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<|description|>Agent 595
Species: Human
Gender: Female
Age: UNKNOWN
Nationality: UNKNOWN
Weapons and/or equipment: UNKNOWN
Backstory: UNKNOWN</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
After Vreta was given a clean bill of health, he followed Rhia's direction for their appointment with their superiors. When Vreta entered the meeting room near the top floor of the building, only two others were inside: Rareth'Jharn and Director Valic'Ans. Vreta could not help but to feel some anxiety come over him. Datius were something unique among his organization, something exceptional. He had never even properly met a Datius before this mission, and now he was in a private meeting sitting at the table with two of them. For an Agent like himself, it was of course an honor to be trusted by them, but also equally nerve-wracking.
"Excellent. The doctors sent word ahead that your procedure was completed successfully. Has Rhia properly settled in to her new environment?" Rareth asked after Vreta took his seat.
This time, instead of just appearing to Vreta, Rhia accessed the holographic systems in the room and projected her avatar into the seat beside him. "Affirmative. I've run diagnostics thrice over, Vreta, and myself, is ready to go."
The Director nodded. "Good, then we're ready to begin. And it is good that we are; we are not going to have a lot of time to act. It is just a week or so before we will be ready to move the object, and we need to know if that is wise by then. Now, to start, this attack you suffered, Agent Vreta. We have started receiving results from the analysis of your storage drive. It will take some time to fully analyze its contents, but we can confirm with reasonable confidence that the virus was made at least partially with Cradle technology. We don't think the complete virus ever made it into your head. From what we've seen so far, it seems clear that the virus in your head stayed in communication with its source, but it never fully uploaded. We may not get a full picture of its capabilities, but the Humans likely could not have created it on their own."
"That was my impression as well." Vreta replied. "It was very adaptable; moreso than I would expect from a Human program. Still, the parts that did enter my head, my implant would have still been able to contain. It would have done so more quickly, had I not focused on trying to preserve so much information."
With a flick of her wrist, Rareth brought up a holographic document and pushed it in front of Vreta. "That is true, but we cannot know what the source program was capable of. We cannot afford to underestimate anything made from, or by, the Cradle. From the data you gathered, we do know that, before it ceased operation, the virus did transmit a partial scan of your neural map. We are still working on getting a complete picture of what they may have learned, but we do have thoughts on how to use that to our advantage."
While Vreta was still reading the report Rareth gave him, Director Valic quickly continued where she had left off. "If Agent 595 was willing to attack you in a mere training simulation, we have no reason to believe she will not attempt it again, perhaps in more dire circumstances. She has her scan, but as of right now, she does not know that your neural map has essentially been completely overhauled. If you keep your upgrades quiet, don't let anyone know about Rhia, then the Human Agent won't know her scans are out-of-date until it is too late."
Although Rhia did technically need to think about the suggestion, the time she required to come to a decision was hardly perceptible to the others. "That shouldn't be too hard. I can keep a low profile. Whenever I need to interact with any external systems, I should be able to rig up an interface to imitate Vreta's previous model of implant. The outside systems won't know the difference."
"Good. We will keep you both updated as we learn more from our analysis. In the meantime, you should get ready to join in this investigation into the object. The Rahn'Saki decided to include Dr. Freyr Lang into this investigation, so we are obliged to work with her as best as we can. Preferably subtly." Rareth said, though her expression was not entirely encouraging. "We may have our work cut out for us in that regard. Not all of the Human representatives seemed particularly thrilled that Roth'Orsa was able to negotiate full-cooperation. I suspect there may be some pushback, especially from the Director-General's people. It may be a…diplomatic fight for us every step of the way to maintain that equal cooperation."
Vreta was silent for a moment. He brought a claw up to his chin as he thought back on his time among the Humans. Out of everyone in the room, he was actually the most experienced in living among them. "Well, if they are intent on resisting cooperation, I imagine they will want to maintain their control however they can. Using their equipment, their facilities. Honestly, it might not be hard for the Agent to convince their scientists of that. From what I've seen, even without any pressure, their scientists do seem to prefer their equipment, even if ours is much more advanced. I would expect them to say they are more familiar with it and they want to work with what they know. They have a whole lab on the Barbarossa that they might prefer to use."
Rareth frowned, giving a quick sigh. "Hmm, if the Agent can get the scientists to agree with her, then it might be difficult to keep them working on the surface with us. From the Barbarossa, the Institute will be able to keep track of everything that passes through the ship's transmitters, so it will be hard for us to act discretely."
Rhia spoke up again, but not with the look of concern that the others were showing. Instead, she almost seemed excited about something. "True, but that also works for us. Those harnesses, they form a connection between the mind of the user and the object. The mind isn't actually uploaded, but for the mind inside the simulation to be able to act and remember things as that person, the information still has to be transferred between the harness and the object at some point. In the underwater FoB, the Cradle harnesses are fairly close to the object and beam their signals directly to it. Not really much of an opportunity to intercept them, especially without anyone knowing. But, if that signal has to cross from a ship up in orbit, all the way down under the surface of the planet, well…there are thousands of points at which we, or anyone really, could intercept and save a copy of that signal without either the source or destination being aware of it. The trick is being able to decode it once we have it. Those signals are rather complex. They encode the neural map of an entire Human brain, but if we put enough effort into it, we may be able to look inside the heads of anyone who enters the simulation. Thoughts, emotions, memories in particular, that could be valuable intelligence."
"Not bad." Director Valic remarked. "So we might be able to gain some advantage either way. Still, the Institute will be expecting us to push for equal cooperation, so that is exactly what we have to give them. Try as best as you can to keep the scientists working together on the surface."
---
Marae could not answer Freyr's call immediately, though she did return an alert that she would be ready to talk momentarily. After a few minutes, a hologram of Marae finally appeared in front of Freyr once she connected to the channel. "Sorry about that; I was working on one of the designs for the new equipment. Based on all the data collected in our last insertion into the object, we started working on a more compact transit station. My team believe they have figured out how to integrate our power source, and Nirann has been working on modifying the internals to get them into a more compact frame. We've fabricated our first prototype, so how soon can you and your team get down here?"</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
"Perfect! Roth'Orsa and I discussed a joint IP scheme for all these collaborations." Freyr lied. "We'll send over the documentation and will need to get post-hoc ratification before we can consider the equipment's use for our mission. I'd also like my people to inspect the new additions, to make sure they're safe for Humans. We can't afford any more injuries." Freyr glanced over at 595 to see if her new show of standoffishness was working. The Agent appeared satisfied, nodding at her from off camera. She carried on.
"We should have a full debrief, but right now my team is going through the data we collected. From what i can see, it's not translating well at all. Which is why I'd like to try and set up a lab inside the sim next. It'll afford us much faster processing times and give us a shot at finding something meaningful before the week is over. We have a full-size CradLab ready for insertion in the Barbarossa, either we can send a description or you're welcome to come and see. I've also cleared the way for a Terraformer/Builder duo to insert and set up shop this time. I'm conscious of time, so how do you feel about spinning up the mission this afternoon?"</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
Marae tilted her head, exhaling slowly as she considered what Freyr was suggesting. "Terraformer? We're…going to have to get together with Rareth and have a talk about that. This object is an inhabited space; it's not ours to reshape as we please. Unless we have permission from that being, I really would not feel comfortable with that. For the mission today, I was just hoping to be able to make contact again. Perhaps brief the being on our plan, and ask questions if we can? Though, given the way the last encounter went, that may be an optimistic hope."
"At any rate…" Marae continued. "…speaking of injuries, Rareth is mandating a few safety regulations based on what happened last time. She wants full medical scans with our best equipment on anyone who had entered the object before she will approve them to enter again. She's particularly worried about the possibility of neurological damage with repeated entries. The problem might not come up again now that we've fixed the language issue, but that doesn't help anyone who has already been in."</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
595 immediately opened a private channel with Freyr upon Marae mentioning scans. "Absurd overreach. Tell them we can scan our own people. Tell them." Freyr glanced at the Agent, who was staring oppressively at her. She was doing exactly what Roth'Orsa had said she would. She didn't see any way to reasonably maneuver 595 through a Rothian scan though. The Barb did have facilities more than capable of comprehensively monitoring neurological function in Humans.
Freyr tried to be diplomatic. "I agree. We can keep very close tabs on our group from here. The Barbarossa boasts one of the best medical suites Outremer has to offer, after all." She shot a look at 595 after that. "We do need to keep you under observation. Just to make sure there's no damage." Freyr blocked her out again to answer Marae's other concern.
"We can just terraform the ground underneath where the lab will go. This allows us to detect any changes to geography and prevent the sim from, say, swallowing us up in a chasm." Freyr spoke in a calm and matter of fact manner, like she had hundreds of times before when explaining the Cradle to the uninitiated. "It's perfectly harmless."</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
Marae frowned, or at least gave the Rothian equivalent. "I know you brought your best for this expedition, but Rareth doesn't want to take any chances. Brain damage is a serious concern, especially with the symptoms Agent 595 was exhibiting. No offense, but our equipment can map a brain in far greater detail than yours, and will be much more likely to catch the problem. Besides, more detailed scans means more data points for determining what could have caused the issue in the first place. If there are any problems, you'll have to talk to Rareth about it. She's the one who made the decision."
For a few moments, Marae took the time to to review what information she had on Cradle terraforming. What Freyr described was not inaccurate, but Marae was not convinced that they had the complete picture. "As for terraforming, it is not dangerous to us, yes, but can we truly say for sure that the same is true for the environment itself? So much is unknown about the Cradle and similar objects. Humanity has terraformed the Cradle for centuries, and now, the Cradle itself is becoming hostile to outsiders. It is true that we cannot simply assume that the two are related, but neither can we rule it out. The deeper mechanisms that control these objects are still an unknown. Perhaps we can at least start by trying to contact the being again? Then, we can ask directly if such processes harm the simulation."</s>
| <|message|>Agent 595
Freyr sighed, before looking at the Agent again while Marae turned her attention elsewhere. 595's eyes had narrowed slightly. "Hey, i tried! Marae is sort of correct." Freyr protested. The black-clad spook folded her arms and assumed contrapposto, thinking for a moment. "The Captain will have something to say about this. I'll have her talk to the Datius. Let's put this science class on ice until it's resolved."
"That's not your call." Freyr retorted, but she hesitated. Would the Captain actually have and objection? It occurred to her that several of the military types attached to the scientists might have hardware in their heads that they might not want to reveal. Although she had operational control of the expedition, the Captain could veto the use of Human protection while in the simulation if she wasn't satisfied.
Freyr turned quickly back to the holo after her retort, determined not to acknowledge the daggers 595 was throwing from her eyes. She fully realised the risk she was undertaking now, but wouldn't surrender her one true piece of influence - executive without a fight. She focused her attention on answering Marae while the Agent got in contact with Captain Andersen.
"Alright, yes. Let's attempt to open a dialogue. But if it proves unresponsive there's no time to waste. We can insert the lab but leave it dormant until we need it."</s> |
<|description|>Agent 595
Species: Human
Gender: Female
Age: UNKNOWN
Nationality: UNKNOWN
Weapons and/or equipment: UNKNOWN
Backstory: UNKNOWN</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
Freyr held onto a handhold by the cockpit door, watching through the toughened concave windows as the rig rolled over the snowladen mesa. She glanced back as Vreta approached her. "Dr Wetherall just said we have hours or days at our current power consumption - I expect he'll have an exact time shortly. This must be down to all the energy efficiency upgrades we've made. At any rate, we have enough time to attempt contact."
Freyr gave Vreta a knowing look, then flicked her eyes over to 595. The Agent was engrossed in who was studying the holo-map in the centre of the room. "Nirann, turn us around, please, so we're facing the ruins." She instructed Nirann. She knew the lab's strongest armour was in the front elevation - reactive plates would even roll over the cockpit in an emergency.
"Dr Wetherall, prepare a groundmast for once we've stopped please. I want a full workup of the whole mountain and this complex in front of us ASAP. Dr Chanthara, is this field accepting a handshake?"
"Negative. Trying all frequencies and entry methods. Seems dead."
Freyr pursed her lips. "Marae. Are you set up in the code lab yet? Can you put together a package to cut us a small hole in this field? See if we can get a message through."
"Umm, have we tried just using a loudspeaker?" 595 offered, looking between them both.
Freyr paused, perplexed, before shrugging her shoulders, tapping Vreta with her knuckles and pointing to a console. "Mic is over there. Give it a go."</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
Vreta did not seem to be nearly as enthused by the estimates Freyr gave as she was. "Hours or days? There's quite a large margin of error in that estimate." He remarked as Nirann started to turn the rig around. Despite some of the inconvenience of its design for a Rothian, it was at least large enough to be a smooth drive even on rough terrain. Perhaps unless something disturbed it too much.
Marae did answer back quickly, though as she spoke, she did seem to be otherwise occupied by her own tasks. "I've just started my own analysis of the field, but I can see what I can do. Just from my first impressions, there are some distinct similarities to other examples of the object's code base, so there may be something I can latch onto."
While Freyr was working, Vreta observed from the sidelines. In those idle moments, Rhia's avatar appeared in his field of view. She stood right alongside Freyr, seemingly watching her closely. "So this is her: the Cradle expert. Her psychological profile is…quite something. I'd watch this one carefully. She's a dedicated one, but not necessarily to the same things as us. Nor her own people, to be fair. She has her own goals, and right now, those goals want this test to go through no matter what. Careful that she doesn't pull a fast one on you. I'd have Nirann double-check any calculations she gives you, just in case."
"I'm surprised you don't want to do it yourself." Vreta commented within his mind.
Rhia's avatar simply shrugged and leaned back against one of the consoles. "Oh, I will, but if Nirann does the fact-checking, it gives you something you can actually act on without drawing suspicion."
"Fair point."
Of course, Vreta gave no clues to his conversation. He had still been aware of the discussion around him, and he responded immediately when Freyr pointed him to the rig's loudspeakers. "Very well, I can try." He replied as he stepped up to the mic. He hovered his finger over the button to activate it, but did not do so right away. "Okay, where to start? I…wish I knew this thing's name."
In any case, after taking a moment to collect his thoughts, Vreta pressed the button to begin. "For our host, if you can hear me, we would like to speak to you if at all possible." Vreta began. The entity had referred to the first team as its guests, so he decided to keep up that analogy. "We would like to inform you of the plan we have made. We believe we have a plan that will accomplish what you asked of us quickly."</s>
<|message|>Dr Freyr Lang
The bridge was silent while they waited for a reply. Seconds ticked by, and then a minute. The only sound they could detect from outside was the fluttering of thousands of wings from the swarm above. It flitted into view of the front flood lamps, a dark shoal of eyes and teeth. This was punctuated by a faint scraping as the groundmast went into the earth beneath their feet.
"Must be asleep." 595 remarked, eventually. She'd peeled her visor back, and was studying both Vreta and Freyr closely. She watched from behind as Dr Lang scratched her neck, arms folded across her chest. The scientist was staring off at the snow-shrouded ruins in front of them.
Suddenly, a loud ping heralded a new visualisation on the holo-map. An intricately detailed 3D model of the mountain they were sitting on slowly rotated for all to see. Above it, a countdown clock spun up to six hours and fifty one minutes. Freyr looked round, before moving to the holo. "Okay. We have time. Hold on…What's this?"
Freyr cut the mountain open with her finger, and it exploded open in a cross section. Underneath their position, the plinth was just one face of an enormous cube - it must have been two hundred metres across. Most of it was buried deep inside the mountain, with just two vertices on the top face jutting out nearby. "Fascinating, isn't it?" called Dr Wetherall, who would have seen the data seconds before pushing it to the bridge. "Some kind of power storage?" He mused.
Freyr hummed to herself, before deciding what needed to be done. "Dr Zimmermann, prime Rübezahl Three for injection via the groundmast, please." The fourth Human scientist, who was currently split between Synthesis and the code lab, responded: "Very good - five minutes."</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
Once again, there was a lot for Vreta to take in with his observations. Considering that this was the location where the first team had encountered the entity, the cube-like structure was highly likely to be directly related to the entity. It was indeed quite a curiosity, Vreta did agree. Scanning it would probably be their best opportunity to learn something of value, but Vreta still did not lose sight of his objectives. His superiors of course wanted to learn what they could just like Freyr did, but not at the cost of damaging the entity.
It was disappointing that there was no response from the entity, but Vreta supposed that approach had been a long shot regardless. He hoped they would be able to find some other way to make contact, but for now, he took a few moments to watch the holograms. He did not necessarily understand the significance of what they had discovered in the same way as the scientists, but the countdown clock was something that he took a particular interest in. "Okay, so could you explain exactly what that clock is counting down to? Does it represent the energy remaining before we need to leave? As in, the entity will still have enough energy once that reaches zero. Or is that the countdown until the entity runs out of energy entirely?"</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
Dr Wetherall answered Vreta directly over comms. "The clock counts down to when we have to leave. It factors in time required to move the object into a stable orbit around your system's black hole. There are thousands of variables that will affect the final countdown, which should reflect what you see on the bridge."
Agent 595 took her turn next. "Okay. Now, what is this...Rubezahl thing? Is it going to put the creature in danger? What is it?" Freyr sighed, feeling a bit like her own university professor. She looked down at the floor and thought about her answer for a moment before delivering it.
"When it comes to simulations like this one, it's important not to get too attached to the idea of seeing things as they appear....This mountain may look like a giant rocky thumb on the outside, but under the surface, it is part of the most complex, powerful computer known to both our civilisations. Some of it is dead, some of it is teeming with 'life'. The Rübezahl we're releasing is specifically programmed to integrate with the section we're currently connected to via the groundmast, and to investigate whatever we deem important. Right now, that's the underside of this cube, to search for a way to contact the entity, if it's nearby."</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
Vreta was glad to hear that they were at least accounting for their time restrictions, though it did not dispel all of his doubts. "I hope it accounts for all of the time we need to move it. The object will need to return to normal time for a short while after its flyby of the void star as well. Perhaps it would be best that we leave some time on that clock as well, just to be safe. Nirann, could you make sure to keep scanning and recalculating to make sure nothing changes that time limit without us noticing?"
