succeeded then he would be safe enough, and the children would be alright too. If he failed, then so be it.</s>

<|description|>Mougin Bighorn Aliases: None Race: Beastfolk - Highland Cow Age: 17 Gender: Male Appearance: Mougin is huge, as all giant foot tribesmen tend to be, though not as large as some species, and somewhat small even when compared to members of his own tribe. The bighorn tribe were originally a cattle species from the highlands, sporting sturdy builds and thick, fluffy fur to block out the wind. Mougin's coat of golden brown fur is particularly fluffy, and his eyes are large and brown. Besides his height, there is little that differentiates him from his brethren, though he usually wears clothes, whereas they do not. When he takes human form he turns into a surprisingly small (rather average for humans, but not any less surprising) and youthful form, though his voice is still very deep. Crystal: N/A Current Location: K7, Riotifu port town. Current Status: Active. Travelling, discovering more about human society. Faction: Giant Foot Tribe, Bighorn Occupation: None Personality: Mougin is quiet, often going days without saying a single word or noise. When he does, he usually does so in simple sentences, partially because he likes being efficient, and partially because his grasp of human language is still fairly loose. He thinks a lot and prefers to be cautious, carefully planning his actions before moving. Unfortunately, this means he can take a long time to come to a decision. He is rather intelligent for his species but is prone to misunderstandings due to a lack of experience. As a result, his common sense often leaves much to be desired. Finally, Mougin doesn't get angry very often, but he can be quite stubborn at times. The Giant Foot tribe are often thought to be gentle giants, unworryingly living their lives away from outside influences. And, well, that's mostly true. The Numgam continent is a blessed land in many respects, and there is a rich variety of tribes occupying the continent's every environment. In the center of the continent lies The Mountain (that was what the tribes called it, because it was the only mountain they knew), an immense rock that towers over the forest beneath it. A somewhat barren environment, it is nonetheless occupied by several different tribes, most notably the Bighorn tribe. As descendents of highland cattle, they were well suited to the barren, rocky environment and took quite well to it, though not as well as the nearby mountain goat tribe. Nevertheless, they settled, ate, and prospered. and eventually, Mougin was born. At a young age Mougin had already explored the whole mountain range, and was promptly bored. Despite looking like just another Giant Foot beastman, he had been born with what most wouldn't have for their entire lives - a burning curiosity. Unfortunately for young Mougin, there was nothing around to sate his curiosity. Rocks, trees, birds, and little else. With nowhere to turn to, he retreated into his mind. After thinking, and thinking, and thinking some more, he became a strange person to his tribesmen. Day in and day out he sat on the mountain and stared into the horizon as he thought. At that time, a traveller appeared on The Mountain. He introduced himself as a philosopher and stayed with the Bighorn tribe for a time. Most of the tribe didn't want anything to do with him, but Mougin stuck to his side like glue. They interacted with each other for most of the traveller's stay, and when he finally left, Mougin also left. He had decided to journey to the lands of the humans, where he believed that he would be able to finally satisfy his curiosity. Most of his tribesmen had never so much as stepped off the mountain, but his steps were light. There was a world of possibility out there, just waiting to be explored. Key Items: * Traveler's satchel * Strength * Stamina * Observation * Strength of the Earth: Draws power from the ground beneath. The stronger the substance below the user, the greater the conferred strength, although metal floors will not allow their strength to be drawn. The user must be touching the floor to be able to use this ability. * Breath of the Wind: Listen to the voices carried by the wind. In places where air flows, this skill allows the user to listen to faraway speech as if it was nearby. Poor airflow will make it difficult to hear. * Heart of Fire: Draws out the heat of the heart to warm the user. Useful for keeping warm in cold nights, and to make the user sweat into unconsciousness in summer. If, for some reason, they need to do so. * Coins: 20 * Large pants Beastman sized pants. Pants are essential in human society, after all. * Normal clothes Normal sized human clothes, for the rare occassions when Mougin takes a human form.</s> <|message|>Mougin Bighorn Mougin is aware of what slavery is (though he wasn't really aware about how people profited from it), and he knows what a mob is. He doesn't know what the mob is, though. Even if it was only a one word difference, it seemed to hold a much larger significance. Another annoying quirk of human linguistics. The minotaur sighed and closed his eyes. Understanding was one thing he was bad at, but he had always been a good listener. The wind brought the sounds nearby towards his ear. More information to glean from. More to understand. Already he was making new associations in his brain. The metal-armed man feared The Mob, thus their employer was probably part of that group, whatever they were. Mougin and the metal-armed man were of similar status, from what he could see, so The Mob clearly had significant influence. Yet a member of theirs deferred to officer Charles, an enforcer of the Law. And even then, it seemed that The Mob were active outside of the city itself, as far away as his own home continent. He felt as if he was catching a glimpse of a large tangled web of connections. As an outsider it was hard for him to say where to step. Which lines were safe to cross and which would thrust him into the spider's mouth? But, truth be told, it didn't matter that much to him. His people's opinions were that humans always overthought. Mougin thought that his peers could stand to think some more, but he agreed. His understanding of spoken language was shaky, and the deceptions they weaved, obvious or obfuscated, didn't help at all. But he was starting to be able to see through the smoke. At its core, the metal-armed man's statement was borne of concern for his position in society. To live, one needs food. In this city, one bought food with gold. For gold, one had to work. Control the work, control food, control the individual. Their mutual employer, Mr. Silum, was the one who gave them work, thus it was obviously possible for them not to do so. And apparently he also had the means to prevent future work. But did that matter to Mougin? No. His people were of the wilds; if he needed food, he was confident that he could find it. But employment was only one part of the puzzle, and perhaps Mr. Silum and The Mob could make sure he would never have a comfortable stay in Tempum city. Did that matter to Mougin? No. There were many nations of men, and while there were some less friendly to beastmen than others, he had come to this city mostly because of its proximity. True, it would be difficult to live outside of a city, and quality of the food in the wild was vastly inferior to what human chefs made. True, if he went through with this stunt, Mr Silum, or The Mob, or anyone else could end his life. Cut his journey just when it had begun. But again, none of that mattered. His mind was made up. He had a choice, and these little ones did not. In front of humans, in front of his own, he would never be the lesser man. Mougin opened his eyes. The plan was coming together in his mind, slowly. But time was not kind. He would have to work it out while he acted. "If you do not wish to be involved, then do not be." He said, rising to his feet. "All that I ask is that you do not interfere." It was best if neither of his two co-workers involve themselves in the forthcoming events. Implication of some kind was inevitable, and nothing they did would be able to soften the blow. Not to achieve what he wanted to achieve. He stared down at the lid of the container in his hands, the overheard words of Mr. Silum echoing in his ears. Mougin leaned over the edge of the container. He whispered some comforting words to them in the mother tongue, before gently placing back on top of the container. Then, he slowly lifted the crate up above his head, letting it rest on his shoulders like a yoke. It was... extremely heavy, and very large, making it extremely awkward to maneuver. His head was bowed forward, making it difficult to see where he was going. He knew his strength wouldn't last very long. But that was fine - if he timed it correctly, he wouldn't be holding it for very long. And besides, the plan wasn't relying on brute strength, but humankind's beloved deception. He was relying on his previous experiences in the city, brief as they were, along with some tenuous connections he had not had the opportunity to check. The plan was built on shaky foundations, but it was the best he could come up with on short notice. It was simple, and held little consideration for his future in the city. But he didn't really mind. If he succeeded then he would be safe enough, and the children would be alright too. If he failed, then so be it.</s> <|message|>Conner Silum --- Tempum City (K7), Night at the Docks --- --- Mr. Robot Arms looked shocked as Mougin began to lift the large metal container. "What the hell...?" Then came an exasperated sigh from behind, and suddenly, the once heavy object became 100 times lighter, still heavy for the average person, but incredibly light for Mougin. On the back side of the large metal box, the pale skinned woman floated. Her legs were crossed, as if sitting mid-air, and she rested one hand on the side of the container. Her small frame was completely hidden behind the large obstruction. Robot Arms knew she was back there, but anyone else entering the ship would not. They would only see Mougin, effortlessly holding a massive object above his head. Speaking of people entering the ship... Officer Charles appeared in the entryway. The sight of Mougin stopped him breifly in his tracks. Then he started walking forward again, cautiously. "Hey there big guy. I didn't think I'd see you so soon. What do you got there?" Mr. Silum's body guard was right behind Charles, as the officer spoke. By the end of his question, Mr. Silum and the second officer also appeared in the doorway. Mr. Silum eyes bulged when he saw Mougin. Was he suprised to see him lifting such a heavy container? Or was he worried, because he knew what was inside? Or both? In any case, the finely dressed gentleman composed himself quickly. He didn't speak however. He too seemed interested in what Mougin had to say for himself. He and everyone else in the room waited, in silent anticipation.</s>

<|message|>Mougin Bighorn Mougin was a rather withdrawn child. He often shunned labourous chores for exploring the nooks and crannies of the mountain. He did it so often that it was truly baffling that his parents hadn't yet taken him to task, and it was equally bewildering to his peers that he didn't simply disappear on one of his expeditions. Regardless, he had been told by the elders that his youthful truancy would lead to a weak body. He had scoffed then, but he couldn't scoff now. Every step was a struggle. To balance, to endure, to make sure his path was straight, everything. Really, he hadn't thought this out. He might not make it up to shore, which would put a serious hamper in his plan. Miraculously the package became larger. He turned back to see the woman concentrating, hand on the metal container. A new kind of magic, it seemed. Her interference made her an accomplice, which could potentially complicate matters. But that was her perogative, and maybe she had her own way out. If they both made it out of this in one piece, he would ask to learn her magic. Mougin marched forward. Officer Charles had already arrived nearby, Mr. Silum in tow. How convenient. The minotaur silently stepped down the gangway, reflecting on his plan on the cusp of its execution. It utilised several things he had learned thus far from his prior experience in this city, mostly things from yesterday. From almost being stolen from he learned a few things about how crimes were identified - Officer Charles was reluctant to arrest the teenagers because he himself hadn't seen the wrongdoing. The teenagers would not admit it and Mougin himself didn't either, because the attempt was unsuccessful. He wasn't sure what a 'crime' was, but the teenagers seemed to believe it could be seen as one. So they employed deceit, and pleaded innocent. While had no time to check whether 'slavery' was a crime or not, Mr Silum acted like the teenagers he had met yesterday. He put on a mask of innocence, unaware that Mougin was looking at his wrongdoings. It was a crime, then, or something that could be interpreted as one. If the Officer of the Law did not see the crime occur, it was difficult to prove the wrongdoing existed. If he did not see any evidence, he couldn't be sure of a crime. Therefore, the first step of the plan was to produce evidence. The minotaur shrugged the metal container off his shoulder and he felt the weight of it rapidly increase as he removed the box from the woman's touch. Mougin winced in his mind; this would not be comfortable for the children. But it had to be done. He let the box fall to the ground with a loud clang and the lid popped off towards Officer Charles and the group. Several children came tumbling out of the metal receptacle. Before anyone could react, Mougin took 2 confident steps forward and initiated the next step in his plan. The Mob was an object of fear for the metal-armed man. If they could touch Mougin's home, plunder its resources, take its people, then they clearly had immense influence. But if that was the case then why the pretense of innocence? Why did Mr Silum fear the law? It seemed clear to him that, while The Mob was not above the Law, they had the ability to go around The Law. Even if Mougin did not commit a crime in the eyes of the Law, The Mob may press charges against him their own way. He needed to be under the protection of the Law, to protect himself from The Mob. Therefore, his second step was to perform a crime. Mougin came to a stop in front of Officer Charles and raised a clenched fist, bringing it down on top of the officer's head in one smooth motion to thump him hard on the head. He was still unsure of what exactly constituted a crime, but he was sure that unbidden violence was one of those things. His blow was firm, to prove his seriousness, but he had tried to be gentle to his aqcuantance. It was really a strange coincidence that Charles would be the one at the dock tonight; if Mougin made it out of this in one piece, he would have to buy him lunch.</s>

<|description|>Verus Strice * Expert Negotiator * Near Invulnerability (thanks to his suit) * Deep Pockets & Countless Connections * Hidden Hi-tech Pistols Magical Abilities: N/A * Coins: 1,000,000+ * Ammunition Aliases: Mr. Strice Crystal: N/A Race: Beastfolk: Dog Faction: Mutrenu / Loyal Tails Tribe Age: 33 Gender: Male Occupation: Chief of Staff Verus is high strung to say the least. He is a prime example of a Loyal Tails tribe member, all business. Despite his servant-like status, his will remains strong. Verus was born in Loyal Tails City (their stronghold's official name), like most Loyal Tails tribe members. His family were servants of the city's ruler, a tradition that he was supposed to uphold. He, however, was quite rebellious, at least when compared to other members of his family. Instead of staying in Loyal Tails City, in the palace, he wanted to venture out into the world, or see the rest of Mutrenu at the very least. His family resented this decision, considering it beneath him. They saw no greater honor than to serve The Ruler. Leaving the city was what "normal" Loyal Tails members did, going out and eventually submitting to human masters. Furious at Verus's constant longing to leave the city, his father gave him an ultimatum. He could leave the city, but if he did, he would be banished forever. It only took one night's sleep for Verus to make up his mind… and pack his bags. That was twenty five years ago. Eventually, as most Loyal Tails tribe members often do, Verus found an employer, a wealthy trade merchant named Jorath, who was originally from Sutisu. Jorath immigrated to Mutrenu when he was a young man. Verus saw a bit of himself in this man who had also left his family behind. Verus has been serving Jorath and his family for nearly twenty years now. He has helped raise the man's children and seen him divorce twice. Occasionally, Jorath has to hire outside help, when extra security is needed. But Verus is the one these temporary hires must answer to, and he is always keeping a watchful eye on them. Key Items: * A durable, yet ornate, uniform * A saber that can produce invisible, slicing, energy waves.</s> <|message|>Full Name. Bold and italicize their preferred name, if it's one of their real names. Tempum City (K7), Late Afternoon --- --- The five young gang members, three human and two beastfolk, had been trailing Mougin since he left the food truck. The humans were doing little to hide their presence, while the two beastfolk remained out of sight. The group hadn't heard how many coins were on each of the fifteen chips the shopkeeper gave back to Mougin, but it didn't matter. Even if they had only one coin on each, it would still be worth it. And what if they each had more than one coin!? This could be a huge score. Plus, this minautor seemed like a dope, a foolish newcomer to the city. Even so, they didn't want to get into a physical altercation with the hulking monster. They were going to stick to their strengths, stealth and deception. When Mougin stopped to eat, they wasted little time making their move. One of the beastfolk teenagers, the alligator one, turned a street corner and pretended to notice Mougin by suprise. Then, he headed straight toward Mougin at a steady, normal pace. He was still in human form, but his skin was leathery and his mouth protruded a little further than normal. Despite his rough appearance, he showed a sharp, toothy smile, in an effort to appear friendly. "Hey there!" he said, trying to get Mougin's attention. "Where did you get those? They smell great!" As the alligator-teen approached, the three human teenagers starting laughing. They were on the other side of the street, and between laughs, they would point at Mougin and/or the alligator-teen. Clearly, they were making fun, ridiculing the two beastfolk. Before Mougin could respond to the alligator-teen, the leathery boy had turned and started yelling. "Shut the hell up!" His pointed teeth on full display, he turned to Mougin. "Those pricks are making fun of us! I'm going to kick their asses. You got my back?" The snake-girl, the fifth member of their sneaky gang was nowhere to be seen...</s> <|message|>Zara Stallo City (D9), Early Morning Zara wore a smile on her face the moment her eyes fell upon the man, for one because she had been eager to see him up close for the first time, but mainly because he would be the source of her big payday. She'd gotten some money upfront from one of his staff as preparation budget - the small chip clinked around with her keys inside the breastpocket of her suit - however it had been only a teaser as far as she remembered; the headache she'd gotten that day from reading that ridiculously complicated contract, as well as the insufferable personality of Jorath's head of staff, still made her cringe inwardly even to this day. "Mister Jorath, it's nice to meet you," she said with a slight bow after stopping in front of the lounge. "Thank you for employing my services and trusting me with your safety," she stifly recited the words Verus had instructed her to say. Jorath, either unaware or pretending, did not comment on her behavior and simply nodded in return. "I also have big hopes from you," he responded to her as he made a small gesture to a person of his retinue. The man, similarly suited to Zara, moved to escort Jorath's family out of the building. The daughter rolled her eyes, while the son barely looked up from his video game as he stood up. Jorath's wife simply smiled and nodded, her gaze flicking briefly to Zara before returning to her kids, urging them to walk out of the hotel. Soon just Jorath and Zara were left in the lobby. Zara watched the whole scene unfold silently, only slighly raising a brow at the side-eye she'd received from the woman. After a few moments, the two were left alone in the lobby - as much 'alone' one can get with a man of Jorath's standing, of course. Zara's reptile senses could feel invisible eyes locked on her, no doubt Jorath's secret guard were watching her with as much attention as they would scan an open square for potential hostile actors. Then Jorath gestured towards the revolving doors of the hotel exit, a relic of the past that some more high-end hotels retained as a status symbol, and addressed her. "Let's talk as we walk, shall we?" The man said to Zara, eyeing her patiently for a moment before taking off first. Curiously, Zara fell into step beside him as they made their way out of the hotel lobby. "I really appreciate you taking on this job, Zara," he continued, his voice low. "Verus has made me aware of your past, and I'll have you know I appreciate an experienced bodyguard, especially where we are heading." Zara nodded, her expression serious. "I take my responsibilities very seriously, Mr. Jorath. You can count on me to do everything in my power to protect your family." Jorath turned to her, smiled, and clapped her on the back. "We'll get along just fine the two of us," he said as he started walking towards the aircar his family had boarded. "Go to Verus for any questions you might have, I am sure you two will get to know each other nicely during our trip," were the last words he left her with before the driver closed the passenger door behind him. "Fuck..." Zara rolled her eyes and sighed at the mention of the canine. "It's fine Zara... it's just one man, you've dealt with worse than that... yeah..." Just as she was hyping herself up a bit, lost in her own little world, she felt a presence creeping up behind. Before she could even turn around to look at who it might be, a gloved hand landed on her shoulder.</s> <|message|>Mougin Bighorn The teenage beastman's statement was met by an expression of bafflement, as much as could be depicted by the low emotional range that Mougin's face possessed. The confusion was plain on his face, nonetheless. "No, I am not in possession of your back..." He said in befuddlement. If a 'back' could be said to belong to anyone, then surely one's back would be in the possession of one's self. A human witticism, perhaps? If so, the meaning eluded him at the current moment. In addition to that, the youth made mention of 'kicking their asses'... If this beastman wished to fight the 3 other youths across the street then this would indeed be a sound tactical decision. One's behind was usually a weak point, after all, and attacks from that direction were difficult to defend against. Ah, Mougin whispered, as he was hit with a sudden burst of enlightenment. This youth had expressed his desire to strike his enemies from the back - therefore, when he asked Mougin if he 'got his back', he was in fact asking him to ensure that his own tactic wasn't used against him. Mougin nodded to himself, content with his reasoning, but tilted his head as he continued thinking. Why had this youth asked him this? Surely it would be wiser to pick someone more familiar to themselves to protect them. He mulled it over for a moment or two, but couldn't come up with a satisfactory answer. This wasn't a situation he had encountered in his life. If so, Mougin could only ask one question. "...Why?" Well, it probably wouldn't hurt to ask, right?</s>

<|message|>Verus Strice Stallo City (D9), Early Morning --- --- Having approached from behind, Verus appeared to Zara's right, his left hand on her right shoulder. He waved as Jorath got into their car. After his employer's door shut, Verus let go of Zara's shoulder and put both hands behind his back. "Mr. Jorath has taken a liking to you it seems." His speech patterns were proper, with little sign of any emotion besides pride. "Let's get going, shall we?" he said, as he motioned to the inconspicuous black aircar that would be following Jorath's much more extravagant car... The inside of the car was as plain looking as the outside, but at least it was comfortable. The seating arrangement was limousine style: couch-like, leather seats with a back row that elbowed around the driver's side wall and ended just before the wall that separated them from the driver. Optional armrests could be lowered down from the backs of the seats. When Verus and Zara entered, there was already one other inside. He had black hair with a normal human build, nothing remarkable about the man. He wore the same suit Zara was wearing. His right armrest was down, and he was leaning on it when the doors opened. Upon seeing Verus however, he sat up straight, without a word. Verus motioned for Zara to sit along the wall seats. There was plenty of room, so she didn't have to sit next to the new guy. Verus sat in the middle of the back row and put both arm rests down, on either side of him. It wasn't until the car had started moving that anyone said anything. "Jackson, this is Zara." Verus said, breaking the silence. "She is our hired hand for this little excursion." The human man known as Jackson simply nodded in understanding. Verus continued. "Jackson is one of my men." he said to Zara. Then, addressing both of them, he dove right into the details. They were headed to an air ship, which would then take them to the Sutisu Capitol. The entire trip would only take 3 hours. When they set foot in the capitol, it would still be early in the afternoon. From there, their vacation would begin. Jackson would be sticking with the son, who would be going straight to the hotel to be alone and play video games. Verus would be going with Jorath's wife and daughter as they went on a shopping spree. Zara, would be going with Jorath, himself, as he went to visit some of his business contacts. There was a spark of something in Verus's eyes when he told Zara that she would be with Jorath. Was is jealousy? He hid his emotions well, but obviously something was upsetting him. The spark was gone in an instant, faster than it appeared. With that, his briefing ended. --- --- Tempum City (K7), Late Afternoon --- --- The rough skin young man glanced back in momentary confusion and repeated Mougin's question. "Why?" Then he turned his full attention back to the three humans across the street. He growled his answer, so that only Mougin could here. "Because people like them, humans... they think they're better than us." His intensity rose. "And I can't stand for that." Without waiting for Mougin's response, the young man stepped off the sidewalk, into the street. As he stepped, his body began to change. His baggy clothes started filling out, as he grew in size. His skin grew darker and small spikes started protruding all over his body. His transformation was complete in only five steps. "Now, how about you tell me why you were laughing!?" He screamed in a much deeper voice. During the distraction created by the dramatic transformation, the snake-girl had emerged from the alley behind Mougin. With a touch of concealing magic and natural grace, she quickly but quietly snuck forward. Her eyes were on the minotaur's satchel, where she knew he was carrying all his coins. Her plan was to quickly and carefully cut a hole in the bag and empty its contents into the bag she was carrying. Then it would just be a matter of escaping back into the alley...</s>

<|description|>Takara Suzukaze Age: 14 Gender: Female Appearance: Standing a bit short for his height, Takara sports long, messy black hair and is often dressed in somewhat baggy, ill fitting clothing. She tries her best not to stand out too much with her clothing, which consequently, sometimes means she stands out too much. Though, that is fine too. The more unapproachable she looks, the less likely it is she'll be bothered by people. Personality: Takara's personality is like night and day sometimes. In her day to day life, she's quiet, keeps mostly to herself, and generally sometimes as unnoticeable as the trashcan sitting in the corner of a classroom. Not that she's shy, no, she's just a very self involved person and doesn't quite like overly complicated things and spending time with other people. Still, she's fairly pleasant, as long as you don't mind someone who will tell you you're being a dumbass when you are. Especially doesn't like those who try to do more than they're seemingly capable of. As a magical girl life though, one wouldn't be able to even guess that these two would be the same people initially. A good hero needs a secret identity, after all! Loud, rambunctious and very, very eager to prove her worth as a hero like she always wanted even with some conflict of desire with the situation in question. Perhaps a little overeager to fight. While she isn't overly eager to express a more like of girly things when she can be herself, she definitely wouldn't say no if someone invited her along to do...girly things. Or invited her along for a slumber party. Or just hanging out in general. Perhaps this is how she really feels, or perhaps she's just putting on heirs. Maybe she's not entirely certain herself. Has a tendency to announce herself to enemies before engaging in battle. Skills: Decently skilled in the kitchen and can play the guitar just somewhat. Otherwise, doesn't have too many notable relevant skills unless you count a vast knowledge of superhero and similar shows. Brief Backstory: Takara was once a fairly average, normal guy with fairly mundane interests. Specifically, music and the more culinary arts. Overall, there was nothing hugely impactful in his life negatively. If anything, he ended up where he is now purely because of a childish sense of justice and wanting to help people. He grew up with a huge love of manga, super sentai shows, super heroes, and spent more than a lot of time as a young kid consuming such media. The fact his father was a higher up in the local police force who, at time time, he considered to be his main role model helped to cement this mentality. Perhaps, one would find it odd he'd be a bit bullied over this. It wasn't anything severe, really, but he had never been particularly strong or athletic. With his somewhat quiet and subdued demeanor, it made him a bit of an easy target. But that, to him, was fine. Better him than someone else who couldn't handle it, right? Even if it hurt a bit. Besides, he had also gained someone he'd consider an inseparable friend who shared many of the same interests, too. It was when he was utterly helpless to help someone, that he realized just how weak and silly his goals were. A fire broke out in the school. It wasn't until later that the body of his best friend, someone who had shared his somewhat fanciful dreams of childish heroism, would be found. Frustration. Anger. Himself being so weak and unable to help. Anyone would be depressed from not being able to help their best friend in such a situation, but it hit Takara particularly hard. For sometime after, he had given up such fanciful dreams, thinking it'd be best to grow up and put all of that behind him. It was when this little fairy showed up. At first, he thought he was merely having some grieving dream or something. He'd say yes without hesitation, not even bothering to get the full details from the fairy. When She woke next morning, she didn't even initially see anything was wrong until she went to go take a shower. Needless to say, she was absolutely livid but the fairy merely 'Tee-heed' and flew away after telling Takara of her new responsibilities. She tried to tell her parents, but they seemed to not mind or even register. Seemed like she was the only one that remembered this and now he...she, was a magical girl of all things. On one hand, she could totally beat up bad guys! On the other hand, why was she a girl now!? Grrr, if she ever sees that fairy again, she's getting punted into the sun! Magical Girl Appearance: Concept: Storms Archetype: Hecatoncheries Abilities: Hecatoncheries. The hundred armed and hundred faced giants from myth. Said to possess a myriad of abilities and supernatural abilities. In Takara's case, she has the Concept of storms and possess their abilities relating to it. - Currently, she can manifest up to eight arms of light, able to strike at foes individually and control them as she would her own two arms. They appear as somewhat translucent, ethereal bluish white arms coming from her back. - She can manifest loud reverberating booms of sound, much like thunder claps to both disorient and cause localized pressure waves of pure destruction. Often used by throwing punches at something and having it activate on contact with the target, but it could be used much more wide scale. -While she doesn't have fine control over air currents or wind itself, she can create large air currents and whip up small whirlwinds from her arms and voice.</s> <|message|>Takara Suzukaze --- If impatiently waiting could be a skill, Takara would likely have won several awards for it. So when the messaging app buzzed with a reply, she'd quickly check the reply...and immediately frown in irritation. Short stuff? Fine, if she wanted to go home see how much she actually cared! Zero, that was it, definitely! Oh wait...she actually sent a follow up message. Don't die? What was she? A child?! Well, yes, but she could handle herself against some basic bad guys! She was about to type up a very angry reply, when something warm and fuzzy headbutted her in the leg. Looking down, she'd see the dog and internally cringe, angrily stuffing her phone in her pocket and giving the mutt a pat on the head before walking over to Abigail. "Finally." Takara huffed, noticing the bags of well, everything Abigail came walking up with. "Got anything good in there or just gonna eat it all yourself?" She'd snatch up her favorite - an unreasonably sour hard candy. The roar of an engine finally indicated that they had at least, all started to finally show up and filter in. "Kana." She'd give at least a polite greeting, though her somewhat irritable expression didn't change as she'd pop the sour candy into her mouth without so much as batting an eye...at least until Shun finally arrived. Takara stomped over, immediately giving the other girl a somewhat rough punch on the shoulder before she could react. "Shorty?! I'm like, the second tallest here! You're just unreasonably tall!" So she says, without having actually looked at the heights of her teammates.</s> <|message|>Abigail Hood Abigail Handing out drinks wasn't such a demand on her attention that Abigail could miss the very loud, very pink girl coming in... and making a jump for the bag all by herself. There were many possible ways she could have defended her bag of snacks: she could have transformed, she could have dived to the side, or spun around, or... Instead, she did the obvious thing when someone made a wild leap like that: lift it straight up, completely beyond reach. Honestly, even if she transformed, she would still be the tallest here, if not by much, trying to do something like that when she had so much of a height advantage was silly. She had nearly a foot or more on practically every girl she met. Of course, Nico's wild grab for the bag wasn't entirely fruitless: Lucy decided to plod over, giving her hand a friendly lick. "Now, now, Nico, there's enough for everyone," the blonde said, handing over, after a second of thought, some melon bread.</s> <|message|>Ukiko Hotaru Daze @Ammokkx Reading Takara's message as she strolled towards the national garden, Ukiko snickered. Yes she was late, but she had a good reason to be. Magical girls needed to train, didn't they? And what better way than by taking this opportunity to perfect a surprise appearance? She put away her phone and hid behind a wide tree, two issues nagging at her thoughts as blue-green wisps danced around her. The first was the fact that magical girls could sense each other. She'd need to find some way around that. The second, well... As the wisps died down, revealing her ashen-skinned, frill-clad transformed self, that second issue materialised in the form of a floating paper lantern by her side. "I know that look on your face all too well-bura," her familiar chided. Ukiko rolled her eyes. Trust Burabura to start being annoying the moment she appeared. "What are you planning on pulling this time-bura?" A smirk spreading over her face, Ukiko crept forward until the meeting place came into view, along with the distant forms of several other magical girls. "You did say I needed to take this seriously and hone my skills," she whispered. "So this is just a little sneak attack training. Don't ya worry, I won't actually hurt anyone, just gotta wait for the right moment." She ignored Burabura's drawn-out groan and mutter of "Excuses excuses-bura." Crouching and peering out from the bushes, she spotted the perfect chance. A certain pink catgirl leapt at Abigail, aiming for a bag filled with what looked like snacks, and missing as the much taller girl raised it high. A distraction. "Now!" Ukiko whispered, turning invisible, Burabura reluctantly doing the same. With Abigail's attention divided between Nico and her dog, Ukiko rose into the air and sped forward. Stretching her hands out like claws and putting on a crazed rictus of a grin, she blinked back into visibility right in front of Abigail's face. "Yaaaaaaaah!" Maybe this would even give Nico the opportunity to grab that bag - of course, given the assistance she now had, sharing of the snacks would be much appreciated.</s> <|message|>Shun Nakano Shun Nakano The look of innocence Shun put on her face when she saw Takara stomping over to her probably wasn't very convincing. She couldn't quite keep the smirk off her lips or the sparkle out of her eyes as the shorter girl gave her a piece of her mind and a punch to the shoulder. Glad to see she was right that the comment would get under her skin, not that that was particularly difficult where Takara was concerned. "Hey, hey, hey, I'm average height at best." With a flourish that would draw the eye, Shun pointed off to the side, where Abigail was currently holding the bag of snacks high enough that the grasping catgirl couldn't reach them. "She is unreasonably tall." Now that she wasn't panicking as much and knew that the worst she was going to get for her words was a punch in the arm and a huffy magical girl, Shun was more than willing to push her luck. "But don't worry, I'm sure you'll catch-up to us soon. So…!" Stepping away from the other girl, and hopefully out of arms reach, Shun sought to quickly change the topic by engaging the rest in conversation. "What are we waiting for? Is everyone here?"</s> <|message|>Abigail Hood Abigail She might be surprised, and she might have jumped... but the bag still remained annoyingly out of reach, largely because with her arm locked in that position, it wasn't likely to come down unless she outright dropped it. Which would have simply bonked Ukiko on the head with a half-full bag of snacks, so maybe it was for the better that she hadn't dropped it on the ghostly girl. "There's been a nasty Shade seen around the park," the blonde answered, finally lowering her arm to start manually disseminating the remainder of her goodies. Really, trying to take the entire bag... you'd just shake up all the drinks and crush the rest of the snacks with bottles, "It's been rather difficult to track down, so we'll need to do it as a group." Since it had resisted being found by one person, Abigail suspected it was smart enough to run away. Finding a Shade was usually the easiest part of the job; although transforming your dog made it an even easier task, they were generally bad at the level of subtlety to avoid being picked up.</s> <|message|>Ukiko Hotaru Daze Ukiko may not have gotten Nico access to the bag of snacks, but her jumpscare plan at least had been successful. Chortling, she drifted to the ground. "Told you I'd manage to sneak up on you some day!" By her side, Burabura rolled her one eye. "A simple hi would've gone down better-bura." "Like I said." Ukiko's Cheshire cat grin grew. "Gotta get some training in. And why not have fun in the process?" The other reason, the one she didn't voice, was that being around so many people still set her nerves on edge. That feeling of not knowing what to say or do was hard to shake, but putting up a brash goofy act helped offset it. She wasn't that timid little Hotaru Ukiko any more. She was Ghostlight. Accepting a mochi from Abigail, she munched on it as she listened to the mission briefing. Her eyebrows furrowed. A shade successfully evading a magical girl? That wasn't a usual occurrence. "Heh. So it knows it's not the scariest thing in this park," she said, her gaze flicking around at the others. "It can run, but it can't hide! Burabura and I can keep a lookout from above. If we both stay invisible for as long as we can, and dip into the trees in between, we should be able to make sure nobody notices us... as cool as it'd be to start an urban legend, it wouldn't be so great to let scaredy-shade feast on people's freakouts."</s>

<|message|>Takara Suzukaze Takara's glare only intensified as shun teased her further. This...this.... "Grrrr..." She growled, though it was a much less menacing growl then she intended as she waved her arms more like an angry puppy than anything else. "I don't need to catch up to anyone! I'm perfectly average height!" Or was, at least! Ugh, this was soooo frustrating! Why the hell couldn't she have at least kept her height!? Shun might have been right about Abigail being taller, but that went in one ear and out the other. At least the talk of the shade managed to pull her attention from beating Shun to a pulp. "Hmph, its a coward then." She'd reply to Abigail, turning to face the other magical girl, though still glaring at Shun. Still, this was probably not something she was immediately good at. Tracking something was not her specialty at all, even if a proper hero had special tracking abilities and devices. "It probably just saw me and run like a chicken. Once I find it I'll rip its arms off. If one of you guys can make yourself useful and track it, I can do the rest."</s>

<|description|>Shun Nakano Age: 16 Personality: Energetic might be a little bit of an understate when it comes to Shun. She is like what would happen if you bottled lightning and turned it into a girl; constantly in motion, never able to sit still for long and constantly, always cheerful. This combined with her endless confidence makes it easy for her to make new friends as she is willing to approach anyone and everyone at least once, but it also makes flighty as she tends to commit to plans with people without thinking and over-booking herself. She can reckless, as well as tactless, as she has a habit or acting and speaking before thinking and getting herself into trouble, but is more often than not able to escape trouble using the same traits that got her in trouble in the first place. This lack of consequences has left her somewhat over-confident, or at least with the impression that things will always work themselves out in the end. Although, this attitude has been put to the test somewhat recently. Skills: As a capable soccer player and a member of her school's team, Shun was athletic even before gaining her new abilities. She has good situational awareness from her time on the pitch and is used to working together with other people for a common goal. Backstory: A simple child from a simple family, Shun always considered herself to be the typical teenage girl. Her parents worked average jobs, she was an only child like most of her classmates, she hated studying and always left her homework to the last minute; typical high school stuff. The only thing that really made her stand out from the crowd was the fact that she played soccer on the school team; well, that and the fact that she was really good at it. Good enough that her team had a shot at making it to nationals for the first time in years. It was something that she was proud of; even though she was only playing the sport because she loved it, even though she would have kept playing even if she terrible at it, it was nice to actually be good at something she cared to be good at. She didn't buy into any of the talk about her being a future star, a future pro, since she knew that there were better players than her out there; still, if that kind of talk kept her teams spirits up then let them dream for her. If they were able winning then that just meant they could play together longer. They won the final match of the regional tournament, earning their school a spot in nationals for the first time in a decade, but during the final ten minutes of the match Shun was hit by a bad tackle that left her with a sprained ankle. Hardly the worst injury, but it meant she would be out of commission for the first match of nationals. The team was disheartened, but Shun wasn't; all they had to do was win one match without her and she'd be able to join them for the rest. No big deal. She waved them off from her crutches as they boarded the bus to their first match. They lost, of course. Shun didn't blame them for it, though they all felt devastated. She had got them to nationals and didn't even get to compete, but she had no hard feelings about it, the other team was just better than them. The same couldn't be said for the rest of her team however; no matter how much she tried to put a brave face on things, she couldn't help but think that maybe he team blamed her for being injured , for letting them down. That hurt more than the disappointment or her ankle. She began to distance herself from the team and from soccer in general. Even after her ankle had healed she didn't hop back on the pitch or even touch a soccer ball. Some of the spark that made her love the sport had been lost. Then the fairy appeared and she suddenly had a lot more to worry about than just her school team's feelings. Magical Girl: Concept: Archery Archetype: Sagittarius Abilities: - Enhanced speed and agility. - Enhanced vision; increased range, able to see in the dark and has enhanced visual acuity. - Can summon an ornate bow to her hands and is granted the knowledge and skill to use it effectively. Though it doesn't come with arrows, it instead shoots arrows of pure star light. - Is able to pinpoint her opponent's weak spots.</s> <|message|>Shun Nakano Shun Nakano Shun was running late. Well, actually she was walking, but she was definitely late. Actually, if you wanted to be technical, it was more of a leisurely amble than a walk, taking her time so that she could enjoy the ambiance of Shinjuku at night before meeting up with the others; which was probably why she was running so late if she was being honest. It would probably be a good idea to start running late at this point, so that she wouldn't be quite as late when she finally did arrive. It would be an even better idea not to be late in the first place, but that ship had already sailed and Shun had missed the boat because she wasn't watching the time. Well, it was probably fine. It wasn't like she was going to be the only one who was late. Her phone buzzed in her pocket and she pulled it out to see a message in their super-secret magical girl group chat. From the looks of it people had already started to arrive, or one person at least; of course it was Takara, that girl was always spoiling for a fight so no wonder she was the first one there when it was time to fight shades. And she was calling the rest of them slow. Brat. Shun could run rings around all of them; she was slow by choice. It was called procrastination. Time to retaliate. [Starry-Eyed]: Wait, really? [Starry-Eyed]: You're gonna take out all the bad guys by yourself? [Starry-Eyed]: Guess I'll just go home then, since you got this covered [Starry-Eyed]: Thanks a bunch, short stuff. I'll be cheering you on Takara wasn't much shorter than Shun really, only an inch or so, but she was shorter and Shun wasn't above using that to her advantage. That combined with making it sound like her attempt to hurry them up had the opposite effect should get under her skin enough to pay her back for the 'slow' comment. Hopefully she wouldn't take it seriously and actually try to fight all the Shades herself. …She wouldn't right? No, Takara wasn't that gung-ho, and even if she was there were probably others there to keep her in check. They wouldn't all be as late as she was, right? She pulled out her phone again and began typing. [Starry-Eyed]: Wait, no [Starry-Eyed]: Don't do that [Starry-Eyed]: You'll die [Starry-Eyed]: I'll be right there Shun started running. ---- She tried to play it cool as she arrived at the park a few minutes later, fully transformed, to find that not only had Takara not run off by herself, but that there were two others waiting with her. Linking her hands behind her head, Shun sauntered over to them as casually as she could, pretending like she hadn't just driven herself into a panic with an invented scenario and then raced over as fast as she could to prevent it; nope, definitely not. "Got anything to drink in there?"</s> <|message|>Nico Kaneko ✫✫ Nico ✫✫ --- "I'm here!! I'm heeeere!!!" The overly loud, slightly obnoxious scream was a precursor to a certain pink-haired feline fellow barely sticking the landing from a long-leap tree-top jump. After a couple of "W-whoa" and "Awawa"'s while flailing her arms, the girl manages to stabilize herself. She then puts her hand on her knees, looking incredibly winded. "Haa... Haa... Magical Girl Nico, on-scene~!" she'd say with a bit of tired flourish, before immediately losing all her energy again. "Uuuh... I read that I was late from Taka-chan, but the meeting spot is so far from my school... I ran over the rooftops and then through the trees to get here and everything, and I'm still the last one here!!" Nico complained, her arms spread in a battle stance as she screamed skyward. Then Nico blinked a couple times and stopped with the theatrics, scratching the back of her head. "Ahahehe, that's everyone right? Um... oh!" she mused, then noticed Abigail's bag of snacks. Slowly, sloooowly Nico inched forward. She was already salivating from the idea of getting any food at all after a workout. "Gaaaail-chaaaan... gimme!" Nico said and pounced in the direction of the girl now-her-size, intent on nabbing that bag for herself.</s> <|message|>Takara Suzukaze --- If impatiently waiting could be a skill, Takara would likely have won several awards for it. So when the messaging app buzzed with a reply, she'd quickly check the reply...and immediately frown in irritation. Short stuff? Fine, if she wanted to go home see how much she actually cared! Zero, that was it, definitely! Oh wait...she actually sent a follow up message. Don't die? What was she? A child?! Well, yes, but she could handle herself against some basic bad guys! She was about to type up a very angry reply, when something warm and fuzzy headbutted her in the leg. Looking down, she'd see the dog and internally cringe, angrily stuffing her phone in her pocket and giving the mutt a pat on the head before walking over to Abigail. "Finally." Takara huffed, noticing the bags of well, everything Abigail came walking up with. "Got anything good in there or just gonna eat it all yourself?" She'd snatch up her favorite - an unreasonably sour hard candy. The roar of an engine finally indicated that they had at least, all started to finally show up and filter in. "Kana." She'd give at least a polite greeting, though her somewhat irritable expression didn't change as she'd pop the sour candy into her mouth without so much as batting an eye...at least until Shun finally arrived. Takara stomped over, immediately giving the other girl a somewhat rough punch on the shoulder before she could react. "Shorty?! I'm like, the second tallest here! You're just unreasonably tall!" So she says, without having actually looked at the heights of her teammates.</s> <|message|>Abigail Hood Abigail Handing out drinks wasn't such a demand on her attention that Abigail could miss the very loud, very pink girl coming in... and making a jump for the bag all by herself. There were many possible ways she could have defended her bag of snacks: she could have transformed, she could have dived to the side, or spun around, or... Instead, she did the obvious thing when someone made a wild leap like that: lift it straight up, completely beyond reach. Honestly, even if she transformed, she would still be the tallest here, if not by much, trying to do something like that when she had so much of a height advantage was silly. She had nearly a foot or more on practically every girl she met. Of course, Nico's wild grab for the bag wasn't entirely fruitless: Lucy decided to plod over, giving her hand a friendly lick. "Now, now, Nico, there's enough for everyone," the blonde said, handing over, after a second of thought, some melon bread.</s> <|message|>Ukiko Hotaru Daze @Ammokkx Reading Takara's message as she strolled towards the national garden, Ukiko snickered. Yes she was late, but she had a good reason to be. Magical girls needed to train, didn't they? And what better way than by taking this opportunity to perfect a surprise appearance? She put away her phone and hid behind a wide tree, two issues nagging at her thoughts as blue-green wisps danced around her. The first was the fact that magical girls could sense each other. She'd need to find some way around that. The second, well... As the wisps died down, revealing her ashen-skinned, frill-clad transformed self, that second issue materialised in the form of a floating paper lantern by her side. "I know that look on your face all too well-bura," her familiar chided. Ukiko rolled her eyes. Trust Burabura to start being annoying the moment she appeared. "What are you planning on pulling this time-bura?" A smirk spreading over her face, Ukiko crept forward until the meeting place came into view, along with the distant forms of several other magical girls. "You did say I needed to take this seriously and hone my skills," she whispered. "So this is just a little sneak attack training. Don't ya worry, I won't actually hurt anyone, just gotta wait for the right moment." She ignored Burabura's drawn-out groan and mutter of "Excuses excuses-bura." Crouching and peering out from the bushes, she spotted the perfect chance. A certain pink catgirl leapt at Abigail, aiming for a bag filled with what looked like snacks, and missing as the much taller girl raised it high. A distraction. "Now!" Ukiko whispered, turning invisible, Burabura reluctantly doing the same. With Abigail's attention divided between Nico and her dog, Ukiko rose into the air and sped forward. Stretching her hands out like claws and putting on a crazed rictus of a grin, she blinked back into visibility right in front of Abigail's face. "Yaaaaaaaah!" Maybe this would even give Nico the opportunity to grab that bag - of course, given the assistance she now had, sharing of the snacks would be much appreciated.</s>

<|message|>Shun Nakano The look of innocence Shun put on her face when she saw Takara stomping over to her probably wasn't very convincing. She couldn't quite keep the smirk off her lips or the sparkle out of her eyes as the shorter girl gave her a piece of her mind and a punch to the shoulder. Glad to see she was right that the comment would get under her skin, not that that was particularly difficult where Takara was concerned. "Hey, hey, hey, I'm average height at best." With a flourish that would draw the eye, Shun pointed off to the side, where Abigail was currently holding the bag of snacks high enough that the grasping catgirl couldn't reach them. "She is unreasonably tall." Now that she wasn't panicking as much and knew that the worst she was going to get for her words was a punch in the arm and a huffy magical girl, Shun was more than willing to push her luck. "But don't worry, I'm sure you'll catch-up to us soon. So…!" Stepping away from the other girl, and hopefully out of arms reach, Shun sought to quickly change the topic by engaging the rest in conversation. "What are we waiting for? Is everyone here?"</s>

<|description|>Character Information Name Race | Age | Sex Appearance Images are allowed, but I need a description here. Personality I'm sure it's a winning one Background * Profession (Optional) * Class. Think of this in terms of a basic D&D game. * Heritage. Are you lowborn? The son of a noble? Was your uncle the merchant who raised you? History (Optional) Reason for Travel This is important. You need a good reason as to why your character decided to take the Skirmisher south. Motivation/Goal This is also important. This is a self serving and/or bloodthirsty roleplay. You need a goal. It doesn't need to be why you came south, it just needs to be something you're working towards. Capabilities Equipment You will leave this blank for now. * * * Money 0 for the moment Languages You know one language. If you added Linguistics as a stat, you can speak an extra language beyond your native tongue. ---</s> <|message|>Jacqueline Lythandros --- Jacqueline opened her eyes, feeling the warmth of the sun on her cheek. She blinked a few times to steady her gaze. For a second, she did not know where she was. Once her vision came to pass she noticed she was laying on sand and could hear the water as it lapped on the beach. She began to get up but felt a twinge of pain on her left side. She fell back to the ground, letting the pain subside. She moved to her right side, glancing down to where the pain was, and noticed her clothing torn and a dark cut along her left thigh and up past her hip. How did she.... And then she remembered. It was supposed to be a trip. Simple. Or as simple as expected on a voyage over harsh waters. She had looked for the best possible ship to make the trip. Her sisters, her family, begged her not to go. "It's not worth it," they proclaimed, but she knew better. She had to go. The time among her Order was not long and if they had any hope of surviving and prospering, they needed somewhere fresh to start. And here she was now laying on a beach, wounded and thirsty. She moved herself up to a sitting position, or what cold best be described as one given the nature of her wounds. She looked around to see if anyone else on the ship was up and about like her. She noted that a few sailors were nearby, but she did not put much faith into them waking up. So what of the other members not a part of the crew? And the Captain? It would not do her well to sit here and wait. She would need to tend to her wounds if she wanted to continue on. She moved herself to her feet, clenching her teeth as her wound opened up. But she was standing. She gripped her side, looking around for some tools or supplies that survived the crash. There was a crash, wasn't there? Surely she didn't just wash up on the beach after a drunken night on the ship. Her mind was blurry and she fought for the memories to return. Alas, no luck. Maybe one of the others would stir awake and could let her know what happened. Until then, she would need to find something to help her injuries. And maybe the others, if they needed it. Then she could get to work on figuring out where she was and how to get to where she needed to be.</s> <|message|>Kjetil Svendsen Kjetil Svendsen Kjetil's mind was the first to awaken as he slowly felt two sensations. One was annoying, was it pain that he has grown used to? Maybe and this annoying sensation, he could feel it on his back. The second sensation was an odd one, warmth he felt, and that one was the one that he wondered about the most. "What," he said softly as he opened his eyes and was greeted by the blinding sun. He put his right hand over his face so he could see, and the first thing he noticed was several cuts on his arm. Like one cut over an old scar, Kjetil looked carefully at his arm. "Is that... yeah, that is blood." Then he looked at his other arm, and it was the same, cuts all over it but small ones. However, the amount meant that something had happened to him last night. "The ship," he said as he tried to remember what had happened the night before. There was laughter and dance, and everyone was in high spirits as they cleared the Peninsula and then... Kjetil remembers feeling a sense of weightlessness and then some odd but terrible sounds that he did not understand what could have caused them. That was it, the rest was fuzzy, and now he is in an unknown place and with who knows who else. He slowly got halfway up into a sitting position and used his left arm to prop himself up. Now Kjetil had a better view of the bench, and what he saw did not help with the situation. Wreckage, bodies, and it just left him wondering what in the gods' name happened last night. They were home free, now they were wrecked on a bench, and who knows who else survived. True Kjetil is made of sterner stuff and can handle wounds that would make others bedridden. The pain he feels is just annoying. Bearable but annoying. But there is still a chance that some others survived. Though from what bodies he could see, they did not look like they would be getting up any time soon, especially that one with no legs. Either way, Kjetil had to try to find someone that was still alive. There is strength and safety in numbers. That and he needs someone to help clean his wounds, bandage them, and see how bad his back is. That is where the annoying sensation is coming from. The last thing he needs is to die of a infection after getting this far in life and surviving what happened to the ship. Such an end is not fitting for a warrior and not one he wishes to die by. So after getting his bearings and getting up. Kjetil walked down the bench, looking for anything to use to bandage his wounds and for any sign that someone was alive. He can't be the only one that survived, he thought. Otherwise, he would be alone in an unknown land with no direction of where to go. Kjetil simply calmly sighed at the thought and continued on his search. There was bound to be something of use to him. Either makeshift bandages, people, or preferably both.</s> <|message|>Lachlan Lachlan --- Something hot made itself felt on Lachlan's back, and as it did he experienced blurry memories of having felt that before, just a bit less intense. For the last two hours or so, the Caelic had been passing in and out of consciousness, generating a very fragmented heap of memories of which each had the sun's rays coming in at a bit of a different angle and intensity. This was no longer below decks, was it ? There was no such thing as sun below decks and the waves sounded very differently, too. Lachlan battled the resistance his eyelids offered as they had been firmly shut for quite a while and finally managed to open them. Was that sand ? His mind instructed his fingers to move and the feeling coming in return confirmed his visual suspicion, but the arm between these two had become so numb that his hand felt more like a remote part of his body that yet was detached from it. What he didn't see was a ship, not even that many remains of a ship. Great. So they had indeed crashed... or been crashed ? The overall situation felt a little too sunny, sandy and dry to be situated in the inside of a giant whale's stomach, so to his bewilderment, Lachlan could only suppose that he had indeed survived. Turning his aching head and seeing the unforgiving treeline along with the mysterious statue, the 'yet'-word certainly came to his mind. The next stupidest thing to do coming to his mind was to turn onto his back, and moments before he had to shut his eyes again due to the blinding sun he could see a familiar figure. "Kje... Kjetil ?" he groaned. He managed to sit up and now take the first real look around: bodies. Whatever kind of predator had haunted them, it had been a very inefficient one. It wouldn't have left so much food behind otherwise. How sarcastic of him! "Oh... I see a captain over there." Lachlan muttered more to himself, but still loud enough so anybody in his vicinity would be able to hear it clearly. He shifted his weight onto his feet and stood up, feeling that not only his arms had become numb due to having been static for too long. Lachlan started walking at a snail's pace, but still unstable enough that he might topple over any time again even before reaching the other person.</s> <|message|>Aldrich Aldrich "Filthy, worthless slave-thing!" CRACK! "How come you don't fight?" CRACK! "I will beat you until you obey!" CRACK! With each punctuating lash of the whip, Aldrich felt himself slipping further and further away from consciousness. His defiance fading with not so much as a sneer, but a whimper. The gutteral language of his Dwemerlock master remained impenetrably foreign to him, though he could scarcely hear it through his pain. However, the most peculiar thing was that the closer he came to passing out entirely, the pain faded and he felt instead a cool, sloshing sensation suffuse his body. His vision blurred, and he began to splutter, confused as the world began to grow increasingly distant and intangible... ...his eyes opened slowly, things coming into focus one sense at a time. First the stark luminescence of sunlight, then the intermingled sensations of warm air, cold water and gritty sand, then the sounds of waves breaking upon the shore and the breeze rustling leaves, followed by the smell of salt and lastly the acrid taste of salt and sandy grit. Each sensation coalesced at once in a nauseating shock that made him cough and heave as he sat up. He scrambled for memory, to piece together where he was and just what the hell was going on. Was on the ship...resting above decks...hate the below...too small, stifling...ship...crashed? Must have... He laboriously got to his feet, feeling the stiffness of his joints and a sharp sting across his chest. Pressing his fingers to the spot they came away red. Peering down he saw that something had torn a ragged hole in his waterlogged jerkin. He unceremoniously tore the useless thing away, leaving him in only his tunic, breeches and boots. Glancing around he saw the telltale sights of a terrible ship-wreck. Bodies had washed up on the shore, bloated and cold and others stumbled around aimlessly on the shore. His sword and shield he now realised would have likely wound up somewhere on the bottom of the sea. He sighed, feeling the rising panic of being unarmed and unprotected. He fought down the anxiety and looked around to take better stock of the situation. Immediately he noticed a few of the figures who had been part of the voyage, other travelers and vagabonds like himself. Jacqueline, a woman who reminded him in many ways of Erissia, his erstwhile mentor. Kjetil, the quiet Norgardian and Lachlan, who Aldrich struggled to get a read on during his time on the ship. He hadn't spoken much to any of them, opting to observe from a distance any strangers he met. Not to mention, the bitter look on his face at all times usually kept people at bay. Aldrich raised his voice, addressing any who may respond. "The Captain...has anyone seen the Captain?" If anyone among them could restore some semblance of order, it would be that salty sea dog.</s>

<|message|>Character Information The sand not shielded by their bodies was hot to the touch, but moving quickly or having the luxury of shoes helped. One had to be careful, for debris and flotsam still protruded out of the sand. Blood mingled with the water, and some of it had reached land, staining the beach. Strange birds flocked at the trees, feathers and beaks bearing colors that encompassed the entire rainbow. They watched and cawed at them like an audience at a praelian coliseum. Captain Cole Burnside roused from his position, having heard voices. He looked and felt like hell, and he lifted himself just long enough to cough out a mouthful of sand before collapsing again. He groaned, but stayed still. His hat was missing, it lay by Jacqueline as she approached. Lachlan made it there first, however. His shadow above the Captain drew his attention, and Burnside blinked, looking up at him. It seems Aldrich's question had been answered, if non-verbally. From across the way, another figure made their entrance. It was Holfort, one of the crewmen. Blood soaked his scalp, and his body held scratches and burns like the rest of the survivors. In his callused hands was a boarding pike that he used like a tall walking stick to support his weight. He bumped into Kjetil, who so far had been unlucky in finding anything to bandage himself with. "The others are this way, we must get there. The Captain..." Holfort began, motioning for the Norgardian to follow. Once everyone had congregated to the Captain, who now sat up and rubbed his head, he was able to address them, albeit slowly. So far it looked like these six had been the only survivors. "Gods help me," The Captain cursed, his eyes moist. Not from crying, but the pain and exhaustion that took him. "That damned storm..." Moving looked like it was a chore, but if they didn't go soon they would bake or be found by whatever beasts smelled the stench of carcasses cooking in the sun. Holfort asked if Captain Burnside was alright, but the Captain waved him off. "Don't worry about me. We should be...be two days sail to Darkwater. Damned we were so close! Maybe we could make it two days on foot if we cut through the jungle. If we follow the beach? I don't know. I don't...it's so hard to tell. Hells, we could be on an island, but I doubt it." If one were to look across the beach and thoroughly search, a few items could be found: * A broken boarding pike, half sized at close to 5 feet. * A boarding axe embedded in a broken piece of hull. * 2 water flasks. One filled with fresh water, the other filled with salt water. * A chest. The Captain's chest. Locked and with no key. * A rusted cutlass with no sheath. * A carving knife in a knapsack. * A map under some flotsam, ripped in half and faded. * A bottle of rum.</s>

<|description|>Jacqueline Lythandros Andred | 28 | Female --- Appearance Jacqueline stands at 5'9'' and has an athletic build due to years of training. Her hair is a light blonde color and it falls to the middle of her back. She has light brown eyes and a pale complexion. Jacqueline prefers lighter armor to move around in, traditionally made of leather. She has a scar on the right side of her neck from her childhood that has faded. Jacqueline also has a hawk companion named Pascal who is tan and brown. Personality Jacquenline has been called headstrong since the moment she opened her eyes upon birth. Despite living a rather opulent life, Jacqueline preferred running outdoors, climbing trees, and taming animals. She would play with the other children by acting out battles. As she got older, Jacqueline grew even more independent and determined. When she throws herself into a cause, she puts her whole heart behind it, almost to a fault. Jacqueline sticks to her beliefs and looks out for her sisters-in-arms. Despite this, Jacqueline is slow to trust and it would take effort to get her to open up. --- Background * Profession: Mercenary * Class: Ranger * Heritage: Noble born, but has since renounced that life and has joined the Daughters of the Blade. History Jacqueline was born into a Noble Andred household, the youngest of 5 siblings. Being the youngest and only daughter, it was expected that Jacqueline would learn proper duties for Noblewomen. However, Jacqueline would often run around the home, getting dirty, picking fights with neighboring boys, and doing all she could to cause trouble. It became increasingly clear that, as the years went on, Jacqueline would not be a traditional Noble. During her schooling, Jacqueline was also trained to use a bow and arrow. The reason was two-fold. After imploring her father, Edmond, to allow her to learn how to defend herself, he consented to learn archery as it was seen as more "dignified". Jacqueline's archery teacher, a woman named Lorelai, worked her daily, learning how to shoot an arrow from low or high and even on horseback. Lorelai, in secret, also trained Jacqueline to use a sword. Her father found out and cast out Lorelai. Soon Jacqueline became of age when it was expected she would get married. Jacqueline had never expressed any romantic desire for anyone. Unbeknownst to her father, her mother, Ysolde, caught Jacqueline with another Noble girl. Promising to keep it a secret so long as Jacqueline did what she had to when the time came, Jacqueline finally admitted that she had no intention of marrying a man to produce offspring. Her father, in a fit of rage, kicked her out of her home. Her mother followed suit. At first she struggled, having been raised within the confines of a castle, Jacqueline relied on the kindness of strangers, but she had to leave her city behind given that they knew who she was. On the outskirts, she ran into an elderly man being harassed by bandits. Using her quick thinking and sword skills, she bested them and sent them packing. The elderly man, named Barnabas, offered to take her wherever she needed to go. She quickly accepted the offer and made her way to the neighboring town. Jacqueline lived off the land for a bit, traveling as far as she could each day. It was during these travels that she came to meet the Daughters of the Blade, who shared similar stories. They provided her shelter and food and made no inclination to recruit her. Instead, they shared stories filled with triumphs and hardships and Jacqueline found herself connecting with the sisterhood. Soon, Jacqueline pledged her loyalty, joining the Order and training with them. During her training, she befriended another member named Phoebe. The two shared similar stories of their families throwing them out for refusing to bend their knees and be a "traditional lady". Phoebe admitted she had no desire, romantically or sexually, for anyone and that it made her feel "off" compared to others of her age. The two formed a tight bond with one another, looking out for each other. It was then she found her home. Reason for Travel Jacqueline is hoping to find a place where she could set up a new Order and bring others with her. She also needs time away from the group to get herself situated mentally and emotionally as she is betraying their trust. Motivation/Goal Despite her love of the Daughters of the Blade, there are rumors that the leadership is at odds with one another. Talk among the members states that the group may not be around for much longer. Jacqueline knows she would be nothing if the group disbanded and has made the decision to travel in search of a place where she could form her own order. She has spoken to a few other members who have agreed to join her once it is set up, though Jacqueline knows this would make her an enemy of the leaders of the Order once it is done. --- Capabilities Equipment * * * Money 0 for the moment Languages Northern ---</s> <|message|>Aldrich Aldrich "Filthy, worthless slave-thing!" CRACK! "How come you don't fight?" CRACK! "I will beat you until you obey!" CRACK! With each punctuating lash of the whip, Aldrich felt himself slipping further and further away from consciousness. His defiance fading with not so much as a sneer, but a whimper. The gutteral language of his Dwemerlock master remained impenetrably foreign to him, though he could scarcely hear it through his pain. However, the most peculiar thing was that the closer he came to passing out entirely, the pain faded and he felt instead a cool, sloshing sensation suffuse his body. His vision blurred, and he began to splutter, confused as the world began to grow increasingly distant and intangible... ...his eyes opened slowly, things coming into focus one sense at a time. First the stark luminescence of sunlight, then the intermingled sensations of warm air, cold water and gritty sand, then the sounds of waves breaking upon the shore and the breeze rustling leaves, followed by the smell of salt and lastly the acrid taste of salt and sandy grit. Each sensation coalesced at once in a nauseating shock that made him cough and heave as he sat up. He scrambled for memory, to piece together where he was and just what the hell was going on. Was on the ship...resting above decks...hate the below...too small, stifling...ship...crashed? Must have... He laboriously got to his feet, feeling the stiffness of his joints and a sharp sting across his chest. Pressing his fingers to the spot they came away red. Peering down he saw that something had torn a ragged hole in his waterlogged jerkin. He unceremoniously tore the useless thing away, leaving him in only his tunic, breeches and boots. Glancing around he saw the telltale sights of a terrible ship-wreck. Bodies had washed up on the shore, bloated and cold and others stumbled around aimlessly on the shore. His sword and shield he now realised would have likely wound up somewhere on the bottom of the sea. He sighed, feeling the rising panic of being unarmed and unprotected. He fought down the anxiety and looked around to take better stock of the situation. Immediately he noticed a few of the figures who had been part of the voyage, other travelers and vagabonds like himself. Jacqueline, a woman who reminded him in many ways of Erissia, his erstwhile mentor. Kjetil, the quiet Norgardian and Lachlan, who Aldrich struggled to get a read on during his time on the ship. He hadn't spoken much to any of them, opting to observe from a distance any strangers he met. Not to mention, the bitter look on his face at all times usually kept people at bay. Aldrich raised his voice, addressing any who may respond. "The Captain...has anyone seen the Captain?" If anyone among them could restore some semblance of order, it would be that salty sea dog.</s> <|message|>Character Information The sand not shielded by their bodies was hot to the touch, but moving quickly or having the luxury of shoes helped. One had to be careful, for debris and flotsam still protruded out of the sand. Blood mingled with the water, and some of it had reached land, staining the beach. Strange birds flocked at the trees, feathers and beaks bearing colors that encompassed the entire rainbow. They watched and cawed at them like an audience at a praelian coliseum. Captain Cole Burnside roused from his position, having heard voices. He looked and felt like hell, and he lifted himself just long enough to cough out a mouthful of sand before collapsing again. He groaned, but stayed still. His hat was missing, it lay by Jacqueline as she approached. Lachlan made it there first, however. His shadow above the Captain drew his attention, and Burnside blinked, looking up at him. It seems Aldrich's question had been answered, if non-verbally. From across the way, another figure made their entrance. It was Holfort, one of the crewmen. Blood soaked his scalp, and his body held scratches and burns like the rest of the survivors. In his callused hands was a boarding pike that he used like a tall walking stick to support his weight. He bumped into Kjetil, who so far had been unlucky in finding anything to bandage himself with. "The others are this way, we must get there. The Captain..." Holfort began, motioning for the Norgardian to follow. Once everyone had congregated to the Captain, who now sat up and rubbed his head, he was able to address them, albeit slowly. So far it looked like these six had been the only survivors. "Gods help me," The Captain cursed, his eyes moist. Not from crying, but the pain and exhaustion that took him. "That damned storm..." Moving looked like it was a chore, but if they didn't go soon they would bake or be found by whatever beasts smelled the stench of carcasses cooking in the sun. Holfort asked if Captain Burnside was alright, but the Captain waved him off. "Don't worry about me. We should be...be two days sail to Darkwater. Damned we were so close! Maybe we could make it two days on foot if we cut through the jungle. If we follow the beach? I don't know. I don't...it's so hard to tell. Hells, we could be on an island, but I doubt it." If one were to look across the beach and thoroughly search, a few items could be found: * A broken boarding pike, half sized at close to 5 feet. * A boarding axe embedded in a broken piece of hull. * 2 water flasks. One filled with fresh water, the other filled with salt water. * A chest. The Captain's chest. Locked and with no key. * A rusted cutlass with no sheath. * A carving knife in a knapsack. * A map under some flotsam, ripped in half and faded. * A bottle of rum.</s> <|message|>Lachlan Compared to Andredian soil or even just the soil of the Caelic isles he was most used to, the sand of this anonymous beach felt like lava. Not only was it scorchingly hot, but it also gave way in a manner perfectly suited to slow down things while making them more strenuous as well. Silently, Lachlan made a few small steps backward until his feet reached a spot that was regularly covered by the waves. Even more soft, but so nicely chill! "Getting to Darkwater along this beach, even just assuming that there's no body of water between us and there ? Not with me! I vote for the jungle!" Not that he did like that choice very much either as he could already imagine how the plantlife would turn the pure heat into a sweltering heat, but it would be less troublesome in other ways... "We should try to stay close to the beach however, simply because if Darkwater is somewhere around this place, following the rough outline of the beach will guarantee us to find it." Having already navigated around some debris, the Caelic man was not hesitant to add: "It might also guarantee us to find more junk, some of which might be useful..." Hadn't he just spotted something shiny glistening in the sun that was too large to be a grain of sand ? The red haired walked a few steps into said direction, pulling what turned out to be a carving knife out of the ditch. Some sort of leather bag seemed to be what it had fallen out of. Lacking any means to hide any items taken anyway, Lachlan just held it in his one hand while presenting the knapsack to the others. [cllor=yellow]"If nobody else wants, I'll take this bag. Somebody should take the thing definitely unless we all want to walk around with our hands full! And we all should search this place thoroughly before leaving. If we made it here, a lot of other stuff might have made it, too."[/color] Water would be nice... Lachlan started searching without stating specifically what else he was looking for while waiting for the others' reactions.</s>

<|message|>Jacqueline Lythandros As Jacqueline limped across the beach, ignoring the dead bodies in her wake, she noticed movement. At first, she worried it was local beasts smelling the fresh kills and hoping for a decent meal, but the figures were human-shaped. That didn't mean they weren't dangerous and Jacqueline cursed the Captain for removing her weapons. As her eyes settled, she noted that they were part of the passengers on board alongside her. She hadn't made conversation with them, but she recognized them nonetheless. She limped her way over, noting everyone looked worse for wear. As she got closer, another figure on the ground moved. She became on guard again, wondering if the dead were coming back to life until she saw it was the Captain. The options were not great, but it bet sitting on the beach cooking in the sun and waiting for gods knew what. If they were going to make this trek on foot, she would have to gear up. She scoured the beach for something, anything really, to help her. She saw a blade on the ground and almost cried tears of joy until she noted the cutlass was rusty. It would do in a pinch, but she would have to either fix that or find another weapon. She also saw a bottle of rum. She picked it up before any of the greedy others got their mitts on it. She poured a fair amount on the wound, feeling the sting of alcohol hitting the broken flesh. It would do for now. She then took a hearty swig before offering the bottle up. Drink up! Who knows when we will get another chance." It was probably stupid of her to drink rum over water, but if she got drunk enough perhaps she wouldn't notice she died of dehydration. She gazed at the jungle. "I say we go through the jungle. Grab any weapons we have. You never know what lurks there." She raised her cutlass, letting it glint off the sun. She assumed the others could handle themselves, but one never knew with men.</s>

<|description|>Jacqueline Lythandros Andred | 28 | Female --- Appearance Jacqueline stands at 5'9'' and has an athletic build due to years of training. Her hair is a light blonde color and it falls to the middle of her back. She has light brown eyes and a pale complexion. Jacqueline prefers lighter armor to move around in, traditionally made of leather. She has a scar on the right side of her neck from her childhood that has faded. Jacqueline also has a hawk companion named Pascal who is tan and brown. Personality Jacquenline has been called headstrong since the moment she opened her eyes upon birth. Despite living a rather opulent life, Jacqueline preferred running outdoors, climbing trees, and taming animals. She would play with the other children by acting out battles. As she got older, Jacqueline grew even more independent and determined. When she throws herself into a cause, she puts her whole heart behind it, almost to a fault. Jacqueline sticks to her beliefs and looks out for her sisters-in-arms. Despite this, Jacqueline is slow to trust and it would take effort to get her to open up. --- Background * Profession: Mercenary * Class: Ranger * Heritage: Noble born, but has since renounced that life and has joined the Daughters of the Blade. History Jacqueline was born into a Noble Andred household, the youngest of 5 siblings. Being the youngest and only daughter, it was expected that Jacqueline would learn proper duties for Noblewomen. However, Jacqueline would often run around the home, getting dirty, picking fights with neighboring boys, and doing all she could to cause trouble. It became increasingly clear that, as the years went on, Jacqueline would not be a traditional Noble. During her schooling, Jacqueline was also trained to use a bow and arrow. The reason was two-fold. After imploring her father, Edmond, to allow her to learn how to defend herself, he consented to learn archery as it was seen as more "dignified". Jacqueline's archery teacher, a woman named Lorelai, worked her daily, learning how to shoot an arrow from low or high and even on horseback. Lorelai, in secret, also trained Jacqueline to use a sword. Her father found out and cast out Lorelai. Soon Jacqueline became of age when it was expected she would get married. Jacqueline had never expressed any romantic desire for anyone. Unbeknownst to her father, her mother, Ysolde, caught Jacqueline with another Noble girl. Promising to keep it a secret so long as Jacqueline did what she had to when the time came, Jacqueline finally admitted that she had no intention of marrying a man to produce offspring. Her father, in a fit of rage, kicked her out of her home. Her mother followed suit. At first she struggled, having been raised within the confines of a castle, Jacqueline relied on the kindness of strangers, but she had to leave her city behind given that they knew who she was. On the outskirts, she ran into an elderly man being harassed by bandits. Using her quick thinking and sword skills, she bested them and sent them packing. The elderly man, named Barnabas, offered to take her wherever she needed to go. She quickly accepted the offer and made her way to the neighboring town. Jacqueline lived off the land for a bit, traveling as far as she could each day. It was during these travels that she came to meet the Daughters of the Blade, who shared similar stories. They provided her shelter and food and made no inclination to recruit her. Instead, they shared stories filled with triumphs and hardships and Jacqueline found herself connecting with the sisterhood. Soon, Jacqueline pledged her loyalty, joining the Order and training with them. During her training, she befriended another member named Phoebe. The two shared similar stories of their families throwing them out for refusing to bend their knees and be a "traditional lady". Phoebe admitted she had no desire, romantically or sexually, for anyone and that it made her feel "off" compared to others of her age. The two formed a tight bond with one another, looking out for each other. It was then she found her home. Reason for Travel Jacqueline is hoping to find a place where she could set up a new Order and bring others with her. She also needs time away from the group to get herself situated mentally and emotionally as she is betraying their trust. Motivation/Goal Despite her love of the Daughters of the Blade, there are rumors that the leadership is at odds with one another. Talk among the members states that the group may not be around for much longer. Jacqueline knows she would be nothing if the group disbanded and has made the decision to travel in search of a place where she could form her own order. She has spoken to a few other members who have agreed to join her once it is set up, though Jacqueline knows this would make her an enemy of the leaders of the Order once it is done. --- Capabilities Equipment * * * Money 0 for the moment Languages Northern ---</s> <|message|>Character Information "It's good to know your spirits are high," Captain Burnside deadpanned, Holfort helping him up off the ground. Burnside coughed for a moment, and he gladly accepted some of the rationed water, though he made sure not to take more than two small sips to wet his throat. The Captain found a broken piece of kindling on the ground, and on second look it was likely the butt end of Aldrich's pike. He placed it into the ground and steadied himself, using it as a walking stick it seemed. "Seems they're all wanting to go through. And I say I'd take that stance myself," Holfort said to the Captain earnestly. He had the look of an honest man, as far as sailors on a privateer ship could be. Simple and hard working, but undeniably resourceful when the time came. "You think you can handle that, sir?" The Captain cleared his throat and looked at the sun, blinking. "Looks like we have no choice." Burnside and Holfort began to trek toward's the treeline, passing the statue as they did so, only giving it a quick glance. The way the Captain looked at it, it was hard to tell if he knew what it was or not, but he said not a word. The birds above them called out with undulating cries, but otherwise there seemed to be no life close by. The ferns and brush tickled their legs as they took their first steps into the jungle, following the Captain. He seemed to know at least the general direction they needed to travel. As they continued, the jungle became more animated. Monkeys and strange, squirrel-like animals swung and scampered across the branches of the forest canopy above them. The shade was welcome, but it was humid and somewhat enclosed, the air heavier than on the beach. Sweat came to their skin easily, and soon the bugs came. Big mosquitos and floating beetles and large centipedes crawling along the leafy, soft ground. But that was a mere annoyance. An hour of walking later, an obstacle appeared in the form of a beast. Firstly, there was a low growl, like a stalling dwarven steam engine. Suddenly something large appeared. Just simply appeared. The stealth was impossible, and yet it seemingly did it without purpose, for the jaguar, and it was indeed a large jaguar, languidly strolled out of the brush and lazily glanced at the assembled group. It stopped six stride away, its eyes widening at the realization of the group of what it likely perceived as large apes. It's maw peeled back to reveal thick fangs, four inches in length. The beast must have weighed four times that of a man. Above them, a monkey watched curiously, it's mouth in an 'O' shape.</s> <|message|>Lachlan Lachlan had dared to take a glance at the map, but had handed it over the next person that had happened to be in line, Jacqueline, not much afterwards for he couldn't really read what was written on it, either. Judging one's position merely based on the shape of things drawn onto a map felt pretty pointless if one did not have at least as much as a little hint. Now the Caelic wished he'd still have that sort of humble problems... Simply for they felt so much more relaxed than being concerned about one's very life. That beast's fangs could probably pierce through any of their heart's with ease, it only was a matter of the angle of attack. His eyes slowly wandered towards his companions, then towards the tree with the monkey on it. Whether he would be able to climb it ? He considered himself to be a fit man despite his superficial looks maybe. But what if the predator in front of them could so, too ? On the other hand it was probably unwise to question the wisdom of monkeys who apparently felt rather safe high up in the trees, greedily watching the scenery unfolding far below. Lachlan ultimately dropped the idea. None of them would make it up fast enough anyway should the jaguar feel provoked... or just far too hungry. Lachlan's lower jaw slowly dropped like the ramp of a large cargo vessel, but the verbal payload left the others waiting for it, and when it finally came, it was only with a very low tone, almost whispered tone to it: "No rush! I'll go first, slowly." The Caelic man scanned the ground in front and to the right of him, then proceeded along a path that guided him forwards and sideways to the right. It was almost a circle with the obvious aim not to close in onto the animal while still making some sort of progress. His eyes kept switching back and forth between the predator and the area in front of him so he could try to dodge any broken branches his not so subtle weight might crack. Hopefully none of the others would decide to attack the beast without provocation, but he honestly wasn't so sure whether or not the sweltering heat might already have claimed some of his companions' sanity. Going in with just one or two of them actually having weapons would just be doomed from the start!</s> <|message|>Kjetil Svendsen Kjetil Svendsen Of course, they had run into trouble, Kjetil thought as he stared grimly at their animal adversary. A lone jaguar that now stands in their way and, more importantly, wants them for a snack, or what else could it want? It must be desperate for food if it is willing to take on a group unless Kjetil is either underestimating the beast or it is stronger than it seems. Either way, a beast is a beast. It is dangerous and must be taken out if they want not to die and be a feast. Still, Kjetil's instincts are screaming at him to attack and let his anger guide him to victory. But, with no armor and wanting to keep his oath to his dead wife. He is going to try something he has not ever done in a fight. Fight with his brains and not brute might. Something he is not quite sure he can do but now is the time to see if he can do that. Especially getting out unscathed and adding to the wounds that he has already. Then the Caelic, Lachlan, whispered about no rushing, going first, and going slowly. Kjetil silently nodded to Lachlan and watched as he went slowly. Kjetil, with axe firmly in hand and copied Lachlan's actions. Only he moved to the left and tried to maintain eye contact with the jaguar as he slowly walked. Ready to defend himself if the beast decides on attacking him or the others. Making sure not to step on a fallen branch or stick and possibly provoke the beast. Kjetil kept his anger in check the whole time, just waiting for the right time to unleash it and end this. He can only hope that his companions, or at least the ones with weapons, do not do anything stupid and get themselves killed. A shame really to survive the ship crashing only to be brought low by a lowly beast. Time to see what his fellow survivors will do, and they can take down this beast without someone dying. Kjetil will try to make sure of that.</s>

<|message|>Jacqueline Lythandros Jacqueline let her arm fall to her side, the alcohol bottle still halfway full, since no one opted to drink. Fools, she thought. They will surely relish the chance to get blind drunk after they spend hours traveling. It seemed they were all in agreement that going through the jungle was the best option. She didn't much like the idea of walking with injuries, but beggars could not be choosers. Plus, she'd dealt with worse. Jacqueline took the map that was handed to her. She didn't understand it, but any fool could understand basic directions. Go one way until you got to a thing and then you proceeded, taking breaks on occasion. And hydrating. Which one of the others had mentioned. Smart. At least she wasn't seemingly traveling with a bunch of idiots. Though that begged to be put to the test. With very little weaponry and most looking worse for wear, they headed onward. It wasn't long until they were met with their first issue. The wildlife was dangerous on a good day, but now they sat face-to-face with a jaguar, and one who looked very hungry. And here they were, a full course. No one moved and Jacqueline made note that none of the menfolk offered to do much. Hell, one offered to move slowly. As if the jaguar would be settled seeing it's prey move even more slowly. Enough for it to get its teeth in all of them. "It's kill or be killed out here. We have it outnumbered. I assume you all can handle yourselves in battle, so I would ready up. I doubt the beast is going to be satisfied letting a number of potential meals just walk away." With her words, Jacqueline followed, but kept her weapon at the ready. It would not do in a long battle, but she hoped it would do enough to at least get this one off of their backs.</s>

<|description|>Kjetil Svendsen Norgardian | 32 | Male Appearance Standing at 6'2 and having a muscular build due to training and years of fighting. He has long red hair that almost extends to his chest, along with a full red beard, and has in both his hair and beard braids in them. Mainly at the end points of his hair and beard. He has a pale complexion, and while his face does not have scars, his arms, chest, and back have several. He carries himself like a warrior, there is no mistaking it. Tends to have a serious look on his face most of the time. Personality Kjetil can be described as a stoic and, at times, an emotionless person, along with being a religious person. This is due to years of being a warrior in service of a religious warrior cult and despite leaving the cult. He can still be a religious and passionate person, especially when it is not rage, and can be a reliable ally and friend. Though only if you win his trust, and he is slow to trust others. Though once that trust is broken, then it is hard to regain his trust. As a result of his training, he uses his anger in combat. It is actually hard to make him angry outside of combat since he can control it and only will get angry if someone really tries or said something happens that he takes personally. And he can be rather cold to someone that he dislikes. Background * Profession: Warrior * Class: Barbarian * Heritage: Noble History Kjetil was born the youngest of four to a noble family in Norgard and from early on. He had shown he had a warrior spirit in him. Always wanting to spar with his older siblings and pick fights with others of his age. He was given a noble education and when he was fourteen. His parents knowing full well of his warrior spirit and knowing that he as little chance of inheriting anything of note. They wanted him to have a good life regardless. It was then that his parents decided to give him to the Wolves of Ulfric. A religious warrior cult that being apart of it was considered a great honor to both Kjetil and his family, even if he had no choice in the matter. For years Kjetil trained under the Wolves. Under strict training and learning their ways, praying exclusively to their patron deity, Ulfric, God of Wolves, Winter, and Battle. Kjetil was taught to tap into his anger and channel it into a primal fury. Becoming a warrior that by the time he was eighteen, Kjetil was almost a Wolf, but he still had one last test to see if he would truly join the cult. That test was going on a raid and prove that he had truly become one of them and earned his place among them by surviving his first battle. He was sent along with a Norgardian raiding party that was heading to the lands of the Banians. There Kjetil, using his training and tapping into his anger. Kjetil entered into a primal fury and killed several Banians during the raid despite the injuries to his body. In the end, he would survive his first battle and come out with several kills and loot. The Wolves, upon his return, welcomed him and was officially made a member of the cult. It was one of the happiest days of his life and one he would not forget. For ten years, he was in the cult and went on many raids. Kjetil did not just become a strong warrior but considered his fellow Wolves as family. Growing close to them and would grow close to one in particular. Ingunn was her name, a former commoner and one of the several women in the cult. The pair worked and did well together, and the two fell in love. While he knew the cult had no problems with Wolves getting together as long as it did not stop them from their duties. It started to make him think about things, and now he was with Ingunn. The life he started to want would not be possible within the cult. So after a deal of courage from both of them, the two ask the cult's leader Aslak for permission to leave the cult. Aslak noted how long they have been with them and how well they have served under Ulfric. So after much time, he finally decided not to allow them to leave the cult and that the two should be separated from each other. Kjetil did not take this well, and the two were punished by Aslak. But this did not stop the two, and eventually, they were able to escape from the cult and flee to Thaegoradrim. There they tried to live a normal life in a village and hide from the cult as best they could. For a few years, this worked, and the couple lived happily there. However, it was hard for Kjetil to adjust to living there because of his warrior and noble background, but he tried his best and seemed to be getting the hang of it. More so once he learned that Ingunn was pregnant with their child. Then their happiness turned to tragedy. One day the cult found them while Kjetil was in the fields and Ingunn was at their home. A group of five Wolves disguised as guards appeared at the village, and once they spotted Ingunn, they threw off their disguises and charged her. Roaring the cult's battle cry and Kjetil was able to hear the battle cry and instantly knew that the cult had found them. Rushing back home, he found Ingunn bloody and in the middle of fighting the Wolves. Rushing to her side and unleashed his primal fury on the Wolves. In the end, the Wolves were slain with help from the local guards, and while it left Kjetil wounded but alive. Ingunn was not so lucky and would die a short time after the fight from her wounds. With one last breath, she made Kjetil promise one thing, that he should live, and he knew what she meant by that. That he should not take revenge against the cult since it would be suicide, and she did not want him to die in a fruitless fight. So after burying her body and knowing that the cult would be after him until he was dead. Kjetil, with the last of his coin, ventured far south to escape the cult and start a new life for himself. If he could, that is. Reason for Travel With a religious warrior cult wanting his head, Kjetil needed someplace where the cult could not find them, so he ventured far south on board the Skirmisher to escape from the Wolves of Ulfric and for a new beginning if he could manage that. Motivation/Goal Keeping his promise to his late wife that he will live and not throw his life away for a fruitless fight. Also, seeking a new life away from the reach and eyes of the Wolves of Ulfric. Capabilities Years spent as a warrior in the Wolves of Ulfric had made Kjetil a strong warrior, and knows his way around several weapons, including his fists. He personally favored axes and shields. Often using his anger to unleash a fury of strong but quick blows and relies on brute force in battle. Due to his training, he has survived blows that would greatly wound others and has developed a high pain tolerance, along with being a skilled sailor from his years on raids with his fellow Norgardians. Equipment You will leave this blank for now. * * * Money 0 for the moment Languages Grim Northern ---</s> <|message|>Character Information It would be hard to remember that night, were it not such a vivid scene. The stinking stench of unmitigated sweat and vomit permeating the air, mixed with the telltail smell of booze and water. Sea water had a distinct smell, but by the eleventh day, everything smelled of seawater. It was hard to tell if all the water seeping to the lower decks was rain or wave, but spirits were high. No pirate or wind had dared impede their journey until the last stretch before they reached Darkwater Dock. Here the seas were shallow, and the land was too wild for any sizeable corsair raiders. Their kind stayed on the islands and shipping lanes. The Skirmisher had just passed the tail of the Peninsula, the gateway to the Black Delta. Through Elven waters into Corsair waters, they sailed at all speed. Only now were they home free, and they celebrated accordingly. The lower decks were getting wetter from the water above, but it was warm and full of drink and song. Fraternizing on the Skirmisher was looked down upon by the Captain, but he was above deck helping weather the storm and men and women went off in pairs what private pockets they could find to rut to their heart's content. Disobeying the Captain was bad luck, but then again sailors said many things were. Still, everyone had high hopes and knew they would be docking in a few scant days. It all went bad in seconds. The ship lifted. The lights swung on their hinges. A sudden sense of weightlessness and vertigo, and a lone, helpless cry from above rang out. The silence beyond it was deafening, until the ship's groaning returned like a roar. There was water and pressure, and blackness sank in as everything around the passengers below exploded, sending all into oblivion. Muffled sounds and terrible sucking of all things into the nether could be recalled, and the shadowy silhouette of some terrible finned monstrosity was the last thing to be remembered... Now there was sand, and heat. Stuffy, scratchy throats and dry breath, and sunburn from a harsh, unforgiving ball of molten flames far above. Consciousness gradually returned with their senses, and it was merciless. Apart from the sunburns, aches and pains and an awful dryness wracked every body that lay on the beach. Kindling and bits of the ship's foundations lay near them like the ribs of a decayed whale. Bodies of dead sailors, including one oddly without its legs, lapped and swayed in the water as the tide came in. The Captain, his body rough but with the possibility of life, lay along the beach just a few spans from the bodies. To the left, rocks piled up blocked their path. A natural obstacle that cut into the landscape, blocking crashing waves every so often. Before them lay exotic ferns and trees covered in vines. A mass of foliage where a jungle lay, and just at the treeline stood a small statue where a strange figure had been carved. It looked like a cross between a frog and a bat, sitting atop a rock and baring its fangs as if at the castaways. To the right was endless, ubiquitous beach that stretched beyond the scope of sight, the waves washing against the land and crying out every few moments. Where they were, it was difficult to tell. But they were in the land they had sought. The Black Delta, a hot, unforgiving land of primal dangers. But first they had to get up.</s> <|message|>Jacqueline Lythandros --- Jacqueline opened her eyes, feeling the warmth of the sun on her cheek. She blinked a few times to steady her gaze. For a second, she did not know where she was. Once her vision came to pass she noticed she was laying on sand and could hear the water as it lapped on the beach. She began to get up but felt a twinge of pain on her left side. She fell back to the ground, letting the pain subside. She moved to her right side, glancing down to where the pain was, and noticed her clothing torn and a dark cut along her left thigh and up past her hip. How did she.... And then she remembered. It was supposed to be a trip. Simple. Or as simple as expected on a voyage over harsh waters. She had looked for the best possible ship to make the trip. Her sisters, her family, begged her not to go. "It's not worth it," they proclaimed, but she knew better. She had to go. The time among her Order was not long and if they had any hope of surviving and prospering, they needed somewhere fresh to start. And here she was now laying on a beach, wounded and thirsty. She moved herself up to a sitting position, or what cold best be described as one given the nature of her wounds. She looked around to see if anyone else on the ship was up and about like her. She noted that a few sailors were nearby, but she did not put much faith into them waking up. So what of the other members not a part of the crew? And the Captain? It would not do her well to sit here and wait. She would need to tend to her wounds if she wanted to continue on. She moved herself to her feet, clenching her teeth as her wound opened up. But she was standing. She gripped her side, looking around for some tools or supplies that survived the crash. There was a crash, wasn't there? Surely she didn't just wash up on the beach after a drunken night on the ship. Her mind was blurry and she fought for the memories to return. Alas, no luck. Maybe one of the others would stir awake and could let her know what happened. Until then, she would need to find something to help her injuries. And maybe the others, if they needed it. Then she could get to work on figuring out where she was and how to get to where she needed to be.</s>

<|message|>Kjetil Svendsen Kjetil's mind was the first to awaken as he slowly felt two sensations. One was annoying, was it pain that he has grown used to? Maybe and this annoying sensation, he could feel it on his back. The second sensation was an odd one, warmth he felt, and that one was the one that he wondered about the most. "What," he said softly as he opened his eyes and was greeted by the blinding sun. He put his right hand over his face so he could see, and the first thing he noticed was several cuts on his arm. Like one cut over an old scar, Kjetil looked carefully at his arm. "Is that... yeah, that is blood." Then he looked at his other arm, and it was the same, cuts all over it but small ones. However, the amount meant that something had happened to him last night. "The ship," he said as he tried to remember what had happened the night before. There was laughter and dance, and everyone was in high spirits as they cleared the Peninsula and then... Kjetil remembers feeling a sense of weightlessness and then some odd but terrible sounds that he did not understand what could have caused them. That was it, the rest was fuzzy, and now he is in an unknown place and with who knows who else. He slowly got halfway up into a sitting position and used his left arm to prop himself up. Now Kjetil had a better view of the bench, and what he saw did not help with the situation. Wreckage, bodies, and it just left him wondering what in the gods' name happened last night. They were home free, now they were wrecked on a bench, and who knows who else survived. True Kjetil is made of sterner stuff and can handle wounds that would make others bedridden. The pain he feels is just annoying. Bearable but annoying. But there is still a chance that some others survived. Though from what bodies he could see, they did not look like they would be getting up any time soon, especially that one with no legs. Either way, Kjetil had to try to find someone that was still alive. There is strength and safety in numbers. That and he needs someone to help clean his wounds, bandage them, and see how bad his back is. That is where the annoying sensation is coming from. The last thing he needs is to die of a infection after getting this far in life and surviving what happened to the ship. Such an end is not fitting for a warrior and not one he wishes to die by. So after getting his bearings and getting up. Kjetil walked down the bench, looking for anything to use to bandage his wounds and for any sign that someone was alive. He can't be the only one that survived, he thought. Otherwise, he would be alone in an unknown land with no direction of where to go. Kjetil simply calmly sighed at the thought and continued on his search. There was bound to be something of use to him. Either makeshift bandages, people, or preferably both.</s>

<|description|>Kjetil Svendsen Norgardian | 32 | Male Appearance Standing at 6'2 and having a muscular build due to training and years of fighting. He has long red hair that almost extends to his chest, along with a full red beard, and has in both his hair and beard braids in them. Mainly at the end points of his hair and beard. He has a pale complexion, and while his face does not have scars, his arms, chest, and back have several. He carries himself like a warrior, there is no mistaking it. Tends to have a serious look on his face most of the time. Personality Kjetil can be described as a stoic and, at times, an emotionless person, along with being a religious person. This is due to years of being a warrior in service of a religious warrior cult and despite leaving the cult. He can still be a religious and passionate person, especially when it is not rage, and can be a reliable ally and friend. Though only if you win his trust, and he is slow to trust others. Though once that trust is broken, then it is hard to regain his trust. As a result of his training, he uses his anger in combat. It is actually hard to make him angry outside of combat since he can control it and only will get angry if someone really tries or said something happens that he takes personally. And he can be rather cold to someone that he dislikes. Background * Profession: Warrior * Class: Barbarian * Heritage: Noble History Kjetil was born the youngest of four to a noble family in Norgard and from early on. He had shown he had a warrior spirit in him. Always wanting to spar with his older siblings and pick fights with others of his age. He was given a noble education and when he was fourteen. His parents knowing full well of his warrior spirit and knowing that he as little chance of inheriting anything of note. They wanted him to have a good life regardless. It was then that his parents decided to give him to the Wolves of Ulfric. A religious warrior cult that being apart of it was considered a great honor to both Kjetil and his family, even if he had no choice in the matter. For years Kjetil trained under the Wolves. Under strict training and learning their ways, praying exclusively to their patron deity, Ulfric, God of Wolves, Winter, and Battle. Kjetil was taught to tap into his anger and channel it into a primal fury. Becoming a warrior that by the time he was eighteen, Kjetil was almost a Wolf, but he still had one last test to see if he would truly join the cult. That test was going on a raid and prove that he had truly become one of them and earned his place among them by surviving his first battle. He was sent along with a Norgardian raiding party that was heading to the lands of the Banians. There Kjetil, using his training and tapping into his anger. Kjetil entered into a primal fury and killed several Banians during the raid despite the injuries to his body. In the end, he would survive his first battle and come out with several kills and loot. The Wolves, upon his return, welcomed him and was officially made a member of the cult. It was one of the happiest days of his life and one he would not forget. For ten years, he was in the cult and went on many raids. Kjetil did not just become a strong warrior but considered his fellow Wolves as family. Growing close to them and would grow close to one in particular. Ingunn was her name, a former commoner and one of the several women in the cult. The pair worked and did well together, and the two fell in love. While he knew the cult had no problems with Wolves getting together as long as it did not stop them from their duties. It started to make him think about things, and now he was with Ingunn. The life he started to want would not be possible within the cult. So after a deal of courage from both of them, the two ask the cult's leader Aslak for permission to leave the cult. Aslak noted how long they have been with them and how well they have served under Ulfric. So after much time, he finally decided not to allow them to leave the cult and that the two should be separated from each other. Kjetil did not take this well, and the two were punished by Aslak. But this did not stop the two, and eventually, they were able to escape from the cult and flee to Thaegoradrim. There they tried to live a normal life in a village and hide from the cult as best they could. For a few years, this worked, and the couple lived happily there. However, it was hard for Kjetil to adjust to living there because of his warrior and noble background, but he tried his best and seemed to be getting the hang of it. More so once he learned that Ingunn was pregnant with their child. Then their happiness turned to tragedy. One day the cult found them while Kjetil was in the fields and Ingunn was at their home. A group of five Wolves disguised as guards appeared at the village, and once they spotted Ingunn, they threw off their disguises and charged her. Roaring the cult's battle cry and Kjetil was able to hear the battle cry and instantly knew that the cult had found them. Rushing back home, he found Ingunn bloody and in the middle of fighting the Wolves. Rushing to her side and unleashed his primal fury on the Wolves. In the end, the Wolves were slain with help from the local guards, and while it left Kjetil wounded but alive. Ingunn was not so lucky and would die a short time after the fight from her wounds. With one last breath, she made Kjetil promise one thing, that he should live, and he knew what she meant by that. That he should not take revenge against the cult since it would be suicide, and she did not want him to die in a fruitless fight. So after burying her body and knowing that the cult would be after him until he was dead. Kjetil, with the last of his coin, ventured far south to escape the cult and start a new life for himself. If he could, that is. Reason for Travel With a religious warrior cult wanting his head, Kjetil needed someplace where the cult could not find them, so he ventured far south on board the Skirmisher to escape from the Wolves of Ulfric and for a new beginning if he could manage that. Motivation/Goal Keeping his promise to his late wife that he will live and not throw his life away for a fruitless fight. Also, seeking a new life away from the reach and eyes of the Wolves of Ulfric. Capabilities Years spent as a warrior in the Wolves of Ulfric had made Kjetil a strong warrior, and knows his way around several weapons, including his fists. He personally favored axes and shields. Often using his anger to unleash a fury of strong but quick blows and relies on brute force in battle. Due to his training, he has survived blows that would greatly wound others and has developed a high pain tolerance, along with being a skilled sailor from his years on raids with his fellow Norgardians. Equipment You will leave this blank for now. * * * Money 0 for the moment Languages Grim Northern ---</s> <|message|>Lachlan Compared to Andredian soil or even just the soil of the Caelic isles he was most used to, the sand of this anonymous beach felt like lava. Not only was it scorchingly hot, but it also gave way in a manner perfectly suited to slow down things while making them more strenuous as well. Silently, Lachlan made a few small steps backward until his feet reached a spot that was regularly covered by the waves. Even more soft, but so nicely chill! "Getting to Darkwater along this beach, even just assuming that there's no body of water between us and there ? Not with me! I vote for the jungle!" Not that he did like that choice very much either as he could already imagine how the plantlife would turn the pure heat into a sweltering heat, but it would be less troublesome in other ways... "We should try to stay close to the beach however, simply because if Darkwater is somewhere around this place, following the rough outline of the beach will guarantee us to find it." Having already navigated around some debris, the Caelic man was not hesitant to add: "It might also guarantee us to find more junk, some of which might be useful..." Hadn't he just spotted something shiny glistening in the sun that was too large to be a grain of sand ? The red haired walked a few steps into said direction, pulling what turned out to be a carving knife out of the ditch. Some sort of leather bag seemed to be what it had fallen out of. Lacking any means to hide any items taken anyway, Lachlan just held it in his one hand while presenting the knapsack to the others. [cllor=yellow]"If nobody else wants, I'll take this bag. Somebody should take the thing definitely unless we all want to walk around with our hands full! And we all should search this place thoroughly before leaving. If we made it here, a lot of other stuff might have made it, too."[/color] Water would be nice... Lachlan started searching without stating specifically what else he was looking for while waiting for the others' reactions.</s> <|message|>Jacqueline Lythandros --- As Jacqueline limped across the beach, ignoring the dead bodies in her wake, she noticed movement. At first, she worried it was local beasts smelling the fresh kills and hoping for a decent meal, but the figures were human-shaped. That didn't mean they weren't dangerous and Jacqueline cursed the Captain for removing her weapons. As her eyes settled, she noted that they were part of the passengers on board alongside her. She hadn't made conversation with them, but she recognized them nonetheless. She limped her way over, noting everyone looked worse for wear. As she got closer, another figure on the ground moved. She became on guard again, wondering if the dead were coming back to life until she saw it was the Captain. The options were not great, but it bet sitting on the beach cooking in the sun and waiting for gods knew what. If they were going to make this trek on foot, she would have to gear up. She scoured the beach for something, anything really, to help her. She saw a blade on the ground and almost cried tears of joy until she noted the cutlass was rusty. It would do in a pinch, but she would have to either fix that or find another weapon. She also saw a bottle of rum. She picked it up before any of the greedy others got their mitts on it. She poured a fair amount on the wound, feeling the sting of alcohol hitting the broken flesh. It would do for now. She then took a hearty swig before offering the bottle up. Drink up! Who knows when we will get another chance." It was probably stupid of her to drink rum over water, but if she got drunk enough perhaps she wouldn't notice she died of dehydration. She gazed at the jungle. "I say we go through the jungle. Grab any weapons we have. You never know what lurks there." She raised her cutlass, letting it glint off the sun. She assumed the others could handle themselves, but one never knew with men.</s>

<|message|>Kjetil Svendsen Kjetil was relieved to find that he was not alone on this beach and there were survivors. Only giving a simple nod to Holfort as he followed Holfort to the others. Where they found the Captain and some others. Are these all that survived? Kjetil thought and listened to what the Captain said. So, either go into the jungle or stick to the coast. One was unknown, and the other also unknown, but in the hot sun and walking on the burning sand. He would rather take his chances with the jungle, but before then, he thought to try and find a weapon of some kind. He simply sighed. What he would give to have his axe and shield again. He would feel alot better with something he could defend himself with. So without saying a word, the Norgardian departed the group and went to search for a weapon of some kind. After searching the bench, he did find something that brought him a warm smile. An axe, by the look of it, and it was embedded in a piece of the broken hull of the ship. Kjetil walked over and firmly grabbed it with both hands and pulled. After two attempts, he managed to free it from the hull. Then examining it to make sure it was up to par, and once he was satisfied. Kjetil started to make his way back to the group. But, as he was starting to walk back, he noticed two water flasks. Realizing that they need some fresh water and who knows where the nearest river or lake or spring is. So Kjetil walked over, picked the two up, and tested if they had anything in them. Testing by taking a small sip of them. The first one, to his joy, was fresh water, and as he went for the second. He quickly spat it out, "saltwater," he cursed. So he put the freshwater flask away on his person and emptied the saltwater one, even though it was filled with saltwater. If they can find a source of freshwater, then he can refill it and have two water flasks to share with the group. After that, Kjetil returned to the group and held out the freshwater flask. "I found some water and try not to drink it all right now." Him patiently waiting to for someone to take it and spoke again. "I say we take our chances in the jungle. Sure we may find more stuff on the coast, but staying in the sun and walking the hot sand. That is not something we should not do in our state." Now to see how the others feel about that, he is just happy to be armed again and with a weapon he is familiar with. Time to see where they will go, and they had to choose soon. For Kjetil does not want to be around when the wildlife shows up to eat what is left of the crew, and he knows full well how to defend himself. Hopefully, the others can do or at least be useful somehow.</s>

<|description|>Kjetil Svendsen Norgardian | 32 | Male Appearance Standing at 6'2 and having a muscular build due to training and years of fighting. He has long red hair that almost extends to his chest, along with a full red beard, and has in both his hair and beard braids in them. Mainly at the end points of his hair and beard. He has a pale complexion, and while his face does not have scars, his arms, chest, and back have several. He carries himself like a warrior, there is no mistaking it. Tends to have a serious look on his face most of the time. Personality Kjetil can be described as a stoic and, at times, an emotionless person, along with being a religious person. This is due to years of being a warrior in service of a religious warrior cult and despite leaving the cult. He can still be a religious and passionate person, especially when it is not rage, and can be a reliable ally and friend. Though only if you win his trust, and he is slow to trust others. Though once that trust is broken, then it is hard to regain his trust. As a result of his training, he uses his anger in combat. It is actually hard to make him angry outside of combat since he can control it and only will get angry if someone really tries or said something happens that he takes personally. And he can be rather cold to someone that he dislikes. Background * Profession: Warrior * Class: Barbarian * Heritage: Noble History Kjetil was born the youngest of four to a noble family in Norgard and from early on. He had shown he had a warrior spirit in him. Always wanting to spar with his older siblings and pick fights with others of his age. He was given a noble education and when he was fourteen. His parents knowing full well of his warrior spirit and knowing that he as little chance of inheriting anything of note. They wanted him to have a good life regardless. It was then that his parents decided to give him to the Wolves of Ulfric. A religious warrior cult that being apart of it was considered a great honor to both Kjetil and his family, even if he had no choice in the matter. For years Kjetil trained under the Wolves. Under strict training and learning their ways, praying exclusively to their patron deity, Ulfric, God of Wolves, Winter, and Battle. Kjetil was taught to tap into his anger and channel it into a primal fury. Becoming a warrior that by the time he was eighteen, Kjetil was almost a Wolf, but he still had one last test to see if he would truly join the cult. That test was going on a raid and prove that he had truly become one of them and earned his place among them by surviving his first battle. He was sent along with a Norgardian raiding party that was heading to the lands of the Banians. There Kjetil, using his training and tapping into his anger. Kjetil entered into a primal fury and killed several Banians during the raid despite the injuries to his body. In the end, he would survive his first battle and come out with several kills and loot. The Wolves, upon his return, welcomed him and was officially made a member of the cult. It was one of the happiest days of his life and one he would not forget. For ten years, he was in the cult and went on many raids. Kjetil did not just become a strong warrior but considered his fellow Wolves as family. Growing close to them and would grow close to one in particular. Ingunn was her name, a former commoner and one of the several women in the cult. The pair worked and did well together, and the two fell in love. While he knew the cult had no problems with Wolves getting together as long as it did not stop them from their duties. It started to make him think about things, and now he was with Ingunn. The life he started to want would not be possible within the cult. So after a deal of courage from both of them, the two ask the cult's leader Aslak for permission to leave the cult. Aslak noted how long they have been with them and how well they have served under Ulfric. So after much time, he finally decided not to allow them to leave the cult and that the two should be separated from each other. Kjetil did not take this well, and the two were punished by Aslak. But this did not stop the two, and eventually, they were able to escape from the cult and flee to Thaegoradrim. There they tried to live a normal life in a village and hide from the cult as best they could. For a few years, this worked, and the couple lived happily there. However, it was hard for Kjetil to adjust to living there because of his warrior and noble background, but he tried his best and seemed to be getting the hang of it. More so once he learned that Ingunn was pregnant with their child. Then their happiness turned to tragedy. One day the cult found them while Kjetil was in the fields and Ingunn was at their home. A group of five Wolves disguised as guards appeared at the village, and once they spotted Ingunn, they threw off their disguises and charged her. Roaring the cult's battle cry and Kjetil was able to hear the battle cry and instantly knew that the cult had found them. Rushing back home, he found Ingunn bloody and in the middle of fighting the Wolves. Rushing to her side and unleashed his primal fury on the Wolves. In the end, the Wolves were slain with help from the local guards, and while it left Kjetil wounded but alive. Ingunn was not so lucky and would die a short time after the fight from her wounds. With one last breath, she made Kjetil promise one thing, that he should live, and he knew what she meant by that. That he should not take revenge against the cult since it would be suicide, and she did not want him to die in a fruitless fight. So after burying her body and knowing that the cult would be after him until he was dead. Kjetil, with the last of his coin, ventured far south to escape the cult and start a new life for himself. If he could, that is. Reason for Travel With a religious warrior cult wanting his head, Kjetil needed someplace where the cult could not find them, so he ventured far south on board the Skirmisher to escape from the Wolves of Ulfric and for a new beginning if he could manage that. Motivation/Goal Keeping his promise to his late wife that he will live and not throw his life away for a fruitless fight. Also, seeking a new life away from the reach and eyes of the Wolves of Ulfric. Capabilities Years spent as a warrior in the Wolves of Ulfric had made Kjetil a strong warrior, and knows his way around several weapons, including his fists. He personally favored axes and shields. Often using his anger to unleash a fury of strong but quick blows and relies on brute force in battle. Due to his training, he has survived blows that would greatly wound others and has developed a high pain tolerance, along with being a skilled sailor from his years on raids with his fellow Norgardians. Equipment You will leave this blank for now. * * * Money 0 for the moment Languages Grim Northern ---</s> <|message|>Character Information "It's good to know your spirits are high," Captain Burnside deadpanned, Holfort helping him up off the ground. Burnside coughed for a moment, and he gladly accepted some of the rationed water, though he made sure not to take more than two small sips to wet his throat. The Captain found a broken piece of kindling on the ground, and on second look it was likely the butt end of Aldrich's pike. He placed it into the ground and steadied himself, using it as a walking stick it seemed. "Seems they're all wanting to go through. And I say I'd take that stance myself," Holfort said to the Captain earnestly. He had the look of an honest man, as far as sailors on a privateer ship could be. Simple and hard working, but undeniably resourceful when the time came. "You think you can handle that, sir?" The Captain cleared his throat and looked at the sun, blinking. "Looks like we have no choice." Burnside and Holfort began to trek toward's the treeline, passing the statue as they did so, only giving it a quick glance. The way the Captain looked at it, it was hard to tell if he knew what it was or not, but he said not a word. The birds above them called out with undulating cries, but otherwise there seemed to be no life close by. The ferns and brush tickled their legs as they took their first steps into the jungle, following the Captain. He seemed to know at least the general direction they needed to travel. As they continued, the jungle became more animated. Monkeys and strange, squirrel-like animals swung and scampered across the branches of the forest canopy above them. The shade was welcome, but it was humid and somewhat enclosed, the air heavier than on the beach. Sweat came to their skin easily, and soon the bugs came. Big mosquitos and floating beetles and large centipedes crawling along the leafy, soft ground. But that was a mere annoyance. An hour of walking later, an obstacle appeared in the form of a beast. Firstly, there was a low growl, like a stalling dwarven steam engine. Suddenly something large appeared. Just simply appeared. The stealth was impossible, and yet it seemingly did it without purpose, for the jaguar, and it was indeed a large jaguar, languidly strolled out of the brush and lazily glanced at the assembled group. It stopped six stride away, its eyes widening at the realization of the group of what it likely perceived as large apes. It's maw peeled back to reveal thick fangs, four inches in length. The beast must have weighed four times that of a man. Above them, a monkey watched curiously, it's mouth in an 'O' shape.</s> <|message|>Lachlan Lachlan had dared to take a glance at the map, but had handed it over the next person that had happened to be in line, Jacqueline, not much afterwards for he couldn't really read what was written on it, either. Judging one's position merely based on the shape of things drawn onto a map felt pretty pointless if one did not have at least as much as a little hint. Now the Caelic wished he'd still have that sort of humble problems... Simply for they felt so much more relaxed than being concerned about one's very life. That beast's fangs could probably pierce through any of their heart's with ease, it only was a matter of the angle of attack. His eyes slowly wandered towards his companions, then towards the tree with the monkey on it. Whether he would be able to climb it ? He considered himself to be a fit man despite his superficial looks maybe. But what if the predator in front of them could so, too ? On the other hand it was probably unwise to question the wisdom of monkeys who apparently felt rather safe high up in the trees, greedily watching the scenery unfolding far below. Lachlan ultimately dropped the idea. None of them would make it up fast enough anyway should the jaguar feel provoked... or just far too hungry. Lachlan's lower jaw slowly dropped like the ramp of a large cargo vessel, but the verbal payload left the others waiting for it, and when it finally came, it was only with a very low tone, almost whispered tone to it: "No rush! I'll go first, slowly." The Caelic man scanned the ground in front and to the right of him, then proceeded along a path that guided him forwards and sideways to the right. It was almost a circle with the obvious aim not to close in onto the animal while still making some sort of progress. His eyes kept switching back and forth between the predator and the area in front of him so he could try to dodge any broken branches his not so subtle weight might crack. Hopefully none of the others would decide to attack the beast without provocation, but he honestly wasn't so sure whether or not the sweltering heat might already have claimed some of his companions' sanity. Going in with just one or two of them actually having weapons would just be doomed from the start!</s>