"Don't worry, I'll dedicate a subroutine to it." He answered.
Beyond simply how long they would be investigating, the method of investigation would be just as important. He had read up as much as he could on the capabilities of this rig, but in the limited time that had been available to him, it was not as if he could become an expert. Marae and her team would certainly understand it, and he hoped that she would alert him to anything that might be too dangerous to try.
"What exactly does it mean to 'integrate' with the object?" Vreta asked. "I find it likely that this object is related to the entity itself. It may even be the entity. It did identify itself as a synthetic being, so what the first team met in the temple may have simply been an avatar."</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
"Rübezahl becomes part of the mountain. Looks for an underground path we can use to make contact, zo to speak." Dr Zimmermann replied in a thick Swiss accent, which Freyr always found charming when she considered that he'd been a citizen of Outremer for much longer than her.
"Mmhmm." Freyr actively confirmed the scientist's assessment, then tagged on the end. "We can keep the integrity of whatever this object is intact. Rübezahl Three has instructions to be delicate on its mission."
"Ja. It is ready, by the way." Zimmermann reported. "Excellent. Prepare for launch. Marae, how are you getting on with the front door?" Freyr looked vaguely into the air while communicating with invisible colleagues.
"Hold on, i still don't like this." 595 walked over to Freyr. "Why don't I just go and take a look around with my own eyes first? Maybe the...avatar is still functional? That way, we can avoid using any safecrackers."</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
While the others were speaking, Marae had been devoting her full attention on her work. She had to start essentially from scratch on making a program to get them through the field, but she worked remarkably efficiently. Her own neural implants were different in form and purpose to the likes of Vreta's, but they were specialized to the kind of work she did. She could quickly perform complex calculations, as well as craft programs with thought and intention, rather than purely coding. Much of the work was happening within her mind, though she always had four or five holographic screens floating around her with reference information.
"It progresses. I would say…ten or so minutes." Marae answered.
Vreta, meanwhile, observed the hologram of the cube with a frown, which was only broken when he gave a sideways glance over to 595. He certainly still did not trust her, nor her intentions. He did agree with Rareth that the behavior of the institute as a whole was suspicious, but in this case, he found himself forced to agree with her. If the entity was friendly, then harming it could be an irreversible choice. "I…actually agree." Vreta spoke up. "This object is a real unknown for us. Is it such a good idea to modify it, even delicately, without even knowing what it is? We could be prodding at the entity's brain for all we know. Is there no way to scan from the outside first? Like doing a brain scan, instead of a biopsy? If nothing else, I could go with 595 and we could try to speak with the entity together."</s>
| <|message|>Agent 595
"This is the brain scan." Freyr replied levelly, gesturing with an open hand to the holographic cross section. "You can see here...activity on the cube's top face, but that's obfuscated by this dome-like field." She used a finger to highlight what she was talking about, sketching the dome which sat next to their rig.
"I predict the rest of the cube's faces won't have this kind of field. Why bother, when this mountain acts as a natural firewall, with no permanent connection to the object? So, we need Rübezahl to trace a path through the mountain system and create a strong connection between us and the cube. From there, we can gently nudge the being and hopefully make contact in some way. We won't be modifying it, just observing and talking."
Freyr paused and thought for a moment. 595's plan did actually have a lot of merit. Outremer's high command had forbidden their top scientists from leaving the rig, where they could be extracted at a moment's notice. The Sacred Band had also been explicitly ordered not to leave them alone. But as far as she knew, this mandate didn't extend to 595 and Vreta.
It also got both of them out of her hair for the most crucial part of this mission. The part where Freyr planned to search for evidence that this entity was telling the truth about its origins and the threat Humanity faced.
The two of them might even find something useful on the top face of the cube. Freyr supposed they would be more discreet as well; there was always a small chance an abrasive anti-jammer like the one Marae was creating might set off unknown failsafes. They could keep it in reserve as a Plan B, perhaps…
"Ok, i don't hate the idea. But what about the swarm outside? We haven't analysed their biology yet, but creatures of that profile may be waiting for some of us to separate from the group before striking as a swarm."
"Well, I actually had a plan for them." 595 asserted. "Now hear me out...we use Vreta as bait! While they're busy eating him to death, I could make a run for it." The Agent grinned broadly, winking at Vreta. Freyr could hear a couple of suppressed chuckles from her team before they muted themselves, and a raucous belly laugh from the Norse.
"What about some kind of sensory overload? If they operate with sonar, we could prepare a package that disorients them. Or we could try bright lights to scare them off?" Dr Chanthara suggested - 595's joke had been lost on him.
"Or, uncle Kjartan can just shoot them all!" Kjartan boomed from the swiveling ball turret on top of the rig. "With coordinated fields of fire, we could suppress or kill enough of them to clear a way through." Thebes chipped in - it seems this had become a free for all.</s> |
<|description|>Agent 595
Species: Human
Gender: Female
Age: UNKNOWN
Nationality: UNKNOWN
Weapons and/or equipment: UNKNOWN
Backstory: UNKNOWN</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
"Hoo fuckin rah." 595 purred through a wide smile. Her Cradle-light eye augmentations switched on, bathing Vreta in a sickly blue glow. "Lets deploy from the bow loading bay - I'll head down there now." She turned and clanked down the ladder they'd arrived up, holding both handrails with her gun magnetized to her chest.
Freyr looked up at the ceiling, mulling over her low-tech solution one more time before voicing it. "Marae, how confident are you we can open a hole without triggering any potential countermeasures? The thought has occurred to me that we could try physical cabling to capture the data and tandem the transit station with the rig. Might leave less of a footprint on the cube?"</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
Marae tilted her head when she looked at Freyr. "A physical cable, that…I'll be honest, that's not the kind of solution I would usually think of." She admitted. Given that Rothians had the technology to solve a great many of their society's problems, low-tech solutions did often go under their radar. It took her a moment to consider the logistics of Freyr's suggestion, but she did end up giving a hesitant nod. "I…think that will work. Potentially. It depends on if the jamming field is designed to be able to block a signal through a wire. And provided we actually have that kind of cable. It will need to be pretty long, and I certainly didn't requisition it. If not, we can request it be sent in, though I do still suggest waiting on me to finish this program. Just a few more minutes. We'll want to have it as a backup, in case something goes wrong with the cable."
Meanwhile, Vreta followed after the Agent, only mildly groaning at her attitude. He squeezed his way through the rig's passages down to the loading bay. He was already fully equipped, so he had no reason to delay. The Rothians were taking every precaution they could for this mission; even the scientists were equipped in some measure of combat armor. Vreta's armor was of mostly the same quality as that of Eti's team, just fitted to his smaller stature. His shield strength was not quite as good, since the power source and emitters were smaller, but it was not a great difference. He was armed with a standard issue Rothian rifle, a sidearm magnetized to the holster on his thigh, and a plasma sword holstered on his hip. He and the Agent still had to wait for their transit station to be prepared, so they simply stood across from one another in the loading bay for the moment.
"We're in the loading bay at the moment. Do you want to join us with your team, Eti?" Vreta asked.
"My team is still up top. We'll join you on the ground once you're outside." She answered.
After a few moments, Vreta finally looked up from checking his rifle to make eye contact with 595. "So, what do you expect us to find? Your Institute is supposed to know quite a lot about the Cradle, yes? Is there anything in the Cradle that might be similar to this entity?"</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
"Yes, of course. Once you're happy with the program, we'll set it ready to go in if the cabling doesn't work. Fortunately, there's miles of the stuff in storage. We can feed it through to reels on the front of the rig." Freyr explained, taking a holo-pad from its mount to check inventory. She deftly scanned through and selected the necessary cabling, along with a spectrometer and two mobile transit stations. "Nirann, can you activate the cargo conveyor and send that down to the team please?"
"Rübezahl ready to launch, Doctor." Zimmermann reminded her. Freyr looked up quickly from her holo-pad. "Launch it."
---
595 firmly thrust her sidearm back onto its mag-plate after checking the battery and looked over at Vreta, a sly look on her face. "Really, Vreta'Sori…Your reverence is flattering! But I'm afraid I'm just as clueless as you, sweetie."
The agent flexed her fingers, arms and neck vigorously at this point. Strips along the thinner points of her armour pulsed the same blue colour as her eyes. Electricity crackled softly between her digits, and 595 inhaled deeply through her nose while biting her lip. "Ooh, wow…These upgrades are magic..."
The loading bay lights switched from bright white to deep red. Klaxons sounded from everywhere as the equipment around them was brought online. A compact conveyor belt began whirring frantically in one corner of the room.
Freyr's voice crackled over the team chat. "Loading bay - you should see the spectrometer and transit stations arriving now. Take it. In a couple of minutes we're going to lower the ramp. Head outside and hook up to the cable housing.
595 moved over to the conveyor belt as a few bulky objects appeared. The first was the spectrometer, a spherical device contained within a lightweight metal cage with a handle on the top. The other two were modified transit stations, with handy arm straps. She grabbed a transit station and bashed it against Vreta's chest so he took it off her. Then she strapped the other station on her back and held the spectrometer in her off-hand.
"Ready."</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
The Agent was certainly a curious one, but Vreta saw through the facade she tried to put forward. Friendliness, levity, it was a mask she wore over her true self. In many cases, that was exactly what Vreta himself did through the course of his missions, so it was easy to recognize his own tricks. Of course, it would be naive to expect that she could not see the same in him. Indeed, he supposed it was funny, in a way, that they were both obligated to continue to lie to one another in ways that both of them were aware were entirely ineffective.
After a few minutes, the loading ramp lowered to allow them outside, once Marae was able to finish her work. Vreta deployed his helmet, then stepped out just behind the Agent. Rhia monitored every sensor available to him to keep watch for danger. The flying creatures were still certainly present, but as of yet, they were not making any moves to approach the rig. Once the pair were outside, Eti and her team jumped down from the walkways far above to join them. Their suits' thrusters slowed their falls to a safe descent to set them down gently, and without too much noise.
"We should make this as quick as we can. Your concerns about the creatures are valid. I will take point, and my team will form up around you. Stay between us as we move." Eti instructed.</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
The noise outside was eerie after the reassuring hum of the lab. The wind and snow howled, and a loud 'ftftftftftfft' sound swooped and ducked around them in the dark.
Keeping her cool, 595 jogged heavily to the cable housing, just off-centre from the rig's vast front elevation. She put the spectrometer on the ground, unfurled a thick cable from one of the massive reels, firmly spun Vreta around so his backpack was facing her, then plugged the cable into his transit station. She then motioned for him to do the same to her, while she dealt with the spectrometer.
Once she'd received the green light from the bridge that all the equipment was working, 595 pulled out a thinner cable from the cable housing and handed it to Vreta. "This one goes in your butt." She explained, before retrieving another cable which went into the small of her back, just underneath the transit station backpack.
595 had already created a sterile compartment for the video and sensory data to run through, taking out all metadata from her suit or biology. She gritted her teeth when the cable went in, with her suit fighting to reject it. "Enough!" She hissed under her breath, overriding its complex defense mechanisms. "Got to play nice with the friendly Doctor, haven't we?"
Once everything looked functional, Dr Chanthara took the lead. "Ultrasonic package primed. Search lights?"
"Standing by." Knossos confirmed, standing by an external control panel which gave him control of the rig's large work lamps. He looked up the enormous swarm of flying creatures in the air around them.
"Ok. Deploying."</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
Lacking an actual explanation from 595, Vreta took a moment to figure out what to do with the cable. Rhia performed a quick scan, then adapted a compatible input on his suit. Though, any data sent back to the rig was first filtered by her to cleanse it of anything they might not want to share. With a nod from Vreta, Eti started to lead the way towards the ruins of the structure.
Vreta followed the plan closely. He kept up a slow, steady pace and took particular caution not to allow the cables to become caught on anything. The other two members of Eti's team moved close on either side of himself and 595, trailing just slightly behind them. Like Rareth, the three of them towered over the pair, and they had far more than just their eyes with which to keep watch on their surroundings.
High above them, the swarm of creatures were starting to fly more erratically. The rig had started to shine its lights to the sky and deploy ultrasonic countermeasures. Vreta even had to tune his own echolocation sensors to use a much different frequency for them to continue functioning. However, with the measures that they were using, none of the creatures seemed to be flying any closer to the group, even as they moved farther from the rig. With all that was disrupting their senses, it seemed that they had not actually been noticed. At least, not yet. They still had to complete their objective, and make the walk all the way back.</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
595 shuffled through the snow in formation with the others. The transit station on her back and the spectrometer in her left hand were heavy and unwieldy; she had to lean slightly to her right to maintain good balance. The Agent could probably have moved faster if she'd gripped the sensory equipment in both arms, but then she wouldn't have been able to wield her sidearm.
At any rate, her load became noticeably easier to bear once they crossed onto the top face of the cube. Either something was making the objects she was carrying lighter, or something was making her suit stronger. 595 smiled under her visor and pressed on with renewed vigor.
"Ground team, can you read me? Come in, please." Freyr crackled and hissed over comms, kept open purely via the cables connected to Vreta and 595. "I read you." 595 answered, looking at Vreta to check he'd heard it too. "Good. We're getting readings from the spectrometer now too. Proceed to the structure - we're going to check the field for booby traps."
"Copy that. Good work on the countermeasures, boys. Keep it up." 595 purred, looking up at the fingers of light stabbing the chaotic swarm of creatures above. A few of the things had peeled away from the pack and were flying about frantically at a lower altitude, seemingly confused. 595 observed that they definitely weren't bats. She'd never seen anything like them before.
"Is your gear still working?" She asked the team around her.</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
Vreta gripped his rifle tightly, his eyes scanning the area ahead of him. While the structure had not been reduced completely to rubble, it was still in much worse shape than the recordings he had seen. Unless this was a particularly elaborate ruse, it did seem like the entity was genuinely at risk. Whatever the truth might be, they needed to play this very carefully, not only for their own sakes, but fore the sake of the mission as a whole.
The soldiers, naturally, had their attention more on the living parts of the simulation. Eti herself was focused on the path ahead, while the others she directed to cover other angles. "Mar, eyes to the sky. Kelest, you're on ground-level threats. This energy field is interfering with comms. Seems like we can still communicate over short distances, but I don't want to risk a blackout at a critical moment, so we'll need to do things analogue. If something attacks by surprise, shoot first and defend yourselves. Same goes for you two. I know you're both trained, so I'm not expecting to have to pamper you like hatchlings." She said in an even, commanding tone.
Before the group could move too close to the structure, Marae quickly interrupted. "Wait! Hold on just a…moment. I'm getting something through the spectrometer just under the surface ahead. Hard to say what it is, exactly, just from this data. Still, probably best just to go around, to be safe. Here, let me plot you out a route to avoid the anomalies."
With a brief acknowledgement, Eti changed her course, then continued to press ahead. Since Rhia was taking care of watching for danger, Vreta focused more on the mission itself. "I don't like this. If there are actually traps, then we clearly would not be welcome here. Perhaps we should call this off?"</s>
| <|message|>Agent 595
595 awkwardly changed course in line with the rest of the team. Part of her wanted to investigate the patch of snow Marae had warned them of, just to see what happened. But she restrained herself, and tried to focus on the mission. She had been tasked with running interference on this expedition, but she could sense there was still so much for her to learn from the Navigator. This might be the last chance she got, before handing over to the Institute back on Outremer…
---
"Sorry, 'traps' might not be the best word for them in this context." Freyr chuckled over comms, closely watching Rübezahl's progress on the holo-map at the same time. Their creation was trickling through the mountain structure, heading towards the underside of the cube - the part Freyr suspected wasn't being protected. It had detected a couple of symbiotic organics inside the mountain, which were causing low-level vibrations they'd been querying. "There are just a few spots we can't access that we'd best steer clear of for your safety."
Freyr then switched to the rig-only channel, to avoid distracting the ground team. "Marae, can we isolate those dark pockets with your program, to avoid messing with them?" She looked at Artek, who had joined her on the bridge to work more closely on the alien structure. "Any thoughts on the architecture? It looks different from the recorded video, right? Damage excluded."
---
The temple ruins loomed over them in the blackness. The roof had collapsed, and 595 saw piles of debris through the open entryway. "Woah…" She whispered, when she noticed the mess of vine-like growths winding their way over the masonry. The temple had lost its clean lines and classical shape, to become more...organic. They made their way toward the front steps. "Are you seeing this?"</s> |
<|description|>Agent 595
Species: Human
Gender: Female
Age: UNKNOWN
Nationality: UNKNOWN
Weapons and/or equipment: UNKNOWN
Backstory: UNKNOWN</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
The Archive
"Intriguing! This could be an archive, cold-stored to maintain integrity through millions of boot ups." Dr Zimmermann chattered excitedly, sifting through their findings so far. "Freyr, you seeing this?"
"Umm...yeah. Sorry." Freyr muttered, massaging her eye sockets. She put her hands on the holo-map console and blinked hard a few times. It felt like she had a migraine coming on, which should've been impossible. She closed her eyes again, and a voice rang out as if they were right in front of her.
"Mom, what's this one?" Amy looked up at her with wide eyes, a tiny finger pointing to the 3D fish projected from the holopad. A gentle wave lapped against Freyr's toes, leaving a soft pillow of foam.
"No…" Freyr managed a hoarse whisper, otherwise transfixed in place. She couldn't move.
---
595 studied the bright hole in the floor and bit her lip. She considered sending a virus in there to reconnoitre, but didn't want to aggravate the Navigator anymore than they probably already had. "So you are learning…" a familiar voice whispered part of a muffled sentence in her ear. She looked sharply around, but saw no one apart from the Rothian soldiers on her other side.
She shook her head. "Fuck it. Take my hand." 595 holstered her main gun and grasped the rugged alloy of Vreta's armoured palm, ignoring his protests. "Don't let go." She directed a brave smile straight at the spook's visor and winked, then her visor slid back over her face. The red targeting triangle blinked on, and 595 began walking them carefully towards the edge of the hole. She was leaning towards it at a thirty degree angle, holding Vreta's hand at full stretch behind her.
---
"That's an Outreman Anglerfish." Freyr heard herself say in her head. She felt a tear squeeze through the gap in her clenched eyelids. "They use a bioluminescent fin to lure other animals into biting range. They're very similar to deep-sea predators on other worlds, and we're not sure why." Freyr stroked Amy's head, brushing a lock of hair out of her eyes. "Eww, he's ugly." Amy stuck her tongue out, then laughed and looked up at her.
"It's not real, it's not real." Freyr whispered, bent over the console. With a titanic effort, she raised a hand above her head. She patted herself on the back of the head, willing the seizure to end. She was vaguely aware of people talking, but couldn't hear what they said.
---
On closer inspection, the liquid in the hatchway was more like a gel. It lapped against 595's boot as she carefully planted it next to the edge. She checked her grip on Vreta was solid, then carefully leaned over to take a look.
The bright light initially dazzled her screen and sensors, then subsided to a bearable level. It illuminated the walls of the square hatchway as it plunged into the depths of the cube below. The gel seemed to go down for miles, ending in blackness at the bottom. She could see moving parts, like clockwork intersecting the tunnel.
"You've been selected from your peers to realise our true cause. Congratulations...Agent 595." The Director-General smiled at her.</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
For both Vreta and Rhia, it was difficult to put into words what they experienced. Vreta had taken 595's hand, but it did not matter that he was not the one to try and take a closer look. They found themselves quite suddenly no longer experiencing the world through his body. They were only vaguely aware of time passing as their minds seemed to have been taken to a different place. Their minds connected and intermingled not only with the object, but at least for a moment, with one another as well. Vreta caught short, but intense glimpses of memory and emotion from 595, just as she did from him. It was not long before Vreta found himself in a distant, but familiar memory.
---
Vreta cast his gaze up to Throssai far above him. The gas giant was by far the most dominant object in the sky, and what a beautiful object it was. Growing up on this moon, he realized he had often taken it for granted, but after living on Rothia for so long, he was glad to be able to take in its beauty again. The swirling, multicolored clouds were like an ever-changing piece of art as storms larger than entire planets shaped the clouds. He was stood on the very edge of a section of a sheer cliff that jutted out over a vast valley. It would normally be quite a precarious position, but the reduced gravity of Syr'Jakra meant that no fall was truly dangerous. He could jump down off the cliff himself if he wanted to and land safely below, though the time required to climb back up would probably end up canceling his planned picnic.
Vreta closed his eyes and hummed when he felt the familiar, pleasant sensation of another embracing him. He had heard the footsteps behind him, but he pretended not to notice as his husband hugged him around his waist and leaned in to rest his head in the nape of his neck. They were both silent for a few moments before eventually opening their eyes to enjoy the view together.
"I can see why you love this spot so much." Karaz commented, looking out onto a cityscape in the distance in the valley. "I always wanted to be able to travel the galaxy and see all these exotic places. You got to grow up in one of them."
Vreta chuckled. "Well, didn't seem that exotic as a hatchling. It was just…home. I suppose it still is, in a way."
The pair took a moment to find a comfortable place to sit and lay out all they had brought with them. Comfortable blankets, drinks, and of course a nice meal. Karaz had handled the food, so naturally he had chosen Vreta's favorite. He set down a cylindrical canister on the rocks, and with the press of just a few buttons, it went from preserving the meat inside to cooking it. It was cultured from a kind of alien crustacean for which Vreta had a particular taste.
Once they were settled in, Vreta could no longer contain the smile he had been holding back. "I have some, uh, good new for you, actually. You know that proposal you wanted me to bring forward? For the s-series scanners? Well, I brought it forward, managed to have a nice chat with some of the regulators, and it was accepted. In full."
Karaz had already been smiling when Vreta started, but those last two words seemed to have him in shock. "Wait, in full, in full?"
"In full."
In just that moment, Karaz could hardly contain his excitement. He immediately pulled him into a tight hug while nuzzling his snout against Vreta's. "That's far more advanced than anything I was expecting them to approve. I mean, I expected you would be able to get them to agree, but not without some modifications to the core of the sensor. The s-series has far better cellular penetration than anything I can get in the field. When we bring it to the Tindrel, not only will we be able to mark the virus' progress, but we'll be able to reverse the damage it's done in survivors. By the rings, you don't even know how many lives you've saved here."
Vreta laughed and gave a few pats to Karaz's shoulder. "Come on, we both know this was your idea. You're the one who did the heavy lifting on writing the proposal. I just did some editing, added some flowery language, and talked up your ideas to a few of the regulators. This is your win. The whole proposal wouldn't have even existed without you."
"Yeah, well, you know I don't know how to talk to those bureaucrats. Still wouldn't have happened without you either."
Vreta rolled his eyes. "Fine, fine, I'll take some credit. But you know there are still conditions, right? It's been approved for trials with Tindrel, Human, and Ulsix only. And it's still regulated tech, so that means mandatory supervision. Not necessarily armed, but with failsafes."
Karaz let out a deep sigh. Reality did temper his feelings somewhat, but it was still wonderful news for him. "I know. It's still worlds better than what we've had to work with, I just…I wish we didn't have to hold ourselves back so much. At least not with medical tech. What harm would it really do if they learned how to better treat the sick?"
While Karaz spoke, Vreta moved himself up alongside him and wrapped his tail around him to hold him close. "I understand how you feel, but it's always a risk. The same core principles that govern those scanners would also make great sensors for guided ordinance." Vreta pointed out, though no matter how many times they had this discussion, he had never been able to change Karaz's mind. As a doctor, when he saw people suffering and dying from preventable causes, he could not help but to feel that it was the Rothians doing something wrong by being too safe. There were many people who did not feel that Rothians were obligated to help every other less-advanced species with their own problems, but Karaz was certainly not one of them. He was the most compassionate soul that Vreta knew, which was in large part why he had become his mate.
Regardless of the caveats, Karaz was still overjoyed by the news. Though, as he started to prepare the food and wine for their picnic, there was a tinge of guilt that came across his expression. He might not have brought it up, but Vreta knew him more than well enough to notice, and he was rather bad at lying to him.
"Come on, what is it? You can tell me; I'm sure it's not that bad." Vreta asked.
"No, it's not bad at all, really. It's just…" Karaz began, rubbing the back of his neck. "My boss has been impressed with my work, actually. The Tindrel too have been approving, and they want to expand the project. They offered me the position of chief medical officer. They want me to lead the project from the captial. The, um…Tindrel capital. That is really the best place to get the best results, but, well…the gateway network isn't really built out too well near Tindrel space yet, so…"
Vreta turned his head, looking out once again into the valley below. "...so you won't be able to come back for a while."
"I wouldn't, but…don't worry about it. I'm going to turn it down. You've already done so much for the project with those scanners; it will be fine without me. Someone else can take over. I don't want to do that to you, I…" Karaz was ready to continue with his excuses, but Vreta soon interrupted him by planting his hands firmly on both of his shoulders.
"Don't give me that. No one is going to do as good of a job as you. This is your calling, and I'm not going to have you giving it up just for me. Those people deserve you, and no one less." Vreta said in a voice that was just as firm as his grip.
Karaz did not have an answer to give in words, but he did return the most pure smile before pulling him again into a loving embrace. As the memory faded, one could feel Vreta's emotions turning bittersweet. As wonderful of a memory as it had been for him, it had also been the last time the two of them spent any significant time together as a couple. While they did not stop caring for one another, the paths on which their lives took them ended up pulling them in different directions, to the point where their relationship could no longer be sustained.</s>
| <|message|>Agent 595
"Your old name no longer applies. You're a faithful servant of the Institute now. An instrument through which we accomplish the will of the Cradle, together." The Director-General continued, both hands clasped on the desk in front of him.
Like everywhere in the Institute, his office was almost completely dark. Thin blue chemical lights stapled the walls about halfway up, leading to the door. The main illumination though, came from the two sets of augmented eyes which stared unblinkingly at each other.
Two walls of the office consisted of giant windows, including behind where the Director-General was sat. The Cradle's white fibrous material whirled against the glass like a howling blizzard.
Agent 595 stood up perfectly straight in front of the Director-General's desk, arms neatly folded behind her back. She was the happiest and most excited she'd ever been, but maintained a neutral expression. Her tutorial was finally over! Now the real work could begin.
"How do you feel?" The DG asked, studying her closely.
"I feel ready to get started, sir." 595 replied levelly.
"Good, because I have your first directive. Take two of the novitiates, capture 127, and bring him to me. He's lost his way, and will not return to the Institute willingly. If he tries to escape, kill him. Think you can handle that?"
"Sir, yes sir."
"Good. You're dismissed."
595 turned and walked halfway to the door.
"Oh, Agent?"
She turned and stood at attention again. "Yes, sir?"
"Don't take too long - this is just the start."
---
When 595 woke up, she was underwater. She tried to open her mouth and gasp for air, but realised she couldn't do that. She thrashed around desperately, but could see no way out of the cave-like complex she was in. She began swimming quickly down one of the passages, only stopping when she realised she wasn't drowning. In fact, she felt completely at ease in the water. She looked around.
She appeared to be in some kind of vast underwater reef. All kinds of vegetation and wildlife clung to the rock around the edge of the circular passage. There were a myriad of different pathways, and she found she knew where she was. She was in her residential colony, just a short swim from the city centre.
As her senses gradually acclimated to her surroundings, 595 became aware of a shrill warning sound coming from nearby. Something must be wrong - she recognised it as the evacuation alarm.
Suddenly, a tightly packed group of pale grey flesh exploded past her. 595 shouted out in surprise at the unfamiliar sensation of them calling for her to escape with them. She didn't even know what they were, so wasn't about to join them.
Then she sensed a familiar voice, and swivelled to look towards the caller.
Four long swimming creatures approached her. They looked like the kind of giant predatory cephalopods that'd been apparently hunted to extinction on most of the Human planets 595 had visited. She instinctively backed up, unwilling to get too close, until she realised who they were.</s> |
<|description|>Agent 595
Species: Human
Gender: Female
Age: UNKNOWN
Nationality: UNKNOWN
Weapons and/or equipment: UNKNOWN
Backstory: UNKNOWN</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
There was a great deal for Vreta to take in. His own memories, memories of other, they all intertwined within his mind and played out as if they were his own. Eventually, those disjointed memories faded and settled into one reality. Or at least, something that had the appearance of a reality.
Vreta did not know where he was or what exactly was happening. He was underwater, yet did not feel the urge to hold his breath. Alarms blared all around him, and he was able to hear them far more clearly than he would have expected underwater. He felt pulled to swim in one direction through the rounded pathways of this strange city. Even still, he did not fully realize what he was until he came across some of the others. They were large cephalopods with a body type similar to many creatures that had evolved on many worlds. They had no features in common with any Rothian, yet somehow, he still recognized each of them on sight. Eti, then Mar and Kelest, and finally Agent 595.
"I feel…we need to keep moving. I don't know why." Vreta 'said', yet he spoke no words. His thoughts became patterns of color on his skin that could somehow be understood.</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
"...Vreta? Guys?" 595 asked, floating a bit closer, regarding each of them with her deep, dark eyes in turn. She instinctively tried to access her implants, but found she couldn't access anything. She couldn't find a connection to the rig either. "What...happened? How did we get here?" She awkwardly signed to the group.
More of their kind swished frantically past, just as the Agent felt the ripples of what felt like an explosion wash through the reef. For a moment, everyone stopped, listening to the current. The fluctuations grew stronger, and some of the group further down the tunnel turned and fled back towards them.
"We should-" 595 began to sign when the entire reef shook violently with another explosion, much closer this time. A gigantic surge of superheated water crashed through one of the nearby passages, turning the whole area into a whirling maelstrom.
Overcome by aquatic fear, 595 turned tail and fled, but was instantly buffeted by the surge, tumbling into the sides of the tunnel and losing her bearings as all hell broke loose. 595 shouted out, her skin pulsing wildly.</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
What Vreta and Rhia experienced from moment to moment was truly unprecedented. Vreta could no longer access any of his implants, but she was still part of his mind. Likewise, she had only his senses with which to perceive the world. At the very least, he did not have to think about how to use this strange new body, as it seemed to be as natural as his own.
Unfortunately, the chaos around them only grew with every moment that passed. An explosion tore apart part of the reef, which was followed by a powerful surge against which none of them could hope to swim. Despite it all, Vreta's training was ingrained enough that he was compelled to focus. It was still his mind within this body, so his instinct was to try and address the danger in front of him, no matter how little agency any of them seemed to have.
Vreta's own skin lit up in response to 595's. "Swim…down! Away from the source!" Vreta "shouted". Eti's team followed his lead, though there was no guarantee anyone would be able to resist the sort of currents they were being subjected to.</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
The swell violently dragged 595 against the verdant sides of the tunnel. Jagged rocks slashed her sides, mixing blue ichor in with the clouds of debris that'd come loose. Skin lighting up with pain, she used her powerful tentacles to push out from the wall and down, away from the initial surge.
"Stay close!" The Agent signed, maneuvering round a two-storey boulder that'd come free of its coral moorings and was sinking to the bottom. She searched desperately for an exit along the sides of the tunnel as they swam in loose formation, but all the main causeways were now jammed with hundreds of giant cephalopods desperately trying to escape all at once. Even more were emerging from their homes in chasms below them, swerving erratically to avoid being crushed by falling parts of the reef.
Another monumental explosion rocked the reef, and a billowing mushroom of superheated water exploded through a new crack in the roof a mile in front of them, vaporising dozens of their kind instantly. 595 did an abrupt about face, scanning the area ahead when two long tentacles grabbed her from the side and spun her around. She found a bulky soldier in full armour, with just her head and two arms sticking out of a borehole in the reef. "Where is your Senator!" They shouted at 595 through the chaotic din. "Who?" 595 signed back, confused.
The soldier immediately lost interest in her when Vreta swam into view. The tentacles dislodged from her and wrapped around the smaller male squid, pulling him towards the hole. "Senator! I need to get you to safety right now!"
Just then, a long, eerie, alien wail penetrated the waters. It was similar to the sound their ancient predators made when on the hunt, but finished with a deep thumping that almost sounded like...laughter. Most of the civilians in the tunnel cried out in fear and panic, redoubling their efforts to flee. The distant sounds of battle, weapons and bombs, wafted through the water from above somewhere, assaulting 595's senses.
"What is happening!" She demanded, swimming over to the soldier, wrapping one tentacle around Vreta to stop him moving. The soldier looked at her. "It's here. Let go." was the reply.</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
There were moments where Vreta's thoughts were cast back to the ruined temple, to the beam of light, the hatchway, and his own memories that he had been brought back to. However, such thoughts were fleeting. It was as if his thoughts were being forced into the present, to focus on what was in front of him.
The tunnel was starting to feel more and more like a tomb as parts of it continued to collapse. How long before it fell apart to the point that they would be trapped? Or perhaps they already were and simply did not know it yet? Either way, it still felt right to keep moving forward, away from the threat. Though, there were many others doing the same. The tunnels soon became crowded with many other cephalopods trying desperately to find some measure of safety.
The soldier was someone new, and yet Vreta knew to follow the instructions given. When the soldier mentioned the "Senator", Vreta knew it was him even before he was noticed. The chute was their escape, or at least the next place they needed to go. It would lead them to another part of the reef towards…something. Something important to see. "Right…of course, let's hurry."
Vreta reached out a tentacle and wrapped it around one of 595's, tugging on her to encourage her to follow behind him. He did not hesitate to follow the soldier into the chute, while the rest moved in behind him one-by-one. Eti and her team retained their minds just as much as Vreta did, but they could not bring themselves to make any protest. The path forward seemed inevitable.</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
595 felt compelled to follow the Vreta into the borehole, despite a niggling feeling in the back of her mind that this was a terrible idea. The whole area was unstable, and who knew what was on the other end! Somebody find me a weapon, she thought to herself, and her mind flashed back to two strange looking hands cradling an awkward-looking gun. The thought left as quickly as it arrived, and the Agent obediently entered the hole after the Senator.
They quickly wiggled along the claustrophobic tunnel with the help of their tentacles. 595 knew that these arteries crisscrossed the entire reef and were reserved for VIPs, military and government employees. She knew they were supposed to be reinforced, but that knowledge was no comfort when after a few minutes a crack appeared above their heads. The two sides began grinding together like two tectonic plates. "Go, go, go!" 595 flashed, pushing up against Vreta as the sides tightened around her bulbous form.
The soldier noticed the crack and turned a right angle at the next junction. They burst from the tunnel as fast as they could, just when millions of tons of coral shifted violently, crushing the last of the Senator's staff members before they could escape. 595 flashed a pattern of pure anguish and rushed to pull at the tentacle tip protruding from the rock face - it tore clean away.
The Agent dropped the dead appendage and turned to face the group. Only then did she notice that none of them were looking at her. "What's happening?" She asked, surveying the scene.
They were on a ledge of polished stone that wrapped around this section of the reef - a gargantuan monolith protruding from vast sandy plains on the ocean bed, extending all the way to the unlivable heights above. Far off in the distance, they could see other reefs through the dusty waters. One of them looked to be erupting with jets of lava.
The sounds of battle were deafening here. 595 noticed manned point defence cannons clinging like limpets to the ledge and reef above them. They were all firing missiles at once.
A sleek metal vessel shaped like a squid but hundreds of times the size roared over their heads before heading upwards. 595 followed it with her eyes, and realised dozens of ships were rising from the reefs, heading towards-
Oh.
High above them, hovering like an obsidian tear in the bright backdrop of the surface, was the Hegemon. Its tetrahedral mass hung completely motionless in the water, wavy points of energy flickering all around it like monochrome sunbeams. The shoals of combat craft strafing it looked miniscule by comparison.