<|message|>Kjetil Svendsen Of course, they had run into trouble, Kjetil thought as he stared grimly at their animal adversary. A lone jaguar that now stands in their way and, more importantly, wants them for a snack, or what else could it want? It must be desperate for food if it is willing to take on a group unless Kjetil is either underestimating the beast or it is stronger than it seems. Either way, a beast is a beast. It is dangerous and must be taken out if they want not to die and be a feast. Still, Kjetil's instincts are screaming at him to attack and let his anger guide him to victory. But, with no armor and wanting to keep his oath to his dead wife. He is going to try something he has not ever done in a fight. Fight with his brains and not brute might. Something he is not quite sure he can do but now is the time to see if he can do that. Especially getting out unscathed and adding to the wounds that he has already. Then the Caelic, Lachlan, whispered about no rushing, going first, and going slowly. Kjetil silently nodded to Lachlan and watched as he went slowly. Kjetil, with axe firmly in hand and copied Lachlan's actions. Only he moved to the left and tried to maintain eye contact with the jaguar as he slowly walked. Ready to defend himself if the beast decides on attacking him or the others. Making sure not to step on a fallen branch or stick and possibly provoke the beast. Kjetil kept his anger in check the whole time, just waiting for the right time to unleash it and end this. He can only hope that his companions, or at least the ones with weapons, do not do anything stupid and get themselves killed. A shame really to survive the ship crashing only to be brought low by a lowly beast. Time to see what his fellow survivors will do, and they can take down this beast without someone dying. Kjetil will try to make sure of that.</s>

<|description|>Aldrich Andredian | 30 | Male Appearance The first thing an outside observer may notice about Aldrich is his almost perpetual frown. His features severe and eyes always focused and scanning his surroundings in an almost paranoid manner. Beneath his weathered armour lies a body marred by the scars of hardship and abuse, his back a criss-cross of shining white scar tissue left by a vicious lash, as well as a collection of scars on his extremities caused by all manner of martial weapons. Nevertheless he stands tall, with pride hefted on his shoulders and carried with earned dignity. Personality When Aldrich speaks, he makes sure not to mince his words. He's blunt to a fault, and never raises his voice, save to bellow a roar of fury towards any opponent unfortunate enough to find itself on the wrong end of his sword. However, were one patient enough, and gentle in their prying they may uncover a rather dry sense of humour, and his own ironclad sense of justice. Justice dispensed at sword point more often than not. Though it must be stressed, that although Aldrich is no stranger to violence, he abhors the battle, and loves only the victory. If he ever appears to be brutal or barbaric in his manner of combat it is only due to his desire to end a conflict quickly and decisively. Background * Profession - Man-at-Arms (presently adrift) * Class - Warrior * Heritage - Lowborn History Aldrich was the son of a farmer who sent his boy off to become a Knight. It was the only way out of the drudgery of peasant life the family had any hope for and Aldrich's parents were all too eager to ship him off. He was placed under the care and tutelage of Lady Erissia, a famed and renowned Knight of The Crimson Guard who trained him in the manners of martial arms and courtly duties. He proved to be a clumsy swordsman, and struggled with reading and writing, yet ever-stubborn Erissia refused to give up on the boy. He eventually became a squire and was able to ride with Erissia and her Knights in battle. It was during a fateful skirmish in the land of the Dwemorlocks that Erissia and her Knights were slain. They were there on a crusade of righteousness, the Dwemerlocks standing against everything they held sacred, and longed to spill their foes blood upon their own shores. Their eagerness would lead to their deaths. Aldrich, trembling at the sight of his mentor slain before him, anticipated his own death with terrible certainty. Yet it did not come. Instead, he was captured, enslaved and forced to fight as a prisoner. At first he refused, throwing down the weapons and crying to any gods who may listen to offer him deliverance from his foul captors. His pleas fell of deaf ears, and with each lash of the whip his will was broken down until he learned to spill blood for the sadistic pleasure of the crowds. It was this way for several years. The clumsy boy who used to fumble and drop his sword was now a hardened warrior who had killed too many men to bother counting. His body had grown accustomed to surviving on whatever rodents or insects he was able to snatch from his cage. Life changed upon the addition of a new prisoner, one also native to Andred. They found a kinship with one another based on their mutual lineage and similar circumstances. They did their best to keep their friendship a secret, as they each knew it would result in severe punishment. Yet it was enough to return some light and life to Aldrich. The pivotal moment came when he was forced into combat with the man, pitted against him in a battle to the death. Aldrich threw down his sword and shield and loudly refused to fight. The friend he had made, with tears in his eyes, plead for him to strike him down. His willingness to sacrifice his own life for Aldrich only enforced his refusal. How could he kill this man who displayed such noble grace, in this land where nobility seemed strange and foreign? Aldrich was lashed to unconciousness right there, but not before he was made to watch his only friend run through. Unbeknownst to Aldrich, a visiting Basilean noble on a mission of diplomacy had been in attendance. Lady Viera DeFeis was moved by the the man who refused to fight, even after he was shredded to pieces by the cruel whip. She negotiated his sale, and they were all too happy to be rid of the troublesome slave. Now liberated from the Dwemorlocks he returned with her to her homeland where he served as her bodyguard until her death from illness where he was released from service. With nowhere left to call home, he took to the roads, taking advantage of his freedom to see the world. Lady DeFeis had often told him of the exotic locales her travels had taken her to and he longed to experience the same. Too many years shackled in a small cage left him with a deep yearning for freedom. Reason for Travel With no place left to call home, Aldrich felt the call of the uncharted southern lands. He felt compelled him to make his way there, and he managed to scrounge enough money to book passage aboard the Skirmisher. Motivation/Goal Aldrich longs to find a home to settle down, yet also has to quell the disparity in his heart and overcome the traumas of his past. Capabilities Despite his initial incompetence, Aldrich became a fearsome swordsman, favouring a sword and shield combination. He can also make deadly use of a shield in a pinch. His fighting style lacks finesse, yet makes up for it in pure ferocity. Due to years of staving off starvation by eating whatever he could get his hands on, he developed tremendous constitution, able to weather the effects of disease and poison beyond what a regular man might. Equipment * * * Money Languages Northern ---</s> <|message|>Kjetil Svendsen Kjetil Svendsen Kjetil's mind was the first to awaken as he slowly felt two sensations. One was annoying, was it pain that he has grown used to? Maybe and this annoying sensation, he could feel it on his back. The second sensation was an odd one, warmth he felt, and that one was the one that he wondered about the most. "What," he said softly as he opened his eyes and was greeted by the blinding sun. He put his right hand over his face so he could see, and the first thing he noticed was several cuts on his arm. Like one cut over an old scar, Kjetil looked carefully at his arm. "Is that... yeah, that is blood." Then he looked at his other arm, and it was the same, cuts all over it but small ones. However, the amount meant that something had happened to him last night. "The ship," he said as he tried to remember what had happened the night before. There was laughter and dance, and everyone was in high spirits as they cleared the Peninsula and then... Kjetil remembers feeling a sense of weightlessness and then some odd but terrible sounds that he did not understand what could have caused them. That was it, the rest was fuzzy, and now he is in an unknown place and with who knows who else. He slowly got halfway up into a sitting position and used his left arm to prop himself up. Now Kjetil had a better view of the bench, and what he saw did not help with the situation. Wreckage, bodies, and it just left him wondering what in the gods' name happened last night. They were home free, now they were wrecked on a bench, and who knows who else survived. True Kjetil is made of sterner stuff and can handle wounds that would make others bedridden. The pain he feels is just annoying. Bearable but annoying. But there is still a chance that some others survived. Though from what bodies he could see, they did not look like they would be getting up any time soon, especially that one with no legs. Either way, Kjetil had to try to find someone that was still alive. There is strength and safety in numbers. That and he needs someone to help clean his wounds, bandage them, and see how bad his back is. That is where the annoying sensation is coming from. The last thing he needs is to die of a infection after getting this far in life and surviving what happened to the ship. Such an end is not fitting for a warrior and not one he wishes to die by. So after getting his bearings and getting up. Kjetil walked down the bench, looking for anything to use to bandage his wounds and for any sign that someone was alive. He can't be the only one that survived, he thought. Otherwise, he would be alone in an unknown land with no direction of where to go. Kjetil simply calmly sighed at the thought and continued on his search. There was bound to be something of use to him. Either makeshift bandages, people, or preferably both.</s> <|message|>Lachlan Lachlan --- Something hot made itself felt on Lachlan's back, and as it did he experienced blurry memories of having felt that before, just a bit less intense. For the last two hours or so, the Caelic had been passing in and out of consciousness, generating a very fragmented heap of memories of which each had the sun's rays coming in at a bit of a different angle and intensity. This was no longer below decks, was it ? There was no such thing as sun below decks and the waves sounded very differently, too. Lachlan battled the resistance his eyelids offered as they had been firmly shut for quite a while and finally managed to open them. Was that sand ? His mind instructed his fingers to move and the feeling coming in return confirmed his visual suspicion, but the arm between these two had become so numb that his hand felt more like a remote part of his body that yet was detached from it. What he didn't see was a ship, not even that many remains of a ship. Great. So they had indeed crashed... or been crashed ? The overall situation felt a little too sunny, sandy and dry to be situated in the inside of a giant whale's stomach, so to his bewilderment, Lachlan could only suppose that he had indeed survived. Turning his aching head and seeing the unforgiving treeline along with the mysterious statue, the 'yet'-word certainly came to his mind. The next stupidest thing to do coming to his mind was to turn onto his back, and moments before he had to shut his eyes again due to the blinding sun he could see a familiar figure. "Kje... Kjetil ?" he groaned. He managed to sit up and now take the first real look around: bodies. Whatever kind of predator had haunted them, it had been a very inefficient one. It wouldn't have left so much food behind otherwise. How sarcastic of him! "Oh... I see a captain over there." Lachlan muttered more to himself, but still loud enough so anybody in his vicinity would be able to hear it clearly. He shifted his weight onto his feet and stood up, feeling that not only his arms had become numb due to having been static for too long. Lachlan started walking at a snail's pace, but still unstable enough that he might topple over any time again even before reaching the other person.</s>

<|message|>Aldrich "Filthy, worthless slave-thing!" CRACK! "How come you don't fight?" CRACK! "I will beat you until you obey!" CRACK! With each punctuating lash of the whip, Aldrich felt himself slipping further and further away from consciousness. His defiance fading with not so much as a sneer, but a whimper. The gutteral language of his Dwemerlock master remained impenetrably foreign to him, though he could scarcely hear it through his pain. However, the most peculiar thing was that the closer he came to passing out entirely, the pain faded and he felt instead a cool, sloshing sensation suffuse his body. His vision blurred, and he began to splutter, confused as the world began to grow increasingly distant and intangible... ...his eyes opened slowly, things coming into focus one sense at a time. First the stark luminescence of sunlight, then the intermingled sensations of warm air, cold water and gritty sand, then the sounds of waves breaking upon the shore and the breeze rustling leaves, followed by the smell of salt and lastly the acrid taste of salt and sandy grit. Each sensation coalesced at once in a nauseating shock that made him cough and heave as he sat up. He scrambled for memory, to piece together where he was and just what the hell was going on. Was on the ship...resting above decks...hate the below...too small, stifling...ship...crashed? Must have... He laboriously got to his feet, feeling the stiffness of his joints and a sharp sting across his chest. Pressing his fingers to the spot they came away red. Peering down he saw that something had torn a ragged hole in his waterlogged jerkin. He unceremoniously tore the useless thing away, leaving him in only his tunic, breeches and boots. Glancing around he saw the telltale sights of a terrible ship-wreck. Bodies had washed up on the shore, bloated and cold and others stumbled around aimlessly on the shore. His sword and shield he now realised would have likely wound up somewhere on the bottom of the sea. He sighed, feeling the rising panic of being unarmed and unprotected. He fought down the anxiety and looked around to take better stock of the situation. Immediately he noticed a few of the figures who had been part of the voyage, other travelers and vagabonds like himself. Jacqueline, a woman who reminded him in many ways of Erissia, his erstwhile mentor. Kjetil, the quiet Norgardian and Lachlan, who Aldrich struggled to get a read on during his time on the ship. He hadn't spoken much to any of them, opting to observe from a distance any strangers he met. Not to mention, the bitter look on his face at all times usually kept people at bay. Aldrich raised his voice, addressing any who may respond. "The Captain...has anyone seen the Captain?" If anyone among them could restore some semblance of order, it would be that salty sea dog.</s>

<|description|>Aldrich Andredian | 30 | Male Appearance The first thing an outside observer may notice about Aldrich is his almost perpetual frown. His features severe and eyes always focused and scanning his surroundings in an almost paranoid manner. Beneath his weathered armour lies a body marred by the scars of hardship and abuse, his back a criss-cross of shining white scar tissue left by a vicious lash, as well as a collection of scars on his extremities caused by all manner of martial weapons. Nevertheless he stands tall, with pride hefted on his shoulders and carried with earned dignity. Personality When Aldrich speaks, he makes sure not to mince his words. He's blunt to a fault, and never raises his voice, save to bellow a roar of fury towards any opponent unfortunate enough to find itself on the wrong end of his sword. However, were one patient enough, and gentle in their prying they may uncover a rather dry sense of humour, and his own ironclad sense of justice. Justice dispensed at sword point more often than not. Though it must be stressed, that although Aldrich is no stranger to violence, he abhors the battle, and loves only the victory. If he ever appears to be brutal or barbaric in his manner of combat it is only due to his desire to end a conflict quickly and decisively. Background * Profession - Man-at-Arms (presently adrift) * Class - Warrior * Heritage - Lowborn History Aldrich was the son of a farmer who sent his boy off to become a Knight. It was the only way out of the drudgery of peasant life the family had any hope for and Aldrich's parents were all too eager to ship him off. He was placed under the care and tutelage of Lady Erissia, a famed and renowned Knight of The Crimson Guard who trained him in the manners of martial arms and courtly duties. He proved to be a clumsy swordsman, and struggled with reading and writing, yet ever-stubborn Erissia refused to give up on the boy. He eventually became a squire and was able to ride with Erissia and her Knights in battle. It was during a fateful skirmish in the land of the Dwemorlocks that Erissia and her Knights were slain. They were there on a crusade of righteousness, the Dwemerlocks standing against everything they held sacred, and longed to spill their foes blood upon their own shores. Their eagerness would lead to their deaths. Aldrich, trembling at the sight of his mentor slain before him, anticipated his own death with terrible certainty. Yet it did not come. Instead, he was captured, enslaved and forced to fight as a prisoner. At first he refused, throwing down the weapons and crying to any gods who may listen to offer him deliverance from his foul captors. His pleas fell of deaf ears, and with each lash of the whip his will was broken down until he learned to spill blood for the sadistic pleasure of the crowds. It was this way for several years. The clumsy boy who used to fumble and drop his sword was now a hardened warrior who had killed too many men to bother counting. His body had grown accustomed to surviving on whatever rodents or insects he was able to snatch from his cage. Life changed upon the addition of a new prisoner, one also native to Andred. They found a kinship with one another based on their mutual lineage and similar circumstances. They did their best to keep their friendship a secret, as they each knew it would result in severe punishment. Yet it was enough to return some light and life to Aldrich. The pivotal moment came when he was forced into combat with the man, pitted against him in a battle to the death. Aldrich threw down his sword and shield and loudly refused to fight. The friend he had made, with tears in his eyes, plead for him to strike him down. His willingness to sacrifice his own life for Aldrich only enforced his refusal. How could he kill this man who displayed such noble grace, in this land where nobility seemed strange and foreign? Aldrich was lashed to unconciousness right there, but not before he was made to watch his only friend run through. Unbeknownst to Aldrich, a visiting Basilean noble on a mission of diplomacy had been in attendance. Lady Viera DeFeis was moved by the the man who refused to fight, even after he was shredded to pieces by the cruel whip. She negotiated his sale, and they were all too happy to be rid of the troublesome slave. Now liberated from the Dwemorlocks he returned with her to her homeland where he served as her bodyguard until her death from illness where he was released from service. With nowhere left to call home, he took to the roads, taking advantage of his freedom to see the world. Lady DeFeis had often told him of the exotic locales her travels had taken her to and he longed to experience the same. Too many years shackled in a small cage left him with a deep yearning for freedom. Reason for Travel With no place left to call home, Aldrich felt the call of the uncharted southern lands. He felt compelled him to make his way there, and he managed to scrounge enough money to book passage aboard the Skirmisher. Motivation/Goal Aldrich longs to find a home to settle down, yet also has to quell the disparity in his heart and overcome the traumas of his past. Capabilities Despite his initial incompetence, Aldrich became a fearsome swordsman, favouring a sword and shield combination. He can also make deadly use of a shield in a pinch. His fighting style lacks finesse, yet makes up for it in pure ferocity. Due to years of staving off starvation by eating whatever he could get his hands on, he developed tremendous constitution, able to weather the effects of disease and poison beyond what a regular man might. Equipment * * * Money Languages Northern ---</s> <|message|>Lachlan Compared to Andredian soil or even just the soil of the Caelic isles he was most used to, the sand of this anonymous beach felt like lava. Not only was it scorchingly hot, but it also gave way in a manner perfectly suited to slow down things while making them more strenuous as well. Silently, Lachlan made a few small steps backward until his feet reached a spot that was regularly covered by the waves. Even more soft, but so nicely chill! "Getting to Darkwater along this beach, even just assuming that there's no body of water between us and there ? Not with me! I vote for the jungle!" Not that he did like that choice very much either as he could already imagine how the plantlife would turn the pure heat into a sweltering heat, but it would be less troublesome in other ways... "We should try to stay close to the beach however, simply because if Darkwater is somewhere around this place, following the rough outline of the beach will guarantee us to find it." Having already navigated around some debris, the Caelic man was not hesitant to add: "It might also guarantee us to find more junk, some of which might be useful..." Hadn't he just spotted something shiny glistening in the sun that was too large to be a grain of sand ? The red haired walked a few steps into said direction, pulling what turned out to be a carving knife out of the ditch. Some sort of leather bag seemed to be what it had fallen out of. Lacking any means to hide any items taken anyway, Lachlan just held it in his one hand while presenting the knapsack to the others. [cllor=yellow]"If nobody else wants, I'll take this bag. Somebody should take the thing definitely unless we all want to walk around with our hands full! And we all should search this place thoroughly before leaving. If we made it here, a lot of other stuff might have made it, too."[/color] Water would be nice... Lachlan started searching without stating specifically what else he was looking for while waiting for the others' reactions.</s> <|message|>Jacqueline Lythandros --- As Jacqueline limped across the beach, ignoring the dead bodies in her wake, she noticed movement. At first, she worried it was local beasts smelling the fresh kills and hoping for a decent meal, but the figures were human-shaped. That didn't mean they weren't dangerous and Jacqueline cursed the Captain for removing her weapons. As her eyes settled, she noted that they were part of the passengers on board alongside her. She hadn't made conversation with them, but she recognized them nonetheless. She limped her way over, noting everyone looked worse for wear. As she got closer, another figure on the ground moved. She became on guard again, wondering if the dead were coming back to life until she saw it was the Captain. The options were not great, but it bet sitting on the beach cooking in the sun and waiting for gods knew what. If they were going to make this trek on foot, she would have to gear up. She scoured the beach for something, anything really, to help her. She saw a blade on the ground and almost cried tears of joy until she noted the cutlass was rusty. It would do in a pinch, but she would have to either fix that or find another weapon. She also saw a bottle of rum. She picked it up before any of the greedy others got their mitts on it. She poured a fair amount on the wound, feeling the sting of alcohol hitting the broken flesh. It would do for now. She then took a hearty swig before offering the bottle up. Drink up! Who knows when we will get another chance." It was probably stupid of her to drink rum over water, but if she got drunk enough perhaps she wouldn't notice she died of dehydration. She gazed at the jungle. "I say we go through the jungle. Grab any weapons we have. You never know what lurks there." She raised her cutlass, letting it glint off the sun. She assumed the others could handle themselves, but one never knew with men.</s> <|message|>Kjetil Svendsen Kjetil Svendsen Kjetil was relieved to find that he was not alone on this beach and there were survivors. Only giving a simple nod to Holfort as he followed Holfort to the others. Where they found the Captain and some others. Are these all that survived? Kjetil thought and listened to what the Captain said. So, either go into the jungle or stick to the coast. One was unknown, and the other also unknown, but in the hot sun and walking on the burning sand. He would rather take his chances with the jungle, but before then, he thought to try and find a weapon of some kind. He simply sighed. What he would give to have his axe and shield again. He would feel alot better with something he could defend himself with. So without saying a word, the Norgardian departed the group and went to search for a weapon of some kind. After searching the bench, he did find something that brought him a warm smile. An axe, by the look of it, and it was embedded in a piece of the broken hull of the ship. Kjetil walked over and firmly grabbed it with both hands and pulled. After two attempts, he managed to free it from the hull. Then examining it to make sure it was up to par, and once he was satisfied. Kjetil started to make his way back to the group. But, as he was starting to walk back, he noticed two water flasks. Realizing that they need some fresh water and who knows where the nearest river or lake or spring is. So Kjetil walked over, picked the two up, and tested if they had anything in them. Testing by taking a small sip of them. The first one, to his joy, was fresh water, and as he went for the second. He quickly spat it out, "saltwater," he cursed. So he put the freshwater flask away on his person and emptied the saltwater one, even though it was filled with saltwater. If they can find a source of freshwater, then he can refill it and have two water flasks to share with the group. After that, Kjetil returned to the group and held out the freshwater flask. "I found some water and try not to drink it all right now." Him patiently waiting to for someone to take it and spoke again. "I say we take our chances in the jungle. Sure we may find more stuff on the coast, but staying in the sun and walking the hot sand. That is not something we should not do in our state." Now to see how the others feel about that, he is just happy to be armed again and with a weapon he is familiar with. Time to see where they will go, and they had to choose soon. For Kjetil does not want to be around when the wildlife shows up to eat what is left of the crew, and he knows full well how to defend himself. Hopefully, the others can do or at least be useful somehow.</s>

<|message|>Aldrich Aldrich listened as the other spoke, offering up their suggestions. Their options were limited to the burning hot beach, or the sweaty humid jungle. Neither prospect held much appeal, but Aldrich was no stranger to harsh conditions. From the moment of waking to now, his sense of awareness had sharpened into focus. The deeply ingrained habits formed from a life of servitude and subjugation were thankfully not lost on him now. It was a bitter kind of gratitude, but one he was in position to balk at. Seeing now that the Captain was alive and - relative to the numerous dead - well, Aldrich began to scan the beach for anything at all he might use. His eyes settled on a snapped and splintered boarding pike. It was roughly about a foot shorter than himself, but upon picking the thing up he felt satisfied enough with its weight, and reassured by the solidity of it in his hands. As he had stooped down to retrieve it, he noticed a fluttering in the breeze. Walking over to inspect, he found a rough piece of torn parchment, miraculously pinned beneath some detritus from the boat. He gently pried it out and looked it over. It appeared to be a map, though Aldrich could make neither heads or tails of it, a sad holdover of his stunted education. He scowled at the enigmatic document, but kept it all the same. Someone else was bound to be able to decipher it's secrets. Turning back to the group, now all similarly armed, he offered his own findings. "Not much to be had here, but I found this. Seems to be a map," he added somewhat sheepishly, "I don't know how to read it." He held it out for someone to take, as he gratefully accepted the water flask from Kjetil. Aldrich was well accustomed to rationing, and would not succumb to the temptation of slaking his thirst, despite how dry his mouth currently was. "It seems as though the jungle is the popular option," Aldrich reasoned to them, "At the very least we should find some welcome shade, but perhaps we should try not to go too deep. If we can keep the coast in sight, or at least in earshot we may stand a better chance of finding our way." Though, as he spoke his eyes landed on the peculiar carving at the mouth of the jungle. It's likeness' teeth bared in a ghastly snarl, as if to ward away any would-be interlopers. Despite the stifling heat of the sun, Aldrich felt a chill descend his spine.</s>

<|description|>Zeynap 'Zey' Kadıoğlu Species: Human Age: 36 Appearance: Zey's hair is cut short for ease of maintenance. If allowed to grow, it is wavy and dark brown with a few flecks of silver. She stands at 5'7 and cultivates an athletic, toned build. She has an Evil Eye tattoo on her left wrist. Augmentations: Chemical 'gland' which can mix and secrete solutions into Zey's body at will. These can include drugs for temporarily heightening concentration, improving reflexes, clearing the mind entirely and dozens of other niche applications. Zey can also experiment with the chemicals in stock to create other effects. Finally, the gland is able to also help clear the body of some toxins faster. For example alcohol. The gland has to be refilled from a port at the back of her neck after approximately 250 hours of use. Magical affiliation: N/A Occupation: Commander of the Jotunheim for Tamerlane Exploration Key skills: * Natural leader - being left largely to her own devices has instilled a strong sense of independence in Zey. When combined with her ambition and intelligence, she found that people tended to look to her for direction and she was more than happy to give it. Zey can be stubborn sometimes, but has learned to take on feedback and adjust her strategy accordingly, using the skills of her crew more. * Fitness & kickboxing - Zey loves to exercise and keep fit. Its uses up her abundance of excess energy and provides a good distraction from her troubles. She chose kickboxing as a hobby to keep fit, but after nearly a decade of doing it, she's gotten rather good. * Pilot - Zey has fast reaction times, intuition at the helm and doesn't let fear get in the way of success. These traits made her a brilliant test pilot, and transferred quite nicely over to being a ship's commander. She does tend to micromanage the Jotunheim's actual pilot more than the rest of the crew, but only because she's itching to get behind the wheel herself.</s> <|message|>Jonsdottir, Vigdis With the intern and the mech suit pilot handling the cargo loading, Vigdis ran back into the ship and strapped back into the service rigging - it looked similar to a parachute harness, allowing the wearer to both work suspended as well as carry a large number of tools, the rigging spreading their weight out over the entire body - and started feeding the crates' weight into the computer so the maneuver calculations wouldn't be off. Being in the ship somehow felt safer, perhaps because it wouldn't be leaving without her, or maybe because she was shielded from the cold wind. "Hey, I want to get out of here as much as anyone else, but launching without clearance can be dangerous. If the airspace isn't clear, we could end up crashing in a ball of fire and tangled metal." Vigdis cautioned. She vividly remembered her father showing her ship disaster documentaries as a kid and explaining the causes, lessons learned and why such a thing couldn't happen to him and she needn't worry. Ignoring the ATC was something no software patch or design feature could prevent. "The fighting's not here yet, but it sure feels like it's right around the corner." Vigdis replied unhelpfully to the captain's inquiry, "If we seal up the ship, we might hold out for a few minutes. Could've been longer, but someone decided the spaceship needed windows of all things. So whatever we're doing, let's do it fast." She added as she retrieved a bundle of tie downs and ratchets and started fastening down the boxes wherever the intern and the mech pilot put them. They could be moved to the cargo bay later, when they weren't in an active combat zone.</s> <|message|>Tyreese Nwakaeme Darnell Stavanger Spaceport backed onto fjords to the north, but the approach from the south had been carefully landscaped to maximise usable space and access. A carefully choreographed district of workshops and offices separated large parking areas for passengers and staff. It was in one of those freezing cold parking areas that Tyreese Darnell found himself crouched behind a Norwegian police car as its spinning lights shone lit up the snow around him. His group had made it quite close to the Jotunheim's hangar when a heavy machine gun had started firing at them from one of the concourse windows. Having made sure he wasn't dying from a stray bullet to the bullet proof vest under his suit jacket, Darnell clutched a satellite phone to one ear once he'd made a connection with his Tamerlane handler. Its aerial wiggled whenever he flinched at the bullets which dunted into the metalwork around him. "Mr Darnell, what is the status of the Jotunheim? Over." Dunt, Dunt Dunt Dunt. Civilians ran from cover to cover - the ones that didn't were already lying face down on the cold floor. "I can't get through to them; they have some kind of jammer on us!" "What is the status of the Tamerlane security detachment? We can't make contact with them." "Whoever attacked us took them out first. I barely escaped the blast - they are looking for the Jo!" A nearby car exploded, flipping over and onto the other side of the police cruiser. Windows shattered, spraying glass all over Darnell's suit. He threw himself onto the floor and started crawling away. "Jesus fucking Christ!" Tyreese spluttered, blood trickling into his mouth from cuts on his face. "Focus on my voice, Mr Darnell. Who are you with? Can you get to the Jotunheim?" "Even though it isn't even close to my job, I paid some Israelis i just met a MILLION Euro day rate from my fucking CREDIT CARD to get me there. Where is my back up?" The Israelis in question numbered five in total and were armed to the teeth, like they'd just got back from a mission themselves. They crouched behind various nearby vehicles and attempted to exercise fire control on the invisible assailants. Their leader, Ezra, stuck close to Darnell and calmly co-ordinated the others in Hebrew. "I don't care how much it costs, Mr Darnell. I need you to do whatever it takes to make contact with the spaceship sat in hangar 147. We have a platoon enroute from our site in Murmansk but that's going to take some time. You are Tamerlane's eyes and ears at this moment." "MURMANSK!?" Tyreese yelled as he tried to get up. Ezra pushed him back down and fired most of a magazine into a set of plate glass windows in front of them. "I need the whole fucking world down here 45 minutes ago!" He shouted over the din. "Mr Darnell, we've got to move." Ezra grunted, grabbing Tyreese and hefting him off the floor - no easy feat considering the suited consultant clocked in at over 14 stone himself. The squad had eliminated the threat and they moved as one organism towards a staircase elevating them into the main concourse, Tyreese clutching his sat phone and briefcase in the middle.</s> <|message|>Fret Chappel Fret Chappel : Human : Prospector After the rifle was full of its lethal payload he left the small metal room and cautiously padded down the corridor towards the embarkation point passed the belly of the spacecraft. As he got down there he could feel the cold of the wind blowing up through the cargo hatch. He felt his hair stand on end; he had left his winter coat in the room. He was naturally quite resistant to the brisk air. Wearing his red shirt and hi-fibre slacks with suspenders. As he exited the hatchway he could see a large group of what looked like civilians. They were being kept at bay by a couple of bots that were spitting sparks at them. There was much confusion as they were trying to make their way to their flights, this could very easily turn to panic. "Someone needs to keep them calm." thought Fret He raised both his arms like a cactus and walked calmly to the group. Rifle held pointing straight up in one hand. "Calm... Calm" he said "Remain Calm." His voice was almost completely lost in the worried murmuring. However, his arm was not. He was armed. The civilians looked upon him with equal parts fear and awe. They probably didnt speak old English. "What can i do?" he thought. He accessed his third eye and found his personal playlist, then set its speakers to max. Music The local area around him was filled with bemused and quizzical looks. However most of them couldn't even hear the music over the wind. "Thats right... Happy, happy... yes" he said and smiled. And for a moment. It was. "Yes, remain calm, the security w-" ________________________________________ Then It Started _______________________________________________ Then the bullets started flying. Screams and confusion started out. The civilians started to charge past him. Which took only a second. Then he could see over by a police car a fierce firefight had lit up. "Shit, i need to find cover" He looked over and around, there were a few boxes... but who knows what they contained... fuel cells that would go up like a firework? Nah. He crouched and duck-walked / sprinted over near one of the big landing gear tires of the Jotunheim. "Good, with the weight of this thing these tires are probably thick as steel." he thought. He leveled his rifle so the iron sights lined up... Which took some trial and error. Sure it was old generation but he didnt want to have to teach a new one how to shoot again. With any luck, it would know how to shoot this type of target. The projectiles themselves would do the aiming with aid of onboard microchips in the rifle. He paced himself. He knew that, once he'd shot they'd know where he was. The situation was degenerating quickly, and what sounded like a GAT-9 heavy machine gun was going on. He cycled through the various modes in his cybernetic third-eye. Heat, electrical, polarised light etc. There was a small group of... somethings... putting up a fight. He couldnt really see them because they had IR blockers on. Then he had an idea. He looked at his WIFI list. There was a loading animation. Slowly they started being populated. He could see 3 civilian ones. He looked around, most of the civilians had sprinted off. There was a few phones laying on the ground over by where he was. "One, two" he said. Then a few weird ones popped up. 5 in total. Had no kind of address he'd ever seen before. They were obviously the comms of task force "fast course" over there. The animation was still loading. There. One... two... three... 8 pings... that must be from the enemy team. Just then he saw the enemy team break cover and try to blitz up on the defenders. They were rattling away with carbines and some serious shit was going down for them. Then the smoke from the police car cleared with what looked like someone laying down by it, and he got a clean shot on the HMG-guy. He was wearing huge armor, but this didnt deter Fret. "Sorry..." -POP- -PPOPP- He immediately flipped around behind the cover. And breathed out.</s>

<|message|>Zeynap 'Zey' Kadıoğlu The blast doors to the Jotunheim's hangar were partly closed, so Fret's line of sight onto the concourse was limited. Big plate glass windows looked out on the car park and workshops, so he had an obstructed view of what was going on outside. Closer, on the small stretch of visible concourse, there lay abandoned loader vehicles and cargo crates. The heavily armoured LMG wielder had misjudged their position and had opened themselves up to being shot in the back from inside the hangar. Fret's bullet hit his armour, forcing him up against the railing in front of where the plate glass had been before they'd shot through it. A well placed shot from the Israeli operators outside went through the guy's neck, spraying blood everywhere. For a few seconds from there, the gunfire died out. It was still deafening in the hangar, with sirens going off and screaming from the passengers as they jostled with each other to get onto the ramp leading into the Jotunheim's cargo bay. But an eerie quiet descended on the entrance. Then a black-clad hand appeared round one side, and threw a grey canister along the floor into the hangar. Acrid smoke began spilling out of it, obscuring visibility. It also released particles which scrambled sensors, complementing the military-grade comms jamming that had surrounded the hangar like a dome. After a few seconds, the smoke had expanded to fill the doorway. A machine gun poked around the corner and began firing into the space. Bullets pinged off the Jotunheim's landing gear and other nearby surfaces. If you'd been watching closely, you might have seen a black shape sprint across to take cover on the other side of the door, under the cover of the smoke and gunfire. You'd have also seen a tall Norwegian riot police droid step out and start walking slowly into the hangar with its shield raised. The uplink light behind its head was flashing red, indicating a direct connection with someone close by. Immediately after, still under cover of fire, three more men in snowy riot gear and ballistic face masks emerged into the smoke and tucked in behind the droid. The front two poked their guns out on either side and started shooting. --- Zeynap didn't need to see what was in the smoke to know it was time to get the hell out of there. Unable to leave her crew behind, she disobeyed protocol and opened the airlock from the ship to their cargo/scouter craft bay. The cold wind hit her instantly, chilling her to the bone. "We are LEAVING! Everybody get in, now!" She bellowed. Fortunately, she spotted some of the last crew members they had been waiting for. Unfortunately, they were stuck in a melee of three dozen civilians as they scuffled with each other to scale the loading ramp and get to the door. "TAKE IT EASY! ONE AT A TIME!" She called, stepping out and grabbing the nearest person. She hauled them to their feet and propelled them towards the airlock, before looking at Vigdis and pointing at the long gun which was propped up against the hull interior. "Do you know how to use that? We need one minute to get these people in or they're all going to die!"</s>

<|description|>Jonsdottir, Vigdis Species: Human (Venerian) SPACER Voice: Ashly Burch Age: 29 Height: 161 cm (5'3") Weight: 58 kg (128 lb) Misc. features: * Second degree burns on hands caused by exposure to coolant vapor. * Scarring on the left side of both lips and chin caused by fragments of exploding machinery. * Limp due to left ankle fracture. Augmentations: None. Occupation: Ship Engineer Skillset:* Strengths + Mechanical engineering - Material engineering being her speciality, Vigdis is nonetheless capable of performing a wide variety of disciplines related to ME up to and including design of new items from scratch. + Electrical engineering - Low or high voltage, from robotics to reactors, Vigdis remains competent and versatile through a wide range of EE disciplines, though somewhat behind full-time electricians. + Cooking - Vigdis picked up the ability to turn practically any set of ingredients or leftovers into a half-decent meal at the university, a skill she credits with retaining her sanity during those five years. * Weaknesses + Combat - Being a full-blown grease moneky, Vigdis only received basic training in both firearms and unarmed combat. + Coding - With her degree and training primary consisting of the "nuts and bolts" sort, she considers software to be dark arts. + Mobility Impairment - Despite corrective surgery, her ankle injury left her with a limp. While a nuisance in day-to-day, it slows her down noticebaly when running and she may require pain medication if strain is put on the injured ankle for too long. Backstory: Vigdis was born to a pilot and a teacher in the Venerain capital, Mariner. Spurred by her father, she steered her education toward science and engineering. Initially she regretted her decision as she got hit with biology and chemistry, but all doubt was dispersed when she first used a welder. Soldiering through the all-encompassing high school, Vigdis now had a clearly defined direction when selecting her university, obtaining her master's degree in material engineering at the age of 23. With unrest throughout Sol, Vigdis figured the military would be a good place to gain experience very quickly, entering with the rank of Specialist due to her degree. It was a good bet, as unrest throughout Sol meant a lot of damaged assets that needed to be recovered or repaired, a task Vigdis was assigned to. She spent the next four years cruising the inner Solar system between stricken ships aboard a Venerian salvage ship as part of the team getting them up and running if possible and breaking them down to be more easily towed to a scrapyard if not. Unfortunately, as is often with military and emergency services, the pay was not great, especially with the job leaving several permanent marks on her health, so by the time her EAS date came up, she already had a private sector job lined up, the Stavanger shipyard and spaceport offering a workteam supervisor position right out of the gate with some new project being commissioned. Day by day, she and her fellow workers watched the new ship grow under their hands. Once it had been finished, Vigdis was one of the technicians tasked with maintaining the Jotunheim while it was docked at Stavanger, continuing to lead the team responsible for hull and structural frame. She happened to be on board when the fighting started, performing routine checks of one of the airlocks and had simply decided she'd be safer and more useful if she stayed aboard, especially as the launch clock ticked down toward zero and the ship's actual engineer was still nowhere to be found. Equipment: The Jackal Spaceborne Personal Weapon is an electromagnetic 12 gauge semi-automatic shotgun fed from a detachable, eight-round box magazine. Designed for use on starships to minimize the risk of damaging sensitive equipment or breaching the hull, it can be easily used by inexperienced shooters as well as in microgravity thanks to its complex recoil damping system. Fitted with a two-point sling and a duckbill muzzle device that allows subcaliber AP darts to be fired normally, but directs anti-personnel flechettes into a horizontal line rather than a conventional spread. A six year old male Norwegian Forest Cat, officially on board for vermin control. In unofficial truth a 5 kg furry morale booster for every member of the crew possessing a standard-issue human soul.</s> <|message|>Tyreese Nwakaeme Darnell "Ok. Levi?" Ezra asked. The merc tending to their downed colleague looked over briefly, not even flinching as a stray bullet whizzed overhead. The sound of gunfire was deafening - there was a concerted firefight happening somewhere nearby. "Mobile." Levi confirmed before looking back down. He wrenched the assault rifle out of his colleague's hands and placed it in her lap. He pulled out her sidearm and placed it in her right hand. He slapped her face lightly and her mask's optical modules slowly focused in on him. "It's loaded - watch our six." The female operator slowly nodded from her prone position. Levi gave a thumbs up to Ezra, walked round behind the woman and grabbed a handle on her suit behind her neck. He hauled her into a sitting position with her legs trailing out, and dragged her towards the front line. "You still want to do this?" Ezra asked Darnell. He nodded immediately. "If I don't get this done, we're all dead anyway." "Ok. Stay on my shoulder - don't lose contact in the smoke." Without waiting one second to confirm Tyreese understood, Ezra emerged from cover in attack mode and his team spread out around him. Darnell rushed to get behind him as they entered the smoke. --- Vigdis' flechettes were not particularly accurate, but they didn't need to be. With fifty vicious points in each round, it was inevitable that some would find the target. At least three dozen flechettes whizzed into the expanding smoke cloud, ricocheted off the floor and sliced into the calves and lower thighs of the first soldier huddled behind the droid. They let out a primal scream and collapsed on the floor clutching their legs. The droid didn't stop. It unclipped a riot gun from its thigh holster and fired a bright blue baton round at Vigdis from round the side of its shield. The other people behind the droid just stepped over the writhing figure on the floor and continued. The third man spotted Eva and her mech among the last cargo crates. Knowing how much of a threat a machine like that could be, even without weapons, they immediately grasped for the grenade launcher on their back. Eva put one of the final crates between her and the 40mm grenade that was fired towards her. The crate was shredded in the ground-shaking explosion and fell from her hands. She picked up another box and hurled it through the smoke at the advancing troops as Fret stumbled back up the ramp towards the ship. Facing being left behind if she delayed any more, Eva clanked up into the crowded shuttle bay as well. Zey chucked Fret onto the floor in the corner of the shuttle bay, then moved out of the way as Eva's mech packed into the claustrophobic space. "Mr Chappel, Eva, you good?" The cargo they'd managed to salvage had been tied down for the most part, but there still wasn't a whole lot of manoeuvring room with the shuttle taking up most of the floor. The air stank of acrid smoke and gunpowder. Rounds had stopped pinging off the metal hull of the Jotunheim, but the sound carried on somewhere nearby. "Vigdis, raise the ramp then get strapped in. Everyone should get strapped in somewhere! There are jump seats either side of the shuttle. Are they still out there? Don't let anyone else aboard." The civilians were bunging up the service corridors on the other side of the airlock, so it made sense to Zey for the last people inside to stay put and not add to the chaos. "Bosko, I'm heading back to the bridge. Start the launch sequence!" Zey punched the airlock control panel and the doors whooshed open. --- The riot droid was seven foot tall and built to hold the line against a crushing weight of people. Unfortunately though, the crate that Eva had thrown was full of heavy spare parts. It bounced off the deck once before sliding straight into the droid, knocking it clean over. The two gunmen behind it dived out of the way. It was when they got up that they realised that the people covering them from either side of the blast doors were still shooting, just not in the same direction. They were shooting at people behind them. Then the gunfire stopped, and the noise from Jotunheim's engines began increasing from a low rumble towards a crescendo. The two masked killers looked at each other, then both turned and ran for the Jotunheim's ramp, barely visible through the smoke. It was too late. Bullets flew through the murky depths and into both their backs. The men collapsed dead on the floor. The Israeli operators and their benefactor stepped quietly and quickly through the smog. One of them dispatched the wounded man with flechettes in his legs with a bullet to the head. Another operator emptied a magazine into the riot droid as it struggled to its feet, sending it into critical failure. "There it is!" Darnell shouted, breaking into a sprint; the soldiers around him reluctantly followed suit. As they approached they could hear the ramp's mechanical parts working - it was nearly halfway up! "Don't shoot! We're Tamerlane! Lower the ramp!" Darnell shouted over the din, waving his arms. The ramp didn't stop. He turned to the mercs. "Give me a leg up!" Ezra had to make a split second decision. He needed to be aboard this ship, with or without his team. "Ok, I'll go with you. While we're inside, hold this position." He directed the last part to his team, with a grim finality. Without hesitation, the soldiers moved to hoist Darnell and Ezra up so they could grab onto the ramp as it moved towards 90 degrees. They tumbled into the Jotunheim's shuttle bay with a loud crash, moments before it hissed shut. "More of them are coming, get ready!" Levi ordered, peeking round the side of the ship. The three able-bodied mercenaries got ready to defend the hangar. The engine noise was overriding everything.</s> <|message|>J'eon of Mythadia J'eon leaps to one side, his hearts thundering. His instincts were to charge, but this thing was enraged and knew no fear. He could see the two strangers at work now, but even their efforts against the massive bug were having little effect. And what harm might it have done already? "Beware!" the Glen called out. "I shall try to rob it of its heat!" Cold had its place in the riddle of iron and steel, hardening the metal. But this cold would have to be deeper, and sustained if they were to have any hope of slowing this creature. The buck took a pose, his right palm facing the creature, his left behind it, and as he concentrated, he began to slowly pull his left hand back, feeling the shifting of the pattern, the heat in his muscles as they struggled, the blood coursing through them as he tries with his might and spells to draw the heat from its core. But this spell would also tug at the others....</s> <|message|>Kareet of Arcaeda The intense cold that struck at the creature's core was rather immediately effective against it. Its scream this time seemed to be one of pain. It stumbled forward, half-collapsing in front of J'eon. Even without eyes, the way its body shifted towards him felt like it was glaring down upon the Glen. From the start, Kareet had not wanted to get involved in a fight, but now that she was committed to being here, it was her training that quickly took over. It was easy to identify the exceptionally quick, and equally precise movements of a trained war caster. She could manage to mix in spellcasting seamlessly into swings, parries, or in this case, a throw. As she reared her hammer back, she moved two fingers along its haft at just the right angle and speed to imbue it with an electric charge. The hammer came flying in, magnetically guided and accelerated, over the Glen to slam straight into the front of the creature's head. The hard, sharp mandibles had been frozen to the point of becoming brittle, and so the one the hammer struck shattered upon impact, followed by a discharge of lightning all down its head and neck. The electricity only heated small, concentrated areas, but in the places it affected, it seemed the otherwise tough hide did not fare well through such rapid swings between cooling and heating. The hide actually appeared to be cracking in places. "Hit it hard, all together!" Kareet shouted as her hammer flew back into her hand. The creature, however, would not be stunned forever. With as massive as it was, J'eon's spell had only affected part of its body so far, and the Glen had not yet ran, so he was still within its reach. With a roar, it made a powerful backhanded swing of its massive arm straight at J'eon.</s>

<|message|>Jonsdottir, Vigdis The screaming caught her mid-reload. She didn't need to look to know why the man was screaming. Considering that only one person was screaming, her mind evoked images of meatloaf instead of the intended lesser damage over all three targets. Violent injuries were nothing new to a four year veteran of salvage duty. Vaccum exposure, hot vapors and liquids, electric current, exploding pressure vessels, shrapnel large and small, people trapped in an inferno so hot the heat cracked the teeth... Just two months before she got out of the navy, she slipped on a patch of charred goo that used to be a crew member of a freighter that completely burned out. She'd seen and smelled it all, but always as a third party. An unfortunate observer. But here, she did that to the man. Knowing she caused it made her sick. 'Better them than me.' she thought, but it rang somewhat hollow. Snapping in a new magazine with a shaking hand, she popped out of cover again and immediately recoiled back. Meatloaf. Meatloaf in marinara sauce. The sound of her name being called brought her back into the here and now. Sprinting up the ramp and not even stopping as she hit the button to close it, she went straight for the airlock, heading to the machine shop. Having connected to the shipwide PA, Vigdis whistled into the microphone, completely uncaring about how weird it probably sounded to everyone else on board. She listened for the sound of doors opening or something moving in nearby vents when movement in one of the shelves near the ceiling caught her eye. To her infinite relief, she was met with the sight of Fritjof, eyes at half mast from having just woken up. "You lazy slacker, how'd you sleep through that?!" She stepped closer to the shelf and tapped her shoulder, the cat taking the cue and leaping down onto her shoulders. "Sure wish I could've." She ruffled the hair on his head before placing him in the carrier strapped to the floor for safety and made for the engineering section. As she was unregistered luggage on this trip, she might as well make herself useful. Somewhere in the distance, something at last put an end to the muted screams of the man she'd crippled.</s>

<|description|>Jonsdottir, Vigdis Species: Human (Venerian) SPACER Voice: Ashly Burch Age: 29 Height: 161 cm (5'3") Weight: 58 kg (128 lb) Misc. features: * Second degree burns on hands caused by exposure to coolant vapor. * Scarring on the left side of both lips and chin caused by fragments of exploding machinery. * Limp due to left ankle fracture. Augmentations: None. Occupation: Ship Engineer Skillset:* Strengths + Mechanical engineering - Material engineering being her speciality, Vigdis is nonetheless capable of performing a wide variety of disciplines related to ME up to and including design of new items from scratch. + Electrical engineering - Low or high voltage, from robotics to reactors, Vigdis remains competent and versatile through a wide range of EE disciplines, though somewhat behind full-time electricians. + Cooking - Vigdis picked up the ability to turn practically any set of ingredients or leftovers into a half-decent meal at the university, a skill she credits with retaining her sanity during those five years. * Weaknesses + Combat - Being a full-blown grease moneky, Vigdis only received basic training in both firearms and unarmed combat. + Coding - With her degree and training primary consisting of the "nuts and bolts" sort, she considers software to be dark arts. + Mobility Impairment - Despite corrective surgery, her ankle injury left her with a limp. While a nuisance in day-to-day, it slows her down noticebaly when running and she may require pain medication if strain is put on the injured ankle for too long. Backstory: Vigdis was born to a pilot and a teacher in the Venerain capital, Mariner. Spurred by her father, she steered her education toward science and engineering. Initially she regretted her decision as she got hit with biology and chemistry, but all doubt was dispersed when she first used a welder. Soldiering through the all-encompassing high school, Vigdis now had a clearly defined direction when selecting her university, obtaining her master's degree in material engineering at the age of 23. With unrest throughout Sol, Vigdis figured the military would be a good place to gain experience very quickly, entering with the rank of Specialist due to her degree. It was a good bet, as unrest throughout Sol meant a lot of damaged assets that needed to be recovered or repaired, a task Vigdis was assigned to. She spent the next four years cruising the inner Solar system between stricken ships aboard a Venerian salvage ship as part of the team getting them up and running if possible and breaking them down to be more easily towed to a scrapyard if not. Unfortunately, as is often with military and emergency services, the pay was not great, especially with the job leaving several permanent marks on her health, so by the time her EAS date came up, she already had a private sector job lined up, the Stavanger shipyard and spaceport offering a workteam supervisor position right out of the gate with some new project being commissioned. Day by day, she and her fellow workers watched the new ship grow under their hands. Once it had been finished, Vigdis was one of the technicians tasked with maintaining the Jotunheim while it was docked at Stavanger, continuing to lead the team responsible for hull and structural frame. She happened to be on board when the fighting started, performing routine checks of one of the airlocks and had simply decided she'd be safer and more useful if she stayed aboard, especially as the launch clock ticked down toward zero and the ship's actual engineer was still nowhere to be found. Equipment: The Jackal Spaceborne Personal Weapon is an electromagnetic 12 gauge semi-automatic shotgun fed from a detachable, eight-round box magazine. Designed for use on starships to minimize the risk of damaging sensitive equipment or breaching the hull, it can be easily used by inexperienced shooters as well as in microgravity thanks to its complex recoil damping system. Fitted with a two-point sling and a duckbill muzzle device that allows subcaliber AP darts to be fired normally, but directs anti-personnel flechettes into a horizontal line rather than a conventional spread. A six year old male Norwegian Forest Cat, officially on board for vermin control. In unofficial truth a 5 kg furry morale booster for every member of the crew possessing a standard-issue human soul.</s> <|message|>J'eon of Mythadia Jack Mallory, X.O. --- The universe must have been trying to tell him something. "No," the guard said. "Crew only!" "I am crew!" Jack scowled, presenting his identcard and waving the shopping bags of the various gift shops at the space port. "I'm the executive officer of the Jotunheim, and I had the captain's permission to do some last minute shopping because I'd lost my luggage! Now let me pass!" The hell he lost his luggage. On the Pournelle, the king of the practical jokers had been Lt. Danny Bryce, his junior. Danny had never messed with him while they'd been aboard. Maybe it was because he was Danny's senior. Or possibly because he'd still been reeling from his divorce from Jackie and wanted to cheer him up? More likely was it the subpoenas his wife's attorney had slapped on him that revealed that he was a walking, talking camera. Danny must have thought it was his last chance to play a prank on him, now he was a civilian and departing for a mission that would mean years outsystem. After all, he'd been the man who offered to 'help' him with his luggage for the flight to Norway. Not even his own garment bag had been safe, and he'd brought that on the plane with him! Or so he thought. "You're crew?" the guard demanded, incredulously taking him in with the flight suit and the old leather "snoopy" flght cap. "It's what I had that was warm!" Jack snapped. The guard scowls, raising his walky-talky to his mouth when gunshots erupted on the far side of the hanger. The others around them panics, bowling the guard over. "The hell with this," he scowls, then takes off running towards the ship. Only when he was at the airlock did he realize that others were there with him. "Go back!" he yells. "Our next stop is years away! Get off the ship!" The engines began to rumble. Swearing under his breath, Jack jammed his things into a locker, securing it with his finger print, then ran for the bridge. --- "Captain," Jack called out as he saw her, then nodded at the man standing beside her. "Doctor." "I was.. held up at the checkpoint," he sighed. "I'm sorry, if I'd been here, we wouldn't be stuck with a bunch of civilians on board. We can try for a patrol boat once we reach orbit to get them off...." Assuming whoever was trying to get at the Jotunheim hadn't already planned for that. "Your orders?" Jack Mallory asks, standing at attention with all the dignity he could muster.</s> <|message|>Tyreese Nwakaeme Darnell Zey emerged from the airlock with several of her crew into the corridor that ran down the middle of the lower forward deck. It was even loud and more uncomfortable than usual. The lighting was harsh, it smelled of chemicals and freshly fabricated metal. The engine vibrations were more pronounced, and right now there were over thirty civilians crammed into it. Some were milling around, trying to find a way out or place to sit. Others had just plonked themselves down on the boxes of supplies along the walls or the one sofa, chattering worriedly or checked themselves for bullet holes. Vigdis and Mr Chappel the surveyor contractor stumbled away through the crowd and Zey didn't have one moment to negotiate her own way through before she heard someone shout "Captain!". She looked and found Duncan Feng addressing her. "You're intact right?" "I'm fine!" Zey shouted back over the din, she unclipped an earbud from her communicator and pushed it into one ear. "Get these people strapped or tied down, we're leaving!" She patted the Doctor on the shoulder and made to turn toward the bridge when her XO appeared from the crowd, talking about going into orbit. She was relieved to see her second-in-command, though she didn't show it. Having him on the bridge meant she could focus on not killing every stowaway on board. Everyone's voice was getting progressively louder, so Zey leaned in and placed a hand on Mallory's shoulder so she could shout in his ear. "Negative, it's too risky! We'll move the Jo to a TGOC ground installation to decant these civilians! Get to the bridge and plot us a flight plan out of here. Fast and low as this fat lady can go! Tell Anselm we need to break this comms blackout and make contact with HQ yesterday, get them to get an escort over here and prepare their site in Iceland or Russia for us. go go go!" Someone from the bridge wafted into her ear."Captain, there are two unidentified men with guns in the shuttle bay. I've sealed off the airlock. Edwards is still inside." Zey immediately spun around and looked through the viewing ports. The airlock was empty, and through the viewing port on the other side she locked eyes with Tyreese Darnell who was hammering on the door from the other side. A bulky soldier in full gear stood behind him, pointing a long gun at someone out of view - Zey presumed it was Eva as she'd have been strapping her mech in. The man pointed at the lock, then put a sat phone with a floppy antenna to his ear and mimed talking. Zey could feel movement in her legs as the Jotunheim began moving slowly out of the hangar bay. "They're shooting at the jets!" Zey heard someone else call over comms. "Bring our kinetic shielding online, direct it behind us." The Captain ordered, still staring through the viewing port at Darnell. --- Vigdis had to request access to the Engineering airlock twice before a grase-smudged face appeared and studied her at the other end, eventually opening the first door. Once she'd stepped in, the shaven head and face recognisable as Danny Varen, FTL, spotted the gun on her back. After a moment, he opened the second door. He was dressed in black flip flops, navy shorts emblazoned with the Tamerlane logo, and a plate-carrier over his bare tattooed chest. As soon as there was clearance, Danny levelled a black tactical shotgun at her body. "What's poppin' Vigdis? Put the gun down and put your hands up." Danny looked off to his left. "Search her." A second engineer stepped round the corner, shotgun in hand, and went to pat her down. "Hey! What's going on back there? I need help powering up the shields." came the stentorian voice of the Jotunheim's formidable lead engineer, Zhào Jiāyí. Though short in stature, everyone knew this harmless-looking middle aged lady had all of her larger and younger engineers firmly in check. "Its Vigdis!" Danny called back, not taking his eyes off her. "Well, stop copping a feel and tell her to get her butt over to the shield console!" Danny looked a bit sheepish, then cracked a grin. "Sorry Vigdis. Gotta be safe. Whats happening out there?" --- "You're bleeding!" The teenage boy sitting opposite Fret called out, pointing to the blood on Mr Chappel's hand. "Oh my god! Is there a doctor on board?" His mum called through the open conference room doorway.</s>

<|message|>Jonsdottir, Vigdis "Mister Varen. Can I hel-" That was a gun. She complied with their instructions on partial autopilot, still working through the fact that she'd just been directly shot at for the first time in her life and was now being held at gunpoint by someone she knew. Having a coworker pointing a gun at you was a jarring experience in a completely different way. She wanted to ask what they were looking for, why they thought she was a threat or at least have some witty remark about the lead engineer's 'copping a feel' comment, but her mind just kept going back to the shotgun threatening to do what the bad guys hadn't managed while at the same time processing Varen's getup. Contrary to the situation and to her own surprise, she started snickering at the display of tactical beachwear. "Hostiles kitted out like local armed forces, comm jamming, ship full of whoever happened to be close by... 'Shitstorm' doesn't even begin to cover it. Probably shaved off at least three years off your dear Captain." She summed up what little she knew on her way to the shield console, "We've got about two and a half tons of extra live mass on board." She guesstimated the weight of the thirty-or-so extra people that weren't supposed to be on the ship. Plus 65 kg of live mass and tools, give or take, she wasn't supposed to be there either. Why was she even there? Damn ship was done, she could've gone on vacation and left the routine stuff to someone who needed some overtime. She wanted to see Iceland ever since she learned her family was originally from there. She could've at least taken a sick day and stayed at the hotel. Of all the times she could've chosen to let the inner workaholic loose, she had to do it now. "Friendly reminder, I supervised hull construction, I only know as much about the shields as was necessary for that purpose." She cautioned the other engineers. Fortunately, at least the interface looked simple enough. Now, she knew the maximum rated output of both reactors - which was really the 'long-term safe' output and thus up to 105% of that could be sustained for brief periods, that was industry standard - but didn't have access to power control, so had no clue how much power the rest of the ship was drawing except that it was taxing the power supply by at least 50% on account of the engines. Who knew what life support was using up with 30 extra people on board or if it could even keep up with that demand? Unlike the reactor guys, whom she knew well, the life support equipment team supervisor was an insufferable bint whose presence Vigdis could never stand for longer than the amount of time it took to use the coffee machine. No, Denise, I don't care that you write poetry in your spare time, your garbage doesn't even rhyme. Rear hemisphere would do for now, they were in a fjord anyway, only places to go were forward and up. "Chief, how much free power capacity do we have for the shield?" Unless the attackers brought anti-ship weaponry, she assumed the shield - presumably designed to handle debris and civilian-grade ship weapons - would hold up just fine. But what if the bad guys did have access to anti-ship missiles? They had army equipment after all… Somewhat back in her element and with no bullets flying around her, her brain had at least gotten some traction and was quickly working through the gears. Of course the boys were suspicious. If you wanted to pull a stunt like this, having someone on the inside would've helped and she'd been there for two years, knew every one in three bolts and welds on the ship and knew someone who knew the other ones. 'Can you blame them, chief?' That would've been a good one, damn it.</s>

<|description|>Jonsdottir, Vigdis Species: Human (Venerian) SPACER Voice: Ashly Burch Age: 29 Height: 161 cm (5'3") Weight: 58 kg (128 lb) Misc. features: * Second degree burns on hands caused by exposure to coolant vapor. * Scarring on the left side of both lips and chin caused by fragments of exploding machinery. * Limp due to left ankle fracture. Augmentations: None. Occupation: Ship Engineer Skillset:* Strengths + Mechanical engineering - Material engineering being her speciality, Vigdis is nonetheless capable of performing a wide variety of disciplines related to ME up to and including design of new items from scratch. + Electrical engineering - Low or high voltage, from robotics to reactors, Vigdis remains competent and versatile through a wide range of EE disciplines, though somewhat behind full-time electricians. + Cooking - Vigdis picked up the ability to turn practically any set of ingredients or leftovers into a half-decent meal at the university, a skill she credits with retaining her sanity during those five years. * Weaknesses + Combat - Being a full-blown grease moneky, Vigdis only received basic training in both firearms and unarmed combat. + Coding - With her degree and training primary consisting of the "nuts and bolts" sort, she considers software to be dark arts. + Mobility Impairment - Despite corrective surgery, her ankle injury left her with a limp. While a nuisance in day-to-day, it slows her down noticebaly when running and she may require pain medication if strain is put on the injured ankle for too long. Backstory: Vigdis was born to a pilot and a teacher in the Venerain capital, Mariner. Spurred by her father, she steered her education toward science and engineering. Initially she regretted her decision as she got hit with biology and chemistry, but all doubt was dispersed when she first used a welder. Soldiering through the all-encompassing high school, Vigdis now had a clearly defined direction when selecting her university, obtaining her master's degree in material engineering at the age of 23. With unrest throughout Sol, Vigdis figured the military would be a good place to gain experience very quickly, entering with the rank of Specialist due to her degree. It was a good bet, as unrest throughout Sol meant a lot of damaged assets that needed to be recovered or repaired, a task Vigdis was assigned to. She spent the next four years cruising the inner Solar system between stricken ships aboard a Venerian salvage ship as part of the team getting them up and running if possible and breaking them down to be more easily towed to a scrapyard if not. Unfortunately, as is often with military and emergency services, the pay was not great, especially with the job leaving several permanent marks on her health, so by the time her EAS date came up, she already had a private sector job lined up, the Stavanger shipyard and spaceport offering a workteam supervisor position right out of the gate with some new project being commissioned. Day by day, she and her fellow workers watched the new ship grow under their hands. Once it had been finished, Vigdis was one of the technicians tasked with maintaining the Jotunheim while it was docked at Stavanger, continuing to lead the team responsible for hull and structural frame. She happened to be on board when the fighting started, performing routine checks of one of the airlocks and had simply decided she'd be safer and more useful if she stayed aboard, especially as the launch clock ticked down toward zero and the ship's actual engineer was still nowhere to be found. Equipment: The Jackal Spaceborne Personal Weapon is an electromagnetic 12 gauge semi-automatic shotgun fed from a detachable, eight-round box magazine. Designed for use on starships to minimize the risk of damaging sensitive equipment or breaching the hull, it can be easily used by inexperienced shooters as well as in microgravity thanks to its complex recoil damping system. Fitted with a two-point sling and a duckbill muzzle device that allows subcaliber AP darts to be fired normally, but directs anti-personnel flechettes into a horizontal line rather than a conventional spread. A six year old male Norwegian Forest Cat, officially on board for vermin control. In unofficial truth a 5 kg furry morale booster for every member of the crew possessing a standard-issue human soul.</s> <|message|>Kareet of Arcaeda Kareet observed silently as Kaqir worked. She had seen, and received, such healing many, many times before, so there was no tension for her. The only worry might have been if Kaqir was not a competent Life mage, but everything Kareet could see was perfectly acceptable. Healing simple injuries was far from the most complex thing a Life mage could do, after all. Once Kaqir was done, Kareet gave a quick look over the Glen. No visible injuries, at least, and no more signs of pain. It was sufficient. She reached around to her backpack and produced a small pouch, from which she grabbed a few silver coins. It was far more than the coppers most peasants might be able to scrounge together, and consistent with what a healer would expect to be paid in the capital. "Thank you for your assistance." Kareet said politely as she dropped the coins into the healer's hand. "I…" Kareet's voice trailed off quickly. There was…something that caught her eyes in the sky to the north: a flash. At its source, there was something glowing, very distant. Tekeri had particularly sharp eyesight, but even to her the details were difficult to discern. It was like a hole in the sky through which daylight was shining. Through it, she could see a hint of fire, of distorted shapes she could not discern, and of…something that seemed to be moving. All she could really see of it was a red glow, like a fireball. A few seconds later, something like the loudest thunder Kareet had ever heard echoed across the landscape. All at once, it was like the whole town froze. Anyone who had not noticed before now had their eyes to the sky. Even Glen villagers who had been roused from their sleep started to file outside as well to see what was happening.</s> <|message|>Kolvar Stilmyst Kolvar Stilmyst Kolvar was moving between the different stores, asking the owners where Dagmore could be located. Most of the shopkeepers didn't seem to know where the old ruins were located. He was halfway to giving up however, he would soon have a moment of luck. An old looking Glenfolk approached him. "Excuse me, son, I had seen you walking around the town for the past couple of hours. And I was wondering if I could help you?" Kolvar felt flattered that this old man would want to help him. But he was not sure if he knew where Dagmore was. "Well, I am searching for a lost Kriliteran book. And I was wondering if there were any ruins in the area?" The old man smiled and rubbed his chin with his hand. He seemed deep in thought, "Well there are a few I do know of around here. There is Dagmore which would be the most well known ancient structure." His train of thought was interrupted by Kolvar speaking up. "That would be the place I am looking for, would you be able to direct me to where the ruins are located?" The Kriliteran seemed overly excited about the old man knowing the ruin's location. The old man took longer than Kolvar hoped to try to remember the exact location, he was more than patient for him to finish. "Thank you for the directions, sir." Bowing his head he walked off, following the instructions the old man had told him. He noticed it was starting to get dark. Pulling out a small lantern from underneath his clock, he lit the small candle. he stars outside were shining brightly tonight. It was a beautiful sight. Kolvar took a moment to admire the beauty of the night sky. He noticed a bright star burning more noticeably than the others, at first he thought nothing of it. Assuming it was a star near the planet. But this particular star seemed to be coming closer and closer. Quickly ducking onto the ground, covering his head with his hands. Thinking for a moment the whole world was going to end. Muttering a prayer to his god to protect him.</s> <|message|>J'eon of Mythadia J'eon the Blacksmith It happened between the beats of his heart, the pain was there - and then it was not. "What... is this?" he marveled as he felt the bones knitting together, re-forged whole again. "My lady, this humble blacksmith thanks you," he says to Kaqir, bowing his head when she's finished. "I offer my thanks to you two, as well," he adds, climbing carefully down from his cart to stand on his own feet to face Kareet and Shirik, placing his right arm on his broad chest as a salute. "I...." Kareet, who had been paying Kaqir, was now looking past her, at... What was that? "My friend, is this your work?" he asks Shirik just before the loudest clap of thunder peeled over the village and beyond. "Sky stone?" he wondered. It was big - was a mountain of sky stone about to hit this village? --- Jack Mallory, X.O. "Captain! We were too deep in the gravity well, I don't think we cleared atmosphere," Jack reported, training kicking in as he began reading his panel. "We must have hugged the Earth during that jump! Radar shows we're above some rough terrain...." The radio was eerily silent, just the faint hiss of the universe in his ears. "Captain, we've lost comms!" the executive officer reported, checking and rechecking the panel. "No... wait... this doesn't make sense! Radio is working, but nobody's talking out there? Did the pulse of the jump knock everyone off the air?" Without GPS, they'd have to do terrain mapping and hope they'd get a match from the AI...</s> <|message|>Evangeline Edwards Eva's bots immediately began moving as the ship shifted suddenly, rising and anchoring themselves as the ship rocked. After the explosive struck and it was clear the worst was not over, Eva's Rover dove to collide with the man who stumbled into her, attempting to stand over him as the contents of the bay shifted alongside them. The spiders did the same for the second man, clambering over him and holding them down so they didn't move as the ship rocked violently and flame eyed them hungrily. Eva didn't dare stand up until everything went frighteningly quiet, and her bots moved off their respective charges. The Rover looked down at the solder with his cut and emitted a quiet beep, shaking it's side to bring attention to the basic medical supplies it held on a pouch. "Look at that, I was exactly right. Don't get up too fast, a second volley could hit at any moment... good news though, we aren't dead. If you're still obsessed about our death the doors should open for you now that we aren't actively being shot at." Eva rose, snatching up the rifle the man had attempted to point at her. "Though I'll be keeping this, you like pointing it at things way too much. If you have problems with that ask my other three drones about it, Otherwise move on to the bridge and keep any sidearms put away." Eva sighed, the sudden quiet bothered her greatly, but they were alive and that was about all she could ask for.</s>

<|message|>Jonsdottir, Vigdis They did have SAMs. Lady Luck had been standing somewhere else this entire day. Apparently they didn't want the ship intact after all, so what the fuck were they? Religious extremists claiming FTL went against God's plan? Of course the pilot did what pilots do and seemingly did everything except turn the ship so the active shield segments were facing the threat, evidenced by a bang and the sound of shearing metal. Some of the missiles hit the shield after all and as soon as they did, the reactor output readout completely lost its marbles. She recalled one salvage job where the ship in question had power problems and was unable to scram their reactor, so they turned on everything that could draw power and blacked out their ship, causing the reactor scram to initiate automatically. If the FTL drive was 'running away' then robbing it of its power should do the same as long as they didn't trip the reactors as well. Sitting at the shield control console, Vigdis entered the command to power up the remaining shield segments. `ERR: Insufficient power, FTL system priority! <OK>` Of course the ship was designed to prevent this. A smart thing to do under any other circumstance except here. She would find the computer geek who thought this error window only needed an 'OK' button and not an 'ignore' option alongside it and smack some sense into him when this was over. When the noise kept rising, something in her mind went 'Yeah, this is beyond hope.' and she gave up attempting to handle the situation and instead strapped in for the fallout. Crap, where was the Jackal? Did she secure it when she disarmed herself or did she just leave it lying around somewhere? A glance confirmed the sling was tied around the frame of a machine beside the door. Good. Then, an idea. Primitive and straight out of the 'Geriatric's Manual of Computer Repair', but an idea nonetheless. "Breakers!" Vigdis yelled, figuring whatever damage would be caused by physically cutting the connection between the FTL drive and the ship's power grid would be limited to the drive itself and wouldn't hamper their escape attempts, but not even hoping there was enough time for it. --- The unholy noise reached its peak and the room flooded with unnaturally bright light before turning into pandemonium. It seemed like half of the Really Bad Lights and their accompanying bells and whistles came on at the same time. The machine behind her seat crapped out a shower of sparks and some more alarms sounded. As Vigdis grabbed one of the three kilogram powder fire extinguishers affixed by the console to address that latest problem, the rest of the room didn't seem to be faring much better. It was getting hot and she could see some of the cables were straining against their mountings as the current flowing through them created magnetic fields strong enough to move them. Something vile assaulted her nostrils. "Charred insulation. Smells like a failing grade to me." Having put out the closest fire, she returned the empty extinguisher back into the bracket and returned her attention to her assigned station, fielding a sea of warnings and errors - electrical resistance in the shield cabling reading infinite, voltage zero, temperature just below melting point. "Chief, we've lost the shields. Looks like melted or severed conduits." Vigdis reported, anxiously waiting for a similar report on propulsion.</s>

<|description|>Jonsdottir, Vigdis Species: Human (Venerian) SPACER Voice: Ashly Burch Age: 29 Height: 161 cm (5'3") Weight: 58 kg (128 lb) Misc. features: * Second degree burns on hands caused by exposure to coolant vapor. * Scarring on the left side of both lips and chin caused by fragments of exploding machinery. * Limp due to left ankle fracture. Augmentations: None. Occupation: Ship Engineer Skillset:* Strengths + Mechanical engineering - Material engineering being her speciality, Vigdis is nonetheless capable of performing a wide variety of disciplines related to ME up to and including design of new items from scratch. + Electrical engineering - Low or high voltage, from robotics to reactors, Vigdis remains competent and versatile through a wide range of EE disciplines, though somewhat behind full-time electricians. + Cooking - Vigdis picked up the ability to turn practically any set of ingredients or leftovers into a half-decent meal at the university, a skill she credits with retaining her sanity during those five years. * Weaknesses + Combat - Being a full-blown grease moneky, Vigdis only received basic training in both firearms and unarmed combat. + Coding - With her degree and training primary consisting of the "nuts and bolts" sort, she considers software to be dark arts. + Mobility Impairment - Despite corrective surgery, her ankle injury left her with a limp. While a nuisance in day-to-day, it slows her down noticebaly when running and she may require pain medication if strain is put on the injured ankle for too long. Backstory: Vigdis was born to a pilot and a teacher in the Venerain capital, Mariner. Spurred by her father, she steered her education toward science and engineering. Initially she regretted her decision as she got hit with biology and chemistry, but all doubt was dispersed when she first used a welder. Soldiering through the all-encompassing high school, Vigdis now had a clearly defined direction when selecting her university, obtaining her master's degree in material engineering at the age of 23. With unrest throughout Sol, Vigdis figured the military would be a good place to gain experience very quickly, entering with the rank of Specialist due to her degree. It was a good bet, as unrest throughout Sol meant a lot of damaged assets that needed to be recovered or repaired, a task Vigdis was assigned to. She spent the next four years cruising the inner Solar system between stricken ships aboard a Venerian salvage ship as part of the team getting them up and running if possible and breaking them down to be more easily towed to a scrapyard if not. Unfortunately, as is often with military and emergency services, the pay was not great, especially with the job leaving several permanent marks on her health, so by the time her EAS date came up, she already had a private sector job lined up, the Stavanger shipyard and spaceport offering a workteam supervisor position right out of the gate with some new project being commissioned. Day by day, she and her fellow workers watched the new ship grow under their hands. Once it had been finished, Vigdis was one of the technicians tasked with maintaining the Jotunheim while it was docked at Stavanger, continuing to lead the team responsible for hull and structural frame. She happened to be on board when the fighting started, performing routine checks of one of the airlocks and had simply decided she'd be safer and more useful if she stayed aboard, especially as the launch clock ticked down toward zero and the ship's actual engineer was still nowhere to be found. Equipment: The Jackal Spaceborne Personal Weapon is an electromagnetic 12 gauge semi-automatic shotgun fed from a detachable, eight-round box magazine. Designed for use on starships to minimize the risk of damaging sensitive equipment or breaching the hull, it can be easily used by inexperienced shooters as well as in microgravity thanks to its complex recoil damping system. Fitted with a two-point sling and a duckbill muzzle device that allows subcaliber AP darts to be fired normally, but directs anti-personnel flechettes into a horizontal line rather than a conventional spread. A six year old male Norwegian Forest Cat, officially on board for vermin control. In unofficial truth a 5 kg furry morale booster for every member of the crew possessing a standard-issue human soul.</s> <|message|>Kareet of Arcaeda Kareet could have possibly believed this was some form of magic, until it started drawing closer. It started to slow noticeably as it drew nearer to the mountains, and the flames dimmed, at least slightly. It was still bright, but a Tekeri's eyes could just make out…something within. Something more than flame, and it did not look to be stone either. Though, she had few guesses on what this could be, aside from a new mystery. The fireball disappeared behind the mountains to the northeast. While it had been in the sky, the night had lit up almost like day, though darkness fell once again as soon as it went out of sight. Among the townsfolk, shock had seemingly kept a blanket of silence over the town around them for a few, brief moments. Once it seemed to become clear that the fireball was not going to bring an imminent death, though, that silence broke quickly. Everything from awe and amazement, to fear, to relief, could be heard in the chattering of the villagers around them. Kareet heard them talk of everything from magic to divine omens, but she did not concern herself with the speculations of the peasants, nor was she going to make baseless claims of her own. There would be only one way to find the truth here. Kareet gave a quick look over to Shirik. She felt sure that had been no product of Heat magic. It was something solid, even if it had been covered in flames. Prior to this moment, she would have felt that there would have been little that could pry her away from her investigation into the strange Iriad…but it seemed she had just found it. Whatever this was, it was most certainly a mystery more interesting than anything Shirik could offer. She did not even want to waste time talking or speculating; depending on exactly where and across what terrain it had come down, it could take a day or two in order to make the hike out to it. She hoped it would not be that far. "The coin was sufficient, yes? If there is nothing more that anyone needs of me, I will be going. Whatever that thing was, I must reach it."</s> <|message|>J'eon of Mythadia J'eon the Blacksmith "I've never seen so large a piece of sky metal," the Glen staring intently in awe as he pointed at the fireball. "Usually it's small chunks, but they hit the ground so very hard! I do not know what will happen when such a large rock hits. It may shatter or bury itself deep in the ground." J'eon turned towards the others. "This will be a story long told among the clans." --- Jack Mallory, X.O. Jack swallows. A safe place to put down? "Captain, we've got mountains, a lake, and more mountains," the X.O. reports. "My respects to the pilot, but if we can't do a soft landing, we need to aim for the lake." "We're likely to flood, so we'll need to get everyone off the ship and to shore as quickly as possible. It'll be tight in the lifepods, but a very short distance." But... "Only thing is, I can't reach anyone on the radio. If we stay in the water, we're likely to lose the Jo' before rescue arrives. Our best bet to save the ship is to keep the drive going and skim for the shoreline. If we can push enough of ourselves out of the water, we should be okay." And at least a year or more in repair yards, Jack scowls, and testifying in front of boards and committees about what we should have done and questioning everything. Then another year to get the Jo' recertified. Assuming whoever was behind the attack on them didn't try again. Two years, maybe more, wasted!</s>

<|message|>Jonsdottir, Vigdis Fuck, Kiran was dead. Died near the breakers. The breakers she'd mentioned a second or two before the jump. No, no, she couldn't think about it like that. He would've done it anyway. Guy was a lot smarter than the dreadlocked beach bro one might write him off as at first glance, else he wouldn't have been there in the first place. "Yes ma'am." Vigdis confirmed chief Zhao's order as she switched off the shield system, salvaging what little power the still-intact control circuits were drawing before getting on the reactors. Undoing her straps, she moved over to Kiran's former station and strapped in there. First thing she did was access diagnostics to figure out just what the hell the problem was. Whatever happened, it wrought havoc on power control, with Unit 2 scrammed and Unit 1 reeling from the experience. A short investigation quickly uncovered the culprit: the shields, and to a certain extent the FTL drive, simply demanded so much they robbed the number two reactor of the power its magnetic containment and fuel feed systems required to keep it running, but the reactor itself was undamaged. Normally that wasn't supposed to be possible, but whatever caused the FTL anomaly might've been a software bug that could've also affected power distribution. The first reactor encountered a similar problem on a smaller scale, the fuel supply fluctuating within limits and slowly recovering. Next she opened the reactor relight menu, comparing what she was seeing to what the reactor and power guys had told her between beers. Fusion reactors required a lot of power to start up, meaning one could be started either by another reactor or by a big capacitor. That was why safety regulations mandated ships with multiple reactors never bring any of them below five percent. Well now one of theirs was dead and she didn't dare try jumping it with the other one for fear of something important dying on them as a result, which left option two: A battery dedicated to starting the reactors, enough to jump one. One last hail mary. If that failed, they'd be in trouble as charging it would take hours if one reactor was running well and the auxiliary wasn't anywhere close. Fuel: Check. Containment magnets: Check. Preheat: Check. The reactor had fortunately been down for such a short period of time that going back up to operating temperature only took a few seconds. "Unit 2 relight in six seconds." Hopefully, but she didn't say that out loud. Urged by Anselm's warnings, Vigdis rechecked her seatbelts, started the relight sequence and braced. Just three seconds after she did, the high-pitched whine returned to the formerly silent reactor, the engine tune had changed into a more familiar, continuous screech and the whole ship shifted upwards as if a massive hand grabbed it and gave it a boost from below. Any jubilation lasted about five seconds before being ended by an impact. The noise was horrible, the ship might have rolled, or it might've been just her imagination, she couldn't tell. Four years in space, she'd never been in an actual on board emergency, save minor ones. Vigdis couldn't tell how long it lasted, probably no more than 30 seconds, but it felt like an eternity. As soon as her head stopped spinning, she undid the straps and patted herself down to verify nothing was broken. Checking the manufacturer label on the seat, she made a mental note to purchase Martin-Baker stock once back home and stood up, stumbling before catching herself due to the floor's unexpected tilt. "You guys intact?"</s>

<|description|>Jonsdottir, Vigdis Species: Human (Venerian) SPACER Voice: Ashly Burch Age: 29 Height: 161 cm (5'3") Weight: 58 kg (128 lb) Misc. features: * Second degree burns on hands caused by exposure to coolant vapor. * Scarring on the left side of both lips and chin caused by fragments of exploding machinery. * Limp due to left ankle fracture. Augmentations: None. Occupation: Ship Engineer Skillset:* Strengths + Mechanical engineering - Material engineering being her speciality, Vigdis is nonetheless capable of performing a wide variety of disciplines related to ME up to and including design of new items from scratch. + Electrical engineering - Low or high voltage, from robotics to reactors, Vigdis remains competent and versatile through a wide range of EE disciplines, though somewhat behind full-time electricians. + Cooking - Vigdis picked up the ability to turn practically any set of ingredients or leftovers into a half-decent meal at the university, a skill she credits with retaining her sanity during those five years. * Weaknesses + Combat - Being a full-blown grease moneky, Vigdis only received basic training in both firearms and unarmed combat. + Coding - With her degree and training primary consisting of the "nuts and bolts" sort, she considers software to be dark arts. + Mobility Impairment - Despite corrective surgery, her ankle injury left her with a limp. While a nuisance in day-to-day, it slows her down noticebaly when running and she may require pain medication if strain is put on the injured ankle for too long. Backstory: Vigdis was born to a pilot and a teacher in the Venerain capital, Mariner. Spurred by her father, she steered her education toward science and engineering. Initially she regretted her decision as she got hit with biology and chemistry, but all doubt was dispersed when she first used a welder. Soldiering through the all-encompassing high school, Vigdis now had a clearly defined direction when selecting her university, obtaining her master's degree in material engineering at the age of 23. With unrest throughout Sol, Vigdis figured the military would be a good place to gain experience very quickly, entering with the rank of Specialist due to her degree. It was a good bet, as unrest throughout Sol meant a lot of damaged assets that needed to be recovered or repaired, a task Vigdis was assigned to. She spent the next four years cruising the inner Solar system between stricken ships aboard a Venerian salvage ship as part of the team getting them up and running if possible and breaking them down to be more easily towed to a scrapyard if not. Unfortunately, as is often with military and emergency services, the pay was not great, especially with the job leaving several permanent marks on her health, so by the time her EAS date came up, she already had a private sector job lined up, the Stavanger shipyard and spaceport offering a workteam supervisor position right out of the gate with some new project being commissioned. Day by day, she and her fellow workers watched the new ship grow under their hands. Once it had been finished, Vigdis was one of the technicians tasked with maintaining the Jotunheim while it was docked at Stavanger, continuing to lead the team responsible for hull and structural frame. She happened to be on board when the fighting started, performing routine checks of one of the airlocks and had simply decided she'd be safer and more useful if she stayed aboard, especially as the launch clock ticked down toward zero and the ship's actual engineer was still nowhere to be found. Equipment: The Jackal Spaceborne Personal Weapon is an electromagnetic 12 gauge semi-automatic shotgun fed from a detachable, eight-round box magazine. Designed for use on starships to minimize the risk of damaging sensitive equipment or breaching the hull, it can be easily used by inexperienced shooters as well as in microgravity thanks to its complex recoil damping system. Fitted with a two-point sling and a duckbill muzzle device that allows subcaliber AP darts to be fired normally, but directs anti-personnel flechettes into a horizontal line rather than a conventional spread. A six year old male Norwegian Forest Cat, officially on board for vermin control. In unofficial truth a 5 kg furry morale booster for every member of the crew possessing a standard-issue human soul.</s> <|message|>J'eon of Mythadia J'eon the Blacksmith J'eon sighed, the mightly glen shaking his head slowly. Was this not like what happened in the fifth voyage of the sailor? Perhaps his fellows were right to recommend him to pay a storyteller to hear this tale? "I, too, would like to avoid needless conflict, Castigator," he says. "So I shall take my leave." Holding his massive arms in front of him, palms open, he turns with a flick of his tail and heads past the soldiers into the clear air, paying no mind to the bits of animate metal. Hopefully the lesson to be learned would not come at too great a cost. --- Jack Mallory, X.O. Things were moving too fast. Why did their scout expose his position? Why did Eva decide to wake up now? "Captain," Jack says quietly, "Everyone has gotten agitated. I suggest we all go back inside the ship."</s> <|message|>Kareet of Arcaeda Unfortunately, there was quite a lot happening around them in such a short time. The arrival of more of the beings, "Humans", as they seemed to identify themselves, was not too worrying in itself. The Castigator had good reason to believe that the objects they were carrying were weapons, but again, that did not alarm Kareet. The Castigator's soldiers were armed as well, and it was only natural that they would show some degree of caution when meeting something new and unknown. But then, there was more movement across the room. Smaller beings, like insects, but clearly not natural. They were made from metal and moved on their own, and on top of all that, the armor that Kareet had observed earlier began to move as well. All of that coincided with the Castigator's soldiers alerting them of something approaching from outside. Perhaps the only thing that prevented the situation from escalating further was the fact that the metal insects did back away after a moment. For a few seconds, Kareet had her eyes on the moving armor. She took a few steps back, falling in line alongside Nellara. It was a subtle thing, but the way that Kareet fell into a proper defensive formation did seem reflexive. J'eon had made the decision to try to leave entirely. There was good reason to be afraid, she had to admit, but she could not give up. Not something like this. Being among the first on-site for a discovery such as this…there would never be another opportunity like it. It was worth the risk. "These things…golems, maybe? They have to have some sort of magic to be able to make such a thing." Kareet was growing increasingly frustrated by their inability to effectively communicate. She had a strong suspicion that much of this tension was the result of misunderstanding. These Humans were entirely new, their ways entirely foreign. What would be offensive from their perspective? Or threatening? "This fortress, it is their home. In this land, they have nowhere else to retreat to…let us be careful not to provoke them. We need to find some way to communicate. A Thought mage could bridge this gap. If we could get to Lenkik, we could requisition the services of one. Either convince the Humans to send one of them with us, or bring a Thought mage back here."</s> <|message|>Kolvar Stilmyst @13org @EliteCommander Kolvar Stilmyst Kolvar looked quite frustrated as things were starting to get a little chaotic. The situation could go south if one of them made any sudden movement. His body tensed up a little as more "Hoomans" came into the room. He was not confident that Shirik's fire show was much help in communicating with these aliens. While hearing them speaking to each other, obviously talking about them being in their flying ship. Kolvar opened his mouth trying to see if he can speak their language. "H…e…l…l…o…w…e…c…o…m…e…i…n…p…e…a…c…e." Of course, this would sound like gibberish to the hoomans. His efforts to try and communicate with the aliens would be utterly useless. Kolvar seemed to back away as the giant iron golem soon came into the room. The wandering scholar looked quite scared of the golem. "What in the god's name is that?" He pointed toward the golem with a clawed finger. "I could go and fetch a thought mage, I know of one that would be able to help us." He was now standing behind Nellara and Kareet. Making sure he was not in the line of fire from the hooman's weapons. Although he was not sure how to communicate this to the crewmembers. Nor would he be able to convince the others of his plan. "Perhaps the one named Vigdis could accompany me? Of course, if we can convince them to allow for such a thing." He suddenly took a few steps forward after gathering some courage, so now he was standing in front of the others. He pointed towards himself and then towards the hoomans, then pointing towards his mouth and his forehead. Using very crude non verbals cues to try and communicate with them. Tapping his head and then towards his mouth, before making a walking motion with two fingers before pointing towards both himself and the humans once again. Trying to convey the idea of one of them joining him to fetch someone who could read minds. "I could transform one of you and myself for faster travel to fetch a thought mage." He assumed Kareet or Nellara have access to a thought mage.</s>

<|message|>Jonsdottir, Vigdis In response to Mallory, Vigdis walked over to him to point out things visible from where he stood. "Start with the port aft wall corner. See how the remains of the wall were bent inward by a force pushing on the outside? Missile. Then along the floor, ceiling and fore corner, it's all bent outward. Shuttle. The way we rolled, if the hangar was hit hard enough, the whole thing would've sheared off, starting in the starboard dorsal or starboard fore corner where it joins the hull." She fired off what she could say for certain from a cursory glance, "That's what you get when you have something sticking out of the main hull like this, a design feature the company went forward with despite our objections." She couldn't help adding loud enough for Darnell to hear, "Looks like we got lucky though. I didn't see any signs of such damage when I was up on the outer hull. If you'd like, I could take off all this interior paneling and go over the beams with ultrasound to make sure, once it's airtight again. We could also have Wodan figure out the forces that had acted on the hangar from the acceleration measurements and check the strain against what the affected parts are rated for. Fortunately in our misfortune, with the long range dish torn off, the hangar isn't supporting as much weight as it was designed to, so we have a wider safety margin. As for why I haven't done it already, we were focusing on the parts of the ship that were immediately accessible and necessary for flight." She explained. 'If I thought the damn thing was gonna collapse, do you think I would be here trying to fix a hole in the wall?' Vigdis thought, but did not say out loud. And then it all started to disintegrate. It wasn't her fault, but Eva could hardly have picked a worse time to wake up and the locals had just gotten the same scare Nellara gave her. Why was she even sleeping in that thing anyway? "Human, human!" Vigdis gestured to the talking armor, "Stupid human, fuck's sake." She added in Eva's direction, perhaps a bit hypocritical since the only reason Nellara didn't have a hole in its chest was the fact that Vigdis' weapon had not been loaded when she entered the ship, before turning to the captain. "Too many people, way too many people and not enough communication." She said sternly, the last part while pointing outside to where the droids were spotted moving. It had been going rather well thus far, she was not getting gutted by one of these birds just because someone on this road trip can't work within a chain of command. It was that fucking merc who brought the suit on board, wasn't it? He was put in charge of security. In an attempt to salvage the situation outside, Vigdis pointed at herself, mimicked Kerchak's walking gesture and pointed outside. "Apologies, Nelly, someone out there needs his head examined." She said to Nellara before walking out as fast as she could without running and stood in front of one of the alien soldiers, literally placing herself between the droids and the soldier…'s lower two thirds. These birds were big. She waved her arms above her head to draw the attention of whoever was giving orders to the two droids and ran the back of her open palm along her throat once in a standardized 'engines stop' signal. Not ideal, but it would have to do.</s>

<|description|>Jonsdottir, Vigdis Species: Human (Venerian) SPACER Voice: Ashly Burch Age: 29 Height: 161 cm (5'3") Weight: 58 kg (128 lb) Misc. features: * Second degree burns on hands caused by exposure to coolant vapor. * Scarring on the left side of both lips and chin caused by fragments of exploding machinery. * Limp due to left ankle fracture. Augmentations: None. Occupation: Ship Engineer Skillset:* Strengths + Mechanical engineering - Material engineering being her speciality, Vigdis is nonetheless capable of performing a wide variety of disciplines related to ME up to and including design of new items from scratch. + Electrical engineering - Low or high voltage, from robotics to reactors, Vigdis remains competent and versatile through a wide range of EE disciplines, though somewhat behind full-time electricians. + Cooking - Vigdis picked up the ability to turn practically any set of ingredients or leftovers into a half-decent meal at the university, a skill she credits with retaining her sanity during those five years. * Weaknesses + Combat - Being a full-blown grease moneky, Vigdis only received basic training in both firearms and unarmed combat. + Coding - With her degree and training primary consisting of the "nuts and bolts" sort, she considers software to be dark arts. + Mobility Impairment - Despite corrective surgery, her ankle injury left her with a limp. While a nuisance in day-to-day, it slows her down noticebaly when running and she may require pain medication if strain is put on the injured ankle for too long. Backstory: Vigdis was born to a pilot and a teacher in the Venerain capital, Mariner. Spurred by her father, she steered her education toward science and engineering. Initially she regretted her decision as she got hit with biology and chemistry, but all doubt was dispersed when she first used a welder. Soldiering through the all-encompassing high school, Vigdis now had a clearly defined direction when selecting her university, obtaining her master's degree in material engineering at the age of 23. With unrest throughout Sol, Vigdis figured the military would be a good place to gain experience very quickly, entering with the rank of Specialist due to her degree. It was a good bet, as unrest throughout Sol meant a lot of damaged assets that needed to be recovered or repaired, a task Vigdis was assigned to. She spent the next four years cruising the inner Solar system between stricken ships aboard a Venerian salvage ship as part of the team getting them up and running if possible and breaking them down to be more easily towed to a scrapyard if not. Unfortunately, as is often with military and emergency services, the pay was not great, especially with the job leaving several permanent marks on her health, so by the time her EAS date came up, she already had a private sector job lined up, the Stavanger shipyard and spaceport offering a workteam supervisor position right out of the gate with some new project being commissioned. Day by day, she and her fellow workers watched the new ship grow under their hands. Once it had been finished, Vigdis was one of the technicians tasked with maintaining the Jotunheim while it was docked at Stavanger, continuing to lead the team responsible for hull and structural frame. She happened to be on board when the fighting started, performing routine checks of one of the airlocks and had simply decided she'd be safer and more useful if she stayed aboard, especially as the launch clock ticked down toward zero and the ship's actual engineer was still nowhere to be found. Equipment: The Jackal Spaceborne Personal Weapon is an electromagnetic 12 gauge semi-automatic shotgun fed from a detachable, eight-round box magazine. Designed for use on starships to minimize the risk of damaging sensitive equipment or breaching the hull, it can be easily used by inexperienced shooters as well as in microgravity thanks to its complex recoil damping system. Fitted with a two-point sling and a duckbill muzzle device that allows subcaliber AP darts to be fired normally, but directs anti-personnel flechettes into a horizontal line rather than a conventional spread. A six year old male Norwegian Forest Cat, officially on board for vermin control. In unofficial truth a 5 kg furry morale booster for every member of the crew possessing a standard-issue human soul.</s> <|message|>Kareet of Arcaeda Kareet of Arcaeda --- At first, Kareet was unsure of the approach that Castigator Nellara was taking. She moved up to the breach in the wall and took cover on one side, peering out only slightly to avoid exposing herself. She wondered if the Castigator was not overstepping her authority, as the Ascendancy would most certainly be interested in claiming this fortress. They would be interested in learning whatever they could about it, and as a bonus could provide ample protection for the Humans within. She was not sure that Nellara's superiors would agree with her guaranteeing them such unrestricted independence. However, Kareet also was not blind to the complex, and frankly irritating, politics surrounding this situation. As much as she hated to admit it, they were right on the border to Mythadia. As far as she knew, there were no precisely defined borders in this region. They could talk about who had the "right" to the land all they wanted, but ultimately, that right would lie with whoever could enforce their claim. This was a prize that was worth fighting for, but the Ascendancy had been involved for years with a territorial dispute with the S'tor over the Sovereignty to the north. Mythadia and Acanata, for all their flaws, were still a powerful force to be reckoned with. The Ascendancy would have to commit substantial forces to have a hope of challenging them, and if that happened, they would not be able to stop the S'tor from claiming everything they wanted. Of course, the Glen were also in a similar situation. There were other S'tor nations farther west on Mythadia's northern border that would not hesitate to jump on the opportunity if the majority of Mythadia's forces were tied up in a war in the east. In the end, only the S'tor would benefit from this escalating too far. No, war simply would not do. With the Humans caught in the middle, it could end up with neither nation being able to learn anything at all from the crash. There was no greater tragedy Kareet could imagine than that. Perhaps the Castigator was right? The Humans themselves could be the difference-maker here. This Jotunheim was theirs, and they clearly had capabilities beyond their understanding. If they could not bring armies in so close to Mythadia, perhaps diplomacy would yield better results? They could be helpful and polite to the Humans, make a show of respecting their independence, and gain their favor. It might make it more difficult to gain some secrets that they would rather hold close, but something was better than nothing, and "nothing" would be exactly what they would get for as long as they remained in a standoff with Mythadia. Cautiously, Kareet stepped up alongside Nellara. "We have a choke point here, Castigator." She said softly, gesturing to the hole in the wall. "And several mages as force multipliers. But we shouldn't fight them if we can help it, and certainly shouldn't make the first attack. Too risky. Your approach may be the right one. We need to find a way to get the support of the Humans here. I suggest we send for a Thought mage as soon as we can. Perhaps invite this Silbermine to parley? At least something to buy time until we can communicate properly with the Humans."</s> <|message|>J'eon of Mythadia J'eon the Blacksmith "I had thought the people of Mythadia to have honor," J'eon said somberly. "Yet here I stand, listening as House Silbermine makes claims on this temple of the Sky People. Is this what you call respect? For I find it sorely lacking!" --- Jack Mallory, X.O. Ow. Ow. Ow. "Captain, we may only get one shot with this," Jack warns, his voice rasping through the mask's diaphragm. "If that bird-creature can move metal, one might be able to bend our beam, possibly use it against us." He heads to the airlock, keying it open so he can step inside before it was half-way open, then closing the hanger-side door in the hope of keeping the locals outside. "This is what happens when you don't establish boundaries," he mutters. One doesn't tell a being who can move metal at will that you shoot metal bullets out of a gun like it's show and tell. Cycling the inner lock, he stepped through and glared at the box of pens. "Get armed up, people! We may have a fight on our hands," he says, heading towards the bridge. "Wodan!" Jack called out as he stepped into the bridge. "Status on the meteor gun, stat!"</s> <|message|>Kareet of Arcaeda Wodan --- Perched up on one of the consoles near to Jack, a hologram of a crow appeared in his view. Naturally, Wodan was monitoring every detail of what was transpiring as best as he could, so there was no need to reiterate Zey's orders. "The Jotunheim's cannon is responding and is currently operational, but I must advise caution in its use. It can be rotated and aimed with minimal consequence, but it is an energy-intensive magnetic accelerator weapon, and we are operating on auxiliary power. To put simply, every single shot could take one to two weeks off of our batteries' remaining power. Explosive shells could be fired at lower power for more manageable energy drain, but are dangerous to use in close proximity to the ship."</s> <|message|>Kolvar Stilmyst @Expendable @EliteCommander Kolvar Stilmyst Kolvar threw his hands up in frustration. He was becoming incredibly annoyed that everyone was trying to claim the ship for their own. I guess he was no different, but really he just wanted to learn more about these foreigners. "I think we should help these strangers first before we move forward with annexing this ship."His eyes looked over toward both Silbermine. Turning his attention toward Kareet. "I would greatly appreciate it if you could help me translate to them if they need any help with injured crew members." He would rather gain their trust and learn of any valuable information these people may have. Using his life mage would be indeed useful to gaining their trust. Kolvar was tapping his clawed hand onto his head, trying to fight off an impending migraine. "Let us not break into an all out war. I am sure can resolve this issue without an incident. First, I need to fetch a thought mage, so these strangers can communicate with us. Although I am afraid if I leave chaos will ensue." "And I do not wish to fight anyone. So if you excuse me i have work to do." He said motioning for Kareet to follow him inside the ship.</s> <|message|>Evangeline Edwards "Eva! What is the status of your mech? Can we have you looking big and mean and mobile in the next ninety seconds? If so, let's do that NOW please. Otherwise go grab a weapon from the armoury." "Suit is operational in all regards, though she won't be making any long journeys until I finish some minor repairs. None of that will matter in the short term though." Eva moved swiftly, sliding into place in the Javelin as she gently clicked her tongue, a habit she picked up anytime she activated her bots. The drones stood faster than before, keeping close her as the Javelin rose back to it's full height and Eva stepped forward, flanked by her little swarm. Eva moved to stand directly between the humans and their guests, the little bots sparking in warning at any of their guests that decided to wander too far into the ship. "Paladin up and alert, SEU are set to guard for anybody getting a bit too curious. If you need one of them past the line I suggest you make sure they stay close to one of ours."</s>

<|message|>Jonsdottir, Vigdis That had to have been the most awkward handshake in the history of two homeworlds. She was this close to giving up when Nellara finally made up her mind. "Friends. Not foes." Vigdis confirmed with a nod and a shake of her head accompanying the respective positive and negative statements, delighted and relieved that it had worked. The fact that shaking one's head for 'no' was the same, or at least she was reasonably certain, made things a bit easier even further. Having greasy substances on her hands was fortunately nothing strange to the engineer, so she resisted the impulse to wipe her hand off easily. Let's not offend the 'Not Foes. Friends?' by giving the impression one found them filthy. But all good things must come to an end, as was evidently true even in this system. "Shaking hands has been working great so far, Captain, none of us have been eaten yet." Vigdis shrugged when the doom clock started ticking again, "I would guess they're not their friends, since we don't yet have any friends here." Her latest exchange with Nellara still didn't mean anything. Yes, they both expressed the desire to avoid fighting, but until they learned to communicate, no one could say they were friends. In order to communicate, they would either need one of their… what, interpreters? Mind readers? Either that, or Wodan. In order for Wodan to decipher a full language in a reasonable time frame, he'd need to be running at full capacity. In order to get Wodan to 100%, at least one reactor would have to be restarted. In order to restart at least one reactor, they'd need more power. And in order to get more power, they'd need to communicate with the locals. "If you want to know which faction to trust, in my humble opinion the people who showed up in force and formed a phalanx are the wrong choice." "Not friends? Not foes? Neutral." She pointed outside, trying to get some sort of answer out of any of the locals that hadn't yet run outside. "They are neutral?" What she saw when she looked out didn't fill her with much hope for a peaceful resolution. She'd seen enough fantasy movies to know where this was going. A knight riding out in front of his ranks to address the men before a charge. "Hey, someone who's going into the armory, bring me a helmet and plate carrier, I wear a medium. Eva," So that was the power armor operator's name, she'd been meaning to ask for three days but circumstances said 'no', ",could you give me a hand with this?" Vigdis called out as she undid the straps around some of the crates that hadn't been torn free by the crash. Bracing her shoulder against one and pushing with her healthy foot, she moved the box across the shuttle bay into its port side fore corner, trying to set up a barrier to further narrow down the entry point.</s>

<|description|>Jonsdottir, Vigdis Species: Human (Venerian) SPACER Voice: Ashly Burch Age: 29 Height: 161 cm (5'3") Weight: 58 kg (128 lb) Misc. features: * Second degree burns on hands caused by exposure to coolant vapor. * Scarring on the left side of both lips and chin caused by fragments of exploding machinery. * Limp due to left ankle fracture. Augmentations: None. Occupation: Ship Engineer Skillset:* Strengths + Mechanical engineering - Material engineering being her speciality, Vigdis is nonetheless capable of performing a wide variety of disciplines related to ME up to and including design of new items from scratch. + Electrical engineering - Low or high voltage, from robotics to reactors, Vigdis remains competent and versatile through a wide range of EE disciplines, though somewhat behind full-time electricians. + Cooking - Vigdis picked up the ability to turn practically any set of ingredients or leftovers into a half-decent meal at the university, a skill she credits with retaining her sanity during those five years. * Weaknesses + Combat - Being a full-blown grease moneky, Vigdis only received basic training in both firearms and unarmed combat. + Coding - With her degree and training primary consisting of the "nuts and bolts" sort, she considers software to be dark arts. + Mobility Impairment - Despite corrective surgery, her ankle injury left her with a limp. While a nuisance in day-to-day, it slows her down noticebaly when running and she may require pain medication if strain is put on the injured ankle for too long. Backstory: Vigdis was born to a pilot and a teacher in the Venerain capital, Mariner. Spurred by her father, she steered her education toward science and engineering. Initially she regretted her decision as she got hit with biology and chemistry, but all doubt was dispersed when she first used a welder. Soldiering through the all-encompassing high school, Vigdis now had a clearly defined direction when selecting her university, obtaining her master's degree in material engineering at the age of 23. With unrest throughout Sol, Vigdis figured the military would be a good place to gain experience very quickly, entering with the rank of Specialist due to her degree. It was a good bet, as unrest throughout Sol meant a lot of damaged assets that needed to be recovered or repaired, a task Vigdis was assigned to. She spent the next four years cruising the inner Solar system between stricken ships aboard a Venerian salvage ship as part of the team getting them up and running if possible and breaking them down to be more easily towed to a scrapyard if not. Unfortunately, as is often with military and emergency services, the pay was not great, especially with the job leaving several permanent marks on her health, so by the time her EAS date came up, she already had a private sector job lined up, the Stavanger shipyard and spaceport offering a workteam supervisor position right out of the gate with some new project being commissioned. Day by day, she and her fellow workers watched the new ship grow under their hands. Once it had been finished, Vigdis was one of the technicians tasked with maintaining the Jotunheim while it was docked at Stavanger, continuing to lead the team responsible for hull and structural frame. She happened to be on board when the fighting started, performing routine checks of one of the airlocks and had simply decided she'd be safer and more useful if she stayed aboard, especially as the launch clock ticked down toward zero and the ship's actual engineer was still nowhere to be found. Equipment: The Jackal Spaceborne Personal Weapon is an electromagnetic 12 gauge semi-automatic shotgun fed from a detachable, eight-round box magazine. Designed for use on starships to minimize the risk of damaging sensitive equipment or breaching the hull, it can be easily used by inexperienced shooters as well as in microgravity thanks to its complex recoil damping system. Fitted with a two-point sling and a duckbill muzzle device that allows subcaliber AP darts to be fired normally, but directs anti-personnel flechettes into a horizontal line rather than a conventional spread. A six year old male Norwegian Forest Cat, officially on board for vermin control. In unofficial truth a 5 kg furry morale booster for every member of the crew possessing a standard-issue human soul.</s> <|message|>Dr. Itxaro Ibarra "Trouble with the locals. There's locals, by the way," Itxaro replied quickly, just barely concealing the contempt in her voice. She didn't care much for Feng. She'd settled on this long before meeting the doctor, making an easy judgment based on the short dossier provided to her by Tamerlane. She sympathized with veterans of imperialist nations, believing capitalist states exploited the poor and downtrodden to fulfill their greedy ambitions. Rich elites were less worthy of sympathy in her eyes, but she understood that people couldn't choose what conditions they were born into. A wealthy scion like Feng willingly joining the military, however, reeked of bourgeois adventurism to Itxaro, and she held him in disdain for this perceived crime. Itxaro knew it was wrong to condemn so quickly. She didn't know life outside of the USASR, the societal pressures, the cultural differences. But it was easier to assume the wealthy were just public thieves picking the pockets of everyone who had a pocket, soldiers were unwitting pawns in a stupid game that chewed them up in pointless conquests, and a rich man serving in the military was seeking cheap thrills at the cost of human lives. Her mind could be changed, but not very easily. "Vamos, let's go." As Itxaro guided Feng through the Jotunheim's belly, the fear began rising in hers. Dread, panic, and excitement were all coursing through her, forming a terrible cocktail that she knew could make her lose control. She took a deep breath and swallowed to push it back down, which seemed to keep it in check. She felt like a flailing live wire coursing with electricity, and the rush both terrified and energized her. It was almost fun in a demented, exhilarating way, but the weight of the gun in her hand brought Itxaro back to reality. She shook her head violently as if to expel the fear and pressed on. The shuttle bay airlock cycled and a group of armed crew rushed out, Itxaro and Feng among the surge. Itxaro abandoned the doctor and sought out Eva and Vigdis, who were constructing a makeshift barricade from loose cargo. Although the two women were smaller than her, their presence made Itxaro feel safe; probably something to do with their military experience, and Eva's hulking Javelin didn't hurt either. "I brought the welcoming committee. Everyone but Fritjof," Itxaro said to the pair, gesturing to the new armed arrivals as she handed Vigdis a helmet, plate carrier, and spare magazines for her Jackal. Itxaro had years of practice masking her emotions, but worry was beginning to creep into her eyes. She quickly set to work, helping construct the makeshift barricade while wondering how to make it a defendable position. We can hurtle through space faster than the speed of light, and boxes are the best we could come up with. Fuck it. As Itxaro was struggling to push a heavy box, she looked up to see Zey stride out through the hull breach, looking cool and collected. Itxaro stopped mid-shove to watch her in shock before looking to the others. "Ehhh, should we follow her?" Itxaro didn't love the idea of meeting angry natives outside the ship, but she was beginning to relish every interaction with the aliens and didn't want to miss out. Also, Itxaro didn't want their commander cut down by a legion of swordsmen. That would be bad.</s> <|message|>Kareet of Arcaeda Kareet of Arcaeda --- Kareet, through this entire ordeal, was essentially staying in Nellara's shadow. She was visible, but hopefully out of notice compared to the Castigator. Being that they were going to speak with this Glen, she could not see from outside how exactly the Humans were responding to these new arrivals. They had conveyed, hopefully, that these Glen were not friends, though it was admittedly more complicated than just saying they were enemies. Mythadia and the Ascendancy were not at war, and strictly speaking had "friendly" relations. They engaged in trade and carried out diplomatic exchanges. However, one would have to be quite native not to notice the rivalry beneath the peaceful facade. The Ascendancy had never come into violent conflict with their neighbor to the west, but their was an ideological conflict between them. Mythadia was a relic of an age already past, and by the Archmagister's teaching, not one that was evolving towards a new future. They did not need to be enemies, but the Ascendancy would not let anyone stand in the way of progress. This new development, though, the arrival of the Humans…it had the potential to upset the balance between them. Even if it did not lead to war, neither side was going to give up on this. Of that, Kareet was certain. Kareet spoke softly to Nellara just beside her. "They aren't going to be able to speak to the Humans any more easily than we are. Still, if they know this place is occupied and they won't have just us to deal with, that might temper their expectations of claiming this place. We should choose a place outside, in view of the fortress. Maybe try to make it clear to the Humans somehow that we are negotiating? It would be helpful if they joined us. Trying to negotiate without a language in common could take all day; that would buy us some time…" Glancing back upon hearing some shouting, Kareet spotted a Human leaving the ship. It seemed they had already decided to get involved. --- High District, Lenkik --- Kerchek clearly had Gar'Tan's undivided attention as he described their visitors. He hummed to himself and paused for just a few moments for more tea. "Scaleless, hairless outsiders in a land that is not their own, surrounded by unknown people to whom they cannot speak. I would be frightened too. In a situation such as this, I imagine you will want us to fly back as quickly as possible to meet with them, yes?" The soldier, Baraw, gave a nod. "That would be preferred, yes. Castigator Nellara wants a Thought mage on-site as soon as possible." Gar'Tan gave a quick glance back at the pair of Inquisitors standing behind him. "I imagine the Inquisitors have the same thing in mind. Once they have made their preparations, I think we will be leaving as soon as possible. If representatives from Mythadia have arrived as well, I do imagine this situation could get uncomfortably complicated. Ah, but I have been rude, haven't I? Neglecting the guests I have right in front of me. Please, have a seat. Would you like some tea?"</s>