Another mechanical siren pierced the cacophony around them, sending a chill through 595's nervous system. A thought entered her mind that was entirely alien; a deep, soulless evil.
><^You DARE defy your GOD?
"It's not safe here. I need to get you on a transport right away, sire. Are you hurt? We need to swim along the reef." The soldier shouted in front of Vreta, checking him up and down. A group of other soldiers barged past them, carrying nets of equipment behind them. "I need a weapon, and we should fight, not run!" 595 shouted, immediately feeling a disapproving tug in the back of her consciousness.</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
While he normally would be more attentive, Vreta did not notice what was happening behind him. How could he when the behemoth object looming overhead so strongly demanded his gaze? Vreta had never seen such a thing before, but his instinct pulled him towards a sense of dread. The words in his mind felt like they were forced into his thoughts by violence, then burned into his memory.
Vreta seemed almost in a trance until he saw 595 shouting in the periphery of his vision. It was enough to pull him back into the "reality" in front of him. He noticed her injury, something that, at any other moment, would be a grave concern. He knew not where the rest of his companions were, but the soldiers swimming past and the one in charge of escorting him were who had his attention now. Everything was moving so quickly, and Vreta had no choice but to follow the current.
The soldier did not so much as acknowledge 595's desire to fight, and even Vreta could not bring himself to seriously consider it. Escape: that was the only choice. He had to make his escape and hope the rest of his companions could do the same. "I am fine, we'll be right behind you. We have to escape, it's…the only way." He swam alongside 595 and wrapped a tentacle around her so that he could help her keep up despite her injury.</s>
| <|message|>Agent 595
"Follow me closely, let's move!" The soldier commanded, before swimming up the sheer face of the reef. Flagging a bit from her wounds, 595 followed beside Vreta as they stuck close to the side; one of her beady eyes fixed on the Hegemon at all times.
The cephalopod warships were launching everything they had at the massive inverted pyramid. But the salvoes of time-delay missiles all bloomed harmlessly on crackling shields before getting close enough to deal damage. That deep, thumping laugh issued across the seabed again, making the Agent shiver.
The Hegemon ignored the vessels. A large red eye-like opening appeared in one of its faces, which then lazily turned to the reef closest to their own. A quartet of bright lasers expanded from the eye into a precise grid across the entire monolith. With barely a moment's delay, the entire grid lit up in a blinding flash of white light.
595 stopped swimming and pushed the Senator and herself again reef as a supersonic bang exploded across the empty space. "Come on!" She saw the soldier shout, whacking them all with her tentacles. "Don't look at it! We're nearly there!"
595 looked anyway, and struggled to comprehend what was happening. The entire billion tonne monolith was beginning to fall apart, shrouded in superheated steam. Coral dust filled the water, and a second wave battered them against the rocks.
They reached a large rectangular aperture and rushed inside. Large civilian and military transports were mixed up together, hurriedly being packed with people to evacuate. It was a living hell of desperate people, driven by fear and loathing. They had to stop by the cave's mouth to avoid being pulverised by a leisure cruiser coming in to land.
The soldier barged through the swirling crowds, one tentacle firmly holding onto the Senator. "There they are!" He signed, waving wildly at a sleek military jet that was taxiing to launch. The pilots must have seen them swimming into their path, because it stopped and one of the side doors opened. A mess of government officials and senior military officers spilled out and approached them.
"President Pro tempore! The President, Vice President and Lower Chamber are all gone. That makes you the commander in chief now, sir! We need to get you to safety right away!" One of the advisors signed hurriedly, gesturing for the Senator to come with them to the jet. A bulky general floated in close. "What are your orders? We're being torn apart!"
595 looked nervously back at the Hegemon as they began swimming; it was still clearly visible through the hangar entrance. It was now picking off warships with dozens of precise energy beams, like a child might pull wings off an insect. Another grinding wail blasted her senses. "If we're going to go, we need to go right now!" She urged.</s> |
<|description|>Agent 595
Species: Human
Gender: Female
Age: UNKNOWN
Nationality: UNKNOWN
Weapons and/or equipment: UNKNOWN
Backstory: UNKNOWN</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
"And where might that be, exactly!" 595 asked, as the vast cube they were standing on slowly drifted free of the mountain with an eerie creaking sound. The rocky shoulder that it'd been embedded in began collapsing into a wide avalanche. They were stranded.
The worm had uncovered about a hundred metres of its body, and was beginning to plummet down the now-sheer face of the mountain after the rig. It gnashed its mandibles and sprayed acid from its jaws. 595 assessed their options and made a snap decision.
"We need to go after them! This whole place is falling apart! Follow me!"
She lowered her hands and grabbed her gun off its mount. Energy still crackled around her armour now that she'd tapped into the cube's power. She ran out from under the plasma umbrella and jumped, exploding up and through the vicious cloud of killer creatures above them. They dispersed around her, terrified.
Who configured this jump pack?! The Agent thought as she frantically windmilled through the snowy air. Dozens of talons raked her suit and blood sprayed all over her visor. She started firing her weapon indiscriminately in all directions, until the ground zoomed to meet her.
The Agent dropped, rolled and carried on firing, running towards the edge of the cube.
---
Without enough power, the anti-grav couldn't stop the rig from crunching hard against the side of the mountain. One corner hit a solid section, and the rig began turning over. "Everyone inside, now!" Thebes commanded. "Kjartan! Get out of there, that's an order!" He yelled at the Norse, who was still shooting at the worm.
Freyr was engrossed in the console, sweat running down her face. The Rübezahl was racing down the side of the mountain, on the inside, trying to get back to the mothership. She was frantically trying to make a connection that would allow her to extract it and the last bit of data. "Come on...Come ON!" Around her, loose articles began sliding around the floors, walls, and into the air.</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
For now, Vreta had no problem following in 595's wake. The weapon she used was effective for clearing the creatures, and any that remained could be burned away by bursts of his plasma thrower. Her thrusters seemed overpowered for her weight, but as long as he did not delay, Vreta could keep up enough to follow behind. The farther they moved away from the hatchway behind them, the more reliable sensory information Rhia could access. She observed each and every creature within her view as best as she could, calculating their positions and velocities to identify priority targets for Vreta and overlay their projected paths onto his HUD. She had done as well as she could, given the circumstances, to keep him from getting overwhelmed. His armor would not be threatened by the odd scratch from a stray creature's claws.
For Eti and her team, it was clear they did not have to worry about being too protective of their civilians. They could focus more on protecting the unit as a whole. With 595 clearing the space ahead, Eti and Kelest focused their fire on guarding the flanks. They could fill the air with plasma to deny space to the creatures and prevent them from flying in behind them.
The Agent herself was intent on reaching the rig. Strictly speaking, they only needed to reach some stable ground to deploy a transit station, but the rig would serve that purpose just fine. Either way, they needed to get off of this cube, so diving off the side was a plan they could all agree to.
Vreta did not hesitate to leap from the side of the cube. Once finally free from the effects of the jamming field, Rhia could finally had an unclouded view of the environment through her full sensor array. Vreta's HUD came alive with alerts to steer him clear of danger, recommendations on burn timings and strength for his thrusters, and a clearly marked landing area on top of the rig.
---
From his console, Nirann had at least some limited view of the interior of the rig through lifesign readouts. Provided they were still accurate, it seemed that at least some of the crew had managed to transit so far, though the Sacred Band still needed to make their way inside. The common room was close to most of their positions, so Nirann added on quickly after Thebes' order. "The common room is close. You can set up your transit station inside. Anyone else who doesn't have a transit station in front of you, get there quick as well." At this point, he wanted to get everyone else who was left into the same room. The Sacred Band would certainly have a station of their own to deploy, so they naturally could use it, but Nirann saw no harm in hedging his bets with multiple escape plans.
Nirann muted his comms and turned back towards Marae. "I'll make sure they get out. Go ahead and transit, love."
"Nir-"
Marae could not get out so much as a word before Nirann interrupted her. "We talked about this. You know my mind has the best chance of handling the trauma. Just hurry."
Ultimately, Marae wasted no more time. Regardless of her worries, she trusted Nirann wholly. He made sure he was out of the scanning area before she moved quickly to the station he had set up between them, then transited away. He no longer bothered asking Freyr to leave, as he had his own plan in mind for the evacuation.</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
595 jumped off the side and quickly set her sights on the ailing rig. It had already lost some of its wheels, and was spinning through outcrops about a quarter of the way down the mountainside. She could its anti-gravity thrusters straining under the incredible pressure. The worm was hot on its tail, but had elected for a slightly more controlled descent, sliding down the side with the rest of the avalanche.
It would be on them in seconds if the rig got stuck, or if it reached the bottom without exploding, she figured. What a dumb idea this was. But she had to make sure Dr Lang got out; she needed her. "Come in, come in. Anybody left aboard the rig?" 595 called over comms. No immediate response. She could still see lights on and engines firing, which meant someone was probably still inside.
The Agent tucked her arms and legs in to assume an aerodynamic shape, and with a muffled boom her jump jets fired again. Her HUD readout alerted her that she only had one more charge left.
She sailed past the worm, aiming for the top of the rig. Before she could touch down though, it span violently over to the other side. 595 hit the side of the rig like a brick and scrabbled for a hand hold. She looked up and could see the mangled top deck gantry right in front of her. The rig carried on turning over. She was going to be on the underside of this giant flying object in a few seconds. Even now, her legs were beginning to float out underneath her.</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
Nirann could not help but to feel some fear creeping up inside him. The rig did not have the power to control its descent completely, and sensor information from the outside was worryingly limited. He did not know how much time they had, especially once he started to feel the rig listing farther to the side. Fortunately, he did not have to wait too long. The lifesigns readout he was watching suggested that the others had made it to the common room, and he had no reason to wait for them to get their own transit station set up.
While he had not had enough power to transit everyone in every room, he could push the power he had available to transit everyone in a single room. Luckily, the fact that they had given him the responsibility of operating most of the rig's systems meant that he could have a great deal of control over its power distribution. He was able to shift power to the common room and transit out everyone inside at once.
The sudden drain of energy would certainly affect the anti-grav, so Nirann wasted no time in doing what needed to be done. The whole rig started to list even more heavily, but the claws on his feet could pierce through the metal floor itself to give him enough grip to keep moving. Each step reverberated throughout the small room as he bent and crumpled the paneling beneath him as he steadily made his way up behind Freyr. She still held on tight at her her console despite all happening around them.
It would be quite impossible for Freyr not to hear Nirann coming, but all the same, she might have been surprised by his next step. All the sudden, he clamped his hands down around both of her forearms from behind. He did not squeeze too tightly, but his grip was like a vice all the same: unmoving, no matter how much she might struggle.
"Sorry, but we're leaving." Nirann said before pulling her away from the console into the scan area. He took a few steps back, then hit the button on the station with his tail to transit the both of them away.
---
Rhia guided Vreta in every step of the way to land on the rig. He was slower to reach the rig than 595, but he could be more controlled with his thrusters, so his landing was considerably better. Instead of smashing into the hull at speed, he matched its downward velocity and spin before landing and used his magnetic boots to touch down gently. Altogether, he even had a better landing than the rest of Eti's team. Still, anti-grav on the rig had now weakened to the point that it was spinning out of control, and the worm above them had it in its sights.
"I picked up a pair of power spikes from the rig on our way in, consistent with the use of transit stations." Rhia quickly informed Vreta. There was a great deal else that Rhia could tell Vreta about at the moment, but she was keeping any commentary brief and mission-critical.
"We just need to get out of here!" Vreta said through comms. "I picked up some energy readings on the way in; the others have probably already evacuated. We just need some stable ground to deploy my transit station."</s>
| <|message|>Agent 595
"NO, I'M SO CLOSE!" Freyr pleaded, struggling in Nirann's vice-like grip. "YOU CAN'T DO THIS!" She didn't have time to say exactly how close she was to a breakthrough, because the transit station activated and her avatar was atomised.
---
"I'm going inside, check everyone is out. Not convinced we're getting through. Transit out, i'll be right behind you." 595 announced over comms. Using the rig's spin to her advantage, she dropped onto the underside of the rig's upper outside deck. Holding onto the metal mesh flooring, she swung round so the upside-down bulkhead door was in front of her.
Just like on the monkey bars, 595 grabbed onto the mesh again and maneuvered herself over to the door. She hit the door release with her foot as the rig began righting again; it was speeding up. She swung herself inside and fell onto one of the walls, then to the floor.
595 quickly stood up and her magnetic soles activated. She moved through the airlock into the common room. Loose furniture and supplies crashed around as the rig careered towards the ground. Alarms and red flashing lights assaulted the senses. Several of the wall panels were sparking violently.
595 deflected a chair and studied the floor. A mobile transit station had been set up in here. "Anyone here?" 595 called, in person and via the team channel.
She moved quickly through the gangway towards the bridge. It was empty as well, with another temporary transit station recharging from a recent use. The central console was mostly dead, with most extraneous functionality having been damaged. "Dr Lang! It's me." The Agent called over the ruckus. No response again, just the shaking from the outer hull and clanking of loose articles inside.
Suddenly, one small workspace lit up green for success. 595 saw [UPLINK SUCCESSFUL] and moved over to it. Not all of what she saw made sense, but she understood enough to realise this was important. And it hadn't been touched yet. Resting a finger on the holo, 595 downloaded as much as she could and stored it securely.
Once she was satisfied, the Agent pulled out her sidearm and emptied a dozen shots into the command console. Sparks burst out all over the room.
595 wasted no time moving to the 'Captain's Panel' by the cockpit door next. She could see through the windows there that the ground was alarmingly close. 595 quickly pulled a physical access stick from one of her pockets and plugged it into the panel. She keyed in a separate string manually, then activated the self-destruct sequence.
Holstering her pistol, 595 moved into the transit station field and prepared to exfil.</s> |
<|description|>Agent 595
Species: Human
Gender: Female
Age: UNKNOWN
Nationality: UNKNOWN
Weapons and/or equipment: UNKNOWN
Backstory: UNKNOWN</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
For the Rothians, there was nothing more pressing to discuss than the foreign scanning attempt that had transpired near the end of the mission. They were still early in their investigation, but from what they could tell, the signal was carried along an FTL medium and had performed a scan of the planet, in addition to the hack on the networks connected to the Object. For the answers they had figured out so far, they still had many more questions. They had a probable source, but that source would need to be considerably advanced to be able to act at such a distance. Director Valic'Ans was serving as the leading representative for Rothian interests, and he had no objections to a join venture to investigate this signal. In fact, he was the first to suggest it. He suggested that they send a small team aboard a Rothian stealth ship to scout the system and find any trace they could of the signal source.
For now, the Rothians were intent on still following the plan. The Object appeared to be safely in its orbit of the void star, so it would not experience near as much time as the rest of them would in waiting for their gateway to arrive at Outremer. Although, they still did certainly want to discuss the matter of the memories that the team experienced at the ruined temple. Rareth and Valic had been able to view a recording of the event copied from Rhia's memory. During this "vision", she had not been able to record her senses in the usual way, but as an artificial being, her memories themselves could still be extracted and converted into a viewable format. Though, for the purposes of their meeting with the Humans, they did act as if they were working off of the reports of Vreta and Eti's team.
The memory itself seemed to portray a cephalopod-like species being invaded by the Hegemon. Ultimately, its veracity could not be completely verified, but the Rothians were willing to consider it as a potential source of intelligence. Unfortunately, it was difficult to establish the strength of the Hegemon forces purely from what they had seen. The cephalopods seemed to have been a primitive species in comparison to the Rothians, or even Humans. As such, they had much less ability to fight back effectively. However, the memory did seem to at least establish the Hegemon as aggressive beings who expected submission, even quasi-religious devotion. If this ended up being true, it would seem to preclude any hope of finding a peaceful solution.</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
Having already been briefed on the alien signal and its supposed origin, Outremer's Navy Board contended that speed was favourable to stealth. Their nearest spycraft was much too far out, so they'd scrambled a nearby Fast Recon Picket to the system instead. They'd arrive marginally before the Rothians ordinarily, but after some negotiation it was agreed the forces would enter the system at the same time, albeit from different angles.
There were a lot of opinions on what this signal could mean, but the evidence seemed to point towards it coming from one of the object's 'family', or it's hunter. So the two sides agreed to proceed with caution, and continue evaluating the evidence in the meantime.
595 had already given private testimony to what she'd seen in the temple, so Outremer was not completely shocked by the Rothians' report. Nevertheless, when the floor opened up for discussion, proceedings quickly devolved into chaos.
A few loud sceptics made evidently clear they'd prefer to leave the Object where it was and fight the Hegemon without its assistance. Other officials were clearly terrified by this unknown threat and wanted the Cradle gone as soon as possible.
Their cause was aided by a dire update on the condition of the simulation inside the Cradle. Forty years of terraforming had been rolled back in a month, and increasingly sophisticated and violent denizens were engaged in an arms race with Outremer's Cradle apparatus.This outraged the hardliners, who were adamant they could subdue this threat too, without the Object's assistance.
Facing all-out rebellion, President DeWinter stepped in, recommending all due haste with progressing the Object back to Outremer. The call ended abruptly, leaving those assembled in the Barb's conference room in stunned silence.</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
The results of the meeting were at least acceptable from the perspective of the Rothians. For now, they were not opposed to continuing with the plan, which was ultimately the decision they had made. However, the lack of unified direction among many of the involved leaders was a concern. This investigation would be returning to Outremer soon, and though they had negotiated full cooperation between the two species, they could expect more obstacles in the weeks to come.
In the meantime, though, it was still possible for the Rothians' opinions to change, especially based on the outcome of the conversation Vreta had in mind with Agent 595. The memories he had seen had provided evidence, and it was now time for him to confront her with it. Vreta waited a few minutes after the meeting's end to let 595 take her leave of the conference room. Granted, he was on Rothia, while 595 was up on the Barbarossa, so he just had to guess roughly how long it would take for her to be on her own again before making his call.