<|message|>Jonsdottir, Vigdis Within the four minutes given by the Captain, there was a line of boxes across the hole in the wall, leaving a gap about 80 centimeters wide for people to enter and exit the hangar. Good luck fitting in there, Rudolph. The ancient Romans wouldn't have looked at their improvised fortification twice, but given the time and resources available, she was proud of it. It was around that time that Ixtaro brought the requested vest and helmet, along with some bonus ammo. Nice. Let's hope that carrying that was just wasted effort. Looking up at Ixtaro as the woman spoke, Vigdis noted something in her eyes and voice that was commonly seen among people who were thrown into a situation they had little control over and weren't yet used to it. She'd seen it at the academy when EVA instructors in the vac chamber released the air from their suits in an unguarded moment, in rookie technicians the first few times they had to board an unstable wreck… She probably looked like that when the bullets started flying in Stavanger three days ago. She turned to the time-tested method of dissipating some of these worries: A bad joke. "Had a feeling these vermin might be too big for him. He'd still try, given a chance, believe that." Vigdis said in reference to Fritjof as she put on the provided equipment, noting the Captain leaving the safety of the hangar simply as another weird thing that was happening that made no sense to her. "Fuck no. If she wants to get stabbed or trampled, that's her choice, I'm staying here." Vigdis answered the Cuban's question and banged on the crate she was crouched behind with her fist, the sign on the side identifying its content as electrolytic iron powder. At that moment, Vigdis had to laugh. Her brain was still thinking in terms of human weaponry, where a crate filled with iron powder would've been adequate cover. Against arrows and crossbow bolts, it was as if they'd gotten the shield running again. As for magic, a decade of tabletop gaming had taught her there was no way to truly prepare for magic and they'd have to roll with the punches, assuming they survived the first one. "What do you think they're saying?" She shared her curiosity as she reorganized the magazines in her pouches to keep the armor piercing darts on hand, figuring they'll be more useful at range and against armor than flechettes. If it came to the worst, assuming everyone could pull the trigger, she guessed the 23 ponies would be worm food before they got halfway, barring any magical protection. Or their mage would send a 20-foot radius Fireball into the shuttle bay and call it a day. Not great odds, but better a medieval cavalry platoon than a contemporary cavalry platoon. Then she got an idea. After all, they had their own brand of magic. "Chief, Vigdis." She called Zhao, "How quickly can you reduce O2 content inside down to 19,5% if it turns ugly out here and the locals force their way inside? If they're used to breathing 29%, such a drop would hit them like a ton of bricks, assuming airtightness to allow this." She didn't tell the Captain or the XO yet, confident that if it was possible, Zhao would notify them of that option herself and if it wasn't, then there was no need to bother them with it.</s>

<|description|>Jonsdottir, Vigdis Species: Human (Venerian) SPACER Voice: Ashly Burch Age: 29 Height: 161 cm (5'3") Weight: 58 kg (128 lb) Misc. features: * Second degree burns on hands caused by exposure to coolant vapor. * Scarring on the left side of both lips and chin caused by fragments of exploding machinery. * Limp due to left ankle fracture. Augmentations: None. Occupation: Ship Engineer Skillset:* Strengths + Mechanical engineering - Material engineering being her speciality, Vigdis is nonetheless capable of performing a wide variety of disciplines related to ME up to and including design of new items from scratch. + Electrical engineering - Low or high voltage, from robotics to reactors, Vigdis remains competent and versatile through a wide range of EE disciplines, though somewhat behind full-time electricians. + Cooking - Vigdis picked up the ability to turn practically any set of ingredients or leftovers into a half-decent meal at the university, a skill she credits with retaining her sanity during those five years. * Weaknesses + Combat - Being a full-blown grease moneky, Vigdis only received basic training in both firearms and unarmed combat. + Coding - With her degree and training primary consisting of the "nuts and bolts" sort, she considers software to be dark arts. + Mobility Impairment - Despite corrective surgery, her ankle injury left her with a limp. While a nuisance in day-to-day, it slows her down noticebaly when running and she may require pain medication if strain is put on the injured ankle for too long. Backstory: Vigdis was born to a pilot and a teacher in the Venerain capital, Mariner. Spurred by her father, she steered her education toward science and engineering. Initially she regretted her decision as she got hit with biology and chemistry, but all doubt was dispersed when she first used a welder. Soldiering through the all-encompassing high school, Vigdis now had a clearly defined direction when selecting her university, obtaining her master's degree in material engineering at the age of 23. With unrest throughout Sol, Vigdis figured the military would be a good place to gain experience very quickly, entering with the rank of Specialist due to her degree. It was a good bet, as unrest throughout Sol meant a lot of damaged assets that needed to be recovered or repaired, a task Vigdis was assigned to. She spent the next four years cruising the inner Solar system between stricken ships aboard a Venerian salvage ship as part of the team getting them up and running if possible and breaking them down to be more easily towed to a scrapyard if not. Unfortunately, as is often with military and emergency services, the pay was not great, especially with the job leaving several permanent marks on her health, so by the time her EAS date came up, she already had a private sector job lined up, the Stavanger shipyard and spaceport offering a workteam supervisor position right out of the gate with some new project being commissioned. Day by day, she and her fellow workers watched the new ship grow under their hands. Once it had been finished, Vigdis was one of the technicians tasked with maintaining the Jotunheim while it was docked at Stavanger, continuing to lead the team responsible for hull and structural frame. She happened to be on board when the fighting started, performing routine checks of one of the airlocks and had simply decided she'd be safer and more useful if she stayed aboard, especially as the launch clock ticked down toward zero and the ship's actual engineer was still nowhere to be found. Equipment: The Jackal Spaceborne Personal Weapon is an electromagnetic 12 gauge semi-automatic shotgun fed from a detachable, eight-round box magazine. Designed for use on starships to minimize the risk of damaging sensitive equipment or breaching the hull, it can be easily used by inexperienced shooters as well as in microgravity thanks to its complex recoil damping system. Fitted with a two-point sling and a duckbill muzzle device that allows subcaliber AP darts to be fired normally, but directs anti-personnel flechettes into a horizontal line rather than a conventional spread. A six year old male Norwegian Forest Cat, officially on board for vermin control. In unofficial truth a 5 kg furry morale booster for every member of the crew possessing a standard-issue human soul.</s> <|message|>J'eon of Mythadia J'eon the Blacksmith "A lord commands respect by acting honorable," J'eon rumbles, feeling his shoulders tense as he stares down at Silbermine. "One who comes as a thief to take what belongs to another without just cause is not worthy of respect." Would his cart remain unmolested? he wondered. Or would his men seek revenge for his slight? Since the day he was stolen from his family and enslaved, he never trusted a thief. There was no reason to start now.</s> <|message|>Kareet of Arcaeda Kareet of Arcaeda --- In general, Kareet preferred staying out of notice, though the approach of two of the Humans did make the situation that much more complicated. Getting them all trying to communicate with one another could buy them considerable time, but doing so out here in the open, with soldiers nearby and tensions high, seemed volatile. Even if Kareet or Nellara were not blamed for it, violent conflict could delay Kareet in being able to study the Humans properly. She found herself stepping up closer to Zey when the Humans reached them, not enough to crowd them, but enough that she could react if bows were drawn. "They do not share a language with us, Silbermine. They are not going to have any idea of what you are saying." Kareet chimed in. While J'eon was hardly helping matters in terms of diffusing the situation, Kareet did take note of what he was saying. They had only been companions by circumstance, so it was useful for her that he was clear on where he stood.</s> <|message|>Dr. Itxaro Ibarra Itxaro and Zey made the long walk to meet the new arrivals. The landscape was nothing new to the engineer, but she took it in with eager eyes nonetheless; there was nothing like this untamed wilderness left on Earth, unmarred by human touch. Aside from the scorched grass crumbling in the wind, it felt pure. As the two strode down the steep hill, electricity crept up Itxaro's spine. Not fear this time, but excitement. She felt like a medieval knight, seeking to parley with her enemies on the battlefield to prevent Christian blood from being spilled. Then again, she wasn't Christian, and she was fairly certain the Glen weren't either. All the same, she hoped to avert conflict. As they approached, Nellara held up a hand to the two. "Wait. Enemies." The commander breezed past her though, and Itxaro followed, giving the Castigator an exaggerated shrug. She knew Zey was right, though. They might be Nellara's enemies, but the humans didn't need to share that animosity. For all we know, our new friends aboard the Jotunheim might be thieves and killers. She doubted this, but they had barely exchanged thirty words, all told. Not nearly enough to know them, or their intentions. No, it was best to see all the angles before planting their flag on any side. The two women stood before the Glen, the equine warriors towering over them like fabled storybook beasts. Itxaro didn't often look up to meet another's gaze, but had to quite often with the giant inhabitants of this planet. The air was thick with tension, and she knew one wrong move from any party could end in bloodshed. Already the natives were speaking to each other in raised tones; Itxaro absently wondered how they could even understand each other, their voices so different. Kareet closed in behind her, and she wasn't sure whether to feel reassured or threatened by their hovering presence and blood-red eyes, so Itxaro chose the former. Then, the Glen at the head of the group stepped forward. Itxaro understood this Glen was important, or at least thought he was important. His armor and weaponry were both brilliant, and Itxaro couldn't help but admire the craftsmanship. He addressed the two humans in a lengthy introduction. Itxaro had no idea what he said, and she assumed the Glen knew this. Perhaps it was just tradition, like the gesture he performed. It was a stark contrast from the rocky meeting with the first group, instead a greeting practiced and honed over a lifetime at a royal court. From the emphasis placed on the word, Itxaro guessed his name was Silbermine. Not wanting to offend or disappoint, Itxaro stepped forward before her commander tore the gun from her belt and let daylight shine through his shining breastplate. "Hail and well met, sir Silbermine of the Glen," Itxaro began, returning his gesture, "I am Dr. Itxaro Ibarra, of the United South American Socialist Republic of Earth. This," she continued, flourishing a hand towards Zey, "is our leader, Commander Zeynap Kadıoğlu of the Jotunheim." Itxaro spoke in Spanish, but any native words she was able to pepper in were pronounced with an Iriad or Tekeri accent. "We thank you for your hospitality, and we hope to become your friends with these gifts." She provided the three nearest to her with simple, engraved metal pens, favoring her organic hand. The pens disappeared into the metal gauntlets, so she took this as a good sign. Aside from a few choice words, Itxaro knew the Glen wouldn't understand any of it; to anyone in the crowd who could understand it, the reply's content was ridiculous. But it was the manner in which she spoke, with confidence and regal cadence, that was important. If Silbermaine was considered nobility, then it would be prudent to meet him at a similar level. "I hope that we can become great allies. If not, we will glass your continent from orbit and render it uninhabitable for ten thousand years," she finished reverently in her native tongue, with a slight bow for good measure. Itxaro glanced at her commander. "What? They might know Spanish. Doesn't hurt to try," Itxaro offered as a quiet aside as she waited for the Glen's response. She could feel the eyes on her, but she didn't waver under their gaze.</s>

<|message|>Jonsdottir, Vigdis "Iba- wait!" Vigdis tried to grab the Cuban engineer's wrist, but didn't react quick enough, "If something happens to you, none of us are getting back to Sol!" She shouted after Ixtaro. Vigdis, Zhao and Varen could to a degree do each other's jobs, so from a purely resource-management point of view losing one of them wasn't that big of a deal, but figuring out what went wrong with the FTL drive and how to get it to behave was critical. She wasn't gonna live out the rest of her days neither here nor during the centuries-long sublight journey home. "If she dies, I'm gonna kill her." Vigdis growled under her breath, thinking that maybe she should've let Ixtaro be scared. Too late to fix that, but despite the necessity of Ixtaro's survival, Vigdis couldn't find the courage - perhaps madness - to go out and drag her back. She hoped Eva would. "We're holding a choke point, they've got Ezra and the two droids in their backs, and we've got Eva. We'll be fine. Why don't you post up over there?" She tried to reassure Darnell and pointed to the other side of the barricade, formulating it as a suggestion rather than an order to try to get around his combative attitude, "The farther apart we are, the fewer of us they'll take down with a single area attack." While spacing was a good thing to do, she mainly just wanted to get the tipsy corporate drone out of immediate earshot before responding to Zhao, since technically passing any information to people inside might've been considered insubordination since neither of the officers explicitly allowed it. "Actually, hold that thought, the captain just walked up to one of them. They're huge, no way they can maneuver well inside. If they breach, just park two armed sentries in the hallway and wait for them to come to you like Lemmings." Zhao would've noticed Vigdis suddenly sounded a bit more relaxed, "Doctor, come here for a second. I don't know how much you know, so from the start: Bumped into a bunch of local birdfolk, a centaur and a burning tree-man." She said to bring both Feng and Zhao up to speed, hopefully without Darnell noticing her mic was open, "We started communicating, kind of, but they seemed friendly. But then a bunch more centaurs showed up, and these guys are loaded for bear. They've been yelling at each other in Alienese for the past five minutes now, and now the captain and Ibarra are within stabbing distance. Promise not to laugh at me, but some of the locals are fucking sorcerers. I tried to find a better explanation for what I was seeing, but I've got nothing." The thought of magic was absurd enough on its own, but seemed to be doubly so in the world of engineering, where if you couldn't model it mathematically, it didn't count.</s>

<|description|>Kareet of Arcaeda Species: Tekeri Appearance: Kareet appears fairly average, compared to most Tekeri. She has deep black, generally well-kept feathers and stands at about 6'11". Like all Tekeri, she naturally stands with something of a hunched posture, which, along with her serrated beak, sharp talons, and four piercing red eyes, would give her a rather feral, monstrous appearance to a Human observer. At first impressions, all that might set her apart from an animal would be her unusually clean feathers and polished beak. Magical Affiliation: Lightning Domain Proficiency Occupation: Seeker of the Order of Sages Key Skills: Engineering, Wilderness survival, Combat magic training Backstory: Kareet's early childhood was, in its entirety, unremarkable. 'Kareet' was not her original name, as the original was left behind with her former life. She was hatched to a peasant family in the lowest rungs of Arcaeda, but she was in her seventh year when her fate shifted. In Arcaeda, per the decree of the Archmagister, all children must receive at least one year of magical education, provided by the state. With the Archmagister's vision of Arcaeda as a modern city with magic at its core, the education primarily serves to ensure that every citizen knows what to expect of magic in the city, and how to efficiently work around it. However, it also serves a secondary purpose. In most species, children are more easily able to awaken to magic than adults, so these classes have allowed the city to expand its number of magic-capable citizens. While the majority of children each year are unable to use magic, a small percentage, like Kareet, experience their awakenings, which then necessitates that the child must be trained in the usage of magic. In the event that the child belongs to a family that is unable to facilitate that training, then the state invokes what is called the "Law of Correction" to claim guardianship over the child. For Kareet, it meant being removed from the care of her former family and adopted officially by the Order of Magisters. While the Law of Correction can be contested, few ever attempt it, either because they recognize their child would have far greater opportunities in life with magical training, or because they are afraid of being unable to do what would be required to successfully challenge it. Kareet does not know her birth parents' reasons, nor has she ever cared. Kareet was raised, by and large, by the Order of Magisters, which afforded her a proper education, including writing, logic, and mathematics, as well as training in forms of magic for which she had an affinity. For Kareet, that was the Lightning Domain. For youth trained by the Order of Magisters, their instruction encompassed the core skills of their chosen magic for most known applications, military and civilian. Kareet learned of how the Ascendancy had come to use her Domain, primarily magnetism, in construction and engineering, as well as receiving appropriate training in combat magic. Magister's training provided a strong base for Kareet's knowledge of her Domain. To continue with the Order of Magisters would have brought her along the path of a battlemage to learn more of military tactics and improve her ability in "battlefield" magic. However, her interests brought her instead to transfer to the Order of Sages upon her graduation; not an uncommon choice, for the more academically inclined. Over half of the mages within the Order of Sages were, at one point, members of the Order of Magisters. Within the Ascendancy, the purview of the Order of Sages is the accumulation and advancement of all knowledge, magical and non-magical. It is the combination of both which drives Kareet. While she certainly still seeks to improve her magical prowess, she finds herself intrigued by the concept of how magic and invention can be combined. For her trial of proving, she traveled beyond the Ascendancy, spending time in the settlements of several nations, from the capital of Mythadia itself, to remote settlements small enough not to appear on most maps. She made a particular effort to immerse herself in the practices of magic from other cultures. The Sages taught that all knowledge was worth collecting, regardless of origin. Upon her return to Arcaeda, Kareet worked to make her contribution to the Sages' collective knowledge. Simply returning with something unique that was not part of their records, even if it was minor, would have been sufficient for her trial, but she did not wish to settle for sufficient with the mark she would make. Over about a year, she worked on concepts and designs that incorporated the capabilities of magic into her knowledge of engineering. Eventually, it was a device she had witnessed in Mythadia that inspired her own creation. Force mages were commonly used in many parts of the world to aid in construction, but she had observed a kind of elevator for lifting huge stones that used pulleys operated by a series of metal gears. A lightning mage needed only to turn a single gear to operate the elevator, which could hoist stones heavy enough to normally require several force mages to move. After working through a few concepts, Kareet managed to apply that idea to a siege engine. The idea of using mages to operate more powerful siege engines was nothing new, but Kareet focused on achieving that power more efficiently. Her final prototype was a ballista that used a similar gear and pulley system that a single lightning mage could operate, which was just as powerful as similar weapons that usually required multiple force mages. At present, Kareet has been granted the rank of Seeker within the Order of Sages, in light of her skills and interests. Seekers are generally the more independent and combat-capable of the order's members who specialize in the search for knowledge, regardless of the dangers that may be required to obtain it.</s> <|message|>J'eon of Mythadia J'eon sighs as he put down his bowl and spoon. His simple meal of stewed mashed grains with a dash of liquor he had picked up in Ertiseda was now a warm lump in his first stomach that was slowly spreading. The small pit fire cast was little more than embers now and well-screened from the road, the cart and camp hidden under a few boughs of leaves from prying eyes. Not that he expected company on this rather desolate track that would take him by a few of the farms. If he was lucky, he might find the very thing he sought.... It appeared suddenly, a fireball of light launched to the heavens, its brilliance robbing him of his night vision so that all he could see was splotches of color that burned and blurred, so he buried his face in his hands, massaging them. All around him, even the tiniest of insects were still, but when he looks up, he could see the fireflies had risen, like sparks from a massive fire, all around, giving tribute the only way they could to the brightest light this night. "What was that?" he asks, in a voice as soft as a whisper as he continued looking in the direction of the light, but it did not rise skyward again. There was a faint glow in that direction, miles ahead. Without taking his eyes off the spot, his right foreleg rakes the dirt back into the pit, extinguishing the flames. Whoever had sent that light aloft had announced their presence for miles, there was no need to announce himself. If it repeated, he might have to think someone was in distress...</s> <|message|>Kareet of Arcaeda The sun had only set an hour or so prior, so there was still plenty of night left for Kareet and Shirik to travel. Kareet had made all the notes she could for the moment, so she had no reason to hold up the start of this journey. Arcaeda was quite far, and depending on the path they chose, it could be weeks before they reached the capital. Internally, Kareet was hoping that nothing might happen that could make Shirik change their mind on their plans. This Iriad was an entirely unique being, and just the historical insights alone they could provide would be of immense value. They claimed to have experience an awakening centuries before the fall of the Kolodon Empire. Admittedly, Kareet was still skeptical, but if that could somehow be confirmed, that would challenge some established notions on the nature of magic and its history in Kanth-Aremek. The prestige that unearthing such a discovery would bring to a Seeker would make her a household name in the Ascendancy. Or even beyond, in some circles. The pair of them, however, had not managed to get all the way back to the town when they heard an ear-piercing screech fill the air. The sound was…bizarre. It felt like it might come from some kind of animal, but it was nothing Kareet was familiar with. Fauna may not have been her specialty, but these mountains were still her homeland and she was educated, yet she could not place what this might have been. She glanced to Shirik, but despite how well-traveled as the Iriad was, even they would not be able to recognize it. To the Glen, J'eon, though, the screech was even closer. It sounded like it came from within the forest out of sight, just beyond his camp. The sounds of rustling leaves and signs of movement just at the edge of his vision would certainly make it seem as if he had heard correctly.</s> <|message|>Tyreese Nwakaeme Darnell The door up onto the raised concourse was locked, so one of the mercenary team set a charge and they all stacked up on the wall to blow it. Darnell, at the back save for one soldier who was watching their six, tried to raise the Jotunheim again. Icy wind and flurries of snow whipped at him from all directions. His gloved fingers may as well have been blocks of wood as they fumbled with the sat phone. "Hangar 147, come in. This is Tyreese Darnell of Tamerlane GOC. I have orders from HQ - do not take off, I repeat DO NOT take off. Please confirm this command." All he could hear was warbling static and beeps on the line, from whatever appeared to be jamming the signal. Nothing came back from the Jotunheim. The charges went off with a muffled *FUMP*. The metal doors flew off their hinges and disappeared inside, closely followed by the Israeli team's point man. Inside was the bottom of a stairwell, with a desk in front of them that the doors had just destroyed. A uniformed woman crawled out from behind the wreckage holding a large socket wrench. Upon seeing them, she shouted "No no no!" and ran towards them holding her hands out. The first soldier put two bullets in her chest and she clattered backwards dead. "Clear." He declared as the rest of the team spilled inside and began scaling the stairs. Darnell swore upon seeing the dead body and looked around for security cameras. Thankfully, he could see none. While these mercs were masked and had no discernible markings, he was barefaced and easily recognisable. The last man pushed him toward the stairs to prevent them from becoming split up. "Alright alright! I'm going." They climbed the stairs in silence, with all guns at the ready. After a few moments they reached another set of doors. They stacked up on either side of it again. Ezra tried the handle - it opened an inch. He looked through the crack. Then he nodded at the woman opposite him and she took out a stun grenade from her tactical vest. Ezra opened the door a bit more and she armed it and threw it out of the gap. A few bullets thudded into the metal door on the other side before a loud bang and a flash stopped them. It was so strong that it stung Darnell's eyes even from the back. The Israelis opened both doors and proceeded through, leaving Darnell peeping out from down the stairs a little way. Gunfire and shouting erupted on the concourse; tracer rounds whizzed by from both directions, with some pinging off the cargo crates and forklifts that littered the area. Darnell was pushed forward to take cover by the door so the guy in the back could provide cover. As he began moving, he saw one of the mercs take what looked like a shotgun volley to the chest. All the equipment on the front of her vest exploded in a shower of sparks and she collapsed on the floor. Ezra instantly moved in front of her while the guy by Darnell rushed over to grab her. Darnell was shouting and screaming and pointing without quite knowing what he was saying. Somehow, there was a cloud of smoke wafting into his field of view from the left. "Move to me, Mr Darnell!" Ezra shouted, motioning with one hand to a pile of boxes near him. Tyreese finally moved out onto the concourse - three of the mercs had assumed a defensive formation to cover both directions while the fourth prepped a canister of biofoam while crouched over their downed teammate. Darnell spotted more than one dead body in his field of vision, but he didn't stop to look at them. "Jesus fuck. Who are these guys?" "You tell me, Mr Darnell. They're not amateurs." Ezra responded. There was more gunfire from close by. Inside the cloud of smoke that was spreading across one entire side of the concourse. "They must be in there!" Tyreese pointed.</s> <|message|>J'eon of Mythadia Carefully, J-eon reaches behind him to grab the spear, trying not to bump it as he lifts it out of its oarlock cradle. He wasn't sure what was out there, but it was making too much racket to hide. Was this in response to the beacon? Did this rise to challenge? In either case, if it attacked, he had to respond, for surely it would try to kill him. He kept his movements calm as he pivoted towards the voice. Did it come singly? Or was there two, one to give voice, others to blindside? He must listen closely in case there were more, lying in wait.</s>

<|message|>Kareet of Arcaeda To J'eon, there were no sounds that would hint at creatures from other directions, only to the front. Though, for what finally emerged from the forest, it was frankly surprising that it had managed to get as close as it had without notice. This creature was massive, almost double J'eon's height. It vaguely resembled some kind of giant insect, but it was quite unlike any animal he would have ever seen. It had no eyes that could be observed, yet it was quite obviously aware of J'eon's location, with the way it seemed to stare him down. Its behavior also felt strange for an animal. If it was a predator hunting prey, it would not be screeching the moment it sensed its quarry. Whatever it was, though, it made its intentions quite unmistakable. It clicked its mandibles together, then let out another shriek as it came barreling straight at him, seemingly enraged. --- Yet again, the shriek was plainly audible to Kareet and Shirik. It was just a bit closer than before, as their path seemed to be taking them towards it. Kareet, on her part, was starting to look more and more annoyed at the fact that she could not recognize the sound. "Okay, that's the second time we've heard that. I will be honest, I don't recognize it. Have you ever heard anything like it?" She asked.</s>

<|description|>Kareet of Arcaeda Species: Tekeri Appearance: Kareet appears fairly average, compared to most Tekeri. She has deep black, generally well-kept feathers and stands at about 6'11". Like all Tekeri, she naturally stands with something of a hunched posture, which, along with her serrated beak, sharp talons, and four piercing red eyes, would give her a rather feral, monstrous appearance to a Human observer. At first impressions, all that might set her apart from an animal would be her unusually clean feathers and polished beak. Magical Affiliation: Lightning Domain Proficiency Occupation: Seeker of the Order of Sages Key Skills: Engineering, Wilderness survival, Combat magic training Backstory: Kareet's early childhood was, in its entirety, unremarkable. 'Kareet' was not her original name, as the original was left behind with her former life. She was hatched to a peasant family in the lowest rungs of Arcaeda, but she was in her seventh year when her fate shifted. In Arcaeda, per the decree of the Archmagister, all children must receive at least one year of magical education, provided by the state. With the Archmagister's vision of Arcaeda as a modern city with magic at its core, the education primarily serves to ensure that every citizen knows what to expect of magic in the city, and how to efficiently work around it. However, it also serves a secondary purpose. In most species, children are more easily able to awaken to magic than adults, so these classes have allowed the city to expand its number of magic-capable citizens. While the majority of children each year are unable to use magic, a small percentage, like Kareet, experience their awakenings, which then necessitates that the child must be trained in the usage of magic. In the event that the child belongs to a family that is unable to facilitate that training, then the state invokes what is called the "Law of Correction" to claim guardianship over the child. For Kareet, it meant being removed from the care of her former family and adopted officially by the Order of Magisters. While the Law of Correction can be contested, few ever attempt it, either because they recognize their child would have far greater opportunities in life with magical training, or because they are afraid of being unable to do what would be required to successfully challenge it. Kareet does not know her birth parents' reasons, nor has she ever cared. Kareet was raised, by and large, by the Order of Magisters, which afforded her a proper education, including writing, logic, and mathematics, as well as training in forms of magic for which she had an affinity. For Kareet, that was the Lightning Domain. For youth trained by the Order of Magisters, their instruction encompassed the core skills of their chosen magic for most known applications, military and civilian. Kareet learned of how the Ascendancy had come to use her Domain, primarily magnetism, in construction and engineering, as well as receiving appropriate training in combat magic. Magister's training provided a strong base for Kareet's knowledge of her Domain. To continue with the Order of Magisters would have brought her along the path of a battlemage to learn more of military tactics and improve her ability in "battlefield" magic. However, her interests brought her instead to transfer to the Order of Sages upon her graduation; not an uncommon choice, for the more academically inclined. Over half of the mages within the Order of Sages were, at one point, members of the Order of Magisters. Within the Ascendancy, the purview of the Order of Sages is the accumulation and advancement of all knowledge, magical and non-magical. It is the combination of both which drives Kareet. While she certainly still seeks to improve her magical prowess, she finds herself intrigued by the concept of how magic and invention can be combined. For her trial of proving, she traveled beyond the Ascendancy, spending time in the settlements of several nations, from the capital of Mythadia itself, to remote settlements small enough not to appear on most maps. She made a particular effort to immerse herself in the practices of magic from other cultures. The Sages taught that all knowledge was worth collecting, regardless of origin. Upon her return to Arcaeda, Kareet worked to make her contribution to the Sages' collective knowledge. Simply returning with something unique that was not part of their records, even if it was minor, would have been sufficient for her trial, but she did not wish to settle for sufficient with the mark she would make. Over about a year, she worked on concepts and designs that incorporated the capabilities of magic into her knowledge of engineering. Eventually, it was a device she had witnessed in Mythadia that inspired her own creation. Force mages were commonly used in many parts of the world to aid in construction, but she had observed a kind of elevator for lifting huge stones that used pulleys operated by a series of metal gears. A lightning mage needed only to turn a single gear to operate the elevator, which could hoist stones heavy enough to normally require several force mages to move. After working through a few concepts, Kareet managed to apply that idea to a siege engine. The idea of using mages to operate more powerful siege engines was nothing new, but Kareet focused on achieving that power more efficiently. Her final prototype was a ballista that used a similar gear and pulley system that a single lightning mage could operate, which was just as powerful as similar weapons that usually required multiple force mages. At present, Kareet has been granted the rank of Seeker within the Order of Sages, in light of her skills and interests. Seekers are generally the more independent and combat-capable of the order's members who specialize in the search for knowledge, regardless of the dangers that may be required to obtain it.</s> <|message|>Kolvar Stilmyst Kolvar Stilmyst walked past the tall trees in the surrounding area. Treading carefully as he did not want to be seen by anyone. Although his mission was of the utmost importance, he was fine with taking his time. The young Kriliteran stopped briefly to note a carving on a nearby tree. Placing his deformed "hand" on the area where the craving was. It looked like two lovers had carved their names into the tree. Feeling sad that he had not recently found a mate. In particular, he found it hard because he was not very good at socializing. Especially when it came to Kriliteran women. But his trouble with women was not really important at the moment. Kolvar started walking further mostly keeping to walking behind the trees and avoiding the main road because he does not want to be seen. His master had told him that the book he was looking for was a religious tomb. A book that was lost during the sacking of Balrak'dun. The hatred of the S'tor and Pa'tal is kept even today. Kolvar in particular has gotten into trouble for picking fights with S'tor and Pa'tal people. Only being saved by his friends or his master. The Kriliteran was getting closer to his destination but was stopped when he heard a caravan moving. He lay on his stomach, waiting for the caravan to move passed him. But it seemed one of them needed to use the washroom. Kolvar turned into a small bipedal creature, running toward the direction he was supposed to go. Cursing the person that had gotten close to seeing him. But he was glad that his shapeshifting had saved him. Continuing towards Ertiseda. Having to gather some information as to where the book would be located. Although he would have to be careful in case his identity would be revealed.</s> <|message|>J'eon of Mythadia Jack Mallory, X.O. --- "It's a mad-house... captain...!?!" the X.O. yelped as the leather cap was unceremoniously yanked off his head and carelessly tossed aside. His eyes darted to the back of her head as she went past, then behind him to find the cap - which was surprisingly warm. And possibly the only hat he'd have until they returned. And if they lost gravity, potential F.O.D. hazard. Danny, Danny, Danny, he sighed shaking his head.What did I ever do to you? Leaning forward over the radar plot, he took out his white wax pencil and marked out a plot. "Captain, recommend we come right seven and one-half degree for 600 yards, then left seven and one-half degree to resume our base course for 190 yards, then left three degrees for the next eight hundred yards.... What the...?" There was six tracks coming up behind them....? "Captain! We've got missiles coming up our butts!" They had nothing at all back there but that kinetic shield - and he didn't think it was built to withstand that sort of blast.</s> <|message|>Evangeline Edwards Eva sat back silently as the man squabbled with her SEU, exhaling with a dissatisfied grunt as it was eventually crippled by the clown with the sidearm. "Mmm, looks like I have more to play with before they can handle a real bout." The shouting about being on the same side barely registered to Eva, children who aim guns should be just as ready to die as they are to kill, regardless of what side they're on... but she whistled, the clattering of the other two SEU somewhere in the far end of the room suddenly going quiet. "Stop panicking, I can open the door myself... though they probably don't like that I can. I'll send the message ahead... you know, you should teach your little pet some manners before it gets put down." Eva chuckled, giving a wink to the man who had just been pointing a gun at her moments before. Eva's Implant left a pain in the back of her mind for just a moment before connecting solidly to the bridge. "Captain be aware, Jokers in the Bay with me are mentioning some sort of issue concerning usage of the shielding at the same time as the FTL drive and main engines. The fact they liked waving a gun at me doesn't exactly make me confident but I thought I should make you aware given their eagerness to get in." Eva sighed as she cut the line, not bothering to wait for a response. "Now, you two need to find a spot to sit down with me. Either this ship stops, and the hostiles outside kill us, or the ship kills us... either way it's suddenly not your problem anymore. There is the chance this all goes off without a hitch but have you looked outside? I seriously doubt it." Eva sighed, moving to drag the damaged SEU into a small crate that still had room. "Besides, I find it very unlikely anybody will pay any attention to what you say when you have such terrible manners, even IF I decided to let you down into the Bridge."</s> <|message|>Kaqir Startling from her reverie, it took Kaqir a moment to process the traveller's words. Services, urgency... pay! Money! Job! Sparkly! She brightened, eyes crinkling in the Tekeri approximation of a grin. "Ah, I am indeed the one for which you search! Life mage Kaqir, at your service." She bowed, one wing folding in front while the other fanned dramatically against the stars. The woman before her was clearly wealthy—no common adventurer usually bothered to stay so pristine when confronted with the constant grime of travel. And that herbal scent (spice? citrus? how refreshing!) was surely of some expense. Perhaps someone of her apparent station would appreciate the gesture. "In what matter may I assist you, madam?"</s>

<|message|>Kareet of Arcaeda Kareet did not take much time for formalities. Clearly, she was in a hurry. She was already starting to turn around when she gestured for Kaqir to follow. "I will explain on the way. We shouldn't delay." It would only be a short walk across town, but fortunately, there also was not much to explain. "Are you familiar enough with the Glen form to heal them? We encountered a Glen along the road being attacked by a creature. We dispatched of the creature, but he was injured. Blunt impact, mostly." Even just a short explanation revealed a bit more about Kareet. The uneducated might just assume that a Life mage could heal anyone, but she knew at least enough about magic to know that a Life mage could only heal a being if they had studied their form long enough to develop an understanding of it. Of course, the majority of Life mages would spend plenty of time studying the bodies of Kanth-Aremek's major races early on in their training, unless they had learned in a remote place. There was not much time for conversation before they reached J'eon and Shirik. The Glen was still laying in his cart. On the outside, most of his injuries were not visible, though it would not take that long of an examination for Kaqir to feel just what kind of injuries he had. Physical trauma was, in general, relatively easy for a trained Life mage to deal with, other than brain damage. They could not heal others as quickly as they could heal themselves, but even still, it usually would not take more than a few minutes for them to heal even severe injuries, as good as new. "Here he is. I do not think his life is in danger, but I imagine the pain is not pleasant." Kareet explained.</s>

<|description|>Kareet of Arcaeda Species: Tekeri Appearance: Kareet appears fairly average, compared to most Tekeri. She has deep black, generally well-kept feathers and stands at about 6'11". Like all Tekeri, she naturally stands with something of a hunched posture, which, along with her serrated beak, sharp talons, and four piercing red eyes, would give her a rather feral, monstrous appearance to a Human observer. At first impressions, all that might set her apart from an animal would be her unusually clean feathers and polished beak. Magical Affiliation: Lightning Domain Proficiency Occupation: Seeker of the Order of Sages Key Skills: Engineering, Wilderness survival, Combat magic training Backstory: Kareet's early childhood was, in its entirety, unremarkable. 'Kareet' was not her original name, as the original was left behind with her former life. She was hatched to a peasant family in the lowest rungs of Arcaeda, but she was in her seventh year when her fate shifted. In Arcaeda, per the decree of the Archmagister, all children must receive at least one year of magical education, provided by the state. With the Archmagister's vision of Arcaeda as a modern city with magic at its core, the education primarily serves to ensure that every citizen knows what to expect of magic in the city, and how to efficiently work around it. However, it also serves a secondary purpose. In most species, children are more easily able to awaken to magic than adults, so these classes have allowed the city to expand its number of magic-capable citizens. While the majority of children each year are unable to use magic, a small percentage, like Kareet, experience their awakenings, which then necessitates that the child must be trained in the usage of magic. In the event that the child belongs to a family that is unable to facilitate that training, then the state invokes what is called the "Law of Correction" to claim guardianship over the child. For Kareet, it meant being removed from the care of her former family and adopted officially by the Order of Magisters. While the Law of Correction can be contested, few ever attempt it, either because they recognize their child would have far greater opportunities in life with magical training, or because they are afraid of being unable to do what would be required to successfully challenge it. Kareet does not know her birth parents' reasons, nor has she ever cared. Kareet was raised, by and large, by the Order of Magisters, which afforded her a proper education, including writing, logic, and mathematics, as well as training in forms of magic for which she had an affinity. For Kareet, that was the Lightning Domain. For youth trained by the Order of Magisters, their instruction encompassed the core skills of their chosen magic for most known applications, military and civilian. Kareet learned of how the Ascendancy had come to use her Domain, primarily magnetism, in construction and engineering, as well as receiving appropriate training in combat magic. Magister's training provided a strong base for Kareet's knowledge of her Domain. To continue with the Order of Magisters would have brought her along the path of a battlemage to learn more of military tactics and improve her ability in "battlefield" magic. However, her interests brought her instead to transfer to the Order of Sages upon her graduation; not an uncommon choice, for the more academically inclined. Over half of the mages within the Order of Sages were, at one point, members of the Order of Magisters. Within the Ascendancy, the purview of the Order of Sages is the accumulation and advancement of all knowledge, magical and non-magical. It is the combination of both which drives Kareet. While she certainly still seeks to improve her magical prowess, she finds herself intrigued by the concept of how magic and invention can be combined. For her trial of proving, she traveled beyond the Ascendancy, spending time in the settlements of several nations, from the capital of Mythadia itself, to remote settlements small enough not to appear on most maps. She made a particular effort to immerse herself in the practices of magic from other cultures. The Sages taught that all knowledge was worth collecting, regardless of origin. Upon her return to Arcaeda, Kareet worked to make her contribution to the Sages' collective knowledge. Simply returning with something unique that was not part of their records, even if it was minor, would have been sufficient for her trial, but she did not wish to settle for sufficient with the mark she would make. Over about a year, she worked on concepts and designs that incorporated the capabilities of magic into her knowledge of engineering. Eventually, it was a device she had witnessed in Mythadia that inspired her own creation. Force mages were commonly used in many parts of the world to aid in construction, but she had observed a kind of elevator for lifting huge stones that used pulleys operated by a series of metal gears. A lightning mage needed only to turn a single gear to operate the elevator, which could hoist stones heavy enough to normally require several force mages to move. After working through a few concepts, Kareet managed to apply that idea to a siege engine. The idea of using mages to operate more powerful siege engines was nothing new, but Kareet focused on achieving that power more efficiently. Her final prototype was a ballista that used a similar gear and pulley system that a single lightning mage could operate, which was just as powerful as similar weapons that usually required multiple force mages. At present, Kareet has been granted the rank of Seeker within the Order of Sages, in light of her skills and interests. Seekers are generally the more independent and combat-capable of the order's members who specialize in the search for knowledge, regardless of the dangers that may be required to obtain it.</s> <|message|>Kaqir Kaqir's exuberance was quickly tempered by the sight of the Glen. Gods above. It was nothing she couldn't fix, of course, but the fact that they seemed to have carted him across such wild roads with an injury like this... well, it couldn't have been pleasant, to say the least. His voice was too tight around his thanks, all scratch and scrape and—no. It would be fine. She tipped her head in what she hoped was a reassurance. "You're welcome, sir. This should only take a moment." Pressing a talon to his chest, she took a deep breath. Bone and blood and sinew screamed into her touch. His ribs were thoroughly cracked—though whatever broke them had the decency to leave him with a clean fracture. A direct blow, and a strong one at that. He certainly looked the fighting type. Who were these people? A noblewoman and her guards? Her gaze caught on the Iriad. They looked far too interesting to mix with high society, even in some place as open-minded as the Ascendancy. And the fellow Tekeri clearly had enough of an understanding of magic to be familiar with Life practices. Perhaps a group of bounty hunters? She shook the thoughts from her mind. She was getting paid to heal, not investigate. It didn't matter who they were. Closing her eyes, she smothered the urgent cries of his pain receptors. He didn't need to feel what was to come. That was a step you only had to miss once. Diagrams crumpled in her head, fresh ink on old paper. She'd operated on very few Glen, but their anatomy was still familiar, if a bit more mammalian than she was used to. Her notes were messy but memorable, and that's what mattered. The anterior chest cavity of a Glen was much sturdier than that of a Tekeri. There was no need of coaxing, just command. Her magic seized the marrow, stretching it to the severed fragment and twisting inside. That helped fuel the shell of periosteum, lengthening the ribcage back to its normal size. His lungs seemed to be unharmed. It was almost eerie to hear their rasp without a pulse between them. Fortunately, his lower ribs fared better than those in his upper half. Some minor contusions along the muscle and inner bone, but nothing that couldn't be fixed with some expedited tissue cleaning. His heart, which was nestled in this set of lungs, beat healthily. Exhaling slowly, she awoke his deadened nerves and withdrew. A few lingering cells tugged at her attention: scattered scars beneath his cuirass, burns curling across his arm, old bruises yellow beneath his fur. They weren't things meant to be healed, though—if he had allowed their presence this long, they were a part of him. Memories. Warnings. Badges, maybe. She met his eyes and smiled. "There we go! You should be all healed up. Do let me know if anything still hurts."</s> <|message|>Tyreese Nwakaeme Darnell The bridge Wodan picked one hell of a time to come online. A proximity alarm pinged twice around the bridge as the Jotunheim's radar picked up six locked-on missiles. Everyone leapt into action. "Evasive action, NOW!" Zey shouted, diving towards her seat. Bosko immediately went to full speed ahead on the main engines and yanked the control yoke. The Jotunheim's beetle-like shape exploded forward and pulled up towards the dawn sky, but it was too late. The missiles were moving at 1,200 metres per second, and there was no way the hulking spacecraft could avoid them all. The first missile went straight towards the bulbous shuttle bay on the side. The shuttle bay Ezra threw the spasming spider droid onto the shuttle bay floor, gritting his teeth from the pain. He quickly looked down and dipped his fingers into a rip in the undercoat covering his right arm. His fingers came back red with blood - the robot had cut him. He looked back up at Eva as she came over to grab the spider. He crouched down and picked his assault rifle quickly back up, then stalked towards her. "No more games. Open this door or I'll-" The deck shifted dramatically under their feet and the engines shook the deck under their feet. Everything seemed to move at once - an unsecured box smashed into the soldier's legs and he stumbled into Eva. Darnell shouted, staggered and fell back hard into a row of jump seats. The airlock door opened, and the sound and sight of screaming civilians could be heard in the service corridor, then they closed again. Then a massive explosion ripped through the bay. The ramp fell slightly open, and a section of the hull in the corner buckled and burst. Flames gushed in, whipped up by the wind. A maelstrom of shrapnel made a sound like tinkling glass as it impacted surfaces. One of the large straps securing the shuttle snapped as a siren blared. --- The second missile fizzed past the ship and exploded in front of the bridge as Bosko violently levelled out of its upwards ascent and turned it to the right. A long, thin pleasure craft veered out of the way to avoid crashing into the Jo, and moved straight into the path of the third and fourth missile. The last two projectiles soared straight into the engine shielding, and the whole aft crackled with bright blue energy. The kinetic barrier forced the missiles to explode early - a savage shockwave buffeted the hull and shook the insides. Engineering Zhao strapped in, her face illuminated by glowing in the light of various displays crowded around her. "Power spike! Someone talk to me!" "It's the FTL drive ma'am, it's jumping all on its own!" Varen shot back. Vigdis would see dangerous fluctuations in her console's readings. "Kill it, now!" Zhao commanded. "It's not responding!" The noise was unbearable. The shields were screeching, and now the FTL's whine had rapidly risen to a crescendo. "Engineering to Bridge, emergency jump imminent" Zhao yelled into her comms piece. The sky was dark, and full of stars over Kanth-Amerek. The only sounds one could hear in the wilderness was the rustle of foliage and call of animals. These calls turned into frantic screeching as a thunderous boom rolled over the land and echoed off the far hills of the Ascendency. The sky flashed, like with lightning, and a dull mauve scar seared into the atmosphere. A bright ball of flame emerged, and hurtled towards the ground. The Bridge Zey had only just made it to her seat and strapped in before the panicked call from engineering. Her eyes had involuntarily closed against the bright flash, and now gouts of flame erupted from the shield cabling below the Bridge cockpit windows. The sound of missiles had totally gone, and the engines were eerily quiet, more of a sooradic judder than a continuous sound. "Where are we? Somebody give me a sitrep right now. Wodan? Welcome aboard - reboot our sensory array." Zey ordered, staring at the curved bank of screens that folded out of the wall to surround the Captain's chair. All of her external data sources were making zero sense.</s>

<|message|>Kareet of Arcaeda Kareet observed silently as Kaqir worked. She had seen, and received, such healing many, many times before, so there was no tension for her. The only worry might have been if Kaqir was not a competent Life mage, but everything Kareet could see was perfectly acceptable. Healing simple injuries was far from the most complex thing a Life mage could do, after all. Once Kaqir was done, Kareet gave a quick look over the Glen. No visible injuries, at least, and no more signs of pain. It was sufficient. She reached around to her backpack and produced a small pouch, from which she grabbed a few silver coins. It was far more than the coppers most peasants might be able to scrounge together, and consistent with what a healer would expect to be paid in the capital. "Thank you for your assistance." Kareet said politely as she dropped the coins into the healer's hand. "I…" Kareet's voice trailed off quickly. There was…something that caught her eyes in the sky to the north: a flash. At its source, there was something glowing, very distant. Tekeri had particularly sharp eyesight, but even to her the details were difficult to discern. It was like a hole in the sky through which daylight was shining. Through it, she could see a hint of fire, of distorted shapes she could not discern, and of…something that seemed to be moving. All she could really see of it was a red glow, like a fireball. A few seconds later, something like the loudest thunder Kareet had ever heard echoed across the landscape. All at once, it was like the whole town froze. Anyone who had not noticed before now had their eyes to the sky. Even Glen villagers who had been roused from their sleep started to file outside as well to see what was happening.</s>

<|description|>Kareet of Arcaeda Species: Tekeri Appearance: Kareet appears fairly average, compared to most Tekeri. She has deep black, generally well-kept feathers and stands at about 6'11". Like all Tekeri, she naturally stands with something of a hunched posture, which, along with her serrated beak, sharp talons, and four piercing red eyes, would give her a rather feral, monstrous appearance to a Human observer. At first impressions, all that might set her apart from an animal would be her unusually clean feathers and polished beak. Magical Affiliation: Lightning Domain Proficiency Occupation: Seeker of the Order of Sages Key Skills: Engineering, Wilderness survival, Combat magic training Backstory: Kareet's early childhood was, in its entirety, unremarkable. 'Kareet' was not her original name, as the original was left behind with her former life. She was hatched to a peasant family in the lowest rungs of Arcaeda, but she was in her seventh year when her fate shifted. In Arcaeda, per the decree of the Archmagister, all children must receive at least one year of magical education, provided by the state. With the Archmagister's vision of Arcaeda as a modern city with magic at its core, the education primarily serves to ensure that every citizen knows what to expect of magic in the city, and how to efficiently work around it. However, it also serves a secondary purpose. In most species, children are more easily able to awaken to magic than adults, so these classes have allowed the city to expand its number of magic-capable citizens. While the majority of children each year are unable to use magic, a small percentage, like Kareet, experience their awakenings, which then necessitates that the child must be trained in the usage of magic. In the event that the child belongs to a family that is unable to facilitate that training, then the state invokes what is called the "Law of Correction" to claim guardianship over the child. For Kareet, it meant being removed from the care of her former family and adopted officially by the Order of Magisters. While the Law of Correction can be contested, few ever attempt it, either because they recognize their child would have far greater opportunities in life with magical training, or because they are afraid of being unable to do what would be required to successfully challenge it. Kareet does not know her birth parents' reasons, nor has she ever cared. Kareet was raised, by and large, by the Order of Magisters, which afforded her a proper education, including writing, logic, and mathematics, as well as training in forms of magic for which she had an affinity. For Kareet, that was the Lightning Domain. For youth trained by the Order of Magisters, their instruction encompassed the core skills of their chosen magic for most known applications, military and civilian. Kareet learned of how the Ascendancy had come to use her Domain, primarily magnetism, in construction and engineering, as well as receiving appropriate training in combat magic. Magister's training provided a strong base for Kareet's knowledge of her Domain. To continue with the Order of Magisters would have brought her along the path of a battlemage to learn more of military tactics and improve her ability in "battlefield" magic. However, her interests brought her instead to transfer to the Order of Sages upon her graduation; not an uncommon choice, for the more academically inclined. Over half of the mages within the Order of Sages were, at one point, members of the Order of Magisters. Within the Ascendancy, the purview of the Order of Sages is the accumulation and advancement of all knowledge, magical and non-magical. It is the combination of both which drives Kareet. While she certainly still seeks to improve her magical prowess, she finds herself intrigued by the concept of how magic and invention can be combined. For her trial of proving, she traveled beyond the Ascendancy, spending time in the settlements of several nations, from the capital of Mythadia itself, to remote settlements small enough not to appear on most maps. She made a particular effort to immerse herself in the practices of magic from other cultures. The Sages taught that all knowledge was worth collecting, regardless of origin. Upon her return to Arcaeda, Kareet worked to make her contribution to the Sages' collective knowledge. Simply returning with something unique that was not part of their records, even if it was minor, would have been sufficient for her trial, but she did not wish to settle for sufficient with the mark she would make. Over about a year, she worked on concepts and designs that incorporated the capabilities of magic into her knowledge of engineering. Eventually, it was a device she had witnessed in Mythadia that inspired her own creation. Force mages were commonly used in many parts of the world to aid in construction, but she had observed a kind of elevator for lifting huge stones that used pulleys operated by a series of metal gears. A lightning mage needed only to turn a single gear to operate the elevator, which could hoist stones heavy enough to normally require several force mages to move. After working through a few concepts, Kareet managed to apply that idea to a siege engine. The idea of using mages to operate more powerful siege engines was nothing new, but Kareet focused on achieving that power more efficiently. Her final prototype was a ballista that used a similar gear and pulley system that a single lightning mage could operate, which was just as powerful as similar weapons that usually required multiple force mages. At present, Kareet has been granted the rank of Seeker within the Order of Sages, in light of her skills and interests. Seekers are generally the more independent and combat-capable of the order's members who specialize in the search for knowledge, regardless of the dangers that may be required to obtain it.</s> <|message|>Kolvar Stilmyst @Blizz Kolvar Stilmyst "I came from a village in the north. I am a travelling healer. I was heading to the local village to give my services, but I noticed this flying ship crashing and I wanted to help heal anyone that is injured." He hoped this lie would be good enough for them to buy. He followed the others around the ship. For now, he was going to play along with his lie just so he could get inside the ship. He was excited by the thought that there was a way inside however, he was sure the aliens would be hostile toward them. Kolvar stood behind Kareet in case the people inside tried shooting at them. In that case, he could use one of them as a shield. From behind their shoulder, he could see the hole properly. Again he was quite hesitant to be the first to go inside the hole. "Who will be the first to go inside?" He asked but had a feeling he would be the first because he's a life mage. He nervously started fiddling with his claws, he was scared to go inside but also excited. He thought there would be a lot of amazing contraptions and technologies inside the ship. "If it is okay with you both, I would like to go in first." He said before starting to approach the hole. Slowly and cautiously making his way inside the hole.</s> <|message|>Jonsdottir, Vigdis Strangely enough, Vigdis expected her scheduled work in the next few days to be enjoyable in a way, although when she mentioned it to the table during the first meal after the crash she got a few looks as if she needed her head examined. Working outside, in the breeze, with birds - or so she assumed, who knew what taxonomical classification the things would get - singing throughout the day, great views as the sun - were they still supposed to call it 'sun' even if it wasn't 'the Sun'? - set… She'd take that over the enclosed docks at Stavanger. At least while the local summer was going. Or maybe it was spring, it was hard to tell. As soon as the sun - fuck it, it was the local system's sun, someone who cared enough could name it later - was up, Vigdis was outside, sealing the two smaller hull breaches to make the most of space available inside the ship. The one in the hangar was a different beast, with a decent chunk of the wall missing, likely due to a missile exploding nearby. The Jo wasn't a warship, a direct hit at that angle would've probably stopped in front of the captain's office and then blown off its entire chin, bridge and all. It was further complicated by the damn air, meaning she would first have to seal it from the outside, then fix the breach from the inside once the air wasn't a fire hazard in an enclosed space and then go back out and replace the temporary seal with a proper hull patch. At least that was on the schedule before ventilation in the forward quarters died. And then the door to one of the aft quarters. And then lights in engineering in conjunction with heating. The power fluctuations and impact made a mess of the power grid, cables and wires half melted, contacts shaken loose and circuit boards damaged by heat and failing with additional use. All in all, morning of day three and Vigdis finally had time to get back to the shuttle bay breach. She'd woken up about an hour ago, picked up her meager breakfast ration and went straight to the gear locker before stopping at the armory, as anyone going outside had to bring something to fend off potential wildlife. Hauling the welding rig behind her with one hand and adjusting the parts bag with the other, she hadn't yet had the time to turn her personal communicator on, missing the Captain's alert. She hadn't even had the time to actually load her weapon, something she deeply regretted as soon as she stepped out of the airlock and saw something approaching the breach, evidently looking to get in. She left the welder where it was and stumbled backward, hands fumbling to reach the Jackal. Then she noticed it: As the creature came closer, light from within the bay revealed it was wearing clothes. That calmed her down somewhat, enough to keep the weapon at low ready and pointed at the ground. Still, she was holding the creature at bay with an unloaded weapon, even if it was unarmed - who the fuck was she kidding, the thing's face was a weapon! - and banking on the fact that it wouldn't be able to tell. Rather than further manipulate the object the alien might infer to be a weapon, Vigdis tapped the side of her headset, turning it on. "Shuttle bay, shuttle bay!" She let out a panicked whisper, unsure of which channel she was on and who it went to.</s>

<|message|>Kareet of Arcaeda If she were to be completely practical about it, Kareet would reason that J'eon should be the first one inside in case of any potential dangers. Shirik was the more interesting of her two companions to her, and if this new Tekeri was a Life mage, as he claimed, then his skillset would be more useful to them than a second Heat mage. Regardless, Kareet would not say any of this aloud. She would rather just get inside as soon as she could, so having the Tekeri go in first was sufficient. Kareet was not entirely sure if she could trust the new arrival. If he was coming from the north, that meant he was coming from Mythadia. The nearest village in their lands was farther away than Ertiseda, though she also recognized that a Tekeri would be able to cover that distance faster than she had with Shirik and J'eon in tow. If he was a Life mage, his justification did make sense, but Kareet would be cautious regardless. It was an easy climb up to the breach, after which Kareet stepped inside just after the other Tekeri. Somehow, as she could see on approach, it was quite bright inside. Her eyes would take some time to adjust, but what she could see was something entirely alien to her. The room that the breach led into was huge and made almost entirely from metal. Perhaps that should not have been surprising, looking at it from the outside, but she could still hardly imagine the craftsmanship required to create something like this. Just the materials alone would cost more to build than all of Arcaeda, and that was not even considering the skill required to make it. Ignoring damaged sections, the walls and floor were so…precise. Every metal panel fit so precisely with every other that it was hard to tell where the separations were. Kareet had seen that kind of precision before, but never on such a scale. Unfortunately, it was hard to see some of the details with how cluttered the room was. There was debris everywhere. It seemed like the crash had thrown and scattered about anything that had been in the room. Some of it was metal debris, probably from the damaged wall, but most of it was just objects that had been thrown around, hardly any of which she could actually identify, aside from broken glass. Though, she could only guess at what they might have been before they were broken. Just at a glance, some of the objects looked like they could have been tools, but she could only guess at their purpose. This might have been a storage room of some sort, given the number of boxes and crates scattered around. Even the crates themselves were metal, or…maybe not. Upon closer inspection of one of the crates, she found it was made of something solid and smooth, yet clearly not metallic. Of course, what drew Kareet's eye most readily was what looked, to her, like a suit of armor. If it was, then it was the most intricate and robustly crafted armor she had ever seen. However, she could not imagine how any being could actually wear it, purely for its size and weight. It was the height of a S'tor, but it was too massive for even a S'tor to move in. Not to mention, its shape was entirely wrong for their anatomy. A particularly large Tekeri could potentially fit inside, but again, the shape was wrong for them. An Iriad would have the right shape, but it was far, far too large for any of their kind. The sheer physical might required for one to don this armor actually made her worried to meet whatever sort of being it was that had built this machine. Kareet had not heard the whisper, but eventually, her eyes adjusted to the light enough to see the movement off to her left. She turned to see a being. Something new, something she did not have a word for. She could see hairless skin, except on top of the head, and strange clothing. It held something she did not recognize. It was also much…smaller than her mind had imagined. There were many things that Kareet could, or perhaps should have done first, but when faced with something like this, she simply could not help herself. Her first reaction was to flip to a new page in her notebook to sketch what she saw.</s>

<|description|>Kareet of Arcaeda Species: Tekeri Appearance: Kareet appears fairly average, compared to most Tekeri. She has deep black, generally well-kept feathers and stands at about 6'11". Like all Tekeri, she naturally stands with something of a hunched posture, which, along with her serrated beak, sharp talons, and four piercing red eyes, would give her a rather feral, monstrous appearance to a Human observer. At first impressions, all that might set her apart from an animal would be her unusually clean feathers and polished beak. Magical Affiliation: Lightning Domain Proficiency Occupation: Seeker of the Order of Sages Key Skills: Engineering, Wilderness survival, Combat magic training Backstory: Kareet's early childhood was, in its entirety, unremarkable. 'Kareet' was not her original name, as the original was left behind with her former life. She was hatched to a peasant family in the lowest rungs of Arcaeda, but she was in her seventh year when her fate shifted. In Arcaeda, per the decree of the Archmagister, all children must receive at least one year of magical education, provided by the state. With the Archmagister's vision of Arcaeda as a modern city with magic at its core, the education primarily serves to ensure that every citizen knows what to expect of magic in the city, and how to efficiently work around it. However, it also serves a secondary purpose. In most species, children are more easily able to awaken to magic than adults, so these classes have allowed the city to expand its number of magic-capable citizens. While the majority of children each year are unable to use magic, a small percentage, like Kareet, experience their awakenings, which then necessitates that the child must be trained in the usage of magic. In the event that the child belongs to a family that is unable to facilitate that training, then the state invokes what is called the "Law of Correction" to claim guardianship over the child. For Kareet, it meant being removed from the care of her former family and adopted officially by the Order of Magisters. While the Law of Correction can be contested, few ever attempt it, either because they recognize their child would have far greater opportunities in life with magical training, or because they are afraid of being unable to do what would be required to successfully challenge it. Kareet does not know her birth parents' reasons, nor has she ever cared. Kareet was raised, by and large, by the Order of Magisters, which afforded her a proper education, including writing, logic, and mathematics, as well as training in forms of magic for which she had an affinity. For Kareet, that was the Lightning Domain. For youth trained by the Order of Magisters, their instruction encompassed the core skills of their chosen magic for most known applications, military and civilian. Kareet learned of how the Ascendancy had come to use her Domain, primarily magnetism, in construction and engineering, as well as receiving appropriate training in combat magic. Magister's training provided a strong base for Kareet's knowledge of her Domain. To continue with the Order of Magisters would have brought her along the path of a battlemage to learn more of military tactics and improve her ability in "battlefield" magic. However, her interests brought her instead to transfer to the Order of Sages upon her graduation; not an uncommon choice, for the more academically inclined. Over half of the mages within the Order of Sages were, at one point, members of the Order of Magisters. Within the Ascendancy, the purview of the Order of Sages is the accumulation and advancement of all knowledge, magical and non-magical. It is the combination of both which drives Kareet. While she certainly still seeks to improve her magical prowess, she finds herself intrigued by the concept of how magic and invention can be combined. For her trial of proving, she traveled beyond the Ascendancy, spending time in the settlements of several nations, from the capital of Mythadia itself, to remote settlements small enough not to appear on most maps. She made a particular effort to immerse herself in the practices of magic from other cultures. The Sages taught that all knowledge was worth collecting, regardless of origin. Upon her return to Arcaeda, Kareet worked to make her contribution to the Sages' collective knowledge. Simply returning with something unique that was not part of their records, even if it was minor, would have been sufficient for her trial, but she did not wish to settle for sufficient with the mark she would make. Over about a year, she worked on concepts and designs that incorporated the capabilities of magic into her knowledge of engineering. Eventually, it was a device she had witnessed in Mythadia that inspired her own creation. Force mages were commonly used in many parts of the world to aid in construction, but she had observed a kind of elevator for lifting huge stones that used pulleys operated by a series of metal gears. A lightning mage needed only to turn a single gear to operate the elevator, which could hoist stones heavy enough to normally require several force mages to move. After working through a few concepts, Kareet managed to apply that idea to a siege engine. The idea of using mages to operate more powerful siege engines was nothing new, but Kareet focused on achieving that power more efficiently. Her final prototype was a ballista that used a similar gear and pulley system that a single lightning mage could operate, which was just as powerful as similar weapons that usually required multiple force mages. At present, Kareet has been granted the rank of Seeker within the Order of Sages, in light of her skills and interests. Seekers are generally the more independent and combat-capable of the order's members who specialize in the search for knowledge, regardless of the dangers that may be required to obtain it.</s> <|message|>Kolvar Stilmyst @Blizz @13org Kolvar Stilmyst Kolvar still did not understand the equation and what the pinkie was trying to say. "Damn if only we had a thought mage here." He cursed under his breath with a grimace on his face. He took a closer look at the equation in front of him. "It seems the pinkie wants the aluminum quill." He wanted Kareet to trade the pen for the strange tape. Watching the alien writing down another equation this time on the metallic wall. Taking a moment to try and figure out what it meant. "Do you have any idea what this new equation means? Does it look like some sort of measurement of some kind?" Tapping his clawed hand towards the bottom of his beak. Again he was having a hard time trying to figure out what the equation meant. Extending it out while reading the numbers along the tape. Letting go and looking scared as it snapped back into place. "Strange." He once again extended it out for Kareet to have a better look at. Perhaps this measuring tape would be the key to them solving the equation. "No I do not think this creature is alone, so we should be ready in case the others come. And I assume the other crewmembers will be quite aggressive." He said pointing towards Vigdis. "But we should keep a levelled head, and keep trying to keep making communication with these foreigners." He did not like the introduction of Nellara and her people waiting outside. He did not want to lose the valuable information inside the ship to the Order. He felt like an idiot for not being able to figure out the equation. But he would try his best to help them.</s> <|message|>J'eon of Mythadia J'eon the Blacksmith "So, ask yourself this then - who did bring down this city of metal?" J'eon asked, waving his upper arms. "And why are you in here instead of out there, keeping an eye on the skies?" "This is a trade," the Glen continued. "Information for information. You'd do well to remember that, Castigator Nellara." --- Jack Mallory, X.O. "Personally," Jack sighs, cycling the inner lock, "I'd say we couldn't risk the captain on this, and that I'm the one who should go in there, alone. But there are multiple races in there, so we need to show we're different, as well." Handing the carbine back, he patted his handgun. "Best hold onto that if you need to rescue us. This will not be as intimidating." Stepping inside, he waited for the captain to join him.</s> <|message|>Tyreese Nwakaeme Darnell Tired as she was, having not slept for three days, Mallory's words served to jolt Zey awake. Her chemical gland followed suit, pumping stimulants around her system. If they all went in and things turned hostile, the Jo could lose its Captain, XO, four engineers and a senior Tamerlane contractor. The rest of the crew and passengers would have next to no chance of leaving this planet without a rescue team. Zey was already bending all the rules of first contact by going in there; there was no way she was going to sit back and let the others reap all the glory. But there had to be some sort of counterbalance. "Noted, but there's no way I'm letting you go in alone. Too dangerous. That being said…" Zey replied to Mallory, then turned to Zhao. "Zhao, I know you're going in for Vigdis but I'm pulling rank. You're staying put - Anselm can take over Command, but we can't lose all our engineers. Organise the crew and take defensive positions by the airlock. We won't be long." "Captain!" "That is an ORDER!" Zey snapped, face rippling with adrenaline. Zhao let off a string of expletives in Mandarin that the Captain didn't catch, then stormed off. Zey followed her away with a stern look, then turned to Danny Varen and Tyreese Darnell. "You too Danny. Can't let you and Dr Ibarra both in that room…Mr Darnell, If I give you a weapon, will you shoot me in the back?" Tyreese sniffed nervously and shook his head. "No ma'am." He replied sheepishly. Zey stared into his eyes for a moment. He wasn't that drunk, and she needed someone imposing to show that while they spoke softly, they had big sticks too. She took Danny's Benelli shotgun and put it into Darnell's grip. "Stand in front of me and don't do anything stupid or I'll kill you myself. Everyone ready?" With that lightning reshuffle completed, Zey filtered into the airlock behind Mallory, followed by Dr Ibarra, and Tyreese Darnell. The airlock cycled again, and they emerged out into the shuttle bay. Zey held her palms out and tried not to panic as she saw the creatures at one end by Vigdis. Her heart rate and breathing increased, and her mask made a rasping sound as it processed the air.</s>

<|message|>Kareet of Arcaeda Kareet was only half-listening to what was going on around her, preferring to put most of her focus on trying to interpret what Vigdis has written. Unfortunately, she and Kerchak did not have too much success this time. The fundamentals of mathematics had not been too difficult to convey. Counting was easy enough, and they could relate counting to symbols and basic operations. However, whatever Vigdis was writing now was difficult to convey without words. She doubted the math was too complicated in itself, but whatever notation Vigdis was using was entirely foreign to her. There was no frame of reference to what they were trying to convey. Perhaps, with more time and effort, they might have been able to discern it, but it seemed they would not have the time now. Kareet gave a glance back at J'eon, having picked up on some of what he had been saying. "J'eon, we are in Ascendancy territory, and Nellara is an enforcer of Ascendancy law. Or can be, at least. It is in your best interest to be polite and cooperative with the Castigator." Kareet warned. It was just a few moments later, though, that a noise turned everyone's attention to what looked like a door nearby, albeit a rather strange door. It hissed, then seemed to slide open on its own. From the other side, more of these beings stepped into the room. They were dressed just as strangely, or at least some were. One had a mask, though Kareet could not guess at its purpose. If it was armor, then why was the rest of its body not armored as well? They all looked like they could be the same kind of being as Vigdis, though even in this small group, Kareet could already note some variety in their bodies. There was considerable difference in size and build between some of them. Male and female, perhaps, though she would have to figure out how to confirm which was which. They also had significantly different hues to their skin, much like the variety in scale colors of the S'tor. Some of them were carrying large objects of some sort; tools or weapons perhaps? The safest choice was to assume the latter and be watchful of what they were doing with them. Kareet stood up to her feet, looking down on the new arrivals, though staying in place near to where they had been writing on the wall. After a moment's pause, she pointed a finger down to Vigdis. "Vigdis." She said as clearly as she could, then pointed to herself. "Kareet."</s>

<|description|>Kareet of Arcaeda Species: Tekeri Appearance: Kareet appears fairly average, compared to most Tekeri. She has deep black, generally well-kept feathers and stands at about 6'11". Like all Tekeri, she naturally stands with something of a hunched posture, which, along with her serrated beak, sharp talons, and four piercing red eyes, would give her a rather feral, monstrous appearance to a Human observer. At first impressions, all that might set her apart from an animal would be her unusually clean feathers and polished beak. Magical Affiliation: Lightning Domain Proficiency Occupation: Seeker of the Order of Sages Key Skills: Engineering, Wilderness survival, Combat magic training Backstory: Kareet's early childhood was, in its entirety, unremarkable. 'Kareet' was not her original name, as the original was left behind with her former life. She was hatched to a peasant family in the lowest rungs of Arcaeda, but she was in her seventh year when her fate shifted. In Arcaeda, per the decree of the Archmagister, all children must receive at least one year of magical education, provided by the state. With the Archmagister's vision of Arcaeda as a modern city with magic at its core, the education primarily serves to ensure that every citizen knows what to expect of magic in the city, and how to efficiently work around it. However, it also serves a secondary purpose. In most species, children are more easily able to awaken to magic than adults, so these classes have allowed the city to expand its number of magic-capable citizens. While the majority of children each year are unable to use magic, a small percentage, like Kareet, experience their awakenings, which then necessitates that the child must be trained in the usage of magic. In the event that the child belongs to a family that is unable to facilitate that training, then the state invokes what is called the "Law of Correction" to claim guardianship over the child. For Kareet, it meant being removed from the care of her former family and adopted officially by the Order of Magisters. While the Law of Correction can be contested, few ever attempt it, either because they recognize their child would have far greater opportunities in life with magical training, or because they are afraid of being unable to do what would be required to successfully challenge it. Kareet does not know her birth parents' reasons, nor has she ever cared. Kareet was raised, by and large, by the Order of Magisters, which afforded her a proper education, including writing, logic, and mathematics, as well as training in forms of magic for which she had an affinity. For Kareet, that was the Lightning Domain. For youth trained by the Order of Magisters, their instruction encompassed the core skills of their chosen magic for most known applications, military and civilian. Kareet learned of how the Ascendancy had come to use her Domain, primarily magnetism, in construction and engineering, as well as receiving appropriate training in combat magic. Magister's training provided a strong base for Kareet's knowledge of her Domain. To continue with the Order of Magisters would have brought her along the path of a battlemage to learn more of military tactics and improve her ability in "battlefield" magic. However, her interests brought her instead to transfer to the Order of Sages upon her graduation; not an uncommon choice, for the more academically inclined. Over half of the mages within the Order of Sages were, at one point, members of the Order of Magisters. Within the Ascendancy, the purview of the Order of Sages is the accumulation and advancement of all knowledge, magical and non-magical. It is the combination of both which drives Kareet. While she certainly still seeks to improve her magical prowess, she finds herself intrigued by the concept of how magic and invention can be combined. For her trial of proving, she traveled beyond the Ascendancy, spending time in the settlements of several nations, from the capital of Mythadia itself, to remote settlements small enough not to appear on most maps. She made a particular effort to immerse herself in the practices of magic from other cultures. The Sages taught that all knowledge was worth collecting, regardless of origin. Upon her return to Arcaeda, Kareet worked to make her contribution to the Sages' collective knowledge. Simply returning with something unique that was not part of their records, even if it was minor, would have been sufficient for her trial, but she did not wish to settle for sufficient with the mark she would make. Over about a year, she worked on concepts and designs that incorporated the capabilities of magic into her knowledge of engineering. Eventually, it was a device she had witnessed in Mythadia that inspired her own creation. Force mages were commonly used in many parts of the world to aid in construction, but she had observed a kind of elevator for lifting huge stones that used pulleys operated by a series of metal gears. A lightning mage needed only to turn a single gear to operate the elevator, which could hoist stones heavy enough to normally require several force mages to move. After working through a few concepts, Kareet managed to apply that idea to a siege engine. The idea of using mages to operate more powerful siege engines was nothing new, but Kareet focused on achieving that power more efficiently. Her final prototype was a ballista that used a similar gear and pulley system that a single lightning mage could operate, which was just as powerful as similar weapons that usually required multiple force mages. At present, Kareet has been granted the rank of Seeker within the Order of Sages, in light of her skills and interests. Seekers are generally the more independent and combat-capable of the order's members who specialize in the search for knowledge, regardless of the dangers that may be required to obtain it.</s> <|message|>Dr. Itxaro Ibarra Itxaro chuckled weakly at Vigdis' joke; she could feel her facade cracking as her frenetic energy crept into her eyes, and suspected that Vigdis had picked up on this, trying to soothe her with humor. She was embarrassed, but grateful nonetheless. Itxaro trusted the engineer more than anyone on the ship at the moment, which granted wasn't much, and if she was going to crack up in front of anyone she was glad it was her. Still, Itxaro was surprised no one accompanied the commander out to greet the new arrivals. She sat down on one of the crates, weighing her options. She didn't feel much loyalty to the commander, but Itxaro knew that if she let her go alone and something happened to Zey, she wouldn't be able to forgive herself. Itxaro already had too many memories of shame, the kind that still made her break into a sweat and tighten up around the throat as she lay in bed. She didn't have much use for one more. The pitched battle of cowardice and courage raging inside her finally came to an end for the time being. "Guess I better go find out," Itxaro replied to Vigdis, hopping off her thinking crate. She quickly grabbed the box of metal pens, a meager offering to their new acquaintances, and followed the commander through the breach.</s> <|message|>Tyreese Nwakaeme Darnell "Hell nah. I'm not getting impaled on a spear. You go." Darnell offered as an additional reply when Dr Ibarra looked at him. He was at the completed wall, peering out with his shotgun in hand. He sounded more sober now. "They're probably figuring out how many soldiers they'll need to take us out. We're so fucked." Zhao responded to Vigdis over comms almost immediately from the top deck. She sounded quite glad to hear her voice but tried not to show it. "In the bay? No chance. Inside the ship? Errr, say five minutes except compartments with fractures. What is happening outside? Windows give shitty view. People are scared." --- The large Glen's eyes narrowed. He growled softly and took one step forward as she continued to insult him. His voice went quieter as his eyes bored into Nellara's while replying. "I am no knight, nor pillaging knave. I am Gesith Silbermine, LORD of Keraknúr, Margrave-Warden of the northern passage and protector of Sudenúr since the tragic passing of Lord Brunnenstar. I have the King of Mythadia's ear, and can lead an army of thousands to protect these Sky People in days if you endanger them. You will know if i'm threatening you, you crook-beaked fucking churl." That bit about having the ear of the King wasn't strictly true. He had always favoured Silbermine's father over him - once he had died, Gesith was forced to fight for his political life. That was why the Sky People were so important to him, prophecy aside - having them as champions in the Running would shower House Silbermine in glory and treasure. This Castigator would likely know very little about that though. --- Outside in the crisp morning air, Zey had a better view of proceedings. Most of the aliens they'd encountered before had gathered on the thin lip that the Jotunheim had caught on that prevented it from rolling back down the hill. Some of them were watching her curiously. The others looked out at twenty plus elk-things, and two of the bird-things they'd met earlier lower down the hill. The scary looking one and the studious one. She could hear the distant sound of braying and squawking, which she presumed was them communicating. Zey really wanted to rub her tired eyes and itch her nose, but kept the mask on and tried to think of a plan. What would her diplomat mother do? "Ok, I do want the pens. Someone chuck me the pens." Zey called, turning back to their hastily erected barricade. After a little while, Itxaro threw her a box of fifty and clambered down herself. Zey smiled gratefully and nodded, for the pens and the company. She patted Dr Ibarra's arm. "Let's go. Eva, can you get out here too and guard the entrance? I want them to see we have a big stick while we're softly talking. Zey then set off, carefully navigating her way down the hill while holding the box of pens. "Negative - we can't risk flying yet." She replied to Mallory while trying not to fall down the rocky slope. "I'm heading down there; if shells are all we've got then you'd best pray they buy the distraction. If this goes sideways and that doesn't work, I'm probably dead and you're in charge. Put the shell as close as possible to my location without bringing the whole hillside down." --- Silbermine took a minute while Nellara continued pontificating to calm himself again. Suddenly, movement behind the two Tekeri before him caught his eye. At first he thought it was a couple of Iriad approaching him, but their bark was too smooth. They wore strange garments that Silbermine had never seen before. They must be the Sky People! He pointed to them, a smug excitement filling his voice. "Nonsense! See how they come now to talk to us." --- The walk out into No Man's Land took an eternity. Zey tried to figure out what to say, then realised these elk-things, Glen she seemed to remember them being called, wouldn't understand her. She hoped their actions spoke as loud as words, and that gift giving was universal in this world too. Then the Tekeri Nellara turned and said enemies, plus something else. Stay? "Nope. Too invested to stay." Zey chuckled nervously, continuing to step forward. These 'Glen' were massive up close. They dwarfed Zey and Itxaro in pretty much every dimension. Their leader, the one in intricate armour, was fidgeting and emanating a mixture of honks and whines at Nellara. --- "The Sky People are perfectly safe with me and my men. The real danger is a landslide destroying their temple altogether! I merely want to discuss something with them!" Silbermine scoffed, gesturing up the hill with his head. As if to prove his point, the Glen studied these approaching Sky People, put his forehands together with fingers aimed at them in a traditional Mythadian greeting. He took one step forward, as did his knights so their lord wasn't too close to the visibly agitated Castigator. "Greetings, my friends! Welcome to Sudenúr. I am Gesith Silbermine, and I come to offer you assistance, in exchange for wisdom." --- Zey flinched when the Glen moved forward, gulping hard. Every impulse in her body was screaming at her to run. Her right hand crept up her body towards her pistol holster. "Give these three a pen, nice and slow now. We come in peace." She whispered to Itxaro, then smiled nervously at the aliens.</s> <|message|>J'eon of Mythadia J'eon the Blacksmith "A lord commands respect by acting honorable," J'eon rumbles, feeling his shoulders tense as he stares down at Silbermine. "One who comes as a thief to take what belongs to another without just cause is not worthy of respect." Would his cart remain unmolested? he wondered. Or would his men seek revenge for his slight? Since the day he was stolen from his family and enslaved, he never trusted a thief. There was no reason to start now.</s>

<|message|>Kareet of Arcaeda In general, Kareet preferred staying out of notice, though the approach of two of the Humans did make the situation that much more complicated. Getting them all trying to communicate with one another could buy them considerable time, but doing so out here in the open, with soldiers nearby and tensions high, seemed volatile. Even if Kareet or Nellara were not blamed for it, violent conflict could delay Kareet in being able to study the Humans properly. She found herself stepping up closer to Zey when the Humans reached them, not enough to crowd them, but enough that she could react if bows were drawn. "They do not share a language with us, Silbermine. They are not going to have any idea of what you are saying." Kareet chimed in. While J'eon was hardly helping matters in terms of diffusing the situation, Kareet did take note of what he was saying. They had only been companions by circumstance, so it was useful for her that he was clear on where he stood.</s>

<|description|>Evangeline Edwards Species: Human Appearance: Short, blonde, and soft typically describes Eva rather well. She keeps her long blonde hair tied up in some form of knot, and 'lithe' describes her rather well, soft pale skin that one would not typically think of when a job such as 'javelin pilot' comes to mind. In fact she seems to have little to no abnormal muscle build, being entirely physically average outside of her suit. Her eyes are a strange gold color, and she enjoys darker eyeshadow, and a full range of different nail polishes. Her closet is once again, something one would never typically see from a Javelin pilot, though hers has two very clear divisions. One end of her closet contains clothing she wears when piloting. Skin-tight, form fitting and easily worn while piloting the Javelins that conform perfectly to the pilot's body. The second is full of more flowy clothing, skirts, glorified schoolgirl outfits and anything one might seen a young, upbeat civilian girl wearing. A few oddities other than her eye color include, Just below her hair line, placed in the back of her neck, is a small metallic port, the neural interface required to use her Javelin. A tattoo just below her Neural Interface that has been partially tattooed over, reading "Property of UNSC E.A.D Your Mother!" Her extended canine teeth, appearing nearly fanglike. Something she finds incredibly amusing, as well as something she is incredibly fond of. "Money well spent!" Ranger Class Javelin - Custom Configuration, Heavy EVA "Overseer" Height-8ft Weight-750LBS Modified from her original millitary Javelin, the "Overseer" configuration focuses heavily on exploration of hostile and otherwise toxic environments, and the upkeep and monitoring of nearby connected drones via the pilot's neural interface. Completely sealed once the pilot is within, it sports it's own air filtration system, a small amount of additional oxygen as well as a chemically resistant carapace and an inner gel layer that disperses extra heat, helping regulate the pilot's body temperature in otherwise lethal cold or heat. Due to it's size and strength it also sees use in heavy lifting and construction purposes, though this is more attributed to the base Ranger frame rather than it's modifications. The Overseer sports an upgraded power supply that allows it to generate small amounts of energy from sunlight, and even exchange charge with compatible drones. In optimal situations, the "Overseer" variant is capable of maintaining an exploratory venture alongside their drones for three days if allowed pause within sunny environments. Exploratory Rescue Unit - "Rover" Quantity-(1) A doglike drone commonly used in rescue ventures. The ERU is capable of detecting a myriad of frequencies and following them to their origin point. Within a short range, it is also capable of detecting heartbeats. It is normally equipped with several small pouches of medical supplies meant for emergency treatment of rescued operatives. Capable of a short line of independent action, it's overall goal is to maintain the safety of those around it. Scientific Exploratory Unit - "Arachne" Quantity-(4) Designed specifically for gathering a myriad of information on their surroundings in a short period of time. The SEU is equipped with a number of instruments for both gathering local information, and collecting samples of materials. They are capable of a short line of independent thought, and will warn their Overseer of hazardous materials or locations before they are reached, and will actively avoid entering areas that may cause damage to themselves unless ordered. Extremely effective when deployed in pairs, or even larger groups. The drones will communicate with each other and their overseer to more easily access larger and larger areas even with small groups of drones. Augmentations: Neural Interface - Designed specifically for users to intimately interact with technology that either requires it, or lacks any other means of operation. This Neural Interface allows interaction with most technology due to a self proclaimed "Skeleton Key Program" That allows it to emulate normal processes that would occur during normal interaction with said technology. Evangaline required rather invasive brain surgery to acquire such an interface, and requires it in order to pilot her Javelin As a side benefit, it also retains basic functionality even without interaction with other tech, allowing for construction of a basic map of the land the user has seen, receiving messages through authorized channels and sending of silent messages to other technology capable of accepting them. Occupation: EVA and Robotics Specialist Key skills: Drone usage and upkeep Though recent training, Eva has taken rather well to the maintenance and usage of exploratory drones, especially due to her experience in the usage of her Neural Interface. Easily able to perform alongside multiple drones, and give silent orders as well as receive communications from them at any time they are within range. Military Experience Years spent in combat situations, and even more time spent as a glorified child soldier experiment has given Eva quite the experience in stressful situations, and moments where her life is in danger. She wears her Javelin like a second skin, and has a surprising amount of fine motor control while wearing it. She also has intimate knowledge of firearms, military equipment and it's upkeep. Personality: Excitable and joy filled, single minded determination, upsetting to hold a conversation with... just a few ways to put into words what Eva is like. It's a strange mix, the youthful excitement and hopefulness of a child just recently allowed to explore the world outside her home mixed with the obvious signs of PTSD comparable to a war veteran, and is even more pronounced the more one interacts with her. Evangaline doesn't use the names people tell her, and instead uses nicknames in most cases. As she often mentions herself when asked about the sometimes annoying or rude habit, she responds "Survive longer than a month around me and I might learn your name... no promise I'll remember it though, easier that way." Backstory: Born on a Military Science orbital station, Eva never knew the surface of a planet until she was eventually released upon the universe, much to the dismay of many. Her parents, now both criminals for illegal human experimentation, child experimentation, use of and development of child soldiers, and many other frankly disturbing crimes... Eva was frankly headed for a quick and violent doom until she met Jacobs. Jacobs, an older man who was unfortunate enough to have known Eva's parents close enough to be named her godfather and proved to be the girl's saving grace. A former Javelin pilot himself, he tutored her further as to the more detailed moments of becoming a Javelin Pilot, and even she will tell anybody who asks that he's saved her life many times over.</s> <|message|>Kolvar Stilmyst Kolvar Stilmyst walked past the tall trees in the surrounding area. Treading carefully as he did not want to be seen by anyone. Although his mission was of the utmost importance, he was fine with taking his time. The young Kriliteran stopped briefly to note a carving on a nearby tree. Placing his deformed "hand" on the area where the craving was. It looked like two lovers had carved their names into the tree. Feeling sad that he had not recently found a mate. In particular, he found it hard because he was not very good at socializing. Especially when it came to Kriliteran women. But his trouble with women was not really important at the moment. Kolvar started walking further mostly keeping to walking behind the trees and avoiding the main road because he does not want to be seen. His master had told him that the book he was looking for was a religious tomb. A book that was lost during the sacking of Balrak'dun. The hatred of the S'tor and Pa'tal is kept even today. Kolvar in particular has gotten into trouble for picking fights with S'tor and Pa'tal people. Only being saved by his friends or his master. The Kriliteran was getting closer to his destination but was stopped when he heard a caravan moving. He lay on his stomach, waiting for the caravan to move passed him. But it seemed one of them needed to use the washroom. Kolvar turned into a small bipedal creature, running toward the direction he was supposed to go. Cursing the person that had gotten close to seeing him. But he was glad that his shapeshifting had saved him. Continuing towards Ertiseda. Having to gather some information as to where the book would be located. Although he would have to be careful in case his identity would be revealed.</s> <|message|>J'eon of Mythadia Jack Mallory, X.O. --- "It's a mad-house... captain...!?!" the X.O. yelped as the leather cap was unceremoniously yanked off his head and carelessly tossed aside. His eyes darted to the back of her head as she went past, then behind him to find the cap - which was surprisingly warm. And possibly the only hat he'd have until they returned. And if they lost gravity, potential F.O.D. hazard. Danny, Danny, Danny, he sighed shaking his head.What did I ever do to you? Leaning forward over the radar plot, he took out his white wax pencil and marked out a plot. "Captain, recommend we come right seven and one-half degree for 600 yards, then left seven and one-half degree to resume our base course for 190 yards, then left three degrees for the next eight hundred yards.... What the...?" There was six tracks coming up behind them....? "Captain! We've got missiles coming up our butts!" They had nothing at all back there but that kinetic shield - and he didn't think it was built to withstand that sort of blast.</s>

<|message|>Evangeline Edwards Eva sat back silently as the man squabbled with her SEU, exhaling with a dissatisfied grunt as it was eventually crippled by the clown with the sidearm. "Mmm, looks like I have more to play with before they can handle a real bout." The shouting about being on the same side barely registered to Eva, children who aim guns should be just as ready to die as they are to kill, regardless of what side they're on... but she whistled, the clattering of the other two SEU somewhere in the far end of the room suddenly going quiet. "Stop panicking, I can open the door myself... though they probably don't like that I can. I'll send the message ahead... you know, you should teach your little pet some manners before it gets put down." Eva chuckled, giving a wink to the man who had just been pointing a gun at her moments before. Eva's Implant left a pain in the back of her mind for just a moment before connecting solidly to the bridge. "Captain be aware, Jokers in the Bay with me are mentioning some sort of issue concerning usage of the shielding at the same time as the FTL drive and main engines. The fact they liked waving a gun at me doesn't exactly make me confident but I thought I should make you aware given their eagerness to get in." Eva sighed as she cut the line, not bothering to wait for a response. "Now, you two need to find a spot to sit down with me. Either this ship stops, and the hostiles outside kill us, or the ship kills us... either way it's suddenly not your problem anymore. There is the chance this all goes off without a hitch but have you looked outside? I seriously doubt it." Eva sighed, moving to drag the damaged SEU into a small crate that still had room. "Besides, I find it very unlikely anybody will pay any attention to what you say when you have such terrible manners, even IF I decided to let you down into the Bridge."</s>

<|description|>Evangeline Edwards Species: Human Appearance: Short, blonde, and soft typically describes Eva rather well. She keeps her long blonde hair tied up in some form of knot, and 'lithe' describes her rather well, soft pale skin that one would not typically think of when a job such as 'javelin pilot' comes to mind. In fact she seems to have little to no abnormal muscle build, being entirely physically average outside of her suit. Her eyes are a strange gold color, and she enjoys darker eyeshadow, and a full range of different nail polishes. Her closet is once again, something one would never typically see from a Javelin pilot, though hers has two very clear divisions. One end of her closet contains clothing she wears when piloting. Skin-tight, form fitting and easily worn while piloting the Javelins that conform perfectly to the pilot's body. The second is full of more flowy clothing, skirts, glorified schoolgirl outfits and anything one might seen a young, upbeat civilian girl wearing. A few oddities other than her eye color include, Just below her hair line, placed in the back of her neck, is a small metallic port, the neural interface required to use her Javelin. A tattoo just below her Neural Interface that has been partially tattooed over, reading "Property of UNSC E.A.D Your Mother!" Her extended canine teeth, appearing nearly fanglike. Something she finds incredibly amusing, as well as something she is incredibly fond of. "Money well spent!" Ranger Class Javelin - Custom Configuration, Heavy EVA "Overseer" Height-8ft Weight-750LBS Modified from her original millitary Javelin, the "Overseer" configuration focuses heavily on exploration of hostile and otherwise toxic environments, and the upkeep and monitoring of nearby connected drones via the pilot's neural interface. Completely sealed once the pilot is within, it sports it's own air filtration system, a small amount of additional oxygen as well as a chemically resistant carapace and an inner gel layer that disperses extra heat, helping regulate the pilot's body temperature in otherwise lethal cold or heat. Due to it's size and strength it also sees use in heavy lifting and construction purposes, though this is more attributed to the base Ranger frame rather than it's modifications. The Overseer sports an upgraded power supply that allows it to generate small amounts of energy from sunlight, and even exchange charge with compatible drones. In optimal situations, the "Overseer" variant is capable of maintaining an exploratory venture alongside their drones for three days if allowed pause within sunny environments. Exploratory Rescue Unit - "Rover" Quantity-(1) A doglike drone commonly used in rescue ventures. The ERU is capable of detecting a myriad of frequencies and following them to their origin point. Within a short range, it is also capable of detecting heartbeats. It is normally equipped with several small pouches of medical supplies meant for emergency treatment of rescued operatives. Capable of a short line of independent action, it's overall goal is to maintain the safety of those around it. Scientific Exploratory Unit - "Arachne" Quantity-(4) Designed specifically for gathering a myriad of information on their surroundings in a short period of time. The SEU is equipped with a number of instruments for both gathering local information, and collecting samples of materials. They are capable of a short line of independent thought, and will warn their Overseer of hazardous materials or locations before they are reached, and will actively avoid entering areas that may cause damage to themselves unless ordered. Extremely effective when deployed in pairs, or even larger groups. The drones will communicate with each other and their overseer to more easily access larger and larger areas even with small groups of drones. Augmentations: Neural Interface - Designed specifically for users to intimately interact with technology that either requires it, or lacks any other means of operation. This Neural Interface allows interaction with most technology due to a self proclaimed "Skeleton Key Program" That allows it to emulate normal processes that would occur during normal interaction with said technology. Evangaline required rather invasive brain surgery to acquire such an interface, and requires it in order to pilot her Javelin As a side benefit, it also retains basic functionality even without interaction with other tech, allowing for construction of a basic map of the land the user has seen, receiving messages through authorized channels and sending of silent messages to other technology capable of accepting them. Occupation: EVA and Robotics Specialist Key skills: Drone usage and upkeep Though recent training, Eva has taken rather well to the maintenance and usage of exploratory drones, especially due to her experience in the usage of her Neural Interface. Easily able to perform alongside multiple drones, and give silent orders as well as receive communications from them at any time they are within range. Military Experience Years spent in combat situations, and even more time spent as a glorified child soldier experiment has given Eva quite the experience in stressful situations, and moments where her life is in danger. She wears her Javelin like a second skin, and has a surprising amount of fine motor control while wearing it. She also has intimate knowledge of firearms, military equipment and it's upkeep. Personality: Excitable and joy filled, single minded determination, upsetting to hold a conversation with... just a few ways to put into words what Eva is like. It's a strange mix, the youthful excitement and hopefulness of a child just recently allowed to explore the world outside her home mixed with the obvious signs of PTSD comparable to a war veteran, and is even more pronounced the more one interacts with her. Evangaline doesn't use the names people tell her, and instead uses nicknames in most cases. As she often mentions herself when asked about the sometimes annoying or rude habit, she responds "Survive longer than a month around me and I might learn your name... no promise I'll remember it though, easier that way." Backstory: Born on a Military Science orbital station, Eva never knew the surface of a planet until she was eventually released upon the universe, much to the dismay of many. Her parents, now both criminals for illegal human experimentation, child experimentation, use of and development of child soldiers, and many other frankly disturbing crimes... Eva was frankly headed for a quick and violent doom until she met Jacobs. Jacobs, an older man who was unfortunate enough to have known Eva's parents close enough to be named her godfather and proved to be the girl's saving grace. A former Javelin pilot himself, he tutored her further as to the more detailed moments of becoming a Javelin Pilot, and even she will tell anybody who asks that he's saved her life many times over.</s> <|message|>Kareet of Arcaeda Kareet observed silently as Kaqir worked. She had seen, and received, such healing many, many times before, so there was no tension for her. The only worry might have been if Kaqir was not a competent Life mage, but everything Kareet could see was perfectly acceptable. Healing simple injuries was far from the most complex thing a Life mage could do, after all. Once Kaqir was done, Kareet gave a quick look over the Glen. No visible injuries, at least, and no more signs of pain. It was sufficient. She reached around to her backpack and produced a small pouch, from which she grabbed a few silver coins. It was far more than the coppers most peasants might be able to scrounge together, and consistent with what a healer would expect to be paid in the capital. "Thank you for your assistance." Kareet said politely as she dropped the coins into the healer's hand. "I…" Kareet's voice trailed off quickly. There was…something that caught her eyes in the sky to the north: a flash. At its source, there was something glowing, very distant. Tekeri had particularly sharp eyesight, but even to her the details were difficult to discern. It was like a hole in the sky through which daylight was shining. Through it, she could see a hint of fire, of distorted shapes she could not discern, and of…something that seemed to be moving. All she could really see of it was a red glow, like a fireball. A few seconds later, something like the loudest thunder Kareet had ever heard echoed across the landscape. All at once, it was like the whole town froze. Anyone who had not noticed before now had their eyes to the sky. Even Glen villagers who had been roused from their sleep started to file outside as well to see what was happening.</s> <|message|>Kolvar Stilmyst Kolvar Stilmyst Kolvar was moving between the different stores, asking the owners where Dagmore could be located. Most of the shopkeepers didn't seem to know where the old ruins were located. He was halfway to giving up however, he would soon have a moment of luck. An old looking Glenfolk approached him. "Excuse me, son, I had seen you walking around the town for the past couple of hours. And I was wondering if I could help you?" Kolvar felt flattered that this old man would want to help him. But he was not sure if he knew where Dagmore was. "Well, I am searching for a lost Kriliteran book. And I was wondering if there were any ruins in the area?" The old man smiled and rubbed his chin with his hand. He seemed deep in thought, "Well there are a few I do know of around here. There is Dagmore which would be the most well known ancient structure." His train of thought was interrupted by Kolvar speaking up. "That would be the place I am looking for, would you be able to direct me to where the ruins are located?" The Kriliteran seemed overly excited about the old man knowing the ruin's location. The old man took longer than Kolvar hoped to try to remember the exact location, he was more than patient for him to finish. "Thank you for the directions, sir." Bowing his head he walked off, following the instructions the old man had told him. He noticed it was starting to get dark. Pulling out a small lantern from underneath his clock, he lit the small candle. he stars outside were shining brightly tonight. It was a beautiful sight. Kolvar took a moment to admire the beauty of the night sky. He noticed a bright star burning more noticeably than the others, at first he thought nothing of it. Assuming it was a star near the planet. But this particular star seemed to be coming closer and closer. Quickly ducking onto the ground, covering his head with his hands. Thinking for a moment the whole world was going to end. Muttering a prayer to his god to protect him.</s> <|message|>J'eon of Mythadia J'eon the Blacksmith It happened between the beats of his heart, the pain was there - and then it was not. "What... is this?" he marveled as he felt the bones knitting together, re-forged whole again. "My lady, this humble blacksmith thanks you," he says to Kaqir, bowing his head when she's finished. "I offer my thanks to you two, as well," he adds, climbing carefully down from his cart to stand on his own feet to face Kareet and Shirik, placing his right arm on his broad chest as a salute. "I...." Kareet, who had been paying Kaqir, was now looking past her, at... What was that? "My friend, is this your work?" he asks Shirik just before the loudest clap of thunder peeled over the village and beyond. "Sky stone?" he wondered. It was big - was a mountain of sky stone about to hit this village? --- Jack Mallory, X.O. "Captain! We were too deep in the gravity well, I don't think we cleared atmosphere," Jack reported, training kicking in as he began reading his panel. "We must have hugged the Earth during that jump! Radar shows we're above some rough terrain...." The radio was eerily silent, just the faint hiss of the universe in his ears. "Captain, we've lost comms!" the executive officer reported, checking and rechecking the panel. "No... wait... this doesn't make sense! Radio is working, but nobody's talking out there? Did the pulse of the jump knock everyone off the air?" Without GPS, they'd have to do terrain mapping and hope they'd get a match from the AI...</s>

<|message|>Evangeline Edwards Eva's bots immediately began moving as the ship shifted suddenly, rising and anchoring themselves as the ship rocked. After the explosive struck and it was clear the worst was not over, Eva's Rover dove to collide with the man who stumbled into her, attempting to stand over him as the contents of the bay shifted alongside them. The spiders did the same for the second man, clambering over him and holding them down so they didn't move as the ship rocked violently and flame eyed them hungrily. Eva didn't dare stand up until everything went frighteningly quiet, and her bots moved off their respective charges. The Rover looked down at the solder with his cut and emitted a quiet beep, shaking it's side to bring attention to the basic medical supplies it held on a pouch. "Look at that, I was exactly right. Don't get up too fast, a second volley could hit at any moment... good news though, we aren't dead. If you're still obsessed about our death the doors should open for you now that we aren't actively being shot at." Eva rose, snatching up the rifle the man had attempted to point at her. "Though I'll be keeping this, you like pointing it at things way too much. If you have problems with that ask my other three drones about it, Otherwise move on to the bridge and keep any sidearms put away." Eva sighed, the sudden quiet bothered her greatly, but they were alive and that was about all she could ask for.</s>

<|description|>Tyreese Nwakaeme Darnell Backstory: Zey is the only child of a Turkish diplomat and a translator/cultural adviser. She was raised in embassies and on the fringes of summits all over the Earth before joining the ESA cadet programme at 18. After passing with merit, she became a test pilot for experimental civilian & military prototypes. Starting with single occupant craft, Zey showed intelligence, initiative and a willingness to push the envelope which was just the right side of reckless. After a few years, her ambition secured her a co-pilot. Soon after that, she was handed the project of testing larger ships that required a crew of up to a dozen. A decade into her career, a veteran test pilot Zeynap was headhunted by a Martian military industrial conglomerate. Her new job was to train pilots on the Red Planet how to fly a jet fighter system she had tested through from prototype to production years back. Still without a family and parents she had a testy relationship with, Zey moved to Mars and started making the big bucks. Really big bucks. Like outrageous amounts of currency. She hated it. Being stuck in one training facility the whole time, on a planet that wasn't terraformed yet, unable to spread her wings personally. Her mental health began to deteriorate after a year or so. Zey drank, gambled and got high; anything to ease the boredom and depression. Eventually, she started getting into fights with colleagues and even students. Her firm had been willing to overlook certain misdemeanours on account of her skillset and experience, but they couldn't condone attacks on other staff. Officially, Zey took a medical leave of absence. Unofficially, she would never instruct for them again. Even though she longed to return to Earth, something stopped her initially. It may have been the shame of how far she'd sunk, and the dread of her highly-powered parents finding out. Or it may have been that Mars was a relatively lawless place, which suited her current frame of mind. Eventually, Zey joined a unit of private military contractors who flew and guarded valuable shipments of raw materials between different manufacturing hubs around Solar System. The modern equivalent to Cash-In-Transit jobs of old. Well paid and usually dangerous. She flew overpowered freighters like they were fighter jets or battering rams, depending on what threatened them. She still drank and got high, and kept assuring herself she'd pull herself together and get back to Earth soon. Whether or not she would have succeeded on her own is purely speculation now. Somehow, a representative from the Tamerlane Exploration company got in touch. Said they'd got her details from a friend at the Martian industrial conglomerate - they had an exciting job opportunity. Zey's skillset looked ideal, would she like to apply? It would mean taking command of her largest crew to date. Zey headed back to Earth immediately, embellished what she'd achieved since going on medical leave in the interview, and got the job. The Jotunheim was already part way through construction when she arrived in Norway to get acclimated. Some of the crew had already been sourced - Zey was able to be present in some of the later interviews and tests. Because of the rapidly accelerated timeline, the crew was really only able to fly the prototype together a dozen times before the Board of Directors authorised a full maiden voyage. Species: Human Age: 35 Appearance: Callsign: Ezra Name: [REDACTED] Species: Human Age: [REDACTED] Appearance (in armour): Appearance (without armour):</s> <|message|>Jonsdottir, Vigdis Vigdis studied the captain for a second or two, deliberating on whether to tell her the truth or what she wanted to hear. "Vaguely." She chose to be truthful, tightening the last strap on the current crate into the system and sprinting toward the weapon, noting the red stripe on the magazine indicating a load of armor-piercing darts. At that point, it had become clear that the attackers' rules of engagement made no distinction between combatants and unarmed bystanders. Donning the sling around her shoulders as she exited the Jotunheim's shuttle bay into the main hangar, she used it to push the Jackal into her shoulder and took cover behind the ramp, dialed up the power, took aim at the center of the shield… …and missed. In the stressful situation, she pulled the trigger too hard, the weapon jerked as she fired and the dart merely skimmed the side of the shield and skipped off to who-knew-where. With an annoyed grunt, she withdrew behind the ramp - just in time to avoid a burst of return fire, the bullets screaming past with the telltale cracks of supersonic rounds and out into the fjord. For a few seconds, she just stared at the bit of space the bullets had crossed, the same bit of space the right side of her chest had been occupying just moments before. After a shout brought her back into the present, she rifled through the pouch where she kept a few spare magazines: Red, red - goddamnit - finally, blue! Vigdis swapped the dart magazine for one with anti-personnel flechettes and peeked out of cover as soon as the return fire subsided. What she was about to try would've worked better with steel buckshot, but you work with what you have, not what you'd like to have. Aiming at the floor under the droid's shield, she emptied the entire magazine before retreating back into cover again, each of the eight trigger pulls sending a volley of almost 50 2x35 mm flechettes, intending for the flechettes to ricochet upward and hit the three attackers legs, bypassing the shield and droid. Due to the wide horizontal spread and nature of what she was doing, she didn't even have to bother with proper trigger squeeze. She didn't even need to seriously harm them, all she needed was for them to stop paying attention to other people in the hangar who had guns.</s> <|message|>J'eon of Mythadia J'eon sighs as he put down his bowl and spoon. His simple meal of stewed mashed grains with a dash of liquor he had picked up in Ertiseda was now a warm lump in his first stomach that was slowly spreading. The small pit fire cast was little more than embers now and well-screened from the road, the cart and camp hidden under a few boughs of leaves from prying eyes. Not that he expected company on this rather desolate track that would take him by a few of the farms. If he was lucky, he might find the very thing he sought.... It appeared suddenly, a fireball of light launched to the heavens, its brilliance robbing him of his night vision so that all he could see was splotches of color that burned and blurred, so he buried his face in his hands, massaging them. All around him, even the tiniest of insects were still, but when he looks up, he could see the fireflies had risen, like sparks from a massive fire, all around, giving tribute the only way they could to the brightest light this night. "What was that?" he asks, in a voice as soft as a whisper as he continued looking in the direction of the light, but it did not rise skyward again. There was a faint glow in that direction, miles ahead. Without taking his eyes off the spot, his right foreleg rakes the dirt back into the pit, extinguishing the flames. Whoever had sent that light aloft had announced their presence for miles, there was no need to announce himself. If it repeated, he might have to think someone was in distress...</s> <|message|>Kareet of Arcaeda The sun had only set an hour or so prior, so there was still plenty of night left for Kareet and Shirik to travel. Kareet had made all the notes she could for the moment, so she had no reason to hold up the start of this journey. Arcaeda was quite far, and depending on the path they chose, it could be weeks before they reached the capital. Internally, Kareet was hoping that nothing might happen that could make Shirik change their mind on their plans. This Iriad was an entirely unique being, and just the historical insights alone they could provide would be of immense value. They claimed to have experience an awakening centuries before the fall of the Kolodon Empire. Admittedly, Kareet was still skeptical, but if that could somehow be confirmed, that would challenge some established notions on the nature of magic and its history in Kanth-Aremek. The prestige that unearthing such a discovery would bring to a Seeker would make her a household name in the Ascendancy. Or even beyond, in some circles. The pair of them, however, had not managed to get all the way back to the town when they heard an ear-piercing screech fill the air. The sound was…bizarre. It felt like it might come from some kind of animal, but it was nothing Kareet was familiar with. Fauna may not have been her specialty, but these mountains were still her homeland and she was educated, yet she could not place what this might have been. She glanced to Shirik, but despite how well-traveled as the Iriad was, even they would not be able to recognize it. To the Glen, J'eon, though, the screech was even closer. It sounded like it came from within the forest out of sight, just beyond his camp. The sounds of rustling leaves and signs of movement just at the edge of his vision would certainly make it seem as if he had heard correctly.</s>