"Well, I think we can both agree that was…not entirely ideal." Vreta remarked after 595 answered his call. "There are a lot of moving parts surrounding this project, and it's starting to seem a bit rudderless. I'm not sure they know what to make of those memories we saw. I know I sprang some of this on you rather suddenly last night, but now that you've had some time to think, do you want to try to figure this out? We could sit down, get some lunch, and just talk it out." He suggested.</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
595 hid at the back of the conference floor, leaning against the wall with her arms folded. The tiny grimace on her face could've been a smile. She didn't have the whole plan, but from what she knew, things appeared to be progressing as expected.
She hadn't been able to contact the Director-General since the simulation, and noted that a subordinate had spoken of the Cradle in his stead. In some ways she was relieved; it gave her more time to deliberate on what she'd found. But it was concerning that she was effectively pushing from the inside with no equal external pressure - more risk that way. She resolved to try him again this morning.
After the meeting, 595 weaved through the clusters of conversation bubbling up throughout the room and checked in with Freyr. She looked pale and tired, so the Agent kept her company while they walked from the room. 595 half-heartedly agreed to go back through events again, but fortunately was saved by an incoming call from committing to a time. She ground her teeth when she realised who was calling, though. "Sorry, I guess I should take this." 595 apologised to Freyr, before stalking off and accepting to call.
"Contrary to what our shared experience may have you believing...we aren't pals, Vreta'Sori." 595 growled. "I'm a government agent charged with protecting a VIP while she and her team conduct vital research which may decide the fate of both our species. I've given verbal testimony regarding our run-in with the Hegemon - I suggest we leave the actual analysis to experts, ok?"</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
Vreta had gone out onto a balcony looking out over the city of Threria. All of its millions of inhabitants still went about their business oblivious to the historic events transpiring under their noses. He almost envied them…especially when part of his job was trying to find a way to get through Agent 595's thick skull. "I know very well what you are, Agent. I may not be familiar with the ethos of your organization, but I have to assume you bear loyalty to your people, at least. Your planet. Is it much of a risk for me to say that you want what you believe is best for the people of your planet?"
Leaning forward onto the railing in front of him, Vreta carefully weighed his words in his ming before continuing. "Is it so hard to believe that I want the same for your people? That we want the same? I'm not going to claim that we are just charitable saints looking to be heroes to all the other species, but believe it or not, life is actually something we cherish. Even ignoring everything about the Hegemon, Outremer is facing what you would call a…humanitarian crisis. Your central organizing infrastructure is collapsing, which by itself could create refugees numbering in the billions. That kind of suffering, that loss of life, that's just not something we can ignore. You've felt my mind, my memories, you know I'm telling the truth. Add the possibility of the Hegemon on top of that, and I think it's undeniable that we stand a better chance working together. You have your secrets, and I respect that, but I saw your memory too. I know there is more about your organization than meets the eye. Would we not stand a better chance if we can cooperate without the lies? Would we not get more done if we weren't constantly second-guessing one another? You might find us more agreeable than you're expecting."</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
595 grimaced as she emerged onto a central causeway joining each of the Barbarossa's levels. Streams of personnel broke around her like water around a rock. She switched to talking via her implant, while trying to make her way to the side of the passage so she could have a bit of privacy.
"That's not my decision to make, Vreta'Sori. I'm just the instrument, remember?" She replied internally, pushing past a gaggle of off-duty crew. She sighed. She had a pool of dreadful excitement bubbling in her chest at the prospect of her meeting with the DG later. He'd be equal measures furious when he found out what she'd done, and proud when he found out what she'd gained.
"Outremer is resilient. We have contingency plans in motion even as we speak, believe me. It's just a shame our politicians see fit to argue in public; we might even project strength at a time like this. What was it that you wanted to talk out, exactly?"</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
"True, maybe it isn't your decision, but you still have choices, Agent." Vreta replied. "Do you truly have no influence? Is this "will of the Cradle" concept floating around in my memory a literal one? By that, it would sound like there is something intelligent within the Cradle that you follow. Perhaps you do, perhaps you don't, but either way, would it surprise you to learn that it would not be a 'deal-breaker' for my people? We just want to know who we are dealing with, to understand. This has become about more than just Humans or Rothians. You heard what that entity said firsthand. If it was telling the truth, then it created my people. And we are willing to help it reunite with the Cradle. When it does join with the Cradle, do you think it will still want to push us away, as your people have? Or will it want to continue working with us?"
Vreta could not help but to be frustrated by the uncertainty of it all. The memory of 595's he now had did strongly suggest there was more to the Institute than they let on, but it was still only a slice of the truth. He was not lying about the fact that they would still be willing to work with them, but that did rely on the Institute not having too objectionable of goals. If they were working for the betterment of Humanity, that would at least be something the Rothians could work with.</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
The Agent pulled absently at the tight blonde plait down the back of her neck. "No, i think it'll want to work very closely with you." She sent back, with a smirk on her face. "Something tells me this thing keeps its young close, unlike yourselves."
A cargo droid shooed 595 off of the crate she'd sat down on. She started moving again, weaving through the throngs of people. "How are you feeling, Vreta'Sori? You've been through a lot. Do you feel anything out of the ordinary?"</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
Vreta chuckled slightly, crossing his arms as he paced back and forth near the balcony's railing. "You say that, but you haven't seen what a Rothian does when one of our children is threatened. It's less that our parents are attached to us, and more that we are attached to all of our children."
Eventually, Vreta took a moment to call for a shuttle to bring him home. He would be heading home regardless of how 595 answered him, so there was no point in delaying. "Personally, I feel fine, though I don't think there can be anything 'ordinary' about having someone else's memories in your head. I remember being you. Your thoughts, emotions, sensations. I didn't notice it as much at the time, but now that I'm thinking back on it, there's all these little details that just stand out to me. The way my, or…your hair feels, your clothes brushing up against your skin, or that feeling of sweat on your brow. I always thought there would be some sort of sensation accompanying your pores secreting water, but it was just…there all of the sudden. Of course, your memories are a curiosity to me, but the important ones right now are the ones we were shown of the cephalopods. I remember being the senator, the one who made the decision to evacuate their world. Do you think you would be willing to come down here to talk? After what happened with that signal scanning us, I'd rather talk in person. Freyr will be perfectly safe up on the Barb, and I would like to figure out if there is something in our memories that will help us locate those cephalopods' world. If we could actually find their world, that would go a long way towards proving this story about the Hegemon."</s>
| <|message|>Agent 595
595's skin crawled again as Vreta described parts of what was supposed to be her memory. She restrained herself from validating what the Rothian said on that front - it was still just a vision. There was nothing that could prove it was real.
The Agent bit her lip as Vreta carried on. Digging down in this mystery with the squids would almost certainly compromise her mission even further. But she was starting to question even those parameters now; was it not her duty to read between the lines of Outremer's divine plan?
That being said, 595 still greatly distrusted the offer of an excursion on the planet below. The entire apparatus had clearly aligned on the goal of extracting information from her. "I don't know...i kind of like it up here." she answered. "Why don't you cancel everything and come see us?"</s> |
<|description|>Agent 595
Species: Human
Gender: Female
Age: UNKNOWN
Nationality: UNKNOWN
Weapons and/or equipment: UNKNOWN
Backstory: UNKNOWN</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
595 nodded thanks to Vreta for his plasma sword. She turned towards the door, pointed it at one of the hinges and activated it. A rippling orange blade extended out, white-hot at the cutting edge. It comfortably sliced through the metal, so 595 pushed further, puncturing the glass mesh on the other side. The building was already trying to return to its original state, so 595 delivered a series of savage kicks to the door, sending it crashing through the window.
"Thanks." Osman muttered as Vreta freed her foot. She gave it an experimental twirl. Satisfied, she looked at her subordinate. "Corporal, clear the hole. We'll be right behind you. Agent, take them." The Major hefted her gun, collapsing the stock so it was more manageable in tight spaces. The assailants who were now trying to saw through the back door started shooting at the other windows. The energy bolts beat the side of the car like a drum. "Go!"
"Tangier One, what is your status, over?" GCHQ crackled over comms. "We're UNDER ATTACK!" Osman shouted. "Column is immobile - requesting IMMEDIATE support, OVER!"
595 let the Corporal squeeze past her, out of the vehicle and into the lobby. She crawled round so she could see the two scientists in the back. The Agent cleared her throat and assumed her soothing voice. "Hey guys. We're gonna get you out of here, alright?"
Freyr, who was still upside down, nodded furiously. 595 came forward and helped her undo the seatbelt. She crashed to the ceiling of the vehicle, and untidily tried to barge past 595 into the middle. "No, we need Dr Girard too, remember?" The Agent pointed at the other scientist, who was staring groggily around, covered in blood while the saw cut a bright line around the door behind her. "Vreta wants to get in there, so let's get her down shall we?"
"Y-yeah, sorry." Freyr stuttered, grabbing one of Girard's shoulders. 595 put the researcher's helmet up, then freed her. Together, they managed her safely down to the floor, then 595 dragged her out of the way so Vreta could get into position. "Dr Girard, are you with us? Do you have any dizziness? Can you follow my finger?" 595 looked at Freyr after a few seconds. "She might have a concussion - you're going to need to hold onto her for a little while. Can you do that for me?"
"I..uh...suppose i could…"
"Good. Let's get her out of this vehicle to start with. One, two, aaand over."
They dragged Dr Girard through the freed up middle hatch into the lobby of this building, just when a shower of glass exploded in from the side street entrance. "Hostiles!" The Corporal yelled, opening fire from behind a pillar.
Freyr screamed. 595 swore, and chucked Girard back on top of Freyr. Both of the scientists tumbled back into the car. The Agent turned, unholstered her pistol and fired on full auto at the trio of armoured figures pushing into the lobby. From what she could tell, two of them were in the same kind of armour as the ones outside. The other one though, was different. The armour was more ornate, ceremonial even. The main thing which concerned the Agent right now though, was the bright blue pointed spear in their left hand. A bright halo ringed their right.
On the street side, the ejected door sent the saw-wielder clattering to the floor. The gunslinger standing opposite the middle door unclipped a flashbang from their belt and chucked it into the backseat. The third dashed across to take up a position at the back of the car, giving them line of sight down the length of the vehicle. They fired aggressively into the car as they went, while the first soldier scrambled to their feet, shield lighting up.</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
With everything happening around them, Vreta's responses had to be on point. They could not afford mistakes right now. This kind of fighting was not really his specialization, but in that, Rhia proved to be a remarkable help. With all the tactical feedback Rhia was providing for him, it did seem like she had a surprising amount of combat experience, even for an AI. She knew just what was important to highlight and when, along with recommendations that demonstrated a kind of intuition that could not simply be programmed.
Now that their car had a few exits, Vreta's echolocation could now give him some additional vision again. Rhia was already marking targets once more, though her vision would be more limited until he left the vehicle entirely. From the street, she marked two hostiles that were close enough to be an immediate threat, while there were at least three behind them in the building. They needed to focus most of their efforts on securing their escape route, but they could not simply ignore the hostiles from the other side either. For Rhia, a plan presented itself as soon as she identified a flashbang being thrown in from the street.
"Help the Agent!" Vreta shouted to Osman. Grabbing the flashbang, he held it under his own body to protect his allies from most of its light and sound. Just as it was about to go off, Rhia briefly darkened his visor completely and blocked out all outside sound from his helmet so he would not experience any effects from the flashbang. It did detonate with some explosive force, though not nearly enough to threaten his armor.
Once the flashbang went off, Rhia knew the hostiles would be pushing aggressively. They would expect their targets to be stunned, disoriented, and vulnerable, so this was the time to strike. She resumed Vreta's sensory input, then advised him to push his advantage. Rothian weaponry was highly advanced and equally powerful, so when in combat with other species, Rothians usually operated their weapons at a lower power level. Ideally, it would be just enough to breach their opponents' defenses, which would allow them to conserve energy and keep it powered for more shots. However, right now, Rhia kept Vreta's weapon at full power; something normally reserved for damaging armored vehicles. Until she had more data on the quality of their enemies' defensive capabilities, she wanted to make sure his shots would put them down.
In that moment, Vreta pushed aggressively enough that he was able to get a shot on the first soldier before he was fully back on his feet, then quickly transitioned to the second target. Since Rhia had his targets constantly marked, he could aim before the target came into view, then shoot the moment his weapon had a clear line of sight. An advantage of the scattershot firing mode was that the individual plasma shots arrived at slightly different times. An energy shield, even if it was depleted completely by a shot, would generally prevent the first projectile from causing harm, so a rifle would have to fire again to make the kill. Scattershot weapons could potentially deplete a shield and make the kill in a single blast. Even so, Vreta still fired two quick shots each for his second and third target.
Regardless of how many hostiles might be on the street side of the car, Vreta still intended to back off and help with their escape right away. He had just needed to make sure they would not get surrounded from both sides too quickly.</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
More of the ambushers out in the street heard the buzz of overclocked Rothian weaponry, and turned to their fallen comrades. Most of the CraSec convoy was blocked in and being torn to pieces by rail guns from up high and energy weapons all around. One of the tanks was destroyed; the other span in circles and fired randomly into the buildings surrounding them.
The order came in to secure the target, so half a dozen of them peeled off and approached the tower. Some got shots on the armoured Rothian before they disappeared back inside the vehicle.
595 heard Vreta shout, just as the ambushers zeroed in on her with their heavy repeaters. Her shield in danger of failing, the Agent picked up the armoured car door which she'd cut through moments before and crouched behind it. There wasn't much cover in this massive lobby, with just a dozen pillars around the edge, an assortment of sofas and tables, and a high desk on the other side to hide behind. The three assailants had stepped brazenly forward, occupying a commanding position on their side of the lobby.
595 felt Osman's gloved hand on the top of her back, as the Major crouched behind her portable cover. "Get ready to move when we say, Dr Lang!" Osman called, before standing up to shoot over the top of the door. 595 shuffled forward a couple of steps and shot round the side with her pistol.
The spear-wielding person in the middle of the opposing trio held their haloed hand out in front. They quickly rotated their wrist back and forth, thumb and index pads touching. Sheets of slick grey material with a slot near the top burst from the floor in front of the two soldiers. They raised their guns again and shot through the slots.
The gilt-armoured leader then pointed at the pillar from behind which the Corporal was shooting. They clenched their fist, and the pillar burst into a thousand artifacting fragments, leaving the CraSec soldier exposed.
The Corporal made a run for the next pillar along, but never made it. The mysterious warrior threw their spear with such force that it flew almost too quick for the naked eye to process. It pierced the Corporal's chest, came out the other side and made a hole in the mesh-glass behind. He fell to his knees, then collapsed forward without a word. 595 watched with gritted teeth as the spear slowly digi-structed back in the person's hand, growing from both ends. That's not good.
"They're a Builder! Focus their gauntlet!" She called over comms, aiming carefully at the blue halo. The person walked calmly behind the nearest cover wall, while the soldiers carried on blanketing them with plasma.</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
Vreta quickly backed away through the car, then out the other exit into the building. He had taken a hit or two from his brief exposure, but his shields still held strong. Given his weaponry and shield strength, he expected that he was going to be a priority target for these attackers, but there was a way that could work to the advantage of the team as a whole. As long as he could fight smart and withstand the pressure on him, that would be pressure not on his allies. As expected, the full-powered scattershot blasts from his rifle were most certainly overkill against the enemy's defenses. At full power, Vreta did have to watch his rate of fire in the scattershot firing mode to avoid overheating, but in any case, Rhia did somewhat dial back the weapon's output setting. She did not yet have enough data to know the exact efficient power setting, but she would continue to fine-tune it as they went along.
Fortunately, Rhia had been keeping track of the fight behind them. They were pinned at the moment, and had already taken a casualty due to this "builder." That was clearly the largest threat, but at the moment Vreta emerged from the car, the builder was still behind cover. As dire as the situation seemed, though, there was a way out. At this moment, there were still just three opponents, including this builder. Any kills they could get would drastically reduce the pressure on them. The hostile soldiers had good cover, but they were shooting from a static position. Rather than trying to use mobility to avoid shots, they relied on their cover being difficult to aim a shot through. Before Vreta was even in sight, Rhia was already running the calculations.
Given the lack of cover near the car, Vreta simply had to act quickly. As soon as he crawled out of the opening, he got up on one knee and took aim. Rhia had swapped his weapon back to its rifle firing mode, with two-round burst. Vreta did have his limits and still had to fire from a stable position to make such precise shots, but his shields could still take the hits. And of course, Rhia was what fine-tuned his abilities beyond what he could naturally achieve. She calculated the ideal trajectory, then gave him the small nudges needed to make sure he used it. As he was squeezing the trigger, she tightened and relaxed different muscle groups in his arms to nudge the barrel a few degrees in the right direction just before he fired his burst at the rightmost soldier's head.
Above all, Vreta was still alert for the builder. If they peered out of cover for a moment, Vreta intended to swap targets immediately. Unless they could confidently survive the damage his weapon could output, the threat would force caution out of this builder as well.</s>
| <|message|>Agent 595
595 took advantage of the pinpoint covering fire from their Rothian attaché to rush forward. Osman, still holding the back of her armour, followed suit, firing on full-auto. They pushed comfortable, stylish chairs out of the way and made it to a low water feature before their portable cover collapsed like wet cardboard under the second soldier's suppressing fire. They crashed into a prone position behind the fountain.
"We have got to move!" Osman shouted. "I have a plan! Just give me a few seconds!" 595 called back, accessing her deep-HUD. Osman fired over the top of the fountain, laying on her back. Returning plasma flicked chunks of super-heated masonry all over her.
The first soldier that Vreta fired at ducked down in a blur, with just one shot hitting the target. They turned and placed one hand on the Builder's chest. Both shields glowed brightly, with extra capacity being lent to the leader instead of the footsoldier. The Builder stood up slowly, then quickly peered through the gap and punched the air.
A fist of the same grey alloy shot from the floor under Vreta's feet, seeking to pound him into ceiling.
At the same time, two more ambushers approached the street-side of the truck. They were much more cautious now - well aware of what the Rothian's weapon could do. The bodies of their comrades lay steaming on the road outside the sawed-off door.</s> |
<|description|>Agent 595
Species: Human
Gender: Female
Age: UNKNOWN
Nationality: UNKNOWN
Weapons and/or equipment: UNKNOWN
Backstory: UNKNOWN</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
Using the power of her suit, 595 pushed the soldier up against the back of the driver's seat, the shotgun between them. She reached for the Rothian sword on her back, but her opponent wasn't about to make it easy. They savagely kicked the inside of her shin, overbalancing her. They followed up with a sharp elbow into her other hand, sending the shotgun flying across the cabin. It hit Freyr in the visor, nearly putting her on her backside again.
"Freyr get out of here!" 595 shouted again as the two of them traded a couple of untidy punches. The Agent went for the sword again and the ambusher immediately barrelled forward. They grabbed the smaller operator with both hands, lifting her up and smashing her against what had been the floor of the car, now above them. 595 pulled her pistol and fired a few shots into her opponent's neck, flaring their shield up. They threw her against the wall, but 595 was ready for that; she twisted to absorb the impact in her legs, before thrusting forward and headbutting her assailant. They took a step backwards, while the second soldier, who until now had been almost still, grabbed 595's leg from behind when she landed back on the deck.
The Agent drew the Rothian sword, activated it and sliced clean through the sitting soldier's arm in one motion. The blade sliced through some of the middle door behind them too.
The other soldier seized their chance, charging forward again to grab 595's sword arm and crush her against the bulkhead. They didn't make it though, as an overcharged shotgun round disintegrated them mid-stride. Most of the energy missed, setting even more of the truck on fire and flaring up the Agent's shields to near bursting point.
595 looked round and saw Freyr standing near the door, holding the shotgun out in front with her eyes closed. Face illuminated from within her clear visor. The scientist opened them up again and surveyed the damage.
"Did you just shoot at me with your eyes closed?!" 595 shouted in disbelief.
"I wasn't shooting at you! And it worked, didn't it?" Freyr complained, holding the shotgun out as if it might bite her.
Just then, a guttural scream sounded from right outside the street-side door. One of the infected people Freyr had seen running after their truck burst through the opening, scrambling past the debris to reach her. He was joined by another, then another, drawn by the noise.
Freyr screamed and tried to fire the shotgun again. Nothing happened, as its cell was empty. 595 grabbed the arm-less, weakly struggling second ambusher off the floor and shoved them into the opening between the middle seats. The infected writhed all over them, and the ambusher's armour began sparking.
"Alert, foreign connection detected. Initiating containment." Her suit informed her as 595 grunted with the effort of holding the soldier in place. "Freyr, pick up Dr Girard and get ready to run!" She shouted.
After a couple of seconds, 595 couldn't hold them back anymore. Her suit was getting contaminated. She let go, and the three of them shambled out into the lobby just as Vreta reappeared from underground.</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
The moment she emerged from underground, Rhia had to take in her surroundings quickly. Just because the builder was gone, that did not mean the threat had ended. Her scans of the room quickly identified each of the remaining sources of potential threats. Three hostiles were engaged in melee with Major Osman and other allies near to the crash, who could potentially use assistance. She also detected the presence of Humans inflicted by this strange Cradle infection. She had clearly observed that they were maddened to the point of mindless hostility before, so a nonviolent solution to deal with them was not likely possible. She also observed that some of them were dissolving parts of the building on touch, so allowing physical contact with them would not be advisable.
At present, the infected might have been the greatest threat overall, but it would be easiest to fight them off if her allies could all work together. She needed to assist them. Rhia sprinted towards 595 and the scientists, while taking aim at the ambushers Osman and the other soldiers were fighting. She swapped her weapon to single fire to make carefully-aimed, precise shots, then analyzed the fight carefully to predict the movements of both her enemies and allies. She had subroutines constantly making small adjustments in her muscles to keep her aim stable on the move, and others looking to identify the right opportunity to take her shots. As soon as the momentum of Osman and her opponent put them on predictable trajectories, Rhia squeezed off a pair of shots at her opponent. As she came to a stop near the crash, Rhia found another shot on a different ambusher, which, altogether, she hoped would be enough to swing that fight in their favor quickly.
Above all, Rhia could not allow them to be overwhelmed by infected. Once in position to protect the civilians, she swapped her weapon's firing mode to its plasma thrower. It was ideal for crowd control against large numbers of unarmored targets, as without substantial thermal protection, the clouds of superheated plasma could incinerate flesh almost immediately upon contact. Whether they were curable or not, these infected were a threat, so as they neared, Rhia would not hesitate to burn them alive. Already, she was unleashing clouds of plasma to keep them at bay.</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
Time seemed to slow down as 595 exited the truck behind Dr Lang and Dr Girard. Flames and smoke curled out of the door after her, but it didn't sound like that would stop the infected. The noise in the lobby was unbelievable; energy fire mixed with screams and mechanical grinding.
Freyr was still holding the shotgun while struggling forward with Dr Girard. 595 scooped it out of her hand and rested it upside down in the crook of her arm. With practiced precision, she unclipped the energy cell, letting it clatter to the floor and replacing it with the fresh one attached to her thigh.
The guttural screeching behind her grew louder. They'd got past the melting body of the ambusher she'd lodged in place. The shotgun dinged when the new energy cell reactivated its systems. 595 spun it round into a firing position and turned her body as well to face the danger. Her form was immaculate as she unloaded a barrage straight back through the door, where three of the crazies had just appeared. The truck rocked and they dissolved into a blue firestorm.
"Come on!" The Agent growled to herself, turning to assess the situation in the lobby with the shotgun up to her eye.
A few well-placed shots had evidently tipped the finely balanced melee by the second crashed truck in CraSec's favour. Osman straddled her newly unarmoured opponent and smashed their visor with the butt of her gun. She then got up and fired energy rounds into their immobile form before looking round. The other two remaining CraSec soldiers were doing similar.
On the other side of the lobby, the tall sheet of glass separating the brightly lit lobby from the comparatively darker outside fell and folded. The people banging against it from outside had melted it, and the material coated them like hot wax as dozens of them surged forwards.
The clouds of plasma from Vreta's gun had disintegrated some of the first wave as they'd thrown themselves blindly towards them. This second wave spread out across the lobby, eyeing the big lizard up before trying to circumvent a fiery death. They were at bay for now, but there was only so much ground Vreta could cover.
"Tangier, do you read? What is your status, over?" A voice crackled over team comms. 595 tapped her ear in Osman's direction, who nodded as stray energy fire from outside fizzed past her shields. "I read you! We've still got the civilians, taking heavy fire. All boxed in - where is our backup?" Osman looked out of the hole created by the second truck. CraSec were still desperately grappling with ambushers from all around the convoy. The Major's subordinates were beginning to give out suppressing fire.
"We're trying to get to you, but transit bubbles are opening all over the city. Are you mobile? Orders from Command are to evacuate all personnel." Osman swore and looked at 595, but she had turned away to shoot an infected person who had got through the plasma net Vreta was dispersing. They flew backward and slid across the floor. "No, we can't leave now! We're so close!" Freyr shouted, hovering between 595 and Vreta with Dr Girard leaning on her left side.
"Ma'am, we're out of time. The connection is happening in ten minutes." The voice replied. "Tell them to call it off then, on my authority!" Freyr yelled. There was a pause. "Standby." They replied. "We need to get you out of here!" Osman asserted, taking cover behind the truck as more of the ambushers took notice from outside. "Is that a hole into the garage?!" 595 asked, stealing a glance towards the gaping abyss in the middle of the lobby.</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
The team had stabilized their situation, but only for the moment. The hostiles who had ambushed them had been neutralized in their immediate area, but the convoy itself was still under fire, and these infected seemed to be an indiscriminate threat to everyone. They had a window to get to safety right now, so they had to make sure to act on it.
"Whether or not we're in the sim ourselves, it would be a poor idea to try and fight what the Object wants to do. It may well be far more capable than either of us know, and it may be fighting for its survival." Rhia remarked. She had her own views on these Cradle objects, but she did not expect that their behavior when facing destruction would be remarkably different from any other lifeform. If they were an obstacle to its survival, she did not expect it to simply accept death.
Rhia moved her rifle to her off-hand and held it underarm with one hand, continuing to fill the air with bursts of plasma to hold back the infected. At the same time, she drew her pistol and started to fire on those that were moving to flank them. "Yes, the builder retreated underground, without their suit. I spotted a garage and a rail line while I was down there. Does anyone have city schematics to know where it leads?"</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
"Yeah, on it." 595 confirmed, requesting a route through New Antioch's sub-layer.
"All units - fall back to my marker." Osman commanded, as the three of them spraying plasma fire all over a clutch of attackers surrounding the boxed in convoy outside.
"Negative! We're all torn up and there are still bogies in the windows - they have us pinned." Came the reply.
Osman glanced back into the lobby. There were still a lot of infected people rushing their position. Through what was left of the windows, she could also see runners clambering over the lorry blocking off the street behind the convoy.
The Major had a difficult decision to make.
"Tangier One, the Vault cannot halt the recoupling. There's been an attack on the control room. I am finally awake." GCHQ crackled over comms.
"GCHQ, say again? Think we misheard that last part!" Freyr called. No response.
"Get downstairs, get to the transit station. We'll hold them off from here!" Major Osman boomed.
595 didn't need telling twice. She pushed Freyr and Dr Girard towards the hole, shooting an infected person who was skirting round the side of it to get in front of them.</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
Rhia stayed up top, firing on any infected in sight to cover the civilians while they jumped down into the underground level beneath them. It was a fair drop down, but not enough that it should be dangerous for an unassisted Human, barring an unlucky landing. In any case, Rhia waited until the others had made it below before dropping down herself.
Hopefully, the subterranean route would at least let them make the rest of the way to their destination uninterrupted, though there was no way to ensure their safety. At the very least, Rhia's echolocation would work exceptionally well in an underground tunnel, so she would receive ample warning on any approaching threats. She checked the route 595 had given them and tried to estimate how likely it was they would arrive in time.
"We cannot afford any more delays. What are our transportation options?" Rhia asked.</s>
| <|message|>Agent 595
"Good luck, Godspeed. You two, secure the far side." Osman ordered her soldiers, before switching back to commanding the battle unfolding outside. The CraSec grunts moved to take positions around the hole, freeing up Vreta to fall back.
Agent 595 jumped into the hole feet first, her knees bending slightly to compensate. She spun nimbly round, surveying the garage through her shotgun sights while her suit pinged the area. Some of the motion-lights flickered on and off, never fully activating. Sounds from above were muffled and disconnected from this tranquil subterranean zone.
Cars hung vertically from the garage ceiling like bats in their nest. 595's eyes followed the ceiling rail system which connected them all to a wide metal door at the opposite side of the room. It seemed intact, and nothing appeared to be moving around her.
"Clear. Come down." 595 called, just as a Priority 1 alert appeared in the corner of her HUD.
[ALPHA SITE COMPROMISED - RETURN TO BASE.]
"Shit." She growled.
---
"We can still make it!" Freyr asserted in response to Osman's final command. She turned to Dr Girard, trying to keep her voice level and reassuring. "I need you to jump now, Thalia. We're going to GCHQ to talk to the Object. I'll be right behind you."
Dr Girard nodded, her watery eyes full of fear. She tottered towards the edge then fell forward, landing clumsily on her front. Freyr jumped right afterwards, managing to stay standing. Vreta soon followed.
"I need to get you all out of here. GCHQ, are transit stations online?" 595 asked.
No response.
"Transit station is this way, let's go." 595 pushed forward, marking a waypoint beyond where the subway line crossed the garage.
"You heard GCHQ. There was an ATTACK!" Freyr wailed, still supporting her scientist colleague who was continually unsteady on her feet. "It may be no safer out there than in here. They could be waiting for us to exit the sim so they can kidnap us! We can still finish this."</s> |
<|description|>Agent 595
Species: Human
Gender: Female
Age: UNKNOWN
Nationality: UNKNOWN
Weapons and/or equipment: UNKNOWN
Backstory: UNKNOWN</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
Rhia could not help but to feel that something that was strange about the situation. There was supposedly an attack at the headquarters outside the simulation, at what was certainly the most secure facility on Outremer. There were many layers of security that would need to be breached, so the implications of pretty much any of the possibilities she was thinking of were unsettling.
"Rareth'Jharn is still out there. She would be able to defend us against anything short of full-scale military action. You have many layers of security, so it would take a truly overwhelming force to break through your security in such a short time, unless it was sent by your own government. I find it strange that we're not getting more details on this apparent attack." Rhia remarked. She could patch in to the comm channel as well, so she made her own attempt at contact with the outside. Specifically, Rareth. "Datius, do you read? What is the status of the headquarters?"
Additionally, Rhia also continued performing a threat analysis of the area. Now that they had escaped the battle above, she needed to determine when it would be safe to return control to Vreta.</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
Dr Girard nodded woozily, wanting to believe the giant lizard. "We saw all those soldiers, all the defences. Surely nothing can get through?" The two scientists stepped gingerly through the dark garage after the Agent's light blue HUD outline.
"I don't know anymore. None of this shit has gone to plan since the start. Let me think..." 595 snapped, feeling burdened by this ragtag group she was leading.
There was no immediate reply to Vreta over comms. "Forget it. This thing could be controlling all our comms. I'm not even sure GCHQ is still operational." 595 whispered. All the instruments in her suit were going haywire. She queried the G5 CSF virus she'd planted in the building, and found no reliable options for getting a message out. She did, however, find a way to turn the lights on.
They stopped flickering, and while more than half had been blown, the garage was still more visible than it was before.
595 led them carefully to an enclosed office next to the subway station. Holding her shotgun out in front, she pushed open the door and the lights turned on, revealing a waiting area with a transit station built into the walls. She moved quickly over to the controls and tried to plot an extraction back to the Vault.
Meanwhile, Freyr went to the subway terminal in the office and tried to decipher the complex diagram of New Antioch's train system. "Says there's a train in thirty seconds! Lets see if i can eliminate the additional stops…" She mumbled, deftly working the interface. "GCHQ is just a few minutes away! If we're quick, we can-"
"No. I'm getting you all out of here. It's too dangerous." 595 responded firmly. Text comms from other assets in the area were beginning to ping up nested under the Priority 1 order in her HUD. 595 just needed to get rid of these people, so she could focus. "Ok, the connection is weak but we can jump from here. Get in."
Freyr turned to Vreta. "You know we need answers. Will you help me?"
"Don't you fucking enable her." 595 growled straight afterwards, pointing a menacing finger in the Rothian's direction.</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
It was difficult for Rhia to evaluate the situation, given how much information was obscured from her. Given the dangers that had presented themselves, standard procedure would be to evacuate and attempt to evaluate the situation from a safe distance. However, she was doubtful that her mission could be completed with that approach. Not to mention, there was something not adding up about what information they were receiving. Vreta would probably want to err on the side of caution…but Vreta was not here right now.
An attack on the headquarters back in the real world, while not impossible, would be difficult to pull off. If it had been entirely overrun, then their bodies would not be safe. There would be no reason to allow them to remain in the simulation when they could simply disconnect them physically. That would imply that their bodies were still being protected, but in that case, why had they suddenly stopped receiving communications? Even if she was in the middle of a firefight, Rareth's implants should be able to handle simple communications. Evacuation orders had gotten through, but then apparently nothing else? It felt too convenient. If there was something controlling their communications, then they could not trust what they had been told.
"You said it yourself, something in the Cradle could be controlling our comms. We do not know if there has even been an attack. My task is to make contact with the entity, and there seems to be something trying to prevent that. It is too convenient that evacuation orders would reach us, but then literally nothing else." Rhia responded.</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
Freyr nodded feverishly. "Exactly. We need answers. This could be our last chance." She turned from Vreta to look at the Agent, who stood with one arm vaguely extended towards the transit station.
The arm dropped, clapped against her thigh. 595 cocked her head slightly and took one step forward. Vreta was acting quite uncharacteristically. The Rothian she knew would have jumped at the chance to get out after everything they'd just experienced.
"What've you done with the real Vreta, huh?" 595 asked, then chuckled grimly. None of this was making any sense. They said in the Vault that the Cradle could sense the Navigator, so why was it still fighting? She hated to admit it, but Freyr's brilliant mind seemed more capable of solving these mysteries than all of the Institute's codex fragments. That was one of the reasons 595 had been attached to the scientist in the first place.
Not the main reason, but one of them.
She had to keep Freyr alive for now, but there was no guarantee the Vault was any safer than in the sim. At least if she was still logged in here, they might be able to preserve her somehow...But 595 had been summoned back to Alpha! She couldn't be in two places at once.
A sleek chrome train pulled silently up to the station. Some of the internal lights were flickering, but otherwise it looked ready to go. "Well?" Freyr asked, hands on hips. She felt sick with anxiety, but pure adrenaline and the hope of finding out about her family drove Dr Lang on.
595 sighed. "Fine! What about you?" She asked, looking at Dr Girard. "I'll be Ok, but I have to get out of here...I'm sorry…" The junior researcher sniffled, stumbling towards the transit station.
"Ok. Tell the Vault we're en route to GCHQ."</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
It was particularly easy for Rhia to avoid reacting to 595, given that she was wearing a full helmet. She did realize that she was not acting quite as Vreta would, but the mission came first. Currently, she had no intention of stopping the coupling between the Object and the Cradle, but gaining information and establishing contact with the Entity was a priority. In truth, she disagreed with keeping them apart for as long as they had, but at least once they were at the headquarters, they would be able to get started.
"If you can, try to help re-establish communications once you're back at the Vault." Rhia recommended, speaking to Girard. "If we can transit back, that must mean the other team has succeeded in re-capturing the Bridge. Perhaps try re-routing comms through there? Whatever is happening, it seems that we're no longer in control of comms through GCHQ."