<|message|>Tyreese Nwakaeme Darnell The door up onto the raised concourse was locked, so one of the mercenary team set a charge and they all stacked up on the wall to blow it. Darnell, at the back save for one soldier who was watching their six, tried to raise the Jotunheim again. Icy wind and flurries of snow whipped at him from all directions. His gloved fingers may as well have been blocks of wood as they fumbled with the sat phone. "Hangar 147, come in. This is Tyreese Darnell of Tamerlane GOC. I have orders from HQ - do not take off, I repeat DO NOT take off. Please confirm this command." All he could hear was warbling static and beeps on the line, from whatever appeared to be jamming the signal. Nothing came back from the Jotunheim. The charges went off with a muffled *FUMP*. The metal doors flew off their hinges and disappeared inside, closely followed by the Israeli team's point man. Inside was the bottom of a stairwell, with a desk in front of them that the doors had just destroyed. A uniformed woman crawled out from behind the wreckage holding a large socket wrench. Upon seeing them, she shouted "No no no!" and ran towards them holding her hands out. The first soldier put two bullets in her chest and she clattered backwards dead. "Clear." He declared as the rest of the team spilled inside and began scaling the stairs. Darnell swore upon seeing the dead body and looked around for security cameras. Thankfully, he could see none. While these mercs were masked and had no discernible markings, he was barefaced and easily recognisable. The last man pushed him toward the stairs to prevent them from becoming split up. "Alright alright! I'm going." They climbed the stairs in silence, with all guns at the ready. After a few moments they reached another set of doors. They stacked up on either side of it again. Ezra tried the handle - it opened an inch. He looked through the crack. Then he nodded at the woman opposite him and she took out a stun grenade from her tactical vest. Ezra opened the door a bit more and she armed it and threw it out of the gap. A few bullets thudded into the metal door on the other side before a loud bang and a flash stopped them. It was so strong that it stung Darnell's eyes even from the back. The Israelis opened both doors and proceeded through, leaving Darnell peeping out from down the stairs a little way. Gunfire and shouting erupted on the concourse; tracer rounds whizzed by from both directions, with some pinging off the cargo crates and forklifts that littered the area. Darnell was pushed forward to take cover by the door so the guy in the back could provide cover. As he began moving, he saw one of the mercs take what looked like a shotgun volley to the chest. All the equipment on the front of her vest exploded in a shower of sparks and she collapsed on the floor. Ezra instantly moved in front of her while the guy by Darnell rushed over to grab her. Darnell was shouting and screaming and pointing without quite knowing what he was saying. Somehow, there was a cloud of smoke wafting into his field of view from the left. "Move to me, Mr Darnell!" Ezra shouted, motioning with one hand to a pile of boxes near him. Tyreese finally moved out onto the concourse - three of the mercs had assumed a defensive formation to cover both directions while the fourth prepped a canister of biofoam while crouched over their downed teammate. Darnell spotted more than one dead body in his field of vision, but he didn't stop to look at them. "Jesus fuck. Who are these guys?" "You tell me, Mr Darnell. They're not amateurs." Ezra responded. There was more gunfire from close by. Inside the cloud of smoke that was spreading across one entire side of the concourse. "They must be in there!" Tyreese pointed.</s>

<|description|>Tyreese Nwakaeme Darnell Backstory: Zey is the only child of a Turkish diplomat and a translator/cultural adviser. She was raised in embassies and on the fringes of summits all over the Earth before joining the ESA cadet programme at 18. After passing with merit, she became a test pilot for experimental civilian & military prototypes. Starting with single occupant craft, Zey showed intelligence, initiative and a willingness to push the envelope which was just the right side of reckless. After a few years, her ambition secured her a co-pilot. Soon after that, she was handed the project of testing larger ships that required a crew of up to a dozen. A decade into her career, a veteran test pilot Zeynap was headhunted by a Martian military industrial conglomerate. Her new job was to train pilots on the Red Planet how to fly a jet fighter system she had tested through from prototype to production years back. Still without a family and parents she had a testy relationship with, Zey moved to Mars and started making the big bucks. Really big bucks. Like outrageous amounts of currency. She hated it. Being stuck in one training facility the whole time, on a planet that wasn't terraformed yet, unable to spread her wings personally. Her mental health began to deteriorate after a year or so. Zey drank, gambled and got high; anything to ease the boredom and depression. Eventually, she started getting into fights with colleagues and even students. Her firm had been willing to overlook certain misdemeanours on account of her skillset and experience, but they couldn't condone attacks on other staff. Officially, Zey took a medical leave of absence. Unofficially, she would never instruct for them again. Even though she longed to return to Earth, something stopped her initially. It may have been the shame of how far she'd sunk, and the dread of her highly-powered parents finding out. Or it may have been that Mars was a relatively lawless place, which suited her current frame of mind. Eventually, Zey joined a unit of private military contractors who flew and guarded valuable shipments of raw materials between different manufacturing hubs around Solar System. The modern equivalent to Cash-In-Transit jobs of old. Well paid and usually dangerous. She flew overpowered freighters like they were fighter jets or battering rams, depending on what threatened them. She still drank and got high, and kept assuring herself she'd pull herself together and get back to Earth soon. Whether or not she would have succeeded on her own is purely speculation now. Somehow, a representative from the Tamerlane Exploration company got in touch. Said they'd got her details from a friend at the Martian industrial conglomerate - they had an exciting job opportunity. Zey's skillset looked ideal, would she like to apply? It would mean taking command of her largest crew to date. Zey headed back to Earth immediately, embellished what she'd achieved since going on medical leave in the interview, and got the job. The Jotunheim was already part way through construction when she arrived in Norway to get acclimated. Some of the crew had already been sourced - Zey was able to be present in some of the later interviews and tests. Because of the rapidly accelerated timeline, the crew was really only able to fly the prototype together a dozen times before the Board of Directors authorised a full maiden voyage. Species: Human Age: 35 Appearance: Callsign: Ezra Name: [REDACTED] Species: Human Age: [REDACTED] Appearance (in armour): Appearance (without armour):</s> <|message|>J'eon of Mythadia J'eon instinctively moved to put the point of the spear between him and the eyeless creature. But looking it over, he could not guess at where its heart would be. Nor did he like how it was opening and closing its mandibles, but that had to be its head. And if it had a head, he had a target. With another of its weird piercing cries, the creature suddenly charges towards him! "HAH!" J'eon yelled, thrusting his spear forward for the creature to impale its head on as he wordlessly summoned the flame to its tip. There would be some heat, yes, but he hadn't time for the full chant to make the blade glow white hot.... Yet there seemed to be a lot more light now? And who was yelling behind him?</s> <|message|>Fret Chappel Fret Chappel : Human : Prospector After having ducked back behind the big landing wheels Fret was waiting for return fire to thump around him signaling that they knew the deal. But instead, he heard a pop of smoke... It was close. Curiously he peaked around the side of the tires, And was enveloped with a mist that caused his bionic eye to fizz and then... Gone. He was now as blind as the day he'd lost his eyes. He flicked through the various vision modes. All blank. "Oh im TOAST..." His mouth went dry as the adrenalin started to coarse up from where his kidneys were. His body temperature suddenly dropped and he started shaking uncontrollably. "TOAST! TOAST! TOAST!" was all the little voice in the back of his head was saying. He could only roughly remember where the boarding rampway was. He knew they'd be heading there. They knew where it was... He heard a voice coming from over by the big shuttle bay hatch. "We are LEAVING! Everybody get in, now!" She bellowed. "TAKE IT EASY! ONE AT A TIME!" He took off at an awkward run. Unsure of every footstep, he stumbled about 10 to 14 steps… he should be roughly there… …He felt the surface under foot change from asphalt to a harder metal surface. Slowly his vision snowed… Then he felt someone grab him by his shoulders and throw him to the ground, knocking the wind out of him. Was he in the ship? As soon as he was in his vision came back to life. Who had grabbed him? The voice? Are we leaving??????</s> <|message|>Kareet of Arcaeda J'eon's spear was well-aimed as the creature charged. Even as the beast tried to maneuver around it, the spearhead did manage to connect on the side of its head, piercing and burning its flesh. However, J'eon would immediately notice just how tough its hide really was. Even with a good thrust, the spearhead only partially pierced into its head. With even more force, he might have been able to do more, but the hide put up enough resistance that the creature was able to jerk its head back before the spear could push deeper. At the very least, it had forced the creature to step back so it could not trample the Glen right away. Still, this creature was both absolutely massive and dangerously close. A single, solid hit from it could easily kill. Bizarrely, the creature's overwhelming aggression did not seem to subside in the slightest. Fire was generally a powerful deterrent to wild animals. Merely by showing it, Heat mages could often go undisturbed in the wilderness, which made this creature's apparent indifference to it all the more unusual. As soon as they had come upon the scene, Shirik had decided to get involved, which meant Kareet had to make that choice as well. The last thing she needed right now was for Shirik to be hurt. She reached back and, with a brief motion, formed a magnetic link between her hand and the weapon stowed away in her backpack. With a thought, the connection strengthened and her war hammer magnetized into her hand. Though, she did not move any closer for the moment. Instead, she breathed out, pointing her hammer's head at the creature as she ran her fingers down the metal haft. An electric charge built and amplified through the metal, and when she finally flicked her hand away, it all discharged at once, sending a bolt of lightning straight at her target. It lasted but an instant and was accompanied by a crack of thunder. The bolt struck the creature's raised hand and sent a shock through its body…though the effect was much less than Kareet had hoped. Its flesh was blackened on the point of impact, but not burned as much as Kareet would have expected. The best she could say at the moment was that she had hurt it enough to interrupt its attack and give the Glen more of a chance to evade.</s>

<|message|>Tyreese Nwakaeme Darnell "Ok. Levi?" Ezra asked. The merc tending to their downed colleague looked over briefly, not even flinching as a stray bullet whizzed overhead. The sound of gunfire was deafening - there was a concerted firefight happening somewhere nearby. "Mobile." Levi confirmed before looking back down. He wrenched the assault rifle out of his colleague's hands and placed it in her lap. He pulled out her sidearm and placed it in her right hand. He slapped her face lightly and her mask's optical modules slowly focused in on him. "It's loaded - watch our six." The female operator slowly nodded from her prone position. Levi gave a thumbs up to Ezra, walked round behind the woman and grabbed a handle on her suit behind her neck. He hauled her into a sitting position with her legs trailing out, and dragged her towards the front line. "You still want to do this?" Ezra asked Darnell. He nodded immediately. "If I don't get this done, we're all dead anyway." "Ok. Stay on my shoulder - don't lose contact in the smoke." Without waiting one second to confirm Tyreese understood, Ezra emerged from cover in attack mode and his team spread out around him. Darnell rushed to get behind him as they entered the smoke. --- Vigdis' flechettes were not particularly accurate, but they didn't need to be. With fifty vicious points in each round, it was inevitable that some would find the target. At least three dozen flechettes whizzed into the expanding smoke cloud, ricocheted off the floor and sliced into the calves and lower thighs of the first soldier huddled behind the droid. They let out a primal scream and collapsed on the floor clutching their legs. The droid didn't stop. It unclipped a riot gun from its thigh holster and fired a bright blue baton round at Vigdis from round the side of its shield. The other people behind the droid just stepped over the writhing figure on the floor and continued. The third man spotted Eva and her mech among the last cargo crates. Knowing how much of a threat a machine like that could be, even without weapons, they immediately grasped for the grenade launcher on their back. Eva put one of the final crates between her and the 40mm grenade that was fired towards her. The crate was shredded in the ground-shaking explosion and fell from her hands. She picked up another box and hurled it through the smoke at the advancing troops as Fret stumbled back up the ramp towards the ship. Facing being left behind if she delayed any more, Eva clanked up into the crowded shuttle bay as well. Zey chucked Fret onto the floor in the corner of the shuttle bay, then moved out of the way as Eva's mech packed into the claustrophobic space. "Mr Chappel, Eva, you good?" The cargo they'd managed to salvage had been tied down for the most part, but there still wasn't a whole lot of manoeuvring room with the shuttle taking up most of the floor. The air stank of acrid smoke and gunpowder. Rounds had stopped pinging off the metal hull of the Jotunheim, but the sound carried on somewhere nearby. "Vigdis, raise the ramp then get strapped in. Everyone should get strapped in somewhere! There are jump seats either side of the shuttle. Are they still out there? Don't let anyone else aboard." The civilians were bunging up the service corridors on the other side of the airlock, so it made sense to Zey for the last people inside to stay put and not add to the chaos. "Bosko, I'm heading back to the bridge. Start the launch sequence!" Zey punched the airlock control panel and the doors whooshed open. --- The riot droid was seven foot tall and built to hold the line against a crushing weight of people. Unfortunately though, the crate that Eva had thrown was full of heavy spare parts. It bounced off the deck once before sliding straight into the droid, knocking it clean over. The two gunmen behind it dived out of the way. It was when they got up that they realised that the people covering them from either side of the blast doors were still shooting, just not in the same direction. They were shooting at people behind them. Then the gunfire stopped, and the noise from Jotunheim's engines began increasing from a low rumble towards a crescendo. The two masked killers looked at each other, then both turned and ran for the Jotunheim's ramp, barely visible through the smoke. It was too late. Bullets flew through the murky depths and into both their backs. The men collapsed dead on the floor. The Israeli operators and their benefactor stepped quietly and quickly through the smog. One of them dispatched the wounded man with flechettes in his legs with a bullet to the head. Another operator emptied a magazine into the riot droid as it struggled to its feet, sending it into critical failure. "There it is!" Darnell shouted, breaking into a sprint; the soldiers around him reluctantly followed suit. As they approached they could hear the ramp's mechanical parts working - it was nearly halfway up! "Don't shoot! We're Tamerlane! Lower the ramp!" Darnell shouted over the din, waving his arms. The ramp didn't stop. He turned to the mercs. "Give me a leg up!" Ezra had to make a split second decision. He needed to be aboard this ship, with or without his team. "Ok, I'll go with you. While we're inside, hold this position." He directed the last part to his team, with a grim finality. Without hesitation, the soldiers moved to hoist Darnell and Ezra up so they could grab onto the ramp as it moved towards 90 degrees. They tumbled into the Jotunheim's shuttle bay with a loud crash, moments before it hissed shut. "More of them are coming, get ready!" Levi ordered, peeking round the side of the ship. The three able-bodied mercenaries got ready to defend the hangar. The engine noise was overriding everything.</s>

<|description|>Tyreese Nwakaeme Darnell Backstory: Zey is the only child of a Turkish diplomat and a translator/cultural adviser. She was raised in embassies and on the fringes of summits all over the Earth before joining the ESA cadet programme at 18. After passing with merit, she became a test pilot for experimental civilian & military prototypes. Starting with single occupant craft, Zey showed intelligence, initiative and a willingness to push the envelope which was just the right side of reckless. After a few years, her ambition secured her a co-pilot. Soon after that, she was handed the project of testing larger ships that required a crew of up to a dozen. A decade into her career, a veteran test pilot Zeynap was headhunted by a Martian military industrial conglomerate. Her new job was to train pilots on the Red Planet how to fly a jet fighter system she had tested through from prototype to production years back. Still without a family and parents she had a testy relationship with, Zey moved to Mars and started making the big bucks. Really big bucks. Like outrageous amounts of currency. She hated it. Being stuck in one training facility the whole time, on a planet that wasn't terraformed yet, unable to spread her wings personally. Her mental health began to deteriorate after a year or so. Zey drank, gambled and got high; anything to ease the boredom and depression. Eventually, she started getting into fights with colleagues and even students. Her firm had been willing to overlook certain misdemeanours on account of her skillset and experience, but they couldn't condone attacks on other staff. Officially, Zey took a medical leave of absence. Unofficially, she would never instruct for them again. Even though she longed to return to Earth, something stopped her initially. It may have been the shame of how far she'd sunk, and the dread of her highly-powered parents finding out. Or it may have been that Mars was a relatively lawless place, which suited her current frame of mind. Eventually, Zey joined a unit of private military contractors who flew and guarded valuable shipments of raw materials between different manufacturing hubs around Solar System. The modern equivalent to Cash-In-Transit jobs of old. Well paid and usually dangerous. She flew overpowered freighters like they were fighter jets or battering rams, depending on what threatened them. She still drank and got high, and kept assuring herself she'd pull herself together and get back to Earth soon. Whether or not she would have succeeded on her own is purely speculation now. Somehow, a representative from the Tamerlane Exploration company got in touch. Said they'd got her details from a friend at the Martian industrial conglomerate - they had an exciting job opportunity. Zey's skillset looked ideal, would she like to apply? It would mean taking command of her largest crew to date. Zey headed back to Earth immediately, embellished what she'd achieved since going on medical leave in the interview, and got the job. The Jotunheim was already part way through construction when she arrived in Norway to get acclimated. Some of the crew had already been sourced - Zey was able to be present in some of the later interviews and tests. Because of the rapidly accelerated timeline, the crew was really only able to fly the prototype together a dozen times before the Board of Directors authorised a full maiden voyage. Species: Human Age: 35 Appearance: Callsign: Ezra Name: [REDACTED] Species: Human Age: [REDACTED] Appearance (in armour): Appearance (without armour):</s> <|message|>Tyreese Nwakaeme Darnell Zey emerged from the airlock with several of her crew into the corridor that ran down the middle of the lower forward deck. It was even loud and more uncomfortable than usual. The lighting was harsh, it smelled of chemicals and freshly fabricated metal. The engine vibrations were more pronounced, and right now there were over thirty civilians crammed into it. Some were milling around, trying to find a way out or place to sit. Others had just plonked themselves down on the boxes of supplies along the walls or the one sofa, chattering worriedly or checked themselves for bullet holes. Vigdis and Mr Chappel the surveyor contractor stumbled away through the crowd and Zey didn't have one moment to negotiate her own way through before she heard someone shout "Captain!". She looked and found Duncan Feng addressing her. "You're intact right?" "I'm fine!" Zey shouted back over the din, she unclipped an earbud from her communicator and pushed it into one ear. "Get these people strapped or tied down, we're leaving!" She patted the Doctor on the shoulder and made to turn toward the bridge when her XO appeared from the crowd, talking about going into orbit. She was relieved to see her second-in-command, though she didn't show it. Having him on the bridge meant she could focus on not killing every stowaway on board. Everyone's voice was getting progressively louder, so Zey leaned in and placed a hand on Mallory's shoulder so she could shout in his ear. "Negative, it's too risky! We'll move the Jo to a TGOC ground installation to decant these civilians! Get to the bridge and plot us a flight plan out of here. Fast and low as this fat lady can go! Tell Anselm we need to break this comms blackout and make contact with HQ yesterday, get them to get an escort over here and prepare their site in Iceland or Russia for us. go go go!" Someone from the bridge wafted into her ear."Captain, there are two unidentified men with guns in the shuttle bay. I've sealed off the airlock. Edwards is still inside." Zey immediately spun around and looked through the viewing ports. The airlock was empty, and through the viewing port on the other side she locked eyes with Tyreese Darnell who was hammering on the door from the other side. A bulky soldier in full gear stood behind him, pointing a long gun at someone out of view - Zey presumed it was Eva as she'd have been strapping her mech in. The man pointed at the lock, then put a sat phone with a floppy antenna to his ear and mimed talking. Zey could feel movement in her legs as the Jotunheim began moving slowly out of the hangar bay. "They're shooting at the jets!" Zey heard someone else call over comms. "Bring our kinetic shielding online, direct it behind us." The Captain ordered, still staring through the viewing port at Darnell. --- Vigdis had to request access to the Engineering airlock twice before a grase-smudged face appeared and studied her at the other end, eventually opening the first door. Once she'd stepped in, the shaven head and face recognisable as Danny Varen, FTL, spotted the gun on her back. After a moment, he opened the second door. He was dressed in black flip flops, navy shorts emblazoned with the Tamerlane logo, and a plate-carrier over his bare tattooed chest. As soon as there was clearance, Danny levelled a black tactical shotgun at her body. "What's poppin' Vigdis? Put the gun down and put your hands up." Danny looked off to his left. "Search her." A second engineer stepped round the corner, shotgun in hand, and went to pat her down. "Hey! What's going on back there? I need help powering up the shields." came the stentorian voice of the Jotunheim's formidable lead engineer, Zhào Jiāyí. Though short in stature, everyone knew this harmless-looking middle aged lady had all of her larger and younger engineers firmly in check. "Its Vigdis!" Danny called back, not taking his eyes off her. "Well, stop copping a feel and tell her to get her butt over to the shield console!" Danny looked a bit sheepish, then cracked a grin. "Sorry Vigdis. Gotta be safe. Whats happening out there?" --- "You're bleeding!" The teenage boy sitting opposite Fret called out, pointing to the blood on Mr Chappel's hand. "Oh my god! Is there a doctor on board?" His mum called through the open conference room doorway.</s> <|message|>Jonsdottir, Vigdis "Mister Varen. Can I hel-" That was a gun. She complied with their instructions on partial autopilot, still working through the fact that she'd just been directly shot at for the first time in her life and was now being held at gunpoint by someone she knew. Having a coworker pointing a gun at you was a jarring experience in a completely different way. She wanted to ask what they were looking for, why they thought she was a threat or at least have some witty remark about the lead engineer's 'copping a feel' comment, but her mind just kept going back to the shotgun threatening to do what the bad guys hadn't managed while at the same time processing Varen's getup. Contrary to the situation and to her own surprise, she started snickering at the display of tactical beachwear. "Hostiles kitted out like local armed forces, comm jamming, ship full of whoever happened to be close by... 'Shitstorm' doesn't even begin to cover it. Probably shaved off at least three years off your dear Captain." She summed up what little she knew on her way to the shield console, "We've got about two and a half tons of extra live mass on board." She guesstimated the weight of the thirty-or-so extra people that weren't supposed to be on the ship. Plus 65 kg of live mass and tools, give or take, she wasn't supposed to be there either. Why was she even there? Damn ship was done, she could've gone on vacation and left the routine stuff to someone who needed some overtime. She wanted to see Iceland ever since she learned her family was originally from there. She could've at least taken a sick day and stayed at the hotel. Of all the times she could've chosen to let the inner workaholic loose, she had to do it now. "Friendly reminder, I supervised hull construction, I only know as much about the shields as was necessary for that purpose." She cautioned the other engineers. Fortunately, at least the interface looked simple enough. Now, she knew the maximum rated output of both reactors - which was really the 'long-term safe' output and thus up to 105% of that could be sustained for brief periods, that was industry standard - but didn't have access to power control, so had no clue how much power the rest of the ship was drawing except that it was taxing the power supply by at least 50% on account of the engines. Who knew what life support was using up with 30 extra people on board or if it could even keep up with that demand? Unlike the reactor guys, whom she knew well, the life support equipment team supervisor was an insufferable bint whose presence Vigdis could never stand for longer than the amount of time it took to use the coffee machine. No, Denise, I don't care that you write poetry in your spare time, your garbage doesn't even rhyme. Rear hemisphere would do for now, they were in a fjord anyway, only places to go were forward and up. "Chief, how much free power capacity do we have for the shield?" Unless the attackers brought anti-ship weaponry, she assumed the shield - presumably designed to handle debris and civilian-grade ship weapons - would hold up just fine. But what if the bad guys did have access to anti-ship missiles? They had army equipment after all… Somewhat back in her element and with no bullets flying around her, her brain had at least gotten some traction and was quickly working through the gears. Of course the boys were suspicious. If you wanted to pull a stunt like this, having someone on the inside would've helped and she'd been there for two years, knew every one in three bolts and welds on the ship and knew someone who knew the other ones. 'Can you blame them, chief?' That would've been a good one, damn it.</s> <|message|>J'eon of Mythadia J'eon the Blacksmith --- Pressing a hand to their torso, The Glen known as J'eon, gasps and turns his head to face Kareet. "I... live," he managed, haltingly, bowing his head. "I am... indebted... to you... and your... friend, for coming... to my... rescue." "I am... J'eon... of Mythadia," J'eon swallowed, tasting the blood. "May... I ask... your names?" From the pain radiating from its upper and lower torsos, he must have broken some bones there. Nor did he feel ready to stand just yet.</s> <|message|>Kareet of Arcaeda As the Glen had been collecting himself to respond, Kareet had cautiously approached the creature's corpse, setting her gaze upon any detail that could be important. Anything that stood out immediately. "Hmm, physiology unlike anything I've seen before. Doesn't match any description of anything native to the Ascendancy…and a heat resistant hide? Never heard of that occurring naturally. Blood is…black? None of this sits right with me." She muttered, mostly to herself. Kareet was tempted to pull out her notebook right away to start sketching what she could see, but the Glen, J'eon, was finally able to answer. He was alive, but even the most oblivious observer could see that he was hurt. Altogether, it was inconvenient, as it meant she could not pretend she did not notice. She wanted to find out what she could about this creature while she was able, but it was plainly obvious that J'eon needed help sooner rather than later. Her impression of Shirik's personality was that they would want them to help him. Still, she managed to avoid letting on to her reluctance to pry herself away from examining the corpse. "Kareet of Arcaeda, Seeker of the Order of Sages." She introduced herself as she stepped up to the Glen laying on the ground in front of her. "You should be treated as soon as possible. I believe Ertiseda has a Life mage. We should be able to get you there; it isn't far."</s>

<|message|>Tyreese Nwakaeme Darnell The Jotunheim Engineering department was mostly contained within one claustrophobic room. There were four main control areas including Life Support, which mostly looked out over a complicated sprawl of wires and pipes that connected the Tamerlane FTL drive in the middle with the three enormous engine pods in back. It was pretty loud, and stank of fuel. "I can give you 7.25%, no more right now! Should be enough to activate two segments." Zhao snapped at Vigdis while standing over the engine room's central console. She wore a dirty navy boiler suit with Tamerlane's horse archer logo on the back and curlers in her dark hair kept in place by netting. The other engineers had returned to their stations, where they hawkishly monitored engine and life support systems as the ship completed its final pre-flight checks. --- "Let us in!" Darnell shouted, pounding on the shuttle bay's airlock door. Looking frantically around, his eyes landed on the door's control panel again. "How do I talk through this thing…" He muttered, pressing all the buttons at once. Ezra kept his assault rifle levelled at a short young woman who he'd caught securing her mech suit to the floor. He knew all too well how dangerous those Javelin bots could be, even when demilitarised, so he didn't plan on letting its pilot out of his sight. "How do we unlock this door, or talk to the crew?" Ezra asked Eva, his accent thick when speaking in English.</s>

<|description|>Tyreese Nwakaeme Darnell Backstory: Zey is the only child of a Turkish diplomat and a translator/cultural adviser. She was raised in embassies and on the fringes of summits all over the Earth before joining the ESA cadet programme at 18. After passing with merit, she became a test pilot for experimental civilian & military prototypes. Starting with single occupant craft, Zey showed intelligence, initiative and a willingness to push the envelope which was just the right side of reckless. After a few years, her ambition secured her a co-pilot. Soon after that, she was handed the project of testing larger ships that required a crew of up to a dozen. A decade into her career, a veteran test pilot Zeynap was headhunted by a Martian military industrial conglomerate. Her new job was to train pilots on the Red Planet how to fly a jet fighter system she had tested through from prototype to production years back. Still without a family and parents she had a testy relationship with, Zey moved to Mars and started making the big bucks. Really big bucks. Like outrageous amounts of currency. She hated it. Being stuck in one training facility the whole time, on a planet that wasn't terraformed yet, unable to spread her wings personally. Her mental health began to deteriorate after a year or so. Zey drank, gambled and got high; anything to ease the boredom and depression. Eventually, she started getting into fights with colleagues and even students. Her firm had been willing to overlook certain misdemeanours on account of her skillset and experience, but they couldn't condone attacks on other staff. Officially, Zey took a medical leave of absence. Unofficially, she would never instruct for them again. Even though she longed to return to Earth, something stopped her initially. It may have been the shame of how far she'd sunk, and the dread of her highly-powered parents finding out. Or it may have been that Mars was a relatively lawless place, which suited her current frame of mind. Eventually, Zey joined a unit of private military contractors who flew and guarded valuable shipments of raw materials between different manufacturing hubs around Solar System. The modern equivalent to Cash-In-Transit jobs of old. Well paid and usually dangerous. She flew overpowered freighters like they were fighter jets or battering rams, depending on what threatened them. She still drank and got high, and kept assuring herself she'd pull herself together and get back to Earth soon. Whether or not she would have succeeded on her own is purely speculation now. Somehow, a representative from the Tamerlane Exploration company got in touch. Said they'd got her details from a friend at the Martian industrial conglomerate - they had an exciting job opportunity. Zey's skillset looked ideal, would she like to apply? It would mean taking command of her largest crew to date. Zey headed back to Earth immediately, embellished what she'd achieved since going on medical leave in the interview, and got the job. The Jotunheim was already part way through construction when she arrived in Norway to get acclimated. Some of the crew had already been sourced - Zey was able to be present in some of the later interviews and tests. Because of the rapidly accelerated timeline, the crew was really only able to fly the prototype together a dozen times before the Board of Directors authorised a full maiden voyage. Species: Human Age: 35 Appearance: Callsign: Ezra Name: [REDACTED] Species: Human Age: [REDACTED] Appearance (in armour): Appearance (without armour):</s> <|message|>Kolvar Stilmyst Kolvar Stilmyst The journey to Ertiseda was quite uneventful, Kolvar was glad that he was not seen by any other passerby. Trying not to arouse suspicion while he was in the city. Heading towards the local general store hoping the clerk knew where to find the book. Opening the store door, he had to cover his ear when the bell attached to the door rung. The clerk was busy stocking some items on a tall shelf. Kolvar approached carefully, "Excuse me, I am looking for a Kriliteran book. This particular book is a holy book written by the prophet Rathnor." The owner looked at Kolvar with a stern look. "Sorry I do not think I have that. Are you some sort of collector?." The owner stopped stocking books to turn towards Kolvar. Kolvar smiled nodding his head. "Something like that, perhaps you know the name of the person that knows where the book is located?" The owner shook his head, before moving closer toward Kolvar. "Perhaps for a price, I could give ya the name of this person." Kolvar let out a sigh, pulling a few silver coins out of the purse inside his clock. Placing the currency onto the Tekeris' hand. "I believe that should be enough for you to disclose the name of the owner." The owner smiled placing the gold into his pocket. "The guy's name is Jauth, I believe he was a collector like you. He was asking about the whereabouts of the book a few weeks ago." "And do you know where Jauth is located?" Kolvar asked having a feeling he would need to pay for that information. And his suspicions were correct, the owner held out his hand again waiting to be paid. "Bastard," Kolvar thought, handing the owner another couple of coins. "I overheard that Jauth was heading to Dagmora, I bet he went there to see if the book was there." The owner watched as Kolvar thanked him before leaving the store. Heading out of the store, He would need to ask around if there were any old structures in the nearby area.</s> <|message|>Kaqir Kaqir's exuberance was quickly tempered by the sight of the Glen. Gods above. It was nothing she couldn't fix, of course, but the fact that they seemed to have carted him across such wild roads with an injury like this... well, it couldn't have been pleasant, to say the least. His voice was too tight around his thanks, all scratch and scrape and—no. It would be fine. She tipped her head in what she hoped was a reassurance. "You're welcome, sir. This should only take a moment." Pressing a talon to his chest, she took a deep breath. Bone and blood and sinew screamed into her touch. His ribs were thoroughly cracked—though whatever broke them had the decency to leave him with a clean fracture. A direct blow, and a strong one at that. He certainly looked the fighting type. Who were these people? A noblewoman and her guards? Her gaze caught on the Iriad. They looked far too interesting to mix with high society, even in some place as open-minded as the Ascendancy. And the fellow Tekeri clearly had enough of an understanding of magic to be familiar with Life practices. Perhaps a group of bounty hunters? She shook the thoughts from her mind. She was getting paid to heal, not investigate. It didn't matter who they were. Closing her eyes, she smothered the urgent cries of his pain receptors. He didn't need to feel what was to come. That was a step you only had to miss once. Diagrams crumpled in her head, fresh ink on old paper. She'd operated on very few Glen, but their anatomy was still familiar, if a bit more mammalian than she was used to. Her notes were messy but memorable, and that's what mattered. The anterior chest cavity of a Glen was much sturdier than that of a Tekeri. There was no need of coaxing, just command. Her magic seized the marrow, stretching it to the severed fragment and twisting inside. That helped fuel the shell of periosteum, lengthening the ribcage back to its normal size. His lungs seemed to be unharmed. It was almost eerie to hear their rasp without a pulse between them. Fortunately, his lower ribs fared better than those in his upper half. Some minor contusions along the muscle and inner bone, but nothing that couldn't be fixed with some expedited tissue cleaning. His heart, which was nestled in this set of lungs, beat healthily. Exhaling slowly, she awoke his deadened nerves and withdrew. A few lingering cells tugged at her attention: scattered scars beneath his cuirass, burns curling across his arm, old bruises yellow beneath his fur. They weren't things meant to be healed, though—if he had allowed their presence this long, they were a part of him. Memories. Warnings. Badges, maybe. She met his eyes and smiled. "There we go! You should be all healed up. Do let me know if anything still hurts."</s>

<|message|>Tyreese Nwakaeme Darnell The bridge Wodan picked one hell of a time to come online. A proximity alarm pinged twice around the bridge as the Jotunheim's radar picked up six locked-on missiles. Everyone leapt into action. "Evasive action, NOW!" Zey shouted, diving towards her seat. Bosko immediately went to full speed ahead on the main engines and yanked the control yoke. The Jotunheim's beetle-like shape exploded forward and pulled up towards the dawn sky, but it was too late. The missiles were moving at 1,200 metres per second, and there was no way the hulking spacecraft could avoid them all. The first missile went straight towards the bulbous shuttle bay on the side. The shuttle bay Ezra threw the spasming spider droid onto the shuttle bay floor, gritting his teeth from the pain. He quickly looked down and dipped his fingers into a rip in the undercoat covering his right arm. His fingers came back red with blood - the robot had cut him. He looked back up at Eva as she came over to grab the spider. He crouched down and picked his assault rifle quickly back up, then stalked towards her. "No more games. Open this door or I'll-" The deck shifted dramatically under their feet and the engines shook the deck under their feet. Everything seemed to move at once - an unsecured box smashed into the soldier's legs and he stumbled into Eva. Darnell shouted, staggered and fell back hard into a row of jump seats. The airlock door opened, and the sound and sight of screaming civilians could be heard in the service corridor, then they closed again. Then a massive explosion ripped through the bay. The ramp fell slightly open, and a section of the hull in the corner buckled and burst. Flames gushed in, whipped up by the wind. A maelstrom of shrapnel made a sound like tinkling glass as it impacted surfaces. One of the large straps securing the shuttle snapped as a siren blared. --- The second missile fizzed past the ship and exploded in front of the bridge as Bosko violently levelled out of its upwards ascent and turned it to the right. A long, thin pleasure craft veered out of the way to avoid crashing into the Jo, and moved straight into the path of the third and fourth missile. The last two projectiles soared straight into the engine shielding, and the whole aft crackled with bright blue energy. The kinetic barrier forced the missiles to explode early - a savage shockwave buffeted the hull and shook the insides. Engineering Zhao strapped in, her face illuminated by glowing in the light of various displays crowded around her. "Power spike! Someone talk to me!" "It's the FTL drive ma'am, it's jumping all on its own!" Varen shot back. Vigdis would see dangerous fluctuations in her console's readings. "Kill it, now!" Zhao commanded. "It's not responding!" The noise was unbearable. The shields were screeching, and now the FTL's whine had rapidly risen to a crescendo. "Engineering to Bridge, emergency jump imminent" Zhao yelled into her comms piece. The sky was dark, and full of stars over Kanth-Amerek. The only sounds one could hear in the wilderness was the rustle of foliage and call of animals. These calls turned into frantic screeching as a thunderous boom rolled over the land and echoed off the far hills of the Ascendency. The sky flashed, like with lightning, and a dull mauve scar seared into the atmosphere. A bright ball of flame emerged, and hurtled towards the ground. The Bridge Zey had only just made it to her seat and strapped in before the panicked call from engineering. Her eyes had involuntarily closed against the bright flash, and now gouts of flame erupted from the shield cabling below the Bridge cockpit windows. The sound of missiles had totally gone, and the engines were eerily quiet, more of a sooradic judder than a continuous sound. "Where are we? Somebody give me a sitrep right now. Wodan? Welcome aboard - reboot our sensory array." Zey ordered, staring at the curved bank of screens that folded out of the wall to surround the Captain's chair. All of her external data sources were making zero sense.</s>

<|description|>Tyreese Nwakaeme Darnell Backstory: Zey is the only child of a Turkish diplomat and a translator/cultural adviser. She was raised in embassies and on the fringes of summits all over the Earth before joining the ESA cadet programme at 18. After passing with merit, she became a test pilot for experimental civilian & military prototypes. Starting with single occupant craft, Zey showed intelligence, initiative and a willingness to push the envelope which was just the right side of reckless. After a few years, her ambition secured her a co-pilot. Soon after that, she was handed the project of testing larger ships that required a crew of up to a dozen. A decade into her career, a veteran test pilot Zeynap was headhunted by a Martian military industrial conglomerate. Her new job was to train pilots on the Red Planet how to fly a jet fighter system she had tested through from prototype to production years back. Still without a family and parents she had a testy relationship with, Zey moved to Mars and started making the big bucks. Really big bucks. Like outrageous amounts of currency. She hated it. Being stuck in one training facility the whole time, on a planet that wasn't terraformed yet, unable to spread her wings personally. Her mental health began to deteriorate after a year or so. Zey drank, gambled and got high; anything to ease the boredom and depression. Eventually, she started getting into fights with colleagues and even students. Her firm had been willing to overlook certain misdemeanours on account of her skillset and experience, but they couldn't condone attacks on other staff. Officially, Zey took a medical leave of absence. Unofficially, she would never instruct for them again. Even though she longed to return to Earth, something stopped her initially. It may have been the shame of how far she'd sunk, and the dread of her highly-powered parents finding out. Or it may have been that Mars was a relatively lawless place, which suited her current frame of mind. Eventually, Zey joined a unit of private military contractors who flew and guarded valuable shipments of raw materials between different manufacturing hubs around Solar System. The modern equivalent to Cash-In-Transit jobs of old. Well paid and usually dangerous. She flew overpowered freighters like they were fighter jets or battering rams, depending on what threatened them. She still drank and got high, and kept assuring herself she'd pull herself together and get back to Earth soon. Whether or not she would have succeeded on her own is purely speculation now. Somehow, a representative from the Tamerlane Exploration company got in touch. Said they'd got her details from a friend at the Martian industrial conglomerate - they had an exciting job opportunity. Zey's skillset looked ideal, would she like to apply? It would mean taking command of her largest crew to date. Zey headed back to Earth immediately, embellished what she'd achieved since going on medical leave in the interview, and got the job. The Jotunheim was already part way through construction when she arrived in Norway to get acclimated. Some of the crew had already been sourced - Zey was able to be present in some of the later interviews and tests. Because of the rapidly accelerated timeline, the crew was really only able to fly the prototype together a dozen times before the Board of Directors authorised a full maiden voyage. Species: Human Age: 35 Appearance: Callsign: Ezra Name: [REDACTED] Species: Human Age: [REDACTED] Appearance (in armour): Appearance (without armour):</s> <|message|>Kolvar Stilmyst @Blizz Kolvar Stilmyst Kolvar watched as more people were soon approaching the ship. Cursing softly to himself, it seemed obvious that other people would have seen this flying ship crashing into the ground. Two people had arrived to investigate the ship, a glenfolk and a Tekeri. Kolvar was not going to lose this potential discovery to these two. He flew up keeping himself in the air to further inspect the ship. Moving around and making sure he would not collide with the flying tree. Trying to figure out how to open the flying ship. But perhaps the others would be able to help him open it. After finding no possible way to open it from the outside, he flew behind some trees transforming into a Tekeri male. Walking out from behind some tree to make it look like he just got here. "By the gods this ship is ginormous. Have you two travelled to investigate this flying ship?" He was addressing the two. Walking a little closer toward the ship, but kept his distance. "Have you seen a ship like this before? I wonder if they are from one of the other continents? I hope no one is hurt." All of these questions were said to make him sound like a curious bystander. "I wonder how we get in to help the people inside." Kolvar did not have any faith that they would know how to get inside. But perhaps if they put their heads together they could find a way to open it. Carefully making his way over, already feeling the heat coming off of the ship. His eyes studying the ship properly. Trying to find any kind of door or mechanism to try and open it.</s> <|message|>Kareet of Arcaeda Kareet immediately seemed to go on guard as soon as they were approached. It was a Tekeri man. Her first thought was that he might be a local villager, but the accent was not right, nor did his feathers bear any of the expected tribal markings. He was more likely a traveler of some variety. The closest road was in the same direction they had come from, though as she had indicated to the others, it was not surprising to her that a Tekeri would be able to outpace their group. More pertinent than where he had come from, though, was why he was here? The average peasant would not go chasing down a fireball from the sky. Even without considering the potential risks of the object that crashed, travel itself was dangerous. There were few types of people who would feel comfortable traveling alone, so Kareet could reason that he was either not alone, or was something more than average. "We are far from the road. Where did you come from?" Kareet asked. She was not going to show any aggression unprovoked, but she would be cautious. Still, she could not tear her attention away from this machine for too long. Something so exceptional and unusual, she would not waste a moment in studying it. Who knew how long she would have to make these notes? She could imagine many ways she might be interrupted. For now, she started to walk around the outside while observing and making her sketches. Kareet was cautious while moving around to the opposite side, downhill from the crash. The fires were gone, but there was still an abundance of metal debris scattered across the landscape. Tekeri did have tough feet, but she still did not want to invite any injuries this far from town. There was plenty of surface damage all across the machine, but one scar in particular could possibly be useful to them. There was a large hole, like a gash that had been violently cut across the metal, which had been blocked by fire before Shirik arrived. Her first thought was that it might have been damaged by the impact, but it did not look quite right for that. The jagged edges of the metal looked more like it had been torn apart by something. Regardless, it would not be difficult to climb up to, and it looked big enough to fit through. "I think I see a way in over here!" Kareet shouted.</s>

<|message|>Tyreese Nwakaeme Darnell Darnell hissed as the cold pack touched the back of his head. It felt like someone had stamped on his face and back of neck, which is probably exactly what happened in that toilet as the Jotunheim crashed. He'd been on the floor with Ezra crouched over him, pushing at each wall. Then they'd been weightless, crashing around like they were inside a washing machine. Then he'd blacked out for a bit, and had only really just got his shit together now. The med bay was overrun, so he was sitting on a couch in the corridor outside the mess hall. Ezra sat next to him, applying finishing touches to the stitched up cut on his arm. The mercenary had taken his helmet off and put it on the floor between his feet; this guy had greying black hair, dark searching eyes and moisturised, slightly paunchy skin. Paler and a bit older than Darnell had expected, but still undeniably fit and dangerous. "We should go up there, straighten some things out." Darnell said, dabbing the ice pack down his neck. "You have a concussion, makes you not think straight." "If only they'd listened to me, we could've defended that hangar until Tamerlane sent troops." "You may be right." "Of course i'm fucking right, just look at you mate." Ezra chuckled - the first time Darnell had heard him do that. It sounded like sand dunes shifting in the wind, a dry crackling. "Now we're God knows where, probably some other solar system based on these masks they gave out." Tyreese added. "I thought that just equipment failure. We somewhere remote, not dangerous. Scotland maybe?" Darnell paused, realising he may have not mentioned the FTL feature on the ship they'd been trying to stop. "I'll talk to the Captain, figure all this out." "That was not part of our deal." Ezra growled. --- Zey took the clipboard from Dr Feng and examined it quietly as Mallory said his piece. As a captain, she had trained for moments like these. But the prospect that she could have to do it over and over again until there was no one left made her feel sick. She grabbed a stylus, and angling the clipboard so it was hard for anyone else to see, wrote in small script at the bottom: "ZK - conserve supplies." Zey waited until Mallory finished. "Thank you, Mallory. I hope that is clear to everyone." She handed the pad back to Duncan. "And thank you, doctor. We'll make sure you get blood. Please, go back to your patients now. That goes for the rest of you too, I'll update you once we know more. Dismissed." --- It became clear beyond any doubt the next morning that they were on a different planet, with a different sun. They'd skipped straight out of the Solar System and ended up somewhere new in just an instant. The command crew couldn't find a single point of reference with which they could reorient. At dawn, the fires had died down enough for the survey team to venture forth. With morning sunrays peeking over the horizon, Zey stood by the pilot's chair on the Bridge and gazed out of the scratched wraparound window. The Jotunheim had rolled sideways up a rocky hill range, so the right side of the window afforded her a glimpse of the scorched earth and the massive divot the Jo had made before rolling back down and coming to rest on a craggy outcropping. Burning alien trees stood all around, sending up a plume of black smoke into the air. She could hear faint bangs and the whoosh of fire suppressants outside. If Zey craned her neck looking out of the left hand window, she could still see the trail of destruction the Jotunheim had left in its wake. Upturned earth, jagged bits of metal and pools of flaming fuel meandered down the hill. Beyond this devastation was a stunning vista out across a wide marshy plain. Strange rock formations and alien vegetation surrounded mossy ponds far into the distance. Stuck between the land and the sky along the horizon was the large body of water Zey they'd passed on their chaotic descent. She could just about make out a river that fed into or out of it. "What can you see?" She asked the survey team over radio. Turns out pretty much the entire sensory array had indeed been taken clean off or damaged in the crash. The team deployed a portable sensor bank outside, then got to work releasing Wodan's repair droids from their nests around the hull. Some had taken a beating, but others were operational and immediately got to work spreading their eyes around the outside of the ship. This short-range package of sensors picked up that the oxygen content was even higher than originally thought, at 29.1%. On Earth it was 21%. Zey gave this news to everyone together in the mess room at lunch together. All the signs suggested they had accidentally jumped to some unknown planet. With FTL travel still a new technology, rescue could be some time. The crew had prepared for this eventuality; the civilians hadn't. There was acrimony, accusations, threats. Zey understood how they felt, and did her best to calm them. The next couple of days were a controlled process of taking stock of their resources, prioritising and planning a repair schedule that accounted for decreased headcount, and figuring out who they could spare to keep watch on the perimeter. Zey needed all her crew and most of her robots doing their actual jobs - they were no good to her standing around in the cold. She considered creating a rota for the civilians, but discarded that notion as well. None of them had real combat experience - if something showed up, they'd be next to useless. In the end, Zey was forced to ask Ezra to take watch, along with Wodan's two androids. She didn't trust the mercenary, but figured he was the only professional soldier onboard - that made him more valuable out there than handing engineers their tools. Her one condition was that he had to wear a Tamerlane patch. It was just before dawn on the third day that Zey knew she'd made the right call. The whole command crew was woken by a loud notification from Ezra, who was hidden near the crest of the hill, that…something had flown overhead. Zey had been awake anyway, but resting her eyes. She opened them and stared out of the thick viewing port above her bed. Wisps of smoke and flame, left over from their crash, were rising up into the night in long tendrils. "What the fuck…" Zey murmured, hauling herself out of bed. "I can see something in the air. I have a shot." Ezra followed up to her over comms. "Don't engage. Observe and feedback!" Zey hissed. She then pinged her whole staff. "Everybody up and to the armoury! There's something outside."</s>

<|description|>Tyreese Nwakaeme Darnell Backstory: Zey is the only child of a Turkish diplomat and a translator/cultural adviser. She was raised in embassies and on the fringes of summits all over the Earth before joining the ESA cadet programme at 18. After passing with merit, she became a test pilot for experimental civilian & military prototypes. Starting with single occupant craft, Zey showed intelligence, initiative and a willingness to push the envelope which was just the right side of reckless. After a few years, her ambition secured her a co-pilot. Soon after that, she was handed the project of testing larger ships that required a crew of up to a dozen. A decade into her career, a veteran test pilot Zeynap was headhunted by a Martian military industrial conglomerate. Her new job was to train pilots on the Red Planet how to fly a jet fighter system she had tested through from prototype to production years back. Still without a family and parents she had a testy relationship with, Zey moved to Mars and started making the big bucks. Really big bucks. Like outrageous amounts of currency. She hated it. Being stuck in one training facility the whole time, on a planet that wasn't terraformed yet, unable to spread her wings personally. Her mental health began to deteriorate after a year or so. Zey drank, gambled and got high; anything to ease the boredom and depression. Eventually, she started getting into fights with colleagues and even students. Her firm had been willing to overlook certain misdemeanours on account of her skillset and experience, but they couldn't condone attacks on other staff. Officially, Zey took a medical leave of absence. Unofficially, she would never instruct for them again. Even though she longed to return to Earth, something stopped her initially. It may have been the shame of how far she'd sunk, and the dread of her highly-powered parents finding out. Or it may have been that Mars was a relatively lawless place, which suited her current frame of mind. Eventually, Zey joined a unit of private military contractors who flew and guarded valuable shipments of raw materials between different manufacturing hubs around Solar System. The modern equivalent to Cash-In-Transit jobs of old. Well paid and usually dangerous. She flew overpowered freighters like they were fighter jets or battering rams, depending on what threatened them. She still drank and got high, and kept assuring herself she'd pull herself together and get back to Earth soon. Whether or not she would have succeeded on her own is purely speculation now. Somehow, a representative from the Tamerlane Exploration company got in touch. Said they'd got her details from a friend at the Martian industrial conglomerate - they had an exciting job opportunity. Zey's skillset looked ideal, would she like to apply? It would mean taking command of her largest crew to date. Zey headed back to Earth immediately, embellished what she'd achieved since going on medical leave in the interview, and got the job. The Jotunheim was already part way through construction when she arrived in Norway to get acclimated. Some of the crew had already been sourced - Zey was able to be present in some of the later interviews and tests. Because of the rapidly accelerated timeline, the crew was really only able to fly the prototype together a dozen times before the Board of Directors authorised a full maiden voyage. Species: Human Age: 35 Appearance: Callsign: Ezra Name: [REDACTED] Species: Human Age: [REDACTED] Appearance (in armour): Appearance (without armour):</s> <|message|>Kolvar Stilmyst @Blizz @13org Kolvar Stilmyst Kolvar still did not understand the equation and what the pinkie was trying to say. "Damn if only we had a thought mage here." He cursed under his breath with a grimace on his face. He took a closer look at the equation in front of him. "It seems the pinkie wants the aluminum quill." He wanted Kareet to trade the pen for the strange tape. Watching the alien writing down another equation this time on the metallic wall. Taking a moment to try and figure out what it meant. "Do you have any idea what this new equation means? Does it look like some sort of measurement of some kind?" Tapping his clawed hand towards the bottom of his beak. Again he was having a hard time trying to figure out what the equation meant. Extending it out while reading the numbers along the tape. Letting go and looking scared as it snapped back into place. "Strange." He once again extended it out for Kareet to have a better look at. Perhaps this measuring tape would be the key to them solving the equation. "No I do not think this creature is alone, so we should be ready in case the others come. And I assume the other crewmembers will be quite aggressive." He said pointing towards Vigdis. "But we should keep a levelled head, and keep trying to keep making communication with these foreigners." He did not like the introduction of Nellara and her people waiting outside. He did not want to lose the valuable information inside the ship to the Order. He felt like an idiot for not being able to figure out the equation. But he would try his best to help them.</s> <|message|>J'eon of Mythadia J'eon the Blacksmith "So, ask yourself this then - who did bring down this city of metal?" J'eon asked, waving his upper arms. "And why are you in here instead of out there, keeping an eye on the skies?" "This is a trade," the Glen continued. "Information for information. You'd do well to remember that, Castigator Nellara." --- Jack Mallory, X.O. "Personally," Jack sighs, cycling the inner lock, "I'd say we couldn't risk the captain on this, and that I'm the one who should go in there, alone. But there are multiple races in there, so we need to show we're different, as well." Handing the carbine back, he patted his handgun. "Best hold onto that if you need to rescue us. This will not be as intimidating." Stepping inside, he waited for the captain to join him.</s>

<|message|>Tyreese Nwakaeme Darnell Tired as she was, having not slept for three days, Mallory's words served to jolt Zey awake. Her chemical gland followed suit, pumping stimulants around her system. If they all went in and things turned hostile, the Jo could lose its Captain, XO, four engineers and a senior Tamerlane contractor. The rest of the crew and passengers would have next to no chance of leaving this planet without a rescue team. Zey was already bending all the rules of first contact by going in there; there was no way she was going to sit back and let the others reap all the glory. But there had to be some sort of counterbalance. "Noted, but there's no way I'm letting you go in alone. Too dangerous. That being said…" Zey replied to Mallory, then turned to Zhao. "Zhao, I know you're going in for Vigdis but I'm pulling rank. You're staying put - Anselm can take over Command, but we can't lose all our engineers. Organise the crew and take defensive positions by the airlock. We won't be long." "Captain!" "That is an ORDER!" Zey snapped, face rippling with adrenaline. Zhao let off a string of expletives in Mandarin that the Captain didn't catch, then stormed off. Zey followed her away with a stern look, then turned to Danny Varen and Tyreese Darnell. "You too Danny. Can't let you and Dr Ibarra both in that room…Mr Darnell, If I give you a weapon, will you shoot me in the back?" Tyreese sniffed nervously and shook his head. "No ma'am." He replied sheepishly. Zey stared into his eyes for a moment. He wasn't that drunk, and she needed someone imposing to show that while they spoke softly, they had big sticks too. She took Danny's Benelli shotgun and put it into Darnell's grip. "Stand in front of me and don't do anything stupid or I'll kill you myself. Everyone ready?" With that lightning reshuffle completed, Zey filtered into the airlock behind Mallory, followed by Dr Ibarra, and Tyreese Darnell. The airlock cycled again, and they emerged out into the shuttle bay. Zey held her palms out and tried not to panic as she saw the creatures at one end by Vigdis. Her heart rate and breathing increased, and her mask made a rasping sound as it processed the air.</s>

<|description|>Tyreese Nwakaeme Darnell Backstory: Zey is the only child of a Turkish diplomat and a translator/cultural adviser. She was raised in embassies and on the fringes of summits all over the Earth before joining the ESA cadet programme at 18. After passing with merit, she became a test pilot for experimental civilian & military prototypes. Starting with single occupant craft, Zey showed intelligence, initiative and a willingness to push the envelope which was just the right side of reckless. After a few years, her ambition secured her a co-pilot. Soon after that, she was handed the project of testing larger ships that required a crew of up to a dozen. A decade into her career, a veteran test pilot Zeynap was headhunted by a Martian military industrial conglomerate. Her new job was to train pilots on the Red Planet how to fly a jet fighter system she had tested through from prototype to production years back. Still without a family and parents she had a testy relationship with, Zey moved to Mars and started making the big bucks. Really big bucks. Like outrageous amounts of currency. She hated it. Being stuck in one training facility the whole time, on a planet that wasn't terraformed yet, unable to spread her wings personally. Her mental health began to deteriorate after a year or so. Zey drank, gambled and got high; anything to ease the boredom and depression. Eventually, she started getting into fights with colleagues and even students. Her firm had been willing to overlook certain misdemeanours on account of her skillset and experience, but they couldn't condone attacks on other staff. Officially, Zey took a medical leave of absence. Unofficially, she would never instruct for them again. Even though she longed to return to Earth, something stopped her initially. It may have been the shame of how far she'd sunk, and the dread of her highly-powered parents finding out. Or it may have been that Mars was a relatively lawless place, which suited her current frame of mind. Eventually, Zey joined a unit of private military contractors who flew and guarded valuable shipments of raw materials between different manufacturing hubs around Solar System. The modern equivalent to Cash-In-Transit jobs of old. Well paid and usually dangerous. She flew overpowered freighters like they were fighter jets or battering rams, depending on what threatened them. She still drank and got high, and kept assuring herself she'd pull herself together and get back to Earth soon. Whether or not she would have succeeded on her own is purely speculation now. Somehow, a representative from the Tamerlane Exploration company got in touch. Said they'd got her details from a friend at the Martian industrial conglomerate - they had an exciting job opportunity. Zey's skillset looked ideal, would she like to apply? It would mean taking command of her largest crew to date. Zey headed back to Earth immediately, embellished what she'd achieved since going on medical leave in the interview, and got the job. The Jotunheim was already part way through construction when she arrived in Norway to get acclimated. Some of the crew had already been sourced - Zey was able to be present in some of the later interviews and tests. Because of the rapidly accelerated timeline, the crew was really only able to fly the prototype together a dozen times before the Board of Directors authorised a full maiden voyage. Species: Human Age: 35 Appearance: Callsign: Ezra Name: [REDACTED] Species: Human Age: [REDACTED] Appearance (in armour): Appearance (without armour):</s> <|message|>Kolvar Stilmyst @13org @EliteCommander Kolvar Stilmyst Kolvar looked quite frustrated as things were starting to get a little chaotic. The situation could go south if one of them made any sudden movement. His body tensed up a little as more "Hoomans" came into the room. He was not confident that Shirik's fire show was much help in communicating with these aliens. While hearing them speaking to each other, obviously talking about them being in their flying ship. Kolvar opened his mouth trying to see if he can speak their language. "H…e…l…l…o…w…e…c…o…m…e…i…n…p…e…a…c…e." Of course, this would sound like gibberish to the hoomans. His efforts to try and communicate with the aliens would be utterly useless. Kolvar seemed to back away as the giant iron golem soon came into the room. The wandering scholar looked quite scared of the golem. "What in the god's name is that?" He pointed toward the golem with a clawed finger. "I could go and fetch a thought mage, I know of one that would be able to help us." He was now standing behind Nellara and Kareet. Making sure he was not in the line of fire from the hooman's weapons. Although he was not sure how to communicate this to the crewmembers. Nor would he be able to convince the others of his plan. "Perhaps the one named Vigdis could accompany me? Of course, if we can convince them to allow for such a thing." He suddenly took a few steps forward after gathering some courage, so now he was standing in front of the others. He pointed towards himself and then towards the hoomans, then pointing towards his mouth and his forehead. Using very crude non verbals cues to try and communicate with them. Tapping his head and then towards his mouth, before making a walking motion with two fingers before pointing towards both himself and the humans once again. Trying to convey the idea of one of them joining him to fetch someone who could read minds. "I could transform one of you and myself for faster travel to fetch a thought mage." He assumed Kareet or Nellara have access to a thought mage.</s> <|message|>Jonsdottir, Vigdis In response to Mallory, Vigdis walked over to him to point out things visible from where he stood. "Start with the port aft wall corner. See how the remains of the wall were bent inward by a force pushing on the outside? Missile. Then along the floor, ceiling and fore corner, it's all bent outward. Shuttle. The way we rolled, if the hangar was hit hard enough, the whole thing would've sheared off, starting in the starboard dorsal or starboard fore corner where it joins the hull." She fired off what she could say for certain from a cursory glance, "That's what you get when you have something sticking out of the main hull like this, a design feature the company went forward with despite our objections." She couldn't help adding loud enough for Darnell to hear, "Looks like we got lucky though. I didn't see any signs of such damage when I was up on the outer hull. If you'd like, I could take off all this interior paneling and go over the beams with ultrasound to make sure, once it's airtight again. We could also have Wodan figure out the forces that had acted on the hangar from the acceleration measurements and check the strain against what the affected parts are rated for. Fortunately in our misfortune, with the long range dish torn off, the hangar isn't supporting as much weight as it was designed to, so we have a wider safety margin. As for why I haven't done it already, we were focusing on the parts of the ship that were immediately accessible and necessary for flight." She explained. 'If I thought the damn thing was gonna collapse, do you think I would be here trying to fix a hole in the wall?' Vigdis thought, but did not say out loud. And then it all started to disintegrate. It wasn't her fault, but Eva could hardly have picked a worse time to wake up and the locals had just gotten the same scare Nellara gave her. Why was she even sleeping in that thing anyway? "Human, human!" Vigdis gestured to the talking armor, "Stupid human, fuck's sake." She added in Eva's direction, perhaps a bit hypocritical since the only reason Nellara didn't have a hole in its chest was the fact that Vigdis' weapon had not been loaded when she entered the ship, before turning to the captain. "Too many people, way too many people and not enough communication." She said sternly, the last part while pointing outside to where the droids were spotted moving. It had been going rather well thus far, she was not getting gutted by one of these birds just because someone on this road trip can't work within a chain of command. It was that fucking merc who brought the suit on board, wasn't it? He was put in charge of security. In an attempt to salvage the situation outside, Vigdis pointed at herself, mimicked Kerchak's walking gesture and pointed outside. "Apologies, Nelly, someone out there needs his head examined." She said to Nellara before walking out as fast as she could without running and stood in front of one of the alien soldiers, literally placing herself between the droids and the soldier…'s lower two thirds. These birds were big. She waved her arms above her head to draw the attention of whoever was giving orders to the two droids and ran the back of her open palm along her throat once in a standardized 'engines stop' signal. Not ideal, but it would have to do.</s> <|message|>Evangeline Edwards Eva sighed, watching the situation devolve almost as soon as she woke up. It couldn't quite be helped, these 'locals' for lack of a better term were fully in their right to be freaked out, given their group essentially landed in their backyard and don't speak their language. The SEU stopped in unison, crowding around the Javelin and gathering together as they shut down. Eva did the same, letting her armor slouch slightly as the back opened to let her slip free and drop to the ground, feeling far smaller now outside her suit. Eva raised her hands a moment, making it clear she held nothing. "Friend, you folks know friends?" Eva's voice was different now, small and smooth, like she was talking to an animal. It's possible it might come across as demeaning, but with such a language barrier she had to try something, and none of them looked human so tone of voice was the best she could come up with. She kept her hands raised a moment more, hoping this place, wherever it was, shared any of Earth's body language that often existed regardless of distance. "Give us a moment okay? Let us breathe." As if to suggest the situation around her, Eva waved her arms in a pointed fashion, drawing attention to the clear mess in the bay around them that still had yet to be fully taken care of.</s>

<|message|>Tyreese Nwakaeme Darnell Zey had to check her chem-gland to make sure she wasn't hallucinating. Vigdis looked unhurt and mobile, praise be. But standing near her in the shuttle bay were five birds, some kind of elk-thing and…well, what the HELL was that thing in the leather robes? A burning tree from the crash? Why was there fire in the air when they were supposed to have fire suppression points in the ceiling? Zey had serious questions, and struggled to take her eyes off their new guests while Vigdis relayed what had happened to her so far. Tyreese Darnell blurted out the first thing that came into his head. "They're aliens…not terrorists but fucking aliens!" The large suited man shifted his grip on the unfamiliar shotgun as a tidy-looking bird came closer; he shakily half raised it before Zey put a hand on the barrel and pushed it back down. The bird alien pointed at Vigdis and said the engineer's name in a voice that struck Zey as similar to that of a parrot's mimicry. Clearer though. The clothed bird then pointed to itself. "Kareet." Zey was shocked, and hesitated for a moment or two. Then she cleared her throat, gulped and pointed to herself. "Zeynap." She then put a hand on Darnell's arm. "Tyreese." Finally, she pointed at her XO. "Mallory." In the heat of the moment, it struck Zey that she may have never used Mallory's first name before. And now she'd just introduced him as Mallory to a new race of beings. It seemed the engineers were making progress in setting up a basis for communication, so the Captain studied how these aliens were reacting. She noticed that not only was this burning tree apparently making notes with fire in the air, the most imposing bird also appeared to be remotely controlling a bunch of metal spheres with remarkable dexterity. Mallory asked Vigdis about the roof. As the engineer was making her way over, Zey edged closer to her XO and surreptitiously placed a hand blocking visibility of her mouth while talking to Mallory. "They have weapons, but where is the tech controlling all this weird shit? In their bodies? We need to get this burning tree out of the shuttle bay too, it's going to set something ablaze." Zey was listening in on the damage report with her eyes on their guests, formulating her next move when Eva and her suit woke up. Spider drones dialled in too, towards them from the back of the bay.. The reaction from the locals was understandably concerned, with everybody starting to move and some sort of electrical field appearing. "Eva get your bots in line, you're spooking the locals!" Zey raised her voice over her shoulder, palms out in a placating gesture again. "I have a clean shot, I can blow this one's head off!" Darnell urged. "What is your status?" Ezra asked in her ear. "Do NOT fire! Everybody remain calm - I'd rather not piss these things off." Zey ordered, making a patting gesture towards the ground with her hands. Just when Zey thought the tension couldn't get higher, more bird soldiers appeared and this 'Nellara' became visibly more agitated. Zey's right hand crept up to rest on the pistol in her plate carrier's holster, with her left still held out. The thing pointed its own feathery wing/arm outside, some others formed up while one bird started gesturing something quite different. The large elk creature and a few of the solders exited the shuttle bay. Suddenly Zey realised - Ezra. Vigdis realised too, and charged towards the aliens. "Vigdis, wait!" Zey called, but it was too late, she was among them and then outside. "Oh fuck's sake." She groaned, exasperated. The sound of Eva's suit opening filled the shuttle bay, and then the slap of feet on the deckplate behind her. Zey turned so she could see both her XO and her EVA specialist. "Mallory, Eva, are there any trinkets in here we could give them as a peace offering? Nothing critical or offensive. Find something, now please." Zey looked back at the aliens and pointed to Eva. "See? Human!" --- "What is happening? You are in my shot." Ezra asked calmly, staring at Vigdis through his scope as she gestured out. "Ezra, i think the locals have spotted you or the droids, they're getting aggravated. Stand down and show yourself or people are going to die." Zey talked urgently into her radio. "We cannot just surrender!" "We're not surrendering, we're communicating! Now stand down and show yourself, that is a direct order." There was a pregnant pause over the airwaves. "Understood." Ezra crackled, finally. Outside, the soldier crawled out from under the shrubbery he had set up in and walked a few paces forward, rifle cradled across his chest. He would be up the hill to the left of anyone looking into the shuttle bay entrance. He knew he looked like the bogeyman for humans, in his black armour and tactical mask. But who knows how these aliens would perceive him. "Droids, step out from cover, holster your weapons and wave." Ezra ordered, slowly wiggling the fingers on one raised hand. The robots obeyed instantly, both down in the furrow made by the spaceship as it rolled, and up and to the right.</s>

<|description|>Tyreese Nwakaeme Darnell Backstory: Zey is the only child of a Turkish diplomat and a translator/cultural adviser. She was raised in embassies and on the fringes of summits all over the Earth before joining the ESA cadet programme at 18. After passing with merit, she became a test pilot for experimental civilian & military prototypes. Starting with single occupant craft, Zey showed intelligence, initiative and a willingness to push the envelope which was just the right side of reckless. After a few years, her ambition secured her a co-pilot. Soon after that, she was handed the project of testing larger ships that required a crew of up to a dozen. A decade into her career, a veteran test pilot Zeynap was headhunted by a Martian military industrial conglomerate. Her new job was to train pilots on the Red Planet how to fly a jet fighter system she had tested through from prototype to production years back. Still without a family and parents she had a testy relationship with, Zey moved to Mars and started making the big bucks. Really big bucks. Like outrageous amounts of currency. She hated it. Being stuck in one training facility the whole time, on a planet that wasn't terraformed yet, unable to spread her wings personally. Her mental health began to deteriorate after a year or so. Zey drank, gambled and got high; anything to ease the boredom and depression. Eventually, she started getting into fights with colleagues and even students. Her firm had been willing to overlook certain misdemeanours on account of her skillset and experience, but they couldn't condone attacks on other staff. Officially, Zey took a medical leave of absence. Unofficially, she would never instruct for them again. Even though she longed to return to Earth, something stopped her initially. It may have been the shame of how far she'd sunk, and the dread of her highly-powered parents finding out. Or it may have been that Mars was a relatively lawless place, which suited her current frame of mind. Eventually, Zey joined a unit of private military contractors who flew and guarded valuable shipments of raw materials between different manufacturing hubs around Solar System. The modern equivalent to Cash-In-Transit jobs of old. Well paid and usually dangerous. She flew overpowered freighters like they were fighter jets or battering rams, depending on what threatened them. She still drank and got high, and kept assuring herself she'd pull herself together and get back to Earth soon. Whether or not she would have succeeded on her own is purely speculation now. Somehow, a representative from the Tamerlane Exploration company got in touch. Said they'd got her details from a friend at the Martian industrial conglomerate - they had an exciting job opportunity. Zey's skillset looked ideal, would she like to apply? It would mean taking command of her largest crew to date. Zey headed back to Earth immediately, embellished what she'd achieved since going on medical leave in the interview, and got the job. The Jotunheim was already part way through construction when she arrived in Norway to get acclimated. Some of the crew had already been sourced - Zey was able to be present in some of the later interviews and tests. Because of the rapidly accelerated timeline, the crew was really only able to fly the prototype together a dozen times before the Board of Directors authorised a full maiden voyage. Species: Human Age: 35 Appearance: Callsign: Ezra Name: [REDACTED] Species: Human Age: [REDACTED] Appearance (in armour): Appearance (without armour):</s> <|message|>Kareet of Arcaeda "How…" Kareet stammered. It seemed this Itxaro could create a show of lights with some sort of object, much like Shirik. It was more clear and detailed, though, and it painted a picture that she could not rationalize away. Not another continent, but a different planet entirely? That was not something she had ever even considered. Not only were there entire other worlds out there, but it was possible to move between them. This planet of theirs seemed to be named either "Earth" or "Home", based on what Itxaro indicated. This flying fortress of theirs seemed to be called a "Jotunheim." There were other words too, but Kareet could not guarantee she understood their meaning. "Travel" they associated with the same motion Shirik had used for walking. Or maybe just moving in general? "Broken", they said alongside what looked like an explosion, so perhaps the word meant "explosion"? In that case, the Human was saying their fortress exploded, then the Humans moved to their planet "Home". Or maybe that they wanted to go back to Home? That would make more sense in their circumstances. Once she was spoken to, Kareet seemed to be shaken back into reality. "I don't understand how this could be possible. It couldn't mean anything else, could it?" She turned her head towards Kerchak. "Yes…do what the Castigator says. Take a soldier back to Lenkik, hurry. We have to be able to communicate. You'll need to go to the Inquisitors' Guild there. Let the soldier guide the way; they'll know what to do."</s> <|message|>Jonsdottir, Vigdis "That's the point, guy. I know you're just doing your job, but right now you're making things worse. We've got their version of you in there and it's just as twitchy." She replied to Ezra when he complained that she was in the way. The expression on her face when Ezra waved was a mixture of confusion and unease so strong even the birdman might've found it funny. That was not a human, that was a skinwalker trying to figure out how fingers worked. Turning to the soldier, Vigdis pointed at the droids and showed him two fingers, then at Ezra and showed one. To help drive the message's intent home, she pointed at the soldier she was standing beside plus one of his buddies she picked at random and showed a number of fingers corresponding to their number before turning back to return to the shuttle bay at a leisurely pace. Since she couldn't hear weapons fire or screams of agony from inside the ship, someone had managed to keep the peace in there. Good. Although she used the fact that the local soldiers were paying attention to Ezra and the droids instead of her and finally put an armor piercing magazine into her weapon. Returning into the shuttle bay after announcing her presence by knocking on the remains of the wall with her fist, she had half a mind to give Nellara thumbs up to show that the error had been rectified, but decided against it. Who knew what that gesture could have meant to the locals? The last thing she wanted was for someone of Nellara's stature to think she just told it to sit on it. Instead she repeated what she did with the soldier, seeing that it had seemed to work, and parked herself between Darnell and Nellara, who seemed to have calmed down a bit while Vigdis was outside. "A few rules of firearms safety: Don't point it at anything you don't want to kill and keep your booger hook off the bang-bang switch until you want to shoot." She calmly addressed the Tamerlane suit. Although she hadn't been a trooper of the fighting sort, weapon safety was drilled into the heads of everyone serving aboard ships that were full of things that didn't react well to bullets. "Stop breaking two of the basic four and tell me what I missed while I was out there instead." She gently guided the muzzle of his weapon toward the floor with her left hand while gesturing to Shirik, Kareet and Ixtaro with her right. She knew from recent experience that having that pointed at you wasn't pleasant, and maybe if Darnell was busy talking, he wouldn't have time to do something stupid by accident and Nellara would stop seeing him as an unpredictable variable.</s>

<|message|>Tyreese Nwakaeme Darnell Ezra carried on waving until Vigdis went inside, then gave her a finger of his own - the middle one. After that, he put his hand back on the gun's foregrip and watched the aliens closely. He'd had standoffs like this before with all sorts of Humans - Mexican federal police, Kazakh freedom fighters etc, but never bird-soldiers before. It made him smirk under his mask. Were they afraid, or were they just naturally skittish? --- "Hey, easy on the details! They need to back the fuck up tell us what's going on here before we just roll out the welcome wagon." Darnell snapped at Itxaro as Vigdis re-entered. "Shut up man, I know how a gun works." Darnell kissed his teeth at Vigdis as she started pushing the end of his shotgun. His South London dialect was more pronounced now he'd had a few drinks. The dawning realisation that they were stuck God-knows-where had really hit home last night. He was just a fixer, not an explorer. He shouldn't have to deal with all this alien shit. "The aliens just confirmed what we already know - we're stuck somewhere off all the charts. Now she's giving them all invitations to follow us back to Earth, completely disregarding the fact these things have some advanced tech or, or fucking MAGIC. Whatever it is, it's dangerous is all I'm saying." Darnell pointed to Dr Ibarra while speaking. "Now it looks like they want us to go somewhere with them to do God knows what." Darnell continued. "No one is going anywhere." Zey said firmly, arms crossed. The aliens had shown a willingness to communicate and be peaceful, but she still wasn't clear what they were capable of or exactly what they wanted. It seemed this 'Kerchak' was instrumental somehow. "Mr Darnell is right - we can't risk them finding their way to Earth. Nobody is to give usable reference points for our home until we know more about them, is that clear? Now, how do we ask them about these metal spheres and the fire show?" She looked around. "Mallory, Eva, how long on those trinkets?"</s>

<|description|>Tyreese Nwakaeme Darnell Backstory: Zey is the only child of a Turkish diplomat and a translator/cultural adviser. She was raised in embassies and on the fringes of summits all over the Earth before joining the ESA cadet programme at 18. After passing with merit, she became a test pilot for experimental civilian & military prototypes. Starting with single occupant craft, Zey showed intelligence, initiative and a willingness to push the envelope which was just the right side of reckless. After a few years, her ambition secured her a co-pilot. Soon after that, she was handed the project of testing larger ships that required a crew of up to a dozen. A decade into her career, a veteran test pilot Zeynap was headhunted by a Martian military industrial conglomerate. Her new job was to train pilots on the Red Planet how to fly a jet fighter system she had tested through from prototype to production years back. Still without a family and parents she had a testy relationship with, Zey moved to Mars and started making the big bucks. Really big bucks. Like outrageous amounts of currency. She hated it. Being stuck in one training facility the whole time, on a planet that wasn't terraformed yet, unable to spread her wings personally. Her mental health began to deteriorate after a year or so. Zey drank, gambled and got high; anything to ease the boredom and depression. Eventually, she started getting into fights with colleagues and even students. Her firm had been willing to overlook certain misdemeanours on account of her skillset and experience, but they couldn't condone attacks on other staff. Officially, Zey took a medical leave of absence. Unofficially, she would never instruct for them again. Even though she longed to return to Earth, something stopped her initially. It may have been the shame of how far she'd sunk, and the dread of her highly-powered parents finding out. Or it may have been that Mars was a relatively lawless place, which suited her current frame of mind. Eventually, Zey joined a unit of private military contractors who flew and guarded valuable shipments of raw materials between different manufacturing hubs around Solar System. The modern equivalent to Cash-In-Transit jobs of old. Well paid and usually dangerous. She flew overpowered freighters like they were fighter jets or battering rams, depending on what threatened them. She still drank and got high, and kept assuring herself she'd pull herself together and get back to Earth soon. Whether or not she would have succeeded on her own is purely speculation now. Somehow, a representative from the Tamerlane Exploration company got in touch. Said they'd got her details from a friend at the Martian industrial conglomerate - they had an exciting job opportunity. Zey's skillset looked ideal, would she like to apply? It would mean taking command of her largest crew to date. Zey headed back to Earth immediately, embellished what she'd achieved since going on medical leave in the interview, and got the job. The Jotunheim was already part way through construction when she arrived in Norway to get acclimated. Some of the crew had already been sourced - Zey was able to be present in some of the later interviews and tests. Because of the rapidly accelerated timeline, the crew was really only able to fly the prototype together a dozen times before the Board of Directors authorised a full maiden voyage. Species: Human Age: 35 Appearance: Callsign: Ezra Name: [REDACTED] Species: Human Age: [REDACTED] Appearance (in armour): Appearance (without armour):</s> <|message|>Kolvar Stilmyst Kolvar Stilmyst Kolvar avoided the gaze of the armed guards. He stayed quiet while the soldier would introduce himself. "My name is Kercheck. I was told to help with fetching a thought mage." He really hoped no one could read his mind. If this was the case, he would have to keep his mind blank. While waiting he was tapping his clawed finger on a nearby table. The rhythm is an old Kriliteran slave song. Walking with the guards along with the soldier. Keeping close to them. And felt quite anxious about who the inquisitor would be. He was quite impressed by the design of the exterior and interior of the building. Being particularly interested in the paintings that hung up on the wall of the inquisitor's office. He wondered if a Kriliteran had painted some of them. For a moment he stopped to squint and see if there was any sign of a Kriliteran who had painted these. There would be a very specific marking somewhere hidden in the painting. Of course, his train of thought was interrupted by the soldier touching his shoulder. "My apologies I was distracted by the craftsmanship of these paintings." He followed the soldier without any further interruptions. Stopping in the middle of the room, looking petrified seeing the S'tor standing in front of them. Kolvar's clawed hands were shaking, he felt immense anger starting to build up. His face didn't show it, but his body was showing visible signs of pure rage. He took a few deep breaths before speaking. "We need your services speaking to some foreigners that had recently arrived in Kanth-Aremek. They do not speak the common tongue, and we need to communicate with them to lower tensions. A group of glen folk arrived as soon as Castigato Nellara arrived. Do you know of House Silbermine? They claimed to be from that group, and wanted to claim the contents of the ship." He tried to keep a level head while speaking to the S'tor.</s> <|message|>Kareet of Arcaeda High District, Lenkik --- As the S'tor listened, he took a cup of something from the table in front of him and took a sip, though still kept his gaze firmly on Kercheck. It was steaming hot, and from the scent in the air, seemed to be some sort of tea. "Arrived in Kanth-Aremek recently you say? This has something to do with that brilliant light in the sky a few days back, yes? Visitors from beyond our world…what a spectacular occurrence." He remarked. The S'tor was soft-spoken, and seemed rather calm considering how significant this news was. "Ah, but where are my manners? I am Gar'Tan, Thought mage in gracious service to Lenkik. So of course, Castigator Nellara's word is my command." While barely noticeable to their guests, the Iriad gave a quick gesture towards the two Glen Inquisitors. "Make the preparations." They ordered. Without hesitation, the two Glen took their leave, though the other two Inquisitors remained. Gar'Tan continued without interruption. "I cannot say I am personally familiar with Mythadia's noble houses, but I do know their type. I can do my best to facilitate communications between all three groups. Please, while we are waiting, tell me what these visitors are like?"</s> <|message|>Kolvar Stilmyst Kolvar Stilmyst Watching the S'tor carefully particularly staring at him while he was sipping his tea. "Kerchek." He made a quick introduction before continuing to speak. "They seem obviously very scared, which is understandable since they do not know where they are. But they seem to want to try and communicate with us. Which shows they want to build some sort of relationship with us." Kolvar felt awkward talking to a S'tor. The relationship between their races was quite strained, to say the least. But he was willing to play nice for the time being, to get the thought mage on his side. "They do not look like any Kanth-Aremek inhabitant that I know of. They appear to be without feathers and scales, being completely hairless. And their skin tone seems very strange." He hoped that nothing had gone wrong while he was away from the group.</s>

<|message|>Tyreese Nwakaeme Darnell The upper deck of the Jotunheim was abuzz with panicked movement as Itxaro rolled through. The civilian passengers weren't clear on what was happening, just that they'd been woken up and told to shelter in place. Some of them may have been some kind of use in a firefight, but the crew hadn't informed them of the nature of the problem yet, and neither had an audit of their skills been undertaken. Dr Feng was part way through calmly evacuating all non-critical patients from the med bay when Itxaro threw a vest at him. He caught it, deftly flopping it over his head and on. Feng looked at his assistants and told them to take over, then stepped toward Dr Ibarra and took the proffered carbine with one med-gloved hand. He fastened the plate carrier tightly around his body with the other. "Broadly speaking - what's happening?" Sara the medical assistant hurriedly clipped a white pack with a red cross on it to the back of Feng's vest. The good doctor then waved her away and motioned for Itxaro to lead him out. --- Silbermine watched two large birds lift off from the crashed temple and flap into the sky towards the mountains as the Castigator addressed him again. That is at least one mage out of the picture. His large antlered head eventually returned to look at her, but he didn't respond. This one evidently needed taking down a notch or two. He listened carefully to J'eon too, before snorting contemptuously at the other Glen and tapping one hoof on the stoney ground. "You're a Smith, aren't you? I can hear the hammerscale in your voice! Speak you to a Lord this way? I should have you flayed for your insolence! Come here and tell me of this temple's properties and I may yet reconsider. There could even be gold in it for you!" Soon after, a thing that the noble had only heard tales about spoke. An Iriad wreathed in flames. This surely meant something, yet he could not figure out what. His beady, intelligent eyes studied them through the slit in his ornate helmet. The painting wasn't a Glen? He looked again. "Hmmmmm." After a moment, he unclipped the immaculate visage from the front of his helmet, revealing his scarred and craggy face to these people for the first time. It was a face that had seen many battles and knew its way around a stand off. "I know not how these Sky People look. Only that Glen lose their antlers at winter's end, and I command a squadron of wall breakers with rams attached their chests." At that point, the Castigator requested a parley. Silbermine nodded. The Castigator began approaching their position. The Glen behind Silbermine remained motionless, apart from their standards flapping in the wind. The fog behind them was creeping up the hillside toward them, threatening to re-engulf the soldiers. Silbermine trotted forward, followed at a distance of about ten metres by his three knights (the Glen-at-arms and servants remained still). Nellara and Silbermine stopped about five metres from each other. "I pray you bring the Sky People out here so we may talk like civilised folk. I have no quarrel with them - I swear it. There is no need for anyone to die here." --- "Droid 2, do not move or make any noise until I say. Confirm command." Ezra quietly urged, viewing the robot through his scope. It stood clutching a long, thin shard of metal about thirty feet from the lead elk-thing. "Command confirmed." came the whispered response in his earpiece. Ezra had opted not to move when this new party arrived, instead crouching down and trying to blend with the charred shrubbery around him. There had been a variety of unintelligible shoutings between these two alien groups. He'd seen some birds fly off, and now one of the alien warriors had embarked down from the ridge the Jotunheim sat on and clanked through the scree towards the elk-things. "Captain, what is the plan here? This looks like a conversation we should be included in." --- With all the aliens now out of the shuttle bay, Zey moved closer to the hole in the hull which was serving as the entranceway. Mr Darnell shouldered his shotgun and came closer as well, helping Vigdis and Eva move boxes into a defensive wall. Peering outside, Zey got a glimpse of the backs of the aliens they were just communicating with, and further down the hill… Ranks of heavily armoured quadrupeds. Great. It was looking like the fever dream mediaeval reenactment out there. "Mallory, what is our armament's status? Do you have a bead on those horse-things outside?" Ezra chimed in via comms, and it may have been the drugs talking, but he was making some good points. It was clear to Zey now that this world they had landed in was unstable, with multiple competing interests. As newcomers in a strange land, they needed to present strength and courage as well as collaboration. Otherwise, they could be perceived as commodities to be sold to the highest bidder for exploitation. That is what happened all through Human history - they had to assume some parallels could apply here. Zey gulped down her bone-dry throat, and looked around at her crew/passengers. She needed to be brave for them now - if they stood any chance of surviving. Taking one long breath out, she clambered onto the box that Vigdis had just slotted in front of her and jumped down onto the scorched earth beneath the Jotunheim. The rising sun shone brightly through her mask, and for a moment she was blinded by its light. She raised one hand to shield her eyes, and gradually she could see again. "Ezra, I'm external." She murmured into her comms unit. "Captain, what the fuck are you doing?!" Darnell shouted after her.</s>

<|description|>Kolvar Stilmyst Species: Kriliteran: Kriliterans mostly live in the forest in the north of Kanth-Aremek. They are collectors of information and knowledge. Building large libraries, where they would store their sacred books. Treating books like sacred text, taking care of every book in the library. Hyper intelligent, despite their appearance. They are also known to build various contraptions, and are known to build rather varied technology. A family would be assigned to take care of a library of books, with sons and daughters taking over once the parents are unable to. Creating various artistic pieces like music, art, or poetry. They also have a photographic memory. So they memorize everything they see, and to write it down afterwards. Their true form are short stocky looking creatures, with three eyes. And multiple arms and legs. Their skin is a soft looking pink Having smaller heads than their disguised form. Their two eyes are sunken in, while their third looks like a regular eyeball. Having small bulbous lumps on the side of their face, and below their eyes that act like ears and noses. These lumps have small holes that allow for air to go through. Their appearance changes so that they do not scare the other races. Mostly appearing as tall creatures with sunken faces and pale skin. Large eyes that seem to be bulging out of their sockets. Having stocky builds, with multiple long arms and legs. A large head with no hair on the head. Kriliteran is a peaceful race, trying to solve solutions without spilling any blood. However, there have been conflicts with other races and factions. Either wanting to steal their books or enslave the Kriliterans. A significant battle happened involving the S'tor Who wanted to enslave them to build new war machines. This war ended in the enslavement of the Kriliteran for four hundred years. Soon leading up to the Kriliterans rebelling and going to war with the S'tor. But were outclassed by the S'tor, with the S'tor killing most of the Kriliterans. With only a small group of Kriliterans surviving. Escaping from the S'tor, while leaving their libraries and cities to be demolished. Modern Kriliterans live in small settlements in the northern part of Kanth-Aremek. Mostly trading with other Kriliterans. Most of them will be fine with trading with other races, however, they are very weary of outsiders. They are no conflicts currently, but they have a strong hatred for the S'tor. The Kriliterans worship a god named Niftari. Niftari is the keeper of knowledge both common and forbidden. Appearance: Kolvar's appearance looks much like the other Kriliteran in their disguised form. Wearing a large black robe that hides most of his body. Augmentations: None Magical affiliation: Life Domain Occupation: Scribe/Inventor Key skills: Inventor/Booksmart: Kolvar is a skilled inventor, having been taught how to create certain things. Constantly planning and building various inventions, to varying success. Being knowledgeable in various topics. And having encyclopedia like knowledge. Swordsmanship: If Kolvar is forced to fight he knows how to handle a sword. Learning from his master how to fight with a bladed weapon. Although he prefers a dagger or short sword, he is more skilled with a rapier. Medical Knowledge: Kolvar is knowledge in the anatomy of most races. As well as various diseases and illnesses. Backstory: Kolvar was born in the main city of Kriliteran's homeland. This city is called Tu'rakum. Living with his parents and helping them with categorizing the books. Reading most of the books inside the library, while being taught life magically by his master Urth Kamith. As he grew up into adulthood, he took over caring for the library. And in his spare time would dabble in building various inventions. Wanted to explore outside of the Kanth-Aremek, experimenting with ways he could try to make communications. Kolvar was sent to explore the Ascendancy and Mythadia border to find and bring back an ancient Kriliteran book. While heading towards the ruined library, he noticed a large burning star coming towards the planet. Being curious he decided to explore the crash site.</s> <|message|>Kaqir Kaqir's exuberance was quickly tempered by the sight of the Glen. Gods above. It was nothing she couldn't fix, of course, but the fact that they seemed to have carted him across such wild roads with an injury like this... well, it couldn't have been pleasant, to say the least. His voice was too tight around his thanks, all scratch and scrape and—no. It would be fine. She tipped her head in what she hoped was a reassurance. "You're welcome, sir. This should only take a moment." Pressing a talon to his chest, she took a deep breath. Bone and blood and sinew screamed into her touch. His ribs were thoroughly cracked—though whatever broke them had the decency to leave him with a clean fracture. A direct blow, and a strong one at that. He certainly looked the fighting type. Who were these people? A noblewoman and her guards? Her gaze caught on the Iriad. They looked far too interesting to mix with high society, even in some place as open-minded as the Ascendancy. And the fellow Tekeri clearly had enough of an understanding of magic to be familiar with Life practices. Perhaps a group of bounty hunters? She shook the thoughts from her mind. She was getting paid to heal, not investigate. It didn't matter who they were. Closing her eyes, she smothered the urgent cries of his pain receptors. He didn't need to feel what was to come. That was a step you only had to miss once. Diagrams crumpled in her head, fresh ink on old paper. She'd operated on very few Glen, but their anatomy was still familiar, if a bit more mammalian than she was used to. Her notes were messy but memorable, and that's what mattered. The anterior chest cavity of a Glen was much sturdier than that of a Tekeri. There was no need of coaxing, just command. Her magic seized the marrow, stretching it to the severed fragment and twisting inside. That helped fuel the shell of periosteum, lengthening the ribcage back to its normal size. His lungs seemed to be unharmed. It was almost eerie to hear their rasp without a pulse between them. Fortunately, his lower ribs fared better than those in his upper half. Some minor contusions along the muscle and inner bone, but nothing that couldn't be fixed with some expedited tissue cleaning. His heart, which was nestled in this set of lungs, beat healthily. Exhaling slowly, she awoke his deadened nerves and withdrew. A few lingering cells tugged at her attention: scattered scars beneath his cuirass, burns curling across his arm, old bruises yellow beneath his fur. They weren't things meant to be healed, though—if he had allowed their presence this long, they were a part of him. Memories. Warnings. Badges, maybe. She met his eyes and smiled. "There we go! You should be all healed up. Do let me know if anything still hurts."</s> <|message|>Tyreese Nwakaeme Darnell The bridge Wodan picked one hell of a time to come online. A proximity alarm pinged twice around the bridge as the Jotunheim's radar picked up six locked-on missiles. Everyone leapt into action. "Evasive action, NOW!" Zey shouted, diving towards her seat. Bosko immediately went to full speed ahead on the main engines and yanked the control yoke. The Jotunheim's beetle-like shape exploded forward and pulled up towards the dawn sky, but it was too late. The missiles were moving at 1,200 metres per second, and there was no way the hulking spacecraft could avoid them all. The first missile went straight towards the bulbous shuttle bay on the side. The shuttle bay Ezra threw the spasming spider droid onto the shuttle bay floor, gritting his teeth from the pain. He quickly looked down and dipped his fingers into a rip in the undercoat covering his right arm. His fingers came back red with blood - the robot had cut him. He looked back up at Eva as she came over to grab the spider. He crouched down and picked his assault rifle quickly back up, then stalked towards her. "No more games. Open this door or I'll-" The deck shifted dramatically under their feet and the engines shook the deck under their feet. Everything seemed to move at once - an unsecured box smashed into the soldier's legs and he stumbled into Eva. Darnell shouted, staggered and fell back hard into a row of jump seats. The airlock door opened, and the sound and sight of screaming civilians could be heard in the service corridor, then they closed again. Then a massive explosion ripped through the bay. The ramp fell slightly open, and a section of the hull in the corner buckled and burst. Flames gushed in, whipped up by the wind. A maelstrom of shrapnel made a sound like tinkling glass as it impacted surfaces. One of the large straps securing the shuttle snapped as a siren blared. --- The second missile fizzed past the ship and exploded in front of the bridge as Bosko violently levelled out of its upwards ascent and turned it to the right. A long, thin pleasure craft veered out of the way to avoid crashing into the Jo, and moved straight into the path of the third and fourth missile. The last two projectiles soared straight into the engine shielding, and the whole aft crackled with bright blue energy. The kinetic barrier forced the missiles to explode early - a savage shockwave buffeted the hull and shook the insides. Engineering Zhao strapped in, her face illuminated by glowing in the light of various displays crowded around her. "Power spike! Someone talk to me!" "It's the FTL drive ma'am, it's jumping all on its own!" Varen shot back. Vigdis would see dangerous fluctuations in her console's readings. "Kill it, now!" Zhao commanded. "It's not responding!" The noise was unbearable. The shields were screeching, and now the FTL's whine had rapidly risen to a crescendo. "Engineering to Bridge, emergency jump imminent" Zhao yelled into her comms piece. The sky was dark, and full of stars over Kanth-Amerek. The only sounds one could hear in the wilderness was the rustle of foliage and call of animals. These calls turned into frantic screeching as a thunderous boom rolled over the land and echoed off the far hills of the Ascendency. The sky flashed, like with lightning, and a dull mauve scar seared into the atmosphere. A bright ball of flame emerged, and hurtled towards the ground. The Bridge Zey had only just made it to her seat and strapped in before the panicked call from engineering. Her eyes had involuntarily closed against the bright flash, and now gouts of flame erupted from the shield cabling below the Bridge cockpit windows. The sound of missiles had totally gone, and the engines were eerily quiet, more of a sooradic judder than a continuous sound. "Where are we? Somebody give me a sitrep right now. Wodan? Welcome aboard - reboot our sensory array." Zey ordered, staring at the curved bank of screens that folded out of the wall to surround the Captain's chair. All of her external data sources were making zero sense.</s> <|message|>Kareet of Arcaeda Kareet observed silently as Kaqir worked. She had seen, and received, such healing many, many times before, so there was no tension for her. The only worry might have been if Kaqir was not a competent Life mage, but everything Kareet could see was perfectly acceptable. Healing simple injuries was far from the most complex thing a Life mage could do, after all. Once Kaqir was done, Kareet gave a quick look over the Glen. No visible injuries, at least, and no more signs of pain. It was sufficient. She reached around to her backpack and produced a small pouch, from which she grabbed a few silver coins. It was far more than the coppers most peasants might be able to scrounge together, and consistent with what a healer would expect to be paid in the capital. "Thank you for your assistance." Kareet said politely as she dropped the coins into the healer's hand. "I…" Kareet's voice trailed off quickly. There was…something that caught her eyes in the sky to the north: a flash. At its source, there was something glowing, very distant. Tekeri had particularly sharp eyesight, but even to her the details were difficult to discern. It was like a hole in the sky through which daylight was shining. Through it, she could see a hint of fire, of distorted shapes she could not discern, and of…something that seemed to be moving. All she could really see of it was a red glow, like a fireball. A few seconds later, something like the loudest thunder Kareet had ever heard echoed across the landscape. All at once, it was like the whole town froze. Anyone who had not noticed before now had their eyes to the sky. Even Glen villagers who had been roused from their sleep started to file outside as well to see what was happening.</s>

<|message|>Kolvar Stilmyst Kolvar was moving between the different stores, asking the owners where Dagmore could be located. Most of the shopkeepers didn't seem to know where the old ruins were located. He was halfway to giving up however, he would soon have a moment of luck. An old looking Glenfolk approached him. "Excuse me, son, I had seen you walking around the town for the past couple of hours. And I was wondering if I could help you?" Kolvar felt flattered that this old man would want to help him. But he was not sure if he knew where Dagmore was. "Well, I am searching for a lost Kriliteran book. And I was wondering if there were any ruins in the area?" The old man smiled and rubbed his chin with his hand. He seemed deep in thought, "Well there are a few I do know of around here. There is Dagmore which would be the most well known ancient structure." His train of thought was interrupted by Kolvar speaking up. "That would be the place I am looking for, would you be able to direct me to where the ruins are located?" The Kriliteran seemed overly excited about the old man knowing the ruin's location. The old man took longer than Kolvar hoped to try to remember the exact location, he was more than patient for him to finish. "Thank you for the directions, sir." Bowing his head he walked off, following the instructions the old man had told him. He noticed it was starting to get dark. Pulling out a small lantern from underneath his clock, he lit the small candle. he stars outside were shining brightly tonight. It was a beautiful sight. Kolvar took a moment to admire the beauty of the night sky. He noticed a bright star burning more noticeably than the others, at first he thought nothing of it. Assuming it was a star near the planet. But this particular star seemed to be coming closer and closer. Quickly ducking onto the ground, covering his head with his hands. Thinking for a moment the whole world was going to end. Muttering a prayer to his god to protect him.</s>

<|description|>Kolvar Stilmyst Species: Kriliteran: Kriliterans mostly live in the forest in the north of Kanth-Aremek. They are collectors of information and knowledge. Building large libraries, where they would store their sacred books. Treating books like sacred text, taking care of every book in the library. Hyper intelligent, despite their appearance. They are also known to build various contraptions, and are known to build rather varied technology. A family would be assigned to take care of a library of books, with sons and daughters taking over once the parents are unable to. Creating various artistic pieces like music, art, or poetry. They also have a photographic memory. So they memorize everything they see, and to write it down afterwards. Their true form are short stocky looking creatures, with three eyes. And multiple arms and legs. Their skin is a soft looking pink Having smaller heads than their disguised form. Their two eyes are sunken in, while their third looks like a regular eyeball. Having small bulbous lumps on the side of their face, and below their eyes that act like ears and noses. These lumps have small holes that allow for air to go through. Their appearance changes so that they do not scare the other races. Mostly appearing as tall creatures with sunken faces and pale skin. Large eyes that seem to be bulging out of their sockets. Having stocky builds, with multiple long arms and legs. A large head with no hair on the head. Kriliteran is a peaceful race, trying to solve solutions without spilling any blood. However, there have been conflicts with other races and factions. Either wanting to steal their books or enslave the Kriliterans. A significant battle happened involving the S'tor Who wanted to enslave them to build new war machines. This war ended in the enslavement of the Kriliteran for four hundred years. Soon leading up to the Kriliterans rebelling and going to war with the S'tor. But were outclassed by the S'tor, with the S'tor killing most of the Kriliterans. With only a small group of Kriliterans surviving. Escaping from the S'tor, while leaving their libraries and cities to be demolished. Modern Kriliterans live in small settlements in the northern part of Kanth-Aremek. Mostly trading with other Kriliterans. Most of them will be fine with trading with other races, however, they are very weary of outsiders. They are no conflicts currently, but they have a strong hatred for the S'tor. The Kriliterans worship a god named Niftari. Niftari is the keeper of knowledge both common and forbidden. Appearance: Kolvar's appearance looks much like the other Kriliteran in their disguised form. Wearing a large black robe that hides most of his body. Augmentations: None Magical affiliation: Life Domain Occupation: Scribe/Inventor Key skills: Inventor/Booksmart: Kolvar is a skilled inventor, having been taught how to create certain things. Constantly planning and building various inventions, to varying success. Being knowledgeable in various topics. And having encyclopedia like knowledge. Swordsmanship: If Kolvar is forced to fight he knows how to handle a sword. Learning from his master how to fight with a bladed weapon. Although he prefers a dagger or short sword, he is more skilled with a rapier. Medical Knowledge: Kolvar is knowledge in the anatomy of most races. As well as various diseases and illnesses. Backstory: Kolvar was born in the main city of Kriliteran's homeland. This city is called Tu'rakum. Living with his parents and helping them with categorizing the books. Reading most of the books inside the library, while being taught life magically by his master Urth Kamith. As he grew up into adulthood, he took over caring for the library. And in his spare time would dabble in building various inventions. Wanted to explore outside of the Kanth-Aremek, experimenting with ways he could try to make communications. Kolvar was sent to explore the Ascendancy and Mythadia border to find and bring back an ancient Kriliteran book. While heading towards the ruined library, he noticed a large burning star coming towards the planet. Being curious he decided to explore the crash site.</s> <|message|>Kareet of Arcaeda Kareet could have possibly believed this was some form of magic, until it started drawing closer. It started to slow noticeably as it drew nearer to the mountains, and the flames dimmed, at least slightly. It was still bright, but a Tekeri's eyes could just make out…something within. Something more than flame, and it did not look to be stone either. Though, she had few guesses on what this could be, aside from a new mystery. The fireball disappeared behind the mountains to the northeast. While it had been in the sky, the night had lit up almost like day, though darkness fell once again as soon as it went out of sight. Among the townsfolk, shock had seemingly kept a blanket of silence over the town around them for a few, brief moments. Once it seemed to become clear that the fireball was not going to bring an imminent death, though, that silence broke quickly. Everything from awe and amazement, to fear, to relief, could be heard in the chattering of the villagers around them. Kareet heard them talk of everything from magic to divine omens, but she did not concern herself with the speculations of the peasants, nor was she going to make baseless claims of her own. There would be only one way to find the truth here. Kareet gave a quick look over to Shirik. She felt sure that had been no product of Heat magic. It was something solid, even if it had been covered in flames. Prior to this moment, she would have felt that there would have been little that could pry her away from her investigation into the strange Iriad…but it seemed she had just found it. Whatever this was, it was most certainly a mystery more interesting than anything Shirik could offer. She did not even want to waste time talking or speculating; depending on exactly where and across what terrain it had come down, it could take a day or two in order to make the hike out to it. She hoped it would not be that far. "The coin was sufficient, yes? If there is nothing more that anyone needs of me, I will be going. Whatever that thing was, I must reach it."</s> <|message|>J'eon of Mythadia J'eon the Blacksmith "I've never seen so large a piece of sky metal," the Glen staring intently in awe as he pointed at the fireball. "Usually it's small chunks, but they hit the ground so very hard! I do not know what will happen when such a large rock hits. It may shatter or bury itself deep in the ground." J'eon turned towards the others. "This will be a story long told among the clans." --- Jack Mallory, X.O. Jack swallows. A safe place to put down? "Captain, we've got mountains, a lake, and more mountains," the X.O. reports. "My respects to the pilot, but if we can't do a soft landing, we need to aim for the lake." "We're likely to flood, so we'll need to get everyone off the ship and to shore as quickly as possible. It'll be tight in the lifepods, but a very short distance." But... "Only thing is, I can't reach anyone on the radio. If we stay in the water, we're likely to lose the Jo' before rescue arrives. Our best bet to save the ship is to keep the drive going and skim for the shoreline. If we can push enough of ourselves out of the water, we should be okay." And at least a year or more in repair yards, Jack scowls, and testifying in front of boards and committees about what we should have done and questioning everything. Then another year to get the Jo' recertified. Assuming whoever was behind the attack on them didn't try again. Two years, maybe more, wasted!</s> <|message|>Jonsdottir, Vigdis Fuck, Kiran was dead. Died near the breakers. The breakers she'd mentioned a second or two before the jump. No, no, she couldn't think about it like that. He would've done it anyway. Guy was a lot smarter than the dreadlocked beach bro one might write him off as at first glance, else he wouldn't have been there in the first place. "Yes ma'am." Vigdis confirmed chief Zhao's order as she switched off the shield system, salvaging what little power the still-intact control circuits were drawing before getting on the reactors. Undoing her straps, she moved over to Kiran's former station and strapped in there. First thing she did was access diagnostics to figure out just what the hell the problem was. Whatever happened, it wrought havoc on power control, with Unit 2 scrammed and Unit 1 reeling from the experience. A short investigation quickly uncovered the culprit: the shields, and to a certain extent the FTL drive, simply demanded so much they robbed the number two reactor of the power its magnetic containment and fuel feed systems required to keep it running, but the reactor itself was undamaged. Normally that wasn't supposed to be possible, but whatever caused the FTL anomaly might've been a software bug that could've also affected power distribution. The first reactor encountered a similar problem on a smaller scale, the fuel supply fluctuating within limits and slowly recovering. Next she opened the reactor relight menu, comparing what she was seeing to what the reactor and power guys had told her between beers. Fusion reactors required a lot of power to start up, meaning one could be started either by another reactor or by a big capacitor. That was why safety regulations mandated ships with multiple reactors never bring any of them below five percent. Well now one of theirs was dead and she didn't dare try jumping it with the other one for fear of something important dying on them as a result, which left option two: A battery dedicated to starting the reactors, enough to jump one. One last hail mary. If that failed, they'd be in trouble as charging it would take hours if one reactor was running well and the auxiliary wasn't anywhere close. Fuel: Check. Containment magnets: Check. Preheat: Check. The reactor had fortunately been down for such a short period of time that going back up to operating temperature only took a few seconds. "Unit 2 relight in six seconds." Hopefully, but she didn't say that out loud. Urged by Anselm's warnings, Vigdis rechecked her seatbelts, started the relight sequence and braced. Just three seconds after she did, the high-pitched whine returned to the formerly silent reactor, the engine tune had changed into a more familiar, continuous screech and the whole ship shifted upwards as if a massive hand grabbed it and gave it a boost from below. Any jubilation lasted about five seconds before being ended by an impact. The noise was horrible, the ship might have rolled, or it might've been just her imagination, she couldn't tell. Four years in space, she'd never been in an actual on board emergency, save minor ones. Vigdis couldn't tell how long it lasted, probably no more than 30 seconds, but it felt like an eternity. As soon as her head stopped spinning, she undid the straps and patted herself down to verify nothing was broken. Checking the manufacturer label on the seat, she made a mental note to purchase Martin-Baker stock once back home and stood up, stumbling before catching herself due to the floor's unexpected tilt. "You guys intact?"</s>

<|message|>Kolvar Stilmyst He opened his eyes when he noticed that he was not dead. Letting out a sigh of relief. He looked around he could see the trail of fire leading toward the crash site. Slowly making his way toward the area of the crash site, using his life magic to turn into a bird like creature. Wanting to know more about the flying ship. Keeping behind the tall trees, he wanted to avoid being seen by anyone. Following the trail, taking the form of a local aviary creature. Flying between the trees towards the crash site. Soon arriving at the crash site. Keeping his distance from the crash site, and sitting on a tree branch. Watching from a safe distance, observing whoever had survived the landing. Kolvar was curious about what kind of magic could make a ship fly. "It must be some really powerful magic." He was in utter shock at the method used to make the ship fly. He was also curious about what kind of information the flying ship contained. He assumed they would have quite a lot of useful information. His plan would be to sneak into the ship and try to find any records or information about these species. However, he was not sure if these foreigners were hostile or not. A small part of him was scared that they would be like the S'tor. There was also a strong possibility they want to conquer Kanth-Amerek. Kolvar moved a little closer toward the ship, landing on the ground near some trees. He was trying to figure out how to gain access to the magical ship. "Perhaps Master Knoll would know how to gain access to this ship?" He thought to himself. Sitting in the back of the ship before heading toward the front. It was similar to a puzzle piece but nothing was too difficult for a Kriliteran.</s>

<|description|>Kolvar Stilmyst Species: Kriliteran: Kriliterans mostly live in the forest in the north of Kanth-Aremek. They are collectors of information and knowledge. Building large libraries, where they would store their sacred books. Treating books like sacred text, taking care of every book in the library. Hyper intelligent, despite their appearance. They are also known to build various contraptions, and are known to build rather varied technology. A family would be assigned to take care of a library of books, with sons and daughters taking over once the parents are unable to. Creating various artistic pieces like music, art, or poetry. They also have a photographic memory. So they memorize everything they see, and to write it down afterwards. Their true form are short stocky looking creatures, with three eyes. And multiple arms and legs. Their skin is a soft looking pink Having smaller heads than their disguised form. Their two eyes are sunken in, while their third looks like a regular eyeball. Having small bulbous lumps on the side of their face, and below their eyes that act like ears and noses. These lumps have small holes that allow for air to go through. Their appearance changes so that they do not scare the other races. Mostly appearing as tall creatures with sunken faces and pale skin. Large eyes that seem to be bulging out of their sockets. Having stocky builds, with multiple long arms and legs. A large head with no hair on the head. Kriliteran is a peaceful race, trying to solve solutions without spilling any blood. However, there have been conflicts with other races and factions. Either wanting to steal their books or enslave the Kriliterans. A significant battle happened involving the S'tor Who wanted to enslave them to build new war machines. This war ended in the enslavement of the Kriliteran for four hundred years. Soon leading up to the Kriliterans rebelling and going to war with the S'tor. But were outclassed by the S'tor, with the S'tor killing most of the Kriliterans. With only a small group of Kriliterans surviving. Escaping from the S'tor, while leaving their libraries and cities to be demolished. Modern Kriliterans live in small settlements in the northern part of Kanth-Aremek. Mostly trading with other Kriliterans. Most of them will be fine with trading with other races, however, they are very weary of outsiders. They are no conflicts currently, but they have a strong hatred for the S'tor. The Kriliterans worship a god named Niftari. Niftari is the keeper of knowledge both common and forbidden. Appearance: Kolvar's appearance looks much like the other Kriliteran in their disguised form. Wearing a large black robe that hides most of his body. Augmentations: None Magical affiliation: Life Domain Occupation: Scribe/Inventor Key skills: Inventor/Booksmart: Kolvar is a skilled inventor, having been taught how to create certain things. Constantly planning and building various inventions, to varying success. Being knowledgeable in various topics. And having encyclopedia like knowledge. Swordsmanship: If Kolvar is forced to fight he knows how to handle a sword. Learning from his master how to fight with a bladed weapon. Although he prefers a dagger or short sword, he is more skilled with a rapier. Medical Knowledge: Kolvar is knowledge in the anatomy of most races. As well as various diseases and illnesses. Backstory: Kolvar was born in the main city of Kriliteran's homeland. This city is called Tu'rakum. Living with his parents and helping them with categorizing the books. Reading most of the books inside the library, while being taught life magically by his master Urth Kamith. As he grew up into adulthood, he took over caring for the library. And in his spare time would dabble in building various inventions. Wanted to explore outside of the Kanth-Aremek, experimenting with ways he could try to make communications. Kolvar was sent to explore the Ascendancy and Mythadia border to find and bring back an ancient Kriliteran book. While heading towards the ruined library, he noticed a large burning star coming towards the planet. Being curious he decided to explore the crash site.</s> <|message|>Kolvar Stilmyst @Expendable @EliteCommander Kolvar Stilmyst Kolvar nodded his head thinking that perhaps that would be the best course of action. "I will try to get back as soon as I can. Hopefully, nothing goes array while I am gone." He made his way over to a soldier pointing towards him with a clawed finger, "I was told by your commander to go to Lenkik to fetch a thought mage, I assume you know where to find one in Lenkik." The soldier nodded his head before rubbing his head, "Yes I know where Lenkik is, I will accompany you to find this thought mage. I believe the inquisitors would know where one would be." Kolvar had no objections to this suggestion. He would be clueless trying to find the inquisitor by himself. "It would be best if we take the form of a bird like a creature, it would be a quicker form of travel than walking." He didn't seem to care if the soldier was hesitant about being transformed into an animal. Kolvar used his magic to transform himself into a large bird creature. Not caring he was doing so in front of the other soldiers. Doing the same process to the solider. The other soldier watched in amazement as they saw the true power of life magic. The two were now flying towards Lenkik. During the course of the flight, Kolvar made no attempt to make conversation with the soldier. Arriving in Lenkik in the middle of the day, transforms himself and the solider back into their original form. "When speaking to the inquisitors you will show the utmost respect to them. Do you understand?" Kolvar had a very annoyed look on his face. Responding by nodding his head. "I will be on my best behaviour." He said with slight sarcasm in his voice. He would have to be careful what comes into his mind. He did not want to be found out as a Kriliteran. The two started walking towards a rather beautifully made building. Kolvar had to admire how well designed the Tekeri could build. Following the soldier into the building watching as Terki was speaking with someone.</s> <|message|>Kareet of Arcaeda High District, Lenkik --- The Guild of the Inquisitors was nestled into a rarely-visited corner of Lenkik's high district. From the outside, it was a large building of quite exquisitely designed architecture, though being among many others of its sort, it still managed to be unassuming. Unlike other guild halls, there were no markings on the outside to indicate its purpose. Nothing to make it stand out. If someone was important enough to have legitimate business with the Inquisitors' Guild, then they would be able to find them. Through the entryway was a large chamber with a vaulted ceiling. Not an uncommon feature for high-class Ascendancy architecture, but what was notable was how bare it all was. In other guilds or businesses, they might adorn the walls with murals, paintings, or carvings. The owners might bring in statues for decoration or arrange proper sitting areas in their lobby. For the Inquisitors, though, their lobby felt like an almost uncomfortably large room of fine, but plain white marble, with just a single desk at its center. Aside from Kolvar and the soldier, there were just three others in the spacious room. In the back, standing on either side of the closed doorway leading in to the rest of the building were two Inquisitor guards, a Glen and a Tekeri. They were what the average person tended to think of when imagining an Inquisitor, as they were the ones who served their guild openly in a defined role. They both wore a full suit of steel laminar armor, including helmets with full masks, engraved with a visage of their own respective species. On the mask, emblazoned at the center of their foreheads was the insignia of the guild: an eye with two pupils, one looking backwards, and another forwards. Both guards carried halberds and stood like statues without so much as acknowledging the new arrivals. Behind the desk was a Tekeri man of unremarkable build and stature. His feathers were immaculately clean, his beak and talons polished, and he wore the kind of fine jewelry that was common to high class Tekeri, but he otherwise had no uniform. The only thing identifying him as a member of the Inquisitors' Guild was a small, simple medallion with their insignia, which was identical to what any other member of any rank would wear. Sometimes to the irritation of outsiders, it was often difficult to understand exactly who one was dealing with when interacting with members of the guild. Aside from Inquisitor Guards, they wore no uniforms and almost never identified their rank. Their organizational structure was a mystery to anyone outside their guild, and if they were not serving a public-facing position, they would almost certainly not wear the guild insignia. Anyone could be an inquisitor, and the Tekeri man in front of them could have been anything from a prominent officer, to a secretary. The Inquisitor did not greet them, but rather waited for one of them to state their business. "Spearman Major Baraw of Lenkik." He began, presenting his rank insignia for the Inquisitor to inspect. As they had shapeshifted to return to Lenkik quickly, it was the only one of his belongings he had been able to bring with him. "I am here on the order of Nellara, Castigator of the City of Lenkik. I am presenting a formal, emergency request for the services of a Guild Thought Mage." The Inquisitor did not speak a word in question of the order. To make an emergency request for a Thought Mage was an order that carried considerable weight, as did the consequences for making such an order frivolously. "Wait here." He said firmly before promptly turning around and heading through the doors behind him deeper into the building. The wait was quiet, and perhaps awkward, but it was certainly not long. It was hardly more than five minutes before someone returned, though it was not the Tekeri. Rather, it was a pair of Inquisitor Guards, both Glen with polearms like the others guarding the door. One took a step forward towards Kolvar and Baraw. "Walk with us, and do not deviate from our path." She warned the pair. Heading deeper into the Guild Hall, one of the guards walked in front, while the other walked behind the pair, though the two Glen still walked in perfect step with one another. The hallways were as plain as the lobby; just undecorated marble. Whether or not every room was similarly unremarkable, though, they could not know, as every single door they passed on the way to their destination was closed tight, usually with a guard at its side. There was no way to know if this was normal for the Guild, or if they only took extra precautions when they had visitors. Although none of the doors seemed too different from any other, the Guards appeared to know just where to bring them. One of the Glen opened the door and ushered the pair inside, then both followed them in and closed it behind them. This room was one with far more personality than any other they had seen thusfar. It actually looked like it was someone's home, and quite a nice one at that. There were beautiful paintings decorating the walls, expensive furniture, and a wonderful view of the city out the window. Aside from the Guards who had followed them in, there were two other guards who had already been present. One was a Tekeri, while the other was an Iriad: a notable rarity outside of their homeland, though none of their expressions could be seen behind their masks. At a large table in the center of the room sat another individual. This time, a S'tor. He was roughly middle-aged with dull red scales, and by the fact that he was unarmored and unmasked, was clearly not one of the guards. In fact, the light smile he gave as his guests approached showed more emotion than every single other person they had met since they had arrived. He wore a vibrant violet robe, with silver embroidery. He was not built like a fighter, but he was still a S'tor. Even an untrained S'tor could still physically overpower any other of Kanth-Aremek's intelligent species. "Hello, it is a pleasure to meet you both. I am told that I am to be assigned to assist our Castigator. Please, tell me what you need."</s>

<|message|>Kolvar Stilmyst Kolvar avoided the gaze of the armed guards. He stayed quiet while the soldier would introduce himself. "My name is Kercheck. I was told to help with fetching a thought mage." He really hoped no one could read his mind. If this was the case, he would have to keep his mind blank. While waiting he was tapping his clawed finger on a nearby table. The rhythm is an old Kriliteran slave song. Walking with the guards along with the soldier. Keeping close to them. And felt quite anxious about who the inquisitor would be. He was quite impressed by the design of the exterior and interior of the building. Being particularly interested in the paintings that hung up on the wall of the inquisitor's office. He wondered if a Kriliteran had painted some of them. For a moment he stopped to squint and see if there was any sign of a Kriliteran who had painted these. There would be a very specific marking somewhere hidden in the painting. Of course, his train of thought was interrupted by the soldier touching his shoulder. "My apologies I was distracted by the craftsmanship of these paintings." He followed the soldier without any further interruptions. Stopping in the middle of the room, looking petrified seeing the S'tor standing in front of them. Kolvar's clawed hands were shaking, he felt immense anger starting to build up. His face didn't show it, but his body was showing visible signs of pure rage. He took a few deep breaths before speaking. "We need your services speaking to some foreigners that had recently arrived in Kanth-Aremek. They do not speak the common tongue, and we need to communicate with them to lower tensions. A group of glen folk arrived as soon as Castigato Nellara arrived. Do you know of House Silbermine? They claimed to be from that group, and wanted to claim the contents of the ship." He tried to keep a level head while speaking to the S'tor.</s>

<|description|>Kolvar Stilmyst Species: Kriliteran: Kriliterans mostly live in the forest in the north of Kanth-Aremek. They are collectors of information and knowledge. Building large libraries, where they would store their sacred books. Treating books like sacred text, taking care of every book in the library. Hyper intelligent, despite their appearance. They are also known to build various contraptions, and are known to build rather varied technology. A family would be assigned to take care of a library of books, with sons and daughters taking over once the parents are unable to. Creating various artistic pieces like music, art, or poetry. They also have a photographic memory. So they memorize everything they see, and to write it down afterwards. Their true form are short stocky looking creatures, with three eyes. And multiple arms and legs. Their skin is a soft looking pink Having smaller heads than their disguised form. Their two eyes are sunken in, while their third looks like a regular eyeball. Having small bulbous lumps on the side of their face, and below their eyes that act like ears and noses. These lumps have small holes that allow for air to go through. Their appearance changes so that they do not scare the other races. Mostly appearing as tall creatures with sunken faces and pale skin. Large eyes that seem to be bulging out of their sockets. Having stocky builds, with multiple long arms and legs. A large head with no hair on the head. Kriliteran is a peaceful race, trying to solve solutions without spilling any blood. However, there have been conflicts with other races and factions. Either wanting to steal their books or enslave the Kriliterans. A significant battle happened involving the S'tor Who wanted to enslave them to build new war machines. This war ended in the enslavement of the Kriliteran for four hundred years. Soon leading up to the Kriliterans rebelling and going to war with the S'tor. But were outclassed by the S'tor, with the S'tor killing most of the Kriliterans. With only a small group of Kriliterans surviving. Escaping from the S'tor, while leaving their libraries and cities to be demolished. Modern Kriliterans live in small settlements in the northern part of Kanth-Aremek. Mostly trading with other Kriliterans. Most of them will be fine with trading with other races, however, they are very weary of outsiders. They are no conflicts currently, but they have a strong hatred for the S'tor. The Kriliterans worship a god named Niftari. Niftari is the keeper of knowledge both common and forbidden. Appearance: Kolvar's appearance looks much like the other Kriliteran in their disguised form. Wearing a large black robe that hides most of his body. Augmentations: None Magical affiliation: Life Domain Occupation: Scribe/Inventor Key skills: Inventor/Booksmart: Kolvar is a skilled inventor, having been taught how to create certain things. Constantly planning and building various inventions, to varying success. Being knowledgeable in various topics. And having encyclopedia like knowledge. Swordsmanship: If Kolvar is forced to fight he knows how to handle a sword. Learning from his master how to fight with a bladed weapon. Although he prefers a dagger or short sword, he is more skilled with a rapier. Medical Knowledge: Kolvar is knowledge in the anatomy of most races. As well as various diseases and illnesses. Backstory: Kolvar was born in the main city of Kriliteran's homeland. This city is called Tu'rakum. Living with his parents and helping them with categorizing the books. Reading most of the books inside the library, while being taught life magically by his master Urth Kamith. As he grew up into adulthood, he took over caring for the library. And in his spare time would dabble in building various inventions. Wanted to explore outside of the Kanth-Aremek, experimenting with ways he could try to make communications. Kolvar was sent to explore the Ascendancy and Mythadia border to find and bring back an ancient Kriliteran book. While heading towards the ruined library, he noticed a large burning star coming towards the planet. Being curious he decided to explore the crash site.</s> <|message|>Kareet of Arcaeda High District, Lenkik --- The Guild of the Inquisitors was nestled into a rarely-visited corner of Lenkik's high district. From the outside, it was a large building of quite exquisitely designed architecture, though being among many others of its sort, it still managed to be unassuming. Unlike other guild halls, there were no markings on the outside to indicate its purpose. Nothing to make it stand out. If someone was important enough to have legitimate business with the Inquisitors' Guild, then they would be able to find them. Through the entryway was a large chamber with a vaulted ceiling. Not an uncommon feature for high-class Ascendancy architecture, but what was notable was how bare it all was. In other guilds or businesses, they might adorn the walls with murals, paintings, or carvings. The owners might bring in statues for decoration or arrange proper sitting areas in their lobby. For the Inquisitors, though, their lobby felt like an almost uncomfortably large room of fine, but plain white marble, with just a single desk at its center. Aside from Kolvar and the soldier, there were just three others in the spacious room. In the back, standing on either side of the closed doorway leading in to the rest of the building were two Inquisitor guards, a Glen and a Tekeri. They were what the average person tended to think of when imagining an Inquisitor, as they were the ones who served their guild openly in a defined role. They both wore a full suit of steel laminar armor, including helmets with full masks, engraved with a visage of their own respective species. On the mask, emblazoned at the center of their foreheads was the insignia of the guild: an eye with two pupils, one looking backwards, and another forwards. Both guards carried halberds and stood like statues without so much as acknowledging the new arrivals. Behind the desk was a Tekeri man of unremarkable build and stature. His feathers were immaculately clean, his beak and talons polished, and he wore the kind of fine jewelry that was common to high class Tekeri, but he otherwise had no uniform. The only thing identifying him as a member of the Inquisitors' Guild was a small, simple medallion with their insignia, which was identical to what any other member of any rank would wear. Sometimes to the irritation of outsiders, it was often difficult to understand exactly who one was dealing with when interacting with members of the guild. Aside from Inquisitor Guards, they wore no uniforms and almost never identified their rank. Their organizational structure was a mystery to anyone outside their guild, and if they were not serving a public-facing position, they would almost certainly not wear the guild insignia. Anyone could be an inquisitor, and the Tekeri man in front of them could have been anything from a prominent officer, to a secretary. The Inquisitor did not greet them, but rather waited for one of them to state their business. "Spearman Major Baraw of Lenkik." He began, presenting his rank insignia for the Inquisitor to inspect. As they had shapeshifted to return to Lenkik quickly, it was the only one of his belongings he had been able to bring with him. "I am here on the order of Nellara, Castigator of the City of Lenkik. I am presenting a formal, emergency request for the services of a Guild Thought Mage." The Inquisitor did not speak a word in question of the order. To make an emergency request for a Thought Mage was an order that carried considerable weight, as did the consequences for making such an order frivolously. "Wait here." He said firmly before promptly turning around and heading through the doors behind him deeper into the building. The wait was quiet, and perhaps awkward, but it was certainly not long. It was hardly more than five minutes before someone returned, though it was not the Tekeri. Rather, it was a pair of Inquisitor Guards, both Glen with polearms like the others guarding the door. One took a step forward towards Kolvar and Baraw. "Walk with us, and do not deviate from our path." She warned the pair. Heading deeper into the Guild Hall, one of the guards walked in front, while the other walked behind the pair, though the two Glen still walked in perfect step with one another. The hallways were as plain as the lobby; just undecorated marble. Whether or not every room was similarly unremarkable, though, they could not know, as every single door they passed on the way to their destination was closed tight, usually with a guard at its side. There was no way to know if this was normal for the Guild, or if they only took extra precautions when they had visitors. Although none of the doors seemed too different from any other, the Guards appeared to know just where to bring them. One of the Glen opened the door and ushered the pair inside, then both followed them in and closed it behind them. This room was one with far more personality than any other they had seen thusfar. It actually looked like it was someone's home, and quite a nice one at that. There were beautiful paintings decorating the walls, expensive furniture, and a wonderful view of the city out the window. Aside from the Guards who had followed them in, there were two other guards who had already been present. One was a Tekeri, while the other was an Iriad: a notable rarity outside of their homeland, though none of their expressions could be seen behind their masks. At a large table in the center of the room sat another individual. This time, a S'tor. He was roughly middle-aged with dull red scales, and by the fact that he was unarmored and unmasked, was clearly not one of the guards. In fact, the light smile he gave as his guests approached showed more emotion than every single other person they had met since they had arrived. He wore a vibrant violet robe, with silver embroidery. He was not built like a fighter, but he was still a S'tor. Even an untrained S'tor could still physically overpower any other of Kanth-Aremek's intelligent species. "Hello, it is a pleasure to meet you both. I am told that I am to be assigned to assist our Castigator. Please, tell me what you need."</s> <|message|>Kolvar Stilmyst Kolvar Stilmyst Kolvar avoided the gaze of the armed guards. He stayed quiet while the soldier would introduce himself. "My name is Kercheck. I was told to help with fetching a thought mage." He really hoped no one could read his mind. If this was the case, he would have to keep his mind blank. While waiting he was tapping his clawed finger on a nearby table. The rhythm is an old Kriliteran slave song. Walking with the guards along with the soldier. Keeping close to them. And felt quite anxious about who the inquisitor would be. He was quite impressed by the design of the exterior and interior of the building. Being particularly interested in the paintings that hung up on the wall of the inquisitor's office. He wondered if a Kriliteran had painted some of them. For a moment he stopped to squint and see if there was any sign of a Kriliteran who had painted these. There would be a very specific marking somewhere hidden in the painting. Of course, his train of thought was interrupted by the soldier touching his shoulder. "My apologies I was distracted by the craftsmanship of these paintings." He followed the soldier without any further interruptions. Stopping in the middle of the room, looking petrified seeing the S'tor standing in front of them. Kolvar's clawed hands were shaking, he felt immense anger starting to build up. His face didn't show it, but his body was showing visible signs of pure rage. He took a few deep breaths before speaking. "We need your services speaking to some foreigners that had recently arrived in Kanth-Aremek. They do not speak the common tongue, and we need to communicate with them to lower tensions. A group of glen folk arrived as soon as Castigato Nellara arrived. Do you know of House Silbermine? They claimed to be from that group, and wanted to claim the contents of the ship." He tried to keep a level head while speaking to the S'tor.</s> <|message|>Kareet of Arcaeda High District, Lenkik --- As the S'tor listened, he took a cup of something from the table in front of him and took a sip, though still kept his gaze firmly on Kercheck. It was steaming hot, and from the scent in the air, seemed to be some sort of tea. "Arrived in Kanth-Aremek recently you say? This has something to do with that brilliant light in the sky a few days back, yes? Visitors from beyond our world…what a spectacular occurrence." He remarked. The S'tor was soft-spoken, and seemed rather calm considering how significant this news was. "Ah, but where are my manners? I am Gar'Tan, Thought mage in gracious service to Lenkik. So of course, Castigator Nellara's word is my command." While barely noticeable to their guests, the Iriad gave a quick gesture towards the two Glen Inquisitors. "Make the preparations." They ordered. Without hesitation, the two Glen took their leave, though the other two Inquisitors remained. Gar'Tan continued without interruption. "I cannot say I am personally familiar with Mythadia's noble houses, but I do know their type. I can do my best to facilitate communications between all three groups. Please, while we are waiting, tell me what these visitors are like?"</s>

<|message|>Kolvar Stilmyst Watching the S'tor carefully particularly staring at him while he was sipping his tea. "Kerchek." He made a quick introduction before continuing to speak. "They seem obviously very scared, which is understandable since they do not know where they are. But they seem to want to try and communicate with us. Which shows they want to build some sort of relationship with us." Kolvar felt awkward talking to a S'tor. The relationship between their races was quite strained, to say the least. But he was willing to play nice for the time being, to get the thought mage on his side. "They do not look like any Kanth-Aremek inhabitant that I know of. They appear to be without feathers and scales, being completely hairless. And their skin tone seems very strange." He hoped that nothing had gone wrong while he was away from the group.</s>

<|description|>Jordan Staar "I want to fly high to the stars, almost like I was born to join them!" Age: 16 Favorite Color: Yellow Favorite Subject: Biology Favorite Teacher: Mr. Saguaro Appearance: Jordan stands in just above five feet tall with a slight, lean build. Her skin is deceivingly light during cold months as it turns six shades darker after being outdoors regularly in the warm and sunny months. Along the back of her left calf is a small burn scar. Her thin, brunette hair is cropped short, sometimes in a ponytail, and her bangs are spiky and windswept. Chocolate colored eyes are set in a boxy face with thick eyebrows and a petite nose. A wide mouth and slight underbite complete the look. As for fashion, Jordan takes a practical approach with sporty clothing in layers. She often has a hoodie or jacket around her waist in case she wants to go for a fly along with a set of goggles to protect her eyes. Comfortable gloves are a must too since her fingers tend to get cold even on a warm day. Even though she isn't fond of her facial structure, she refuses makeup as she finds it insincere. Other accessories like jewelry she sees as a burden. The uniform annoys her as being restrictive so she often has sporty underclothes and changes as soon as possible. Personality: Jordan is an energetic and outgoing person. Though mornings are tough, she quickly gains enthusiasm for the day and is excited to join the people around her. Her emotional intelligence is high, quickly attuning to those around her and bouncing off the energy other people bring. Unfortunately, her academic intelligence suffers so she struggles to pass classes she holds no interest in, likely some minor and undiagnosed learning disability. She has quick wit and even did theater back at school in Hoenn, always eager to put a smile on the faces of those around her, usually well known in any community she's a part of. She's also a little gremlin that has a unique sense of humor and loves to tease and prank given a willing target. On the other side of things, she has problems processing her own emotions and expectations. As a strongly empathetic person, she can struggle to differentiate between her feelings and those of people around her. Being bad at explaining herself has also led her to closing up to others about her troubles. Jordan will bottle up her emotions over time until she's overwhelmed and bursts. Some of her insecurities include her boyish appearance, her fear of fire, and any time she feels she failed to help a friend. She holds herself to a high standard and beats herself up for falling short. When she fails at something enough, her temper can flare up, but always aimed at herself. Backstory: Jordan grew up in Fortree City, Hoenn as an only child to a Pokemon Ranger father and stay-at-home mother. She was homeschooled from a young age, but attended public school once she was five years old. There she made an impression as a good friend to everyone, all smiles and rainbows. Unfortunately, she had trouble getting close to any one friend group and tended to flit about the edges of many friend circles instead. She learned from a young age that trying to bond with others would make them feel uncomfortable, though through no fault of her own. Jordan simply expressed herself in a unique way and never found the right people to support that outside her family, leading her to hide her problems around others while staying a fun person to be around. Still, she thrived in the unique city climbing trees and encountering a huge cast of wild Pokemon day in and out. The family had a Tropius, named Albert, she would play with and take on short flights with mom or dad. Her classmates would call her the Kecleon of their grade, as a compliment, for her ability to simply blend into the emotions of people around her. Life was good for a time. At the age of fourteen, Fortree City was caught ablaze in the night. Jordan's father was on patrol that night and already fighting the flames. Mom and daughter were trying to work their way to the ground, but to no avail. Albert came to their rescue, but returned to the town on fire to help more citizens. Winona did her part too as the gym leader and at the end of the night, she delivered the news that Albert had not made it through the night. Instead, she passed on a small egg they found around the remains of their house. Jordan treasured that egg over the months when the family temporarily relocated to Paldea to be with her grandparents. She was mostly inconsolable during that time, even glum when they were able to return to Fortree, but after a young Tropius hatched from the egg life started to look up again. Jordan and the Tropius, Albert Junior, bonded immediately. The two did everything together and an interest in Pokemon breeding was sparked for Jordan. She started to get into flying sports, looking up to her local gym leader, and she wanted to go to a school that could help her learn more about breeding between Pokemon. Her parents suggested Papas Academy, where her grandparents were close by in Los Platos. Though it took some time to get her grades up to par, Jordan was determined and got accepted a year later. She's looking forward to the treasure hunt, an opportunity to explore the region and perhaps adventure into herself and explore what she truly wants. Partner Pokémon: Tropius Nickname: "AJ" Albert Junior Personality: AJ has a heart of gold and a competitive spirit. He enjoys the flying sports he plays with his trainer and is always there to comfort her when she boils over with emotion. A bit shy compared to his trainer, AJ lets others take the lead and is simply there to enjoy the ride life takes him on. Ability: Harvest Moveset: - Leaf Storm - Magical Leaf - Whirlwind - Sweet Scent Pokémon: Wattrel Nickname: Aguacita Personality: A bit of an empty-headed bird, Aguacita enjoys simple pleasures. She is fiercely loyal to her small family and has a passion for justice, even if she isn't always certain what the right thing is in a situation. Ability: Volt Absorb Moveset: - Thunder Shock - Quick Attack - Pluck - Spark Quirks: • Has a fear of fire, but isn't afraid of fire-type Pokemon • Enjoys photography, has an extra app on her Hoenn era phone for better photos • Always ready to fly and has clips and bungees to keep things attached to her as needed • Likely on the spectrum and is exploring her gender identity lately, though isn't vocal about either topic • Absolutely not a morning person Relationships: (more to come!)</s> <|message|>Renata Delarosa From the back of the Sea Breeze Cafe, Renata gave a wry smile as she eyed the student hunched over books and papers. Harry Kleinberg, fellow history enthusiast. The chatter permeating the air drowned out his murmurs to his Rufflet, but she had a good idea what he may be studying. Ever since day one, he'd been set on uncovering the truth behind a certain legend - the same legend that piqued her interest. The Treasures of Ruin. Artifacts brought to life by destructive human emotions, becoming Pokemon powerful enough to fell a kingdom. The story claimed they were sealed away in tombs to this day, which could only be unlocked by pulling stakes hidden across the region. History could be difficult to tell from myth, but it was worth looking into. Ms Raifort seemed to deem it more than a mere folktale, and as much as Harry wanted to take the investigation upon himself, it would give her a much-needed goal. That and if she were the one to make such a breakthrough, nobody would make fun of her again. For now, though, she had a different plan in mind. With Harry engrossed in his work, she couldn't pass up this opportunity. Good thing she'd bought an iced beverage, the warmth of the non-mountainous lands being something she had yet to grow used to. Sipping the strawberry slushie, she gripped the cup until her fingers started to go numb from the cold. "Shhh, don't let him know I'm here," she whispered to Maera, who looked up from her half-eaten sandwich, wispy tail wagging. Renata stood, the corners of her lips twitching as she crept up behind Harry, hand outstretched. Of course, no sooner had she brushed her chilled fingertips against the back of his neck than a bark cut through the cafeteria sounds. Maera, completely ignoring Renata's words, bounded up to Harry with a series of playful yaps and pawed at his ankle. Withdrawing her hand, Renata sighed. For some reason, the pranks she tried to pull on Harry never quite worked.</s> <|message|>Adam Hayes Adam Hayes also went to the Seabreeze Cafe, with Inferno his Charmeleon in tow. You were never going to a piping hot cup of hot chocolate. No way! Inferno also got a treat too. As he sipped his drink, he found Harry and Renata at a table. Harry's nose was buried in a bunch of books. Typical. Adam never understood the appeal of reading about stuff, when there was a whole wide world to explore! You could be out there actually doing things! "¡Hola amigo!" Adam exclaimed as he put his hand on the table and leaned against it. "Whatcha doin? You still have your nose in a book, huh? ¿En serio? Don't you do enough of that in class?" He rolled his eyes. "Whatever… They're going to announce the treasure hunt soon. Then we can actually be out there doing shit, instead of reading about other people doing shit! This is my year! I'm going to get all 8 badges and become the champion! NO ONE'S GONNA STOP ME!" He excitedly put his fist up in the air. The Charmeleon mimicked his trainers gestures. "CHAAAARMELEON!" "That sure as hell beats studying anytime."</s> <|message|>Samuel Oliver Faerison, Sam for short Sam quietly sipped his coffee from his stainless steel thermos as he sat in the schoolyard at Papas Academy. He was stationed behind the flowerbed with his back against the school building. He hoped the tall blue flowering bushes would obscure him enough that people wouldn't notice him. The teen's bag and breakfast from the cafeteria were spread out beside him, and he was slowly making his way through some donut holes and a breakfast sandwich. Sam had barely been in the region for a month before his enrollment into the school. His body hadn't yet adjusted to this new region, so he had been sleeping poorly. Thankfully a thickly applied layer of eyeliner hid any signs of his tiredness. The teen couldn't say he was incredibly thrilled being pushed into another of his parents' random whims, but Sam was starting to enjoy going to school. Some things he liked, some things he didn't. One of those dislikes were that he wanted to wear his gothic clothes rather than the school uniform. The silver chains, piercings, and pink heart hair clip he was wearing today were pretty much the most he could get away with wearing. Sam would be removing the uniform once he was off campus. Sam could hear other students chatting and running around beyond his field of vision, but he didn't care much about that. Just breathing in the sweet scent of flowers, his golden eyes watched an enthusiastic pink speck zip around the flowerbed. The teen boy would have remained in his dorm room until class time if it wasn't for his Cutiefly, Manly. Seeing how happy the little pokémon was to be around flowers made the trip worth it. Taking another sip of his drink, Sam tried his best to ignore the presence of others and enjoy his time eating among the flowers.</s>

<|message|>Jordan Staar Though she hadn't been here long, Jordan was already starting to develop a routine at Papas Academy. It began with literally rolling out of bed. Then she would spruce up in the bathroom, change into acceptable clothing for being in public, and zombie-walk to the schoolyard. There she would be able to get AJ and Aguacita out of their balls for a mourning stretch and fly to wake up. Of course, this all happened at a snail's pace and as late as humanly possible. Morning classes were a drag, but she wanted to attend all the best classes she could which would necessitate some sacrifice. With other students meandering the yard she could gradually wake up in the warm outdoors with her companions close by. She released the duo as soon as she was out the door. "AJ, care to hook me up with a fruit?" she asked from her Tropius. He cooed and shook out his wings before lowering his neck. Her Wattrel leapt and flew lazy circles around the pair as they trudged across the yard looking for a quiet space. By the gardens, Jordan spotted a cozy place by the flowers to start her day, but as she rounded the bushy flora, a hidden student startled her. "Oh, buenos días, sorry if I'm invading your space. I was just looking for someplace out of the way to do some stretching before class. Care to join me? I'll find another spot if you'd prefer though, I'm not a morning person myself so I understand." She smiles at the boy in long black hair, much taller than herself. If he was open to her company, she would totally offer him some of AJ's fruit too; she loved to see the reaction of new people when they tasted it for the first time.</s>

<|description|>Alyssa Hudson "I'm a little busy right now, sorry." Age: 17 (3rd year) Favorite Color: Purple Favorite Subject: Math, as she finds it comes naturally to her. Favorite Teacher: Jacq, as she admires his work on the Pokédex. Appearance: Alyssa is on the shorter side, standing at five feet, with a small build. Over the top of her uniform, she wears a large green coat, originally belonging to her father, and on her feet she wears a pair of black combat books. Around her neck, she wears a necklace with a purple gemstone attached, handed down to her from her mother. Personality: Upon meeting Alyssa, your first instinct may be to just say that she's shy and move on, which isn't entirely false. She can be quite a reserved person, preferring to keep to herself and supposedly not having much of an interest in making friends, though in general most would consider her a nice enough person, if a little quiet. But when she's alone, or around people that she trusts, her true self shines through - she sees all sorts of beauty in the world, not just in the landscape or the wildlife of Paldea, but also in the little things, absolutely fascinated by how things work, why things do what they do. She speaks passionately when it comes to her interest, often going on long rants even if the other person has no idea what she is talking about, and when it comes to her pokémon she couldn't be any closer to them, enjoying every single moment spent with them. Backstory: Whilst she was originally from Galar, both her parents being international students in Papas Academy before moving back to their home country, Alyssa grew up in Madeli in the Paldea Region, having moved there at the age of three. She doesn't have many memories of her life back in Galar, so always considered Paldea to be her home. Especially as a child, she loved to explore the landscape with her parents, the family of three often going for picnics or walks through the countryside - perhaps in her parents case to relive their school days, though Alyssa was always happy just to spend time with them. Even more so as she got older and they got busier with work, those quiet days wandering along winding paths and through the fields were the ones she treasured most. Moving into her pre-teen years, her parents only grew busier, and she ended up spending a lot of time alone, though she found that she didn't particularly mind. Around this time, she gained a particular interest in pokéballs, teaching herself how to pull them apart and put them back together again, trying to learn and understand their inner workings. This interest expanded into machines in general, much to the slight dismay of her parents as she began to take apart household appliances for fun (she stopped after they explained why that was a bad idea, but they still supported her interests, instead seeking out already broken beyond repair machines for her to mess around with). Later, she began to actually study mechanics, reading whatever books she could get her hands on though mostly just waiting in anticipation for her time to attend Papas Academy, already knowing that the STEM track would be perfect for her. She finally got her first pokémon at the age of thirteen. After her parents had finally deemed her old enough to explore on her own, provided that she stayed away from areas with the more dangerous pokémon, she spent a lot of time out in the fields of Paldea, often just sitting alone and fiddling with some machinery in the fresh air, or even sketching out mechanical drawings. And often on days like this, a few pokémon would surround her, sitting at her feet as she worked, and she never really minded - pokémon had never been something she had been super interested in, other than finding a few of them cute, though catching and battling had always been more of her parents thing, and something that they'd never quite managed to instill in her, but she was more than happy to let the local wildlife flock around her, as long as they weren't bothering her. One Mareep, however, took particular interest in her, always sitting by her side, especially if she offered head scratches, and eventually she followed her home, refusing to leave her side. Her parents allowed her to keep her, and she named the Mareep 'Rosie'. The introduction of Rosie in her life came at the perfect time, it just so happened, though perhaps not for the best of reasons. A few months afterwards, her mother grew suddenly ill - to begin with, she was just more tired than usual, finding everyday tasks harder and harder, until one evening she collapsed in the house, falling into unconsciousness. After being rushed to the hospital, she woke back up, but was never really herself again, constantly slipping in and out of consciousness, unable to even get out of bed. No one ever told Alyssa exactly what was wrong with her, but she knew pretty early on that her mother… wasn't going to make it. She died just a few days after Alyssa's fourteenth birthday. After that, Alyssa grew more reserved, spending more time in the house, her father also taking some time off of work but obviously not in the best of mindspaces either. In this time of grief, she pushed back the start of her academic life by a year, despite being due to start soon. Thankfully, Rosie was by her side the whole time, and through the experience she grew very close to her, unsure exactly what she would have done without her. Though eventually, shortly after she turned fifteen, it was time for her to start her education at Papas Academy, and she immediately got stuck in with her studies, trying to forget about the past year, push everything deep, deep down. And perhaps she studied a little too hard - as seen in her treasure hunt in the first year, which she spent the majority of still in school, reading random things in the library or doing extra work for classes, especially the more science-heavy ones which she did find extremely fascinating. She did head out into the wilderness a few times, having been pushed to do so by a couple of her classmates, who… she wouldn't exactly class as 'friends', since she certainly wasn't in the mood for making friends at the time, but she appreciated briefly having them by her side at least. In the end it didn't matter too much, as the first year passed by quickly, and then it was time for her second year. Her second year went by in a similar fashion, mostly focusing on her studies, though she did make a little bit more of an effort with her treasure hunt, deciding to go out into the world and get a closer look at some of the pokémon that Paldea had to offer. Though she still wasn't particularly interested in battling or building a team, during this time she ended up catching a Shinx, named Danny, who she quickly grew to love just as much as her Mareep Rosie, even if Danny took a little longer to warm up to her. It was also around this time that her father decided to travel back to Galar, supposedly just for a short while to visit some family, though a short while turned into a few months which turned into a year, and eventually became permanent. Alyssa continued to attend the academy, still, staying on campus during the school year and staying in Galar over the summer. As summer came to a close, she headed back to Paldea with a bit of a fresher mind, deciding that she would try to make the most of her third year. With the treasure hunt coming around, she figured that it may be a good time to try something new, get herself out there more, and her father had recommended trying out the gym challenge, which is something that he had done during his time at school. Certainly not something that Alyssa had ever considered trying, but she figured it was worth a shot, if only to actually force herself to get out of school for a bit and explore more of the region, maybe catch a few new pokémon along the way, and train up the ones she already had. Pokémon: Pokémon: Mareep Nickname: Rosie Personality: Rosie is extremely affectionate, and seems to be quite empathic, always seeming to know when Alyssa is upset and wanting to be by her side the entire time. She isn't much of a fighter, far more interested in chewing grass or having her head scratched. Ability: Static Moves: -Growl -Tackle -Thunder Wave -Thunder Shock Pokémon: Shinx Nickname: Danny Personality: Danny is quite feisty, very active, enjoying running around and causing mayhem. He seems to have more stamina than Alyssa thinks should be feasibly possible, easily able to run circles around her, though she loves him all the same. Ability: Intimidate Moves: -Tackle -Thunder Shock -Charge -Bite Quirks: * She prefers to keep her pokémon out of their balls, letting them run around at her feet or sit with her as she works, finding their presence to be comforting. * She is pretty much always fiddling with something, whether that be a piece of machinery she left in her pockets or the necklace around her neck. Relationships: (To be filled out as the RP progresses.)</s> <|message|>Adam Hayes Adam Hayes also went to the Seabreeze Cafe, with Inferno his Charmeleon in tow. You were never going to a piping hot cup of hot chocolate. No way! Inferno also got a treat too. As he sipped his drink, he found Harry and Renata at a table. Harry's nose was buried in a bunch of books. Typical. Adam never understood the appeal of reading about stuff, when there was a whole wide world to explore! You could be out there actually doing things! "¡Hola amigo!" Adam exclaimed as he put his hand on the table and leaned against it. "Whatcha doin? You still have your nose in a book, huh? ¿En serio? Don't you do enough of that in class?" He rolled his eyes. "Whatever… They're going to announce the treasure hunt soon. Then we can actually be out there doing shit, instead of reading about other people doing shit! This is my year! I'm going to get all 8 badges and become the champion! NO ONE'S GONNA STOP ME!" He excitedly put his fist up in the air. The Charmeleon mimicked his trainers gestures. "CHAAAARMELEON!" "That sure as hell beats studying anytime."</s> <|message|>Samuel Oliver Faerison, Sam for short Sam quietly sipped his coffee from his stainless steel thermos as he sat in the schoolyard at Papas Academy. He was stationed behind the flowerbed with his back against the school building. He hoped the tall blue flowering bushes would obscure him enough that people wouldn't notice him. The teen's bag and breakfast from the cafeteria were spread out beside him, and he was slowly making his way through some donut holes and a breakfast sandwich. Sam had barely been in the region for a month before his enrollment into the school. His body hadn't yet adjusted to this new region, so he had been sleeping poorly. Thankfully a thickly applied layer of eyeliner hid any signs of his tiredness. The teen couldn't say he was incredibly thrilled being pushed into another of his parents' random whims, but Sam was starting to enjoy going to school. Some things he liked, some things he didn't. One of those dislikes were that he wanted to wear his gothic clothes rather than the school uniform. The silver chains, piercings, and pink heart hair clip he was wearing today were pretty much the most he could get away with wearing. Sam would be removing the uniform once he was off campus. Sam could hear other students chatting and running around beyond his field of vision, but he didn't care much about that. Just breathing in the sweet scent of flowers, his golden eyes watched an enthusiastic pink speck zip around the flowerbed. The teen boy would have remained in his dorm room until class time if it wasn't for his Cutiefly, Manly. Seeing how happy the little pokémon was to be around flowers made the trip worth it. Taking another sip of his drink, Sam tried his best to ignore the presence of others and enjoy his time eating among the flowers.</s> <|message|>Jordan Staar Though she hadn't been here long, Jordan was already starting to develop a routine at Papas Academy. It began with literally rolling out of bed. Then she would spruce up in the bathroom, change into acceptable clothing for being in public, and zombie-walk to the schoolyard. There she would be able to get AJ and Aguacita out of their balls for a mourning stretch and fly to wake up. Of course, this all happened at a snail's pace and as late as humanly possible. Morning classes were a drag, but she wanted to attend all the best classes she could which would necessitate some sacrifice. With other students meandering the yard she could gradually wake up in the warm outdoors with her companions close by. She released the duo as soon as she was out the door. "AJ, care to hook me up with a fruit?" she asked from her Tropius. He cooed and shook out his wings before lowering his neck. Her Wattrel leapt and flew lazy circles around the pair as they trudged across the yard looking for a quiet space. By the gardens, Jordan spotted a cozy place by the flowers to start her day, but as she rounded the bushy flora, a hidden student startled her. "Oh, buenos días, sorry if I'm invading your space. I was just looking for someplace out of the way to do some stretching before class. Care to join me? I'll find another spot if you'd prefer though, I'm not a morning person myself so I understand." She smiles at the boy in long black hair, much taller than herself. If he was open to her company, she would totally offer him some of AJ's fruit too; she loved to see the reaction of new people when they tasted it for the first time.</s>

<|message|>Alyssa Hudson Sunlight filtered in between her curtains, shining on her face as she slowly came into consciousness, but not wanting to wake up, Alyssa simply turned into her side and pulled her covers tighter around her. That was when she started to feel something nuzzled into her check, then a zap of electricity, and her eyes shot wide open, quickly sitting up, only to see her Shinx, Danny, sat in front of her, looking up at her impatiently. She sighed, rubbing at her eyes. "Okay, okay, I'll get up," she mumbled, thought still didn't make much of a move. "It's not even that-" Her eyes landed on the clock besides her bed, and- oh. Oh, it was that late. She had slept in again, after a… fairly late night of studying, to be fair. But that was fine, she didn't have any early classes, and with her Mareep, Rosie, still curled up in the corner of the room, sleeping soundly, it seemed like Danny was the only one who had a problem with it. Still, she dragged herself out of bed and quickly got ready for the day, pulling on her jacket and spending a few moments convincing her pokémon to get back into their pokéballs before leaving and heading down into the school. She still had a little time to grab breakfast from the cafeteria before they closed up to start with lunch stuff, so she headed there, sitting in the corner as she ate some pastries and doodled in her notebook. The cafeteria was quiet at this time, with most people having come earlier in the day or headed out to another café in the city, though she'd always preferred the quiet so found she didn't mind all that much. Made it easier to think.</s>

<|description|>Grace Look Female, White, Dark Clothing Demeanor Meek Character Stats Blood: 1 Heart: 0 Mind: -1 Spirit: 2 Starting Factions Mortality: 0 [] Night: 1 [] Power: 0 [X] Wild: 1 [] Who are you? ...I was a student at the University. I went to a Job Interview to become a journalist, but...I didn't expect to be murdered at that particular event. I was murdered by the CEO... How long have you been in the city? I've been in the city for all of my life, and my current afterlife. Who do you still love? My childhood friend, Dante. We started dating before I died... What makes your afterlife worth living? Knowing that I can do something as a ghost to help those who are victimized, more so than I could when I was alive, makes the afterlife worthwhile. What do you desperately need? I need to bring my murderer to justice. If he killed me, then chances are he's going to keep on killing. Perhaps it's part of the ghosts' need for vengeance? But...I'm not going to stoop to his level and just kill him. I want the world to know what he did and ensure that his reputation is destroyed and he can't work anywhere ever again. Gear Whatever was on your person when you died, albeit spiritual versions of each Debts *Someone, or someone's progenitor, was involved in your death. They owe you a Debt. Mitra Singh *Someone is watching out for a family member of yours (Little Sister, Charity). You owe them 2 Debts. *You are haunting someone and they know it. You owe them a Debt. Kendra *You owe someone in the Power Faction a Debt, and that someone also owes a Debt to you. ??? Spectre Moves * Manifest: Regular people can't sense or interact with you unless you manifest. You manifest by spending a few quiet moments concentrating and choosing 2: • You can be heard. • You can be seen. • You can touch and be touched by the physical world. You may mark corruption to instead choose 1 or all 3. * Won't Be Ignored: When you get in the way of someone, treat your roll as a 10+ without rolling. If you distract an NPC, roll with Spirit instead of Mind. [] Ghost Town: When you hit the streets with ghosts, take +1 on going to dealing with them. [] Phantasm: Take +1 Spirit (max +3). * "Wall? What Wall?": You always have an opening to escape a situation. You can choose an additional option off the list to bring someone with you. On a miss, you attract the attention of dangerous spirits and ghosts in the area. [] Link: Something keeps you from passing on: a Link. When in the presence of your Link, advance let it out. When your Link is in danger, you have access to all your corruption moves until you see it to safety. If your Link is ever destroyed, so are you. Drama Moves Spectre Corruption Move: When you witness a scene of victimization and do nothing, mark corruption. Intimacy Move: When you share a moment of intimacy—physical or emotional—with another person, you hold 1. Whenever they get into trouble, you can spend your hold to be there. End Move: When you fill up on harm, your corpus is scattered and dispersed. You'll reform in a few days. When your spirit passes on permanently or you retire your character, any characters present gain +1 Spirit (max +3). Standard Advances Advances available at beginning of play: [] +1 Blood (max +3) [] +1 Mind (max +3) [] +1 Spirit (max +3) [] A new Spectre move [] A new Spectre move [] A move from another Archetype [] A move from another Archetype [] Change your Faction [] Join or lead a body of ghosts After 5 advances you may select: [] +1 to any stat (max +3) [] +1 any Faction (max +3) [] Erase a scar [] Erase a corruption advance [] Erase a corruption advance [] Advance 3 basic moves [] Advance 3 basic moves [] Move on through to the other side [] Change to a new Archetype Corruption Advances: [] Take a corruption move [] Take a corruption move [] Take a corruption move [] Take a corruption move from another Archetype [] Retire your character. They may return as a Threat. Corruption Moves [] Possession: Mark corruption to enter the mind of a weak-minded person (MC's call) in your presence and control their movements and speech for a short time. [] Telekinesis: You can move and lift small objects at a distance by concentrating. Mark corruption to move an object up to the size of a car. [] Nightmare: Mark corruption to enter the dreams of someone sleeping in your presence. While you're there, you can interact with them and their dreams as if they were spirits. [] Siphon: Mark corruption to reach into someone's body, inflict 2-harm (ap) on them, and heal 1-harm of your corpus.</s> <|message|>Grace Grace Grace looked to Kendra when she spoke up, stopping her from disappearing and acting on her own. She listened to Kendra as spoke. The ghost nodded in agreement with Kendra's sentiment that she didn't want anyone to get shot at tonight. Grace noticeably looks irked when the man seemed to have brushed her off like she was nothing. Did he really not remember last week? Sure, they saw each other for the first time back then, but who would forget witnessing a murder?! The ghost was silent as she listened to her friend and the strange speak with each other. When Mitra introduced his first name, surprise crossed her face. She couldn't help but ask, "Wait. 'Mitra'? As in, 'Mitra Singh'?!" Her eyes were wide with surprise more so than rage this time as she asked. Considering that Mr. Dialtone mentioned him as Chandra's bodyguard earlier, and she was here to save Chandra's career as well as find Kendra's tarot cards, she had serious doubts that this was a coincidence. Besides, how common of a name was 'Mitra' anyways? Mitra Singh and the guy who she called to help her at the moment of her death were the same guy?! Her attention was drawn back to Kendra from her whirling mind drawing rapid conclusions. She listened as Kendra explained Abberline's prophecy. She gave a smirk as well when Kendra did. Her smirk faded as well when Kendra explained the dangers of this plan. She answered Kendra's words, "I'm in. I trust you, Kendra. Now that I'm like this, I can't just stand by and do nothing when someone is about to get hurt," When she spoke the last part of her sentence she pointed her gaze and words at Mitra. They were full of bitter venom as though to silently say "Like someone here did," She calmed herself down, reminding herself to talk to Mitra about it later. She asked Kendra, "What do you need me to do?"</s> <|message|>Mitra "Snake Eyes" Singh Mitra "Wait. 'Mitra'? As in, 'Mitra Singh'?!" He bit his tongue to keep from replying with the default of 'I don't do political favors' - the spirit had probably recognized him from his mother-in-law's surname (except, wait, he hadn't given his surname, how had she known?), and right now was probably not the time to address his policy towards requests from natural or supernatural beings. Right now, it was time to listen to Kendra. She outlined the prophecy against Abberline, how each of them fit into a specific category - and made a pun about hell that made him groan. He craned his neck towards the driver still seated in Kendra's car when she mentioned Mortality being missing, but then she very thoughtfully volunteered herself and he returned his gaze to her. Well, as long as she could feign being an ordinary human for five minutes, who was he to object? And then the problems - yeah, those were some significant problems. He wasn't going to lie, for the first time in a long time he could feel the stirrings of fear. It was more pleasant than he remembered it being. It felt... lively. Of course, that didn't mean it was pleasant; there was the very real fear of what Ravindra might do if he died, of what forces he might get in contact with on his demise for the sake of vengeance. Or what if the prophecy was referring to Ravindra as the representative of Mortality? Or what if Abberline targeted Ravindra for his association with Mitra? He could feel the demon just beneath his flesh ripple with rage at the thought. It wasn't really a great plan. But it was a plan. Then the spirit spoke up again before Mitra could (mostly to complain that he wouldn't call it a MacBeth-styled prophecy. Not enough impossibility), and if she was any more venomous, he'd mistake her for a demon too. "Ohhhhkay, I've... offended you somehow?" he guessed. Studying her, she was kinda familiar, but like in the way a barista's familiar when they're off the job and out shopping somewhere. That didn't tell him much, really. "But perhaps we can discuss it another time. Or at least after I've delivered my message." He capped this message off by loading the shotgun with a single shell and then offering it Kendra. "I take it I should enter using my other form - and if so, you may need this more than I do. At least if you're trying to pass as a normal human. Can't imagine a normal human arriving unarmed. I fully expect it back once he's left, though."</s> <|message|>Kendra Molony Kendra Kendra also noticed the venom in Grace's tone, but decided not to comment on it. From the way she spoke, the Oracle sensed this man was at very least not Grace's murderer. Even so, the spirit didn't seem the kind of hate without a damn good reason, and Kendra would normally be hesitant to work with anyone who earned so much of Grace's ire. Again, Misty's life and Abberline's threat took priority here. She was just glad that both parties had agreed to act civil long enough for them enact this plan. "What do you need me to do?" "Not much," Kendra said. "Once we've entered the building, you just need to do what you normally do." They shrugged. "You know, suddenly appear. Walk through wall. Appear before Abberline in an appropriately ghostly way." She glanced at Grace. "Don't overdo it, obviously. As fun as it would be to see you attempt to crawl out of a TV Sadako-style, I somehow doubt Abberline would appreciate the theatrics." When Mitra offered Kendra the gun, the Oracle was hesitant in taking it, and even after she was holding it, she held it well away from her body. "Ah. Right," she said, eyeing the firearm as if it were a bomb about to go off. "Thanks."</s>

<|message|>Grace Grace glowered at Mitra's guess that he had simply offended her to earn her ire, and she shook her head. When he suggested discussing it another time, she agreed, "Like I said before: Later," She then turned her attention to Kendra when she explained that she wanted Grace to do the usual ghostly stuff. Grace's smile widened as an idea came to her. She answered Kendra "I have some ideas on how to pull off some ghostly theatrics without endangering myself," She then told the both of them, "I'll go on ahead. This dance studio's missing something important," She grins again and finishes with the word, "Music," before she vanishes, allowing her manifestation to fade. She phased through the walls of the studio, and made her way over to the old stereo system that played music. She allowed herself to manifest once again, this time so that she could touch and be heard, but remain unseen. She turns on the stereo and presses play, causing the dance studio to echo with the distorted soundtrack of... The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite... Grace nodded in approval as the once innocuous song is made creepier by the distortion of the old stereo. After that, she allows her manifestation to fade once again should Abberline come and investigate. Let me know if I need to roll anything for this. ^^"</s>

<|description|>Katherine Bishop Alias: Hawkeye, the Real Hawkeye. Age: 18 Gender: Female Personality: Carefree, funny, a little quippy. Powers: None, she's a squishy, but also a very athletic human and she is an expert at archery. (Debating on giving her powers as a variant version of Kate Bishop, but feel as if that will destroy the characters.) Skills: Archery, Keen Eyes, Parkour, and Acrobatic. History: Kate Bishop was born into the one percent of wealthy, her mother was insistent on her being perfect. Unknown to her, her parents were Hydra Agents. The reason they were training her was to become a Hydra Agent later down the line and would have succeeded if it hadn't been for the timely intervention of the Avengers, who fought and arrested her parents. She was twelve when this happened and the revelation that her parents were Hydra shocked her so much that she resolved never to be associated with Hydra or anything related to Hydra. So she continued training, going on missions to try to get street credit. Eventually she did but due to her simliar style to the Avenger's Hawkeye, she was called the Female Hawkeye. This annoyed her to no end at first, eventually trying to style herself a different name. This was before she realized the ultimate hero credit was simply to join the Avengers, but she didn't for the longest time given her past. Eventually after a near-death situation involving the super-villian Kingpin, she realized that she needed partners and thusly joined the Avengers. Sample Story lines: Secret experiments, unknown to her, giving her an edge over normal humans, making her more durable, faster, with keener eye sight and perception. Basically making her a low-tier superhuman. And of course, classic training under the original Hawkeye. Extra/Notes: I hope I'm not too late, I actually forgot this site existed for few day. Name:. Carol Danvers Alias:. Captian Marvel Age: 33 Gender:. Female Personality: A serious woman at first, people often mistaken her stoic deneamor as wooden and emotionless. But she can be quite jokative in the heat of things and yes even smile. Powers:. Energy projection, supersonic flight, super-healing, danger sense, and suoer strength. SKills:. Pilot,. Enginer, Fighting History:. Once an oridinary pilot, Coral Danvers befriended a Kree warrior known as Captian Mar-vel, a famed superhero. Upon his death by cancer of all things, he bestoweed his power to Carol Danvers - unknown to her. This led to bouts of amesnia where her superhero persona,. Then known as ms marvel would take over. Eventually she found out and once her memories came back joined the avengers for a time. Before going off world to fight the Skrull. After many battles off world, she returned to Earth and retired for a time, prefering the normal life. Until New York was attacked and she had to don the uniform again. She joined the Avengers again in fighting the new york attack. Where she earned the name:. Captain Marvel. sample story lines- ressurection of the original Mar-Vel, maybe figuring out she was never entirely human!</s> <|message|>Jim Hammond Six Months Ago: Steve Rogers had seen the end of a lot of battles, having served through most of World War II. And yet, standing in the ruins of New York City, Steve couldn't help but despair. Among the destroyed streets of Brooklyn, Steve walked slowly. Even though a lot had changed since the 1940s, Steve could still recall the neighborhood in which he grew up. As he turned the corner, Steve passed by where the barber shop he used to frequent once stood. It was a testament to the destructive power of Hydra, as many major cities around the world were just as ruined. The fall of SHIELD had led to great heartache, as civilians walked among their ruined homes, still visibly shaken from the battle that had ended a mere day ago. Eventually Steve Rogers reached his destination. In front of him was a small apartment building. It was mostly intact, save a collapsed wall on its west side. Steve couldn't help but remember those propaganda posters he had seen during the war, what would happen to their homes if the Nazis reached America. And yet the Neo-Nazis of Hydra had reached America, infiltrating its government and controlling global events. While this deception had been revealed, it came at great cost. From where Steve was standing, he could still see the SHIELD Helicarrier, crashed into the bay just outside of the city. But that wasn't as bad to him as seeing the building in front of him. It was once Steve's childhood home. "I'm sorry," said someone from behind Steve. The man known as Captain America didn't need to turn to know it was Nick Fury. The former head of SHIELD had been a constant part of Steve's life since awakening in modern day, having been instrumental in forming the Avengers. "Nick, how could we let this happen?" Steve asked. "We were blindsided Rogers, too secure in our own power," replied Nick Fury. The one-eyed spy master took a step next to Steve Rogers, "New York seems to have caught the worst of it." "It's bad all over," stated Steve. "I only saw the beginning of it before Hydra shot down my Quinjet over the Northern Atlantic." "And I assume that means you're dead." "Not just Nick Fury, but SHIELD as a whole is dead. The world would never trust us again." "Then what? We let AIM, Zodiac, and countless alien invaders have their way with the planet?" "No. Someone needs to step up. The Avengers must step up." "Even with the Avengers and all the other hero teams, we barely defeated Hydra." "Look, the Avengers are already called Earth's mightiest heroes. Would it be a stretch to make them Earth's greatest defense organization." "Do you mean that the Avengers replace SHIELD?" "No, I mean that the Avengers become better than SHIELD ever was." "Nick, people don't want this happening ever again." "No they don't. But they also love the Avengers. Your online ratings are at an all time high." "So you want us to step up?" "Only if you want to," Nick Fury then began to walk away, "Just an idea to think about." Soon, Steve Rogers was left alone in front of the damaged building he had once called home. Seeing the destruction and the plight of the civilians made him angry. But he knew that he had to use that anger in a productive way. He never wanted this to happen again, and perhaps he could prevent it if he stepped up, if he led the Avengers into a new, different frontier. --- --- THE TORCH Current Day: It had been almost eighty years since Jim Hammond had last lived in New York City. Created in the lab of Dr. Phineas Horton, New York was all that Jim had known for the first year of his existence. But sure had it changed from the nineteen-forties to the twenty-twenties. It had gotten just so, tall. But height didn't matter to Jim as he was able to soar through the air, a bright fireball streaking the modern skyline of Manhattan. The man once known as the Human Torch lived up to the name, brightening up the sky. Of course he had now dropped the Human part from his name as another more well known hero was using the name the Human Torch. Plus, Jim wasn't exactly human. Born a synthetic person, Jim was a marvel of science, his exact creation methods still mostly unknown. Yet why his powers worked, didn't matter so much to Jim, just the fact that they worked. So he rose over the tops of the skyscrapers, his flames flickering a little bit in the part of the sky with thinner oxygen. Not wishing to risk it, Jim dove back down through the clouds. Only to encounter a news helicopter right in front of him. The fiery android had to make a quick maneuver to dodge the blue helicopter. As he readjusted himself in air, Jim spotted what the helicopter was following. On the streets below was a squad of police cars following a black van. Even from up in the sky, Jim could hear the rattle of gunfire. Wanting to help, Jim swooped down, launching a torrent of flames. The intense heat of the flames melted the back wheels of the fleeing vehicle, causing it to skid out and crash into a pole. Jim then landed next to the crashed vehicle, raising his flaming hands as the thieves exited the vehicle. Clearly not wanting to deal with someone seemingly made of fire, the criminals raised their hands into the air. As the police arrived, one went up to Jim, "Thanks for the help, Human Torch," "Actually I'm the Torch, no Human," replied Jim as the cop walked away. A little miffed, Jim decided to not stick around. But before he could lift off back into the air, a beeping came from inside his suit pocket. Extinguishing his flames, Jim pulled the Avengers ID Card he was issued out of the pocket of his red fireproof suit. The image of Steve Rogers, director of the Avengers, appeared in the corner of the card. "This is Director Rogers calling all members of the New York branch," stated the card, "Please report to Avengers Mansion for a mission briefing." Once the image disappeared, Jim put the card away. This would be his first actual mission as an Avenger, only joining them after Steve put him high on the list for Project: Unlimited recruits. Jim immediately joined, glad to be working with his former comrade again. Jim then lifted off the ground and began heading towards Avengers Mansion, the original home of the Avengers. Within a few minutes, Jim landed in front of the building. As he got close, a whole array of sensors scanned him, confirming his identity. "Welcome, the Torch, to Avengers Mansion," said a robotic voice. The doors then swung open, letting the synthetic man inside. Jim briskly walked through the entrance hall, coming upon the elevator at the end. Once inside, another voice asked him for his destination. "Briefing room please," Jim stated. The elevator then began to descend almost effortlessly. There was no noise as the elevator traversed the large tunnels built beneath the mansion. Within thirty seconds, Jim had arrived. Taking a step into the briefing room, Jim saw that the walls were completely lined with monitors, and that there was a massive table in the center of the room, easily sitting twenty plus people. Seeing that no one else had arrived yet, Jim decided to take the seat nearest to the elevator. Once sitting firmly in the comfy office chair, Jim relaxed and began to wait. Truth be told, he wasn't entirely sure what the final line up of the New York branch had ended up being, so this meeting would be a good chance to get to know his teammates.</s> <|message|>Katherine Bishop Kate woke up screaming. Another nightmare, another memory of the fall of New York and her near death experience at the hands of Hydra and her own parents. It had been six months after and she still couldn't get over it. Sighing, she got up and got dressed. It was during her morning routine that she got a message in the mail. It was a card. An AVENGERS card. She blinked, astonished as a hologram of none other than Captain America. "This is Director Rogers calling all members of the New York branch," stated the card, "Please report to Avengers Mansion for a mission briefing." Huh, the Avengers are still around? I thought they disbanded? Hours later, she was standing the Avengers tower lobby, presenting her card to the person at the desk. "Briefing room please!" And then, one Elevator ride later, she was right beside a man who looked like the Human Torch. "Oh! Are you the Human Torch?"</s>

<|message|>Katherine Bishop Captian Marvel didn't bother with the front entrance, she just flew in through the roof. She didn't even need to ask where the briefing room was, she knew this tower inside and out, being an Avenger herself. As she walked, she remembered her failure. HEr failure of defending New York against the Hydra horde. They still won, but now even months later, New York was still recovering and Shield had disbanded. What was to come of the future? Never mind that, she thought, there's a new mission to be had. As she floated down, see two newcomers. A young girl that fancied herself "Hawkeye" no doubt, and another person that she mistook to be the Human Torch at first but at second glance realized he wasn't. "Nice to know I am not the first to arrive." she said conversionally as she touched down.</s>

<|description|>Cervantes Quixote * Age: 23 * Appearance: Back Profile * Gender: Male * Personality: If one must be a merchant, one must be observant of their surroundings. To retain customers, you must have your best smile on at all times, even when they're rather vile creatures that spit poison. Finally, if one has resolved to become a merchant, one must focus on one thing. Money. Money rules the world and your life, so always focus on the profits. Cervantes embodies all these traits, from being observant, amicable, and greedy. However, those views stem from the need for stability and safety. Outside of business, Cervantes is genuine and amicable while being a bit foul-mouthed. A free spirit who tries to enjoy life to its fullest. Cervantes enjoys social interaction and thinking of odd things. He's the type of person who would banter and have your back in your time of need. Though, in the end, he's also human. If a problem impacted his life, Cervantes would try to solve it in the quickest way possible. * Abilities/Skills: Cervantes possesses a lack of magical aptitude or any physical talent. He makes up with his luck and collection. It may have been the game's settings, but when it comes to finding rare items, Cervantes possesses a high rate of finding them. A mixture of both knowledge and intuition, if there's an item that is needed, Cervantes could see it. His other talents are also business-related. From his knowledge of the economy to what stores you should go to if you need a specific service. Though the main thing Cervantes is known for is his intuition. As a tutorial NPC that only sticks around for the first half of the game, Cervantes serves as an indicator of which route the Heroine is heading. Cervantes has a sense in his mind that tells him how the story will turn out, a feeling, to be exact. It could be the future sight or a premonition from god; it is uncertain where this power lies, except that Cervantes has a feeling about how things will turn out. However, the Heroine is required to be nearby for him to activate it. * History: Before Cervantes was Cervantes, Cervantes previous life was a worker at his family's restaurant. It wasn't much hard work between switching from serving customers to cooking the meals. It was quite dull and tedious work, a fact that Cervantes became well acquainted with every day. That's why he often loafed around by reading fantasy books or playing games. When he came across 'Cross Heart Academy,' it was undoubtedly an exciting game. It was certainly an innovative, unique product compared to other visual novel games. If anything, he found it strange that they could fit so much content into the game, to begin with. What did Cervantes's previous self do when he got the game? The answer might be odd but reasonable. Cervantes tried to speedrun the game in his free time. It was a very open game with various factors that determined future outcomes, meaning every playthrough had its unique experience. Sadly, he would die early after going out drinking with friends. The events are still blurry to him as he is intoxicated. When he came to be, he was the tutorial NPC shopkeeper. A fact that he knew well after spending quite a bit of time trying to grind out the NPC's prices and visiting him to check what route the Heroine was on. It was just him alone, in a shop, with nothing except his name that he found in the NPC's journal. Cervantes Quixote. * Original Role and Background: To the majority of the players of Cross Heart Academy, the only name that Cervantes went by was 'nameless shopkeeper.' A tutorial NPC that also served as a shopkeeper gave the Heroine a rundown of the market. A charming character for sure, mainly when the shopkeeper sold valuable items or quest items that were hard to obtain. He also served as an indicator of what the route the Heroine was on, saying, "Hmmm, I have a feeling a war might be brewing soon. You should prepare yourself in the coming days," or, "I heard the Crown Prince was infatuated with someone as of late. You wouldn't know who that would be, would you?" Though when the second half of the game was reached, the shopkeeper would disappear. Nobody knows why, but several theories have come up. Perhaps an unfixable bug deleted the shopkeeper; maybe the creators forgot to add him in the second half of the game, or maybe the villainess was killed offscreen after finding out he was helping the Heroine. Nobody knows, and neither does Cervantes. * Other:</s> <|message|>Noctis Alegretto Noctis Alegretto Chapter: 1 Day:1 Location: Starveil Academy: Courtyard --- BGM: Who's There? (Persona 4) (This is not real, this is not real, this is not real, this is not real, this is not real, this is not real, this is not real, this is not real, this is not real...) That's how much his head was spiraling at the time. After all, how come all of this could be true? It had to be a dream. He didn't want to even think about the possibility of this actually happening. No, it must be some dream. There was just no way that he was somehow standing there, in the middle of an event, from a game he had played before, experiencing it as if it was his life from now on. It had to be a joke... a bad one, at the top of that. (It's all a dream, it's all a dream, it's all a dream, it's all a dream, it's all a dream, it's all a dream, it's all a dream, it's all a dream, it's all a dream...) He was sweating bullets. No, that would be an understatement. It was like a waterfall, dropping itself through his head as he kept repeating himself through his mind over and over again. He wasn't even paying attention to the speech. He didn't even need to. He already knew the script and the words given by the principal. And that didn't matter. Nothing mattered. He just wanted all of it to end. (I'm not in Starveil Academy, I'm not in Starveil Academy, I'm not in Starveil Academy,I'm not in Starveil Academy, I'm not in Starveil Academy, I'm not in Starveil Academy, I'm not in Starveil Academy...) The speech ended. The students started to disperse around. But he stood there, frozen. He didn't follow them. Like a statue, he just stared at the ground, trying to ignore everything. He closed his eyes and shut himself from the outer world. (Please... let this end. Let this end, let this end, let this end, let this end, let this end, let this end, let this end, let this end, let this end...!!) He only saw the darkness. He only heard the silence. He tried to fall back to slumber. Right there, right now. He thought about a chance. A chance that he was in a hospital bed. But where was the closest hospital to his home? Right, it was that famous one. Sírio-Libanês? Was that the one? It didn't matter. All he wanted was to wake up. To see his mother and his brother... not his father. He didn't want to see his father ever again. "... is... ct... oct...?" A voice rang out, muffled. He didn't respond. He ignored it as much as he could. It was just the voice of a dream trying to call him so he should let it fade away. But it kept ringing, ringing, and ringing... like a cellphone. But he had to be strong. "Noctis Alegretto!!" A scream rang out. *BGM fades* He opened his eyes as a hand was on his shoulder. It wasn't the name. It was the touch. And when he looked there was someone looking at him. It was a teacher... an NPC unnamed teacher. "The speech is over. You can head out now." He said. "Ah... ah..." "Noctis" responded. His mind went blank. His body gave up. He just fell. Did the drop hurt? Was he bleeding? What did it matter? His hopes were broken. What he didn't want to be, actually was. He was there. He heard everything. He was no longer himself. He was now in Starveil Academy, as a student. And he ended up being THAT certain student. It was like an overload of information for him to process. All that he could mutter, before falling unconscious was... "This... is real..."</s> <|message|>Lydianna Schaffen Lydianna Schaffen Oh dear. The young mistress was off in the crowd somewhere, she just knew it! Not that this Serrica was anyone who would shirk from such a thing...much less apologize for it. A far call from the Serrica of the game proper to be sure, and far more financially savvy in what felt like a meta sense to boot, but she'd become accustomed to it all over the years here since her own arrival. Or, well, awakening? It was hard to pin down a word for it all. Even so, she was happy to serve and tag along here for the chance to fulfil her own aspirations. Magic! Real Magic! This was an academy for the elite, but if she could glean and learn anything it would be superb. She'd also have to try a couple things she remembered about it from the game to boot. Whatever came, she would indulge her new life and live it to the fullest and best that she could! Yet how the eventual letter from Lord Haldblum would change anything, if it did at all, would certainly be something to see in the future. But until that time, she would at least take advantage of her current position in things if nothing else. ...However, this also mean attending to her cousin-mistress, or whoever she was this time around, as best she could as well. And to that end she was calling out whilst searching for her amidst the throng, nearly on her tiptoes as she tried to peer up to find that trademark head of orange hair. "Mistress Serrica? Mistress Serrica?" She was shoved aside enough times as it was along the way, of course, but she was used to the treatment by other nobility. Well, those who hadn't had her cooking at least. That much had gained her a sort of rather good reputation as a maid thus far, at least with guests of her mistress and mistress' parents in the past. Something to be proud of perhaps, but- SLAM She never saw who it was, but someone else sent her bowling back onto the ground by running into her. Lydianna fell flat on her back and side, wincing in pain as she made contact with the ground. But none paid any mind, it seemed, to her position, and as she did her best to at least get up onto her hands and knees she felt a slight warmth come to her eyes and flush into her face. It was humiliating...stupid crowds. Then her eyes would look up, landing on a familiar-looking someone walking in her general direction. ...Oh. Her legs would bend to the sides as she sat up a bit more on her knees and tried to wave at said someone, before likewise starting to call out to them. "M-Miss! Miss!" She called out to the girl, one with uniquely peculiar violet eyes, short-cut hair, and seemingly in possession of a general beauty to her as if by design. Well, technically it was by design. Game design. Wasn't hard to recognize her as the girl who was supposed to be the heroine of the entire tale, after all, even if Lydianna herself was just trying to do her job right now. But right now all she was seeking was a little bit of help for the moment, if possible...</s>

<|message|>Cervantes Quixote "Hmmm? Oh, hello!" Snapping out of his thoughts, Cervantes turned to address the new voice that spoke up. Finding a small, petite girl in front of him, Cervantes felt he recognized her from somewhere. "How can I help you?" Putting on his smile, not too forced and not too insincere. Upon listening to the girl, Cervantes discovered that she was the maid of House von Afah. Now he knew why she looked so familiar. When Cervantes played the game, he often pursued Reginald. It wasn't because he liked his character; it was more like Reginald was an excellent character. Often ranking on S- Tier, Reginald proved helpful in battle scenarios. However, he was S- because of the chance of him turning on the heroine. Why was that? While Reginald wasn't the type to betray his friends, Anne was a wild card. She could choose to ally with or betray anyone. And it was unfortunate that sacrificing Reginald was a key speedrunning strat. Thanks to his high physical bases, if one were to add a few stat boosters, he would be able to solo most bosses. Unfortunately, doing this would earn his ire and make him turn on the heroine. Though enough of that, why was that to the maid relevant to him? That was because every time he restarted the game and went to get Reginald, there was a mandatory cutscene where he would have to watch Reginald and the heroine meet each other. That maid was always there with Reginald. If Cervantes remembered correctly, the maid only spoke a line or two before disappearing. That was the only reason why Cervantes recognized the maid's face. "Quality cooking ingredients? Let's see." Turning his head, he pointed out a direction. "If you head over there, you'll see many shops selling cooking ingredients. Though if you're looking for top quality, Sasha's sells good vegetables and fruits, there's a man named Markos that's good at cutting up and selling quality meat, and Kelloc's sells general items such as flour, oils, and seasonings." When Mella thought he was finished, Cervantes opened his mouth for round two. "If you want to buy fish, you should go ask Markos. I heard he was friends with a fisherman. I also heard that there was a greenhouse on the school grounds. You can try buying from there or even grow your vegetables." "If you have trouble finding what you need, you should head into town. Sometimes I'll sell my wares there, and you can talk to me if you need help searching for a shop." With that, Cervantes finally seemed to stop. "Is there anything else you need miss?"</s>

<|description|>Cervantes Quixote * Age: 23 * Appearance: Back Profile * Gender: Male * Personality: If one must be a merchant, one must be observant of their surroundings. To retain customers, you must have your best smile on at all times, even when they're rather vile creatures that spit poison. Finally, if one has resolved to become a merchant, one must focus on one thing. Money. Money rules the world and your life, so always focus on the profits. Cervantes embodies all these traits, from being observant, amicable, and greedy. However, those views stem from the need for stability and safety. Outside of business, Cervantes is genuine and amicable while being a bit foul-mouthed. A free spirit who tries to enjoy life to its fullest. Cervantes enjoys social interaction and thinking of odd things. He's the type of person who would banter and have your back in your time of need. Though, in the end, he's also human. If a problem impacted his life, Cervantes would try to solve it in the quickest way possible. * Abilities/Skills: Cervantes possesses a lack of magical aptitude or any physical talent. He makes up with his luck and collection. It may have been the game's settings, but when it comes to finding rare items, Cervantes possesses a high rate of finding them. A mixture of both knowledge and intuition, if there's an item that is needed, Cervantes could see it. His other talents are also business-related. From his knowledge of the economy to what stores you should go to if you need a specific service. Though the main thing Cervantes is known for is his intuition. As a tutorial NPC that only sticks around for the first half of the game, Cervantes serves as an indicator of which route the Heroine is heading. Cervantes has a sense in his mind that tells him how the story will turn out, a feeling, to be exact. It could be the future sight or a premonition from god; it is uncertain where this power lies, except that Cervantes has a feeling about how things will turn out. However, the Heroine is required to be nearby for him to activate it. * History: Before Cervantes was Cervantes, Cervantes previous life was a worker at his family's restaurant. It wasn't much hard work between switching from serving customers to cooking the meals. It was quite dull and tedious work, a fact that Cervantes became well acquainted with every day. That's why he often loafed around by reading fantasy books or playing games. When he came across 'Cross Heart Academy,' it was undoubtedly an exciting game. It was certainly an innovative, unique product compared to other visual novel games. If anything, he found it strange that they could fit so much content into the game, to begin with. What did Cervantes's previous self do when he got the game? The answer might be odd but reasonable. Cervantes tried to speedrun the game in his free time. It was a very open game with various factors that determined future outcomes, meaning every playthrough had its unique experience. Sadly, he would die early after going out drinking with friends. The events are still blurry to him as he is intoxicated. When he came to be, he was the tutorial NPC shopkeeper. A fact that he knew well after spending quite a bit of time trying to grind out the NPC's prices and visiting him to check what route the Heroine was on. It was just him alone, in a shop, with nothing except his name that he found in the NPC's journal. Cervantes Quixote. * Original Role and Background: To the majority of the players of Cross Heart Academy, the only name that Cervantes went by was 'nameless shopkeeper.' A tutorial NPC that also served as a shopkeeper gave the Heroine a rundown of the market. A charming character for sure, mainly when the shopkeeper sold valuable items or quest items that were hard to obtain. He also served as an indicator of what the route the Heroine was on, saying, "Hmmm, I have a feeling a war might be brewing soon. You should prepare yourself in the coming days," or, "I heard the Crown Prince was infatuated with someone as of late. You wouldn't know who that would be, would you?" Though when the second half of the game was reached, the shopkeeper would disappear. Nobody knows why, but several theories have come up. Perhaps an unfixable bug deleted the shopkeeper; maybe the creators forgot to add him in the second half of the game, or maybe the villainess was killed offscreen after finding out he was helping the Heroine. Nobody knows, and neither does Cervantes. * Other:</s> <|message|>Anne Marielle(that's the heroine's name?!) Was that a maid, calling to her? But why? She didn't know any maids? Her family only had one, and this definitely wasn't her so- Anne paused, staring in mute shock at the sight of the boy who had suddenly approached and hauled the maid to her feet. There was no way she'd fail to recognize him. That was one of the capture targets, Reginald von Afah. In other words, one of the people she wanted to interact with the least. There was no way she was going to approach the maid at all when he was around. It didn't matter what he was doing or saying, all that mattered is escaping from this situation as quickly as possible. Turning on her heel and doing her best to vanish into the crowd, Anne was almost immediately encountered with the sight of another familiar but far less worrisome face. Noctis Algretto was a boy, but he didn't have any flags. He was just a friend. She already knew him, in fact, and that made the fact he had just collapsed was an excellent excuse to get out of the courtyard and to somewhere less exposed as quickly as possible. Not to mention the fact that he'd just collapsed, someone had to help him! "Ah, I... I should g-get you to the nurse's office!" Escape as quickly as possible, make sure Noctis was okay. That was the plan in Anne's mind. @Crusader Lord@PKMNB0Y</s> <|message|>Reginald von Afah Reginald von Afah Once confronted by Reginald about her actions, the maid's face seemed to pale and her body seemed to shrink down in fear. The hasty apology that followed from her was followed by a simple wave from Reginald, though, as if to disregard the situation entirely. It was better to chastise lightly than to let someone lose their job (or possily more) over something like this. But the matter regarding the maid was of less importance to him than the heroine in this case, and once he had seen the maid hastily flee the area, the duke's son turned around to see the heroine having run off somewhere else. Though he'd have liked to gauge what her personality was "actually" like, the possibility of her trying to raise some flags with him was not zero... Which itself would have been more annoying to manage than he would have liked. No matter, then; he'd have the next few years to see what she would attempt to do. For the moment, it seemed more prudent to leave the courtyard and... Well, find Mella, if anything. Given how he had sent her off earlier to scout the markets to make sure she had groceries for the two of them (as he was less inclined to eat at the cafeteria to begin with) and how she hadn't actually returned yet, the young man reasoned that she was likely still there, and so promptly started to leave the area once more to seek her out. --- --- Despite having had a teacher right beside him as he passed out, it did not seem as if anyone had immediately moved to help Noctis. Whether or not it was because of the chaos of the courtyard as the students left (or chose to linger) or something else mattered little, though, as it seemed at least one student was willing to extend their hand to aid the young man. Anne's hasty arrival coupled with an attempt to help drag Noctis off the ground was a bit less successful at first, mostly in part due to her lacking the strength to do so. It was only after a bit of struggling, though, that the young woman would hear someone else's voice from nearby. "Oh, is he all right? Here, let me help; we should bring him to the nurse's office as soon as possible." Almost as if all of the effort she had put in was meaningless, the owner of the voice lifted Noctis' unconscious body up and slung the young man's arm over his shoulder. "Ah... That's a bit heavier than expected. Would you mind helping me out here, miss?" The young man who had moved to help, of course, would have given Anne even more reason to panic. His golden blonde hair and aura of regality marked him as none other than one Christopher Alvonshire—in other words, the First Prince. @MagusDream</s> <|message|>Serrica Francesca Haldblum "Yes, all has been well so far at the academy, though... I do dread the speech next year. He has a way of dragging it on and on." Serrica gave a small sigh as the older girl asked if she had seen a certain brother. "That cute little brother of yours? Nope. If I hadn't noticed you, there's not much chance I noticed him." Serrica mentioned as she looked around the area, seeing if she could get her eyes locked on any hair matching Elastasia's. "A shame, I could not set my eyes on him for you." The taller noble said, her own eyes meeting Elastasia's. "Perhaps if I find him, I shall tell him you were looking." Serrica started to turn away so she could head off elsewhere before she stopped and quickly turned back towards the shorter girl. "Oh! And Lady Aquilanne, I plan on holding a tea party sometime soon to celebrate the start of this academic year. The time and date will be scheduled shortly and I will send you a written invitation. Should you find any other influent-- I mean, any other fine ladies of the academy who seem like they could use conne-Friends... Let me know and I will invite them as well." Serrica seemed proud of herself for planning this event, "You will join me, right?" Elastasia was the character that seemed to have a thing for girls, or at least the main character, in the original game. Hopefully, it meant that she'd have an eye for girls to invite to such a connection making event. Daze</s> <|message|>Elastasia Julienne ... (several extraneous middle names nobody ever remembers follow) de Aquilanne. Ellie to her friends, if they exist. Elastasia Well, at least that was one other person now on the lookout for her brother. That greatly simplified matters, although maybe Elastasia could do something else to help find him in this crowd a little bit faster... if nothing else, a little bit of magic ought to give her a better vantage point to see from, right? Before she could do that, there was the little matter of Serrica's tea party to address. It wasn't the sort of thing that Elastasia wanted to attend. All-female or not, it would still just be a party of rich girls, and nobility vying for attention. But... maybe she should keep things moving in the direction of the main story? She hadn't met yet, but if Anne showed up in a magic class before this party, it should be possible to make the beginnings of an invitation and ensure she started to acquire powerful allies before the route splits. But she didn't want to go... "Oh, I don't know if I could meet many people you haven't," she said, resting her hand on her chin, "The Academy already draws from our typical social circles quite heavily. Your year would be the one most likely to have unfamiliar girls of lower rank."</s> <|message|>Mella Kristelle Mella --- Definitely good information, as helpful as she'd imagine such a character to be. She did however, catch herself staring just a little at simply how...different still, he'd be from the in game version. Rather than a faceless NPC, it seemed as though he was still just as real as she was, or even Reginald was. Then perhaps he could potentially help with something else, too? She doubted it since by the second act of the game he was gone, but you miss every opportunity you don't take. "I see, thank you. The information is helpful." She'd reply. "But...perhaps if you'd be willing to help with a more personal request," She'd lower her voice slightly. "I'm looking for...investment opportunities." She'd pull a coin from somewhere within her dress, holding it between two of her fingers. "Not for my Lord, mind you. But for myself. I apologize if this is an odd request for a maid, but I simply find myself needing a large sum of money."</s>

<|message|>Cervantes Quixote Wait, what did the maid just ask him? Investment opportunities? Did that even exist in a maid's vocabulary? Regardless, Cervantes was pleasantly surprised by the maid's question. "Investment opportunities, well..." Cervantes trailed off in thought. Why would a maid, especially Reginald's maid, want to find investment opportunities? This didn't happen in-game, no matter how many times he played it. Perhaps this was some information he missed or skipped through while playing the game. Still, the tutorial NPC, Cervantes, helped the heroine in whatever she asked. Things like where to find magic, what would the next event be, how to get away with murder, and places where a dragon egg might be... Wait, how to get away with murder!? A chill went down his spine as he smiled at the maid. "If you wanted my personal opinion, I'd say the potion business. They're very profitable and a necessity for adventurers. I heard that they sometimes make potions to help with illnesses as well." That was according to Cervantes's experience and some truth of the old world. Most hospitals were owned by wealthy CEOs, though Cervantes didn't know if the same applied to this world. It probably did, but he would need to do more research. "Though that wouldn't work..." Cervantes muttered to himself. "If you wanted a more concrete answer, I'd need more information," Cervantes said to the maid. "Like how profitable they are, how easy is it to create a company in that business? Could you substitute that business with a different one?" That was better than asking for an overview of multiple industries. "I think you should start off with the question, 'which business do you want to invest in?' That way, I can tell whether or not it's a good investment." If the maid could narrow down the possibilities for him, that'd be great. "Though there seems to be a problem with your question." A deflated look appeared on his face. "I mean no offense, but as a maid, your income would be low, no?" The maid in front of him could be a former noble that decided to serve another noble, but Cervantes felt like that wasn't the case. "It'd be hard to otherwise invest if you don't have enough money to compete with other merchants." After all, the more money invested, the more money is gained back. "Though, I guess if you really wanted to invest, you'd be better off trying to find an inventor. Though those are often diamond in the rough." In a realistic sense, Cervantes was right. Inventors took a long time to create life-changing inventions, like the light bulb, for example, and they might be frauds if they fail. As a player, Cervantes had done it multiple times. In the investment part, he had the heroine invest in several businesses he knew that had a high rate of profitability. However, Cervantes felt guilty for that one artist in whom he often invested. In every playthrough, that artist would always follow Van Gogh's path. That artist could only find success in death... A somber look briefly appeared on Cervantes's face as he was lost in thought. "Is there anything else I can help you with?"</s>

<|description|>Cervantes Quixote * Age: 23 * Appearance: Back Profile * Gender: Male * Personality: If one must be a merchant, one must be observant of their surroundings. To retain customers, you must have your best smile on at all times, even when they're rather vile creatures that spit poison. Finally, if one has resolved to become a merchant, one must focus on one thing. Money. Money rules the world and your life, so always focus on the profits. Cervantes embodies all these traits, from being observant, amicable, and greedy. However, those views stem from the need for stability and safety. Outside of business, Cervantes is genuine and amicable while being a bit foul-mouthed. A free spirit who tries to enjoy life to its fullest. Cervantes enjoys social interaction and thinking of odd things. He's the type of person who would banter and have your back in your time of need. Though, in the end, he's also human. If a problem impacted his life, Cervantes would try to solve it in the quickest way possible. * Abilities/Skills: Cervantes possesses a lack of magical aptitude or any physical talent. He makes up with his luck and collection. It may have been the game's settings, but when it comes to finding rare items, Cervantes possesses a high rate of finding them. A mixture of both knowledge and intuition, if there's an item that is needed, Cervantes could see it. His other talents are also business-related. From his knowledge of the economy to what stores you should go to if you need a specific service. Though the main thing Cervantes is known for is his intuition. As a tutorial NPC that only sticks around for the first half of the game, Cervantes serves as an indicator of which route the Heroine is heading. Cervantes has a sense in his mind that tells him how the story will turn out, a feeling, to be exact. It could be the future sight or a premonition from god; it is uncertain where this power lies, except that Cervantes has a feeling about how things will turn out. However, the Heroine is required to be nearby for him to activate it. * History: Before Cervantes was Cervantes, Cervantes previous life was a worker at his family's restaurant. It wasn't much hard work between switching from serving customers to cooking the meals. It was quite dull and tedious work, a fact that Cervantes became well acquainted with every day. That's why he often loafed around by reading fantasy books or playing games. When he came across 'Cross Heart Academy,' it was undoubtedly an exciting game. It was certainly an innovative, unique product compared to other visual novel games. If anything, he found it strange that they could fit so much content into the game, to begin with. What did Cervantes's previous self do when he got the game? The answer might be odd but reasonable. Cervantes tried to speedrun the game in his free time. It was a very open game with various factors that determined future outcomes, meaning every playthrough had its unique experience. Sadly, he would die early after going out drinking with friends. The events are still blurry to him as he is intoxicated. When he came to be, he was the tutorial NPC shopkeeper. A fact that he knew well after spending quite a bit of time trying to grind out the NPC's prices and visiting him to check what route the Heroine was on. It was just him alone, in a shop, with nothing except his name that he found in the NPC's journal. Cervantes Quixote. * Original Role and Background: To the majority of the players of Cross Heart Academy, the only name that Cervantes went by was 'nameless shopkeeper.' A tutorial NPC that also served as a shopkeeper gave the Heroine a rundown of the market. A charming character for sure, mainly when the shopkeeper sold valuable items or quest items that were hard to obtain. He also served as an indicator of what the route the Heroine was on, saying, "Hmmm, I have a feeling a war might be brewing soon. You should prepare yourself in the coming days," or, "I heard the Crown Prince was infatuated with someone as of late. You wouldn't know who that would be, would you?" Though when the second half of the game was reached, the shopkeeper would disappear. Nobody knows why, but several theories have come up. Perhaps an unfixable bug deleted the shopkeeper; maybe the creators forgot to add him in the second half of the game, or maybe the villainess was killed offscreen after finding out he was helping the Heroine. Nobody knows, and neither does Cervantes. * Other:</s> <|message|>Cervantes Quixote Cervantes Quixote With his business smile still on his face, Cervantes tilted his head forward. "My apologies for that remark," Though both of them knew that what he said was true. If a maid's income was all it took to get into the realm of business, then every servant would be dumping their cash into investment. Nobles were pigs, and the commoners were chickens. One fed with riches while the other couldn't fly off to greater heights. If Cervantes heard anything Mella said, he made no effort to show it. "If that is the case, I wish you a good day, miss." With their conversation seemingly over, Cervantes was about to move and then stopped. "My shop is located nearest to one of the entrances. If there is anything you would like to inquire about, then you can head to my shop." With that, he finally turned back and began walking back to his shop. Perhaps he would charge that maid next time for advice. He didn't get to meet the heroine, so that meant this reality was a little realistic. While a redundant thought, it still rang true. Not everything was pre-determined, though this was only a slight bit of evidence for that case. "Though, what should I do..." Cervantes muttered to himself. It still didn't change the fact that his future was uncertain. Perhaps it was time for some exploration. Cervantes needed to restock items for his shop, and he needed someone to protect him if the need arose. If he remembered correctly, there was a bulletin board somewhere in the town square. That billboard was a quest-giver to the heroine if she wanted to gain experience. It often involved her helping the people on the school grounds with their errands or dilemmas. He'd just use the billboard to enlist some poor student to follow him around while he collected items. "Though what should I give as a reward," Cervantes muttered to himself.</s> <|message|>Elastasia Julienne ... (several extraneous middle names nobody ever remembers follow) de Aquilanne. Ellie to her friends, if they exist. Elastasia Oh good, he'd slowed down. Excellent, she'd been having to practically jog to keep up and that was undignified and ridiculous. Stupid long-legged giants in a rush, they really didn't appreciate how much of an advantage those legs were in turning a brisk pace into an active workout for everyone else... Maybe the best accident would be one that took advantage of that? Some sort of magical pit trap; it could be claimed that he was just in too much of a hurry to notice the hole in the ground or something before he fell in, how unfortunate that it happened to be full of deadly venomous snakes. But then she'd need to find a way to acquire snakes on-demand, otherwise it would just be Reginald standing around in the bottom of a pit until someone came along with a ladder. The fact that he had replied took her a few seconds to catch up on as she followed along, thinking. "Um... it's possible, but that doesn't really narrow it down, because I don't think he'd be at all familiar with anywhere I could be in the academy, and there's so many possible places that it would take days to search them..." It was a big place, there were plenty of out-of-the-way corners to sit and read, after all.</s> <|message|>Reginald von Afah Reginald von Afah Though he seemed somewhat lost in thought as he proceeded forward, the concerns that Elastasia had were not necessarily ones that Reginald shared... Or, at the very least, not for the same reasons. Regardless of when he was meant to meet the heroine, the fact that he was a capture target to begin with couldn't be ignored... And, as he wished to do for most of the people of concern, Reginald wished to keep tabs on as many of those as possible. The fact that he was also fundamentally tied to one of the best generalist magic units in Cross Heart Academy—in other words, the girl following behind him—only meant that trying to maintain a decent relationship during his time here was of a rather high import. Not that he shouldn't have already been worrying about such a thing; keeping up airs was rather important despite the "equal" footing the school tried to place on them in terms of status. "Well, if you are to search, I suppose starting here is as good a place as any," he said, the streets abuzz with chatter as the pair walked into the markets proper. "Though... Hm. That might prove difficult, given the crowds." With the flow of students constantly shifting about them, it would indeed be rather difficult for anyone to spot anything, regardless of their height—but through the smallest of gaps, a fleeting glimpse of some rather distinctly familiar white hair could be seen before it disappeared back into the sea of people. Daze --- --- With all of the people moving throughout the marketplace, it was but a given that people would end up bumping into one another on occasion. The streets were not so crowded as to outright hinder movement, but with all of the new students eager to explore the academy's town-within-a-city, it was difficult to not expect at least a little pushing and shoving here and there. What would likely not have been expected to Mella, though, was a full-on collision with a certain overeager white-haired boy. Nary had a moment gone by since Cervantes had said his farewells did the maid find herself run into at full force by the new student. The boy had fared no better, of course; rather than landing on top of her, the momentum he had built up dodging through the crowd had left him unable to properly maintain his balance once he had failed—which, in this case, had led to him rather comically tripping over himself before tumbling onto the ground. "...Ow..." he groaned, slowly pushing himself off the cobblestone below with a few more cuts and bruises than he had moments ago. @AThousandCurses --- --- Christopher looked at Anne with mild surprise at her near-instantaneous declaration to stay behind before smiling and nodding. "Your friend is very lucky to have someone so concerned about them at their side. I would certainly like to stay and make sure he is well..." the prince began to say before shaking his head, "but I do have other things I need to attend to. We should speak again in the future, though; in the meantime, I hope your time at the academy serves you well." And with that, the prince promptly left the room—only for a brief knock on the door and the nurse's motion to open it reveal someone else of import. With a somewhat gloomy atmosphere about him, a young man with dark purple hair walked into the room, a crate of bandages in hand. "Master, I've brought the bandages you requested," stated one Johan Kyrman, his gaze slowly panning across the room before landing upon both Anne and the unconscious Noctis. "...I see we already have a patient, though." "Oh, thank you, Johan! You can put the bandages over there," the nurse said, gesturing off to an open area to the side. Though his gaze lingered upon the pair for a moment, the young man simply followed his "master's" orders before promptly walking over to the unconscious Noctis and checking the student's temperature and vitals. "...Hm. No sign of any irregularities..." he muttered to himself before turning towards the nurse for a moment, then towards Anne. "What happened to him?" Needless to say, the nurse's sigh rather than any attempt to stop him would have made it clear that the young man at their side was more than a little "eccentric". @MagusDream</s> <|message|>Mella Kristelle Mella @PKMNB0Y --- "Thank you for the help, sir. I shall come inquire again if there is anything I need for the foreseeable tenure of lord Reginalds enrollment in the academy." With potential money opportunities possibly gained, she needed to now just come up with a good plan to start saving. Sponsoring someone would certainly be a good idea and could reap great benefits...but that still left the issue of gathering enough capital to do so in the first place. Perhaps she should approach lord Reginald with an idea of her own...? Hm...if she could get his ear on some inventions from the modern day perhaps she could turn quite a profit indeed...though that meant trying to get him to agree to give her a share of the profits and not take it for himself. So caught up in her thoughts, she was completely surprised as she'd feel someone just run into her. "Oh dear-" She'd exclaim, stumbling backwards and landing a bit awkwardly on her arm, sustaining a few minor scrapes for her troubles herself as she'd sit up, rubbing her arm a bit where she landed on it. "Haaa, you really should watch where you're going." Mella grumbled as she'd get to her feet. "Are you alright, young sir?"</s>

<|message|>Cervantes Quixote As Cervantes bid the maid farewell, he heard the sound of crashing from behind him. It couldn't have been more than a few seconds when they decided to part ways. What could have happened in that short period? With his curiosity getting the better of him and no sense of urgency, Cervantes turned back around to see the maid and an unfamiliar student laying on the ground. It didn't exactly take a genius to tell what had happened. "Are you two alright?" Cervantes said as he walked over. He lent a hand to the maid first, though he couldn't decide whether that was the right move. If this was a snobby noble, Cervantes would never hear the end of it. There were a lot of noble characters that hindered the heroine's progress because of their royal background and sticks up their asses. While Cervantes hadn't paid much attention to the side characters, he did read enough manga to get a general idea of certain stereotypes. If Mella accepted his hand, he'd pull her up and then walk over to the student. On closer inspection, this kid was a lot more familiar than unfamiliar now that he had a closer look. White hair, small structure, looked like if someone blew wind at him, he'd collapse. Yep, Cervantes recognized him. It was one of the male leads, Terys, who Cervantes quite frankly did not care about. As far as he could remember, Terys was practically there for shotacons. His older sister, Elastasia, was much more helpful in combat scenarios. Having a superb magic stat and being a guaranteed recruit on Tery's route, Elastasia was a better unit overall. While Cervantes did not remember much about Terys, he'd like to assume that Terys had a temperate personality. Based on first impressions, Terys would often chase after his sister to stop whatever she was doing. If he was like that, then Cervantes hoped to assume that he didn't do anything particularly wrong.</s>

<|description|>Cervantes Quixote * Age: 23 * Appearance: Back Profile * Gender: Male * Personality: If one must be a merchant, one must be observant of their surroundings. To retain customers, you must have your best smile on at all times, even when they're rather vile creatures that spit poison. Finally, if one has resolved to become a merchant, one must focus on one thing. Money. Money rules the world and your life, so always focus on the profits. Cervantes embodies all these traits, from being observant, amicable, and greedy. However, those views stem from the need for stability and safety. Outside of business, Cervantes is genuine and amicable while being a bit foul-mouthed. A free spirit who tries to enjoy life to its fullest. Cervantes enjoys social interaction and thinking of odd things. He's the type of person who would banter and have your back in your time of need. Though, in the end, he's also human. If a problem impacted his life, Cervantes would try to solve it in the quickest way possible. * Abilities/Skills: Cervantes possesses a lack of magical aptitude or any physical talent. He makes up with his luck and collection. It may have been the game's settings, but when it comes to finding rare items, Cervantes possesses a high rate of finding them. A mixture of both knowledge and intuition, if there's an item that is needed, Cervantes could see it. His other talents are also business-related. From his knowledge of the economy to what stores you should go to if you need a specific service. Though the main thing Cervantes is known for is his intuition. As a tutorial NPC that only sticks around for the first half of the game, Cervantes serves as an indicator of which route the Heroine is heading. Cervantes has a sense in his mind that tells him how the story will turn out, a feeling, to be exact. It could be the future sight or a premonition from god; it is uncertain where this power lies, except that Cervantes has a feeling about how things will turn out. However, the Heroine is required to be nearby for him to activate it. * History: Before Cervantes was Cervantes, Cervantes previous life was a worker at his family's restaurant. It wasn't much hard work between switching from serving customers to cooking the meals. It was quite dull and tedious work, a fact that Cervantes became well acquainted with every day. That's why he often loafed around by reading fantasy books or playing games. When he came across 'Cross Heart Academy,' it was undoubtedly an exciting game. It was certainly an innovative, unique product compared to other visual novel games. If anything, he found it strange that they could fit so much content into the game, to begin with. What did Cervantes's previous self do when he got the game? The answer might be odd but reasonable. Cervantes tried to speedrun the game in his free time. It was a very open game with various factors that determined future outcomes, meaning every playthrough had its unique experience. Sadly, he would die early after going out drinking with friends. The events are still blurry to him as he is intoxicated. When he came to be, he was the tutorial NPC shopkeeper. A fact that he knew well after spending quite a bit of time trying to grind out the NPC's prices and visiting him to check what route the Heroine was on. It was just him alone, in a shop, with nothing except his name that he found in the NPC's journal. Cervantes Quixote. * Original Role and Background: To the majority of the players of Cross Heart Academy, the only name that Cervantes went by was 'nameless shopkeeper.' A tutorial NPC that also served as a shopkeeper gave the Heroine a rundown of the market. A charming character for sure, mainly when the shopkeeper sold valuable items or quest items that were hard to obtain. He also served as an indicator of what the route the Heroine was on, saying, "Hmmm, I have a feeling a war might be brewing soon. You should prepare yourself in the coming days," or, "I heard the Crown Prince was infatuated with someone as of late. You wouldn't know who that would be, would you?" Though when the second half of the game was reached, the shopkeeper would disappear. Nobody knows why, but several theories have come up. Perhaps an unfixable bug deleted the shopkeeper; maybe the creators forgot to add him in the second half of the game, or maybe the villainess was killed offscreen after finding out he was helping the Heroine. Nobody knows, and neither does Cervantes. * Other:</s> <|message|>Cervantes Quixote Cervantes Quixote "Ah, ha!" Cervantes to said to no one other than to himself. The net fell upon the enemy and was slammed back to the ground. The creature tried to budge against its restraints, but Cervantes tried his hardest to keep it down. All he needed to do now was bring the creature back to a shopkeeper and cage it up. "That was easy." He didn't break a sweat, yet, though the critter sure was strong. It took all he had to keep the animal down in his net. Though Cervantes was curious to what he had even caught. Looking down at it made him surprised. It was a wyvern, well to be more precise a wyvern whelp. Creatures with a similar appearance to dragons but more common and less strong than their cousins. Said wyvern whelp was now trying break out the net by gnawing it. "Not today, I'm afraid!" Cervantes as he shifted the net around. The net entangled the wyvern, but that didn't stop the little thing from being ferocious. It was letting out strange cries as it tried to get out of its trapping. "Jessica! Where are the cages!" Cervantes yelled to his shopkeeper friend. She seemed currently preoccupied trying to throw some sort of dust at a boar that was trying to maul her. The boar took a sniff out the dust before promptly going slack on its side. When she was finished, Jessica yelled out, "Somewhere in there!" With a gesture she nodded towards the run down store. Then she went back to trying to get more of the creatures. Was it legal to use unknown substances on animals? Cervantes didn't know and didn't seem to want to as he had a wyvern to pin in. "Welp, in you go!" Cervantes said as he dragged the wyvern. Hopefully there was an intact cage for this feisty critter.</s> <|message|>Mella Kristelle Mella @PKMNB0Y@Raineh Daze --- Quite the rambunctious critters, weren't they? Unfortunately for them, they could not escape a talented maids quick hands! She may not have had special powers or magic like Elastasia, but she was no less capable! As the critters were funneled towards them, Mella honed in on the more exotic looking ones and went specifically for those. A lizard like creature that vaguely reminded her of an axolotl was easily dealt with after snatching it from the ground before it could slip through Reginalds feet while he...oh, was that some sort of...holy bird or something? Her eyes lingered on Reginalds prize for a few moments before she'd tear her eyes away. She had and wanted nothing to do with such things. They'd only just get her in trouble. It was a good thing, then, something else else needed her intervention. "Humph," As the kitten leapt towards Elastasia, it would instead be finding itself face planting right into Mella's bosom as she put herself between the kitten and the mage. "Its rather impolite to leap at a lady's face." She'd scold the kitten, using a free arm to pin it against her body in case it tried struggling.</s> <|message|>Elastasia Julienne ... (several extraneous middle names nobody ever remembers follow) de Aquilanne. Ellie to her friends, if they exist. Elastasia When the kitten--why had a kitten known to go for her? had made that jump--Elastasia reflexively froze up, presenting a harmless and ineffectual target... one that would have been able to do nothing to maintain their little corralling effort. Fortunately for her, the totally-just-a-maid came to her rescue, and the barrier maintained its integrity. Barely; the little jumping trick did cause the entire thing to shimmer ominously before recovering its strength. How odd that he'd caught a holy bird, though. Was that even a good thing? It might do... something, when panicked, and it wasn't exactly the holiest of all individuals that had just made a grab for it. Maybe they'd be lucky and it would make a beeline for someone more suitable, even if nobody with the exact magical affinity was in the area. Of course, her brother now had his hands full, as well as his face. It looked rather like an ordinary puppy. A very large, very affectionate, very slobbery puppy.</s> <|message|>Serrica Francesca Haldblum Serrica had waited for Noctis to say something but he was rather quiet. "Well, fine, the boy seems shell-shocked. If you feel better, do follow. Otherwise, girl, I'm going to borrow you for a small bit so the patient can rest." With that, Serrica kept hold of Anne's hand and walked out the door with her, leading her to somewhere that wasn't the infirmary. They got out of the building for some fresh air before Serrica stopped and released Anne. She took a breath before she opened her mouth again. "Alright then. Now that we can get out from that sterile smelling air, do you not want to work for the quite rich Serrica Francesca Haldblum? I can pay you a potent salary... Hmm..." She went silent for some seconds as she contemplated something. "I suppose I have yet to properly introduce myself..." The noble girl cleared her throat before speaking once more. "I am the eldest daughter of the Haldblum Duchy, Serrica Francesca Haldblum. May I ask your name and house? Or, lack thereof. Take no offence, but if you are of a noble house I've yet to see you attend to high society functions."</s> <|message|>Anne Marielle(that's the heroine's name?!) "Wait wha-" On one hand it did allow her to escape from one of the romantic interests. On the other, this wasn't anything like anything that had happened in the game. Anne certainly hadn't expected Serrica to go dragging her off like this out of the blue. In fact, none of this behavior seemed like the Serrica she knew from the game at all. Just what was going on? Of course it wasn't that Serrica wasn't wealthy and exuberant but... Maybe she was just imagining it? Maybe it was just because of how things had already shifted? Anne wasn't certain, and she didn't really know how to handle a girl just dragging her off in the first place. "Er... er... Marielle," she managed, when Serrica asked her name. It was more then she'd expected to be dealing with from her already, so it took a moment for her to even begin to articulate herself, "A-Anne Marielle, er, I guess we just didn't... run into each other...?" She was from a minor house, in any case, so the chances of that were exceptionally high.</s> <|message|>Reginald von Afah Reginald von Afah With the barrier comparatively unperturbed by the kitten's valiant efforts, the rest of the animals soon found themselves crashing into the magical wall... Or one another. To Reginald, who was watching the whole affair unfold in front of him, the mental image of a nasty pileup quickly came to mind—and a somewhat restrained grimace crossed his face as he turned away from the carnage. "I certainly don't envy any of them..." he remarked to himself as the bird in his hands continued to wriggle and squirm about. Though he could not necessarily see the growing energy it was exuding now, he could certainly feel it now. To that, though, the young man simply chose to maintain his hold on the creature. 'Twas not his place to question why a magical creature was being held here, of course, but as far as he could tell, there was not much amiss about it beyond a slight glow. The two more magically-inclined girls in his company would likely be able to tell what was going on to some degree, though, given how the bird seemed to be absorbing energy from the disoriented and injured creatures lying about as the shopekeepers began to gather them back up. By now, the identity of the avian was a bit more obvious to those who had run through this event in the game—the heroine's "companion" on the routes more relevant to the church, traveling around and growing alongside her. Unfortunate, though, that such growth usually required the presence of the injured and pained... Such as those lying around the street right now. Doubly so, of course, when one considered that the bird could hit a critical mass of energy before it reached a new stage in it's growth, as seemed to be fast approaching, and in so doing could cause anything from a shockwave of mana to a pulse of healing energy affecting those who it was nearby to anything in between. All the while, though, the kitten that had now been caught in Melia's arms was flailing about, trying it's hardest to push itself free from her grasp. Notably enough, though, it seemed to deliberately not be trying to scratch or bite at her body despite being caught in a rather unbecoming situation... Though for what reason it chose not to do so remained to be seen. By this point, though, the shopkeepers had begun to capitalize on the efforts of everyone actively aiding in their efforts to stop the stampede, and more than a few had already begun to bring the creatures splayed out on the streets back to their cages... For better or worse. The wyvern in Cervantes' grasp, for example, continued to struggle away at the net that had wrapped around it's body—or, to be more accurate, the net that it had incidentally wrapped itself up in. But the slight red glow beginning to form from within it's mouth was not exactly a herald of good things to come for anyone left unaware... @Rune_Alchemist@Raineh Daze</s>