In any case, Rhia boarded the train after Freyr. She supposed there might be a good chance soon for her to give control back to Vreta. It would be jarring for him to be brought back into consciousness, so she would have to make sure the others would not pick up on it.</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
"It's Ok." Freyr nodded encouragingly, trying not to show how scared she was to Dr Girard as she stood alone in the small transit station. 595 hit the switch and the junior researcher deconstructed before their eyes. "Don't worry, she'll be fine. It's us I worry about." 595 admitted, tight-lipped as she motioned for both her companions to get to the train.
It was a modular design, so each of the small carriages could split off and head on different routes. A blinking neon sign showed that the front two carriages were destined for Illyria station, which the public maps showed was right outside the GCHQ complex.
They bustled aboard. 595 instructed the G5-CSF virus to attach to the train too, since it was resisting calls to fit back into the bottle from which she'd released it. The Agent covertly scanned comms once the train began whistling through a dark tunnel out of the garage. She was alarmed how little sense they made. Had the Cradle found their communications infrastructure too?
"I won't lie to you both - something feels very wrong here. Even by our lofty standards." 595 muttered, her visor momentarily sliding off her face so she could get some proper air. She gazed between both of them.</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
"Agreed." Rhia replied. "We should make sure we have our fallback plans in place before we arrive. Do you have the schematics for the headquarters? Or at least the surrounding area. We should make sure we have the nearest transit stations marked and know how to reach them in case we need to retreat quickly."
Ultimately, Rhia would not have a better opportunity to make the transition than in the train. Once there was a long enough lull in conversation, Rhia tightly held on to the handhold above her and began to shift her consciousness back into its proper place while doing the same for Vreta's.
To Vreta, the time that Rhia had been in control was like sleep without dreams. After he had given her authority to take control, there had been a brief moment of…confusion where his senses became blurred, but he only remembered that lasting an instant. The very next moment, to him, was standing in this train with Rhia flashing alerts on his HUD to stay calm and not react. She kept control of his motor functions for the first few seconds to give him time to come to his senses, but slowly started to return those to him as he regained consciousness.
"We're on a train heading to the GCHQ. I've prepped a package to help catch you up on everything you missed. If others ask you questions before then, just repeat everything I say." Rhia instructed, though Vreta was more concerned about the fact that he had been unconscious at all.
There was a tinge of confusion and anger in Vreta's thoughts, which Rhia would feel quite clearly. "What is…what did you do? I gave you permission to take control for the fight, not to knock me out! Why didn't you tell me about this?"
"I did not have time in the middle of the firefight. I had to act, not debate, and I completed every objective successfully. Our team faced no casualties since you lost consciousness. Dr. Girard returned to the vault, and Osman is coordinating her soldiers. We are going to the headquarters to complete our mission." She explained. Vreta could not help but to be angry, even still, but he had to avoid showing signs that anything was out of the ordinary to the others.</s>
| <|message|>Agent 595
"Funnily enough, they're a bit cagey about just giving away their building schematics. I'm working on it." 595 grunted. Her pet cyber-weapon was investigating the government info-net which integrated with pretty much all of Outremer's creations inside the Cradle. "The complex is belted by a park, so we can stay undercover up to a point. See if we can spot anything out of the ordinary." She continued.
Under normal circumstances, they would've been able to transit straight into GCHQ like all the workers would. But the government communications centre had locked down days ago, allowing no one in or out. Even if they had been a way, after everything that was happening 595 was content to take extra precautions and approach on their own terms.
Their train rattled out of the tunnel and into the sub-level of another large building. Freyr took in long lines of civilian staff waiting patiently for their turn to use portable transit stations, under the watchful eye of private security guards.
"DeWinter will lose a no-confidence vote because of this fiasco." 595 announced suddenly. "If we pull this off, you'll need somewhere secure to continue your work, Dr Lang. Contact Captain Andersen; she can be trusted." The Agent urged, flicking her eyes from the scene unfolding before them to drill into Freyr. "Do you understand me?" 595 turned her head to look at Vreta too. "You too. Both of you have to carry on living, alright?"
Freyr gulping. Her suit compensated for her shaking hands as she grabbed a support pole and slid down into a seat. "I tried to warn them, I…" Her lip wobbled, and she tried to compose herself as the view of the garage disappeared again. "Wait...are you leaving?" 595 shook her head, placing a reassuring hand on Freyr's shoulder. "Not yet, but I may have to soon. Just for a little while. Things could get messy, but I need to know you won't run into other life-threatening situations after this one. Either of you." 595 looked at Vreta again, letting out a wry smile.</s> |
<|description|>Agent 595
Species: Human
Gender: Female
Age: UNKNOWN
Nationality: UNKNOWN
Weapons and/or equipment: UNKNOWN
Backstory: UNKNOWN</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
Overall, Rhia was more effective in combat when she was in control, but if there was an advantage to being in the backseat, so to speak, it was that she could devote more processor time to analysis. These creatures were yet another new monstrosity to be thought up by some twisted intelligence in the Cradle, or perhaps Rothia's Object, if it was already joining with the Cradle. She did not know the purpose behind these creatures, as many of them, witnessed both here and on Rothia, did not seem to be natural. Were they created intentionally in these forms, or perhaps they were allowed to evolve over time in a Cradle-like environment? But then, what would be the reason for an existence adapted only to the artificial environment? The entity in the Object had claimed its people were life-seeders, but none of the creatures in the simulation would be at all adapted to any sort of known habitable environment. Something simply did not add up.
For combat analysis, the situation was simpler. The creatures were quick, but still easy enough for Rhia to track. It helped that the female creature made her target abundantly clear. With he speed of Rhia's processor, she could plot out its projected path on Vreta's HUD while marking potential weakpoints. In this case, she pointed out its open beak and the jaws emerging from within. As Vreta took aim, she adjusted the choke to maximize hit probability, as well as making minor adjustments to his aim as he moved. Vreta fired a scattershot at the lunging creature, intent on putting an unhealthy amount of superheated plasma down its throat.</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
The female creature's fleshy jaw melted under the plasma fusillade, but it didn't stop coming. Burbling with rage, it reared up and stamped on 595's midriff with both front legs. The Agent's battered shield popped under the weight of the impact. She scrambled wildly for the Rothian sword, just out of reach, while trying to maneuver out from underneath the creature.
Bouncing off 595's shield before it broke, the creature reared up for another attempt. Freyr shot underneath Vreta's shoulder at the thing, with the occasional shot activating the Rothian's shield too. A spine-tingling roar emanated from the other side of the platform, and she caught a glimpse of the other creature running, off to their left. "Look out!" Freyr shouted, still holding onto Vreta's tail.</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
Rhia was surprised the first shot did not take down the female creature. She expected the heat to burn through its skull from underneath, though it was entirely possible it had unusual biology. Regardless, Vreta had to keep up the pressure, since the Agent did not seem to be able to defend herself at the moment. As soon as Vreta's own shields flared, he tugged his tail to the side to encourage Freyr to stand in a more preferable spot. He also heard her warning, though Rhia had been tracking the other creature the entire time. It was still distant enough, being on the other side of the platform, that Vreta could spare a few shots to assist 595.
Since they did not know the creature's internal biology, Rhia marked more general targets on the female creature. She knew their weapon could penetrate the creature's armored exterior, it was just a matter of picking the right targets. Vreta's first shot was towards the creature's neck, which was one of the most common vital areas across most animals. The second was towards one of its front legs to compromise its mobility and help give the Agent an edge in protecting herself.
Vreta had to swap targets quickly to the second creature. Agent 595 had already cut through its beak during her struggle, so Vreta focused on disabling the other weapons the creatures tended to use. As it was sprinting towards them, Vreta fired shots at both of its front legs. They were relatively thin, so successful hits could potentially melt them in half. Likely not lethal damage, but ultimately, they did not need to kill these creatures. Crippling them to the point that they could escape would be just as much of a victory.</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
As soon as the creature reared up, 595 crawled backwards over the uneven vines, one arm reaching for the Rothian sword. She wasn't looking when a second barrage of plasma splashed all over her attacker's neck area. The superheated particles on the exterior joined with the coating that was currently melting the creature's throat. The monster's head listed alarmingly towards Vreta, and its screech slurred into a loud humming. Its leg glowed bright as the third shot sprayed it, but the incredibly strong superstructure remained intact.
595 grasped the sword with one hand and turned to look at the creature just as one of its legs came down on her thigh, piercing the armour and the flesh behind her bone. The Agent roared out loud as the razor-sharp end twisted around when the creature tried to drunkenly pivot towards the Rothian. Activating the sword in her left hand, 595 swung it into the insect's midriff and tried to pull it through. She added her other hand to the hilt as the beast writhed sluggishly around, a sickly slicing sound filling the subway.
The other creature did not take this well. Issuing a final terrifying war cry, it raised its front arms as if to throttle Vreta, who was in front of it, and shambled forward alarmingly fast. Freyr moved with Vreta's tail as he swivelled to address the other threat, and noticed now that the other creature was considerably smaller and stockier than the female 595 was now cutting into. The shots to its legs slowed it slightly, but it carried on despite the risk of collapse. It used its tail to cross the final distance, leaping at Vreta like some flying, plasmafied spider. Freyr screamed and fired at its underside, flaring the Rothian's shields again by mistake.</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
The action moved quickly as the beasts pounced upon them. They moved with speed and ferocity, and after firing on the encroaching creature's legs, Vreta had only seconds to react. They were seconds which Rhia intended to use wisely. Her processor clock ticked over from one nanosecond to the next as she watched the creature inching steadily closer through the air through Vreta's eyes. The neuron connections between his artificial eyes and brain had been replaced with higher speed connections, so his vision could actually update their mind fast enough to take advantage of her processing speed. And of course, she had his other sensors available to feed her data. Between his vision and echolocation data, she had precise measurements of the position and velocity of every part of the creature they could detect.
Naturally, trajectory calculations were trivial to Rhia. Even the simplest of AI could handle basic physics calculations. What was more difficult would be making accurate analysis of their strategic options based on the observational data she had collected so far. Regardless of how quickly she could think, Vreta was still limited in how well he could react to her recommendations in the seconds he would have. She had to make sure that every bit of the information she gave him was accurate.
Let's see, what can we do about this? Rhia thought as she took a good look at the numbers the physics algorithms were giving her. Plotted out visually, the creature would be landing pretty much right on him, spiked legs first. Okay, not a great start. Need some penetration values; what have I got?
The likelihood of armor penetration would be given by the force that would be applied on the contact area, combined with the estimated strength of the spikes' material composition, compared to the known strength of Vreta's armor. Luckily, Rhia did have a few points of reference to estimate the material density and approximate strength of the carapace. Assuming this creature was not exceptionally different in composition from the female, she had observed values for its impact force against 595, as well as its speed and resistance to changes in motion. From that, she could get a reasonable estimate on its mass and density. The carapace's strength was harder, but between the two creatures, their legs had taken three shots of known power from Vreta's weapon. That provided enough data points for her to make a ballpark estimate of the material's durability. Combined with the velocity calculations, the lower end of that range would still have Vreta's armor holding, though the upper end became more worrisome. Of course, that would not do.
Okay, definitely got to do something about that. Start strafing right, rotate the hips, and… Rhia projected a few of the possible positions Vreta could take before impact. With quick enough movement, he could angle his torso so that the spike would strike a glancing blow against his armor, while still keeping in a position to defend Freyr. Adjusting for the force of the new impact, the armor would hold for any values within the range of Rhia's estimates. Better. Now for the counter
Rhia did not estimate that Vreta could overpower the creature, but he did have the strength to fight back. He would just need to leverage the creature's momentum against it. Based on the position he was going to move to, Rhia identified the points to grab on the beast's underside so Vreta could duck underneath and throw the creature mostly in the direction of its own momentum up against one of the columns behind him. From there, Vreta would have a chance to open fire.
Rhia had the plan set, and so she projected each recommended action on Vreta's HUD from moment to moment. She also spurred his muscles to move at the right times in the right ways to make each motion seem almost like instinct. Still, regardless of how much detail Rhia put into planning, they were still limited by Vreta's ability to execute on that plan in real time. He could think quickly, but not nearly as quickly as her.
To Vreta, following Rhia's instruction was like following a sixth sense. It felt like his subconscious guided him from one movement to the next. He started to strafe and turn his body so the spike would glance off of his armor. He let go of his rifle, ducked down low, and went to grab the creature as it flew overhead to throw it up against the column behind him. At the same time, he used his tail to push Freyr out of the path of danger. If all went well, he would draw his pistol and open fire into the creature's underbelly at full power until it died, or something else happened. A Rothian sidearm did have comparable power to a rifle, but merely lacked in the versatility of firing modes and long range accuracy.</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
Vreta's maneuver would've panned out, if it weren't for some unusually dexterous arms on the monster's front. As the Rothian tried to guide the male creature into a pillar, they reached down and grabbed hold of his helmet, grasping tight. Instead of being propelled away, some of the force was transferred back into Vreta's legs as the creature swung round.
With a chittering squeal it wrapped around him like an apron, back two insect legs scraping and dancing along the ground. The front two legs flicked back and forth, trying to make a purchase on his shoulders and chestplate. What was left of its jaw crunched against the top of Vreta's head.
Freyr screamed and let go of Vreta's tail, firing full auto into the melee as she made a run towards the stairs. She didn't make it far, as the desperate female creature in front lunged at her. Unfortunately, that sudden movement applied the final bit of pressure required to finish 595's work.
The front half of the female came free from the back half. A bright plasma cut through the middle opened up. Gouts of black ichor sprayed all over Freyr and the Agent. The creature's egg sac burst, sending a slurry of fluid and eggs all over 595 as she struggled to get up. The two parts of the female collapsed in opposite directions, twitching furiously on the floor.
"Help me!" 595 winced, extending an arm from her position, partially covered by the front half. Her other hand held the activated energy sword. Freyr rushed over and started to pull her from the mess. Shrieking filled the subway from the separate struggle nearby.</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
Rhia was not expecting its dexterity to be the unknown variable, but in any case, she worked quickly to adapt. She loosened the safeties on Vreta's muscles to give him a better chance of taking this creature head-to-head. Luckily, its damaged jaw meant that it could not find much purchase biting down on his head. Teeth scraped against the armor, but could not get around his head to actually start concentrating the force. As far as grappling was concerned, the jaws that would normally be its main weapon were damaged. Being an animal, it may not have been creative enough to understand how to overcome its injury.
The creature was already grabbing a hold of him, so Vreta grabbed it right back in return. He got one hand on its neck, and another on the base of its left spike, then turned around and slammed it up against the column himself. A part of the column was crushed and crumbled under the force of the hit. From there, he released his grip with both hands and started to strike it in every way he could. Powerful, unrestrained blows to the bottom and side of the creature's head came from one hand, while the other grabbed the knife from his magnetic holster and started to make quick jabs across any bit of soft tissue he could see. He kicked with the clawed boots of one foot, and even delivered a headbutt to try and smash in its teeth. He did not know its vital areas, precisely, but he could at least overwhelm it with attacks and give it enough injuries to make it reconsider wanting to be close to Vreta.</s>
| <|message|>Agent 595
Grabbing hold of Freyr's hand, 595 pulled herself up and immediately yelled out in pain as the female's leg moved with her. Looking down, she saw that the sharp hooked end was still embedded in her flesh. The Agent glanced up at the brawl unfolding; she couldn't help right away, but she held something that could.
"Hot on your left, catch!" 595 called, underarm flicking the activated energy sword through the air towards the Rothian. It was a good throw - left unattended her suit projected it would spin clean through the slugging match. Plenty of opportunity to be creative with it. A stream of energy bolts preceded the sword from Freyr's pistol, melting into the beast's battered carapace and splashing off Vreta's shields.
"Quick. Hold the leg." 595 pointed, holding onto the bottom of the handrail heading up the stairs to steady herself. Freyr nodded as her pistol powered down, stepping hastily over the twitching corpse to get in a better position. 595 gritted her teeth when the scientist held the leg taut, then pulled. Pain.
The male creature, meanwhile, screeched and recoiled under the blows to various parts of its body. It surged forward, thrusting its front legs at the big lizard, then backed up to try and escape. The pillar it was up against seemed to disagree; it groaned and dust fell from the ceiling. The creature's long tail wrapped around Vreta's right leg and pulled hard.</s> |
<|description|>Agent 595
Species: Human
Gender: Female
Age: UNKNOWN
Nationality: UNKNOWN
Weapons and/or equipment: UNKNOWN
Backstory: UNKNOWN</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
"I can't get free, I'm gonna need to angle it." Freyr looked up at the Agent with wide eyes, still holding the leg.
"Just fucking get it out, I don't care ho-" 595 yelled against gritted teeth as Freyr moved the leg from side to side while pulling hard. The Agent glanced over at Vreta as he succeeded in cutting the male creature in half. A giant spray of ichor coated his armour. At least that was one less thing to worry about. She groaned again as Freyr twisted the spike, then looked down as with a squelch it came free.
"I got it!" Freyr announced, pleased with her handiwork. She dumped the twitching leg onto the floor. "Thanks." 595 grunted, checking the wound. Where the spike had pierced her armour, she could see a slick black underlayer creeping over her skin to close it off again. She instructed her suit to clean the wound and stitch her thigh back together as best it could.
"About time." 595 tapped her wrist while looking at Vreta. "We've well and truly missed our window now."
"We have to keep going. The entity may still be contactable." Freyr asserted, surprising even herself. More than half of her being wanted to get as far away from the Cradle as possible. It just so happened that the smaller half was the half that mattered.</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
Vreta flicked off his plasma blade before both halves of the creature had even hit the ground. Since his weapon cauterized the wounds as it made them, he was spared at least most of the creature's fluids, though not all of them. Regardless, he could not afford to waste time. Every second mattered, and they needed to get to their destination. He holstered both his knife and plasma blade, then picked back up his rifle off the ground before sprinting over to 595 and Freyr.