<|message|>Cervantes Quixote "Phew, almost done." What a day. Cervantes grimaced as he dragged the straggling wyvern to a cage. It felt a little surreal to be in this situation. Mystical animals break out and he had to catch one of them; what was this an anime? Though he supposed it wasn't too wrong. After all, this was an otome game. Scenarios like these shouldn't be too surprising to see in an otome, but experiencing first hand was an entirely different matter. Opening the cage, he looked down at the lizard. "Well, little guy, it's time to get into cage so-" Cervantes stopped when the whelp something glowing in its mouth. Did it eat a flashlight or something? First, he was sure that flashlights didn't exist in this world. Second, he was pretty sure that light was coming out of its mouth. It reminded him of a dragon about to breath fire. "Wait, breath fire?" Fire? In an instant, Cervantes was immediately alarmed of what was going to happen. Why could wyverns breath fire, or whatever it was doing? He thought only dragons could that. Wyverns were like the lame cousins of dragons and insignifcant to them. "Ah... Ah... Ah..." Cervantes panicked. What was he going to do? He had to do something, but he didn't want to hurt the wyvern either. Cervantes dug into his pockets and threw 'it' at the wyvern. "Pocket sand!" Immediately the sand slapped the wyvern straight in the face. It blinked before wrinkling it nose. With a sneeze that sounded like a gun firing, it shot out fire. Fire that easily burned his net. "Haaaaaa!" Cervantes yelped at the sudden brightness. Out of sheer instinct, Cervantes threw the net, along with the help, into the cage. "Nope, nope, nope, nope, not today. Not dealing with this, today." Without hesitation he closed the cage and locked it.</s>

<|description|>Cervantes Quixote * Age: 23 * Appearance: Back Profile * Gender: Male * Personality: If one must be a merchant, one must be observant of their surroundings. To retain customers, you must have your best smile on at all times, even when they're rather vile creatures that spit poison. Finally, if one has resolved to become a merchant, one must focus on one thing. Money. Money rules the world and your life, so always focus on the profits. Cervantes embodies all these traits, from being observant, amicable, and greedy. However, those views stem from the need for stability and safety. Outside of business, Cervantes is genuine and amicable while being a bit foul-mouthed. A free spirit who tries to enjoy life to its fullest. Cervantes enjoys social interaction and thinking of odd things. He's the type of person who would banter and have your back in your time of need. Though, in the end, he's also human. If a problem impacted his life, Cervantes would try to solve it in the quickest way possible. * Abilities/Skills: Cervantes possesses a lack of magical aptitude or any physical talent. He makes up with his luck and collection. It may have been the game's settings, but when it comes to finding rare items, Cervantes possesses a high rate of finding them. A mixture of both knowledge and intuition, if there's an item that is needed, Cervantes could see it. His other talents are also business-related. From his knowledge of the economy to what stores you should go to if you need a specific service. Though the main thing Cervantes is known for is his intuition. As a tutorial NPC that only sticks around for the first half of the game, Cervantes serves as an indicator of which route the Heroine is heading. Cervantes has a sense in his mind that tells him how the story will turn out, a feeling, to be exact. It could be the future sight or a premonition from god; it is uncertain where this power lies, except that Cervantes has a feeling about how things will turn out. However, the Heroine is required to be nearby for him to activate it. * History: Before Cervantes was Cervantes, Cervantes previous life was a worker at his family's restaurant. It wasn't much hard work between switching from serving customers to cooking the meals. It was quite dull and tedious work, a fact that Cervantes became well acquainted with every day. That's why he often loafed around by reading fantasy books or playing games. When he came across 'Cross Heart Academy,' it was undoubtedly an exciting game. It was certainly an innovative, unique product compared to other visual novel games. If anything, he found it strange that they could fit so much content into the game, to begin with. What did Cervantes's previous self do when he got the game? The answer might be odd but reasonable. Cervantes tried to speedrun the game in his free time. It was a very open game with various factors that determined future outcomes, meaning every playthrough had its unique experience. Sadly, he would die early after going out drinking with friends. The events are still blurry to him as he is intoxicated. When he came to be, he was the tutorial NPC shopkeeper. A fact that he knew well after spending quite a bit of time trying to grind out the NPC's prices and visiting him to check what route the Heroine was on. It was just him alone, in a shop, with nothing except his name that he found in the NPC's journal. Cervantes Quixote. * Original Role and Background: To the majority of the players of Cross Heart Academy, the only name that Cervantes went by was 'nameless shopkeeper.' A tutorial NPC that also served as a shopkeeper gave the Heroine a rundown of the market. A charming character for sure, mainly when the shopkeeper sold valuable items or quest items that were hard to obtain. He also served as an indicator of what the route the Heroine was on, saying, "Hmmm, I have a feeling a war might be brewing soon. You should prepare yourself in the coming days," or, "I heard the Crown Prince was infatuated with someone as of late. You wouldn't know who that would be, would you?" Though when the second half of the game was reached, the shopkeeper would disappear. Nobody knows why, but several theories have come up. Perhaps an unfixable bug deleted the shopkeeper; maybe the creators forgot to add him in the second half of the game, or maybe the villainess was killed offscreen after finding out he was helping the Heroine. Nobody knows, and neither does Cervantes. * Other:</s> <|message|>Elastasia Julienne ... (several extraneous middle names nobody ever remembers follow) de Aquilanne. Ellie to her friends, if they exist. Elastasia "Oh dear, the holy bird seems to like you..." Elastasia stated, watching the bird's choice of perch curiously. Was this information actually significant to any of the world's normal inhabitants? It could be mere happenstance that Mella was more appealing than any of the others around here--being marginally holier than a bunch of merchants and nobles might not be considered much of an achievement--but at the same time, it was a very definite preference... Or maybe that was merely confirmation bias speaking. She knew why it was so attracted, therefore, to her, it was obvious. If she started acting on all the game knowledge to any real end, though, she'd get a reputation for uncanny prescience that would give out in such a short span of time, that would be quite annoying. And she really needed to start with something big before attention came to her, like making sure Reginald didn't go off and cause problems. Maybe if he was encouraged to collect rare animals, they wouldn't need to depend on the Heroine's whims? That derpy-looking creature would be a good start. And maybe one of the shopkeepers would get that dog off her brother. He wouldn't have anywhere to keep such a pet, no matter how friendly it was.</s> <|message|>Mella Kristelle Mella @Raineh Daze --- "I'll send you an invoice for saving your arm later." Mella confidently stated with her usual neutral expression. Now the only thing was to get away before the bird did anything like give any sign that she knew exactly what was going on or that the bird somehow decided to stay with her. She felt a set of bird feet perch on her head. "Shoo, bird." She'd say, making an attempt at waving the bird off. She had no desire to get caught up with any holy creature unless said holy creature was worth the entirety of the country in its net worth that she could sell or profit from. More importantly though, was the little kitten that had accepted its fate, it seemed. She'd relax her grip on it just slightly, adjusting so she could hold it a little better and more comfortably with it resting on her shoulder instead of being firmly pressed against her. "More importantly...for helping you catch these runaway animals, I believe fair compensation is in order, sir?"</s> <|message|>Anne Marielle(that's the heroine's name?!) "..." Ah. Ah. She wasn't ready to deal with this. There was no way she was prepared to deal with this situation. Anne had prepared herself as quickly as possible to deal with meeting a variety of characters, but this was almost on par with meeting one of the potential capture targets. The villainess. Lilian Meridan. How did she respond to this situation?! What did she do!? She wasn't planning on trying to pursue the crown prince(hell no in fact) but that didn't mean there wasn't the potential for disaster brewing. Did she just introduce herself? It already seemed like Serrica was provoking her. Wasn't that a really bad idea?! She didn't need to be wrapped up in a scenario like this when she was still trying to figure something out? Frazzled was the best description for the expression on Anne's face. "N-nice to meet you," she managed, curtsying and trying not to acknowledge the obvious provocation occurring beside her, "I-I'm Anne. Her, Anne Marielle! ... Daughter, er, daughter of Lord Marielle... er..." The anxiety had made her stumble over herself. This was a mess. @PKMNB0Y</s> <|message|>Reginald von Afah Reginald von Afah Curious though he was about whatever had sparked this incident in the first place, Reginald reminded himself that, at the end of the day, there were other matters to worry about over investigating the circumstances that had kept everyone here to begin with. With that being said, though, it wasn't as if he could tell as if these events were predetermined or not to begin with. He had little memory of any events like this while proceeding through the game, but at this point, chasing after a dangling thread on his first day here in hopes that it would lead to other issues seemed a bit... Frivolous? Yes, frivolous was the word. He needed information first and foremost, not instinctual hunches. "...Well, there were surely other witnesses. Hopefully those with more authority will find the ones responsible," he said, shrugging his shoulders as he glanced towards his maid. Being the person she usually was, of course, his servant requested recompense—one that he was less willing to give due to the bird that seemed to be gravitating towards her, granted, but what she had done otherwise at least warranted some minor bonus. "If you wish to bill me, I will, of course, review the costs," he remarked back, watching as Mella attempted to get the bird off of her head. A small smirk crossed his face as he watched the bird flit about, dodging the maid's hands as it flew into the air for a moment... Before promptly returning to sit atop her head. "Would you prefer I purchased that bird for you? Or, rather, maybe I should do so regardless..." he joked before taking a step to the side as a few more shopkeepers—and, now, some more willing volunteers—began to carry the rattled animals back to whence they came. Walking back towards Elastasia and Terys, though, the black-haired student noted that the latter was still wrestling with a rather large puppy, which seemed to have taken to him as much as the bird had to his maid. Whether or not he wanted to be pinned to the ground and licked over and over was not necessarily his jurisdiction, of course, but given that it seemed to have been going on for long enough for the boy to try (and fail) to push him off... Well, it only seemed right to step in and assist. With a sigh, Reginald leaned over and wrapped both of his arms around the dog before prying it away from Terys, the beast notably heavier than it seemed to be at first glance. "I am... Surprised they could keep this thing to begin with," he said, some strain evident on his face as the dog shook about in his arms. "Rather friendly, it seems—for better or worse." Daze@Rune_Alchemist --- The older man stared at Cervantes for a moment before shaking his head and sighing. "Jacob Verdan. As for recovering what was lost, well..." There was a moment as he trailed off before glancing at the people bringing the animals back over to the shop. "...I suppose that can wait until after I've taken inventory. There are a fair number of creatures I need to make sure are all right... Assuming that they've been captured," he remarked, shoulders slumped as he moved to take a snakelike creature off of a young man's hands. "If there is anything missing, though... Well, depending on what it is, I might have to take you up on your offer." By now, more of those animals were starting to be brought back in, whether in makeshift containers or in the hands of someone... Or, in some cases, hanging off of a limb with their mouths firmly latched on. It was a comical sight, to be sure, but the sheer quantity of the animals in question made this a far less entertaining matter for the man who had to worry about them to begin with. --- --- Lilian seemed to physically recoil as Serrica stepped forward and said her piece, though she made an honest attempt at trying to mask her displeasure with the noblewoman's words and actions in the process. The young woman seemed to be suppressing the urge to simply respond to the provocations of the greedy woman in front of her, but it was difficult for her to not try and create space between herself and Serrica as the latter moved closer to her. "My feeling towards Chr-the Crown Prince have nothing to do with this matter. Regardless, I would sooner bite my own tongue off than deal with you alone for a night," the young woman responded, a frown on her face as she let out a brief sigh before turning towards the stammering young lady caught up in this mess. There was a pause, of course, as she listened to the nervous attempt at an introduction before sighing. "No need to feel so alarmed, Miss Marielle," Lilian said, a businesslike smile crossing her face as if her prior reaction towards Serrica did not exist moments prior. "Though our stations may differ, we are all students here. Though..." There was a pause as the blonde-haired girl threw a passing glance towards Serrica before continuing. "...I worry some people here may treat this school as a hunting ground of sorts rather than a place of learning. In any case, I suppose I should ask what you were doing here, given that there isn't exactly much to do within the building at the moment—especially not at this time of day." @VitaVitaAR</s>

<|message|>Cervantes Quixote "Very well, Mr. Verdan. If you do require assistance, here's my business card." Cervantes said as he drew out a card from his jacket and placed it on the counter. It seemed formal to print out a variety of cards for his business. That and the school's market was big enough by itself; it would sometimes be hard to pinpoint the exact location of Cervantes's shop. "Take care, Mr. Verdan. I pray that your business booms in the next few days." With that, Cervantes left the shop. Mr. Verdan needed all the help he could get after all. Cervantes closed the door, not that it mattered since the shop was partially destroyed, and began to walk down the street. "Whew, what a day." Wiping his brow of sweat, Cervantes tried to calculate his next move. It might take a little while for Jacob Verdan to open his shop again. From taking account of the missing animals, the cost of repairs, and the amount of time that it required to do them, it would take a week or two for Jacob Verdan to open his shop again. "What a shame. I was looking to buy a creature for myself." The merchant wasn't a fan of pets, but he didn't dislike them either. The responsibility of taking care of another organism felt too heavy for him to bare in the other world, so Cervantes avoided adopting one. Now, the circumstances were different. Cervantes needed protection. The market clearly wasn't safe from what Cervantes had seen earlier, not to mention the unknowable fate of his future. If he were to overcome it, he'd need to be as prepared as possible. 'Though was Jacob Verdan in the game?' Cervantes thought to himself. He had a lot of game knowledge when it came to Cross Heart Academy. Jacob Verdan must have played some sort of crucial role in the game, considering he was the pet vendor. If Cervantes remembered correctly, there was also a route that played similarly to Pokemon. He had watched a few speedruns before but didn't retain much since the content was rather lackluster in the merchant's eyes. A frown graced Cervante's face, but he pressed on. Jacob Verdan was most likely an important NPC regardless, in comparison to Cervantes, who went nameless in the game. His eyes darted to a few familiar figures. Reginald, the maid, and a few others. They seemed to be doing their own thing, and Cervantes had his own thing to do. Heading straight to his shop, Cervantes wanted to write up that help request for the bulletin board. The market was probably going to be slow during the day, thanks to the market, which meant that Cervantes didn't have much to do.</s>

<|description|>Anne Marielle(that's the heroine's name?!) * Age: 16(oh no...) * Appearance: "This would be awkward enough without everything else!" * Gender: Female(aaaah) * Personality: Matsuoka Ryouji is not happy with this situation. Suddenly remembering her original age and name the day of entry into Starveil was a traumatic experience at best, realizing not only was she a girl now but she was the heroine of Cross Heart Academy on top of it. She has absolutely no interest in any of the romantic routes and is desperate to avoid them. After all, regardless of what she is now, she was a straight man prior to reincarnation. A bunch of varied bishonen are not on her list of romantic interests. A sarcastic and easily-exasperated person, Anne was quick to comment on things that bugged her about the game's world and characters in her past life and she is still liable to do so now. She's also quite concerned with what the future may hold, given her experience with the game itself. Of course, no matter her past memories and experiences, it can be denied that she is also the game character, Anne Marielle, in addition to Matsuoka Ryouji. Some of Cross Heart Academy's Heroine's kindness and willingness to help others has almost certainly remained, perhaps due to the fact that in spite of Ryouji's bitter attitude he wasn't completely without those impulses in the first place. The fact is that ultimately, Anne's attitude isn't exclusively informed by her past life's memories and experiences, even if those take the forefront. New personal connections are something she cherishes deep down, both due to Ryouji's loss of the few he had in his old life and Anne's friendly and caring disposition. Perhaps it's also due to the fact that, despite her many negative comments about the game's cast, she truly can't say she disliked any of them, especially as the writing got stronger towards the middle and end of the plot. Still, she is absolutely not interested in any of the game's romantic routes. Flags are to be avoided at all costs. * Abilities/Skills: Lacking in many practical skills save maybe decent cooking ability, it's likely the designers of the game wanted Anne not to excel in too many things to avoid her starting to feel a little far away from the average person. However, it is later revealed that she has incredibly impressive magical power and an aptitude for holy spells, something she is already aware of due to her previous life. * History: Matsuoka Ryouji was something of a loner, a young university student who had never really had many friends in life. But he did have some positive relationships, and in spite of a rather bitter attitude he got on very well with his young high-school age sister. Even if their relationship wasn't always smooth, it turned out that they had a similar sense of humor in spite of her far brighter and cheerier demeanor, and her interest in video games(primarily otome games) was useful for his desire to get into game development. This is likely why she came to him with an otome game she was struggling with, due to a surprising difficulty spike towards the midpoint. Ryouji spent much of the early game mocking the writing choices and decision trees, but as things went on he did come to like the characters as the writing grew stronger. And when the game transitioned from a pure VN to a remarkably challenging SRPG with surprisingly engaging story beats, he couldn't deny he was actually enjoying his time with the game. Eventually he beat it alongside his sister, and while he didn't exactly want to say he liked an otome game that much it was difficult to deny it. Unfortunately for Ryouji, a car accident would end his current life when he used his own body to shield his sister's. She survived, but he did not, and... She would wake up as the sixteen-year-old Anne Marielle, protagonist of the otome game she had completed the day prior. * Original Role and Background: Anne Marielle is friendly, kind, and mildly airheaded girl from a very minor, barely-existent noble family with no prestigious history and basically no reptutation, that was in decline already due to the death of her father and loss of a considerable amount of wealth. Considered a commoner in the eyes of the other students who only entered the school due to what they perceived as pity, her life at the academy life started with her being disregarded and bullied. However, due to her kindness and willingness to help others, she found herself attracting the attentions of a certain set of male students... From there, in Ryouji's case, things escalated into a rather emotionally intense and dramatic route culminating in a a battle that decided the fate of the world. * Other:</s> <|message|>Cervantes Quixote Cervantes Quixote Today was the entrance ceremony. The time and day the heroine would finally arrive at the school and begin her journey. An epic tale that entranced many who played Cross Heart Academy. Too bad, before he died, Cervantes wasn't too invested in the story. After his first few playthroughs, Cervantes ended up skipping the cutscenes unless they were mandatory. Though, unlike the heroine, Cervantes couldn't attend the speech. It was because he was here as a merchant rather than the majority of people who were students. Apparently, before transmigrating into this body, Cervantes decided to set up shop after getting permission from the school. "Hey, Cervantes!" The merchant's eyes darted towards the voices that called him from a stall. To be precise, it was one of the shop NPCs, 'Joe Smith. Cervantes smiled and waved back at the man before continuing his walk. Despite spending some time inside this 'game,' it felt weird. Everything was life-like in comparison to playing it on a screen. The many background character had a life that a console couldn't replicate. Waving at another shopkeeper, Cervantes stopped nearby a fountain. The pristine and clear water reflected an unfamiliar face. Taking a bronze coin out of the pouch, Cervantes tossed it into the fountain. "Please give me good fortune," Cervantes muttered to himself. He needed it. When he first woke up as the nameless shopkeeper, Cervantes couldn't tell if this was a weird dream. He still needed to get over the fact that he was inside the game. Now that the game was his reality, was he supposed to treat it as a game or as his new reality? Such a conundrum greatly confused Cervantes. "Though, that'll have to wait," Cervantes muttered. Depending on how things went in the future, he'd react accordingly. The first on his agenda was to deal with his first task—the Heroine. After the entrance ceremony speech, the heroine, Anne Marielle, would explore the school. It didn't matter in what order she visited, but she would show up at the shopping area of the school. From there, the shopkeeper, Cervantes, would lead the heroine around and show the shops. There was a 100% chance of the meeting happening in the game because it was a tutorial, but if this were slightly realistic, there wouldn't be a need to meet each other. The heroine could explore by herself without his help. "Though what if I do meet the heroine?" If that were the case, then the odds of this being a simulated game would increase by a margin. Not to mention what if the heroine was controlled by a player? Would the heroine speak as some sort of vessel for the player? So many questions, but answers. Regardless, Cervantes resolved to talk to the heroine if the case arose. His life was at stake, after all.</s> <|message|>Elastasia Julienne ... (several extraneous middle names nobody ever remembers follow) de Aquilanne. Ellie to her friends, if they exist. Elastasia Ribbon... check. Stockings and shoes... check. Hair neatly brushed (and even years after gaining a second lifetime's worth of memories, the ease with which magic simplified dealing with that still gave her a warm feeling), and not all done at the last second because she'd gotten too wrapped up in a book to remember. For once, Elastasia had managed to prepare for and show up to an event without prompting! Okay, it was also a huge event everyone at the academy was going to, which made it hard to miss, but she could still have ignored all that and missed the ceremony. But then she would miss seeing Terys on his first day, relegating the younger boy to trying to seek her out somewhere amidst the school. For all his diligence, he didn't know the way around just yet. Besides, she missed the years where they'd see each other daily (even if the her that missed them wasn't the same as the her of now), it'd be a great opportunity to say hello. Actually listening to the speech, Elastasia wished that she had chosen to skip after all. Not only was it boring and denied her the chance to read, being situated at the back with all the other third-year students meant that she couldn't see anything. Bored face after bored face in every direction, a speech regurgitated by rote to the point she was sure some of the better orators here could copy it verbatim... It wasn't a fun experience, all in all. Nor was fighting against the current of people leaving the courtyard, the occasional too-tall boy walking into her and having to make a hasty apology. Really, it was bad enough that by the time she actually got to the first years, the area was half emptied already, and trying to find her also-short brother amidst this sea of giants. So, she relocated to just outside the entrance instead. Maybe Terys would have better luck finding her. Hmm... already, there were a few familiar faces, bringing to mind how significant the upcoming year would be. That green-haired mop was undoubtedly the tutorial merchant, liable to run into the heroine soon more often than not. Whether he'd be quite as helpful in reality as in the game was debatable; a few of the individuals she'd met seemed quite distinct from their written personalities--Serrica always stood out as being rather different, for whatever reason. And there was no way to tell what actual personality Anne would come into the world with. Bland? Exciting? Her looks were Elastasia's type, as generic as they were, but she hoped to avoid any hopeless confessions in her actual life.</s>

<|message|>Anne Marielle(that's the heroine's name?!) This was really happening, wasn't it? This was actually real. At first, when she suddenly remembered everything, she hoped it was some sort of strange dream. Then, when it became clear it wasn't, she hoped that it was some kind of bizarre coincidence and she hadn't actually been reincarnated as the protagonist of an otome game after having previously been a very much male university student. Maybe it was just a coincidentally similar world. Those hopes were dashed when she entered the school. When she saw the people here. When she set foot in the courtyard. The entrance ceremony was exactly as she remembered it from the intro to the game. Matsuoka Ryouji, or rather Anne Marielle as she had been known for the past sixteen years in this world, now found herself standing in the aftermath of the intro to Starveil Academy. In the world of the otome game Cross Heart Academy. As its protagonist. What this meant was hardly lost on her, as she anxiously eyed the crowds around her. Perhaps being the 'generically cute every girl' would work to her advantage. Nevermind the fact that being a girl in the first place was a tremendously awkward experience(in away she was thankful for those sixteen years she spent without remembering her old life, because that meant that she'd not had an even rougher adjustment period). In the real world, she wouldn't be that noticeable. And this was real now, not an otome game where every guy was destined to notice her. Surely it would work out differently, right? Even if that entrance ceremony had been identical. Anne wasn't the type of person who had played this game for guys to fawn over her. If anything, back when she was Matsuoka Ryouji, it was only natural he was much more into some of the female characters. The protagonist herself was cute, albeit deliberately generically so. And there was that one teacher too. There was no way she wanted to end up marrying some guy. She wasn't going to pursue any route. This was absolute in her mind. This was a zero route game. She'd think about the other stuff when she had the chance, but the most immediate problem was ensuring none of them would approach her. It couldn't be hard, right? Anne sighed inwardly, relieved at her own hopefully-true assumption. That's right. In real life, as long as she made a good, solid rejection, guys like that would let it go, right? Of course she'd have to be careful, in this world where status mattered so much, but all the protagonist's romance options were at least decent guys, right? They practically had an ocean of other girls to choose from, too. Right? Somehow her optimism was crumbling by the second. Well, maybe if she made her way out of the courtyard as quickly as possible, to avoid even the slightest chance of a flag raising...</s>

<|description|>Anne Marielle(that's the heroine's name?!) * Age: 16(oh no...) * Appearance: "This would be awkward enough without everything else!" * Gender: Female(aaaah) * Personality: Matsuoka Ryouji is not happy with this situation. Suddenly remembering her original age and name the day of entry into Starveil was a traumatic experience at best, realizing not only was she a girl now but she was the heroine of Cross Heart Academy on top of it. She has absolutely no interest in any of the romantic routes and is desperate to avoid them. After all, regardless of what she is now, she was a straight man prior to reincarnation. A bunch of varied bishonen are not on her list of romantic interests. A sarcastic and easily-exasperated person, Anne was quick to comment on things that bugged her about the game's world and characters in her past life and she is still liable to do so now. She's also quite concerned with what the future may hold, given her experience with the game itself. Of course, no matter her past memories and experiences, it can be denied that she is also the game character, Anne Marielle, in addition to Matsuoka Ryouji. Some of Cross Heart Academy's Heroine's kindness and willingness to help others has almost certainly remained, perhaps due to the fact that in spite of Ryouji's bitter attitude he wasn't completely without those impulses in the first place. The fact is that ultimately, Anne's attitude isn't exclusively informed by her past life's memories and experiences, even if those take the forefront. New personal connections are something she cherishes deep down, both due to Ryouji's loss of the few he had in his old life and Anne's friendly and caring disposition. Perhaps it's also due to the fact that, despite her many negative comments about the game's cast, she truly can't say she disliked any of them, especially as the writing got stronger towards the middle and end of the plot. Still, she is absolutely not interested in any of the game's romantic routes. Flags are to be avoided at all costs. * Abilities/Skills: Lacking in many practical skills save maybe decent cooking ability, it's likely the designers of the game wanted Anne not to excel in too many things to avoid her starting to feel a little far away from the average person. However, it is later revealed that she has incredibly impressive magical power and an aptitude for holy spells, something she is already aware of due to her previous life. * History: Matsuoka Ryouji was something of a loner, a young university student who had never really had many friends in life. But he did have some positive relationships, and in spite of a rather bitter attitude he got on very well with his young high-school age sister. Even if their relationship wasn't always smooth, it turned out that they had a similar sense of humor in spite of her far brighter and cheerier demeanor, and her interest in video games(primarily otome games) was useful for his desire to get into game development. This is likely why she came to him with an otome game she was struggling with, due to a surprising difficulty spike towards the midpoint. Ryouji spent much of the early game mocking the writing choices and decision trees, but as things went on he did come to like the characters as the writing grew stronger. And when the game transitioned from a pure VN to a remarkably challenging SRPG with surprisingly engaging story beats, he couldn't deny he was actually enjoying his time with the game. Eventually he beat it alongside his sister, and while he didn't exactly want to say he liked an otome game that much it was difficult to deny it. Unfortunately for Ryouji, a car accident would end his current life when he used his own body to shield his sister's. She survived, but he did not, and... She would wake up as the sixteen-year-old Anne Marielle, protagonist of the otome game she had completed the day prior. * Original Role and Background: Anne Marielle is friendly, kind, and mildly airheaded girl from a very minor, barely-existent noble family with no prestigious history and basically no reptutation, that was in decline already due to the death of her father and loss of a considerable amount of wealth. Considered a commoner in the eyes of the other students who only entered the school due to what they perceived as pity, her life at the academy life started with her being disregarded and bullied. However, due to her kindness and willingness to help others, she found herself attracting the attentions of a certain set of male students... From there, in Ryouji's case, things escalated into a rather emotionally intense and dramatic route culminating in a a battle that decided the fate of the world. * Other:</s> <|message|>Anne Marielle(that's the heroine's name?!) The moment of utter confusion was briefly derailed when Noctis awakened. In spite of the situation, Anne couldn't deny her sense of relief that the young man who was her friend, regardless of her previous life, looked like he was going to be okay. Still, he hadn't fainted in the game, and nothing had happened to him that could have caused it as far as she could tell. So had something else happened that she didn't know about? Everyone did have lives of their own outside of the game's screentime, after all, so did that have something to do with it? "Er, are you sure you're okay, Noctis?" she asked, hesitatingly, after a moment, "Suddenly fainting out of no-where isn't really... normal..." And that wasn't the only thing that wasn't normal. Anne definitely didn't remember Serrica acting like this, or making any of these offers. "W-work for? I-eh? Eeeeeeh?" It was a lot to take in all at once. There definitely wasn't an event like this in the game, no matter what you did! What the hell? It wasn't enough that she got that close and whispered in her ear, it was everything else too. "E-er, I d-don't really know what you're talking about, um..." Anne trailed off with weak, nervous bit of laughter, scratching the back of her head. At this point it was all she could really do. @Pyromania99@PKMNB0Y</s> <|message|>Reginald von Afah Reginald von Afah Reginald paid his maid a slightly curious sidelong glance as she commented on the oncoming chaos before deliberately acting as if he hadn't seen the glint in her eye. Over the past few years the young man had grown somewhat accustomed to his maid's odd lust for money, and so as long as she didn't attempt to actively undermine his family's finances Reginald himself had no reason to intervene. Of course, the others nearby had also chosen to jump into action, each moving to help stem the chaos in their own way. The shopkeeper had whipped out a net from his bag—one of a surprisingly sturdy make, if the way he swung it around was any indication—while Elastasia had begun to funnel all of the creatures into the road and towards them. That would certainly help his plans along, if anything. Though he had no weapons upon him, injuring the animals likely wouldn't have done him any favors with the shopkeepers attempting to rein the situation in anyways. What was to be done instead, then, but simply work to try and catch the animals just barely too far out of reach for the others to capture? After a deep breath, the black-haired student sprung towards one of the barriers the mage had erected before leaping towards it. There was a brief pause as Reginald shifted his body around in mid-air before turning to use the very same barrier as a springboard to push himself even further into the skies. A pure-white bird that was just barely about to pass just overhead was soon caught within his hands as he descended to the ground. "...Hm. I suppose that I should've considered what to do if my hands were full..." he mused to himself as the bird—which would be somewhat notable to both Melia and Elastasia given the holy aura it seemed to faintly exude—continued to struggle away. With that said, the menagerie bearing down on everyone was not exactly without any other noteworthy creatures. There were a variety of smaller magical creatures trying to shove their way through despite the narrowing corridor, but a few seemed intelligent enough to attempt to double back... Or, as in the case of a smaller kittenlike creature, leaping straight at Elastasia's face in what seemed to be an attempt to break the spell blocking it's path of escape. @AThousandCurses@Raineh Daze</s> <|message|>Cervantes Quixote Cervantes Quixote "Ah, ha!" Cervantes to said to no one other than to himself. The net fell upon the enemy and was slammed back to the ground. The creature tried to budge against its restraints, but Cervantes tried his hardest to keep it down. All he needed to do now was bring the creature back to a shopkeeper and cage it up. "That was easy." He didn't break a sweat, yet, though the critter sure was strong. It took all he had to keep the animal down in his net. Though Cervantes was curious to what he had even caught. Looking down at it made him surprised. It was a wyvern, well to be more precise a wyvern whelp. Creatures with a similar appearance to dragons but more common and less strong than their cousins. Said wyvern whelp was now trying break out the net by gnawing it. "Not today, I'm afraid!" Cervantes as he shifted the net around. The net entangled the wyvern, but that didn't stop the little thing from being ferocious. It was letting out strange cries as it tried to get out of its trapping. "Jessica! Where are the cages!" Cervantes yelled to his shopkeeper friend. She seemed currently preoccupied trying to throw some sort of dust at a boar that was trying to maul her. The boar took a sniff out the dust before promptly going slack on its side. When she was finished, Jessica yelled out, "Somewhere in there!" With a gesture she nodded towards the run down store. Then she went back to trying to get more of the creatures. Was it legal to use unknown substances on animals? Cervantes didn't know and didn't seem to want to as he had a wyvern to pin in. "Welp, in you go!" Cervantes said as he dragged the wyvern. Hopefully there was an intact cage for this feisty critter.</s> <|message|>Mella Kristelle Mella @PKMNB0Y@Raineh Daze --- Quite the rambunctious critters, weren't they? Unfortunately for them, they could not escape a talented maids quick hands! She may not have had special powers or magic like Elastasia, but she was no less capable! As the critters were funneled towards them, Mella honed in on the more exotic looking ones and went specifically for those. A lizard like creature that vaguely reminded her of an axolotl was easily dealt with after snatching it from the ground before it could slip through Reginalds feet while he...oh, was that some sort of...holy bird or something? Her eyes lingered on Reginalds prize for a few moments before she'd tear her eyes away. She had and wanted nothing to do with such things. They'd only just get her in trouble. It was a good thing, then, something else else needed her intervention. "Humph," As the kitten leapt towards Elastasia, it would instead be finding itself face planting right into Mella's bosom as she put herself between the kitten and the mage. "Its rather impolite to leap at a lady's face." She'd scold the kitten, using a free arm to pin it against her body in case it tried struggling.</s> <|message|>Elastasia Julienne ... (several extraneous middle names nobody ever remembers follow) de Aquilanne. Ellie to her friends, if they exist. Elastasia When the kitten--why had a kitten known to go for her? had made that jump--Elastasia reflexively froze up, presenting a harmless and ineffectual target... one that would have been able to do nothing to maintain their little corralling effort. Fortunately for her, the totally-just-a-maid came to her rescue, and the barrier maintained its integrity. Barely; the little jumping trick did cause the entire thing to shimmer ominously before recovering its strength. How odd that he'd caught a holy bird, though. Was that even a good thing? It might do... something, when panicked, and it wasn't exactly the holiest of all individuals that had just made a grab for it. Maybe they'd be lucky and it would make a beeline for someone more suitable, even if nobody with the exact magical affinity was in the area. Of course, her brother now had his hands full, as well as his face. It looked rather like an ordinary puppy. A very large, very affectionate, very slobbery puppy.</s> <|message|>Serrica Francesca Haldblum Serrica had waited for Noctis to say something but he was rather quiet. "Well, fine, the boy seems shell-shocked. If you feel better, do follow. Otherwise, girl, I'm going to borrow you for a small bit so the patient can rest." With that, Serrica kept hold of Anne's hand and walked out the door with her, leading her to somewhere that wasn't the infirmary. They got out of the building for some fresh air before Serrica stopped and released Anne. She took a breath before she opened her mouth again. "Alright then. Now that we can get out from that sterile smelling air, do you not want to work for the quite rich Serrica Francesca Haldblum? I can pay you a potent salary... Hmm..." She went silent for some seconds as she contemplated something. "I suppose I have yet to properly introduce myself..." The noble girl cleared her throat before speaking once more. "I am the eldest daughter of the Haldblum Duchy, Serrica Francesca Haldblum. May I ask your name and house? Or, lack thereof. Take no offence, but if you are of a noble house I've yet to see you attend to high society functions."</s>

<|message|>Anne Marielle(that's the heroine's name?!) "Wait wha-" On one hand it did allow her to escape from one of the romantic interests. On the other, this wasn't anything like anything that had happened in the game. Anne certainly hadn't expected Serrica to go dragging her off like this out of the blue. In fact, none of this behavior seemed like the Serrica she knew from the game at all. Just what was going on? Of course it wasn't that Serrica wasn't wealthy and exuberant but... Maybe she was just imagining it? Maybe it was just because of how things had already shifted? Anne wasn't certain, and she didn't really know how to handle a girl just dragging her off in the first place. "Er... er... Marielle," she managed, when Serrica asked her name. It was more then she'd expected to be dealing with from her already, so it took a moment for her to even begin to articulate herself, "A-Anne Marielle, er, I guess we just didn't... run into each other...?" She was from a minor house, in any case, so the chances of that were exceptionally high.</s>

<|description|>Anne Marielle(that's the heroine's name?!) * Age: 16(oh no...) * Appearance: "This would be awkward enough without everything else!" * Gender: Female(aaaah) * Personality: Matsuoka Ryouji is not happy with this situation. Suddenly remembering her original age and name the day of entry into Starveil was a traumatic experience at best, realizing not only was she a girl now but she was the heroine of Cross Heart Academy on top of it. She has absolutely no interest in any of the romantic routes and is desperate to avoid them. After all, regardless of what she is now, she was a straight man prior to reincarnation. A bunch of varied bishonen are not on her list of romantic interests. A sarcastic and easily-exasperated person, Anne was quick to comment on things that bugged her about the game's world and characters in her past life and she is still liable to do so now. She's also quite concerned with what the future may hold, given her experience with the game itself. Of course, no matter her past memories and experiences, it can be denied that she is also the game character, Anne Marielle, in addition to Matsuoka Ryouji. Some of Cross Heart Academy's Heroine's kindness and willingness to help others has almost certainly remained, perhaps due to the fact that in spite of Ryouji's bitter attitude he wasn't completely without those impulses in the first place. The fact is that ultimately, Anne's attitude isn't exclusively informed by her past life's memories and experiences, even if those take the forefront. New personal connections are something she cherishes deep down, both due to Ryouji's loss of the few he had in his old life and Anne's friendly and caring disposition. Perhaps it's also due to the fact that, despite her many negative comments about the game's cast, she truly can't say she disliked any of them, especially as the writing got stronger towards the middle and end of the plot. Still, she is absolutely not interested in any of the game's romantic routes. Flags are to be avoided at all costs. * Abilities/Skills: Lacking in many practical skills save maybe decent cooking ability, it's likely the designers of the game wanted Anne not to excel in too many things to avoid her starting to feel a little far away from the average person. However, it is later revealed that she has incredibly impressive magical power and an aptitude for holy spells, something she is already aware of due to her previous life. * History: Matsuoka Ryouji was something of a loner, a young university student who had never really had many friends in life. But he did have some positive relationships, and in spite of a rather bitter attitude he got on very well with his young high-school age sister. Even if their relationship wasn't always smooth, it turned out that they had a similar sense of humor in spite of her far brighter and cheerier demeanor, and her interest in video games(primarily otome games) was useful for his desire to get into game development. This is likely why she came to him with an otome game she was struggling with, due to a surprising difficulty spike towards the midpoint. Ryouji spent much of the early game mocking the writing choices and decision trees, but as things went on he did come to like the characters as the writing grew stronger. And when the game transitioned from a pure VN to a remarkably challenging SRPG with surprisingly engaging story beats, he couldn't deny he was actually enjoying his time with the game. Eventually he beat it alongside his sister, and while he didn't exactly want to say he liked an otome game that much it was difficult to deny it. Unfortunately for Ryouji, a car accident would end his current life when he used his own body to shield his sister's. She survived, but he did not, and... She would wake up as the sixteen-year-old Anne Marielle, protagonist of the otome game she had completed the day prior. * Original Role and Background: Anne Marielle is friendly, kind, and mildly airheaded girl from a very minor, barely-existent noble family with no prestigious history and basically no reptutation, that was in decline already due to the death of her father and loss of a considerable amount of wealth. Considered a commoner in the eyes of the other students who only entered the school due to what they perceived as pity, her life at the academy life started with her being disregarded and bullied. However, due to her kindness and willingness to help others, she found herself attracting the attentions of a certain set of male students... From there, in Ryouji's case, things escalated into a rather emotionally intense and dramatic route culminating in a a battle that decided the fate of the world. * Other:</s> <|message|>Serrica Francesca Haldblum Serrica had waited for Noctis to say something but he was rather quiet. "Well, fine, the boy seems shell-shocked. If you feel better, do follow. Otherwise, girl, I'm going to borrow you for a small bit so the patient can rest." With that, Serrica kept hold of Anne's hand and walked out the door with her, leading her to somewhere that wasn't the infirmary. They got out of the building for some fresh air before Serrica stopped and released Anne. She took a breath before she opened her mouth again. "Alright then. Now that we can get out from that sterile smelling air, do you not want to work for the quite rich Serrica Francesca Haldblum? I can pay you a potent salary... Hmm..." She went silent for some seconds as she contemplated something. "I suppose I have yet to properly introduce myself..." The noble girl cleared her throat before speaking once more. "I am the eldest daughter of the Haldblum Duchy, Serrica Francesca Haldblum. May I ask your name and house? Or, lack thereof. Take no offence, but if you are of a noble house I've yet to see you attend to high society functions."</s> <|message|>Anne Marielle(that's the heroine's name?!) "Wait wha-" On one hand it did allow her to escape from one of the romantic interests. On the other, this wasn't anything like anything that had happened in the game. Anne certainly hadn't expected Serrica to go dragging her off like this out of the blue. In fact, none of this behavior seemed like the Serrica she knew from the game at all. Just what was going on? Of course it wasn't that Serrica wasn't wealthy and exuberant but... Maybe she was just imagining it? Maybe it was just because of how things had already shifted? Anne wasn't certain, and she didn't really know how to handle a girl just dragging her off in the first place. "Er... er... Marielle," she managed, when Serrica asked her name. It was more then she'd expected to be dealing with from her already, so it took a moment for her to even begin to articulate herself, "A-Anne Marielle, er, I guess we just didn't... run into each other...?" She was from a minor house, in any case, so the chances of that were exceptionally high.</s> <|message|>Reginald von Afah Reginald von Afah With the barrier comparatively unperturbed by the kitten's valiant efforts, the rest of the animals soon found themselves crashing into the magical wall... Or one another. To Reginald, who was watching the whole affair unfold in front of him, the mental image of a nasty pileup quickly came to mind—and a somewhat restrained grimace crossed his face as he turned away from the carnage. "I certainly don't envy any of them..." he remarked to himself as the bird in his hands continued to wriggle and squirm about. Though he could not necessarily see the growing energy it was exuding now, he could certainly feel it now. To that, though, the young man simply chose to maintain his hold on the creature. 'Twas not his place to question why a magical creature was being held here, of course, but as far as he could tell, there was not much amiss about it beyond a slight glow. The two more magically-inclined girls in his company would likely be able to tell what was going on to some degree, though, given how the bird seemed to be absorbing energy from the disoriented and injured creatures lying about as the shopekeepers began to gather them back up. By now, the identity of the avian was a bit more obvious to those who had run through this event in the game—the heroine's "companion" on the routes more relevant to the church, traveling around and growing alongside her. Unfortunate, though, that such growth usually required the presence of the injured and pained... Such as those lying around the street right now. Doubly so, of course, when one considered that the bird could hit a critical mass of energy before it reached a new stage in it's growth, as seemed to be fast approaching, and in so doing could cause anything from a shockwave of mana to a pulse of healing energy affecting those who it was nearby to anything in between. All the while, though, the kitten that had now been caught in Melia's arms was flailing about, trying it's hardest to push itself free from her grasp. Notably enough, though, it seemed to deliberately not be trying to scratch or bite at her body despite being caught in a rather unbecoming situation... Though for what reason it chose not to do so remained to be seen. By this point, though, the shopkeepers had begun to capitalize on the efforts of everyone actively aiding in their efforts to stop the stampede, and more than a few had already begun to bring the creatures splayed out on the streets back to their cages... For better or worse. The wyvern in Cervantes' grasp, for example, continued to struggle away at the net that had wrapped around it's body—or, to be more accurate, the net that it had incidentally wrapped itself up in. But the slight red glow beginning to form from within it's mouth was not exactly a herald of good things to come for anyone left unaware... @Rune_Alchemist@Raineh Daze</s> <|message|>Cervantes Quixote Cervantes Quixote "Phew, almost done." What a day. Cervantes grimaced as he dragged the straggling wyvern to a cage. It felt a little surreal to be in this situation. Mystical animals break out and he had to catch one of them; what was this an anime? Though he supposed it wasn't too wrong. After all, this was an otome game. Scenarios like these shouldn't be too surprising to see in an otome, but experiencing first hand was an entirely different matter. Opening the cage, he looked down at the lizard. "Well, little guy, it's time to get into cage so-" Cervantes stopped when the whelp something glowing in its mouth. Did it eat a flashlight or something? First, he was sure that flashlights didn't exist in this world. Second, he was pretty sure that light was coming out of its mouth. It reminded him of a dragon about to breath fire. "Wait, breath fire?" Fire? In an instant, Cervantes was immediately alarmed of what was going to happen. Why could wyverns breath fire, or whatever it was doing? He thought only dragons could that. Wyverns were like the lame cousins of dragons and insignifcant to them. "Ah... Ah... Ah..." Cervantes panicked. What was he going to do? He had to do something, but he didn't want to hurt the wyvern either. Cervantes dug into his pockets and threw 'it' at the wyvern. "Pocket sand!" Immediately the sand slapped the wyvern straight in the face. It blinked before wrinkling it nose. With a sneeze that sounded like a gun firing, it shot out fire. Fire that easily burned his net. "Haaaaaa!" Cervantes yelped at the sudden brightness. Out of sheer instinct, Cervantes threw the net, along with the help, into the cage. "Nope, nope, nope, nope, not today. Not dealing with this, today." Without hesitation he closed the cage and locked it.</s> <|message|>Elastasia Julienne ... (several extraneous middle names nobody ever remembers follow) de Aquilanne. Ellie to her friends, if they exist. Elastasia "Er, Reggie, you might want to let that one go..." Elastasia offered hesitantly. Of course, if the Heroine had been here, this very early opportunity to get the bird would have had it decide that the holy magic-aligned girl was its ideal partner despite the general disorganisation and chaos going on, but here? Well, maybe a maid would be a good alternative. Or it would be happy to find its way home or to freedom or to wherever it might actually find a suitable partner. She highly doubted it was going to enjoy being held by a young man whose major skills lay in chopping things to pieces. "It might, ah... blow your hands off?" Well, hopefully only bruise them. But holding onto it would likely hurt, if it wasn't all that happy with the current situation, and result in not holding the bird anyway.</s> <|message|>Mella Kristelle Mella @PKMNB0Y@Raineh Daze --- It seemed though, unless she wanted harm to befall her current employer, it would be best to intervene in some manner. Now, she could do as Elastasia did and simply politely inform him that holding onto a holy hand grenade bird was a bad idea, but on the other hand, that wouldn't be quite as entertaining and there was a chance he would neither hear nor heed those words. So she needed to make him drop it. "Lord Reginald." She'd simply say in order to get his attention. "Hold this for me, yes?" And then promptly grabbed the Axolotl like creature she had in her grasp, and threw it right at Reginald. A totally flawless plan that would certainly get him to drop the bird before anything bad happened. The animal flew through the air with a dopey smile as though it was enjoying the freedom of flying through the air. With her other hand, she'd press the kitten a bit harder against her chest, didn't want it getting free and squirming about either.</s> <|message|>Serrica Francesca Haldblum "Anne Marielle? Hmm... Well, can't say I'm familiar with your house, truth be told. Well, that much can change Lady Anne." Serrica said, smiling a small bit. "You should come join my tea parties and other such affairs. I can assure you that it can only help your family out to be acquainted with the Duchy. Well, our Duchy. Not the other not as important one." Serrica mentioned with some small disdain in her voice. The daughter of the duke seemed to clear her thoughts rather quickly before shaking her head and turning toward Anne again, "Well, hiring you aside, you are a new student this year, correct?" She asked but didn't give time for a response. "Of course you are. Well, if you need help with anything let me know. I'd be willing to help since I think of it as an investment in human potential." The merchant added, not hiding her reasons at all. There was no need to hide it, after all. She had let her intentions be known clear as day. "Regardless of all that however, let me say that it is a pleasure to meet you." She said, offering her hand for a handshake.</s>

<|message|>Anne Marielle(that's the heroine's name?!) For several moments, Anne was completely silent. She didn't quite know how to respond to Serrica's offer. Certainly, she was an ally character in the game, but at the same time she didn't remember anything quite happening like this. It didn't seem the same. "Er... thank you," she said, bowing her head as she reached out to accept the handshake. No matter what else was going on, it was quite a generous offer. Even if it didn't feel anything like the way Serrica felt in the game. Maybe it was just the difference between a video game and reality? That could be the case, but some things had seemed exactly the same as the game while others had diverged. Certainly, part of this had to just be from different actions taking place causing things to change in different ways. But that couldn't be the only explanation for everything, could it? It felt like everything was becoming even more complicated by the second.</s>

<|description|>Anne Marielle(that's the heroine's name?!) * Age: 16(oh no...) * Appearance: "This would be awkward enough without everything else!" * Gender: Female(aaaah) * Personality: Matsuoka Ryouji is not happy with this situation. Suddenly remembering her original age and name the day of entry into Starveil was a traumatic experience at best, realizing not only was she a girl now but she was the heroine of Cross Heart Academy on top of it. She has absolutely no interest in any of the romantic routes and is desperate to avoid them. After all, regardless of what she is now, she was a straight man prior to reincarnation. A bunch of varied bishonen are not on her list of romantic interests. A sarcastic and easily-exasperated person, Anne was quick to comment on things that bugged her about the game's world and characters in her past life and she is still liable to do so now. She's also quite concerned with what the future may hold, given her experience with the game itself. Of course, no matter her past memories and experiences, it can be denied that she is also the game character, Anne Marielle, in addition to Matsuoka Ryouji. Some of Cross Heart Academy's Heroine's kindness and willingness to help others has almost certainly remained, perhaps due to the fact that in spite of Ryouji's bitter attitude he wasn't completely without those impulses in the first place. The fact is that ultimately, Anne's attitude isn't exclusively informed by her past life's memories and experiences, even if those take the forefront. New personal connections are something she cherishes deep down, both due to Ryouji's loss of the few he had in his old life and Anne's friendly and caring disposition. Perhaps it's also due to the fact that, despite her many negative comments about the game's cast, she truly can't say she disliked any of them, especially as the writing got stronger towards the middle and end of the plot. Still, she is absolutely not interested in any of the game's romantic routes. Flags are to be avoided at all costs. * Abilities/Skills: Lacking in many practical skills save maybe decent cooking ability, it's likely the designers of the game wanted Anne not to excel in too many things to avoid her starting to feel a little far away from the average person. However, it is later revealed that she has incredibly impressive magical power and an aptitude for holy spells, something she is already aware of due to her previous life. * History: Matsuoka Ryouji was something of a loner, a young university student who had never really had many friends in life. But he did have some positive relationships, and in spite of a rather bitter attitude he got on very well with his young high-school age sister. Even if their relationship wasn't always smooth, it turned out that they had a similar sense of humor in spite of her far brighter and cheerier demeanor, and her interest in video games(primarily otome games) was useful for his desire to get into game development. This is likely why she came to him with an otome game she was struggling with, due to a surprising difficulty spike towards the midpoint. Ryouji spent much of the early game mocking the writing choices and decision trees, but as things went on he did come to like the characters as the writing grew stronger. And when the game transitioned from a pure VN to a remarkably challenging SRPG with surprisingly engaging story beats, he couldn't deny he was actually enjoying his time with the game. Eventually he beat it alongside his sister, and while he didn't exactly want to say he liked an otome game that much it was difficult to deny it. Unfortunately for Ryouji, a car accident would end his current life when he used his own body to shield his sister's. She survived, but he did not, and... She would wake up as the sixteen-year-old Anne Marielle, protagonist of the otome game she had completed the day prior. * Original Role and Background: Anne Marielle is friendly, kind, and mildly airheaded girl from a very minor, barely-existent noble family with no prestigious history and basically no reptutation, that was in decline already due to the death of her father and loss of a considerable amount of wealth. Considered a commoner in the eyes of the other students who only entered the school due to what they perceived as pity, her life at the academy life started with her being disregarded and bullied. However, due to her kindness and willingness to help others, she found herself attracting the attentions of a certain set of male students... From there, in Ryouji's case, things escalated into a rather emotionally intense and dramatic route culminating in a a battle that decided the fate of the world. * Other:</s> <|message|>Mella Kristelle Mella @Raineh Daze --- She was slightly hoping the shopkeep would refuse and take the bird away. Life could never be so easy, could it? The maid remained quiet, though, keeping the kitten comfortably laying in her arms and the bird perched on her head, doing her best to simply ignore it. Well, at least the cat was...somewhat cute, she supposed. She'd pat its head, giving it a few ear scritches and pets while she'd wait for lord Afah to complete his business. She still needed to do the shopping. Was it still possible to get back and do all the cooking before evening? Hm. More importantly, though... "...How does one take care of this bird?" Mella queried the shopkeeper. "As It is likely my responsibility I have never seen it before, and as such would much appreciate any insight into peculiarities, sir Shopkeeper."</s> <|message|>Elastasia Julienne ... (several extraneous middle names nobody ever remembers follow) de Aquilanne. Ellie to her friends, if they exist. "Um... could you tell me about this kitten?" Elastasia asked, lifting up the offending creature so it was visible. It at least seemed slightly more pliable now, "Is it just a cat...? It seemed to know to go for me when I was keeping a barrier up to hem in the other escapees." It could make an interesting familiar, she supposed. Not that it was the sort of magic that she'd ever shown interest in, but having another pair of eyes to look out for people that might want to interrupt her reading and drag her off to some party... although, it wasn't something that would really harm her social standing in a non-intrusive way. A magical prodigy doing something so blatantly associated with mages? Eh, it was nothing. Everyone liked having pets, noblemen took to breeding horses... Or it could just be a cat. That was also possible. A cute cat, but a cat nonetheless.</s> <|message|>Serrica Francesca Haldblum Even Serrica was feeling bad for Lillian at this point. Not that she hated the girl, but there was not much to say about another high ranking noble if she couldn't get her feelings across. "She's preoccupied wi-- No." Serrica started to state what she figured was obvious before deciding that wasn't the course of action. "Nevermind that, I suppose. You're quite dense, Prince Christopher." The student mentioned before briefly shaking her head and sighing a small bit. "It is thanks to that, however, that I doubt you carry the reputation of a ravenous hound, fret you not." Serrica mentioned with a small shrug. "Perhaps an unintentionally rude or dull one but that aside it does not matter to me. You're still the Crown Prince to me." After saying that much, she turned to Anne. "Ahh, yes. Lady Marielle. I believe that you wanted guidance to a certain place on campus, did you not? Would you still like me to guide you there? I'm still not past trying to recruit you into my group, but I shall ease up until your graduation if you wish."</s> <|message|>Anne Marielle(that's the heroine's name?!) While most of Anne's mind was in a panic, attempting to analyze everything the Prince had said in order to isolate and defend against even the slightest chance of a flag, it wasn't as if she entirely failed to realize the situation. Even if she hadn't played the game before, Lilian's feelings for the Prince were entirely obvious. Her treatment in the Prince's route was one of the reasons it hadn't been her favorite, for that matter. Certainly, she wasn't very nice, but it felt rather harsh for someone who wasn't particularly a genuinely bad person. Anne took a deep breath. "U-um, maybe you could catch up?" she suggested, awkwardly, "S-since it's... er..." She trailed off after a few moments. What did she even say here? Playing matchmaker wasn't her strongsuit at all! Doing it in real life was vastly different from doing it in SRPGs! "Er... and... we can... go let you do that!" As odd as Serrica was acting, it was at least a potential out from a dangerous situation! @Pyromania99</s> <|message|>Reginald von Afah The shopkeeper paused for a moment as he considered the maid's question. "Well, I suppose that the first course of action would be to purchase a cage of sorts for it to live in... But you might not need one, given how comfortable it send to be on your head," he remarked, a slight smirk crossing his face for a moment. "Jokes aside, I've been feeding that one seeds and fruits. It seems to like most anything in that vein—but not bugs. As for the actual care..." Before he could ramble further on about the subject, though, Elastasia chimed in with a question of her own about the cat in her hands—a question he was more than willing to oblige. "Ah, of course. That's an Aomi—a cat we had imported from the far east, and a rare one at that. They're fairly well known for their use of magic in hunting in the wild in the region they come from, though finding one is an adventure in and of itself. As for why it jumped at you... I've heard tales of them being called 'magic eaters', but to be honest, your guess would be as good as mine. If they're hard to find, though, maybe they're juat smart enough to not get caught to begin with?" At this, the cat seemed to turn it's head back towards Elastasia before letting out a half-yawn, half-meow. It didn't seem to mind being held up for diaplay as it was, at least, but being as calm as it was despite the situation... That much certainly set it apart from it's peers, at the very least. @Raineh Daze --- --- "Dense? Rude? That's rather insulting, you know," Christopher responded in turn, his brow furrowed as he shook his head. "If that much is 'rude', I fear what 'polite' should be in your eyes." At that, though, the prince simply sighed and shook his head. "As for catching up... I am sure Miss Meridan has better things to do than speak with me, and forcing her to speak with me when she does not seem to wish to seems rather ill-intentioned at best." If the others wished to leave now, though, Christopher seemed to have no intention of stopping them. It already seemed like Lilian was slowly inching away, trying her hardest to not up and die of what embarrassment she was already being overwhelmed by. @VitaVitaAR</s> <|message|>Elastasia Julienne ... (several extraneous middle names nobody ever remembers follow) de Aquilanne. Ellie to her friends, if they exist. Elastasia A cat from the far east? Well, that was something nostalgic. But if it could be used to find magic users somehow, then that would make her ability to sequester herself somewhere out of the way and read all the easier... if the heroine got interested in magic, then outside of class, there was a chance that they might run into one another. And she would like to avoid any heartbreak from such an obviously-unobtainable figure getting close to her if the girl turned out to be her type after all. This left the noble staring into space for an awkwardly long time, until the shopkeeper coughed and drew her attention back. "Oh, I'm so sorry! Yes, I'd quite like to purchase this kitten, and anything that's needed to look after it..." Well, she didn't have much in the way of money on her, but she could just sign something to handle that. Really, the cost of a single animal was insignificant.</s> <|message|>Serrica Francesca Haldblum "Yes, I do believe you to be rather dense your Highness. You can't see what treasures you have at hand before you try encroaching on other treasures that have yet to be collected. Consider me insulting all you want, however, if calling you dense marks me as such." Serrica said before sighing. "Just think about my words a small bit. With that, I really must show this young Miss somewhere. Please do conversate with Lady Meridan at convenience." With that, she grabbed Anne by the hand and led her off. After they made some distance from the Prince and Lady Meridan, Serrica took Anne near a place where student activity were a bit higher. If the Prince happened upon them this time, well, it would be easy enough to sic some of the younger girls upon him. With a small breath with the coast being clear, Serrica turned to Anne and released her hand. "So, Lady Marielle, you can take an easy breath now. Though, you seem much too nervous. Is there an issue you're having with the school?" She had to ask, looking the girl straight in the eyes. "Well, we've all but started some short time ago so I'm sure that's not it." The Duke's daughter mentioned, stroking her chin in curiosity.</s> <|message|>Mella Kristelle Mella @Raineh Daze --- "Fruits and seeds...I see." Simple enough request. She'll just take it out of Lord Reginald's dinner requests since this was his fault she was now saddled with quite a troublesome creature. As for actual care? Well, it'd probably be fine. She would buy a cage for it, she couldn't very well let it sit on her head all the time, especially when working. "Well, if you happen to have a cage - the most luxurious and expensive one you have on you I'm sure lord Reginald will be more than happy to pay top dollar for it. I can't very well work with this thing sitting on my head all day." Mella responded, flashing Reginald a look that clearly indicated that it was his fault. "I suppose I will also have to add those to the shopping expenses when we finish our shopping. Which I very much would prefer to get back to then dallying about with an avian making a nest on my head."</s>

<|message|>Anne Marielle(that's the heroine's name?!) "A-ah?!" And then she was being dragged off again, with little in the way of warning, stumbling over her feet. Deep down, this was probably a good thing. Being face to face with both the Prince and the Villainess was in no way good for her health right now. But at the same time, she kept being faced with so many questions. It was relentlessly beating down on her, and she'd barely had any time to think. Putting aside how any of this had even happened in the first place, the fact that Serrica was acting so different... It couldn't just be explained with the fact this was reality now, could it? It wasn't quite right for what Anne remembered of her character. Was something else going on here? But what? "E-er, I'm fine, it's just that a lot has happened, eh-heheh..." Anne took a deep breath, hand scratching the back of her head. "It's been a pretty full day, I mean!"</s>

<|description|>Serrica Francesca Haldblum * Age: 17 * Appearance Serrica carries herself confidently as if she could do no wrong with her tendency to wear beautiful if not expensive dresses that tend to be strong, powerful colors like red and purple. For the majority of her life she's kept her brown hair short though, lately, she's tried to grow it out longer. * Gender: Female * Personality: Serika or Serrica is rather selfish person and carries herself with a sense of superiority over others. If one were to notice her taking an interest in a particular human being outside of social situations, it's quite likely that she has an idea on how to use that individual. She is highly fueled by greed and a wish to be even more rich than she already is. With that in mind, she treats the commoners of her family's territory very well, after all, the success of the common man is the success of her territory. She has invested in more than a couple of merchant groups for a cut of the profits. In social situations much like a party or a ball, she likes to be the center of attention and spreading her influence where she can. Those that pay attention to her, she treats fairly well, those that pay no attention to her are ignored but those that badmouth her tend to have things happen to them, There are rumors that she merely enjoys the company of women and that's why she holds many tea parties and attends as many parties as she can when it's not time for school. * Abilities/Skills: As a noble daughter, Serrica had much education in the domain of proper manners, though admittedly, she has plenty of times where she ignores those lessons when people she dislikes are involved. Sometimes, spending just the right amount of money spent in just the right way can solve those types of problems. She's also very knowledgeable about the fluctuating prices of the market though a lot of this is due to her knowledge of the game more than any formal training. Once again, the right amount of money in the right place is bound to bring forth a great amount of profit. * History: Serika was once a girl from a somewhat poor family. While her family did care for her and did what they could, both her parents had to work constantly to keep up with all their debt, leaving Serika by herself most of the time. Through-out elementary school, she was bullied by a few of the other kids and, once she moved on to middle school, started to do the same to others. Over time, she started to bully kids for their money and figured it was her own way to make money, much like the amount of time her parents spent working. Once in High School, she didn't have any easy targets so she eased on the behavior. Instead, she just felt depressed. She had no friends to the mixture of the bully or be bullied attitude she held towards life and had no real goals towards life besides living. Trying to find her own hope for more in life, she entered a free lottery at a local supermarket where she won a game system and with it an apparently popular game called "Cross Heart Academy". A cursory look at the game made her call it "stupid" but upon actually playing it, she felt herself engrossed with it. Especially in the "Merchant" route of the second half. She learned many of the ins and outs of the game's trading system that she practically was a master at it. One day at school, she insulted one of the popular girls at school for being a "dumbass". After class, she was accosted by some of the girl's friends before getting into a small scuffle and being pushed down a set of stairs… The next thing she knew, she woke up in a fancy bed. It took a small amount of time but she quickly realized that she woke up in the body of the character Serrica Haldblum, a character from Cross Heart Academy! Albeit, she was quite small compared to the scenes in the game. Logically, she had time to settle into her own greedy and selfish very of Serrica Francesca Haldblum. A second, selfish lease on life. * Original Role and Background: In the original story, Serrica was a kind and graceful noble eldest daughter of the Haldblum Ducal family, which even the royal family couldn't just outright ignore. Serrica herself took part in a couple of different routes, typically as an ally of the Heroine. Most notably in a few routes where she used her status to cover for the Heroine after they became friends. * Other:</s> <|message|>Elastasia Julienne ... (several extraneous middle names nobody ever remembers follow) de Aquilanne. Ellie to her friends, if they exist. Elastasia Ribbon... check. Stockings and shoes... check. Hair neatly brushed (and even years after gaining a second lifetime's worth of memories, the ease with which magic simplified dealing with that still gave her a warm feeling), and not all done at the last second because she'd gotten too wrapped up in a book to remember. For once, Elastasia had managed to prepare for and show up to an event without prompting! Okay, it was also a huge event everyone at the academy was going to, which made it hard to miss, but she could still have ignored all that and missed the ceremony. But then she would miss seeing Terys on his first day, relegating the younger boy to trying to seek her out somewhere amidst the school. For all his diligence, he didn't know the way around just yet. Besides, she missed the years where they'd see each other daily (even if the her that missed them wasn't the same as the her of now), it'd be a great opportunity to say hello. Actually listening to the speech, Elastasia wished that she had chosen to skip after all. Not only was it boring and denied her the chance to read, being situated at the back with all the other third-year students meant that she couldn't see anything. Bored face after bored face in every direction, a speech regurgitated by rote to the point she was sure some of the better orators here could copy it verbatim... It wasn't a fun experience, all in all. Nor was fighting against the current of people leaving the courtyard, the occasional too-tall boy walking into her and having to make a hasty apology. Really, it was bad enough that by the time she actually got to the first years, the area was half emptied already, and trying to find her also-short brother amidst this sea of giants. So, she relocated to just outside the entrance instead. Maybe Terys would have better luck finding her. Hmm... already, there were a few familiar faces, bringing to mind how significant the upcoming year would be. That green-haired mop was undoubtedly the tutorial merchant, liable to run into the heroine soon more often than not. Whether he'd be quite as helpful in reality as in the game was debatable; a few of the individuals she'd met seemed quite distinct from their written personalities--Serrica always stood out as being rather different, for whatever reason. And there was no way to tell what actual personality Anne would come into the world with. Bland? Exciting? Her looks were Elastasia's type, as generic as they were, but she hoped to avoid any hopeless confessions in her actual life.</s> <|message|>Anne Marielle(that's the heroine's name?!) This was really happening, wasn't it? This was actually real. At first, when she suddenly remembered everything, she hoped it was some sort of strange dream. Then, when it became clear it wasn't, she hoped that it was some kind of bizarre coincidence and she hadn't actually been reincarnated as the protagonist of an otome game after having previously been a very much male university student. Maybe it was just a coincidentally similar world. Those hopes were dashed when she entered the school. When she saw the people here. When she set foot in the courtyard. The entrance ceremony was exactly as she remembered it from the intro to the game. Matsuoka Ryouji, or rather Anne Marielle as she had been known for the past sixteen years in this world, now found herself standing in the aftermath of the intro to Starveil Academy. In the world of the otome game Cross Heart Academy. As its protagonist. What this meant was hardly lost on her, as she anxiously eyed the crowds around her. Perhaps being the 'generically cute every girl' would work to her advantage. Nevermind the fact that being a girl in the first place was a tremendously awkward experience(in away she was thankful for those sixteen years she spent without remembering her old life, because that meant that she'd not had an even rougher adjustment period). In the real world, she wouldn't be that noticeable. And this was real now, not an otome game where every guy was destined to notice her. Surely it would work out differently, right? Even if that entrance ceremony had been identical. Anne wasn't the type of person who had played this game for guys to fawn over her. If anything, back when she was Matsuoka Ryouji, it was only natural he was much more into some of the female characters. The protagonist herself was cute, albeit deliberately generically so. And there was that one teacher too. There was no way she wanted to end up marrying some guy. She wasn't going to pursue any route. This was absolute in her mind. This was a zero route game. She'd think about the other stuff when she had the chance, but the most immediate problem was ensuring none of them would approach her. It couldn't be hard, right? Anne sighed inwardly, relieved at her own hopefully-true assumption. That's right. In real life, as long as she made a good, solid rejection, guys like that would let it go, right? Of course she'd have to be careful, in this world where status mattered so much, but all the protagonist's romance options were at least decent guys, right? They practically had an ocean of other girls to choose from, too. Right? Somehow her optimism was crumbling by the second. Well, maybe if she made her way out of the courtyard as quickly as possible, to avoid even the slightest chance of a flag raising...</s>

<|message|>Serrica Francesca Haldblum How sad it was that Serrica Francesca Haldblum had to sit through this boring as hell speech when she could be out and about, doing other things. Planning a new investment project or even speaking to other nobles to try and build more connections. Not that there was anyone that didn't want a connection with her ducal family of course, well, aside a certain ducal heir she could think of. Hah. Regardless, there was... ONE other reason that she was here today. This little opening ceremony heralded the introduction of the Heroine to the school. Serrica had to ponder that topic inwardly. As if she could mention much to anyone else. She wondered if there were any others in a situation much like hers. No other character seemed to have as much of a personality change as she had. The original Serrica was nice but, in the current one's mind, she was much too nice. She was taken advantage of in Serika's mind, though she had never played one of the routes that focused on the woman. In fact, she had played relatively few routes. An RPG route related to the Prince. Some tactical game from overhead and her favorite, a sim game focused around the market. Her focus came back to the world at hand as the speech had ended and she pulled her trusty fan out to cover a yawn. "I was afraid such a speech would never end." She sighed, shaking her head a small bit. She had told Lydianna, her maid, to go enjoy herself for a bit. Just because she needed to sit through this audible torture didn't mean the poor maid needed to as well. Besides, she had plenty for the maid to do later. Serrica needed some nice sweet snacks and wonderful tea made. The student waited a small amount of time for some of the people to clear the area so she could easily push her way past some of the other students that left an impression of her being a small bit rude. That was fine. Even if they thought it, they could not easily voice their opinions. Unless they were powerful enough, of course. Among them the Royal Family could say something, though if they could make her apologize or not was a coin flip in the best of times for them. Besides, most would consider it an honor to be shoved aside by such a beauty. The thought made her laugh a small bit to herself before turning her attention to those around her. She was looking for some small number of important characters around the room. The Heroine herself who was somewhat... Plainly pretty. As far as she was aware, Serika never really had seen the Heroine in any extravagant hair color or design. No dark red hair or platinum blonde. She didn't land her eyes on the girl. Who else was there? The maid that was employed by Reginold von Afah? Not as far as she could see. Reginald... Well, why would she bother with that. The tutorial guy should be at his shop at this point. There was that student council president, Noctis. Well, for now he didn't matter all too much at the moment. He was fairly high spec as far as the RPG routes went but he offered not much as far as marketable skills mattered. She followed the crowd a small bit and took a small step aside to get out of the flow. Perhaps she'd visit Cervantes the Merchant and offer to inve-- Serrica's thoughts were cut off as she walked into something or, rather, someone. There was no one eye level so the noble looked down to see one of the things on campus that tended to the cute side. "Oh my, Lady Aquilanne! Pardon my offence of running into you. I had not noticed you as my attention was elsewhere." Lady Elastasia de Aquilanne was another secondary character in the game. She fulfilled a role similar to Serrica's and, if she had heard right, confessed to the Heroine in one of the routes. She was a powerful mage and someone of note that Serrica wanted to turn to her side in the future so it was best not to make an enemy out of her now. "I'll assume you are well?" She asked, looking over the short upperclassman.</s>

<|description|>Serrica Francesca Haldblum * Age: 17 * Appearance Serrica carries herself confidently as if she could do no wrong with her tendency to wear beautiful if not expensive dresses that tend to be strong, powerful colors like red and purple. For the majority of her life she's kept her brown hair short though, lately, she's tried to grow it out longer. * Gender: Female * Personality: Serika or Serrica is rather selfish person and carries herself with a sense of superiority over others. If one were to notice her taking an interest in a particular human being outside of social situations, it's quite likely that she has an idea on how to use that individual. She is highly fueled by greed and a wish to be even more rich than she already is. With that in mind, she treats the commoners of her family's territory very well, after all, the success of the common man is the success of her territory. She has invested in more than a couple of merchant groups for a cut of the profits. In social situations much like a party or a ball, she likes to be the center of attention and spreading her influence where she can. Those that pay attention to her, she treats fairly well, those that pay no attention to her are ignored but those that badmouth her tend to have things happen to them, There are rumors that she merely enjoys the company of women and that's why she holds many tea parties and attends as many parties as she can when it's not time for school. * Abilities/Skills: As a noble daughter, Serrica had much education in the domain of proper manners, though admittedly, she has plenty of times where she ignores those lessons when people she dislikes are involved. Sometimes, spending just the right amount of money spent in just the right way can solve those types of problems. She's also very knowledgeable about the fluctuating prices of the market though a lot of this is due to her knowledge of the game more than any formal training. Once again, the right amount of money in the right place is bound to bring forth a great amount of profit. * History: Serika was once a girl from a somewhat poor family. While her family did care for her and did what they could, both her parents had to work constantly to keep up with all their debt, leaving Serika by herself most of the time. Through-out elementary school, she was bullied by a few of the other kids and, once she moved on to middle school, started to do the same to others. Over time, she started to bully kids for their money and figured it was her own way to make money, much like the amount of time her parents spent working. Once in High School, she didn't have any easy targets so she eased on the behavior. Instead, she just felt depressed. She had no friends to the mixture of the bully or be bullied attitude she held towards life and had no real goals towards life besides living. Trying to find her own hope for more in life, she entered a free lottery at a local supermarket where she won a game system and with it an apparently popular game called "Cross Heart Academy". A cursory look at the game made her call it "stupid" but upon actually playing it, she felt herself engrossed with it. Especially in the "Merchant" route of the second half. She learned many of the ins and outs of the game's trading system that she practically was a master at it. One day at school, she insulted one of the popular girls at school for being a "dumbass". After class, she was accosted by some of the girl's friends before getting into a small scuffle and being pushed down a set of stairs… The next thing she knew, she woke up in a fancy bed. It took a small amount of time but she quickly realized that she woke up in the body of the character Serrica Haldblum, a character from Cross Heart Academy! Albeit, she was quite small compared to the scenes in the game. Logically, she had time to settle into her own greedy and selfish very of Serrica Francesca Haldblum. A second, selfish lease on life. * Original Role and Background: In the original story, Serrica was a kind and graceful noble eldest daughter of the Haldblum Ducal family, which even the royal family couldn't just outright ignore. Serrica herself took part in a couple of different routes, typically as an ally of the Heroine. Most notably in a few routes where she used her status to cover for the Heroine after they became friends. * Other:</s> <|message|>Elastasia Julienne ... (several extraneous middle names nobody ever remembers follow) de Aquilanne. Ellie to her friends, if they exist. Elastasia When the kitten--why had a kitten known to go for her? had made that jump--Elastasia reflexively froze up, presenting a harmless and ineffectual target... one that would have been able to do nothing to maintain their little corralling effort. Fortunately for her, the totally-just-a-maid came to her rescue, and the barrier maintained its integrity. Barely; the little jumping trick did cause the entire thing to shimmer ominously before recovering its strength. How odd that he'd caught a holy bird, though. Was that even a good thing? It might do... something, when panicked, and it wasn't exactly the holiest of all individuals that had just made a grab for it. Maybe they'd be lucky and it would make a beeline for someone more suitable, even if nobody with the exact magical affinity was in the area. Of course, her brother now had his hands full, as well as his face. It looked rather like an ordinary puppy. A very large, very affectionate, very slobbery puppy.</s> <|message|>Serrica Francesca Haldblum Serrica had waited for Noctis to say something but he was rather quiet. "Well, fine, the boy seems shell-shocked. If you feel better, do follow. Otherwise, girl, I'm going to borrow you for a small bit so the patient can rest." With that, Serrica kept hold of Anne's hand and walked out the door with her, leading her to somewhere that wasn't the infirmary. They got out of the building for some fresh air before Serrica stopped and released Anne. She took a breath before she opened her mouth again. "Alright then. Now that we can get out from that sterile smelling air, do you not want to work for the quite rich Serrica Francesca Haldblum? I can pay you a potent salary... Hmm..." She went silent for some seconds as she contemplated something. "I suppose I have yet to properly introduce myself..." The noble girl cleared her throat before speaking once more. "I am the eldest daughter of the Haldblum Duchy, Serrica Francesca Haldblum. May I ask your name and house? Or, lack thereof. Take no offence, but if you are of a noble house I've yet to see you attend to high society functions."</s> <|message|>Anne Marielle(that's the heroine's name?!) "Wait wha-" On one hand it did allow her to escape from one of the romantic interests. On the other, this wasn't anything like anything that had happened in the game. Anne certainly hadn't expected Serrica to go dragging her off like this out of the blue. In fact, none of this behavior seemed like the Serrica she knew from the game at all. Just what was going on? Of course it wasn't that Serrica wasn't wealthy and exuberant but... Maybe she was just imagining it? Maybe it was just because of how things had already shifted? Anne wasn't certain, and she didn't really know how to handle a girl just dragging her off in the first place. "Er... er... Marielle," she managed, when Serrica asked her name. It was more then she'd expected to be dealing with from her already, so it took a moment for her to even begin to articulate herself, "A-Anne Marielle, er, I guess we just didn't... run into each other...?" She was from a minor house, in any case, so the chances of that were exceptionally high.</s> <|message|>Reginald von Afah Reginald von Afah With the barrier comparatively unperturbed by the kitten's valiant efforts, the rest of the animals soon found themselves crashing into the magical wall... Or one another. To Reginald, who was watching the whole affair unfold in front of him, the mental image of a nasty pileup quickly came to mind—and a somewhat restrained grimace crossed his face as he turned away from the carnage. "I certainly don't envy any of them..." he remarked to himself as the bird in his hands continued to wriggle and squirm about. Though he could not necessarily see the growing energy it was exuding now, he could certainly feel it now. To that, though, the young man simply chose to maintain his hold on the creature. 'Twas not his place to question why a magical creature was being held here, of course, but as far as he could tell, there was not much amiss about it beyond a slight glow. The two more magically-inclined girls in his company would likely be able to tell what was going on to some degree, though, given how the bird seemed to be absorbing energy from the disoriented and injured creatures lying about as the shopekeepers began to gather them back up. By now, the identity of the avian was a bit more obvious to those who had run through this event in the game—the heroine's "companion" on the routes more relevant to the church, traveling around and growing alongside her. Unfortunate, though, that such growth usually required the presence of the injured and pained... Such as those lying around the street right now. Doubly so, of course, when one considered that the bird could hit a critical mass of energy before it reached a new stage in it's growth, as seemed to be fast approaching, and in so doing could cause anything from a shockwave of mana to a pulse of healing energy affecting those who it was nearby to anything in between. All the while, though, the kitten that had now been caught in Melia's arms was flailing about, trying it's hardest to push itself free from her grasp. Notably enough, though, it seemed to deliberately not be trying to scratch or bite at her body despite being caught in a rather unbecoming situation... Though for what reason it chose not to do so remained to be seen. By this point, though, the shopkeepers had begun to capitalize on the efforts of everyone actively aiding in their efforts to stop the stampede, and more than a few had already begun to bring the creatures splayed out on the streets back to their cages... For better or worse. The wyvern in Cervantes' grasp, for example, continued to struggle away at the net that had wrapped around it's body—or, to be more accurate, the net that it had incidentally wrapped itself up in. But the slight red glow beginning to form from within it's mouth was not exactly a herald of good things to come for anyone left unaware... @Rune_Alchemist@Raineh Daze</s> <|message|>Cervantes Quixote Cervantes Quixote "Phew, almost done." What a day. Cervantes grimaced as he dragged the straggling wyvern to a cage. It felt a little surreal to be in this situation. Mystical animals break out and he had to catch one of them; what was this an anime? Though he supposed it wasn't too wrong. After all, this was an otome game. Scenarios like these shouldn't be too surprising to see in an otome, but experiencing first hand was an entirely different matter. Opening the cage, he looked down at the lizard. "Well, little guy, it's time to get into cage so-" Cervantes stopped when the whelp something glowing in its mouth. Did it eat a flashlight or something? First, he was sure that flashlights didn't exist in this world. Second, he was pretty sure that light was coming out of its mouth. It reminded him of a dragon about to breath fire. "Wait, breath fire?" Fire? In an instant, Cervantes was immediately alarmed of what was going to happen. Why could wyverns breath fire, or whatever it was doing? He thought only dragons could that. Wyverns were like the lame cousins of dragons and insignifcant to them. "Ah... Ah... Ah..." Cervantes panicked. What was he going to do? He had to do something, but he didn't want to hurt the wyvern either. Cervantes dug into his pockets and threw 'it' at the wyvern. "Pocket sand!" Immediately the sand slapped the wyvern straight in the face. It blinked before wrinkling it nose. With a sneeze that sounded like a gun firing, it shot out fire. Fire that easily burned his net. "Haaaaaa!" Cervantes yelped at the sudden brightness. Out of sheer instinct, Cervantes threw the net, along with the help, into the cage. "Nope, nope, nope, nope, not today. Not dealing with this, today." Without hesitation he closed the cage and locked it.</s> <|message|>Elastasia Julienne ... (several extraneous middle names nobody ever remembers follow) de Aquilanne. Ellie to her friends, if they exist. Elastasia "Er, Reggie, you might want to let that one go..." Elastasia offered hesitantly. Of course, if the Heroine had been here, this very early opportunity to get the bird would have had it decide that the holy magic-aligned girl was its ideal partner despite the general disorganisation and chaos going on, but here? Well, maybe a maid would be a good alternative. Or it would be happy to find its way home or to freedom or to wherever it might actually find a suitable partner. She highly doubted it was going to enjoy being held by a young man whose major skills lay in chopping things to pieces. "It might, ah... blow your hands off?" Well, hopefully only bruise them. But holding onto it would likely hurt, if it wasn't all that happy with the current situation, and result in not holding the bird anyway.</s> <|message|>Mella Kristelle Mella @PKMNB0Y@Raineh Daze --- It seemed though, unless she wanted harm to befall her current employer, it would be best to intervene in some manner. Now, she could do as Elastasia did and simply politely inform him that holding onto a holy hand grenade bird was a bad idea, but on the other hand, that wouldn't be quite as entertaining and there was a chance he would neither hear nor heed those words. So she needed to make him drop it. "Lord Reginald." She'd simply say in order to get his attention. "Hold this for me, yes?" And then promptly grabbed the Axolotl like creature she had in her grasp, and threw it right at Reginald. A totally flawless plan that would certainly get him to drop the bird before anything bad happened. The animal flew through the air with a dopey smile as though it was enjoying the freedom of flying through the air. With her other hand, she'd press the kitten a bit harder against her chest, didn't want it getting free and squirming about either.</s>

<|message|>Serrica Francesca Haldblum "Anne Marielle? Hmm... Well, can't say I'm familiar with your house, truth be told. Well, that much can change Lady Anne." Serrica said, smiling a small bit. "You should come join my tea parties and other such affairs. I can assure you that it can only help your family out to be acquainted with the Duchy. Well, our Duchy. Not the other not as important one." Serrica mentioned with some small disdain in her voice. The daughter of the duke seemed to clear her thoughts rather quickly before shaking her head and turning toward Anne again, "Well, hiring you aside, you are a new student this year, correct?" She asked but didn't give time for a response. "Of course you are. Well, if you need help with anything let me know. I'd be willing to help since I think of it as an investment in human potential." The merchant added, not hiding her reasons at all. There was no need to hide it, after all. She had let her intentions be known clear as day. "Regardless of all that however, let me say that it is a pleasure to meet you." She said, offering her hand for a handshake.</s>

<|description|>Serrica Francesca Haldblum * Age: 17 * Appearance Serrica carries herself confidently as if she could do no wrong with her tendency to wear beautiful if not expensive dresses that tend to be strong, powerful colors like red and purple. For the majority of her life she's kept her brown hair short though, lately, she's tried to grow it out longer. * Gender: Female * Personality: Serika or Serrica is rather selfish person and carries herself with a sense of superiority over others. If one were to notice her taking an interest in a particular human being outside of social situations, it's quite likely that she has an idea on how to use that individual. She is highly fueled by greed and a wish to be even more rich than she already is. With that in mind, she treats the commoners of her family's territory very well, after all, the success of the common man is the success of her territory. She has invested in more than a couple of merchant groups for a cut of the profits. In social situations much like a party or a ball, she likes to be the center of attention and spreading her influence where she can. Those that pay attention to her, she treats fairly well, those that pay no attention to her are ignored but those that badmouth her tend to have things happen to them, There are rumors that she merely enjoys the company of women and that's why she holds many tea parties and attends as many parties as she can when it's not time for school. * Abilities/Skills: As a noble daughter, Serrica had much education in the domain of proper manners, though admittedly, she has plenty of times where she ignores those lessons when people she dislikes are involved. Sometimes, spending just the right amount of money spent in just the right way can solve those types of problems. She's also very knowledgeable about the fluctuating prices of the market though a lot of this is due to her knowledge of the game more than any formal training. Once again, the right amount of money in the right place is bound to bring forth a great amount of profit. * History: Serika was once a girl from a somewhat poor family. While her family did care for her and did what they could, both her parents had to work constantly to keep up with all their debt, leaving Serika by herself most of the time. Through-out elementary school, she was bullied by a few of the other kids and, once she moved on to middle school, started to do the same to others. Over time, she started to bully kids for their money and figured it was her own way to make money, much like the amount of time her parents spent working. Once in High School, she didn't have any easy targets so she eased on the behavior. Instead, she just felt depressed. She had no friends to the mixture of the bully or be bullied attitude she held towards life and had no real goals towards life besides living. Trying to find her own hope for more in life, she entered a free lottery at a local supermarket where she won a game system and with it an apparently popular game called "Cross Heart Academy". A cursory look at the game made her call it "stupid" but upon actually playing it, she felt herself engrossed with it. Especially in the "Merchant" route of the second half. She learned many of the ins and outs of the game's trading system that she practically was a master at it. One day at school, she insulted one of the popular girls at school for being a "dumbass". After class, she was accosted by some of the girl's friends before getting into a small scuffle and being pushed down a set of stairs… The next thing she knew, she woke up in a fancy bed. It took a small amount of time but she quickly realized that she woke up in the body of the character Serrica Haldblum, a character from Cross Heart Academy! Albeit, she was quite small compared to the scenes in the game. Logically, she had time to settle into her own greedy and selfish very of Serrica Francesca Haldblum. A second, selfish lease on life. * Original Role and Background: In the original story, Serrica was a kind and graceful noble eldest daughter of the Haldblum Ducal family, which even the royal family couldn't just outright ignore. Serrica herself took part in a couple of different routes, typically as an ally of the Heroine. Most notably in a few routes where she used her status to cover for the Heroine after they became friends. * Other:</s> <|message|>Anne Marielle(that's the heroine's name?!) For several moments, Anne was completely silent. She didn't quite know how to respond to Serrica's offer. Certainly, she was an ally character in the game, but at the same time she didn't remember anything quite happening like this. It didn't seem the same. "Er... thank you," she said, bowing her head as she reached out to accept the handshake. No matter what else was going on, it was quite a generous offer. Even if it didn't feel anything like the way Serrica felt in the game. Maybe it was just the difference between a video game and reality? That could be the case, but some things had seemed exactly the same as the game while others had diverged. Certainly, part of this had to just be from different actions taking place causing things to change in different ways. But that couldn't be the only explanation for everything, could it? It felt like everything was becoming even more complicated by the second.</s> <|message|>Reginald von Afah Reginald von Afah Still oblivious to the danger within his hands—at least, for the moment—Reginald simply gave Elastasia a look of mild confusion as she warned him about the avian struggling within his grasp. "Blow my hands off?" he asked, glancing down for a moment before shaking his head. "I can see it glowing a bit, sure, but it's not as if—" But before he could finish his rejection therein, the momentary lapse in attention as he turned towards the maid calling his name followed by the flight of a rather flightless creature towards his face left the young man a victim to his instincts—and in so doing let go of the bird in order to catch the axolotl-like creature hurtling towards his face. It was as much for his sake as it was for the animal's, of course, but the bird that he had taken the pains to catch was now flapping it's wings as it tumbled momentarily through the air. But that was for no more than that fleeting moment, though, as the creature swiftly swerved upwards with a flap of it's wings as it dodged the ground. The glow by now had become palpable enough for even Reginald to be aware that it was indeed likely more magical than he had first believed it to be, and the sudden burst of light thereafter after it flew into the center of the would-be helpers caused him to instinctively shield his eyes. The light itself seemed to do no damage—quite the opposite, really, as a few of the more disoriented animals at their feet began to regain their bearings—but the bird that was the source of all this seemed to simply fly towards Mella before promptly perching itself in her head. It seemed to be staring daggers at Reginald now, of course, but it at least seemed to not be trying to escape again... For whatever reason that could be. "...Well, that's a rather rude bird," he remarked, checking on the creature in his hands to see if it had been affected by the bird's magic before promptly handing it off to a nearby shopkeeper. "But I suppose that if it means to stick around, that's one less problem to worry about." The kitten, though, seemed far less pleased with the current state of affairs. It was a bit more limp, now, pressed between the maid's hand and chest as ait was, but there was only so much it could attempt to do given the restrictions it seemed to impose upon itself. Surely, a scratch or bite would likely cause her to drop it... But the beast seemed to simply give up and accept it's fate. "For what reason would you let loose a bunch of creatures into the area like this, though...?" Reginald mused to himself as he brushed off some of the dirt on his clothes before turning towards one of the less occupied shopkeepers. "Could I hear more about the details of this situation, by any chance?" The person in question—a somewhat lanky man in his late thirties—responded with a weak smile and a shrug. "I'm sorry, sir; all I can recall were some young men sprinting away before the chaos broke out. I think one of them might've been holding onto something, but..." "A robbery, maybe?" Reginald responded, arms now folded across his chest in mild concern. "What sort of idiots would attempt a robbery in broad daylight...?" Daze@Rune_Alchemist --- The rather ham-fisted method Cervantes had chosen to get the wyvern out of his hair (or, well, net) drew a bit of an irritated glance from one of the shopkeepers nearest the event, and who, despite seeing everyhing unfold as it did, not not seem particularly pleased with how the wyvern had been lobbed into it's cage. "Though I do appreciate the help," he began to say as he brought a large hamster-like creature towards it's cage, "I'd prefer if you didn't damage the merchandise in the process." There was a pause and a sigh as he stared at the rows of cages—most of which had their doors wide open—before shaking his head. "Thousands of coins' worth of merchandise, all for a... Prank? I don't even know at this point..." The exhaustion and mental fatigue were rather evident from his body language alone, but there was only so much the poor man could even attempt to do at this point beyond try to salvage what he could from the mess that had just transpired. --- --- "I certainly did not expect to see you here of all places, Lady Haldblum. Were the events outside too few and far between to entertain you?" As the conversation between Serrica and Anne found itself coming to a close, a rather dignified-looking young woman with long golden hair walked straight towards the pair. It was a face that Serrica would have grown to known well by this point, and one that would, in a sense, strike fear of a different sort into Anne's heart. It was hard, after all, to ignore the main 'love rival' of the crown prince's route—Lilian Meridan, the prince's straight-laced and sharp-tongued childhood friend. It almost seemed as if there were sparks flying out of Lilian's eyes as she stared straight into Serrica's eyes before turning towards Anne. "...My apologies. I should not be so crass so as to not introduce myself first," Lilian said, taking a step back before giving a light curtsy towards the unfamiliar young woman in front of her. "Lilian Meridan, the daughter of His Royal Highness' chief advisor Byron Meridan. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." Once she had spoken her piece, though, Lilian simply turned back towards Serrica with a look of mild contempt. "I suppose that matching your refined tastes would have been a rather daunting task to begin with regardless," she remarked with a shake of her head. "How unfortunate." The thinly-veiled venom Lilian's words was almost palpable as she continued staring Serrica dead-on, her gaze unflinching as she continued staring the woman opposite her down. "To be quite honest, I'm quite surprised to even see you here in the first place. I would have thought you would have better things to do with your time than stroll down the hallways making small talk with the new students." @VitaVitaAR</s> <|message|>Cervantes Quixote Cervantes Quixote That pricked his conscious. "You're not the only one suffering you know," Cervantes said as he scratched the back of his head. "I was planning to sell that capture net at my shop, but now look at it." All burnt up and being used a chew toy by the flying lizard. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he sighed. Cervantes could already tell what tomorrow's gossip would be. News Headline, "Wild creatures run rampant in Plaza!?" What a mess. Though, this may give him an opportunity. "Well, I am feeling generous today." With a smile, he walked up towards the shopkeeper. "If I may introduce myself, I am Cervantes Quixote. I am a merchant of many wares," Cervantes paused in dramatics before saying it aloud. "And connections. I can ask some of my 'friends' to help you with finding your merchandise if you'd like. That and I'll help with your shop. Of course, we'll have to write up a contract, but I want to hear your thoughts first." Aside from the fact that he technically had no 'connections,' he had one resource that could potentially help a hapless old man. The Heroine. If would be able to convince the heroine on this endeavor, then he'd hit a jackpot. Though, of course, he'd have to offer something in return to the heroine to convince her. The world revolved in exchanges of course. Whether it be money, favors, or gods, something had to be given away in return. Cervantes would be have to flexible, since he didn't exactly know what the female lead could possibly want. Though perhaps, he could get that maid into this as well. She did say she wanted to get into a business. Why not have this man teach her the ropes or something? Either way, after this he needed to find people fast. "What is your name, mister?"</s>

<|message|>Serrica Francesca Haldblum Serrica merely smiled somewhat entertained as Lilian spoke harshly to her. There was always something entertaining about her interactions with the girl. Few people truly troubled her and Lilian Meridan was no exception to that. "Nice to see you as well, Lady Meridan. Looking as beautiful as ever." She mentioned as the girl just stared her down. Perhaps she would feel unsettled with the daughter of His Majesty's chief advisor staring her down... But a merchant couldn't let such trifles bother them. She went silent mostly as Lilian introduced herself to Anne. It didn't bother her a bit. So long as she didn't plan on trying to snatch her new recruit from under her like a bitch. Which is not what it seemed like. Rather, she seemed rather focused on her for some reason. She always seemed wary. Perhaps it was because she was not exactly polite to the royalty? Well, she didn't have to nor did she particularly want to. He was fairly boring as far as it went but, realistically, she didn't really focus on that sort of thing in her few playthroughs. As soon as introduction was over... It was back to being stared at. Serrica couldn't remember being particularly mean to Lilian or anything of the sort. In fact, she had started trying to be.... Somewhat nice. She has consistently invited her to tea parties. Or, tried. A good ally is the daughter of the king's advisor after all. Now, however... "Well, I had come this far out originally to assist a girl that had been pushed aside and scraped her knee. There I met this cute little miss." Serrica mentioned, defending herself in a small way. "And I always have time to make small talk with the new students, Lady Meridan. It's always wonderful to meet the new faces we'll be seeing until we graduate." She added before staring Lilian back in the eye. "My, you know, Lady Meridan, you stare at me like that much longer and I'll wonder if you have a thing for me. I thought you had a thing for the Crown Prince." Serrica teased, taking a step closer. "Well, you may find that my refined taste includes people with beautiful golden locks if you're curious." The Duke's daughter took one more step forward towards Lilian. She was curious if she hit the hammer on the nail, though she somewhat doubted she did. Likely, she was just always irritated with the way Serrica treated the Crown Prince.</s>

<|description|>Serrica Francesca Haldblum * Age: 17 * Appearance Serrica carries herself confidently as if she could do no wrong with her tendency to wear beautiful if not expensive dresses that tend to be strong, powerful colors like red and purple. For the majority of her life she's kept her brown hair short though, lately, she's tried to grow it out longer. * Gender: Female * Personality: Serika or Serrica is rather selfish person and carries herself with a sense of superiority over others. If one were to notice her taking an interest in a particular human being outside of social situations, it's quite likely that she has an idea on how to use that individual. She is highly fueled by greed and a wish to be even more rich than she already is. With that in mind, she treats the commoners of her family's territory very well, after all, the success of the common man is the success of her territory. She has invested in more than a couple of merchant groups for a cut of the profits. In social situations much like a party or a ball, she likes to be the center of attention and spreading her influence where she can. Those that pay attention to her, she treats fairly well, those that pay no attention to her are ignored but those that badmouth her tend to have things happen to them, There are rumors that she merely enjoys the company of women and that's why she holds many tea parties and attends as many parties as she can when it's not time for school. * Abilities/Skills: As a noble daughter, Serrica had much education in the domain of proper manners, though admittedly, she has plenty of times where she ignores those lessons when people she dislikes are involved. Sometimes, spending just the right amount of money spent in just the right way can solve those types of problems. She's also very knowledgeable about the fluctuating prices of the market though a lot of this is due to her knowledge of the game more than any formal training. Once again, the right amount of money in the right place is bound to bring forth a great amount of profit. * History: Serika was once a girl from a somewhat poor family. While her family did care for her and did what they could, both her parents had to work constantly to keep up with all their debt, leaving Serika by herself most of the time. Through-out elementary school, she was bullied by a few of the other kids and, once she moved on to middle school, started to do the same to others. Over time, she started to bully kids for their money and figured it was her own way to make money, much like the amount of time her parents spent working. Once in High School, she didn't have any easy targets so she eased on the behavior. Instead, she just felt depressed. She had no friends to the mixture of the bully or be bullied attitude she held towards life and had no real goals towards life besides living. Trying to find her own hope for more in life, she entered a free lottery at a local supermarket where she won a game system and with it an apparently popular game called "Cross Heart Academy". A cursory look at the game made her call it "stupid" but upon actually playing it, she felt herself engrossed with it. Especially in the "Merchant" route of the second half. She learned many of the ins and outs of the game's trading system that she practically was a master at it. One day at school, she insulted one of the popular girls at school for being a "dumbass". After class, she was accosted by some of the girl's friends before getting into a small scuffle and being pushed down a set of stairs… The next thing she knew, she woke up in a fancy bed. It took a small amount of time but she quickly realized that she woke up in the body of the character Serrica Haldblum, a character from Cross Heart Academy! Albeit, she was quite small compared to the scenes in the game. Logically, she had time to settle into her own greedy and selfish very of Serrica Francesca Haldblum. A second, selfish lease on life. * Original Role and Background: In the original story, Serrica was a kind and graceful noble eldest daughter of the Haldblum Ducal family, which even the royal family couldn't just outright ignore. Serrica herself took part in a couple of different routes, typically as an ally of the Heroine. Most notably in a few routes where she used her status to cover for the Heroine after they became friends. * Other:</s> <|message|>Anne Marielle(that's the heroine's name?!) "..." Ah. Ah. She wasn't ready to deal with this. There was no way she was prepared to deal with this situation. Anne had prepared herself as quickly as possible to deal with meeting a variety of characters, but this was almost on par with meeting one of the potential capture targets. The villainess. Lilian Meridan. How did she respond to this situation?! What did she do!? She wasn't planning on trying to pursue the crown prince(hell no in fact) but that didn't mean there wasn't the potential for disaster brewing. Did she just introduce herself? It already seemed like Serrica was provoking her. Wasn't that a really bad idea?! She didn't need to be wrapped up in a scenario like this when she was still trying to figure something out? Frazzled was the best description for the expression on Anne's face. "N-nice to meet you," she managed, curtsying and trying not to acknowledge the obvious provocation occurring beside her, "I-I'm Anne. Her, Anne Marielle! ... Daughter, er, daughter of Lord Marielle... er..." The anxiety had made her stumble over herself. This was a mess. @PKMNB0Y</s> <|message|>Reginald von Afah Reginald von Afah Curious though he was about whatever had sparked this incident in the first place, Reginald reminded himself that, at the end of the day, there were other matters to worry about over investigating the circumstances that had kept everyone here to begin with. With that being said, though, it wasn't as if he could tell as if these events were predetermined or not to begin with. He had little memory of any events like this while proceeding through the game, but at this point, chasing after a dangling thread on his first day here in hopes that it would lead to other issues seemed a bit... Frivolous? Yes, frivolous was the word. He needed information first and foremost, not instinctual hunches. "...Well, there were surely other witnesses. Hopefully those with more authority will find the ones responsible," he said, shrugging his shoulders as he glanced towards his maid. Being the person she usually was, of course, his servant requested recompense—one that he was less willing to give due to the bird that seemed to be gravitating towards her, granted, but what she had done otherwise at least warranted some minor bonus. "If you wish to bill me, I will, of course, review the costs," he remarked back, watching as Mella attempted to get the bird off of her head. A small smirk crossed his face as he watched the bird flit about, dodging the maid's hands as it flew into the air for a moment... Before promptly returning to sit atop her head. "Would you prefer I purchased that bird for you? Or, rather, maybe I should do so regardless..." he joked before taking a step to the side as a few more shopkeepers—and, now, some more willing volunteers—began to carry the rattled animals back to whence they came. Walking back towards Elastasia and Terys, though, the black-haired student noted that the latter was still wrestling with a rather large puppy, which seemed to have taken to him as much as the bird had to his maid. Whether or not he wanted to be pinned to the ground and licked over and over was not necessarily his jurisdiction, of course, but given that it seemed to have been going on for long enough for the boy to try (and fail) to push him off... Well, it only seemed right to step in and assist. With a sigh, Reginald leaned over and wrapped both of his arms around the dog before prying it away from Terys, the beast notably heavier than it seemed to be at first glance. "I am... Surprised they could keep this thing to begin with," he said, some strain evident on his face as the dog shook about in his arms. "Rather friendly, it seems—for better or worse." Daze@Rune_Alchemist --- The older man stared at Cervantes for a moment before shaking his head and sighing. "Jacob Verdan. As for recovering what was lost, well..." There was a moment as he trailed off before glancing at the people bringing the animals back over to the shop. "...I suppose that can wait until after I've taken inventory. There are a fair number of creatures I need to make sure are all right... Assuming that they've been captured," he remarked, shoulders slumped as he moved to take a snakelike creature off of a young man's hands. "If there is anything missing, though... Well, depending on what it is, I might have to take you up on your offer." By now, more of those animals were starting to be brought back in, whether in makeshift containers or in the hands of someone... Or, in some cases, hanging off of a limb with their mouths firmly latched on. It was a comical sight, to be sure, but the sheer quantity of the animals in question made this a far less entertaining matter for the man who had to worry about them to begin with. --- --- Lilian seemed to physically recoil as Serrica stepped forward and said her piece, though she made an honest attempt at trying to mask her displeasure with the noblewoman's words and actions in the process. The young woman seemed to be suppressing the urge to simply respond to the provocations of the greedy woman in front of her, but it was difficult for her to not try and create space between herself and Serrica as the latter moved closer to her. "My feeling towards Chr-the Crown Prince have nothing to do with this matter. Regardless, I would sooner bite my own tongue off than deal with you alone for a night," the young woman responded, a frown on her face as she let out a brief sigh before turning towards the stammering young lady caught up in this mess. There was a pause, of course, as she listened to the nervous attempt at an introduction before sighing. "No need to feel so alarmed, Miss Marielle," Lilian said, a businesslike smile crossing her face as if her prior reaction towards Serrica did not exist moments prior. "Though our stations may differ, we are all students here. Though..." There was a pause as the blonde-haired girl threw a passing glance towards Serrica before continuing. "...I worry some people here may treat this school as a hunting ground of sorts rather than a place of learning. In any case, I suppose I should ask what you were doing here, given that there isn't exactly much to do within the building at the moment—especially not at this time of day." @VitaVitaAR</s> <|message|>Cervantes Quixote Cervantes Quixote "Very well, Mr. Verdan. If you do require assistance, here's my business card." Cervantes said as he drew out a card from his jacket and placed it on the counter. It seemed formal to print out a variety of cards for his business. That and the school's market was big enough by itself; it would sometimes be hard to pinpoint the exact location of Cervantes's shop. "Take care, Mr. Verdan. I pray that your business booms in the next few days." With that, Cervantes left the shop. Mr. Verdan needed all the help he could get after all. Cervantes closed the door, not that it mattered since the shop was partially destroyed, and began to walk down the street. "Whew, what a day." Wiping his brow of sweat, Cervantes tried to calculate his next move. It might take a little while for Jacob Verdan to open his shop again. From taking account of the missing animals, the cost of repairs, and the amount of time that it required to do them, it would take a week or two for Jacob Verdan to open his shop again. "What a shame. I was looking to buy a creature for myself." The merchant wasn't a fan of pets, but he didn't dislike them either. The responsibility of taking care of another organism felt too heavy for him to bare in the other world, so Cervantes avoided adopting one. Now, the circumstances were different. Cervantes needed protection. The market clearly wasn't safe from what Cervantes had seen earlier, not to mention the unknowable fate of his future. If he were to overcome it, he'd need to be as prepared as possible. 'Though was Jacob Verdan in the game?' Cervantes thought to himself. He had a lot of game knowledge when it came to Cross Heart Academy. Jacob Verdan must have played some sort of crucial role in the game, considering he was the pet vendor. If Cervantes remembered correctly, there was also a route that played similarly to Pokemon. He had watched a few speedruns before but didn't retain much since the content was rather lackluster in the merchant's eyes. A frown graced Cervante's face, but he pressed on. Jacob Verdan was most likely an important NPC regardless, in comparison to Cervantes, who went nameless in the game. His eyes darted to a few familiar figures. Reginald, the maid, and a few others. They seemed to be doing their own thing, and Cervantes had his own thing to do. Heading straight to his shop, Cervantes wanted to write up that help request for the bulletin board. The market was probably going to be slow during the day, thanks to the market, which meant that Cervantes didn't have much to do.</s> <|message|>Elastasia Julienne ... (several extraneous middle names nobody ever remembers follow) de Aquilanne. Ellie to her friends, if they exist. Elastasia "Maybe you should keep the, uh..." what had that thing been? She wasn't exactly an expert in the native fauna of this world, but it had looked pretty cheerful. It did bring a name to mind, but Elastasia really wasn't sure it was the right one. The crossover between her previous life's native Japanese and the language of this world could be a little hit and miss, without the benefit that a game had of being able to translate everything. "Wooper? Yeah, you should keep that happy thing, Reggie. You could do with something friendly around." Terys' thanks were rather excessive and featured much bowing--although the boy had seemed to be largely enjoying the hefty creature's attention, who knows how long it would've been before he was free to do something else with that doing its best to cover every inch of him in friendly slobber. "Um... sister, do you mean the salamander?" Was that what it was? Oh poo. "I thought those were more lizard like and... fiery?" "When they're older, but..."</s>

<|message|>Serrica Francesca Haldblum "Oh! You wound me Lady Meridan! Such harsh snappings at my person wound my spirit." Serrica said, hardly serious about the matter. The rich noble didn't mind having one person that tried to put her down. And of all people, Lady Meridan would likely be the best out of anyone. Well, her and von Afah. "And treat this place as a hunting ground? I think you will find that a place of learning is in fact the peak setting to find those with innate or hidden talents that one needs to draw out." Serrica mentioned, looking at Anne in particular. "And, if you must know what I was doing here, it's something I'm sure you would do in the same situation. Some unruly students knocked a girl over so I escorted her here and then met Lady Marielle here." None of it was false at the least." With a smirk, Serrica looked towards Lady Meridan once more. "And, lest I forget, you should hurry up and get together with that Prince of yours. If you sadly aren't interested in me, that is." The woman teased. "I believe that would be in the best interests of everyone involved, wouldn't you agree with me, Lady Marielle?" The student had to ask the other, wondering if the Heroine found any interest in the prince.</s>

<|description|>Serrica Francesca Haldblum * Age: 17 * Appearance Serrica carries herself confidently as if she could do no wrong with her tendency to wear beautiful if not expensive dresses that tend to be strong, powerful colors like red and purple. For the majority of her life she's kept her brown hair short though, lately, she's tried to grow it out longer. * Gender: Female * Personality: Serika or Serrica is rather selfish person and carries herself with a sense of superiority over others. If one were to notice her taking an interest in a particular human being outside of social situations, it's quite likely that she has an idea on how to use that individual. She is highly fueled by greed and a wish to be even more rich than she already is. With that in mind, she treats the commoners of her family's territory very well, after all, the success of the common man is the success of her territory. She has invested in more than a couple of merchant groups for a cut of the profits. In social situations much like a party or a ball, she likes to be the center of attention and spreading her influence where she can. Those that pay attention to her, she treats fairly well, those that pay no attention to her are ignored but those that badmouth her tend to have things happen to them, There are rumors that she merely enjoys the company of women and that's why she holds many tea parties and attends as many parties as she can when it's not time for school. * Abilities/Skills: As a noble daughter, Serrica had much education in the domain of proper manners, though admittedly, she has plenty of times where she ignores those lessons when people she dislikes are involved. Sometimes, spending just the right amount of money spent in just the right way can solve those types of problems. She's also very knowledgeable about the fluctuating prices of the market though a lot of this is due to her knowledge of the game more than any formal training. Once again, the right amount of money in the right place is bound to bring forth a great amount of profit. * History: Serika was once a girl from a somewhat poor family. While her family did care for her and did what they could, both her parents had to work constantly to keep up with all their debt, leaving Serika by herself most of the time. Through-out elementary school, she was bullied by a few of the other kids and, once she moved on to middle school, started to do the same to others. Over time, she started to bully kids for their money and figured it was her own way to make money, much like the amount of time her parents spent working. Once in High School, she didn't have any easy targets so she eased on the behavior. Instead, she just felt depressed. She had no friends to the mixture of the bully or be bullied attitude she held towards life and had no real goals towards life besides living. Trying to find her own hope for more in life, she entered a free lottery at a local supermarket where she won a game system and with it an apparently popular game called "Cross Heart Academy". A cursory look at the game made her call it "stupid" but upon actually playing it, she felt herself engrossed with it. Especially in the "Merchant" route of the second half. She learned many of the ins and outs of the game's trading system that she practically was a master at it. One day at school, she insulted one of the popular girls at school for being a "dumbass". After class, she was accosted by some of the girl's friends before getting into a small scuffle and being pushed down a set of stairs… The next thing she knew, she woke up in a fancy bed. It took a small amount of time but she quickly realized that she woke up in the body of the character Serrica Haldblum, a character from Cross Heart Academy! Albeit, she was quite small compared to the scenes in the game. Logically, she had time to settle into her own greedy and selfish very of Serrica Francesca Haldblum. A second, selfish lease on life. * Original Role and Background: In the original story, Serrica was a kind and graceful noble eldest daughter of the Haldblum Ducal family, which even the royal family couldn't just outright ignore. Serrica herself took part in a couple of different routes, typically as an ally of the Heroine. Most notably in a few routes where she used her status to cover for the Heroine after they became friends. * Other:</s> <|message|>Elastasia Julienne ... (several extraneous middle names nobody ever remembers follow) de Aquilanne. Ellie to her friends, if they exist. Elastasia Go shopping with them? Well, she'd rather prefer to go catch up with her brother and then settle down to read or the like, but neither of those would really be possible if carrying a kitten that had already shown a worrisome ability to target her face. The chances were that if she tried to do anything with that around, it would unerringly choose to take offence at being ignored, and then ruin the book or the like... Also, the maid was her type, and what was wrong with taking an opportunity to hang around a pretty lady? Even if she was a rather troublesome one in some regards. "I'll come with you," the white-haired girl announced, looking over at her brother, "Maybe you should go get a change of clothes, Terys, and we can meet again later?" The boy had, after all, gotten pinned by that dog... and slobbered all over. It couldn't hurt to go get a change of clothes, and despite the pouting he did seem to agree to the idea. Which just left her, Reggie, and Reggie's maid. Plus the remaining animals.</s> <|message|>Serrica Francesca Haldblum Lillian looked embarassed and Anne was absolutely flustered. Well... Perhaps it was due to her interference, but was the Heroine this flusterable in the game? Serrica pondered that for some seconds as Anne continued to try and stammer out an answer to the Prince's question which she barely did. Shaking her head a small bit in exasperation, Serrica thought on what to do from here. She could just walk away since the Prince wasn't very interested in her. Nor Lillian for that matter. "Hmmm...?" Serrica questioned herself, pondering that thought to herself for a few short second. She looked to Lillian before giving the girl a sly smile. She had formulated a plan of some sort though she wondered if she was going to anger a certain Miss Meridan in the process. The Duke's Daughter stepped between Anne and Christopher, crossing her arms. "Forgive me for stepping between the two of you as such, Your Highness the Crown Prince." Serrica spoke in her typical fakely polite tone when addressing the Crown Prince. "But I believe my friend, Anne, has a hard time speaking to you on account of the difference in your stations." This much seemed to be true from her point of view. "She's like a scared yet adorable little squirrel trying to speak to a ravenous hound." A rather poor allusion. "That aside, I find your lack of proper introduction to me understandable but I must say I'm rather disappointed in your lack of feeling in greeting your own childhood friend." Serrica pointed her fan toward Lillian before speaking again. "You have such an beautiful childhood friend yet here she is, a side introduction." Of course, Serrica was ignoring the fact that the conversation had gone on for not long at all and he had truly yet to say much more than ask Anne how her friend was. "If I were to be in your shoes, I would cherish such a relationship with a proper introduction. Rather, if you don't, would you mind if I were to sweep her off her feet?"</s> <|message|>Reginald von Afah Reginald von Afah With Mella's (begrudging) acceptance of his decision and Elastasia's continued presence, Reginald gave Terys a nod and a farewell before the latter left them behind. It didn't seem as if his focus slipping had caught anyone else's attention—likely for the best, in his eyes—and so he could simply play that off as if it had never occurred. "Well, I suppose the first order of business is the animals, then," Reginald said, picking up a more chitinous, mantis-like creature and nodding to the others. The creature seemed to stir slightly in his arms, but no more than that for the moment. The walk to the shop in question was fairly swift, and despite the shopkeepers hustling to and fro ferrying what beasts remained after their charge was stopped, there didn't seem to be any real change in the flow of people through the streets. The shop where everyone seemed to be funneling towards, however, had certainly seen better days. One of the door was left lying on the ground (though moved off to the side to prevent anyone from stepping on it as they helped move goods back in), and a few windows had been shattered by the creatures who could jump with enough force and weight to use that as an alternate means of escape. Inside, an older man was directing people to and fro, his face somewhat haggard as he kept an eye on everyone as they returned each creature to it's place. When his gaze finally drifted over to the three standing by, however, the man swiftly made his way over and bowed. "My apologies for making you wait. Sir Afah, Lady Aquilanne, I humbly thank you for your assistance in resolving what has just transpired," he said, head low as he continued. "Unfortunately, I have no way of repaying such grace, and your presence besides, but..." "Do not concern yourself over compensation on my behalf; it was Lady Aquilanne who was mostly responsible for stopping the runaway creatures. I was simply an accessory in comparison. Rather, I had come to purchase one of those same runaways—that bird perched atop my maid's head—as well as return this creature to you." With that, Reginald gestured slightly to the buglike creature in his arms with his head, to which the shopkeeper rose back up before nodding in turn. "Of course! Your patronage is certainly appreciated!" he exclaimed, subtly gesturing towards one of his assistants to take the beast in question off of Reginald's hands before turning to look at what bird it was that he was so interested in. "...Twenty silver should suffice," he finally said, to which the black-haired boy promptly handed over the requested coinage and nodded. "Once again, your patronage is very greatly appreciated." At this point, with matters of money settled, the shopkeeper promptly turned towards Elastasia and bowed once more. "Then, if there is anything I can do for you for your assistance, then please let me know." Daze@Rune_Alchemist --- --- "Miss Merielle, then. It is a pleasure to be properly acquainted with you now, then," spoke the prince as he gave another light bow in return. Flustered though the girl seemed, Christopher seemed fairly nonplussed by her reaction, and it was only when Serrica stepped in to speak her piece that Christopher reacted in turn. "Ah... Hm. I suppose that would make sense," he concluded, seeing the logic in Serrica's analogy, "though I should certainly hope that I am no 'ravenous hound' in the eyes of my peers. Such a reputation is one I would prefer to avoid." But when Serrica continued to speak as she did, Christopher's comparatively soft expression swiftly began to harden. "...Is it not proper to introduce oneself in the company of guests?" he responded with a frown. "Miss Meridan has been a great friend to me for the longest of time, and the three of us are acquainted with one another by this point. To acknowledge a new face is only right, is it not?" There was a brief pause before Christopher sighed and shook his head before finally turning back towards the still-blushing Lilian. "And besides, I am by no means blind. If she is currently occupied by other thoughts, then I do not intend to bring her into the spotlight. As for your intentions with her... Placing personal matters aside, I wish only the best for her, both as my confidant and as a dear friend. Take that as you will." Lilian, of course, had by this point been reduced to a blushing mess at Christopher's indirect (and accidental) attack upon her psyche—not that he was addressing that at the moment, of course. @Pyromania99</s> <|message|>Mella Kristelle Mella @Raineh Daze --- She was slightly hoping the shopkeep would refuse and take the bird away. Life could never be so easy, could it? The maid remained quiet, though, keeping the kitten comfortably laying in her arms and the bird perched on her head, doing her best to simply ignore it. Well, at least the cat was...somewhat cute, she supposed. She'd pat its head, giving it a few ear scritches and pets while she'd wait for lord Afah to complete his business. She still needed to do the shopping. Was it still possible to get back and do all the cooking before evening? Hm. More importantly, though... "...How does one take care of this bird?" Mella queried the shopkeeper. "As It is likely my responsibility I have never seen it before, and as such would much appreciate any insight into peculiarities, sir Shopkeeper."</s> <|message|>Elastasia Julienne ... (several extraneous middle names nobody ever remembers follow) de Aquilanne. Ellie to her friends, if they exist. "Um... could you tell me about this kitten?" Elastasia asked, lifting up the offending creature so it was visible. It at least seemed slightly more pliable now, "Is it just a cat...? It seemed to know to go for me when I was keeping a barrier up to hem in the other escapees." It could make an interesting familiar, she supposed. Not that it was the sort of magic that she'd ever shown interest in, but having another pair of eyes to look out for people that might want to interrupt her reading and drag her off to some party... although, it wasn't something that would really harm her social standing in a non-intrusive way. A magical prodigy doing something so blatantly associated with mages? Eh, it was nothing. Everyone liked having pets, noblemen took to breeding horses... Or it could just be a cat. That was also possible. A cute cat, but a cat nonetheless.</s>

<|message|>Serrica Francesca Haldblum Even Serrica was feeling bad for Lillian at this point. Not that she hated the girl, but there was not much to say about another high ranking noble if she couldn't get her feelings across. "She's preoccupied wi-- No." Serrica started to state what she figured was obvious before deciding that wasn't the course of action. "Nevermind that, I suppose. You're quite dense, Prince Christopher." The student mentioned before briefly shaking her head and sighing a small bit. "It is thanks to that, however, that I doubt you carry the reputation of a ravenous hound, fret you not." Serrica mentioned with a small shrug. "Perhaps an unintentionally rude or dull one but that aside it does not matter to me. You're still the Crown Prince to me." After saying that much, she turned to Anne. "Ahh, yes. Lady Marielle. I believe that you wanted guidance to a certain place on campus, did you not? Would you still like me to guide you there? I'm still not past trying to recruit you into my group, but I shall ease up until your graduation if you wish."</s>

<|description|>Serrica Francesca Haldblum * Age: 17 * Appearance Serrica carries herself confidently as if she could do no wrong with her tendency to wear beautiful if not expensive dresses that tend to be strong, powerful colors like red and purple. For the majority of her life she's kept her brown hair short though, lately, she's tried to grow it out longer. * Gender: Female * Personality: Serika or Serrica is rather selfish person and carries herself with a sense of superiority over others. If one were to notice her taking an interest in a particular human being outside of social situations, it's quite likely that she has an idea on how to use that individual. She is highly fueled by greed and a wish to be even more rich than she already is. With that in mind, she treats the commoners of her family's territory very well, after all, the success of the common man is the success of her territory. She has invested in more than a couple of merchant groups for a cut of the profits. In social situations much like a party or a ball, she likes to be the center of attention and spreading her influence where she can. Those that pay attention to her, she treats fairly well, those that pay no attention to her are ignored but those that badmouth her tend to have things happen to them, There are rumors that she merely enjoys the company of women and that's why she holds many tea parties and attends as many parties as she can when it's not time for school. * Abilities/Skills: As a noble daughter, Serrica had much education in the domain of proper manners, though admittedly, she has plenty of times where she ignores those lessons when people she dislikes are involved. Sometimes, spending just the right amount of money spent in just the right way can solve those types of problems. She's also very knowledgeable about the fluctuating prices of the market though a lot of this is due to her knowledge of the game more than any formal training. Once again, the right amount of money in the right place is bound to bring forth a great amount of profit. * History: Serika was once a girl from a somewhat poor family. While her family did care for her and did what they could, both her parents had to work constantly to keep up with all their debt, leaving Serika by herself most of the time. Through-out elementary school, she was bullied by a few of the other kids and, once she moved on to middle school, started to do the same to others. Over time, she started to bully kids for their money and figured it was her own way to make money, much like the amount of time her parents spent working. Once in High School, she didn't have any easy targets so she eased on the behavior. Instead, she just felt depressed. She had no friends to the mixture of the bully or be bullied attitude she held towards life and had no real goals towards life besides living. Trying to find her own hope for more in life, she entered a free lottery at a local supermarket where she won a game system and with it an apparently popular game called "Cross Heart Academy". A cursory look at the game made her call it "stupid" but upon actually playing it, she felt herself engrossed with it. Especially in the "Merchant" route of the second half. She learned many of the ins and outs of the game's trading system that she practically was a master at it. One day at school, she insulted one of the popular girls at school for being a "dumbass". After class, she was accosted by some of the girl's friends before getting into a small scuffle and being pushed down a set of stairs… The next thing she knew, she woke up in a fancy bed. It took a small amount of time but she quickly realized that she woke up in the body of the character Serrica Haldblum, a character from Cross Heart Academy! Albeit, she was quite small compared to the scenes in the game. Logically, she had time to settle into her own greedy and selfish very of Serrica Francesca Haldblum. A second, selfish lease on life. * Original Role and Background: In the original story, Serrica was a kind and graceful noble eldest daughter of the Haldblum Ducal family, which even the royal family couldn't just outright ignore. Serrica herself took part in a couple of different routes, typically as an ally of the Heroine. Most notably in a few routes where she used her status to cover for the Heroine after they became friends. * Other:</s> <|message|>Mella Kristelle Mella @Raineh Daze --- She was slightly hoping the shopkeep would refuse and take the bird away. Life could never be so easy, could it? The maid remained quiet, though, keeping the kitten comfortably laying in her arms and the bird perched on her head, doing her best to simply ignore it. Well, at least the cat was...somewhat cute, she supposed. She'd pat its head, giving it a few ear scritches and pets while she'd wait for lord Afah to complete his business. She still needed to do the shopping. Was it still possible to get back and do all the cooking before evening? Hm. More importantly, though... "...How does one take care of this bird?" Mella queried the shopkeeper. "As It is likely my responsibility I have never seen it before, and as such would much appreciate any insight into peculiarities, sir Shopkeeper."</s> <|message|>Elastasia Julienne ... (several extraneous middle names nobody ever remembers follow) de Aquilanne. Ellie to her friends, if they exist. "Um... could you tell me about this kitten?" Elastasia asked, lifting up the offending creature so it was visible. It at least seemed slightly more pliable now, "Is it just a cat...? It seemed to know to go for me when I was keeping a barrier up to hem in the other escapees." It could make an interesting familiar, she supposed. Not that it was the sort of magic that she'd ever shown interest in, but having another pair of eyes to look out for people that might want to interrupt her reading and drag her off to some party... although, it wasn't something that would really harm her social standing in a non-intrusive way. A magical prodigy doing something so blatantly associated with mages? Eh, it was nothing. Everyone liked having pets, noblemen took to breeding horses... Or it could just be a cat. That was also possible. A cute cat, but a cat nonetheless.</s> <|message|>Serrica Francesca Haldblum Even Serrica was feeling bad for Lillian at this point. Not that she hated the girl, but there was not much to say about another high ranking noble if she couldn't get her feelings across. "She's preoccupied wi-- No." Serrica started to state what she figured was obvious before deciding that wasn't the course of action. "Nevermind that, I suppose. You're quite dense, Prince Christopher." The student mentioned before briefly shaking her head and sighing a small bit. "It is thanks to that, however, that I doubt you carry the reputation of a ravenous hound, fret you not." Serrica mentioned with a small shrug. "Perhaps an unintentionally rude or dull one but that aside it does not matter to me. You're still the Crown Prince to me." After saying that much, she turned to Anne. "Ahh, yes. Lady Marielle. I believe that you wanted guidance to a certain place on campus, did you not? Would you still like me to guide you there? I'm still not past trying to recruit you into my group, but I shall ease up until your graduation if you wish."</s> <|message|>Anne Marielle(that's the heroine's name?!) While most of Anne's mind was in a panic, attempting to analyze everything the Prince had said in order to isolate and defend against even the slightest chance of a flag, it wasn't as if she entirely failed to realize the situation. Even if she hadn't played the game before, Lilian's feelings for the Prince were entirely obvious. Her treatment in the Prince's route was one of the reasons it hadn't been her favorite, for that matter. Certainly, she wasn't very nice, but it felt rather harsh for someone who wasn't particularly a genuinely bad person. Anne took a deep breath. "U-um, maybe you could catch up?" she suggested, awkwardly, "S-since it's... er..." She trailed off after a few moments. What did she even say here? Playing matchmaker wasn't her strongsuit at all! Doing it in real life was vastly different from doing it in SRPGs! "Er... and... we can... go let you do that!" As odd as Serrica was acting, it was at least a potential out from a dangerous situation! @Pyromania99</s> <|message|>Reginald von Afah The shopkeeper paused for a moment as he considered the maid's question. "Well, I suppose that the first course of action would be to purchase a cage of sorts for it to live in... But you might not need one, given how comfortable it send to be on your head," he remarked, a slight smirk crossing his face for a moment. "Jokes aside, I've been feeding that one seeds and fruits. It seems to like most anything in that vein—but not bugs. As for the actual care..." Before he could ramble further on about the subject, though, Elastasia chimed in with a question of her own about the cat in her hands—a question he was more than willing to oblige. "Ah, of course. That's an Aomi—a cat we had imported from the far east, and a rare one at that. They're fairly well known for their use of magic in hunting in the wild in the region they come from, though finding one is an adventure in and of itself. As for why it jumped at you... I've heard tales of them being called 'magic eaters', but to be honest, your guess would be as good as mine. If they're hard to find, though, maybe they're juat smart enough to not get caught to begin with?" At this, the cat seemed to turn it's head back towards Elastasia before letting out a half-yawn, half-meow. It didn't seem to mind being held up for diaplay as it was, at least, but being as calm as it was despite the situation... That much certainly set it apart from it's peers, at the very least. @Raineh Daze --- --- "Dense? Rude? That's rather insulting, you know," Christopher responded in turn, his brow furrowed as he shook his head. "If that much is 'rude', I fear what 'polite' should be in your eyes." At that, though, the prince simply sighed and shook his head. "As for catching up... I am sure Miss Meridan has better things to do than speak with me, and forcing her to speak with me when she does not seem to wish to seems rather ill-intentioned at best." If the others wished to leave now, though, Christopher seemed to have no intention of stopping them. It already seemed like Lilian was slowly inching away, trying her hardest to not up and die of what embarrassment she was already being overwhelmed by. @VitaVitaAR</s> <|message|>Elastasia Julienne ... (several extraneous middle names nobody ever remembers follow) de Aquilanne. Ellie to her friends, if they exist. Elastasia A cat from the far east? Well, that was something nostalgic. But if it could be used to find magic users somehow, then that would make her ability to sequester herself somewhere out of the way and read all the easier... if the heroine got interested in magic, then outside of class, there was a chance that they might run into one another. And she would like to avoid any heartbreak from such an obviously-unobtainable figure getting close to her if the girl turned out to be her type after all. This left the noble staring into space for an awkwardly long time, until the shopkeeper coughed and drew her attention back. "Oh, I'm so sorry! Yes, I'd quite like to purchase this kitten, and anything that's needed to look after it..." Well, she didn't have much in the way of money on her, but she could just sign something to handle that. Really, the cost of a single animal was insignificant.</s>

<|message|>Serrica Francesca Haldblum "Yes, I do believe you to be rather dense your Highness. You can't see what treasures you have at hand before you try encroaching on other treasures that have yet to be collected. Consider me insulting all you want, however, if calling you dense marks me as such." Serrica said before sighing. "Just think about my words a small bit. With that, I really must show this young Miss somewhere. Please do conversate with Lady Meridan at convenience." With that, she grabbed Anne by the hand and led her off. After they made some distance from the Prince and Lady Meridan, Serrica took Anne near a place where student activity were a bit higher. If the Prince happened upon them this time, well, it would be easy enough to sic some of the younger girls upon him. With a small breath with the coast being clear, Serrica turned to Anne and released her hand. "So, Lady Marielle, you can take an easy breath now. Though, you seem much too nervous. Is there an issue you're having with the school?" She had to ask, looking the girl straight in the eyes. "Well, we've all but started some short time ago so I'm sure that's not it." The Duke's daughter mentioned, stroking her chin in curiosity.</s>

<|description|>Elia Colden but goes by Eli Lovette "Lifes a hell of a thing to happen to a person" Age:24 Gender(or lack thereof): Female but presents male as its easier to hide What Makes You A Misfit?: Eli is a misfit simply for not understanding nor wanting to hide the only thing she's actually good at. She refuses to keep her 'curse' under wraps to appease her family. Appearance(face claims are allowed, as well as just descriptions): Personality: Towards strangers Eli tends to have her guard up, keeping people at arm's length with snark and sarcasm but when you get to know her, she's basically an orange cat in a black cat's body. Seems all spooky and intimidating but is actually rather..well she's a bit of a ditzy dumbass. No common sense, maybe two brain cells and full of chaos. However, when she cares for someone, she's fiercely protective, will go above and beyond to make her people happy and won't hesitate to hunt those who even think about hurting her friends. Skills/Abilities: Eli grew up in a very rich, very well-to-do family. They made damn sure she knows how to act and behave around those with status and money. She's developed the ability to hide in plain sight, managing to blend into crowds and slip away. She's also rather good at being able to determine if a building or area is safe to hide in and for how long it'll be safe to stay. In her time on the run, she also picked up a few, typical runaway skills like pickpocketing and such along with hustling people in card games. The whole 'I've never played before go easy on me' routine helped Eli more than she'd like to admit Powers/Magic: Eli's magic, or curse if you ask her parents, is essentially plasma. She can summon a gooey sort of substance from surrounding life, like plants and control it. She tends to use it mostly as projectiles, throwing the goo at cameras to block them, at guns to jam them, that sort of thing. However it can be used in other ways, before now she's used it to bust open a lock from the inside, she's used it to put pressure on one of her more serious injuries and she's used it to soften her fall when tumbling off a roof. Backstory(Optional): Elia grew up in your typical rich home, her father constantly away at his government job and her mother too busy being a socialite to care for her daughter. She did okay at school, had a couple of friends, and lived her life. When Elia turned 16, she discovered her powers and, not really knowing any better, headed right to tell her mother. Her mother was horrified, sobbing about her daughter being cursed and how could this happen to their family. Elia didn't understand what was so wrong about her gift until her father explained she would be 'going away' for a little bit and they'd fix her, make her normal. Elia wasn't that naive, she knew what it meant to be sent away by someone from the government and like hell was she about the vanish into thin air. She waited until nightfall, packed a few sentimental things then vanished into the night. Elia turned herself into Eli and vowed to never see her parents again. RP Sample(Optional; helps me to see a glimpse of how your character acts): Eli swore loudly as he ran, feet pounding on the floor hard. He wasn't sure how but he'd managed to catch the eye of some local cops. "Fuuck! I need to figure out how to stop my plasma from glowing." He scanned his surroundings as he sped down the dank alley, looking for something. A grin spread across his face when his eyes landed on exactly what he needed. He pushed an open palm at the wall of the building to his left, and a ball of plasma seeped up from the ground where weeds had managed to grow. Eli turned on heel and jumped onto the plasma, the goo giving him the bounce he needed to grab the fire escape ladder that was a ways above the ground. He scurried up the ladder, glancing down at the cops who'd clearly decided he wasn't worth the chase up a building. He laughed breathlessly to himself and gave the cops a final fuck you with his middle fingers before securing over the open onto the roof and out of sight</s> <|message|>Elia Colden but goes by Eli Lovette Eli laughed at the new look of the truck, finding immense enjoyment from it. "Oh my gods, this truck looks amazing. Great job B!" He grinned and leaned over the other side of the truck to talk to Thulie. "Oh hell yes. Candy floss is one of the like, staples of theme parks. I'll buy you some if you like Lele" He assured. "And I can show you which rides aren't too scary"</s> <|message|>Audrey Robinson Thank God no one settled for the small town, Audrey had enough of small towns to last a lifetime. Going to an amusement park sounded like a great time. Lots of people, great food, tons of rides, loads of activities and the latter. She noticed Bai had camouflaged the truck giving it a new paint job and an interesting sign with a kitten on it "well at least it won't draw any attention" she said. Bai was still a mystery to her. Everyone else checked out, Vincent, Thullie, and Eli seemed as close to normal as the definition would allow, but she couldn't really make heads or tails of Bai. It didn't bother her too much, she was apart of this ragtag group like everyone else and that meant she was family. She put her book down and stretched out her legs and stretched her arms as far as they would go. "Don't worry Thullie, we'll make sure you get as much as you can handle" she mentioned. Thullie was a fairly new addition to the band of merry runaways.....well...they were all new. "Hey, you think they'll have funnel cake there?" She asked.</s> <|message|>Vincent Ryder Vincent --- --- "Oh, come on, this old girl's gotten me out of too many scrapes to just abandon her," Vincent said as he patted his door again. "I've got the skills to keep her running for a while longer. Now, as for evil clowns, on the other hand, I'm kinda hoping for something like that." He grinned and single-handedly cracked the knuckles of his left hand as he added, "Been way too long since I was able to cut loose. Gotta make sure I don't get rusty." As he finished speaking, the truck shimmered as Bai cast an illusion over the vehicle, turning giving it the form of a construction truck, the logo of which featured a kitten for some strange reason. He shrugged, having never been one to fret over little things like that. Sure, it wasn't his first choice of design, but since Bai was the only one who could disguise the truck, he felt it was only fair she decided on how it looked. He flipped his sunglasses back down onto his face, brought the truck into the next gear, and added, "Oh, they better have funnel cake or else it's not a park worth going to. That and those rigged booth games. Sure, I end up wasting all my cash on them because there's no way in hell I'm letting those cheats get the best of me, but a theme park not having one of those just doesn't sound right." After a few moments, Vincent asked, "So, new girl, what's your name?"</s> <|message|>Thulile SaintMaurice IC: THULILE Her little band of misfits was colorful to say the least, but the friendly banter that went around the car made Thuly feel at home. 'Well, except for the lack of French of course', she grinned. The grin broadened to a smile, which made her white teeth flash brightly in the darkness of her face. "Yummm…", Thulile salivated, "all the candy…err…floss I can eat? Superb!" Looking at Eli, she wondered about the scary rides. She'd seen pictures and YouTube films, and compared to her life they weren't likely to spook her. Still, a guide to the parks would be a good thing. As Audrey mentioned funnel cake, Thuly chuckled. It seemed to her that their crew had an unnatural fixation on food. 'Especially, on the unhealthy kind!' Well, her companions were unnatural in many ways, this was just another of their quirks. "Funnel cake? What's that? Never seen or tasted that", she admitted. Those theme parks promised to have lots of new experiences in store for her. Thulile wondered how long it would take to get there. At least Bai made sure that they didn't attract any unwanted attention to them.</s> <|message|>Elia Colden but goes by Eli Lovette Eli snorted a laugh. "Come on Vinnie, you'll break a hip if you're not careful." He teased. He'd taken to picking on Vinnie for being a few years older than himself. Eli nodded at Audrey. "Oh they better. I'll be really pissed off if they don't." Looking back over the side of the truck he grinned. "Theme parks are normally really packed with small animals like birds and rodents, right ReyRey?"</s> <|message|>Lucile "Lucy" O'Connor Lucile "Lucy" O'Connor Lucy was sitting in between two of the females inside the truck. But she didn't really say much. Mostly listening to their conversation, wondering if she could hear some useful information. But mostly they were talking about an amusement park. She had read about places like this but had never been to one herself. She had not been outside of Area 66 ever since she was a baby, so she did not know much about the outside world. A part of her was excited to experience something that would be fun. "My name is Lucy." She spoke in a soft sounding voice. "What else is in the amusement park?" She didn't want to sound stupid for not knowing what an amusement park was, So wording her question differently would not make the others think less of her. Reading the minds of the others in the truck, wanting to know what information she could find. But rationalizing it by wanting to know more about them. People in the truck more attuned mentally, could notice Lucy trying to read their minds. The rat in her pocket poked his head out, "I wonder if they know if this amusement park has any cheese?" Lucy assured them that the amusement park would have something for him to eat. And hopefully something she could eat. She had not eaten anything since before her escape. The thought of her being caught was starting to fill her mind. She would have to fight if these people would try to hand her to the police.</s> <|message|>Audrey Robinson "Mmmmm, small animals are more county and state fair territory, but it's possible they might" She said. Her hometown used to hold county fairs every year. She remembered going to them as a kid and visiting the petting zoos they had. As she finished answering Eli's question , she heard Thuly ask about funnel cakes, what they were and what they tasted like and shot up like a lightning bolt at her question "you've never had funnel cake, well you are in for a treat" she said. Before they could take off, the band of misfits were gifted with a new passenger. A young girl with an interesting haircut. She seemed of the shy sort as she introduced herself as Lucy and asked about the amusement parks. "Audrey" she mentioned with a warm smile "oh, you know, rides, food, games, and other junk."</s> <|message|>Vincent Ryder Vincent --- --- Vincent barked out a laugh at Eli's playful barb and held his hand out of the window, with which he extended a certain finger in his general direction. He pulled his arm back into the truck then, to Lucy, he grinned and said, "I'm Vincent. Pretty much the designated mechanic around here.. You could say I've got a way with this old girl. As for funnel cake..." He thought for a moment before continuing, "It's basically deep-fried ropes of batter, usually with powdered sugar sprinkled on it or whatever else you wanna use. Fairs and theme parks usually keep it pretty simple, though. God, now I could go for some funnel cake with chocolate and strawberries. Not knocking fairground funnel cake, but next time I get a hold of some batter, I'll show you guys what good funnel cake tastes like." As his mouth watered at the thought of the deep-fried goodness, a song began to play on the radio that Vincent liked, so he turned the volume up a bit higher. He hadn't been traveling with this group very long, having mostly wandered on his own for a little over half of his life, but it was something he had gotten used to by that point. It was nice having people to banter and joke with. More than that, though, it was nice knowing there were people at his back when things got rough. Sure, he didn't know much about any of them and that was fine, given that he had things he'd rather not talk about, himself, and as far as he was concerned, you didn't need to know someone's life story to trust them.</s> <|message|>Bai Yue (White Moon) Bai Yue Listening to those around her wasn't Bai yue's thing. Sure she paid attention with a tiny portion of her brain her multiplexed logic handling several tasks at once as she manipulated the air elements to create small will-o-wisps, 30 or more that were so weak they collapsed the moment they struck any of the objects she aimed them at. It was like most things she did when bored training, she had to because as a freak she was easy to spot by the magically inclined if she wasn't actively concealing her presence. "Don't worry too much about it an amusement park of any type it's the real money maker. you see something I'll get it for you" Bai yue the girl most likely to steal</s> <|message|>Lucile "Lucy" O'Connor Lucile "Lucy" O'Connor Lucy shrugged her shoulders, thinking that all of that sounded very good. But not something she was particularly excited for. The mouse in her pocket suggested she could take a break and have some fun. "But I have to find my family and….give some payback to those bastards that hurt me…" Lucy communicated all of this mentally to her rat buddy. Reading the minds of the others, she was mildly disturbed by the images of Bai Yue's mind. Feeling nauseous trying to figure out what she's thinking. She had to quickly jump to the mind of Vincent. Which included him fighting a bunch of people, and weirdly enough dogs that were playing around the battlefield. "What have I gotten myself into." She thought shaking her head. The people in the truck could prove useful to her mission. "So why are you guys going to Eureka City?" She finally asked. From what she had gathered reading their minds, it seems most of them were on the run. With various degrees of magical or superhuman abilities. Although she was not going to reveal more about herself just yet.</s>

<|message|>Elia Colden but goes by Eli Lovette Eli's mind, although a little chaotic sometimes, was usually a semi-happy place. He took pleasure in the little thing, the fun of standing up on the truck as it moved, the wind in his hair, the little nicknames he gave people. At that time, his mind was stuck on the theme parks. Which rides would Vinnie agree to go on? Getting candy floss for Lele and funnelcake with Rey. It was clear most of his thoughts were of his friends, though occasionally there was a flash. An angry, stony face of an older man in a lab coat telling Eli just how disappointed he was.</s>

<|description|>Audrey Robinson Age: 23 Gender(or lack thereof): Female What Makes You A Misfit?: She's well....A straight up witch hiding from the government Appearance(face claims are allowed, as well as just descriptions): Personality: To her friends Audrey is as sweet as she can be and nurturing to everyone she considers dear to her. Whether they need a shoulder to cry on, someone to come to their defense, or just needing some support via encouraging words or a kick in the pants, she'll be there. That nurturing mentality also comes with a bit of playful cheekiness that comes out in the form of either sarcastic jokes or playful sass. She is the mom friend in almost every sense of the word and while she will not do everything a mother does, she worry about those closest to her. Aside from the doting mother part of her personality, she is quite the lover of sarcasm and facetiousness often choosing to a lot of situations with humor. Her sarcasm and facetiousness are only matched by her easy going nature which she maintains about seventy-five percent of the time. Skills/Abilities: Audrey's father used to take her and her brother hunting and fishing, so there's that. She is also not a slouch when it comes to cooking. Powers/Magic: Audrey's magic belongs to the abjuration side and can be noticed by the glowing of her sleeve tattoo. She can make magical barriers and shields that can be used for defense as well as support others by augmenting speed, strength, etc. through enchantments or by sabatouring someone with the same methods. She calls forth magical sigils that cover her or her allies in any direction she chooses, she can also block pathways and use her barriers in other unique ways as well. Her enchantments work by speaking either a single word or with a spell. The full blown spells tend to last longer than the single word ones. Backstory(Optional): Audrey grew up in a small town where everyone knew everyone and tourists or drifters were a very big deal. Trees were everywhere and the lakes were big and blue. She was the eldest daughter of two with her younger brother being just a baby when she was younger. She was fifteen when she discovered she had magic after defending one of her friends from a bear attack while out at the lake. Normally bears wouldn't bother anyone unless given reason to and unfortunately this bear had reason. There was a cave by the lake that had recently been moved into unbeknownst to them and unfortunately the cave was by the lake. They were in its territory and it attacked. This was around the time when the government had started cracking down on magical beings and around the time when her whole life would change. That night her parents got a phone call and were told about what her daughter had done and what would happen next. The rest of the night as Audrey would hate to remember it would be filled with screaming, arguing, crying, and lots of angry outbursts. Instead of sticking up for their daughter, they decided to give her up out of fear. While the government wasted no time in getting there, they would find her already gone. She had escaped out her window and made her way to the bus station. She would spend the next seven years on the run RP Sample(Optional; helps me to see a glimpse of how your character acts): "Fuck"! She shouted as she sprinted down the alley way. "There she is, you better count your blessings while they last girlie, your lucks gonna run out soon enough" To be chased by a group of muggers was bad enough, but to be chased by muggers who found out she could use magic was even worse. "The government's gonna pay us a fortune for handing you over" They screamed. Audrey flew past the narrow path knocking down as much stuff to try and slow them down all the while cursing herself out in her head and out of her head. "Great plan Audrey, you stupid jackass! Use magic, cause it's worked out for you SO many times". She was lucky they hadn't just called the police and told them what they were chasing after, she would have had had to deal with evading the police as well as the agents they sent. After what seemed like a while of running, she came to a fork in the alley way "almost free, almost free" "She can't have gotten far, find her!" She heard them shout. She had no time to think and cut left down the path, but before she did, she thought about leaving them a little present. She waved her hands circularly and extended them forward as the tattoo sleeve on her arm glowed bringing forth a barrier that blocked the path. The barrier wouldn't last all day, but it would give her time to increase the lead she had on her pursuers. She bolted as fast as she could down the path and eventually lead her into a crowded area "Perfect" she exclaimed to herself. If there was one thing she learned from being on the run, it was how to hide in plain sight. She took off full sprint into the crowd and hoped for the best as she made her way slowly through the sea of people.</s> <|message|>Elia Colden but goes by Eli Lovette Eli instantly felt bad, he'd taken a liking to Thulie and he always felt guilty for spooking her. "Sorry. I'm sure it'll be fine. and with the time of year, the theme parks will probably be pretty empty." He backtracked, hoping if he mentioned the lack of crowds she'd feel a bit more at ease. Eli had never had a family. Not a real one anyway. This little ragtag group was the closest thing and he'd taken to Thulie like a little sister with how young she was.</s> <|message|>Bai Yue (White Moon) Bai Yue Bai yue smiled at the thought of an evil circus having once been a brief member of a freak show because it was the easiest place for her to hide in her early days. Snapping her fingers she made the truck appear to be a small construction truck nice paint job with the members of a family business aboard, she was one of those magnetic signs sitting on the roof her illusion solid because she gave it as simple an overlay as she could. The sign red promising a delighted Kitty an making sure very few paid attention to where she flew just above the truck tethered to a small suction cup holding a string with her right as she munched on some form of candy. She was as she sat in the best point of view on the truck untouched by winds because she was an elemental, at least that was her new course in life. She seemed to be showing off when all the while she was using the trip as a practice session an exercise. As the truck moved she manipulated the airstream just about six feet out an centered 3 feet off the ground. The effect was the old beat up machine sliced through the air with an ease the finest formula one car could manage, also as a result sand, dust, debris, and insect were caught in the pressure wave an deflected away for them. The candy was her fuel in this exercise. "I don't bet on things like fate, fate has a booty fetish for that sort of thought" giggles as she grabs a local dust devil making it vanish adding it to the trailing wave of the air pocket pinching it till it made a forlorn moan</s> <|message|>Thulile SaintMaurice THULILE She just didn't get Bai. Thuly wasn't able to see past her illusions and had often been taken by surprise lately as Bai decided to reappear suddenly. It unnerved Thulile. Still, she did respect Bai Yue heaps, so she tried to keep her neck hairs from rising as her voice abruptly emerged from thin air and addressed Eli. 'Eli', she thought, 'isn't he just a doll? He fusses over me and tries to help me whenever he can'. Thuly really liked him. She'd appreciated how he'd accepted her right of the bat and how he was treating her like his little sister. He gave her the impression that he'd go through extremes to keep her save. That felt really good! "Sorry. I'm sure it'll be fine. and with the time of year, the theme parks will probably be pretty empty." Eli's words, although feeling slightly forced, made Thuly calmer. In an added attempt to rid the air of any premonition of doom, Thulile asked: "Do you think they have barbe à papa? I mean candy cotton?"</s> <|message|>Elia Colden but goes by Eli Lovette Eli laughed at the new look of the truck, finding immense enjoyment from it. "Oh my gods, this truck looks amazing. Great job B!" He grinned and leaned over the other side of the truck to talk to Thulie. "Oh hell yes. Candy floss is one of the like, staples of theme parks. I'll buy you some if you like Lele" He assured. "And I can show you which rides aren't too scary"</s> <|message|>Audrey Robinson Thank God no one settled for the small town, Audrey had enough of small towns to last a lifetime. Going to an amusement park sounded like a great time. Lots of people, great food, tons of rides, loads of activities and the latter. She noticed Bai had camouflaged the truck giving it a new paint job and an interesting sign with a kitten on it "well at least it won't draw any attention" she said. Bai was still a mystery to her. Everyone else checked out, Vincent, Thullie, and Eli seemed as close to normal as the definition would allow, but she couldn't really make heads or tails of Bai. It didn't bother her too much, she was apart of this ragtag group like everyone else and that meant she was family. She put her book down and stretched out her legs and stretched her arms as far as they would go. "Don't worry Thullie, we'll make sure you get as much as you can handle" she mentioned. Thullie was a fairly new addition to the band of merry runaways.....well...they were all new. "Hey, you think they'll have funnel cake there?" She asked.</s> <|message|>Vincent Ryder Vincent --- --- "Oh, come on, this old girl's gotten me out of too many scrapes to just abandon her," Vincent said as he patted his door again. "I've got the skills to keep her running for a while longer. Now, as for evil clowns, on the other hand, I'm kinda hoping for something like that." He grinned and single-handedly cracked the knuckles of his left hand as he added, "Been way too long since I was able to cut loose. Gotta make sure I don't get rusty." As he finished speaking, the truck shimmered as Bai cast an illusion over the vehicle, turning giving it the form of a construction truck, the logo of which featured a kitten for some strange reason. He shrugged, having never been one to fret over little things like that. Sure, it wasn't his first choice of design, but since Bai was the only one who could disguise the truck, he felt it was only fair she decided on how it looked. He flipped his sunglasses back down onto his face, brought the truck into the next gear, and added, "Oh, they better have funnel cake or else it's not a park worth going to. That and those rigged booth games. Sure, I end up wasting all my cash on them because there's no way in hell I'm letting those cheats get the best of me, but a theme park not having one of those just doesn't sound right." After a few moments, Vincent asked, "So, new girl, what's your name?"</s> <|message|>Thulile SaintMaurice IC: THULILE Her little band of misfits was colorful to say the least, but the friendly banter that went around the car made Thuly feel at home. 'Well, except for the lack of French of course', she grinned. The grin broadened to a smile, which made her white teeth flash brightly in the darkness of her face. "Yummm…", Thulile salivated, "all the candy…err…floss I can eat? Superb!" Looking at Eli, she wondered about the scary rides. She'd seen pictures and YouTube films, and compared to her life they weren't likely to spook her. Still, a guide to the parks would be a good thing. As Audrey mentioned funnel cake, Thuly chuckled. It seemed to her that their crew had an unnatural fixation on food. 'Especially, on the unhealthy kind!' Well, her companions were unnatural in many ways, this was just another of their quirks. "Funnel cake? What's that? Never seen or tasted that", she admitted. Those theme parks promised to have lots of new experiences in store for her. Thulile wondered how long it would take to get there. At least Bai made sure that they didn't attract any unwanted attention to them.</s> <|message|>Elia Colden but goes by Eli Lovette Eli snorted a laugh. "Come on Vinnie, you'll break a hip if you're not careful." He teased. He'd taken to picking on Vinnie for being a few years older than himself. Eli nodded at Audrey. "Oh they better. I'll be really pissed off if they don't." Looking back over the side of the truck he grinned. "Theme parks are normally really packed with small animals like birds and rodents, right ReyRey?"</s> <|message|>Lucile "Lucy" O'Connor Lucile "Lucy" O'Connor Lucy was sitting in between two of the females inside the truck. But she didn't really say much. Mostly listening to their conversation, wondering if she could hear some useful information. But mostly they were talking about an amusement park. She had read about places like this but had never been to one herself. She had not been outside of Area 66 ever since she was a baby, so she did not know much about the outside world. A part of her was excited to experience something that would be fun. "My name is Lucy." She spoke in a soft sounding voice. "What else is in the amusement park?" She didn't want to sound stupid for not knowing what an amusement park was, So wording her question differently would not make the others think less of her. Reading the minds of the others in the truck, wanting to know what information she could find. But rationalizing it by wanting to know more about them. People in the truck more attuned mentally, could notice Lucy trying to read their minds. The rat in her pocket poked his head out, "I wonder if they know if this amusement park has any cheese?" Lucy assured them that the amusement park would have something for him to eat. And hopefully something she could eat. She had not eaten anything since before her escape. The thought of her being caught was starting to fill her mind. She would have to fight if these people would try to hand her to the police.</s>

<|message|>Audrey Robinson "Mmmmm, small animals are more county and state fair territory, but it's possible they might" She said. Her hometown used to hold county fairs every year. She remembered going to them as a kid and visiting the petting zoos they had. As she finished answering Eli's question , she heard Thuly ask about funnel cakes, what they were and what they tasted like and shot up like a lightning bolt at her question "you've never had funnel cake, well you are in for a treat" she said. Before they could take off, the band of misfits were gifted with a new passenger. A young girl with an interesting haircut. She seemed of the shy sort as she introduced herself as Lucy and asked about the amusement parks. "Audrey" she mentioned with a warm smile "oh, you know, rides, food, games, and other junk."</s>

<|description|>Lucile "Lucy" O'Connor Age: 19 Gender(or lack thereof): Female What Makes You A Misfit?: Lucy is a former subject of a government experiment, having escaped from the facility recently. Appearance(face claims are allowed, as well as just descriptions): Lucy stands at 5'3 weighing around 136 pounds. Her hair is golden platinum cut, and short in certain spots. Her eyes are bright blue with one of her pupils larger than the other. Her facial features are thin also if she had not eaten for some time. She has a tattoo of a butterfly and a series of numbers below the butterfly tattoo. These tattoos are located on her right hand underneath her wrist. Wearing blue overalls, with a white shirt underneath. Pink running shoes, and on her left hand a watch with a cartoon mouse on it. Picture- Personality: Lucy is very weary of people, not engaging with them unless it is necessary. Being scared that she will be betrayed by the people she interacts with. She has a child like an approach when it comes to her surroundings, being curious about how things work. This is also a detriment, as she is quite naive about the world around her. Because of her upbringing, she is not very knowledgeable about social skills and norms. She is very emotional and is known to become angry quite easily. Being willing to kill or go to extreme lengths to complete her goal. She is very protective of animals and children, showing more anger towards child and animal abusers. Lucy has very little self confidence and is always looking for validation from others. Lucy can come across as rude, saying things that would be quite offensive to other people. Skills/Abilities: Lucy is skilled in her knowledge of the human body and how to really harm someone if she wanted to. Lucy is a quick learner, having a knack for solving puzzles. Lucy is knowledgeable in math and science. Powers/Magic: Lucy has telekinesis, the ability to manipulate or otherwise interact with matter or another aspect of a physical system through non-physical means. Commonly, its most fundamental trait is to move and control objects (or to generate and apply physical force on a target, or potentially, an area) without physical contact. The weakness of this power for Lucy is that she needs help controlling her powers, which can cause many accidents for those around her. Lucy has the ability to transmit information from one person to another through mental means. However, many other mind-based abilities fall under telepathy due to those powers overlapping with the core concept of telepathy. Some of the more common abilities also considered telepathy would be reading the thoughts of others at will and detecting the presence of other minds through extrasensory means A weakness of this power, is that she can become overwhelmed by people's emotions/thoughts. Lucy has a tertiary ability to be able to communicate with people telepathically. Backstory(Optional): Lucy was born via artificial insemination, her mother being a powerful witch named Morgana. Morgana was suspended in stasis, after being found in England. Conducting tests on her, and trying to find a way to awaken her but to no success. During the course of her life, she was given mental tests, as well as surgeries and other forms of torture to test her psychic abilities. At some point, she befriended one of the head scientists along with the other test subjects. One of the head scientists was a man named Metzgerei. She considered him a father figure. Her powers were developing at a rapid rate, and impressing many of the other scientists in the project. However, the main head scientist a man named Dr. Yang, wanted to turn Lucy into a weapon for the government. The experiments soon become more intense and traumatising for Lucy. Escaping from Area 66 during a riot, With her newfound freedom, she searches for the family that abandoned her. And to hunt down Yang and the other scientist that experimented on her. RP Sample(Optional; helps me to see a glimpse of how your character acts): Lucy was sitting silently inside a room, in front of her was a wooden puzzle box. She was tasked with solving the box in the span of seven mins. Sitting in front of her was a pudgy doctor, who was writing extensively on a notepad. The punishment for not solving the puzzle in time would be given a painful shock. The puzzle itself was quite easy for her, and the added pressure of her being shocked motivated them to work quickly. She was ignoring the eye contact from the pudgy doctor. Just wanting to get this test over and done with. After a while, she placed the completed puzzle on the desk. Having done all of this with just her mind. "Good, we will move to the next part of the test." He motioned towards another scientist in the room. The scientist made his way toward the table, placing a rat inside of a cage on the table. "I want you to use your mind, to kill this rat. If you refuse this test then you will be shocked, and given no food for the day." Lucy looked up at the scientist, She felt she did not have a choice in taking part in this test. She could feel the rat was not really into being murdered by her. She was not too keen on the test either. Concentrating on the cage, the small metal cage slowly lifting up, the door being unlocked and Lucy quickly grabbing the rat. The scientist was not alert and was curious about what was going to happen next. Placing the rat on her shoulder, she used her powers to bend parts of the metal cage. Letting some of the metal bars jet out toward the fat scientist. In a flash, the cage slammed into the man's chest. Sending him flying backwards, luckily it was not lethal. But the scientist was going to be in a lot of pain. Turning her head towards the double-sided mirror on one side of the room. "Done." She spoke in a very cold and distant sounding voice. She knew what they were thinking, and she was going to make her intentions clear. She was going to murder all of them.</s> <|message|>Vincent Ryder Vincent --- --- "Oh, come on, this old girl's gotten me out of too many scrapes to just abandon her," Vincent said as he patted his door again. "I've got the skills to keep her running for a while longer. Now, as for evil clowns, on the other hand, I'm kinda hoping for something like that." He grinned and single-handedly cracked the knuckles of his left hand as he added, "Been way too long since I was able to cut loose. Gotta make sure I don't get rusty." As he finished speaking, the truck shimmered as Bai cast an illusion over the vehicle, turning giving it the form of a construction truck, the logo of which featured a kitten for some strange reason. He shrugged, having never been one to fret over little things like that. Sure, it wasn't his first choice of design, but since Bai was the only one who could disguise the truck, he felt it was only fair she decided on how it looked. He flipped his sunglasses back down onto his face, brought the truck into the next gear, and added, "Oh, they better have funnel cake or else it's not a park worth going to. That and those rigged booth games. Sure, I end up wasting all my cash on them because there's no way in hell I'm letting those cheats get the best of me, but a theme park not having one of those just doesn't sound right." After a few moments, Vincent asked, "So, new girl, what's your name?"</s> <|message|>Thulile SaintMaurice IC: THULILE Her little band of misfits was colorful to say the least, but the friendly banter that went around the car made Thuly feel at home. 'Well, except for the lack of French of course', she grinned. The grin broadened to a smile, which made her white teeth flash brightly in the darkness of her face. "Yummm…", Thulile salivated, "all the candy…err…floss I can eat? Superb!" Looking at Eli, she wondered about the scary rides. She'd seen pictures and YouTube films, and compared to her life they weren't likely to spook her. Still, a guide to the parks would be a good thing. As Audrey mentioned funnel cake, Thuly chuckled. It seemed to her that their crew had an unnatural fixation on food. 'Especially, on the unhealthy kind!' Well, her companions were unnatural in many ways, this was just another of their quirks. "Funnel cake? What's that? Never seen or tasted that", she admitted. Those theme parks promised to have lots of new experiences in store for her. Thulile wondered how long it would take to get there. At least Bai made sure that they didn't attract any unwanted attention to them.</s> <|message|>Elia Colden but goes by Eli Lovette Eli snorted a laugh. "Come on Vinnie, you'll break a hip if you're not careful." He teased. He'd taken to picking on Vinnie for being a few years older than himself. Eli nodded at Audrey. "Oh they better. I'll be really pissed off if they don't." Looking back over the side of the truck he grinned. "Theme parks are normally really packed with small animals like birds and rodents, right ReyRey?"</s> <|message|>Lucile "Lucy" O'Connor Lucile "Lucy" O'Connor Lucy was sitting in between two of the females inside the truck. But she didn't really say much. Mostly listening to their conversation, wondering if she could hear some useful information. But mostly they were talking about an amusement park. She had read about places like this but had never been to one herself. She had not been outside of Area 66 ever since she was a baby, so she did not know much about the outside world. A part of her was excited to experience something that would be fun. "My name is Lucy." She spoke in a soft sounding voice. "What else is in the amusement park?" She didn't want to sound stupid for not knowing what an amusement park was, So wording her question differently would not make the others think less of her. Reading the minds of the others in the truck, wanting to know what information she could find. But rationalizing it by wanting to know more about them. People in the truck more attuned mentally, could notice Lucy trying to read their minds. The rat in her pocket poked his head out, "I wonder if they know if this amusement park has any cheese?" Lucy assured them that the amusement park would have something for him to eat. And hopefully something she could eat. She had not eaten anything since before her escape. The thought of her being caught was starting to fill her mind. She would have to fight if these people would try to hand her to the police.</s> <|message|>Audrey Robinson "Mmmmm, small animals are more county and state fair territory, but it's possible they might" She said. Her hometown used to hold county fairs every year. She remembered going to them as a kid and visiting the petting zoos they had. As she finished answering Eli's question , she heard Thuly ask about funnel cakes, what they were and what they tasted like and shot up like a lightning bolt at her question "you've never had funnel cake, well you are in for a treat" she said. Before they could take off, the band of misfits were gifted with a new passenger. A young girl with an interesting haircut. She seemed of the shy sort as she introduced herself as Lucy and asked about the amusement parks. "Audrey" she mentioned with a warm smile "oh, you know, rides, food, games, and other junk."</s> <|message|>Vincent Ryder Vincent --- --- Vincent barked out a laugh at Eli's playful barb and held his hand out of the window, with which he extended a certain finger in his general direction. He pulled his arm back into the truck then, to Lucy, he grinned and said, "I'm Vincent. Pretty much the designated mechanic around here.. You could say I've got a way with this old girl. As for funnel cake..." He thought for a moment before continuing, "It's basically deep-fried ropes of batter, usually with powdered sugar sprinkled on it or whatever else you wanna use. Fairs and theme parks usually keep it pretty simple, though. God, now I could go for some funnel cake with chocolate and strawberries. Not knocking fairground funnel cake, but next time I get a hold of some batter, I'll show you guys what good funnel cake tastes like." As his mouth watered at the thought of the deep-fried goodness, a song began to play on the radio that Vincent liked, so he turned the volume up a bit higher. He hadn't been traveling with this group very long, having mostly wandered on his own for a little over half of his life, but it was something he had gotten used to by that point. It was nice having people to banter and joke with. More than that, though, it was nice knowing there were people at his back when things got rough. Sure, he didn't know much about any of them and that was fine, given that he had things he'd rather not talk about, himself, and as far as he was concerned, you didn't need to know someone's life story to trust them.</s> <|message|>Bai Yue (White Moon) Bai Yue Listening to those around her wasn't Bai yue's thing. Sure she paid attention with a tiny portion of her brain her multiplexed logic handling several tasks at once as she manipulated the air elements to create small will-o-wisps, 30 or more that were so weak they collapsed the moment they struck any of the objects she aimed them at. It was like most things she did when bored training, she had to because as a freak she was easy to spot by the magically inclined if she wasn't actively concealing her presence. "Don't worry too much about it an amusement park of any type it's the real money maker. you see something I'll get it for you" Bai yue the girl most likely to steal</s>

<|message|>Lucile "Lucy" O'Connor Lucy shrugged her shoulders, thinking that all of that sounded very good. But not something she was particularly excited for. The mouse in her pocket suggested she could take a break and have some fun. "But I have to find my family and….give some payback to those bastards that hurt me…" Lucy communicated all of this mentally to her rat buddy. Reading the minds of the others, she was mildly disturbed by the images of Bai Yue's mind. Feeling nauseous trying to figure out what she's thinking. She had to quickly jump to the mind of Vincent. Which included him fighting a bunch of people, and weirdly enough dogs that were playing around the battlefield. "What have I gotten myself into." She thought shaking her head. The people in the truck could prove useful to her mission. "So why are you guys going to Eureka City?" She finally asked. From what she had gathered reading their minds, it seems most of them were on the run. With various degrees of magical or superhuman abilities. Although she was not going to reveal more about herself just yet.</s>

<|description|>Asa Mist "I'm always here to help. What else would I do?" Age: 27 Gender: Male What Makes You A Misfit?: Asa is an expelled medical student who is illegally providing magical medical aid Appearance: Asa stands at six feet tall, with a slim build. His skin is sea blue in color, without any blemishes. He has eyes that are a soft violet, while his hair is the green of seaweed, falling just down to his shoulders. Asa wears a variety of clothing as he is not picky and likes to experiment. Since he started traveling around the country, Asa has been getting most of his clothes from thrift stores. Personality: Asa is a very determined individual, always working toward a goal. For most of his life, that goal has been increasing his magical abilities and using them to help others. He tends to care more about others than himself, often to his own personal detriment. Asa is usually quick to trust, has a very optimistic view of the world. He is opposed to using his skills or magic for harm, though he has never been pressed into a situation where he was forced to do so. Asa is also an animal lover, having grown up in a home with many pets. Skills/Abilities: Asa was an excellent student, excelling in most classes. However his focus was on biology and medicine, as he was in the making to become a great doctor before he was expelled. Asa also did kick boxing as a way to stay in shape, but he has never had to use it as he would only use it defense. As a Water Elemental, Asa is a skilled swimmer. He also likes making craft projects as a hobby. Powers/Magic: As a Water Elemental, Asa naturally can use water magic. While nearby a body of water, he can change its flow, pressure, and even cause it to raise into the air. But he is limited to only water that already exists. Most of Asa's magical studies have been into healing magic, so he is something of an expert. By touching his hands on someone, Asa can heal wounds and remove minor diseases or poisons. It is technically possible to use this power to harm someone, but Asa has never tried this. Using any of these magics drains Asa's innate energy, meaning that using it too much at once will leave him unable to use any magic until his energy recharges. Backstory: Born in the Great Lakes region of Canada, Asa was born into the Mist clan, an old family of Water Elementals native to the area. As a child, Asa manifested the water controlling magic that comes naturally to Elementals of his kind. However, his family taught Asa to control his magic and only use it in emergencies, as to not draw the ire of the government and its restrictions on magic use. Still, Asa grew in power, inadvertently using his magic a few times, but luckily nothing ever came of it. Once Asa started school, he was exposed to people without magic. He realized how blessed he was to have magic, so he decided to use it to help others. By the time Asa was the age for picking a future career, he decided on becoming a doctor. A High Elf teacher would take notice of Asa's budding skill and begin to secretly train him in the ways of healing magic. However, the teacher would be fired after another student he was training in magic reported him to his parents. Asa would take this event very hard, retreating into his studies. But in secret, he would continue training with his magic. By the time he reached high school, Asa was a proficient mage. Asa would graduate with honors, deciding to attend university in the United States. This choice would come from the fact that this school had prototype medical robots that would assist with medicine. Asa would be assigned a robot named TQ-58, which he began to call Tiku, quickly becoming fond of it. With the help of Tiku, Asa would excel at medical school. However on the side, Asa would work at an illegal medical clinic, offering healing magic to the poor for free. This action would feel right for Asa. Eventually, the clinic would be raided by the government, the doctors working there arrested. Through the help of his family, Asa would be released but was expelled from medical school. In a fit of rage, Asa trashed his school and stole Tiku. He then hit the road, driving around in his old car, offering free medical aid to needy communities. Eventually his car would break down, stranding Asa in a small town. But he would encounter like minded individuals, and began traveling with them.</s> <|message|>Thulile SaintMaurice IC: THULILE Her little band of misfits was colorful to say the least, but the friendly banter that went around the car made Thuly feel at home. 'Well, except for the lack of French of course', she grinned. The grin broadened to a smile, which made her white teeth flash brightly in the darkness of her face. "Yummm…", Thulile salivated, "all the candy…err…floss I can eat? Superb!" Looking at Eli, she wondered about the scary rides. She'd seen pictures and YouTube films, and compared to her life they weren't likely to spook her. Still, a guide to the parks would be a good thing. As Audrey mentioned funnel cake, Thuly chuckled. It seemed to her that their crew had an unnatural fixation on food. 'Especially, on the unhealthy kind!' Well, her companions were unnatural in many ways, this was just another of their quirks. "Funnel cake? What's that? Never seen or tasted that", she admitted. Those theme parks promised to have lots of new experiences in store for her. Thulile wondered how long it would take to get there. At least Bai made sure that they didn't attract any unwanted attention to them.</s> <|message|>Elia Colden but goes by Eli Lovette Eli snorted a laugh. "Come on Vinnie, you'll break a hip if you're not careful." He teased. He'd taken to picking on Vinnie for being a few years older than himself. Eli nodded at Audrey. "Oh they better. I'll be really pissed off if they don't." Looking back over the side of the truck he grinned. "Theme parks are normally really packed with small animals like birds and rodents, right ReyRey?"</s> <|message|>Lucile "Lucy" O'Connor Lucile "Lucy" O'Connor Lucy was sitting in between two of the females inside the truck. But she didn't really say much. Mostly listening to their conversation, wondering if she could hear some useful information. But mostly they were talking about an amusement park. She had read about places like this but had never been to one herself. She had not been outside of Area 66 ever since she was a baby, so she did not know much about the outside world. A part of her was excited to experience something that would be fun. "My name is Lucy." She spoke in a soft sounding voice. "What else is in the amusement park?" She didn't want to sound stupid for not knowing what an amusement park was, So wording her question differently would not make the others think less of her. Reading the minds of the others in the truck, wanting to know what information she could find. But rationalizing it by wanting to know more about them. People in the truck more attuned mentally, could notice Lucy trying to read their minds. The rat in her pocket poked his head out, "I wonder if they know if this amusement park has any cheese?" Lucy assured them that the amusement park would have something for him to eat. And hopefully something she could eat. She had not eaten anything since before her escape. The thought of her being caught was starting to fill her mind. She would have to fight if these people would try to hand her to the police.</s> <|message|>Audrey Robinson "Mmmmm, small animals are more county and state fair territory, but it's possible they might" She said. Her hometown used to hold county fairs every year. She remembered going to them as a kid and visiting the petting zoos they had. As she finished answering Eli's question , she heard Thuly ask about funnel cakes, what they were and what they tasted like and shot up like a lightning bolt at her question "you've never had funnel cake, well you are in for a treat" she said. Before they could take off, the band of misfits were gifted with a new passenger. A young girl with an interesting haircut. She seemed of the shy sort as she introduced herself as Lucy and asked about the amusement parks. "Audrey" she mentioned with a warm smile "oh, you know, rides, food, games, and other junk."</s> <|message|>Vincent Ryder Vincent --- --- Vincent barked out a laugh at Eli's playful barb and held his hand out of the window, with which he extended a certain finger in his general direction. He pulled his arm back into the truck then, to Lucy, he grinned and said, "I'm Vincent. Pretty much the designated mechanic around here.. You could say I've got a way with this old girl. As for funnel cake..." He thought for a moment before continuing, "It's basically deep-fried ropes of batter, usually with powdered sugar sprinkled on it or whatever else you wanna use. Fairs and theme parks usually keep it pretty simple, though. God, now I could go for some funnel cake with chocolate and strawberries. Not knocking fairground funnel cake, but next time I get a hold of some batter, I'll show you guys what good funnel cake tastes like." As his mouth watered at the thought of the deep-fried goodness, a song began to play on the radio that Vincent liked, so he turned the volume up a bit higher. He hadn't been traveling with this group very long, having mostly wandered on his own for a little over half of his life, but it was something he had gotten used to by that point. It was nice having people to banter and joke with. More than that, though, it was nice knowing there were people at his back when things got rough. Sure, he didn't know much about any of them and that was fine, given that he had things he'd rather not talk about, himself, and as far as he was concerned, you didn't need to know someone's life story to trust them.</s> <|message|>Bai Yue (White Moon) Bai Yue Listening to those around her wasn't Bai yue's thing. Sure she paid attention with a tiny portion of her brain her multiplexed logic handling several tasks at once as she manipulated the air elements to create small will-o-wisps, 30 or more that were so weak they collapsed the moment they struck any of the objects she aimed them at. It was like most things she did when bored training, she had to because as a freak she was easy to spot by the magically inclined if she wasn't actively concealing her presence. "Don't worry too much about it an amusement park of any type it's the real money maker. you see something I'll get it for you" Bai yue the girl most likely to steal</s> <|message|>Lucile "Lucy" O'Connor Lucile "Lucy" O'Connor Lucy shrugged her shoulders, thinking that all of that sounded very good. But not something she was particularly excited for. The mouse in her pocket suggested she could take a break and have some fun. "But I have to find my family and….give some payback to those bastards that hurt me…" Lucy communicated all of this mentally to her rat buddy. Reading the minds of the others, she was mildly disturbed by the images of Bai Yue's mind. Feeling nauseous trying to figure out what she's thinking. She had to quickly jump to the mind of Vincent. Which included him fighting a bunch of people, and weirdly enough dogs that were playing around the battlefield. "What have I gotten myself into." She thought shaking her head. The people in the truck could prove useful to her mission. "So why are you guys going to Eureka City?" She finally asked. From what she had gathered reading their minds, it seems most of them were on the run. With various degrees of magical or superhuman abilities. Although she was not going to reveal more about herself just yet.</s> <|message|>Elia Colden but goes by Eli Lovette Eli's mind, although a little chaotic sometimes, was usually a semi-happy place. He took pleasure in the little thing, the fun of standing up on the truck as it moved, the wind in his hair, the little nicknames he gave people. At that time, his mind was stuck on the theme parks. Which rides would Vinnie agree to go on? Getting candy floss for Lele and funnelcake with Rey. It was clear most of his thoughts were of his friends, though occasionally there was a flash. An angry, stony face of an older man in a lab coat telling Eli just how disappointed he was.</s>

<|message|>Asa Mist Asa sat in the back of the pickup truck, partially slumped over in his seat. He had spent most of the night reading a medical text that Audrey had convinced him to loot from a bookstore in the last town the ragtag group had stopped in. It was a newer edition, meaning it had some updates then the ones he had in University. Unfortunately, Asa had got too much into the text book, and was now paying the price of staying up all night. Asa had fallen into a deep sleep. The Water Elemental had been asleep in the truck for the past several hours, snoring softly. Sitting in his lap was his robotic companion TQ-58, better known as Tiku. The small medical assistant bot was in active mode, but was unmoving as he wasn't needed for any medical emergencies currently. Its optics only slightly moved when the truck pulled to the side of the road to pick up a hitchhiker. Deciding that a potential new companion was important, Tiku turned to the sleeping Asa. Reaching over with a robotic limb, Tiku delivered a weak level shock to the Water Elemental. The brief jolt made Asa immediately open his eyes. "What's wrong?" Asa asked groggily. "We have someone new," stated Tiku. Asa turned to the young woman sitting across from him, her platinum hair shimmering in the sunlight coming through the truck window. It wouldn't be the first time they had picked up a hitchhiker in the few months that Asa had been traveling in this van, but the hitchhikers never lasted long. Usually they would jump ship by the next major city. Asa figured that this woman would be no different as apparently they were headed to Eureka City, at least according to the conversation going on in the front of the vehicle. Asa wasn't really familiar with the city, just knowing that it had a big theme park. The discussion going on around him also seemed to show that the theme park was the point of interest for the gang. Asa then turned to the hitchhiker, "I'm Asa. Are you also headed for Eureka City?" "He doesn't know because he was sleeping," piped in Tiku, "I think it was awfully rude." Asa glared at the medical support robot. In the years they had spent together, Tiku had begun to develop a distinct personality, one that wasn't always kind to the Water Elemental. And yet the robot was the closest thing Asa had to a best friend. It was kind of messed up, even to the Water Elemental himself.</s>

<|description|>Matilda Armstrong "Taste Gold." Age: 18 Gender(or lack thereof): Female What Makes You A Misfit?: Ran away from her home in order to escape her decadent and materialist family. Her wealth only attracted sycophants and con artists in her early life as well as derision from the less fortunate people. She really had no one trustworthy to call her own. Appearance(face claims are allowed, as well as just descriptions): Personality: Upon initial encounter, Matilda is someone who is in over her own head. A pampered princess who ran away from home out of sheer pettiness and contempt. Underneath that prideful, cynical, and blind ambition, is someone desperately looking for a purpose in life. Skills/Abilities: Had studied business finance and accounting, learned French and German, organizer, erudite, public speaking, and bribery. Powers/Magic: Matilda can create any form of currency into existence, from coins, precious metals, jewels, and paper from any country and nation-state around the world. She is virtually the wealthiest person in the world and in history. A power that is highly coveted by the most greedy and envious people. Additionally, she can transmute any form of metal or inorganic material to precious metals, whether gold, silver, or platinum. A process that is not irreversible. Backstory(Optional): When it comes to family, Matilda wishes she was related to Neil Armstrong of Ohio instead of the Armstrong family of Massachusetts. A New England dynasty synonymous with opulence, like the Vanderbilts or Kennedys, the Armstrongs amassed their fortunes through banking and finances. As such, her father made sure that Matilda's childhood want for nothing. In the beginning, Matilda did enjoy being the center of attention. She enjoyed getting everything she asked for. The people loved her but as she grew older, she realized it was because of her money. The familial warmth disappeared from her life as her parents kept Matilda under their thumbs and threw more responsibility upon her when she approached adulthood. Life grew mundane and lackluster as did her homework and studies. Matilda lost that spark of inspiration when she realized she can simply buy her way into success. There was no end of sycophants eager to win her hand. This abyss filling her head and soul culminated in an episode of dizziness resulting in Matilda tripping and falling into the ground, causing $20 worth of quarters to spill from the open palm of her hand. Since carrying loose change in large quantities wasn't normal for a wealthy girl like her, it raised suspicions if that occurrence was supernatural in origin. While her father was quick to suppress the rumors by pulling some purse strings and diverting the Federal government away, Matilda knew she was treading on thin ice here. Being a source of infinite wealth stirred something in her parents. Their eyes showed a carnal desire of amassing more money for the sake of it. Within the walls of her bedroom, her own corner of privacy, Matilda tested her newfound ability. Much to her own surprise, a gold bar, like ones secured in Fort Knox, slipped out of her hand and fell to the floor with a heavy thud. A diamond came next, the size of a ripe orange. Euros, Rubles, Yen, all of it; currencies of 24 different countries. Making up her mind, Matilda decided to make a break for it. Since money is no longer an issue after running away, this could be a sign to try something different. Something grand. Matilda knows what she wants but she doesn't know where to go. RP Sample(Optional; helps me to see a glimpse of how your character acts): Freedom. Something more precious than gold. At least that's what is told in books of history and fairytales. But for all the talk of independence, Matilda was experiencing it. The cold air on her face. The soft sirens and screeches of tire marks from police cars and reckless drivers rang in her ears. Her footsteps echoed into the night sky. Lonely and alone on the sidewalk, never belonging anywhere. Twice she turned her head to see if she was being followed, twice she had to run and hide. She threw Benjamin bills onto the ground to keep them distracted enough to slip away. The excited cries signaled that her ploy was successful. Unbeknownst to the stalkers, it was pocket change to her real potential. "Damn it all." Matilda cursed, gritting her teeth as she looked up at the full moon. She stared as if directions would suddenly appear on the crater-filled surface. Directions, guidance, maybe even a big fat arrow sign pointing somewhere unknown and undiscovered. "At least I knew what to expect at home."</s> <|message|>Lucile "Lucy" O'Connor Lucile "Lucy" O'Connor Lucy was sitting in between two of the females inside the truck. But she didn't really say much. Mostly listening to their conversation, wondering if she could hear some useful information. But mostly they were talking about an amusement park. She had read about places like this but had never been to one herself. She had not been outside of Area 66 ever since she was a baby, so she did not know much about the outside world. A part of her was excited to experience something that would be fun. "My name is Lucy." She spoke in a soft sounding voice. "What else is in the amusement park?" She didn't want to sound stupid for not knowing what an amusement park was, So wording her question differently would not make the others think less of her. Reading the minds of the others in the truck, wanting to know what information she could find. But rationalizing it by wanting to know more about them. People in the truck more attuned mentally, could notice Lucy trying to read their minds. The rat in her pocket poked his head out, "I wonder if they know if this amusement park has any cheese?" Lucy assured them that the amusement park would have something for him to eat. And hopefully something she could eat. She had not eaten anything since before her escape. The thought of her being caught was starting to fill her mind. She would have to fight if these people would try to hand her to the police.</s> <|message|>Audrey Robinson "Mmmmm, small animals are more county and state fair territory, but it's possible they might" She said. Her hometown used to hold county fairs every year. She remembered going to them as a kid and visiting the petting zoos they had. As she finished answering Eli's question , she heard Thuly ask about funnel cakes, what they were and what they tasted like and shot up like a lightning bolt at her question "you've never had funnel cake, well you are in for a treat" she said. Before they could take off, the band of misfits were gifted with a new passenger. A young girl with an interesting haircut. She seemed of the shy sort as she introduced herself as Lucy and asked about the amusement parks. "Audrey" she mentioned with a warm smile "oh, you know, rides, food, games, and other junk."</s> <|message|>Vincent Ryder Vincent --- --- Vincent barked out a laugh at Eli's playful barb and held his hand out of the window, with which he extended a certain finger in his general direction. He pulled his arm back into the truck then, to Lucy, he grinned and said, "I'm Vincent. Pretty much the designated mechanic around here.. You could say I've got a way with this old girl. As for funnel cake..." He thought for a moment before continuing, "It's basically deep-fried ropes of batter, usually with powdered sugar sprinkled on it or whatever else you wanna use. Fairs and theme parks usually keep it pretty simple, though. God, now I could go for some funnel cake with chocolate and strawberries. Not knocking fairground funnel cake, but next time I get a hold of some batter, I'll show you guys what good funnel cake tastes like." As his mouth watered at the thought of the deep-fried goodness, a song began to play on the radio that Vincent liked, so he turned the volume up a bit higher. He hadn't been traveling with this group very long, having mostly wandered on his own for a little over half of his life, but it was something he had gotten used to by that point. It was nice having people to banter and joke with. More than that, though, it was nice knowing there were people at his back when things got rough. Sure, he didn't know much about any of them and that was fine, given that he had things he'd rather not talk about, himself, and as far as he was concerned, you didn't need to know someone's life story to trust them.</s> <|message|>Bai Yue (White Moon) Bai Yue Listening to those around her wasn't Bai yue's thing. Sure she paid attention with a tiny portion of her brain her multiplexed logic handling several tasks at once as she manipulated the air elements to create small will-o-wisps, 30 or more that were so weak they collapsed the moment they struck any of the objects she aimed them at. It was like most things she did when bored training, she had to because as a freak she was easy to spot by the magically inclined if she wasn't actively concealing her presence. "Don't worry too much about it an amusement park of any type it's the real money maker. you see something I'll get it for you" Bai yue the girl most likely to steal</s> <|message|>Lucile "Lucy" O'Connor Lucile "Lucy" O'Connor Lucy shrugged her shoulders, thinking that all of that sounded very good. But not something she was particularly excited for. The mouse in her pocket suggested she could take a break and have some fun. "But I have to find my family and….give some payback to those bastards that hurt me…" Lucy communicated all of this mentally to her rat buddy. Reading the minds of the others, she was mildly disturbed by the images of Bai Yue's mind. Feeling nauseous trying to figure out what she's thinking. She had to quickly jump to the mind of Vincent. Which included him fighting a bunch of people, and weirdly enough dogs that were playing around the battlefield. "What have I gotten myself into." She thought shaking her head. The people in the truck could prove useful to her mission. "So why are you guys going to Eureka City?" She finally asked. From what she had gathered reading their minds, it seems most of them were on the run. With various degrees of magical or superhuman abilities. Although she was not going to reveal more about herself just yet.</s> <|message|>Elia Colden but goes by Eli Lovette Eli's mind, although a little chaotic sometimes, was usually a semi-happy place. He took pleasure in the little thing, the fun of standing up on the truck as it moved, the wind in his hair, the little nicknames he gave people. At that time, his mind was stuck on the theme parks. Which rides would Vinnie agree to go on? Getting candy floss for Lele and funnelcake with Rey. It was clear most of his thoughts were of his friends, though occasionally there was a flash. An angry, stony face of an older man in a lab coat telling Eli just how disappointed he was.</s> <|message|>Asa Mist ASA MIST Asa sat in the back of the pickup truck, partially slumped over in his seat. He had spent most of the night reading a medical text that Audrey had convinced him to loot from a bookstore in the last town the ragtag group had stopped in. It was a newer edition, meaning it had some updates then the ones he had in University. Unfortunately, Asa had got too much into the text book, and was now paying the price of staying up all night. Asa had fallen into a deep sleep. The Water Elemental had been asleep in the truck for the past several hours, snoring softly. Sitting in his lap was his robotic companion TQ-58, better known as Tiku. The small medical assistant bot was in active mode, but was unmoving as he wasn't needed for any medical emergencies currently. Its optics only slightly moved when the truck pulled to the side of the road to pick up a hitchhiker. Deciding that a potential new companion was important, Tiku turned to the sleeping Asa. Reaching over with a robotic limb, Tiku delivered a weak level shock to the Water Elemental. The brief jolt made Asa immediately open his eyes. "What's wrong?" Asa asked groggily. "We have someone new," stated Tiku. Asa turned to the young woman sitting across from him, her platinum hair shimmering in the sunlight coming through the truck window. It wouldn't be the first time they had picked up a hitchhiker in the few months that Asa had been traveling in this van, but the hitchhikers never lasted long. Usually they would jump ship by the next major city. Asa figured that this woman would be no different as apparently they were headed to Eureka City, at least according to the conversation going on in the front of the vehicle. Asa wasn't really familiar with the city, just knowing that it had a big theme park. The discussion going on around him also seemed to show that the theme park was the point of interest for the gang. Asa then turned to the hitchhiker, "I'm Asa. Are you also headed for Eureka City?" "He doesn't know because he was sleeping," piped in Tiku, "I think it was awfully rude." Asa glared at the medical support robot. In the years they had spent together, Tiku had begun to develop a distinct personality, one that wasn't always kind to the Water Elemental. And yet the robot was the closest thing Asa had to a best friend. It was kind of messed up, even to the Water Elemental himself.</s> <|message|>Audrey Robinson "Well well, look who's finally awake" she said "someone enjoyed themselves last night." Giving a smirk that could charm the skin off of a snake, she laid her arm on the side of the truck. "That book must be pretty interesting, knew you'd like it." With the matter of the book, the conversation started with Asa staring at the book like a child at the candy store and her "convincing" him to grab it by starting an altercation with a random guy about inappropriate touching. She still felt bad for that one, but anything to help one of her friends. "Don't worry tiku, he'll have plenty of time to catch up on the long ride there." She snidly mentioned with a smile.</s>

<|message|>Matilda Armstrong Money. The world just can't get enough of it. Credit Cards and Checks? Don't need them. Matilda's wallet is empty save for her driver's license from Massachusetts. Given her powers, she can simply pay any thief to leave her alone. Not that she wants to be alone. Even among a full crowd at the theme park in Eureka City, Matilda can't help but feel even more lost and isolated. She was here for a good time! The tickets weren't cheap after all. That was a lie. $25 is but a spare penny to her. The five dollar bills, as clean as if freshly printed without a single tear or wrinkle in sight, appeared in her hand as quickly as thinking. Unfortunately, the theme park only looked fun from the outside. Sweaty bodies and the stench of beer assaulted her senses. It was nothing like the extravagant galas and social parties her parents would drag her to all throughout New York City and Washington Capitol. With crude words and ill-fitting clothes from the people around her, Matilda felt more out of place, her attire was opulent but extremely modest, a courtesy from home. Regardless, she let her feet lead her to whatever destination entails. Perhaps something different can occur today.</s>

<|description|>Yuichi Miyasato Age: 17 Gender: Male Appearance: "Hm, I'll take note of that. Yuichi stands at around 6'0 feet tall. He possesses a big frame and seems fit for an athlete. Often wears casual clothes such as a hoodies and jeans whenever not in a formal setting. Often has a terrible fashion sense. Personality: A soft-spoken teenager who remains respectful to those around him. Even when confronting someone rudely, he remains cordial with them. However, this would also apply to harassment, as Yuichi would do nothing against them. However, his patience is limited if a line like violence is crossed. At that point, good luck dealing with him. Thanks to his reserved nature, Yuichi never talks about himself. He hates it whenever someone asks what he is up to, not because he finds them nosy. It's because of what he should be doing but can't. Yuichi suffers from internal frustration with himself when dealing with his injury. Though he's bad at concealing his emotions, he sometimes appears agitated. Yuichi has a deep love for baseball. Ever since he got into it when he was younger, he'd always tried to practice it. Unfortunately, due to that accident, he can't play as he used to. Despite this, he still tries pitching with his non-dominant arm, leaving him bitter taste in his mouth as he can't produce the same results. As a result, he often comes off as standoffish with his agitation and big frame though this is very much unintentional. Skills: Throwing Expertise - Yuichi has become incredibly adept at throwing small objects with great accuracy and speed after spending several years in baseball. Sprinting - Yuichi can run for a long time thanks to his daily exercise and former experience as a baseball player. Reflexive - Has quick reaction time thanks to playing baseball. He can react quickly whenever he's anticipating what will happen next. Equipment: Baseballs, any object that can be thrown. Bandages Echo: Name: Achilles Appearance: Abilities: Achilles fights with his spear and often tanks attacks head-on. Will throw the spear as if it were a javelin to pierce enemies. It's main style is stick onto its target as long as it can and drag its focus onto itself. Achilles also has the ability to buff Yuichi or his allies physical's stats, though he can only target one person at a time. Brief Backstory: Being a child of mix-parentage, Yuichi was often singled out for looking different than anyone else. While frustrating, he put up with it most of the time. Because of this, Yuichi found himself lonely. Wanting his son to break out of his shell, his father decided to sign him up for a sport. This would change Yuichi's life. After being assigned to a team, Yuichi practiced a long with his new acquaintances. Despite their first impressions, they learned and talked to Yuichi more. A sense of camaraderie was established as expected of a group of peers. And Yuichi soon became friends with them. His school won at the end of middle school, thanks to him striking out the batter. There was a celebration for winning the tournament. That was until a car accident occurred. A car had crushed to the side of the vehicle Yuichi was in, and he was inadvertently hospitalized. He recovered, but his dominant arm, his right arm, wouldn't be the same again. Because of that, he quit baseball and cut connection with most of friends. Perhaps it was a sense of shame of not being able to play as good as he use to be. Nowadays, Yuichi is trying his best to study in high school and make it into college. Though he still has dreams of being a pitcher in the leagues.</s> <|message|>Hattori Kauro The threat of disappearing? Who heard of it? Certainly not this group of kids who were walking around the city streets after a fun session of karaoke. Kauro was chatting and laughing with his group of friends, talking about latest celebrity news, fads, and gossip. After zoning out like he had done so previously back on campus, he was making a concerted effort to be involved and make sure no one suspected his behavior though his sharp eyes were looking for any sign of the strange figure rumored to be about. Everything felt so normal, and yet he could not shake the feeling that there was something wrong. The sound of a heartbeat shook his body, except it wasn't his. It did not feel like it was his. Somehow, it was as if he could feel the heartbeat of the world itself. It was sickening. His very being seemed to scream in repulsion against the violation of nature. Was it him or were the voices of his friends starting to lag, not matching the movements of their mouth? Were they moving just slower than they typically would? "Hey, what are you guys...?" His friends were suddenly still. No, it wasn't just them; it was the world. There was no breeze, no sound, or warmth. There was an unnatural stillness to the world though the only one that could move right now was himself. Kauro looked up to see that the evening sky had been replaced by a blanket of black with only the light of an impossibly large moon to guide his path. He stepped forward to find that the silence was broken by the spatter of a puddle. "The heck did I...?" Looking down, he quickly realized that what he stepped in was not water, but a pool of blood that stained his shoes. The color left his face, and he quickly surveyed his surroundings. Blood painted every corner he could see, and the buildings were dark and featureless, casting strange purple shadows. Were they really buildings or were they just part of the land itself? The heartbeat grew louder and louder, beating his eardrums relentlessly. Then, he saw it. The damn thing that stood at the heart of the mystery; that tower piercing into the moonlit abyss. He took a step forward towards it, as if by sheer compulsion when he heard something behind him rushing closer in. Kauro turned back and at that moment, the world turned back to normal. No, it would be more accurate to say that he was back in his own world, or if his theory of Strange Gospel was to be believed, the point of time he was supposed to be in. It was hard to tell. He was staring back at the group of friends who were just walking as if nothing had happened. Kauro had fallen behind from the group though it had gone noticed as one of them turned back and said, "Hey, you good? You look a bit pale." Quick to regain composure, he offered a reassuring smile and said, "Um, I'm fine. I just remembered that I needed to pick something up from the supermarket. I'll catch you guys later." They said their goodbyes and Kauro was left standing there, watching them go off into the distance. That charming grin was superseded by one of excitement with an almost crazed look in his eyes. Instead of the heartbeat from before, he could feel his own rise with his ever increase elation. "Things have gotten very, very interesting," said Kauro with a chuckle. Now he was more determined than ever to solve this case. All that was left was the matter of surviving it.</s> <|message|>Nakano Nagi Nakano Nagi Ah, shit. It was happening again. Just like it did the night she was first pulled in. Great. That meant Strange Gospel was about to grab more poor suckers. She'd have to call this in once it passed. Hopefully, they'd found more candidates by now. She wasn't exactly a recruiter herself, and her reputation did her no favors in getting people to give her the time of day. Nagi sighed as she glanced around while the endless night was still active. It was always so eerie to see herself alone in the streets- Wait, what the fuck? As reality asserted itself once more, Nagi peered suspiciously at the light-haired girl a few paces from her, also seeming to be on her way to the grocery store. The Yakuza princess was almost certain she'd seen her for an instant when the night passed, and now here she was, looking for all the world like something had just happened. Judging by the fact that no one else around seemed to be reacting aversely, Nagi was sure she'd finally found one. Now, who was this exactly...? Oh, right. Wasn't this the school genius? Kind of a bitch, if rumors and scuttlebutt were to be believed. Although she wasn't one to talk. Regardless, Nagi fished her burner phone out while deliberately keeping her gaze on Gotoh Yuzu. She hit a number on speed dial and held the phone up to her ear, starting to walk towards the other girl. Once the other end picked up, Nagi began to speak even as she approached. "Boss? Think I found one. Pretty sure she was reacting during the shift." Nagi paused, as if realizing she'd forgotten something. "By the way, there was a shift just now if you didn't notice. It's probably gonna go down tonight. Anyways, mind giving the onboarding speech? We both know I'm no good at this shit." Nagi sidled up next to Yuzu, offering the burner phone. "Look, I'm sure you've got questions, but save 'em for the guy on the other end. I can't be bothered with this crap. No, this ain't a cult and you're not being targeted. You just had the luck of being next to someone who knows what's going on when it happened. Now take the fucking phone."</s> <|message|>Gotoh Yuzu Gotoh Yuzu Yuzu hummed as she tapped away at her phone, though now she was barely looking at anything else, her thoughts were mostly drawn to what that odd video could possibly entail. So what if she was becoming impatient with it, it wasn't exactly an every day occurrence now was it? And also, what was that noise just now? Yuzu dared to look up boredly, and what she saw felt like hell. "H-huh." She mumbled, looking around at the people frozen in place, 'W-what...?" And then down to where she was stepping in puddles of dark red blood. "W-what!? What what what what!?" Yuzu's heartbeat raced but not over the beating sound that seemed to be coming from all over, and then, then something came up from behind her and-! Yuzu squealed in terror, in advertently tossing her phone up into the air, which let her see that things had suddenly decided to turn back to normal. Oh, good, but now she had more pressing matters. "M-my phone!" She squealed again, smacking, grabbing, and swinging at the air and her phone until finally it was safely back into her hands. She sighed, okay, so. Maybe she just...imagined all that? Just as Yuzu was gonna be on her way, the Yakuza bitch decided to start talking to her. "W-what? The fuck are you talking about? You just sound like someone whos targetting someone!" She griped, frowning deeply and taking a step back, feelings of confusion giving way to some fear as the girl talked to her about...whatever that just was? She looked uneasily from the phone to the yakuza bitch (she earnestly forgot her name) and clutched onto her bag, "Why should I? The hell is that even gonna do." Landshark</s>

<|message|>Yuichi Miyasato An unpleasant sound resounded in his ears. The moment the world had seemingly changed, Yuichi stopped in his tracks. Everything was frozen. His peers's conversations, the rustling of the trees, everything seemed to be still. Turning around the ball was still soaring through the skies. As if fixed in the air, it did not move just like everything else. Now that he was looking up even the sun was gone. A chill went down his spine as if to make it obvious that the world wasn't warm and safe anymore. "What the..." Yuichi said. Shock was evident on his face as he tried to back away. To his surprise, there was a small patter sound when he moved his feet. His eyes focused down towards his feet. As if it had rained, there was blood on the concrete. It didn't stop there. Pieces of gore and blood was spread all around the area. If the phrase, 'let's paint the town red,' was used a descriptor, this would be an apt situation to use it in. Yuichi still couldn't believe he was seeing. Not even his own shadow was safe from the strange environment that had unfurled. The more that Yuichi looked, the more that he felt sick in the inside. Seeing this amount of blood brought back unsavory memories. Yet, the heartbeat beated louder and louder. As if beckoning him to look ahead and see for himself, Yuichi saw the towering structure. It loomed over every building that was around them. Like a looming tree hovering over a child, Yuichi could not help look up at the spire. What was it? When was it there? How did it get there? Many questions were probed into his head, but they all found themselves unanswered. Then everything went back to normal. A student who had noticed Yuichi staring wide eyed to sky spoke to him. "Hey, dude, are you alright?" "...Yes, I'm fine. Sorry to worry you." Yuichi said, his expression turning unexpressive. Turning back around, he went back to his walk. Instead of going home, Yuichi decided to head to the sports center. After witnessing a near world changing event, Yuichi couldn't tell what he saw was real or not. What needed was to take his mind off of it for a moment and reset his focus. Or that was he would have liked to done until he saw a certain app on his phone. Strange Gospel If Yuichi went paler, no one would have noticed. Putting his phone back into his pocket, he turned directions and headed the other direction. He needed to clear his mind.</s>

<|description|>Yuichi Miyasato Age: 17 Gender: Male Appearance: "Hm, I'll take note of that. Yuichi stands at around 6'0 feet tall. He possesses a big frame and seems fit for an athlete. Often wears casual clothes such as a hoodies and jeans whenever not in a formal setting. Often has a terrible fashion sense. Personality: A soft-spoken teenager who remains respectful to those around him. Even when confronting someone rudely, he remains cordial with them. However, this would also apply to harassment, as Yuichi would do nothing against them. However, his patience is limited if a line like violence is crossed. At that point, good luck dealing with him. Thanks to his reserved nature, Yuichi never talks about himself. He hates it whenever someone asks what he is up to, not because he finds them nosy. It's because of what he should be doing but can't. Yuichi suffers from internal frustration with himself when dealing with his injury. Though he's bad at concealing his emotions, he sometimes appears agitated. Yuichi has a deep love for baseball. Ever since he got into it when he was younger, he'd always tried to practice it. Unfortunately, due to that accident, he can't play as he used to. Despite this, he still tries pitching with his non-dominant arm, leaving him bitter taste in his mouth as he can't produce the same results. As a result, he often comes off as standoffish with his agitation and big frame though this is very much unintentional. Skills: Throwing Expertise - Yuichi has become incredibly adept at throwing small objects with great accuracy and speed after spending several years in baseball. Sprinting - Yuichi can run for a long time thanks to his daily exercise and former experience as a baseball player. Reflexive - Has quick reaction time thanks to playing baseball. He can react quickly whenever he's anticipating what will happen next. Equipment: Baseballs, any object that can be thrown. Bandages Echo: Name: Achilles Appearance: Abilities: Achilles fights with his spear and often tanks attacks head-on. Will throw the spear as if it were a javelin to pierce enemies. It's main style is stick onto its target as long as it can and drag its focus onto itself. Achilles also has the ability to buff Yuichi or his allies physical's stats, though he can only target one person at a time. Brief Backstory: Being a child of mix-parentage, Yuichi was often singled out for looking different than anyone else. While frustrating, he put up with it most of the time. Because of this, Yuichi found himself lonely. Wanting his son to break out of his shell, his father decided to sign him up for a sport. This would change Yuichi's life. After being assigned to a team, Yuichi practiced a long with his new acquaintances. Despite their first impressions, they learned and talked to Yuichi more. A sense of camaraderie was established as expected of a group of peers. And Yuichi soon became friends with them. His school won at the end of middle school, thanks to him striking out the batter. There was a celebration for winning the tournament. That was until a car accident occurred. A car had crushed to the side of the vehicle Yuichi was in, and he was inadvertently hospitalized. He recovered, but his dominant arm, his right arm, wouldn't be the same again. Because of that, he quit baseball and cut connection with most of friends. Perhaps it was a sense of shame of not being able to play as good as he use to be. Nowadays, Yuichi is trying his best to study in high school and make it into college. Though he still has dreams of being a pitcher in the leagues.</s> <|message|>Nakano Nagi Nakano Nagi "How you die?" Nagi raised an eyebrow, deciding to humor the abrasive nerd. In the meantime, she glanced at the response she'd gotten back from Nozomi, immediately followed by coordinates from their handlers. Well, at least she knew where to go now. "Well, one of two things, usually. First doesn't happen often, and it probably shouldn't to you since we got to you first, but sometimes people just have what's basically a mental shutdown. Ain't pretty. Second is-" The world shifted. It happened again. Nagi stilled, looking around for a brief moment before tucking her phone away. Shit, shit, shit. This was bad. Both she and Nozomi had to lug around civilians during this shift, while looking for three more. This...wasn't going to be pretty. "God damn it." She groaned, thumbing her Awakening Drive once more as she glanced back to Yuzu, now deathly serious. "Gotoh. That second way you die? Getting killed by monsters in here. I need you to follow me and listen, because if you don't, you're gonna get killed real quick." Nagi turned, grabbing Yuzu by the shoulder and looking her dead in the eyes. "I'm not fucking around. This shit's absolutely serious. Stay behind me, and do what I tell you, when I tell you to. I ain't yanking your chain, I'm trying to keep you from biting it. Until I get you to the boss, you're defenseless in here. And there's still three more people that me and my coworker are trying to track down and stop from getting killed too. Got it?" Nagi's grip on Yuzu's shoulder turned into a brief pat before she turned back around, leading the way towards the coordinates she'd been given. It wasn't too far away, but anything could happen in the distance between the supermarket and the conbini.</s> <|message|>Hattori Kauro @DarckLeon "We can either figure out a way to save ourselves and investigate or we wait to see what happens. I don't know when we'll back pulled back in, but the reality is we are probably short on time if we can hear that heartbeat." What were they supposed to do? If they could be pulled back into the world whenever the forces wanted to, they would have no choice in the matter. The only thing they could do was to learn about what was happening and see if they could gleam anything from it. For Kauro, that was a joy, but for the others it was a terror. The cashier caught on from Kauro's pretty blatant excitement and asked him why he did not seem to be panicking in the face of very possible death. All color in Kauro's face drained away as soon as he was called out for understandably his inappropriate level enthusiasm for their situation. He had been so excited by all the wild possibilities that the case presented that he forgot put on his 'Popular Guy' facade. "Ah, sorry. Uh, you see," he trailed off to think of any excuse to get him out of this situation. Maybe death would have been better at this rate. However, a convenient distraction came in the form of a tall, rather dim purple haired boy. Kauro looked up at him with an expression that asked, 'how stupid could this guy be'. Yes, these theories were out there, but did this guy really understand what they saw and what's been happening? Kauro asked as bluntly and coldly as possible, "What else would you call that blood flooded world other than a chopping block? In the face of absurdity, expect equally absurd theories. Yes, I have no proof, but is this seriously the time to be a sceptic when you witnessed it yourself? We're not playing by the rules of this world anymore so-" There was something wrong. It was as if everything seemed normal, like a living room that was neatly in order except for a picture frame that was just ever so slightly titled. Where were the other shoppers? The silence was unnatural; the busyness of the city streets ceased as if it was paused. This was then followed by the light being snuffed away. Then it was followed by the most pungent of smell, an overwhelming scent of iron that flooded his nostrils. Blood soaked the floor and blood poured in thick, viscous streams from fridges and the heartbeat echoed in their ears. They were back on the chopping block. Kauro took the knife presented to him, his eyes never leaving the store entrance. "Move quickly and quietly. Be on alert. We don't know what's here."</s> <|message|>Chise Nozaki Chise Nozaki Mentions: @VitaVitaAR Location:Sidewalk, near grocer's square --- Chise's glancing became more focused as his classmate continued on with her line of questioning, his eyes narrowing in concern. So she was involved in it somehow. Asking him if he "saw something"? It was far too much of a coincidence. Despite how sure he was, any doubts would almost immediately disappear as the scene unfolded before him. Before he could break his pause with a response, they were interrupted by the buzzing of Shiratori's phone. Chise watched skeptically as she went to answer it, before bleating about whatever it was that she received. She was quick to stow it -- but even quicker to withdraw it once again as it buzzed off once more, this time more urgently. Chise was about to make his own remark before the whole interaction flipped-tone on its head. Shiratori's look of surprise at whatever she had been sent was accompanied only shortly afterwards by...the vision. Everything changed once again. The sun vanished, replaced by the pale gaze of a massive moon. The sky darkened with it, and the wind stilled - almost like it was out of fear of whatever this place was. Chise's sneaker momentarily slid before he caught his footing, the thick blood beneath his feet making for a more-slick-than-usual sidewalk. Chise's eyes darted to his surroundings once again and he absorbed as much of what he could see as he could - lest it vanish again as fast as it had the first time. But it didn't seem to. Instead, Shiratori turned to face him, and he took a step back, posturing himself defensively as she began to speak. But her next words, in honesty, confused him. They confused him, but he absorbed them nonetheless, and upon registering what she had said, he tried as well as he could to steel himself. So.. it's all real then, huh..? The gears in his head were turning - perhaps as urgently as they ever had before. She's really serious.. He couldn't believe he was thinking it, but this really was just like some sort of crazy manga he felt like he'd read before. It took a few seconds for him to adjust to the reality he found himself in, before he finally managed to speak - doing so with a discernable amount of seriousness that would be unusual to those who knew him. "Right.. I.. Okay. I understand. The exposition can come later- if things are really as urgent as you make them sound then we shouldn't wait." He spoke, his eyes scanning the area around him. The threat of death was something that he, at the least, would take serious for the time being - but he wasn't sure what it was that could rationalize such an idea. If he used manga logic, though.. he had the faintest idea that maybe something was out there.. He wasted no time in stepping up alongside Shiratori. He wasn't sure where they were going - especially with how all the buildings changed to look different - but he would match the urgency of her stride and follow along.</s> <|message|>Gotoh Yuzu Gotoh Yuzu Yuzu crossed her arms going into full on listening mode to at least properly absorb some information that she was going to have to know. That was however, until the world changed around them. Yuzu whimpered pathetically as her head whipped around to try and look for any escape from this horrible fucking place. What could you even describe it as? It was the world she knew and lived in all her life, but completely and utterly wrong. Like everything around her decided it was time for her to die once and for all, everything was against her, everything was out to get her. "Uh..." She flinches at Nagi in an ugly way, going from bitch to horribly frightened in a second flat. Her mind fought between trying to listen to Nagi and smacking her hand away. She nods along hurriedly, now she just wanted to get the hell out of here as fast as possible. Though, upon her patting on the shoulder she immediately latches onto Nagi's arm. Somehow, the yakuza bitch seemed like a very comforting thing to be around. "W-whatever! Okay! J-just get me outta here! W-why do we have to get those guys? A-aren't they getting someone to escort them like your doing!? Don't you hear that!?" Landshark</s>

<|message|>Yuichi Miyasato Nodding to Kauro's command, Yuichi followed it to a T. Though, Yuichi felt this wasn't to be resolved quietly. If Kauro's insane theories were true, and given the context of the situation, were probably true, then Yuichi doubted this would be the only creature that was roaming out of the streets. "Cashier-san. Take the meat tenderizer for yourself. I'll figure out something for myself." Yuichi doubted he could effectively use the meat tenderizer to its fullest potential, though when the Cashier said something about the fire extinguisher, he nodded. Slowly walking behind the counter, he picked up the fire extinguisher. It was slightly heavy, but Yuichi was accustomed to heavier objects when he was still in training. "Cashier-san. Hattori and I will keep watch on the door. Can you take a peak outside to see if there's anything out there too?" Yuichi suggested to the Cashier. Out of them all, it seemed like the Cashier would have difficulties in his current state. Not that it mattered since whatever was outside could probably murder them in seconds. "So what's your theory now, Hattori?" Yuichi said as he dropped the honorifics. With this situation being as tense as is, he doubted honorifics mattered at the moment. He continued while lowering his voice. "Do you think the devil's coming back to drag humanity into hell, or is this god's punishment on the populace for not heeding his word?" A sarcastic tone could be traced in Yuichi's words as he slowly backed up. Though after a few moments, he frowned and looked gloomy. "Never mind. I shouldn't have said that. Sorry.</s>

<|description|>Yuichi Miyasato Age: 17 Gender: Male Appearance: "Hm, I'll take note of that. Yuichi stands at around 6'0 feet tall. He possesses a big frame and seems fit for an athlete. Often wears casual clothes such as a hoodies and jeans whenever not in a formal setting. Often has a terrible fashion sense. Personality: A soft-spoken teenager who remains respectful to those around him. Even when confronting someone rudely, he remains cordial with them. However, this would also apply to harassment, as Yuichi would do nothing against them. However, his patience is limited if a line like violence is crossed. At that point, good luck dealing with him. Thanks to his reserved nature, Yuichi never talks about himself. He hates it whenever someone asks what he is up to, not because he finds them nosy. It's because of what he should be doing but can't. Yuichi suffers from internal frustration with himself when dealing with his injury. Though he's bad at concealing his emotions, he sometimes appears agitated. Yuichi has a deep love for baseball. Ever since he got into it when he was younger, he'd always tried to practice it. Unfortunately, due to that accident, he can't play as he used to. Despite this, he still tries pitching with his non-dominant arm, leaving him bitter taste in his mouth as he can't produce the same results. As a result, he often comes off as standoffish with his agitation and big frame though this is very much unintentional. Skills: Throwing Expertise - Yuichi has become incredibly adept at throwing small objects with great accuracy and speed after spending several years in baseball. Sprinting - Yuichi can run for a long time thanks to his daily exercise and former experience as a baseball player. Reflexive - Has quick reaction time thanks to playing baseball. He can react quickly whenever he's anticipating what will happen next. Equipment: Baseballs, any object that can be thrown. Bandages Echo: Name: Achilles Appearance: Abilities: Achilles fights with his spear and often tanks attacks head-on. Will throw the spear as if it were a javelin to pierce enemies. It's main style is stick onto its target as long as it can and drag its focus onto itself. Achilles also has the ability to buff Yuichi or his allies physical's stats, though he can only target one person at a time. Brief Backstory: Being a child of mix-parentage, Yuichi was often singled out for looking different than anyone else. While frustrating, he put up with it most of the time. Because of this, Yuichi found himself lonely. Wanting his son to break out of his shell, his father decided to sign him up for a sport. This would change Yuichi's life. After being assigned to a team, Yuichi practiced a long with his new acquaintances. Despite their first impressions, they learned and talked to Yuichi more. A sense of camaraderie was established as expected of a group of peers. And Yuichi soon became friends with them. His school won at the end of middle school, thanks to him striking out the batter. There was a celebration for winning the tournament. That was until a car accident occurred. A car had crushed to the side of the vehicle Yuichi was in, and he was inadvertently hospitalized. He recovered, but his dominant arm, his right arm, wouldn't be the same again. Because of that, he quit baseball and cut connection with most of friends. Perhaps it was a sense of shame of not being able to play as good as he use to be. Nowadays, Yuichi is trying his best to study in high school and make it into college. Though he still has dreams of being a pitcher in the leagues.</s> <|message|>Kazama Kosubaku Kazama Kosubaku Kazama would be the first to admit that his life was very atypical for a teenage boy his age. The fact that he started working when he was 13 certainly stunted his social life, and he didn't have a lot of free time on his hands, but if you were to ask him, he would answer that he was satisfied with his lot in life, could be worse could be better, as they say. The truth was that he wasn't the only guy in existence who had it rough, and he wouldn't be the last. He even had a joyful and pleasant childhood, full of laughs at cheers. It was during this period of time that he got into anime, the 90s and 00s anime to be exact, there was something about the way it was animated that really got him. While nowadays he lost some interest in it, back then he loved it, watching every show he could on the old tv and DVD player in his room. He had his favorites, like Cowboy Bepop -Spike was THE man- and Dragon Ball, but there was one that left quite a mark on him: Neon Genesis Evangelion. Not really an anime a 12-year-old should be watching in his current opinion, yet at that time, as he gazed into the life of one Shinji Ikari and the tragedies that would befall him and the supporting cast, he was enraptured, he even begged his parents to buy him the movie. After watching it, a particular scene stayed in his mind for a while: The Third Impact and its effect on the people. He found it disturbing yet strangely captivating and wondered how would modern technology adapt it to the screen if there was ever a live-action adaptation of Evangelion, God hopes there wasn't. Now, 5 years later, Kazama got a childhood question of him partially answered, and the result wasn't pretty. The sheer fear in the student's eyes quickly got replaced by intense pain. The gruesomeness of the process that he experienced and the last look he and Kazama shared. This was a moment that would stay with him until the day he died, he was sure of it, and, if he knew he would see this, would have done anything to not be the one who had to go take a peek outside. He slowly closed the door and walked back to the cashier's desk, his movements erratic. Once he reached the two guys who were there he said "There was someone outside. a student of our school, and he... black stuff started to come out of his mouth and eyes and he... he's dead" he finally got out, his face ashen white. To say Kazama was shaken would be a severe understatement, he was traumatized. Never before had he experienced such a sight in real life, not even when a guy broke his arm in a construction zone he was working with. All his previous nervousness seemed to have left him, only a cold, almost robotic indifference permeated his movements as he reached for a key next to the cash register. "This is the key for that door, if we got out we shouldn't look to the moon, that guy did that and... that happened" He left the decision in the hands of his peers, he was too tired for that.</s> <|message|>Chise Nozaki Chise Nozaki Mentions: @VitaVitaAR Location: In the Gospel?? --- Chise was quick to follow Shiratori's steps as they hurried towards their mystery destination. It was instinctually that he started sprinting after her as she did, meanwhile his brain was back to thinking. "Others who've gotten pulled over to this side," She said. Okay, now it really was starting to sound like some spooky manga. He spared a moment to look away from their surroundings to have a glimpse at her -- she seemed determined. The glances down towards her phone made it seem as if she didn't really know where they were going - maybe she was reading a map or something - but, she seemed confident in her path, nonetheless. He took his eyes off her, again trying to examine their surroundings as they sprinted through the streets - not that there was much detail to examine. All the buildings were once again shaded out, and everything was thickly layered with blood. The smell was.. foul, but Chise tried not to breathe too deeply. His mind began to wonder as to the source of this blood just before the duo was halted by an ominous, creaking sound. Chise's eyes almost glazed over at what emerged before them. A scarily tall, gangling creature that looked like it came straight out of a nightmare. Its dark, elongated hands scrabbling across the blood-spattered cement as it eerily crawled out of the alley. Chise's legs suddenly felt numb. As he look at the creature in disbelief, it managed to spot them, and three long, grotesque tongues slithered out of each of the baleful masks that adorned its body. "H-Holy cra-" Before he could even finish, Shiratori grasped his hand and tugged him away as they sprinted down a nearby alley. Every instinct pulled Chise to turn and look back, but also to run away as fast as he could. He turned up the pace and started sprinting even harder as he heard the terrifying sounds of the creature following them, his strides shortening but quickening. He was no stranger to sprints or runs - he enjoyed them, even. But running for your life was a different feeling altogether. His eyes glanced to his side at Shiratori and he raised a question between leadened breaths. "What is that thing???"</s> <|message|>Nakano Nagi Nakano Nagi If the situation wasn't so serious, Yuzu's shift from haughty bitch to terrified child would be almost comical. Okay, scratch that, it was still fucking funny right now. The only reason Nagi didn't crack up was because Yuzu latching onto her arm was actually annoying enough to dampen her mood. "Get off of me, would ya?." Nagi grunted, shaking her arm out of Yuzu's grasp as they trudged along. "I can't make sure we don't die if you're latched on." Of course, the universe chose just then to screw with her life just that tiny bit more. As the shadowy monster rose up, Nagi shoved Yuzu back with one hand. Damn. She'd fought this sort of thing before, but not with a goddamn civilian in tow! "Get the fuck back! I got this! BELIAL!" Nagi bellowed her last word as she slammed her Awakening Drive into the side of her wrist, a crimson winged demon emerging into existence behind her with a roar. A mental nudge directed her Echo forward, claws outstretched to rip into the monster. Even as Belial charged forward, Nagi wasn't far behind, quickly reaching into her jacket pockets to slip on the other thing she kept hidden on her person, a pair of brass knuckles. Belial's claws descended upon the creature even as Nagi moved to flank it, aiming to land a haymaker into its side.</s> <|message|>Hattori Kauro @DarckLeon "From divine floods to this? God really decided to step up his game then," said Kauro with a chuckle at the mocking theories though he did not take it personally. How could he? Everything was completely absurd, and death was around every corner and behind every closed door. If it were not for the fact that doing so would attract whatever the hell was outside to them, Kauro would have busted his gut laughing at how preposterous it all was. Seriously, him and two other guys after figuring out they were experiencing the strange phenomena as him were pulled into a hellscape that looked like the flipside of their world. Everything about that should terrify him and yet, the ever-looming threat of death found no hold on him. He still had that same grin on his face. Kauro patted the tall boy's back and said, "Don't worry about it. Just focus on surviving." It was all they could do given the situation. They waited while the cashier offered to take a peek outside the building followed by a shrill screaming that did not come from him. It came from outside though it did not overstay its welcome. They were not the only ones that were pulled into the world after all. It would have been foolish to think that it was the case. What was surprising, however, was that it was another student from that was a victim. In a city as large as theirs, filled with so many people what were the odds that it was another student from their school to be pulled into this world too? No, what were the odds that it was just that kid and them to be pulled from their world into this blood-soaked hell in the general vicinity? It was a statistical anomaly. Kauro knew that his school was facing a disproportionate amount of missing people cases because of Strange Gospel, but thought at the very least that there had to be victims outside of the school that were under reported. It would have been odd if that was not the case, but that may have very well been the case. So why target Yamamura High School students? There were too many missing puzzle pieces. They had no way of solving the mystery if they hid themselves away. No, they couldn't hide anyway. "There's no way we could barricade the entire store by ourselves; they're too many points of entry for us to cover and too few of us to stand guard. I don't know what's out there, but if we're cornered in here then we're dead." They were in a store. There were many windows, air ventilation, and of course doorways that any unsavory creature could use to force their way inside. If anything, they would have been trapped with it.</s>

<|message|>Yuichi Miyasato Well, Kauro had a sense of humor. The words of jest helped Yuichi lighten up in the bizarre situation where death was an evident possibility. It was still beyond him how Kauro was still calm, but it was probably best if one of them stayed level-headed. The Cashier and himself weren't doing too well, seeing as they were sweating enough to fill buckets. Moreso, the Cashier rather than himself. It seemed like the Cashier was taking this worse than him. Maybe because he was stressed out from working at his part-time job? Yuichi had a few friends that often complained about customers at their workplace. "Hmmm," Yuichi grunted at Kauro's reassurance. He could agree with Kauro on that sentiment. A high pitch scream came from outside of the store. Yuichi's eyes darted toward the sound, and he raised his arm in preparation to throw the object at whatever was coming at them. Fortunately, it seems that wasn't the case. Unfortunately, a student splatted right in front of them. Yuichi paled at the sight of the now corpse. This student came from the same school as them judging by his uniform. Did that mean that they were going to end up like that as well? The Cashier's voice snapped him out of his shock. He seemingly shared the same sentiment as well. "It'll be alright. We'll get out of this alive." Yuichi said with the strongest voice he could. The taller male placed his hand on the Cashier's shoulder to reassure him, just like Kauro had done to him earlier. They would get out of this. Dying wasn't an option. "Then we either say here or leave." Either option didn't sound too entirely great. The Cashier at least had a key for the store, but the convenience store didn't have too many places to hide without any windows. "Then we should move, shouldn't we?" Yuichi finally stated after a moment of contemplation. "We don't know if there's anyone else who will come to help us or if this will all end eventually." Then Yuichi brought up his phone. "Maybe the app will help us? If it brought us here, maybe we can try to find a way to make it bring us back."</s>

<|description|>Gotoh Yuzu Age: 16 Gender: Female Appearance: She stands at around 5'2 with a thin body all around. She is often scowling or frowning. Yuzu usually just wears her uniform around, if not she prefers casual baggier clothing. Personality: Yuzu is someone with a fairly bad personality. She is a child prodigy, though its mainly seen in her interest in science there isn't a single subject she doesn't excel at. This fact seems to have gone right to her head. Yuzu looks down on others and will gladly let them know it. She always has to have the last word in both argument and conversation and especially loves when shes being praised by others. Despite her generally rude and over confident behavior, she can be something of a push over. She has more people she can call admirers than friends and even then Yuzu builds ire far more easily than appreciation. Yuzu hates being seen as anything less than amazing in the eyes of others, something that gives her genuine anxiety to think about. Alongside that, failure is never an option for her. She doesn't enjoy getting close to people, but if she ever did, she would likely do a lot to keep that person around. Skills: Language: Yuzu is fluent in English and Spanish. Genius: Academically, Yuzu is peerless, she could easily be teaching most classes she sits through. If her attitude was better, at least. Musical Ability: Yuzu's aunt had her learn some instruments while she lived with her, though much of that isn't relevant anymore. Equipment: A pocket knife Echo: Name: Muramasa Appearance: Abilities: Muramasa, despite taking the form of the sword, is able to float in mid air and move on its own, though it seems to only defend its user if left to act. Being a sword, its mainly used for physical combat. It enhances it's users physical abilities more compared to other Echos but at the price of having it's user fight more on the front line comparatively. The sword is always at least dripping with dark red blood which can be harnessed to poison those who are cut by Muramasa, if its possible to poison them. The sword can also produce a large amount of blood, slashing it away to create water cutters. Brief Backstory: Yuzu's parents died in a car accident when she was only 6, but she doesn't remember this. Yuzu's memories start to begin when she moves to her Aunt's home. Its there that her caregivers first catch onto Yuzu's apparent genius. Immediately, finds herself moving around again and again. Meeting doctors, meetings with teachers, meetings with college professors, meetings with her other relatives. She was special, so everyone wanted her. Her Aunt and her husband had her focus exclusively on academics from a young age, drilling it into her head that she had to do so in order to be successful in life. It started with her having lessons after school and ended with school being completely at home. Her caregivers looked at Yuzu as if she were a money ticket, and Yuzu picked up on this in a sense. She sensed that her value was pinned solely on if she could become successful for her family, and she hated it. Eventually Yuzu had to move again. Her grandparents managed to find out that her Aunt had pulled her out of school and had been withholding meals from her in favor of more lessons. In Yuzu's eyes, her grandparents weren't much better once she went to live with them. She saw their actions as taking a nicer approach to their meal ticket, though it was enough to keep her living with them. Yuzu was powerless, and she knew it. She resented it. So she tried her very best to own it. The moment she entered high school she became a new person. Someone who was absolutely proud of her accomplishments! Yuzu was better than everyone and had all the time and chances to prove it to everyone. Yuzu had figured out there could be a way to enjoy how much she resented the people around her, and it was by aiming it at everyone else. Still, there was this nagging feeling, something that told her it just wasn't enough. But for now, it just had to do.</s> <|message|>Nakano Nagi Nakano Nagi "How you die?" Nagi raised an eyebrow, deciding to humor the abrasive nerd. In the meantime, she glanced at the response she'd gotten back from Nozomi, immediately followed by coordinates from their handlers. Well, at least she knew where to go now. "Well, one of two things, usually. First doesn't happen often, and it probably shouldn't to you since we got to you first, but sometimes people just have what's basically a mental shutdown. Ain't pretty. Second is-" The world shifted. It happened again. Nagi stilled, looking around for a brief moment before tucking her phone away. Shit, shit, shit. This was bad. Both she and Nozomi had to lug around civilians during this shift, while looking for three more. This...wasn't going to be pretty. "God damn it." She groaned, thumbing her Awakening Drive once more as she glanced back to Yuzu, now deathly serious. "Gotoh. That second way you die? Getting killed by monsters in here. I need you to follow me and listen, because if you don't, you're gonna get killed real quick." Nagi turned, grabbing Yuzu by the shoulder and looking her dead in the eyes. "I'm not fucking around. This shit's absolutely serious. Stay behind me, and do what I tell you, when I tell you to. I ain't yanking your chain, I'm trying to keep you from biting it. Until I get you to the boss, you're defenseless in here. And there's still three more people that me and my coworker are trying to track down and stop from getting killed too. Got it?" Nagi's grip on Yuzu's shoulder turned into a brief pat before she turned back around, leading the way towards the coordinates she'd been given. It wasn't too far away, but anything could happen in the distance between the supermarket and the conbini.</s> <|message|>Hattori Kauro @DarckLeon "We can either figure out a way to save ourselves and investigate or we wait to see what happens. I don't know when we'll back pulled back in, but the reality is we are probably short on time if we can hear that heartbeat." What were they supposed to do? If they could be pulled back into the world whenever the forces wanted to, they would have no choice in the matter. The only thing they could do was to learn about what was happening and see if they could gleam anything from it. For Kauro, that was a joy, but for the others it was a terror. The cashier caught on from Kauro's pretty blatant excitement and asked him why he did not seem to be panicking in the face of very possible death. All color in Kauro's face drained away as soon as he was called out for understandably his inappropriate level enthusiasm for their situation. He had been so excited by all the wild possibilities that the case presented that he forgot put on his 'Popular Guy' facade. "Ah, sorry. Uh, you see," he trailed off to think of any excuse to get him out of this situation. Maybe death would have been better at this rate. However, a convenient distraction came in the form of a tall, rather dim purple haired boy. Kauro looked up at him with an expression that asked, 'how stupid could this guy be'. Yes, these theories were out there, but did this guy really understand what they saw and what's been happening? Kauro asked as bluntly and coldly as possible, "What else would you call that blood flooded world other than a chopping block? In the face of absurdity, expect equally absurd theories. Yes, I have no proof, but is this seriously the time to be a sceptic when you witnessed it yourself? We're not playing by the rules of this world anymore so-" There was something wrong. It was as if everything seemed normal, like a living room that was neatly in order except for a picture frame that was just ever so slightly titled. Where were the other shoppers? The silence was unnatural; the busyness of the city streets ceased as if it was paused. This was then followed by the light being snuffed away. Then it was followed by the most pungent of smell, an overwhelming scent of iron that flooded his nostrils. Blood soaked the floor and blood poured in thick, viscous streams from fridges and the heartbeat echoed in their ears. They were back on the chopping block. Kauro took the knife presented to him, his eyes never leaving the store entrance. "Move quickly and quietly. Be on alert. We don't know what's here."</s> <|message|>Chise Nozaki Chise Nozaki Mentions: @VitaVitaAR Location:Sidewalk, near grocer's square --- Chise's glancing became more focused as his classmate continued on with her line of questioning, his eyes narrowing in concern. So she was involved in it somehow. Asking him if he "saw something"? It was far too much of a coincidence. Despite how sure he was, any doubts would almost immediately disappear as the scene unfolded before him. Before he could break his pause with a response, they were interrupted by the buzzing of Shiratori's phone. Chise watched skeptically as she went to answer it, before bleating about whatever it was that she received. She was quick to stow it -- but even quicker to withdraw it once again as it buzzed off once more, this time more urgently. Chise was about to make his own remark before the whole interaction flipped-tone on its head. Shiratori's look of surprise at whatever she had been sent was accompanied only shortly afterwards by...the vision. Everything changed once again. The sun vanished, replaced by the pale gaze of a massive moon. The sky darkened with it, and the wind stilled - almost like it was out of fear of whatever this place was. Chise's sneaker momentarily slid before he caught his footing, the thick blood beneath his feet making for a more-slick-than-usual sidewalk. Chise's eyes darted to his surroundings once again and he absorbed as much of what he could see as he could - lest it vanish again as fast as it had the first time. But it didn't seem to. Instead, Shiratori turned to face him, and he took a step back, posturing himself defensively as she began to speak. But her next words, in honesty, confused him. They confused him, but he absorbed them nonetheless, and upon registering what she had said, he tried as well as he could to steel himself. So.. it's all real then, huh..? The gears in his head were turning - perhaps as urgently as they ever had before. She's really serious.. He couldn't believe he was thinking it, but this really was just like some sort of crazy manga he felt like he'd read before. It took a few seconds for him to adjust to the reality he found himself in, before he finally managed to speak - doing so with a discernable amount of seriousness that would be unusual to those who knew him. "Right.. I.. Okay. I understand. The exposition can come later- if things are really as urgent as you make them sound then we shouldn't wait." He spoke, his eyes scanning the area around him. The threat of death was something that he, at the least, would take serious for the time being - but he wasn't sure what it was that could rationalize such an idea. If he used manga logic, though.. he had the faintest idea that maybe something was out there.. He wasted no time in stepping up alongside Shiratori. He wasn't sure where they were going - especially with how all the buildings changed to look different - but he would match the urgency of her stride and follow along.</s>

<|message|>Gotoh Yuzu Yuzu crossed her arms going into full on listening mode to at least properly absorb some information that she was going to have to know. That was however, until the world changed around them. Yuzu whimpered pathetically as her head whipped around to try and look for any escape from this horrible fucking place. What could you even describe it as? It was the world she knew and lived in all her life, but completely and utterly wrong. Like everything around her decided it was time for her to die once and for all, everything was against her, everything was out to get her. "Uh..." She flinches at Nagi in an ugly way, going from bitch to horribly frightened in a second flat. Her mind fought between trying to listen to Nagi and smacking her hand away. She nods along hurriedly, now she just wanted to get the hell out of here as fast as possible. Though, upon her patting on the shoulder she immediately latches onto Nagi's arm. Somehow, the yakuza bitch seemed like a very comforting thing to be around. "W-whatever! Okay! J-just get me outta here! W-why do we have to get those guys? A-aren't they getting someone to escort them like your doing!? Don't you hear that!?" Landshark</s>

<|description|>Chise Nozaki Age: 18 Gender: Male Appearance: Chise stands 5'4" in height and weighs about 124lbs, making him relatively petite. Despite this unimposing stature though, he carries himself with a form of unthoughtful confidence that one might expect to see from an especially-airheaded lion. Chise, though, is far from a lion. Alongside his petite stature he possesses soft features, and nape-length, unkempt black hair that frames his face loosely. This dark hair is in direct contrast to his fair skin and bright, blizzard-blue eyes, which look surprisingly piercing once focused on something. Additionally, the only musculature to his frame appears in his legs, and only due to the fact that he enjoys running. The accumulation of his features, alongside the fact that Chise likes to wear loose, "fun" clothing, leave him appearring quite androgynous - as most aren't even sure of his gender until they ask - and even then, he occasionally has fun with a little fib. Personality: Were one to describe Chise's personality in one phrase, they might use the term "Wildcard". While this may appear to be true to anyone but his closest friends, there is some degree of nuance behind it. In truth, Chise does appear to have a care-free, bright disposition. He's very easily described as outgoing, and is often the most likely in a group to try and engage with others. He is a lover and proliferator of jokes and playful banter, and is always game for an adventure. It has been said by fellow students that one can rarely predict what Chise will do next. Chise, however, is not one-dimensional. In fact, he is far more observative and thoughtful than one might think. One might even say he's too thoughtful. Verily, he takes any current situation in which he finds himself, and dissects it piece-by-piece in the back of his mind, almost like breathing. This meticulously thorough predisposition, while sometimes useful, is in reality a safety mechanism and leads Chise to be, in truth, rather paranoid. He takes into account and tries to prepare himself for all possible outcomes or events that can occur with a situation - regardless of how unlikely they are. This leads Chise to be somewhat untrusting of others, and he tends to keep people at arms reach, even if he might seem to be outwardly chummy. Skills: * Quick-witted: Chise's mind is quick when it most needs to be. He's capable of thinking and reacting quickly to things others might not. His mind explores multiple avenues of possibility at any one time. * Quick-footed: Chise's body is equally fast. He possesses a quick step, and while he's not particularly athletic, he is accustomed to running and feats of parkour; pasttimes of his. * Physics nerd: While some might not see it as that useful, Chise is an absolute physics-nut. His grades in physics class have always been superb, and he readily sees ways in which any physics-based tasks can be engaged - which is quite useful for performing creative pranks. Equipment: * Snacks (Gum, Pocky, Lollipops) * Super-bouncy balls * A small pocketknife * Rubberbands, Glitter, Balloons ("prank items") Echo:* Name: Providentia * Appearance:Coin * Abilities: When manifested, Providentia splits into two pieces - the first being a coin through which a portion of Providentia's exceptional vision is imparted to the wielder - and the second being the main body of the Echo itself. + When looking through the coin, in a similar way as a monocle, it grants the wielder a weak spectral vision of what will happen at that specific spot a couple seconds ahead. The coin can be manifested seperately from the crow, and also works as a monocular. + The main body of Providentia, the crow, possesses a stronger sense of future-sight, as well as the ability to fly, naturally. It also boasts good physical stats - but its abilities currently end there. Brief Backstory: Even from a young age, Chise had little going for him. He was borne to a household in which he saw no mother, and the presence of his father did little to make up for it. The man was abusive, and Chise had little reasnoning as to why, even to this day. Despite the seeming lack of logic behind such treatment, Chise eventually began to adapt to the cruel reality he was dropped into. Over the years, he grew capable of escaping and sneaking past the various abuses he would otherwise endure. This growth, however, didn't come without its own price. Many defense mechanisms were buried within him as he found his way to relative "safety". He changed - and, in truth, one can never know who he would have grown to be without such mechanisms and developed mannerisms. Nevertheless, even if he grew further from his father and the old man grew less interested in directly abusing him with age, the damage had already been done -- but Chise was an.. oddly joyous-seeming personality. Something that he, in the back of his psyche, recognized as a coping mechanism. But what reason had he to fight it? Eventually, when he grew old enough, he made the decision himself to move in with his Aunt. And it changed everything for him. Well, almost everything - he still had his.. damages. But, hopefully.. that was all behind him now. Having now lived with his Aunt for a bit over a year and a half, Chise has been able to pursue more and more things that make him happy as time goes on - and his grades have even gone up, too! Now though, he searches for something that really uplifts him on a deeper level than shallow things like his current hobbies of parkour and playing dress-up.</s> <|message|>Gotoh Yuzu Gotoh Yuzu Yuzu was begrudgingly walked through the crowd of students, her head down looking at her phone as she tapped her way through an endless stream of social medias. She had no club to be at and no real friends she wanted to be around, so she had to wrestle with the daily issue of what she could be doing with her time that wasn't studying or doing more scholorship papers. Yuzu figured that either way, she would probably be heading right back home but that was far too unappealing. There was something that was on everyones mind that even Yuzu had to admit was interesting, this Strange Gospel stuff? If you asked Yuzu, it was either a hard scam or a cult thing, both of which were very appealing to high school students with nothing but free time. Unluckily, Yuzu was also a highschool student with nothing but free time. As Yuzu began breaking away from the greater rabble she made way for the grocery store, may as well get a snack or something while she does this. She did have the link to this Strange Gospel thing after all, off of a number she doesn't recognize of all things. If you wanna do a scam, at least obfuscate it a little, right? All she had to do now by the looks of it was wait for that next day response. "I swear to God if this is just a fucking virus..." She grumbled to herself, idly looking around and- hey was that the fucking Yakuza chick? Landshark</s> <|message|>Hattori Kauro Another day of school ended, but let's be honest, no one really cared about what was happening around the school these days with the rumors circulating about disappearances and a strange man being seen about town at night. At the heart of it all though was Strange Gospel, something that no one was entirely sure what it was. Well, it was an app, but the purpose or even the origin was dubious. An app that that showed someone the future that was now feared to be the source of various missing cases throughout the damn city and who knows where else. Still, it sounded like a work of fiction, a rumor that someone made up and posted on the web. Life has a funny way of being though. The sick twist is that it was real, and Hattori Kauro found himself stuck in this mess. One way or another he found the app or more accurately, the app found him. He knew that there was something greater than what the rumors because he had seen what he assumed to be a potential future. If the design of the app was to show the future, then the next logical step would be that the second video showed him a bleak, terrifying future. The next question is the purpose of the app. No, the purpose isn't to just show the future; it was to communicate though to what end was beyond Kauro. However, he did have one working theory about where the abductees were taken. They were most likely in that tower that he saw in the video. The sensation to solve something beyond mortal comprehension was a thrill that one would have difficulty to describe, but he was also not stupid. He only had two weeks to solve this mystery or else he was going to disappear just like everyone else who had made contact with this app. Ruin was creeping around the corner, ready to draw Kauro down with all the other victims, but he was going to be a step ahead. He had to be. These were the kind of thoughts he had when walking down the school corridor with his friends. He was completely dead to the world, his eyes glazed over, and his ears deafened to the conversation going around him though over time he could almost hear his name being called. Well, that was until a girl just shouted into his ear. Kauro almost jumped from his skin, which was pretty unusual for him given how used to jumpscares he was and turned to look at the group. "Yo Kauro! What're you zoning out for? We've called you out like five times!" One of them said, a girl with long black hair. The truth was that he had not told anyone in his friend group that he used the app. The last thing he wanted to do was make any of them worry. Kauro smiled and said, "My bad, my bad. Just lost in thought. So, what's the plan?" Someone else from the group piped up. "We're thinking Karaoke to blow off some steam. Things have been way too tense at school recently with everything that's happened." "Sounds like fun. I'll just text my aunt to let her know that I'll be out late," said Kauro as he whipped his phone out. Going out with his friends wasn't the entire reason why he was so keen on this. He needed an excuse to go around and look for whatever the hell that mysterious figure popping in and out of town. Of course, finding it was an incredible risk because it could be the thing responsible for the kidnappings, or it could be his ticket out. It was his only lead given how little information he had. With all that in mind, he exited the campus with his school friends and made their way through the town.</s>

<|message|>Chise Nozaki Mentions: N/A Location:School Courtyard --- Chise's hands sat nestled comfortably in each of his front pockets as the repetitive, brief "chht-ing" sound of his skipping footsteps struck out with each of his shallow strides. Said strides led him away from his previous location - the school track. The period before the sound of the school's final bell had consisted of Chise hanging out at the edge of the track, slacking off as he is wont to do. One might see such behavior as a display of his disinterest in track club, but on the contrary, he did enjoy his time there - he just didn't take the sport itself that seriously. Which is why the tense environment of the school as of late what starting to irritate him a little. He drew his hands from his pockets and splayed them out in front of him as his skipping changed into a jaunty walk. "Oh, come one, everybody!" He called out to nobody in particular as he passed by a few groups of students, a few of whom he gauged as being a bit more skittish than usual. "Loosen up a bit! All these nerves are starting to feel a bit contagious!" He expressed, tossing a couple edifying glances at a few students who looked over to him. Perhaps he didn't know them personally, but Chise was no stranger to strangers, and he had a bit of a reputation for having little filter or ambitions, so it only seemed natural for him to address even a small student body. Although he hadn't expected much change, the lack of any shift in the tone of the area left him shoving his hands back into his pockets as his walk continued forward. The tail-end of one of his glances left him heedless to the person which he was about to collide with, until they clashed. Chise let out a short "oof" before rolling with the collision and saving himself from a tumble as he unsteadily backpedaled a few steps. "Ack- sorry, friend. My head was screwed on a bit backwards there, won't happen again!" He apologized with an atoning glance even as he continued his path with an unabated pace, offering a brief two-finger salute in friendly adieu. He was in no hurry, and so his stride was on the casual side. If he kept his current trajectory, he'd be hitting the sidewalk which would lead away from the school and towards the middle of town. He had taken it upon himself to decide to get a few groceries for his Aunt on his way home - though he had to admit he also wanted to get a few things for himself as well. He shifted the weight of his backpack, which casually hung off his back on one shoulder. While his demeanor seemed just like his usual, carefree self, in the back of his head he was wondering about what just-about-everyone-else was. The "Strange Gospel". There were those who didn't believe it - thought it a prank of some sort - and there were those who feared it. Being the wildcard he was, Chise wasn't settled on any particular theory - it could be fake.. or maybe it was real. In truth, only time could tell. And he would know personally within two weeks..</s>

<|description|>Kazama Kosubaku Age: 17 Gender: Male Appearance: Kazama is around 5,9 feet tall. He has a cheery air around him and a face that old people would call "trustworthy". He tends to wear sports clothes for easiness of movement for his part-time jobs. Personality: An energetic, cheery, and upbeat young man who is always on the look for his next adventure, not wanting to waste away his golden years as a highschooler in the "spring of his youth"... or so he wishes, if it weren't for the multiple part-time jobs and errands he has to manage to make ends meet, but never the one to let small things like that sour his mood, Kazama affronts life's with a smile on his face. Yet, is it not the nature of man to want something better for his life? Even if he would never admit it, sometimes, as he gazes into the starry night, his heart craves a better future, one where he doesn't have to be the pillar of the house, one where he gets to enjoy time with his friends, one here where he gets to enjoy freedom... but every time that thought passes for his head, it's guiltily stomped, yet never extinguished. Kazama doesn't really have any hobbies, as he's too busy otherwise, but on the little free time he has he likes to gather and collect tourist pamphlets, enjoying the sights and unique attractions each destination offers. If he doesn't immediately crash on his bed after eating dinner, he tends to get on the roof through a nearby tree and, while looking at the stars, imagine what he would do in each of those places. Skills: Worker's Physique: While not on the level of a dedicated gym-goer or athlete, Kazama's body has been conditioned by years of part-time jobs, some of them demanding hours of repetitive physical activity. This has led to the formation of muscles that, while not overly visible, still gives him more strength than an average high schooler. Knowledge of tools: Kazama is acquainted with a rather large number of tools, from big shovels to delicate screwdrivers, he knows his way around them and can use them effectively in most situations Street Smarts: While not the most academically gifted, Kazama's time on the streets while looking for his next job opportunity, and the fact that he was the one managing the finances of his house has led to him being rather savvy on more mundane, everyday matters. He likes to call it "wisdom one can only learn with experience" Blue Collar Connections: A by-product of his time working various part-time jobs, Kazama has become sometimes of a regular in a number of places, ranging from construction sites to moving companies. His work ethic and can-do attitude have led the majority of those he worked with to cherish him, and, if asked, they would surely be able to aid in small things. Equipment: Shovel: An everyday shovel used for various construction works, it was Kazama's first thing at hand when he awakened his echo, and he just kept using it afterward. Phone: An outdated phone, the only model he was able to buy with his pocket money. Swiss Army Knife: A small multi-tool Kazama was able to buy after one whole year of saving. Even if the occasions he needed it were far in between, just bringing it with him makes him feel ready for any inconvenience. Echo: Name: Icarus, the Shackled Wings: An Echo born of Kazama's desire for a more free future that he feels is shackled by the errors of the past and the weight of the present. Appearance: Imagine that his wings, instead of unfolded, are close to his body like a straitjacket and an anchor is tied to his left foot. Abilities: As an echo related to the concept of Freedom, Icarus is geared for high-speed movement. He uses his speed for blitz tactics involving powerful slashes and kicks. As the element more in tune with the sky, Icarus can also utilize wind magic. His weak point is his lackluster (in comparison to other Echoes that is) physical defense. If the situation were to call for it, Icarus can briefly spread his wings and carry up to one person in short bursts of flying. This tends to tax Kazama more heavily than any other action, as he doesn't see himself as capable of attaining the freedom associated with it. Brief Backstory: Kazama Kosubaku's early life was one of joy and happiness. His father always regaled him with the most fun of tales, and his mother cooked the most delicious of meals every day, for a boy his age, it was everything one could ask for. But life tends to twist at the most inopportune of times, and sometimes, for the smallest of reasons. It was one tiny mistake at his office job, but it was all that took for his father to lose his job. Maybe it was a way of coping, or maybe it was to escape from the shame, but little by little, the money they had saved was drunk away by a man who could not support his family. Regrettably yet to the surprise of no one, this led to his eventual death, one rainy evening, while walking back to his house from the bar, Kazama's father slipped on a puddle and hit his head on the pavement. Instant death, the medic had said to the grieving widow and the crying young man. The little money they had left was used for the funeral, and the stability of the Kosubaku home was left on the shoulders of a housewife not accustomed to working. The stress of trying to insert herself into a highly competitive and ruthless work market a short time after her husband's death while at the same time taking care of her adolescent son was too much for her, and, after being diagnosed with clinical depression, was unable to leave the house, and even less of supporting the household. And so, at only 13 years of age, that responsibility fell into Kazama's shoulders. At first, it was hard, and he cried for many nights, but in such circumstances, one is driven to grow up quickly. Thanks to the support of the workers he had to spend so much time with, Kazama accomplished to see life with a new perspective, and his cheerful mood even infected his mother, who started to once again care for the house, little by little. Now, at 17 years of age, Kazama's life can not be called an ideal one. Friendly and helpful enough to have a number of acquaintances that know him by name, the fact that he has to spend most of his time earning money doesn't let him develop even a single friendship he could call a true one... but hey, there's folk out there who have it worse than him, at least he has a mother who loves him and can eat every night... But sometimes, he wonders what kind of life he could have had if things didn't go the way they went, if he had at least one parent that could take care of him, and not the other way around, and as he looks in the sky, he chastises himself for even daring to think like that.</s> <|message|>Hattori Kauro @AThousandCurses It would've been inaccurate to say that Kauro was distracted. Or maybe he was? Kauro's thoughts were a racing, jumbled mess and yet, at the same time completely hyper focused on Strange Gospel. How could he not after everything he saw? There were so many questions that just needed to be answered! His blood was pumping, adrenaline deluged his body as he walked through the sunset-kissed streets of the city. It was a strange sort of joy, something that was manic, yet such a high that it was almost unbearable. Was it his heartbeat or was it that world's he heard? Kauro wandered aimlessly focused only on his thoughts until he noticed the sound of a chime and the glow of florescent lights from above. He just stood there for a solid second to realize that he just walked into a market without much thought. His head was completely somewhere else though now it started to anchor itself back down to reality. Would it be weird if he walked into a store only to just walk out without buying anything? Yeah, it probably would be weird. Just for the sake of not looking out of place, Kauro just perused the aisles. Still, he could hear the heartbeat thump softly in the background. This was probably the point when the students would disappear. If they made contact with whatever that world was, it must've meant he was going to be pulled back in soon. The reality has been breached and he was marked by whatever entity was in control of Strange Gospel if the repeated beating of the heart was an indication. The question was when he would be claimed. Would it be so bad though? It's not like he had much reason to stay. Kauro grabbed a can of coke from the drinks section and walked over to the checkout. The cashier was some black- haired kid around his own age. Strangely enough, he looked familiar, but he was not sure where he would have seen him. Maybe from school? Who knows "Hi, I'd like to get some chicken," he said pointing at the glass case convivence store fried chicken and other foods.</s> <|message|>Yuichi Miyasato Yuichi Miyasato It didn't go away. The thumping of a heartbeat echoed into his ear, no matter how many steps he was away from the school. Sweat slid down as Yuichi tried to think. Was it the app? Taking out his phone again, he tried to delete the app. When he did, it just popped up again. "What's with this thing," Yuichi muttered to himself. With the stress getting to him again, he looked up from his phone. He was far from the sports center, but there was a convenience store. Entering inside, he recognized a certain orange hair man browsing through the aisles. Hattori Karuo, if he remembered correctly. They hadn't met personally, but Yuichi often caught his name when he passed by him and his friends at school. A social star, as Yuichi would have likened it as. Yuichi considered the possibility of walking up and talking to him. Maybe all of this was in his head, and it'd go away if he talked to someone,. No, that would be too awkward. Yuichi didn't even know what to open with to start a conversation, and he didn't know Hattori that well, either. Going off to one of the display refrigerators, Yuichi picked out a water bottle and picked up a snack. By the time he arrived to order himself up, Hattori was already standing in front of the cashier. The cashier, himself, seemed familiar as well. Was it Kosubaku? If he remembered the name correctly. They might have shared a class at one point, though Yuichi could have remembered better. Though, now he was in an awkward situation. Standing right behind Hattori, Yuichi stood behind and stared straight ahead at the shelf behind Kosubaku. Should he speak up? It didn't help that the uncomfortable sound was still beating somewhere right behind him. Mentally steeling himself, he spoke up. "Hi, Hattori-kun. How's your day?" Yuichi said casually. A simple conversation opener. Though forget that, Hattori didn't know who he was. How would Hattori feel if some stranger came out of nowhere, called him by his name, and greeted him out of nowhere? A frown formed on his face as he tried to work things out inside his head.</s>

<|message|>Kazama Kosubaku Being a rather small, off-the-road market, Kazama was the only employee around, and he served the function of both the cashier and a stock clerk and so it was also his job to replenish any missing item when he thought no client would arrive. He was in the middle of this, alone in the store when his mind had time to realize one crucial detail: that nauseating sound, the thumping of that alien heart hadn't stopped, it only became fainter, almost inaudibly when he didn't actively look for it, but now that he had he couldn't get it out of his head. His thoughts became mumbled, he wanted to forget what happened, write it off as a stress-induced hallucination, a consequence of his routine, but the constant heartbeat was a reminder that he was going crazy, or what he experienced was no delirium. Kazama was so lost in his thoughts that he almost didn't hear the chime signaling a new customer had arrived. "stop thinking about crap and concentrate on the job" he said to himself, and really mean it. There were few things worse than slacking in a job you got paid for in Kazama's mind, and besides that, it would be good for him to take his keep his mind busy with anything other than the events from some minutes ago. He walked down the aisle and got behind the cashier's desk, put on the best salesman smile he could muster on, and waited till the client got what they wanted and went to pay, but what he did not expect was it to be a fellow student from his school looking at the aisles. He was about his height, had orange hair, and carried himself with confidence, even if he looked kinda distracted from what he could see. The oranged-haired boy was still searching for something to buy when the bell at the entrance sounded yet again, and another peer of his entered the store. Not only twice in a day but at the same time? Not that it was weird or anything, but usually students didn't pick such a small market to buy things... well, not like he was ashamed to be seen working here, so he didn't care either way. The first guy that entered reached the checkout and asked for some chicken to accompany his coke. He smiled at him as he answered "Hi! Wait for just a second and I get it for you" . With that said, Kazama crouched, the opening for the glass door being on his side of the desk. Just as he was about to grab the chicken he heard the second customer greet the now named Hattori. His name didn't ring any bells in Kazama's mind, but to be fair he didn't know a lot of people in school to be honest. He got back up and put the plastic plate on the counter, "That would be 2000 yen, would that be all?" . He looked behind Hattori and nodded to the other boy, his face seemed a little more familiar to him, but still not enough to put a name to it. There was a moment of silence, but it was enough for that creepy thumping to return to his ears. The smile on Kazama's face weakened a little, and he turned his head slightly to the left as if to make sure there was nothing behind him. The paranoia was starting to affect his mind on the job he noticed and grimaced for one second, before returning to his smiling self. He hoped neither of the boys had seen that.</s>

<|description|>Kazama Kosubaku Age: 17 Gender: Male Appearance: Kazama is around 5,9 feet tall. He has a cheery air around him and a face that old people would call "trustworthy". He tends to wear sports clothes for easiness of movement for his part-time jobs. Personality: An energetic, cheery, and upbeat young man who is always on the look for his next adventure, not wanting to waste away his golden years as a highschooler in the "spring of his youth"... or so he wishes, if it weren't for the multiple part-time jobs and errands he has to manage to make ends meet, but never the one to let small things like that sour his mood, Kazama affronts life's with a smile on his face. Yet, is it not the nature of man to want something better for his life? Even if he would never admit it, sometimes, as he gazes into the starry night, his heart craves a better future, one where he doesn't have to be the pillar of the house, one where he gets to enjoy time with his friends, one here where he gets to enjoy freedom... but every time that thought passes for his head, it's guiltily stomped, yet never extinguished. Kazama doesn't really have any hobbies, as he's too busy otherwise, but on the little free time he has he likes to gather and collect tourist pamphlets, enjoying the sights and unique attractions each destination offers. If he doesn't immediately crash on his bed after eating dinner, he tends to get on the roof through a nearby tree and, while looking at the stars, imagine what he would do in each of those places. Skills: Worker's Physique: While not on the level of a dedicated gym-goer or athlete, Kazama's body has been conditioned by years of part-time jobs, some of them demanding hours of repetitive physical activity. This has led to the formation of muscles that, while not overly visible, still gives him more strength than an average high schooler. Knowledge of tools: Kazama is acquainted with a rather large number of tools, from big shovels to delicate screwdrivers, he knows his way around them and can use them effectively in most situations Street Smarts: While not the most academically gifted, Kazama's time on the streets while looking for his next job opportunity, and the fact that he was the one managing the finances of his house has led to him being rather savvy on more mundane, everyday matters. He likes to call it "wisdom one can only learn with experience" Blue Collar Connections: A by-product of his time working various part-time jobs, Kazama has become sometimes of a regular in a number of places, ranging from construction sites to moving companies. His work ethic and can-do attitude have led the majority of those he worked with to cherish him, and, if asked, they would surely be able to aid in small things. Equipment: Shovel: An everyday shovel used for various construction works, it was Kazama's first thing at hand when he awakened his echo, and he just kept using it afterward. Phone: An outdated phone, the only model he was able to buy with his pocket money. Swiss Army Knife: A small multi-tool Kazama was able to buy after one whole year of saving. Even if the occasions he needed it were far in between, just bringing it with him makes him feel ready for any inconvenience. Echo: Name: Icarus, the Shackled Wings: An Echo born of Kazama's desire for a more free future that he feels is shackled by the errors of the past and the weight of the present. Appearance: Imagine that his wings, instead of unfolded, are close to his body like a straitjacket and an anchor is tied to his left foot. Abilities: As an echo related to the concept of Freedom, Icarus is geared for high-speed movement. He uses his speed for blitz tactics involving powerful slashes and kicks. As the element more in tune with the sky, Icarus can also utilize wind magic. His weak point is his lackluster (in comparison to other Echoes that is) physical defense. If the situation were to call for it, Icarus can briefly spread his wings and carry up to one person in short bursts of flying. This tends to tax Kazama more heavily than any other action, as he doesn't see himself as capable of attaining the freedom associated with it. Brief Backstory: Kazama Kosubaku's early life was one of joy and happiness. His father always regaled him with the most fun of tales, and his mother cooked the most delicious of meals every day, for a boy his age, it was everything one could ask for. But life tends to twist at the most inopportune of times, and sometimes, for the smallest of reasons. It was one tiny mistake at his office job, but it was all that took for his father to lose his job. Maybe it was a way of coping, or maybe it was to escape from the shame, but little by little, the money they had saved was drunk away by a man who could not support his family. Regrettably yet to the surprise of no one, this led to his eventual death, one rainy evening, while walking back to his house from the bar, Kazama's father slipped on a puddle and hit his head on the pavement. Instant death, the medic had said to the grieving widow and the crying young man. The little money they had left was used for the funeral, and the stability of the Kosubaku home was left on the shoulders of a housewife not accustomed to working. The stress of trying to insert herself into a highly competitive and ruthless work market a short time after her husband's death while at the same time taking care of her adolescent son was too much for her, and, after being diagnosed with clinical depression, was unable to leave the house, and even less of supporting the household. And so, at only 13 years of age, that responsibility fell into Kazama's shoulders. At first, it was hard, and he cried for many nights, but in such circumstances, one is driven to grow up quickly. Thanks to the support of the workers he had to spend so much time with, Kazama accomplished to see life with a new perspective, and his cheerful mood even infected his mother, who started to once again care for the house, little by little. Now, at 17 years of age, Kazama's life can not be called an ideal one. Friendly and helpful enough to have a number of acquaintances that know him by name, the fact that he has to spend most of his time earning money doesn't let him develop even a single friendship he could call a true one... but hey, there's folk out there who have it worse than him, at least he has a mother who loves him and can eat every night... But sometimes, he wonders what kind of life he could have had if things didn't go the way they went, if he had at least one parent that could take care of him, and not the other way around, and as he looks in the sky, he chastises himself for even daring to think like that.</s> <|message|>Nakano Nagi Nakano Nagi So help her, Nagi was going to throw this bitch into oncoming traffic. At the very least, Gotoh was listening. Being an unbelievable cunt about it, but still listening. Still, how the hell had the rumor mill not focused on the fact that the school genius was a walking stereotype insufferable know-it-all? That really should've been the first thing anyone even mentioned about Gotoh Yuzu. Fucking hell, she seriously wasn't paid enough to deal with this shit. For a moment, Nagi felt just a twinge of empathy towards her father and a good portion of the boys for their smoking habit. A cigarette didn't sound like the worst idea right now if it took the edge off dealing with this. Then the part of her that actually gave a shit about the health of everyone involved ruthlessly quashed that sentiment and gave her a dope slap on the back of the head for even considering it. "God, just...fuck it." Nagi groaned in disgust as she pinched her brow. "If it means something's gonna come out of your mouth besides another insult, just ask your questions while we're walking. Can't promise I can answer everything, but I'll tell you what I know and/or what I'm allowed to say before you meet the boss." At the same time, Nagi fished her burner phone out, rapidly typing a text to her erstwhile classmate and co-worker. Shiratori, you got your guy yet? Mine's driving me batshit insane from how much of a huge bitch she is, might kill her before Strange Gospel gets the chance to at this rate @VitaVitaAR</s> <|message|>Gotoh Yuzu Gotoh Yuzu Where this freaking delinquent got off talking to her like this, Yuzu could not guess!! She tried glaring holes into the back of her head, mostly because she felt like the yakuza bitch would hit her or something and she apparently already avoided death once today. Yuzu bit the inside of her lip and took a calming breath, okay. For now, she should just try and get information about this thing from the delinquent, even if she didn't look smart enough to do more than swing a bat against someone's skull. "Well you can start by telling me how exactly I would have died." Even just thinking it makes a shiver go up her spine, her shoulders square as she followed behind. "And why its happening through some phone app! You'd think a virus would be a lot easier, if someone was planning on killing people with...whatever this is." As she talked, however, Yuzu did take notice of the Yakuza bitch typing away at her phone. She sped up behind her to try and see what exactly she was saying. It was hard, considering she was several inches shorter than the bitch and that they were both moving. Shiratori? And- Did she just call her a bitch!? Landshark</s> <|message|>Hattori Kauro @DarckLeon "Uh huh..." This would have been the part where this tall guy would introduce himself, but it looked like he did not seem to know the protocol for basic introductions. So, Kauro still had no idea who this guy was still, and the conversation came to a grinding halt. There was no salvaging that conversation and Kauro really just did not have the energy to care enough to try to maintain a conversation where he would never interact with again. He had more important matters at hand though he was stuck talking to an anxious store employee. The clerk made a mistake with trying to hide behind a smile; don't try to bullshit a bullshitter. Clearly there was something wrong, but if he would not divulge information then there was nothing for Kauro to do. However, he let on a bit more than he might've intended. This could have been nothing though. It could have just been an actual gas leak, but there were too many strange phenomena occurring all at once all over the city; things that even Kauro has seen. There was a real chance that Kauro had just met another victim of Strange Gospel. It was a big jump to conclusions, but he had to take it. "You saw it, didn't you? Strange Gospel, or whatever that world was," Kauro said to him point blank without blinking. "You can hear it too. A heartbeat, but it's at the very edge of your hearing like it's background noise. That's why you're looking behind even when all there is behind you is a wall with shelves. Considering you suggested a gas leak, something you'd report immediately to your supervisor, you must've experienced it for the first time today. The same as me." His blood was beginning to pump again. If he was correct, then that meant it was possible that there were other people that entered that world at the same time he did. Just how many others were pulled into it as well today?</s> <|message|>Yuichi Miyasato Yuichi Miyasato "Can you say that again?" Suddenly, the tall student came close behind Kauro and grabbed his shoulder. While his tone seemed polite, the serious expression that demanded an explanation betrayed his feelings. Yuichi wasn't paying attention to what was said beside him. The youth took out his phone shortly after he looked away. Eyeing the same app that seemingly was the source of his stress, he tried to delete it from his phone a second time until he heard the word 'Strange Gospel.' Whether Yuichi noticed or not, his grip on Kauro's shoulder tightened. "What do you know of this Strange Gospel?" There was no attempt to connect the two. If Kauro was experiencing the same auditory illusion, then he definitely was the only one. The cashier as well if Kauro's guess was correct. How many people were involved with this app? The entire school? Maybe even more? A chill ran down his spine as he remembered a classmate who passed by him who first mentioned it. Did that mean that kid was also? His grip slightly loosened on Kauro's shoulder. Yuichi's eyes glanced over to the cashier, "Is it the same for you?" Considering that the cashier looked as bad, or worse, than him, Yuichi guess that it would be a yes. Though what did this all mean? Yuichi's eyes furrowed as he became aware that the arm he had used was his dominant arm. His arm shook as Yuichi tried to contain himself.</s>

<|message|>Kazama Kosubaku Strange Gospel! As he heard that name leave Hattori's mouth he knew why the morbid scenario he witnessed some minutes ago was familiar to him! It was the same imagery as those creepy videos that started to pop up in that app, and his eyes widened as he realized that perhaps he wasn't crazy, perhaps something more was going on behind the scenes... but if that really was the case, it only invited more questions to his mind. He looked at Hattori's, his cool and collected facade starting to disappear a little as his eyes became, for a lack of a better word, alive for the first time in the conversation. He was about to answer the question when the guy behind him grabbed the orangette's shoulder. Now that he was closer, Kazama could see just how tall he was, considering he himself was taller than the average student and even some men he worked with, it was rare to find himself looking up to someone, even if slightly. He noticed that the grip he had on Hattori was perhaps stronger than it should be, but if they all experienced that same moonlight-filled world then he couldn't blame him if his nerves got to him. Still, that didn't mean it was correct, so he quickly spoke out, both to answer the questions and to try and calm the situation. "Yeah, some minutes ago on the street". Before continuing, he made sure no other customer was in the store, even if the entrance was visible from where they were, he didn't want anyone to overhear what he was about to say. "Blood all over the place, a full moon, and a fucking enormous tower in the distance? Yeah I saw it, and I can still hear the heartbeats". Even the memory of it made his blood run cold, it was the most disturbing thing he ever saw. He sighed, a weight off his shoulders now that he could confirm he wasn't crazy, but that still begs the question. "You say that weird app, Strange Gospel, has something to do with this?, I've heard the rumors and though they were only urban legends, now I'm not so sure." he shifted his view between Hattori and the still unidentified tall guy, seeing as the three of them were in a similar situation. "Do you think the disappearances are also connected to this? because if they are...". Then any of us could be next was left unsaid.</s>

<|description|>Kazama Kosubaku Age: 17 Gender: Male Appearance: Kazama is around 5,9 feet tall. He has a cheery air around him and a face that old people would call "trustworthy". He tends to wear sports clothes for easiness of movement for his part-time jobs. Personality: An energetic, cheery, and upbeat young man who is always on the look for his next adventure, not wanting to waste away his golden years as a highschooler in the "spring of his youth"... or so he wishes, if it weren't for the multiple part-time jobs and errands he has to manage to make ends meet, but never the one to let small things like that sour his mood, Kazama affronts life's with a smile on his face. Yet, is it not the nature of man to want something better for his life? Even if he would never admit it, sometimes, as he gazes into the starry night, his heart craves a better future, one where he doesn't have to be the pillar of the house, one where he gets to enjoy time with his friends, one here where he gets to enjoy freedom... but every time that thought passes for his head, it's guiltily stomped, yet never extinguished. Kazama doesn't really have any hobbies, as he's too busy otherwise, but on the little free time he has he likes to gather and collect tourist pamphlets, enjoying the sights and unique attractions each destination offers. If he doesn't immediately crash on his bed after eating dinner, he tends to get on the roof through a nearby tree and, while looking at the stars, imagine what he would do in each of those places. Skills: Worker's Physique: While not on the level of a dedicated gym-goer or athlete, Kazama's body has been conditioned by years of part-time jobs, some of them demanding hours of repetitive physical activity. This has led to the formation of muscles that, while not overly visible, still gives him more strength than an average high schooler. Knowledge of tools: Kazama is acquainted with a rather large number of tools, from big shovels to delicate screwdrivers, he knows his way around them and can use them effectively in most situations Street Smarts: While not the most academically gifted, Kazama's time on the streets while looking for his next job opportunity, and the fact that he was the one managing the finances of his house has led to him being rather savvy on more mundane, everyday matters. He likes to call it "wisdom one can only learn with experience" Blue Collar Connections: A by-product of his time working various part-time jobs, Kazama has become sometimes of a regular in a number of places, ranging from construction sites to moving companies. His work ethic and can-do attitude have led the majority of those he worked with to cherish him, and, if asked, they would surely be able to aid in small things. Equipment: Shovel: An everyday shovel used for various construction works, it was Kazama's first thing at hand when he awakened his echo, and he just kept using it afterward. Phone: An outdated phone, the only model he was able to buy with his pocket money. Swiss Army Knife: A small multi-tool Kazama was able to buy after one whole year of saving. Even if the occasions he needed it were far in between, just bringing it with him makes him feel ready for any inconvenience. Echo: Name: Icarus, the Shackled Wings: An Echo born of Kazama's desire for a more free future that he feels is shackled by the errors of the past and the weight of the present. Appearance: Imagine that his wings, instead of unfolded, are close to his body like a straitjacket and an anchor is tied to his left foot. Abilities: As an echo related to the concept of Freedom, Icarus is geared for high-speed movement. He uses his speed for blitz tactics involving powerful slashes and kicks. As the element more in tune with the sky, Icarus can also utilize wind magic. His weak point is his lackluster (in comparison to other Echoes that is) physical defense. If the situation were to call for it, Icarus can briefly spread his wings and carry up to one person in short bursts of flying. This tends to tax Kazama more heavily than any other action, as he doesn't see himself as capable of attaining the freedom associated with it. Brief Backstory: Kazama Kosubaku's early life was one of joy and happiness. His father always regaled him with the most fun of tales, and his mother cooked the most delicious of meals every day, for a boy his age, it was everything one could ask for. But life tends to twist at the most inopportune of times, and sometimes, for the smallest of reasons. It was one tiny mistake at his office job, but it was all that took for his father to lose his job. Maybe it was a way of coping, or maybe it was to escape from the shame, but little by little, the money they had saved was drunk away by a man who could not support his family. Regrettably yet to the surprise of no one, this led to his eventual death, one rainy evening, while walking back to his house from the bar, Kazama's father slipped on a puddle and hit his head on the pavement. Instant death, the medic had said to the grieving widow and the crying young man. The little money they had left was used for the funeral, and the stability of the Kosubaku home was left on the shoulders of a housewife not accustomed to working. The stress of trying to insert herself into a highly competitive and ruthless work market a short time after her husband's death while at the same time taking care of her adolescent son was too much for her, and, after being diagnosed with clinical depression, was unable to leave the house, and even less of supporting the household. And so, at only 13 years of age, that responsibility fell into Kazama's shoulders. At first, it was hard, and he cried for many nights, but in such circumstances, one is driven to grow up quickly. Thanks to the support of the workers he had to spend so much time with, Kazama accomplished to see life with a new perspective, and his cheerful mood even infected his mother, who started to once again care for the house, little by little. Now, at 17 years of age, Kazama's life can not be called an ideal one. Friendly and helpful enough to have a number of acquaintances that know him by name, the fact that he has to spend most of his time earning money doesn't let him develop even a single friendship he could call a true one... but hey, there's folk out there who have it worse than him, at least he has a mother who loves him and can eat every night... But sometimes, he wonders what kind of life he could have had if things didn't go the way they went, if he had at least one parent that could take care of him, and not the other way around, and as he looks in the sky, he chastises himself for even daring to think like that.</s> <|message|>Nakano Nagi Nakano Nagi Whatever the hell was going on with Strange Gospel, it was definitely making her stronger when she was pulled over to the other side. Or maybe she just got juiced up as her Echo did. Either way, Nagi's punch certainly wouldn't have hit these monsters that hard even a month ago. Hell, it slammed back a good distance away. Not that she was going to complain about it. The piece of crap was dying. Time to move in for the kill. Or at least Nagi would have, if the thing didn't decide to offer up some last-ditch resistance. Her first instinct was to just evade the grasping arms and weave through them to finish the fucker off, but some part of her brain remembered that Gotoh was still in the back. Fuck. If Nagi dodged, it might go for her instead. And as annoying as the girl was, Nagi really didn't want Yuzu's death on her conscience. Oh, this was going to blow. A mental command had Belial returning to her, arms outstretched protectively in front as both of them charged forward, one behind the other. Hellfire surrounded her Echo as they made a mad dash, aiming to reach the beast before it could do too much damage to Belial. Her Echo's flames weren't that strong compared to its claws, and enough of the monster's arms grasped it to the point where Nagi was feeling a good amount of pain, but she powered through, Belial grasping the monster with its own arms and spinning it around to pin it in place. "Eat it, shitbag!" She bellowed, leaping up onto the monster and holding on with her left hand as her right began to mercilessly pound into it. One punch. Two. Three. Before long, nothing was left of the beast besides blood and black ichor, some of it splashing on Nagi and staining her clothes as she landed back down on the ground, Belial hovering menacingly next to her. She stayed there for a moment, taking in a few gulps of air as she caught her breath and checked on her own condition. The fuckwit had gotten a few hits in at the last moment there, but she could still keep going. She'd been in worse shape after taking on those punks from across town a few months back. "Alright," Nagi stood back up, glancing back towards her charge. "C'mon, Gotoh. We've still got somewhere to be. Get your ass in gear. And don't worry about the stains, they kinda just disappear once we're out of here." She beckoned Yuzu forward, starting to move towards her objective again afterward.</s> <|message|>Gotoh Yuzu Gotoh Yuzu Completely consumed by fear, Yuzu freaked out a little. "GET IT AWAAAY!" She cries, all but running away from both the monster that laughed so fucking oddly and the girl who was probably going to get herself killed thinking she could fight it! She was right on the money, she had to be, no way a normal person could fight off something like that! She was going to die here, she was going to die here and now, and all she could do was cower away and cover her head with her bag in futile defense. And then a demon showed up. Yuzu looked back at Nagi who was suddenly spouting english at the monster and then a demon, Belial? Showed up. All muscle, wing and power, the two of them made that monster look like it had been the stupid one for even daring to approach them. She was....she could cope with the demon thing being so strong and tearing that thing apart, but how the fuck was Nagi so....supernaturally strong!? Was this how she fought them, how the people she was with fought them? More than nauseous now, Yuzu could only watch as the monster thing fell underneath Nagi's fists, her fear mostly cleared away and somewhat redirected back to the yakuza bitch who could beat down monsters with her bare hands like nothing. Timidly, she stepped back up toward Nagi, visibly shaking in her shoes as she looked at the remains of the monster. "H-how did you do that? How could- What even was....Is this cult!?" She suddenly accused, because truly the only thing her mind could comprehend right now was how she summoned a being known as Belial, a very well known demon in Judeo Christian cultures. Even as she complained she practically latched back onto Nagi, an approximate inch of distance away from her since she didn't wanna touch her. She was probably covered in monster residue...stuff! "Y-your not gonna make me summon a demon right? I-I'm not about to get s-sacrificed or whatever the fuck!" Landshark</s> <|message|>Yuichi Miyasato Yuichi jumped at the sound of broken glass. The student turned to see in the corner of his eye a humanoid woman, if he could call it that, burst through the windows. Words failed to described its figure, but Yuichi could perfectly what he felt at that moment. Fear. "The backdoor." Yuichi suddenly the said. Then with a sudden surge in volume, "GET TO THE BACKDOOR, NOW!" Yuichi screamed. Whatever that that thing was, it wasn't human. They didn't know what it could do, but he had a feeling that they didn't stand a chance at fighting that thing. Pushing Karou behind him, Yuichi brought up the nozzle of the fire extinguisher. Release the pin, aim it at the monster, and press it down. A gush of foam immediately shot out of the fire extinguisher. The convenience store's front was engulfed foam, which would act like a temporary smokescreen for them to use. "GO, GO, GO, GO, GO!" After the fire extinguinsher seemly ran out of foam, he threw the exntugisher into the foam and turned to follow classmates. What the hell was that thing? Whatever it was definitely wasn't human. They needed to get out of the area and try to find another place to hide.</s>

<|message|>Kazama Kosubaku Kazama nodded at the boys and their attempts at encouragement, he didn't know what he would have done if he had been alone when all of this happened but surely more of a mess than he was now. He only hoped, maybe selfishly, that this thing only affected people of a certain age, at least that way he could be sure his mom would be safe. He nodded once again, psyching himself up, as it would seem their best course of action was leaving the store behind. He was about to turn around and head for the door when he heard the characteristic sound of glass breaking before being pushed to the ground by Yuichi using the hand already on his shoulder. He frantically looked around to see a long spike directly behind the place he was a few moments ago and quickly shifted his gaze to the front of the store, where a humanoid figure stood. Kazama instantly recognized the black substance the thing was made of, having seen where it came from personally. The thing looked vaguely feminine and had a white mask and creepy-looking hair. It was one of the most terrifying sights in his life, and it was looking their way. The tallest teen in the room acted rapidly, using the fire extinguisher as a weapon and reminding Kazama what he had to do. Desperately he got up and ran towards the door that would lead them to the alleyway, using his hands to get some of the foam out of his way. When he reached his destination he miraculously could control his trembling hand to open the door on the first try, using his whole body to push it open. A small, cramped room full of boxes and other miscellaneous items welcomed them. "The exit is this way, quick!" he shouted to the boys who were following him, traversing the storage efficiently and quickly, the adrenaline coursing through his veins making him act reasonably well in spite of his fear. Once they reached the exit, Kazama used the same key to open the door, the alley behind him was painted the same red, bloody colour as the rest of the street. They heard a strepitous crash behind them and he quickly locked the door again, hoping it would give them some time. "Now what?! Where do we go? The main street? Our houses? What if more of those things are out there, waiting for us?!" he asked, not entirely panic driven but not in the best state of mind either. The only thing he had clear was to not, under any circumstances, shift his view upwards. He didn't know if it could happen to him, but Kazama would not risk the chance of the moon entering his sight</s>

<|description|>Victor Lafayette Arcana: Emperor Birthday: May 7th, 16 years old Appearance: Stands about at 5'10" with a rather lean, athletic body that is demanded from someone that performs in theater. Victor has fair skin paired with icy grayish-blue eyes and tousled, wavy black hair that reaches the bottom of his neck. He stands with confidence and walks with grace and poise, always flashing a Hollywood worthy grin to those around him. His uniform is fairly standard except he wears a black turtleneck underneath the blazer and changed the buttons around cuffs of the jacket with silver cufflinks. He does wear matching silver piercings that he does remove when on stage and a very expensive looking watch that has a black strap and an intricate silver coated metal work that has his surname engraved. Reputation: Victor is the darling of the drama club he is in. He has had every leading role and justifiably so as no one can deny his prowess as an actor. Every time he is on stage, he simply commands the audience's attention with little effort. His accomplishments within the drama club far outweigh his academic achievements though he is just about average in that regard. Social, friendly, and charming, Victor is in what people would call the popular crowd though he has been known to be quite kind to those that others would claim to be of a lower social standing. This has led to people either thinking that he is a kind sort or just a faker trying to improve his image around the school. Also, people tend to suck up to him due to strong his connections to the film and theater industry. However, he also has a reputation for being rather intense and serious when it comes to the stage. Some would call him a perfectionist while others would call him a control freak. Victor demands the best from everyone and gets visibly agitated when people think that the stage is a place where people can fool around. There are rumors that he once uncharacteristically slugged one of the other actors once though it was never proven, nor could they ever figure out why if it the rumor was true. Background: Victor Lafayette is the product of the famous French actor Jean Lafayette's second marriage to his current wife and American actress, Michelle Decatur. Growing up, he typically did not see his parents often due to them being away for their jobs so he and his half-sister, Bianca, were mainly taken care by servants back home in Marseille, a coastal city in France. It was rare for his parents to actually be home. Half the time when school was out, his time was split between being in various countries where his parents were for work though it was typically America. Oddly enough, he was never lonely. It was worth it to see his parents work their magic with every performance. They were what inspired him to take on acting. The apple surely did not fall far from the tree. Victor was the full package; he could dance, sing, and of course, act, but he had a charisma that was so reminiscent of his mother and father. There were great expectations from the people around him, expectations that he always met without fail, but he still was just a kid. He was prone to anxiety and stage fright just like everyone else. His mother was understanding and proud of him, often making a flight back home to watch his school performances, but his father was another story. Nothing Victor did was ever enough for him and the mere fact that his son dared to have any nervousness disgusted him. Not once had he ever told his son that he was proud of him and had never been to a single one of the shows his son had been in. That was until Victor's final year of middle school. For the first time ever, his father arrived to watch the school production of the Stephen Sondheim musical, Company, where Victor had the lead role. All he wanted was to make his father proud, to be acknowledged by him and that coupled by the stress and anxiety he had and... He choked. In the middle of his performance, he forgot his lines. His mind went completely blank. Of course, he was able to recover as the show must go on. After the show, his father said nothing to him, but the anger, shame, and embarrassment was palpable. Perhaps that was the catalyst for what happened next. Victor, in desperation to gain any sort of affirmation from his father, decided to play the role as the spitting image of what he thought his father wanted him to be. The perfect actor that did not settle for less, someone always shone like the sun. Everything else was useless. This is the life he decided to lead when he entered Harbour Academy and quickly became one of the most prominent members of its drama club. It's ironic though; the boy could express every emotion of the characters he played as except his own. Perhaps the tides of fate will change that? Misc. : Moules mariniere is his favorite dish. This will now come back to hurt him. Victor is on the art track. Victor is part of the Harbour Academy Theatrical Society. He can play the piano. A helpful skill for when he needs to accompany himself and practice for musicals. He is very good at accents. Speaks and reads both English and French fluently. Besides watching movies and stage plays, his hobbies are gaming and reading. Will make references to movies and stage plays. It is inevitable. His sister is a graduate from Harbour Academy. Weapon: A rapier. What's a self-respecting, swashbuckling pirate without a sword? Persona: Edmond Dantes- A being based on the protagonist of Alexander Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo. Edmond was sailor framed for a crime he did not commit by those jealous of him and as a result becomes a bitter and fueled by vengeance that lasted for decades. He takes on many aliases though most famously is known as the eponymous title of the book, The Count of Monte Cristo. This persona stands as a tall, imposing figure. It wears a cloak of shadow that move like waves that when crashing, disperses like ink in water though the interior of it is a geometric pattern of red, purple, and gold. Beneath the cloak, it wears a red suit with black buttons, a white cravat, black gloves, and black riding boots with unusually high, pointy heels. On its head it wears a black top hat and, on its face, it wears a white mask that reveals on its mouth. Its skin seems to be a purple hue and its hair is black and slicked back. It wields a golden walking cane that is intricately carved with fine engravings befitting of a gentleman of great wealth. Moveset: Edmond Dantes specializes in curse skills and melee skills. As a being of vengeance and someone with great knowledge of poisons, he can debuff his enemies</s> <|message|>Orlando Pedrosa Da Silva Orlando --- Is this what being on drugs felt like? He never tried them, he promised his mother that when he was still a kid, but he had friends that did, and they always said the trip made you forget about all the problems you had, a real out-of-the-world experience, and right now, while Orlando could admit that he was undergoing a sensation he never experienced in the past, he sure as fuck thought about his problems more than ever before. Being raised as a devout Christian, he never doubted the existence of God, but there were still questions he asked the neighbourhood priest when his family and he went to mass. One of those was "is my soul next to my heart?" and, even if he forgot the answer that he was given that day, he could now confirm it was somewhere in his body because the cold that he felt right now chilled him to his soul. That same coldness made him forget most of what happened in that endless sinking, but those piercing gold eyes and the warm presence afterward would remain in his mind for the rest of his life. For one moment he even though he was in Heaven before the warm turned unbearable and he opened his mouth to scream. Or tried to at least. What happened instead was that he almost choked on the sand. The sand that he was on top of. The sand that wasn't in any way shape or form near them before they were thrown into the water. He got up, spat the sand in his mouth, and looked at his surroundings. What greeted him was a sight more in tune with his home rather than the cold shores of England. "Filho da puta, what just happened..." he asked, before realizing the others were just as clueless as he was. He looked over to the sea, and a foreboding sensation crept all over him. Swimming back to England wasn't his first idea but that sealed the deal right there. Whatever the answer was, they would need to find it on this island. His line of thought was interrupted by a sudden scream. It would seem miss Icebreaker abandoned them once again to their luck. That would be funny if their lives weren't at risk because of it, but what could you do? It's not like Sofia gave the image of being useful in a situation like this anyway... or in any really, maybe it was for the better that she fainted. Orlando himself was scared as fuck, but he felt showing it in front of these rich kids was just admitting they were better than him, and that was just not true. So he counted to 10 in his head and steeled himself mentally. The rest of the people on the beach were in a variety of moods. That crazy chick just didn't give a fuck about anything it seemed, unlike Maive who apologized for their situation. While it was true that they felt mainly because of her, who, in their wildest dream would think this would have happened? He felt the need to reassure his fellow Art student. "Hey, it's not your fault, if anything it's Sofia's, if it wasn't for her we wouldn't have been in the docks to start with". There was just something right in throwing Sofia under the bus, he pondered. Then he saw the blond dude, Frankie or something. Out of all of them, he looked the worst by miles, the guy couldn't even stand up. It was a sorry sight and Orlando felt pity for him. He walked towards him, got on his knee, and put a hand on his shoulder. "Frankie right? hey amigo, no need to panic, things are looking bad but that just means they can only get better, like my grandma liked to say, worrying is just like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do but it won't get you anywhere, so chin up and let's help Victor look for a way out of here". Perhaps it was not the best advice but well, it was the best he could come up with at the moment. With that said, he got up and said to the Frenchman "I'm going too". He was looking for some stones to put in his pockets when the girl with the funny accent started verbally assaulting Maive. He would have liked to say something, but honestly, the girl seemed pretty heated up at the moment, he was sure she would tire herself out. It's not like he was scared or something, no sir. He kept looking for the sharpest rocks he could find in the sand.</s> <|message|>Franciszek Stanowski --- All the whilst Imogen expressed her upmost disappointment, anger and all towards the others, until one lad came up to him. Franciszek had never met the guy, at least not from what he could remember, but he tried his best to console him. Yet there was something so off about it, so casual and calm that even Franciszek couldn't quite gel with the notion. Not whilst the memories were still fresh in his mind, of the drowning, the descent into the sea, the way that the water boiled inside his lungs and stomach, and how desperately they tried to drown him. The way in which the visuals, so esoteric and inexplicable, showered his eyes. He almost laughed at the idea that perhaps he was right about his cultish scepticism - almost. He looked up, and met Orlando. He offered him some sort of wisdom, some abstract metaphor to help ease him through the pain. And did it? Well, the boy looked up at him, then back down to his balled up knees. A strong sense of disbelief washed over him. And for what seemed like his first time ever, a great uproar brewed inside of him. "Chin...up? Chin up?! No...no! You stub your toe. You fail a test. Your dog dies. That's when you lift your chin up!" He tried to stand up, but he felt all too weak in the legs. Something about the way the other girl, Imogen, had let herself loose, it almost gave him an excuse to do it himself. "You call this a fucking "chin up" situation? Look for a way out of here? I...I...Am I the only one in the right mindset here? I didn't wake up in North Camden, I'm in the middle of fuck-knows with people I don't know, spouting grandma wisdom as if I have no fucking clue-" He cut himself off and crumbled in place, laid with his back in the sand and his eyes faced outward to the great beyond, the sea of nothingness. There was such a powerful repellent, urging his heart to steer near of the waters. Fear ran amok through him. Was it because he'd awoken on an island? Of course, for it simply showed that not once could things have been normal, not just once.</s>

<|message|>Victor Lafayette There was a myriad of different reactions to their predicament. For some their first reaction was disbelief, for some it was amusement, and for some it was panic. They, save for the cracked gremlin who just fucked off to the trees, were processing what just happened to them. The girl that he had tried to convince to jump in released the floodgates and made her displeasure everyone's problem. The only one that seemed to have a level head in the situation was his fellow art student, Orlando. His classmate was trying to comfort the panicking blonde that was just short from rocking in place with some encouraging words that fell flat harder than when they hit the water. That blonde kid took a page out of the angry glasses girl's page and just vented his vitriol. Victor stood there and let them him say their piece without interruption until they finished. That being said, his patience was waning from listening to them wallow in their self-pity. They did not have the luxury to just lay around on the sand waiting for someone to save them. It was better than giving up already. He sighed frustratedly at the sorry sight before him. It wasn't like he had no sympathy for his schoolmates that fell into despair, but someone had to take the reins of the situation. At least that's what told himself. "I get it, I really do. The situation is beyond absurd, and we're all scared, but right now it's sink or swim. No one knows we're here; we don't even know where 'here' even is. The only people that can get us out of this situation is us. We can't afford to lay down and die." Victor did his best to explain to them, but it probably wouldn't work. The only thing he could do is just stand there, waiting to see if anyone else would volunteer to explore the island. He could only hope that more would join him because this place was not normal. There was something wrong with this beach. Looking at the water for a prolonged amount of time caused a dull throbbing pain in the head and his very soul screamed to not touch it. Just where the hell were they?</s>

<|description|>Victor Lafayette Arcana: Emperor Birthday: May 7th, 16 years old Appearance: Stands about at 5'10" with a rather lean, athletic body that is demanded from someone that performs in theater. Victor has fair skin paired with icy grayish-blue eyes and tousled, wavy black hair that reaches the bottom of his neck. He stands with confidence and walks with grace and poise, always flashing a Hollywood worthy grin to those around him. His uniform is fairly standard except he wears a black turtleneck underneath the blazer and changed the buttons around cuffs of the jacket with silver cufflinks. He does wear matching silver piercings that he does remove when on stage and a very expensive looking watch that has a black strap and an intricate silver coated metal work that has his surname engraved. Reputation: Victor is the darling of the drama club he is in. He has had every leading role and justifiably so as no one can deny his prowess as an actor. Every time he is on stage, he simply commands the audience's attention with little effort. His accomplishments within the drama club far outweigh his academic achievements though he is just about average in that regard. Social, friendly, and charming, Victor is in what people would call the popular crowd though he has been known to be quite kind to those that others would claim to be of a lower social standing. This has led to people either thinking that he is a kind sort or just a faker trying to improve his image around the school. Also, people tend to suck up to him due to strong his connections to the film and theater industry. However, he also has a reputation for being rather intense and serious when it comes to the stage. Some would call him a perfectionist while others would call him a control freak. Victor demands the best from everyone and gets visibly agitated when people think that the stage is a place where people can fool around. There are rumors that he once uncharacteristically slugged one of the other actors once though it was never proven, nor could they ever figure out why if it the rumor was true. Background: Victor Lafayette is the product of the famous French actor Jean Lafayette's second marriage to his current wife and American actress, Michelle Decatur. Growing up, he typically did not see his parents often due to them being away for their jobs so he and his half-sister, Bianca, were mainly taken care by servants back home in Marseille, a coastal city in France. It was rare for his parents to actually be home. Half the time when school was out, his time was split between being in various countries where his parents were for work though it was typically America. Oddly enough, he was never lonely. It was worth it to see his parents work their magic with every performance. They were what inspired him to take on acting. The apple surely did not fall far from the tree. Victor was the full package; he could dance, sing, and of course, act, but he had a charisma that was so reminiscent of his mother and father. There were great expectations from the people around him, expectations that he always met without fail, but he still was just a kid. He was prone to anxiety and stage fright just like everyone else. His mother was understanding and proud of him, often making a flight back home to watch his school performances, but his father was another story. Nothing Victor did was ever enough for him and the mere fact that his son dared to have any nervousness disgusted him. Not once had he ever told his son that he was proud of him and had never been to a single one of the shows his son had been in. That was until Victor's final year of middle school. For the first time ever, his father arrived to watch the school production of the Stephen Sondheim musical, Company, where Victor had the lead role. All he wanted was to make his father proud, to be acknowledged by him and that coupled by the stress and anxiety he had and... He choked. In the middle of his performance, he forgot his lines. His mind went completely blank. Of course, he was able to recover as the show must go on. After the show, his father said nothing to him, but the anger, shame, and embarrassment was palpable. Perhaps that was the catalyst for what happened next. Victor, in desperation to gain any sort of affirmation from his father, decided to play the role as the spitting image of what he thought his father wanted him to be. The perfect actor that did not settle for less, someone always shone like the sun. Everything else was useless. This is the life he decided to lead when he entered Harbour Academy and quickly became one of the most prominent members of its drama club. It's ironic though; the boy could express every emotion of the characters he played as except his own. Perhaps the tides of fate will change that? Misc. : Moules mariniere is his favorite dish. This will now come back to hurt him. Victor is on the art track. Victor is part of the Harbour Academy Theatrical Society. He can play the piano. A helpful skill for when he needs to accompany himself and practice for musicals. He is very good at accents. Speaks and reads both English and French fluently. Besides watching movies and stage plays, his hobbies are gaming and reading. Will make references to movies and stage plays. It is inevitable. His sister is a graduate from Harbour Academy. Weapon: A rapier. What's a self-respecting, swashbuckling pirate without a sword? Persona: Edmond Dantes- A being based on the protagonist of Alexander Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo. Edmond was sailor framed for a crime he did not commit by those jealous of him and as a result becomes a bitter and fueled by vengeance that lasted for decades. He takes on many aliases though most famously is known as the eponymous title of the book, The Count of Monte Cristo. This persona stands as a tall, imposing figure. It wears a cloak of shadow that move like waves that when crashing, disperses like ink in water though the interior of it is a geometric pattern of red, purple, and gold. Beneath the cloak, it wears a red suit with black buttons, a white cravat, black gloves, and black riding boots with unusually high, pointy heels. On its head it wears a black top hat and, on its face, it wears a white mask that reveals on its mouth. Its skin seems to be a purple hue and its hair is black and slicked back. It wields a golden walking cane that is intricately carved with fine engravings befitting of a gentleman of great wealth. Moveset: Edmond Dantes specializes in curse skills and melee skills. As a being of vengeance and someone with great knowledge of poisons, he can debuff his enemies</s> <|message|>Franciszek Stanowski Mentions: @TGM --- A cold hand had struck his cheek. It was hard, amplified by the lingering phantom chill that stained his skin. He flinched sideways in accordance to the smack. And then he sat there, rather quietly. It was there, with a little vague familiarity to it, and he tried his best to put up and sit there, quietly as he could. The panic still flooded through. It was one question answered. He was real, and he then wished he wasn't. He put an inch's distance between them as he thought it indicative of a response. Franciszek found the words evermore difficult to spill from his lips and he froze up. The thoughts that ran through his head mostly consisted of the far-reaching span of questions and lacking answers. One answered simply pronounced eighteen more. Where? What? Why? How? If it were all real then how was she so sure of it? Did she know anything? He dared not to ask. There was no use asking anyone, it felt like, for with it came a lack of knowledge or sudden paranoia - much alike his. Some people had already soldiered on, leaving with a bop in their stride. They were loving it, he thought to himself, and honestly part of his resented it. Relishing in what he thought his own experience. He never quite knew if Victoria had experienced what he had, or perhaps he was simply so abhorrently weak that his insecure understanding had made him much of a laughing stock. He breathed. Calm - he called upon. It didn't work much, but he eased himself enough to hold his tongue and to not be erratic. Off to the side, Maive had started to bawl. Imogen denounced her own aggression so monstrously and, whilst Franciszek felt bad about it all, he most definitely felt that lingering degree of animosity - not for the crying girl in particular, but everyone. Sofia had brought him no sense of comfort or understanding. He was panicked. None of his thoughts were clear, and it was a matter of absorbing wonderland in order to remain any kind of level-headed over it. It hadn't really clicked with him how quiet he'd suddenly gone. He wanted to talk to prove that he could still provide something, valued or not, to the ever-growing dysphoria of reality. He looked down and shook his head. The volume of the ocean around them spoke to him again, in heeded warning. He shuddered. All again, so callous. He didn't feel himself at all, yet it had come to him so naturally.</s> <|message|>Victoria Morgaine Yarwood The clear slap across the face seemed to make the boy more quizzical than calm, though at least he wasn't frantically trying to grasp onto answers. For Victoria, all of the chaos around her seemed to make her get a sense of calm. Had Frankie not shambled over asking her questions in a manic state perhaps she would've gone fully catatonic. She had to thank him for helping keep her head clear at some point, though given the expression on his face and the lack of a reply of any kind, she was certain it was not the time. She took a light breath as she jumped to her feet as she looked at the island more clearly for the first time since she awoke to its sights. She closed her eyes, inhaling the smells of the island, as she commented on the situation. "None of this makes sense, so we have to focus on what makes sense. The rest will come after." She looked over to Imogen and Maive, and then back to Frankie. "Other people need our help. We can't afford to… you know. C'mon." Mentions: @LetMeDoStuff</s>

<|message|>Victor Lafayette Victor didn't really know what to expect to be honest. When he suggested vines, he thought she was going to stuff rocks or something to create a makeshift flail or something. Instead, he just watched her tie vines together until she had made... sandals? Whatever she was doing, she was committed to doing it herself since she was not interested in getting them to assist in her endeavor. He watched her with equal parts confusion and intrigue as she waddled her way towards the tree. Verity was looking upwards with her focus completely honed on her prize, completely forgetting that she wasn't alone. Then she just started climbing. Actually, it was more like hopping. Frankly, it was actually impressive; Victor never would've never actually expected someone with her rather unimpressive physique to actually be able to have the strength and stamina to make her way up a couple of stories. That and he was not really expecting a rich kid from HAGAY to be able to do any of the skills she displayed. Then the coconuts started to rain down. Victor was quick to catch what was in his range. It was either that or get his head split in half by an errant coconut. Under other circumstances, this actually would be quite fun, he thought to himself. Really, having an island to themselves to just goof around on was something that a lot of people would have loved to have. It was just a shame that they were stuck on an island in the middle of God knows where and had to fight for their own survival. For his own sake he kept his own thought to himself, especially since everyone was barely keeping themselves together. Daniel was struggling and try as his might to hide it his trembling voice gave himself away. "I'm going be honest... I think we're the only humans here," said Victor to Daniel. There was a clear distinction to what he had meant. The people on the raft that he had seen when he fell through the water looked human. Well, the only one he got a good look of was the valet. The eyes of that man were nothing he ever had seen before; a shiver that traveled down his spine when even thinking about that cold golden eye. Something screamed in Victor that the valet was only human in form. Why would there be humans in whatever that place was on a bloody raft with a desk on it and one of them dressed like a hotel valet? Either Victor had seen too many movies, or he witnessed something that typical people weren't meant to see. That was assuming that they were nearby. He was only running on the assumption that everyone else saw what he saw because for all he knew only he saw it. With all the adrenalin and panic, he did not even think to ask if they had the same experience as him. Victor dropped that train of thought though when Daniel asked if they could go back. The poor boy looked like he was not about to drop to his knees at a moment. "We'll drop you off at the beach, but the rest of us will-" Victor cut himself off when he realized something. Why was not Verity back on the ground? Surely if she was able to climb up the tree that she could get down. There's no way she was stuck in the tree like an overzealous cat that climbed too high up. He looked up the tree to the coconut girl and asked, "Uh, can you get down?"</s>

<|description|>Daniel Burkley "They say 'just keep swimming', but I feel like I've been doing a lot more sinking than swimming lately." --- character info Arcana: Death Birthday: December 2nd Appearance: Daniel is a wiry, athletic boy standing at about 5'11", with lean musculature that could be accurately called a swimmer's build. A shaggy mop of brown hair crowns his head, which hangs down messily no matter what he seems to do with it. Conversely, the rest of his body from the neck down is completely shaven, despite him passing the age where he started to grow body hair. He keeps his uniform fairly standard, though his tie's usually a bit loose and it's not uncommon to see the collar of a spandex wetsuit peeking out from underneath if he plans to head for the water immediately after classes. Reputation: Daniel is most well-known as a member of the swim team, given that he seems to spend every moment he can spare at the pool or by the beach. As expected of such frequent practice, his athletic achievement far outweighs his academic performance, though he still remains firmly average in that regard. He's affable and friendly, though he carries the harmless mischief of a boy who still makes ligma jokes in the current year and finds pointless gaslighting to be the pinnacle of humor. With men, anyway. With his female classmates, he's a notorious flirt, though he keeps it lighthearted enough that most can't figure out whether he's joking or horrendously down bad. The fact that he promptly turns down any woman that reciprocates lends credence to the former, but he is a horny teenager, after all. Of course, anyone that somehow chanced upon the rumors from his old school would likely piece together the truth, but Daniel tries his absolute hardest to make sure no one knows about his life prior to attending Harbour Academy. Background: Until very recently, Daniel lived the life any teenager would dream of. He is - or rather, was - the heir to a wealthy imports company, accustomed to tropical vacations and lavish living. He enjoyed popularity at school, spent his leisure time with friends, wanted for nothing, was a star athlete - on track to compete professionally in swimming, even - and if that failed, he had a lucrative family career waiting for him. The boy existed without a care in the world. At least until last spring. He was in an empty school bathroom, pressed up against the wall with a pair of lips working their way down his neck. They hadn't even meant to do anything indecent, just innocent schoolyard kissing, but someone walked in and saw. Daniel hadn't even considered it risky at the time. And it wouldn't have been, except the one sucking hickies into his neck was a boy too. His life collapsed nearly overnight. The tale hit the school's rumor mill like fire hits a droughted forest; while he wasn't exactly treated like a leper by the vast majority of the student body, the public opinion surrounding him had obviously shifted. Daniel could tolerate the locker room being a bit uncomfortable for a while and whatever colorful rhymes of 'Danny' and 'dicks in his fanny' other students could concoct, but his parents learned of the incident shortly afterward. He went from darling son to embarrassment to the family in an instant. Why leave the company to someone that would never give them grandkids, after all? After graduation, he was sent to live with his grandparents, in hopes he'd 'clean up his act' rather than drag the family reputation down. Wealthy in their own right, they immediately suggested an upper-class boarding school, that Daniel might learn how to conduct himself properly among esteemed personages. And, of course, to not disrupt their retirement with a child to care for. Harbour Academy's proximity to the coast drew Daniel's eye, though the irony of the school's acronym wasn't entirely lost on him. Fate had a funny way of working like that. Misc: * He gets unreasonably embarrassed when people call him Danny, though he never actually insists people stop. * Daniel's parents recently stopped paying for his contact lenses, so he's taken to fumbling around half-blind most of the time. Woe be unto the person sitting next to him who he can pester into reading the board for him. * He's very much a 'touchy-feely/pat you on the back/throw an arm around you' kind of friend and often initiates physical contact without thinking, though a careful observer might note a flash of guilt on his face once he consciously realizes what he's doing. * All of his social media accounts are either private or under pseudonyms. He notoriously never accepts friend requests. * Daniel constantly tries to sneak snacks into class. That crinkling on the other side of the room that sounds like a bag of chips? It's him. * Despite his love of the water, he's not a fan of seafood. --- They stood, pleading to be the first ferried across, and stretched out hands in yearning for the farther shore. But the surly boatman takes now these, now those, while others he thrusts away, back from the brink. --- persona info Weapon: Big Hammer. Bonk. Persona: Kharon, Ferryman of the Styx A gaunt figure cloaked in tattered cloth and wielding an oar of petrified wood, whose only visible features are his desiccated hands and unkempt beard. He stands as a faithful guide between a life that can never be returned to and the new life waiting on the other shore, should one only be willing to pay his meager toll. Moveset: Kharon commands Curse-aligned elemental skills, as well as mighty Physical attacks with the oar he uses to beat back the damned. As one who ensures swift passage across the Rivers Acheron and Styx, Kharon can also bolster his allies' agility.</s> <|message|>Imogen Reed Imogen Reed A captive audience, Imogen watched from down the beach as Maive and her gale-force poltergeist stood against the monstrous frog. She trembled instead of cheering, and she dared not raise her voice even if it couldn't be heard above the howling wind lest she attract even a modicum of the terror's attention, but all the same she fervently wished the other girl the best, and hoped that she would succeed. Whether she knew or liked Maive made no difference; this nightmare was an enemy far greater than petty interpersonal quibbles, and against such a foe, human beings stood together. Well, at least in spirit, if not in the flesh. The knowledge of Imogen's own powerlessness gnawed her with shame and despair, but those feelings hadn't quite quenched something else that smoldered inside her. Deep within she still burned with anger, but that pilot light still sputtered in the dark, searching for more fuel. It wasn't yet time to ignite. Some of the others did what they could, however. Orlando hurled rocks to try and give Maive a chance to recovery, and Verity gave…'advice'. A Maive couldn't live on words alone, though, and she needed more time than the Orlando's courageous distraction could provide. But help did, coe, and came from an unexpected source: after a very long internal dialog, and no small amount of head-splitting agony, Daniel made his entrance. In the wake of the windstorm that rolled across the tropical island came a sudden, terrible chill. As its frigid fingers brushed across her skin Imogen tensed up with a gasp, hunkering down as she wrapped her arms around her shoulders in a protective self-embrace. Her gaze snapped to the figure that emerged from the foliage, wreathed in pearlescent fog. "H-huh!?" Behind him he cast a long shadow, deep and black as the bowels of the earth itself, and from the fated union of cold and dark rose a terrifying specter, hooded and shrouded in archetypal black robes. Imogen gawked, shivering in the sand. That tornado-mummy had been one thing, but this? It could only be Death. "Kharon!" Danny shouted. ...Oh. Imogen blinked. The boatman from Greek myth, right? Not Death. Gotcha. But like the apparition that preceded it, Kharon. seemed less interested in finishing the haggard students off, and more interested in the frog. In what seemed like a matter of seconds, the fearsome Persona smacked the frog in the face with his Boatman Blast, and things went poorly for it. The bug-eyed beast freaked out, its already-reprehensible face melting away as if doused in acid. In its death throes it hurled its captive (who Imogen could now identify as Sofia, restoring her belief in justice) into the air for a wild aerial rave. It reminded Imogen of old Sauce Engine physics. Unfortunately for Sofia, but fortunately for the world at large, her majestic flight soon turned into a headlong plummet into the eldritch ocean. Sploosh. Diverting her attention from the toad's gruesome demise, Imogen watched the spot where Sofia disappeared. No sign of her could be seen either attempting to breach or struggling beneath the surface. "That sucks," Imogen muttered. Despite her righteous vitriol toward Sofia, she didn't actually want the other girl to die. But Imogen wasn't about to risk a dip in that weird water. She glanced back toward the action to find that everything seemed to be over. The frog was gone, the wind subsided, and the cold relented, so Imogen walked over. She could see no sign of either of the mysterious beings that appeared to help the students in their hour of need. Maive passed out, and Daniel looked like death, but even if they seemed fine Imogen felt no need to pester them with useless questions. In a make-believe world like this, things didn't need to make sense. That said, Imogen did have one question. She'd be lying if she said she didn't care about their well-being. With Maive unresponsive, she furrowed her brows toward Daniel, a worried frown on her face. "Are you okay?" she asked. Their future might be uncertain, if any future awaited them beyond this purgatorial place, but at the very least she could focus on the present.</s> <|message|>Orlando Pedrosa Da Silva Orlando --- After having thrown his 4th rock Orlando realized that perhaps this wasn't one of his brightest ideas. The frog stood unfazed by his puny artillery and yet what he truly feared is what would he do if he did get to attract its attention, run and hide behind a tree? Luckily he didn't have to wait for too long, out of the corner of his eye he could see Maive getting up, he didn't know how she could call the spectral wind figure but as long as that thing could save them from the frog he honestly didn't care. He saw her raising her hand... and then faltering. The situation worsened by the second, and Orlando could only hope the frog stayed tired for a few more seconds, maybe a miracle would end out happening? But it wasn't an act of God that got his attention, it was a familiar voice instead, and he could turn his head around just in time to witness, for the second time in the day, something truly mind-boggling. Danny stood there, all the fear and nervousness having left his face, as a cold that chilled Orlando to his soul started to permeate the area. An icy, shadowy mist seemed to follow him, but on closer inspection, he could see it started to coalesce on an approximation of a person. Once Danny and the weird figure approached the monster frog, a hand that looked like it belonged to a long-dead corpse appeared within the mist, in its grasp was an oar made of extremely old wood, which the figure used to dissipate the mist that cloaked it. It was Death, no other way around it, who had finally come to reap their souls. But instead of taking their lives, it raised a finger towards the monstrous amphibian and from it, liquid blackness flew towards the frog. He could not see what it did from his position, but the way it started thrashing around it looked like it worked. So enraptured was Orlando with the events in front of him that he almost didn't see the big chunk of upturned dirt that almost pulled him, but he managed to dive out of the way in time. He rolled a few times to stay as far away from the berserk frog as he could, and after a few seconds, the trashing stopped and only the necrotic remains of what was once the biggest threat to their lives could be seen, before even it evaporated, leaving no traces behind. And he could only stay there, flat on the ground, breathing big mouthfuls of breath and trying to calm his beating heart. They had managed to survive, and the others started to approach their part of the jungle. He had a fuckton of questions swimming in his mind, each one crazier than the other, but after the ordeal, they survived only one left his mouth: "...Now what?" He didn't expect a coherent answer, hell he didn't expect an answer at all, but that didn't stop him from asking.</s>

<|message|>Daniel Burkley Despite the chill in the air, Daniel looked as if he'd just run a marathon. A droplets of sweat ran down his face as he panted in unsteady, adrenaline-fueled breaths. He wasn't quite sure what he expected to happen. He wasn't sure anything even would happen. But of all the possible options, he definitely hadn't expected to watch the frog waste away over the course of a few seconds. He supposed he did intend to kill it and Kharon apparently obliged. As he turned back to the spectre in question, Kharon dissipated with little of the fanfare that preceded his arrival. Was that, like, a one time thing, or...? Verity's question popped him out of his thoughts. Right. Sofia was in its mouth - no, it spat her out, he saw it, so that meant- no, she went flying. Oh god, did she break her neck or something? It all happened so fast- wait, they could find a body if so. She could be fine. Unless she had been hit and turned into a puddle like the frog did. "I- I don't know. Did I? I don't even know what that was," Danny mumbled, eyes squinted in a lackluster search for the missing girl. Imogen drew his attention next, with a much less distressing question. Was he okay? He was tired. Antsy. Still in fight-or-flight mode. May have just killed someone. But aside from that? He felt great. A rush of power churned in his soul, a cold hand extended that offered purpose and competence and freedom. He nodded after a few moments of deliberation. "I think so. Did anyone see where Sofia fell?" With luck, someone would've kept track. Then they could get back to more pressing issues, because any time wasted meant more questions asked and none of them seemed to have answers. </s>

<|description|>Victoria Morgaine Yarwood D A T A Birthday - 5th of December Age - 16 Arcana - Priestess Persona - Nimue, The Lady of the Lake Weapon - Yo-Yo - A B I L I T I E S Nimue, The Lady of the Lake Of the foundations of protection and warding, determined by the wish to help and guide others on their path. | Appearance Standing at five-foot-seven and a thin frame, Victoria supposes she's a little taller than her peers. Though quite a bit taller than national average for her age, she's not athletically gifted and lacks the muscle definition for contact sports. She prefers academic pursuits as she wanders through her life at Harbour Academy. When it comes to how she presents herself, Victoria actually feels comfortable in the school uniform. Most often she feels lacking when it comes to her own individuality and despite years trying to fit in, nothing's really felt right for her. One could probably see her wearing clothes away from the school that feel clean, presentable, but nothing eye-catching. She often blends into crowds. She aspires to be seen, but feels utterly pathetic when she tries. Her hair, a perfectly brushed midnight black drops down just past her shoulders. Her gentle faded blue eyes hint at something inside wanting to get out, but just barely. Reputation Victoria would be known, but also not so known. Her father is wealthy and has contributed to many political campaigns in an effort to keep the name of Yarwood Electronics at the forefront. His bold personality overshadows much, including that of Victoria. Those who know her may have attended her previous school or simply acknowledge who her father is. She's pretty much a shadow otherwise. Background Victoria's life has always felt rather… empty. Victoria Yarwood is one of the many daughters of an affluent Welsh family in Cardiff, led by the sole proprietor of a popular electronics and communications company. The majority of Tori's life as such was spent under the care of people that didn't really think much of her existence. Her childhood, although the byproduct of wealth and prestige, was riddled with problems. She was smart, but she wasn't a genius. She was tall, but unathletic. She felt deeply about the morals of others, but was soft-spoken. The people who called themselves her friends never let her make decisions and she just fumbled behind them. Fifteen years of mediocrity, a by-the-numbers life. In many ways her transfer to Harbour Academy before the school year even began was a changing of directions. But will it do anything? Will it make up for her personal and moral failings in her mind? Can she find something to bring her true happiness–or will it be more of the same? Another face in the crowd, too weak and too scared to do anything to change the direction of her life? It remains to be seen. |</s> <|message|>Orlando Pedrosa Da Silva Orlando --- Is this what being on drugs felt like? He never tried them, he promised his mother that when he was still a kid, but he had friends that did, and they always said the trip made you forget about all the problems you had, a real out-of-the-world experience, and right now, while Orlando could admit that he was undergoing a sensation he never experienced in the past, he sure as fuck thought about his problems more than ever before. Being raised as a devout Christian, he never doubted the existence of God, but there were still questions he asked the neighbourhood priest when his family and he went to mass. One of those was "is my soul next to my heart?" and, even if he forgot the answer that he was given that day, he could now confirm it was somewhere in his body because the cold that he felt right now chilled him to his soul. That same coldness made him forget most of what happened in that endless sinking, but those piercing gold eyes and the warm presence afterward would remain in his mind for the rest of his life. For one moment he even though he was in Heaven before the warm turned unbearable and he opened his mouth to scream. Or tried to at least. What happened instead was that he almost choked on the sand. The sand that he was on top of. The sand that wasn't in any way shape or form near them before they were thrown into the water. He got up, spat the sand in his mouth, and looked at his surroundings. What greeted him was a sight more in tune with his home rather than the cold shores of England. "Filho da puta, what just happened..." he asked, before realizing the others were just as clueless as he was. He looked over to the sea, and a foreboding sensation crept all over him. Swimming back to England wasn't his first idea but that sealed the deal right there. Whatever the answer was, they would need to find it on this island. His line of thought was interrupted by a sudden scream. It would seem miss Icebreaker abandoned them once again to their luck. That would be funny if their lives weren't at risk because of it, but what could you do? It's not like Sofia gave the image of being useful in a situation like this anyway... or in any really, maybe it was for the better that she fainted. Orlando himself was scared as fuck, but he felt showing it in front of these rich kids was just admitting they were better than him, and that was just not true. So he counted to 10 in his head and steeled himself mentally. The rest of the people on the beach were in a variety of moods. That crazy chick just didn't give a fuck about anything it seemed, unlike Maive who apologized for their situation. While it was true that they felt mainly because of her, who, in their wildest dream would think this would have happened? He felt the need to reassure his fellow Art student. "Hey, it's not your fault, if anything it's Sofia's, if it wasn't for her we wouldn't have been in the docks to start with". There was just something right in throwing Sofia under the bus, he pondered. Then he saw the blond dude, Frankie or something. Out of all of them, he looked the worst by miles, the guy couldn't even stand up. It was a sorry sight and Orlando felt pity for him. He walked towards him, got on his knee, and put a hand on his shoulder. "Frankie right? hey amigo, no need to panic, things are looking bad but that just means they can only get better, like my grandma liked to say, worrying is just like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do but it won't get you anywhere, so chin up and let's help Victor look for a way out of here". Perhaps it was not the best advice but well, it was the best he could come up with at the moment. With that said, he got up and said to the Frenchman "I'm going too". He was looking for some stones to put in his pockets when the girl with the funny accent started verbally assaulting Maive. He would have liked to say something, but honestly, the girl seemed pretty heated up at the moment, he was sure she would tire herself out. It's not like he was scared or something, no sir. He kept looking for the sharpest rocks he could find in the sand.</s> <|message|>Franciszek Stanowski --- All the whilst Imogen expressed her upmost disappointment, anger and all towards the others, until one lad came up to him. Franciszek had never met the guy, at least not from what he could remember, but he tried his best to console him. Yet there was something so off about it, so casual and calm that even Franciszek couldn't quite gel with the notion. Not whilst the memories were still fresh in his mind, of the drowning, the descent into the sea, the way that the water boiled inside his lungs and stomach, and how desperately they tried to drown him. The way in which the visuals, so esoteric and inexplicable, showered his eyes. He almost laughed at the idea that perhaps he was right about his cultish scepticism - almost. He looked up, and met Orlando. He offered him some sort of wisdom, some abstract metaphor to help ease him through the pain. And did it? Well, the boy looked up at him, then back down to his balled up knees. A strong sense of disbelief washed over him. And for what seemed like his first time ever, a great uproar brewed inside of him. "Chin...up? Chin up?! No...no! You stub your toe. You fail a test. Your dog dies. That's when you lift your chin up!" He tried to stand up, but he felt all too weak in the legs. Something about the way the other girl, Imogen, had let herself loose, it almost gave him an excuse to do it himself. "You call this a fucking "chin up" situation? Look for a way out of here? I...I...Am I the only one in the right mindset here? I didn't wake up in North Camden, I'm in the middle of fuck-knows with people I don't know, spouting grandma wisdom as if I have no fucking clue-" He cut himself off and crumbled in place, laid with his back in the sand and his eyes faced outward to the great beyond, the sea of nothingness. There was such a powerful repellent, urging his heart to steer near of the waters. Fear ran amok through him. Was it because he'd awoken on an island? Of course, for it simply showed that not once could things have been normal, not just once.</s> <|message|>Victor Lafayette There was a myriad of different reactions to their predicament. For some their first reaction was disbelief, for some it was amusement, and for some it was panic. They, save for the cracked gremlin who just fucked off to the trees, were processing what just happened to them. The girl that he had tried to convince to jump in released the floodgates and made her displeasure everyone's problem. The only one that seemed to have a level head in the situation was his fellow art student, Orlando. His classmate was trying to comfort the panicking blonde that was just short from rocking in place with some encouraging words that fell flat harder than when they hit the water. That blonde kid took a page out of the angry glasses girl's page and just vented his vitriol. Victor stood there and let them him say their piece without interruption until they finished. That being said, his patience was waning from listening to them wallow in their self-pity. They did not have the luxury to just lay around on the sand waiting for someone to save them. It was better than giving up already. He sighed frustratedly at the sorry sight before him. It wasn't like he had no sympathy for his schoolmates that fell into despair, but someone had to take the reins of the situation. At least that's what told himself. "I get it, I really do. The situation is beyond absurd, and we're all scared, but right now it's sink or swim. No one knows we're here; we don't even know where 'here' even is. The only people that can get us out of this situation is us. We can't afford to lay down and die." Victor did his best to explain to them, but it probably wouldn't work. The only thing he could do is just stand there, waiting to see if anyone else would volunteer to explore the island. He could only hope that more would join him because this place was not normal. There was something wrong with this beach. Looking at the water for a prolonged amount of time caused a dull throbbing pain in the head and his very soul screamed to not touch it. Just where the hell were they?</s>

<|message|>Victoria Morgaine Yarwood Victoria Yarwood wasn't afraid of the water. She was afraid of many things, but never had she felt particularly despondent towards the ocean. However, the atmosphere of her new surroundings had made her rethink that fear almost instantaneously. "I-" The shrill scream of Sofia as she fell to the ground caused Victoria to take pause with her own thoughts. They had plunged themselves to the deep and had ended up in a place that made no sense, a place that all logical conclusions in her mind resisted. The United Kingdom could not support sub-tropical flora or weather, even with the advent of climate change, so Victoria too was very confused and rattled by the sudden change in her environment. She grabbed her knees tightly as she sat on the ground, shaking, however subtly. Her anxiety felt like a domino that was cascading in a loop. The waters around the academy certainly had a sick sense of humor, but Victoria, well, she didn't find it very funny. She subtly rocked back-and-forth in her position, looking down at the ground as she did so. She must've looked like she had entirely shut down to anyone who was looking her way.</s>

<|description|>Chalakon Ankorr TFW you get out of work at 1 but have so much to do after you're not home until past 4... and you take so long to write a simple profile it's almost midnight and there's no time to post. Anyway, here's Chal. Brand new, for this RP. I don't know why the eyebrows came out like that. Gender: Genderfluid Age: 25 Species: Aquapon Looks: Warm-toned brown skin, about 5'8 on land and 5'9 underwater. Coral pink hair worn in flat braids, soft purple eyes. Wears brightly colored, loose clothing that is easy to move in. Lacks shoes. Has a tattoo on the upper arm. Aquapon look human from a distance. Some of them are even born with eye and hair colors that would be indistinguishable from the average land-walker. However, the closer you examine, the more obvious the differences are. The pupil of the eye is wider, the skin is hairless and smooth. If an aquapon were to smile, the sharp teeth befitting of a meat-eating race would be proudly displayed. Personality: Endlessly curious, incredibly talkative. Sometimes her mouth runs faster than her brain, which can lead to mishaps and many apologies. But his heart is clearly in the right place. Beneath the bubbly cheer, there is a sense of melancholy in them that only shows in glimpses. As if they're letting down a weight when no one is looking. Powers/Ability - light and electricity magic - (not yet discovered) can mess with communications</s> <|message|>Harivence Pineway (Harry) The truck shuddered to a halt, they were at where they were suppose to be now. The others in the truck seemed to be chatting with each other; Admittedly Harry wasn't really paying too much attention to anyone else, they had earphones in as they listened quietly to the lo-fi beat to get through the entire 4 hour trip within a cramped vehicle. As soon as the trunk door opened, Harry quickly scrambled out into the world again. Their feet hit sand and instantly caused them to slip and crash into the ground underneath them, a couple of the other scientists laughed before one helped them up. "Careful kid." The older scientist said to Harry calmly, "You can't just scramble like that all the time." They said before they offered some stuff into Harry's arms as they started to get more things from the truck. "You gonna be alright to help with assembling with the tent?" Harry nodded at his words, before easily carrying the armful of stuff over to the place others had already marked out. Sure, they had scouted out this place for months, getting the go ahead to set up camp here for a few months to study the ecological things of the beach. There were a couple of rumours of things living within this coastal area. Harry, of course, was the first to offer to help with this assignment, never having been to the ocean. The older Scientist, Talon, had made sure Harry had learnt how to swim before he accepted the Elf into the assignment. "Surely the rumors are wrong." A female scientist spoke to another beside her, both of them moving to attach pole pieces together. "Probably just a manatee or a shark that people saw." The second scientist gave a shrug as she was struggling to attach her pieces together. Harry placed his things down before moving over to help her, offering his arms out to take the poles. It never really clicked to Harry that some of the fellow scientists didn't see him as an equal, and some of them were still uncomfortable with the fact that he worked along side them. --- It took a few hours but the large circus-like tent was put up, Harry even offering some vines from the forest to keep the tops from tumbling over in the wind. The other scientists were enjoying a few drinks in the tent once everything was finished. Harry on the other hand was sitting in the sand out by the sea, looking to the horizon with a neutral expression. He wasn't bored, he had just zoned out, thinking deeply. He was startled by a seagull squawking loudly at him as it waddled up to him. "I have nothing for you!" He called to the gull, who fluffed its' body an kept making noise before Harry moved to grab it, slipping and falling into the sand again as the gull flapped into the air with another squawk. "Yeah yeah, laugh at the oddball." Harry grumbled softly.</s> <|message|>Chalakon Ankorr Chalakon drifted through the busy afternoon market circle, eyeing jewelry and trinkets on display in the afternoon. Most of the craftsfolk he'd known as far back as he could remember. A few shops had been passed from master to apprentice, but nothing had really changed. "Hello Chal, my pearl." The wizened jeweler waved Chal over with a smile, clasping hands with the young mer. Chal grinned and gently squeezed the old woman's hands, noting the faintest tremor. "Good tides, Gran Cora. How's the family?" "Oh, they're just fine. Aline is expecting, you know! Finally. I knew they were worried after the second year past the wedding..." Chal listened politely, though this was a bit more information than he really wanted to hear. But most elders liked to chat, and Gran Cora had always been kind to him. "Listen, pearl. I will be moving on very soon." "Wait, what?" Chal was yanked harshly back to the moment, as if he'd gotten his tailfin caught in a ripcurrent. "You can't!" "I can, and I will." The woman's voice was firm. "My hands can't work the metal like they used to. And with the grandchild on the way, things are changing. It is time." She reached up and patted Chal's cheek, as if he were a grandchild of hers already. Then she plucked up a work from the display case and held it against Chal's skin. "Hmm. No. White coral washes out your tone." She set it aside and eyed the selections on the table."Perhaps... Ah! Hold still." "But-" "Hush now. And hold your hair." "Yes, Gran." Gran Cora wrapped a delicate, expertly woven choker around Chal's neck and tied the clasp. Then she swum up a bit to press a maternal kiss to his forehead. "Lovely. That's a gift from me, no trade needed." Chal touched the choker and smiled, feeling burning tears threatening. "Thank you, Gran. It's beautiful. Um. Just remembered I've got a lunch date, so..." "Ah, young love. Don't let me keep you, then. Off you go!" Gran waved and Chal rose up and up, leaving the market behind. - By the time he reached his favorite sandbar on the surface, Chal's eyes were sore from crying. He wasn't sure what it was even about. Changes like that hurt him at the core, some days. An odd noise caught his attention, and on instinct he rolled and slipped off the bank and under the waves. When nothing dangerous approached, he swam toward the noise. He found two strange creatures on the beach. One gray and fat and loud. The other was almost human, but the ears were wrong, and- was that a tail? Since when did humans have those? He watched from beneath the water, as close as he dared. - Meanwhile, one of Harry's earbuds starts to fizzle with static.</s> <|message|>Harivence Pineway (Harry) Harry pulled himself up from the sand with a grumble, spitting out a bit more of the sand, watching the Seagull hop towards him once again, letting out more squawks. Harry's left ear, the one still attached to his ear, fizzled slightly. "Huh?" He asked himself, moving to pull his music player out to check the connection. He found the connection was fine and the music player wasn't damaged at all, he moved the earbud from his ear and looked at it, trying to see if that was broken as well. The seagull moved quickly, grabbing the cable of the headphones while Harry was distracted and moved to try and fly away, causing Harry to stand up and grab the music player before it could fall from the cable. Harry's ears twitched as he heard a splash into the water but was too focused on getting their stuff back from a taunting gull. "Give." He tugged, "It." He pulled again, narrowing his eyes, "Back!" He pulled once last time, his headphones breaking in half before the gull flew off with the top half as Harry tumbled back into the sand and slid back towards the water. Harry felt tears ebb at the edges of his eyes as he realized his soft music was gone, but the soft sound of the waves made him feel slightly better. He stifled a sob as he sat up towards the sea, watching the waves carefully.</s> <|message|>Chalakon Ankorr There was the faintest sound, just hidden under the rhythmic splash of the waves. It would have gone completely unheard by a human. And in fact, it had been, every time Chal had made their way up to the surface. That was probably why the Aquapon felt comfortable enough to express such mirth so close to land. Unfortunately, they weren't aware that the tall, green haired one with the long ears was not just a different sort of human. They had no idea he'd be able to hear them laughing with amusement at the animated struggle, between him and the seagull. But it would die down once the tears appeared, replaced by the intense sensation of being watched. Like someone reading a book over your shoulder, or the eyes of a predator stalking prey, it would give Henry a deep feeling of discomfort.</s> <|message|>Harivence Pineway (Harry) Harry hesitated as he felt like he heard something in the water, he lifted his head up from his knees before he looked out over the water. His ears twitched at the faint sound of laughter before the silence reappeared, the waves splashing quietly. Harry was definitely uncomfortable by the feeling of something watching him, he had felt the feeling back home whenever he was forced out to be one of the hunting party members. The elf moved slowly, something was watching him; either from the water or from the edge behind him. He wasn't going to do anything rash at this point, so he simply pushed himself onto his knees to straighten himself up to look into the waves more. He didn't move quickly in case whatever was watching him would get spooked and attack, but he was showing his size to allow whatever was watching would see he was unarmed. He hesitated on the mere idea of calling out into the waves, or making any sort of sound; but his body wouldn't allow him.</s> <|message|>Chalakon Ankorr The feeling of being watched intensified greatly. But then, the water rippled, and there was a series of splashes as something surfaced from the water. "You noticed me. You can't be human. I've been watching humans for years and they never see me." Chalakon leaned on a sizable boulder jutting out of the water, brown upper body dripping water. Curious blue eyes stared the elf down. "Hm. I thought you were human with funny ears, but no. Your senses actually work. What are you?"</s> <|message|>Harivence Pineway (Harry) Harry watched the water before their ears pricked up at the splashing sounds before Chalakon appeared on the boulder by the water; causing the Elf to move to almost stand up, before the humanoid spoke. "Hi! What are you? You're good at hiding-" They started before they cleared their throat slightly. "Sorry, You asked questions first." They continued, "I'm Harry, I'm a Wood Elf." They almost babbled, their ears twitching and pricking up slightly, "I'm sorry if I disturbed you in any way." He glanced back to the tent as another cheer from their coworkers as they looked away with their ears drooping slightly.</s>

<|message|>Chalakon Ankorr Chal smiled politely, purple eyes gleaming with curiousity. "Harry. Wood elf. Woooow!" That did it for the politeness. With a bursting splash, she pulled completely free of the ocean. Instead of legs, a soft yellow tailfin completed the rest of her body. However, one of the ending fins was smaller than the other, clearly malformed in some way. "I am Chalakon, clan Ankorr. I am an Aquapon!" She inclined her head with a formal nod, pink braids dripping seawater. "And I have never met a wood elf! Or any elf." The cheer sounded, and Chal startled. But when no one else appeared, she relaxed. "Is that your clan? They seem... lively."</s>