Silently at first, Vreta moved towards the stairway, then motioned for Freyr to fall in line just behind him. "We need to move quickly. I can sense them, more creatures on approach. These or…something else." He informed them. Rhia had put up warnings of what she was detecting via echolocation before the second creature was even dead.
Vreta did not worry about any other concerns other than what was directly ahead of them. This time, he took the lead as he guided them up the stairs towards the surface, and closer to their destination. Regardless of what he might have done had he been in control sooner, there was no time for worry or doubts right now.</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
595's suit sent an enhanced ping through the subway, and her motion tracker blew up with objects. All converging on their location from the four tunnel openings. "I see them. Get going, now!" She snapped, pushing Freyr up the steps ahead of her. She grasped the shotgun magnetised to her chestplate and pulled it away from her - it expanded out again into a combat ready state.
With a steady hand, she flicked the spent battery out from underneath the weapon. The sound of it clattering down the stairs echoed around the now-peaceful subway station.However, simmering beyond the border of regular hearing she could just about detect more chittering and the click-clack of legs. Breathing deeply and evenly, 595 pulled another energy cell away from her armour and clicked it into the shotgun's battery housing.
A sharp pain from her leg made 595 hiss. She could feel her suit performing emergency surgery on her thigh to stop the bleeding and maximise operational effectiveness. The Agent was starting to feel weird, like when they had been inside the Navigator the second time around. She blinked heavily multiple times to try and clear her head.
595 glanced behind and below her at the subway station entrance. Superimposed on her view, the image of two novitiates looking at her against the backdrop of Interceptor troop bay flickered into being. She recognised them immediately."Such...violence, in our name. Who knows what you'll do next." A hoarse whisper wrapped around her mind.
Freyr faltered on the steps as the shimmering impression of David appeared in front of her, leaning in for their first kiss at one of the university fundraisers they both attended. Freyr felt the hair on top of his head between her fingers as her eyes closed. "Would you really sacrifice yourself, to save someone you loved?" A voice murmured.
A different voice appeared in Vreta's mind, speaking as a native Rothian would. "I have lived long enough to know that all things come to an end. Have you?"</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
Vreta gripped his weapon tightly, continuing to press on towards the surface. The situation was hard to interpret from within. Once they reached their destination, they would have the tools to expand their perspective on what was happening. The voice was something strange; perhaps something from within the Cradle? He suspected there might be an intelligence within the Cradle, guiding its actions, but he hoped it was nothing from within the Object they had recovered.
I've lived long enough to see nature defied at every turn. Death is no different. Vreta thought with a distinct conviction as they emerged from the subway. He made a quick assessment of the surroundings the moment they came into view. The headquarters itself was now in sight, with just a park between them. The quickest route would be through a grassy, vegetated area surrounding a statue. Vreta was, at this point, inherently suspicious of the plant life, considering how the Cradle always seemed to work through organic agents. However, he had seen more than enough cases of the Cradle suddenly taking over artificial areas to realize that it did not seem to matter. Perhaps the fact that the park was already filled with living beings would make it more difficult for the Cradle to take their place?
"There are the headquarters. What area do we need to reach?" Vreta asked.</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
"Yes! Where are they? Hey! Answer me!" Freyr pleaded, standing still on the steps, switching her comms to private. She didn't want the others to hear her like this. The voice didn't respond, and the vision of her husband subsided.
Even if 595 had recognised her charge's distress inside her suit, now was definitely not the time to have her elaborate. She pushed the scientist forward again, continually looking back down the stairs. Lots of slimy shapes were surging into the subway.
Despite her emotions, Freyr gasped when she emerged from the mouth of the stairway and looked upwards. She switched back to team comms. "Woah! That's new..." The skeins of purple light crisscrossing the sim ceiling above were pulsing 24% brighter than previous records, her suit informed her. This bathed the low, circular shape of GCHQ and the surrounding parks in sickly purple twilight. Freyr wondered if this was a sign of the Object assuming direct control over the Cradle.
Vreta's questioning woke Freyr from her reverie "Oh, ummmm…Let me think...".
"Anywhere but here, please." 595 interjected, her back nearly touching Freyr's. A dozen smaller versions of the monsters they'd just killed were congregating around the eviscerated corpses and chittering angrily. The Agent pointed her shotgun down the stairs, ready to shoot.
"Ok! Erm...one of the Ops Centres i suppose. I was hoping CraSec would take us right there. I think that's a side entrance over there." Freyr pointed to a brightly lit gateway between four pillars. "That's good enough for me, lets get a move on!" 595 urged.</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
Vreta was not as familiar with the Cradle's normal state to recognize immediately what was wrong, though Rhia was already drawing comparisons between current observations and saved data on both the Cradle and Object. Even if she could not draw any conclusions at the moment, she still needed to try and consider the possibilities. With so many unknowns ahead of them, any edge she could manage to give would be valuable. She supposed they could potentially see if Vreta's idea about living things had merit, as they needed to cross through one of the parks to reach the entrance Freyr pointed out. Naturally, nothing would stop the Cradle beings from simply chasing them, but if the Cradle was unable to suddenly overtake the plant life, as it often did with inanimate materials, then that would provide at least some advantage.
Vreta quickly grabbed Freyr's hand to encourage her to follow along as they stepped out onto the grass. He made sure to specifically grab the hand holding her weapon so she could only open fire when he allowed her to. His shields had recharged by this point, but he was growing more annoyed by his shields consistently taking…unnecessary damage in the midst of the fight. If they all made it through this, he was going to be quite insistent on her getting more practice in a simulator.
Keeping close together, the team started to move as quickly as they could to reach the headquarters. Whatever they found within, they needed to reach it as soon as they could.</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
GCHQ
Freyr didn't know how to react to things anymore. She'd been scared out of her mind so much in the last 24 hours that she felt her consciousness receding into a mental stronghold. The voice that emerged from her lips was merely a servant, a useful shade to deploy in critical moments.
She felt bad for the two people with her, as she was in essence dragging them on what could be a suicide mission. But Freyr knew enough about the Cradle to suspect that this power surge may never end. The horrors unleashed from the depths of the simulation may be here to stay, which meant New Antioch may continue on this road to ruin for a long time. Perhaps forever, if the Object figured out some way to eject them completely...
This could be her last chance to talk to the entities in charge, on her own terms. She had to get answers. At any rate, she allowed Vreta to pull her along by the hand.
595 brought up the rear, switching weapons to cross the park. She hobbled over the grass with her new assault rifle swivelling from side to side. The lights dimly illuminating the pathways flickered as they approached. Her breath rattled in her chest. In…Out...In...Out.
"Foreign contaminants in your bloodstream are resisting standard antibiotics. Strongly recommend visiting GCHQ infirmary for resupply." Her suit informed her. "Copy that." The Agent rasped.
The bushes around them rustled in the breeze as they crossed the patchily lit parks. Apart from that, the Cradle was deafeningly quiet. Freyr could smell freshly cut grass through her suit. She'd had smells disabled for the entire trip through the subway, for obvious reasons.
After a tense couple of minutes, the team reached a grassy bank that bordered the roads ringing GCHQ's side entrance. 595 encouraged everyone to lie down with her, so they could survey the area without drawing attention. She could see that the glass swing doors had been reinforced with thick metal barriers.
"Look." 595 whispered, marking a small hole that had been prised open near the edge of the entrance. The barriers had sustained heavy damage, with deep rents from massive claws along the entire face.
The Agent then marked two hidden auto-turrets high above the entrance. They were models adapted from Navy ships; designed to repel boarding craft. They still appeared operational, turning slowly this way and that. She then noticed that the road outside the entrance was a mess of blood and gunge.
"GCHQ, this is...um...Tangier One. Can you hear me?" Freyr asked over open comms. A low synthetic burbling responded, but nothing else.</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
Vreta certainly agreed with keeping out-of-sight on approach. He kept low, constantly pinging their surroundings to watch out for movement while his eyes scanned the entrance itself. The defensive systems were a concern, especially as 595 was receiving no response through comms. It could simply be that there was interference, or their communications were offline, but Vreta did not want to approach under the assumption that the headquarters' systems were still under their control.
Already, Rhia started poking around through any wireless access port she could find in range to see if she could breach into the local network, while Vreta leaned in close and whispered over to the Agent. "I don't like this. If we don't have control of the headquarters anymore, then we don't know who those guns are targeting. I don't suppose your organization has any backdoors into their network, do you?"</s>
| <|message|>Agent 595
Normally, 595 would've chuckled. But her throat was starting to hurt, so she tried to restrain her amusement. "Are you asking me to penetrate the headquarters of the most advanced intelligence and cybersecurity agency in the Diaspora? A building channelling so much processing power from the Cradle that it makes its real-world equivalent look like one giant cipher wheel for children?" The Agent did chuckle, and it ended in a throaty cough. "Ok, no problem. I do have a trick or two up my sleeve."
A memory flashed into 595's head. She was pushing 127 ahead of her, pistol in hand. He was wearing that distinctive black bag with gold thread over his head, and his hands were cuffed together behind his back. Two distracted embassy soldiers turned and confronted them in the hallway - who was that, where were they taking the him, they asked. They needed to see some identification. Connie and Gene, the Novices walking on either side of the new Agent, raised their weapons and opened fire on full-auto.
595 gently bounced her head off the grassy ridge in front of her, blinking and clearing her throat. "Ok. Let's go." The G5 CSF virus had been clinging harmlessly to her suit and neighbouring systems since she unleashed it back in the tower block. At the Agent's instruction, it skittered across the road towards the entrance. Sniffing every available access point to determine a viable entrance strategy as it went. "I may have just planted a virus. You should be able to see it - we can guide it together." 595 coughed.</s> |
<|description|>Agent 595
Species: Human
Gender: Female
Age: UNKNOWN
Nationality: UNKNOWN
Weapons and/or equipment: UNKNOWN
Backstory: UNKNOWN</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
Normally, 595 would've chuckled. But her throat was starting to hurt, so she tried to restrain her amusement. "Are you asking me to penetrate the headquarters of the most advanced intelligence and cybersecurity agency in the Diaspora? A building channelling so much processing power from the Cradle that it makes its real-world equivalent look like one giant cipher wheel for children?" The Agent did chuckle, and it ended in a throaty cough. "Ok, no problem. I do have a trick or two up my sleeve."
A memory flashed into 595's head. She was pushing 127 ahead of her, pistol in hand. He was wearing that distinctive black bag with gold thread over his head, and his hands were cuffed together behind his back. Two distracted embassy soldiers turned and confronted them in the hallway - who was that, where were they taking the him, they asked. They needed to see some identification. Connie and Gene, the Novices walking on either side of the new Agent, raised their weapons and opened fire on full-auto.
595 gently bounced her head off the grassy ridge in front of her, blinking and clearing her throat. "Ok. Let's go." The G5 CSF virus had been clinging harmlessly to her suit and neighbouring systems since she unleashed it back in the tower block. At the Agent's instruction, it skittered across the road towards the entrance. Sniffing every available access point to determine a viable entrance strategy as it went. "I may have just planted a virus. You should be able to see it - we can guide it together." 595 coughed.</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
As much as she tried to focus on the task at hand, Rhia found a memory inexplicably being brought to the surface. An armored Rothian ran through the halls of the strange, alien ship. As opposed to the smooth contours of a Rothian vessel, this ship's design was dominated by sharp angles and unpainted metal. It was meant to be efficient, practical, though its technology was primitive compared to Rothian designs. Still, this primitive warship was a very real threat to the Rothian border colony it was advancing towards. These aliens had attempted and failed attacks against larger Rothian worlds, so a small colony would have to do to sate their bloodlust. The ship was towing an asteroid, and this colony did not have the defenses in place needed to protect from it. Reinforcements were too far out, so it had to be stopped, here and now.
The AI was doing her best to treat her agent's wounds, though her options were limited. She had effective coagulants to keep her from bleeding out, and a cocktail of other drugs to encourage healing, but there was shrapnel spread all throughout her abdominal cavity. She could keep her going for now, but the odds of death were worryingly high without surgery. Her armor's medical systems would be insufficient to deal with it, particularly since the armor itself was heavily damaged in the explosion. She wished the agent was equipped with the prototype medical nanomachines that were being trialed. Even with the bugs that were being reported, the AI would have liked to have some options at the moment.
In the present, Rhia brought herself to focus on Agent 595's virus. Even at first glance, Rhia was unsettled by what she could detect of its design. Data from the event that led to her melding with Vreta's mind made it seem…familiar. Regardless, their objective was more pressing than those concerns. Vreta acknowledged 595, while Rhia worked to help guide this virus.
"Let's see if we can make sure those turrets haven't been programmed to target us. And just to be safe, let's try to rotate them around so they aren't facing us. If this is a trap, that would mean they would have to traverse all the way back around to target us. It would give us time to react." Vreta recommended.</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
"A fine plan. Let's see what we can do." 595 purred, then clicked with her tongue as though sicking an attack dog.
The Agent's companion virus had gained control of the office where the ambush took place in a matter of seconds. But the nature of that building meant there wasn't much it could do to help. GCHQ by contrast, presented concentric closed-off layers of security, guarded by machine-learning antivirus and Human controllers. If their ragtag band had tried this maneuver yesterday, they'd have been mobbed by soldiers two minutes into the hack attempt, nevermind shut out of the system.
Yet no soldiers appeared as the virus latched onto the door control system. 595 made sure both Vreta and herself had a 'hand up its ass', as she liked to call it. From there, they could give the virus instructions and gain real-time information about the environment they would soon be entering.
The virus sniffed the exterior of the system from its toehold in the door control panel, and excitedly identified a slender gap in GCHQ's defences surrounding the entrance. "That shouldn't be there...Doesn't look like we're the first to try this." 595 murmured, studying the graphs her virus was painting for them. "Looks like we'll be able to control the turrets for a short period. Do you want to do the honours?"
"GCHQ, can you respond please? We need to get inside." Freyr asked over comms. Just static again.</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
There was no mistaking that she recognized this virus at this point. They had learned some of its patterns from what Vreta recovered. While she would have liked to have learned more now, it was all she could do to focus through the memories being conjured up in her mind. Once the virus was in the system, Rhia prompted Vreta to give acknowledgement to 595 while she accessed the turrets. After a moment, the turrets turned to face the rear, and after taking in a deep breath, Vreta took the lead to advance on the entrance.
The memories surged forward to the front of Rhia's mind for just a moment. The agent was running through the halls of the ship towards the engine room at a steadily slowing pace. If her AI could access the computers there directly, they could hijack the engines and redirect the asteroid they were towing.
"Agent, you need to stop and give yourself immediate treatment." The AI commanded firmly.
The agent, however, was quick to shrug off the suggestion. "We do not have time for that. Everyone on that planet will die if we don't stop this thing. That's more important than some pain and blood loss."
"Agreed, but right now you have a 73% chance of dropping dead before we even get to the engine room. A piece of shrapnel is currently pressing up against your femoral artery. It needs to be removed now."
The Agent growled. "Have the suit's medical systems handle it."
"This shrapnel is from the medical systems." She remarked. Strictly speaking, that was a lie, but it did drive home the point of how much damage her suit had sustained in the explosion.
While she continued to growl about it the whole time, the agent did eventually find a corner to duck into to start her field treatment. She leaned back up against the wall, then, with some effort, pried off the damaged plating covering her abdomen and upper right thigh. The state of what she could see underneath was…not encouraging. Although the coagulants had staunched the bleeding for now, her scales were still covered in blood, and she could see dozens of marks where shrapnel had pierced into her body. The cocktail of healing agents flowing through her veins had closed shut most of the lacerations, but the shrapnel itself was still lodged in her body."
Grabbing her multitool, the agent revealed a small, precise blade that, under her AI's guidance, she used to make an incision on her upper thigh to reopen one of the wounds. The painkillers kept her from experiencing the pain, so she still at least had a steady hand. Granted, her AI was the one doing most of the movements. The agent herself was not qualified for this operation, but with small stimulations to her muscles, the AI could guide her hand. She activated another part of the multitool that could grab hold of the metal shards, then pushed it slowly into the wound.
"Those bastards took out a whole company of their own soldiers with that explosion, just for me." The agent remarked, mostly just to keep her mind off of the impromptu surgery while her AI did the work.
"They are unusually resolute." The AI remarked. "They underestimated us in their first attacks, but most opponents would capitulate once they realized the technological superiority of their foe. They seemed determined to win a total war at all costs."
After another few moments, she slowly guided the tool out of the incision, along with the jagged piece of metal that had been threatening her. Without wasting any more time, the agent pulled herself back up to her feet. "Well, the Rahn'Saki can decide what to do with them after this is over. For now, let's just stop this rock."</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
595 got up, then encouraged Freyr to her feet. "C'mon, we've gotta go." A sound like whispering long grass wafted across the parks.
Turning her head, the Agent saw an MRAP burst out into the open from the forest of skyscrapers ringing the park and GCHQ. The truck careered off the main road as the turret fired bright bolts of energy at something chasing it. It churned up a few footpaths when it crossed the park, demolished a lamp post before flying off a raised bank into a public swimming pool a couple of hundred metres away. The plasma turret ceased firing.
"Keep your head down - let's move." 595 urged, pushing the scientist in front of her while she covered the rear, assault weapon in one hand.
They crossed the road in a tight group. Silence resumed, after the short interruption. Freyr watched the turrets above - they twitched, but didn't turn back around. "GCHQ, do you read me? We're coming up to the side entrance. Can you see us?"
The hole in the alloy barriers sewed together slightly as they approached. Freyr watched keenly as the deep rents along the surface began to smooth over. "It's self-repairing. See if you can get the virus to redo the damage maybe? Might be easier than getting the whole barrier to deconstruct." She offered.
"Better make that quick. We have company." 595 announced gravely, facing the parklands. Freyr turned from the wall, and followed the Agent's outstretched finger. She gasped when she realised that the thing 595 was pointing at wasn't part of the skyscraper next to it.
It was a large, pale yellow eye, sunken into a dark fleshy eye socket and faintly illuminating the otherwise black surroundings. It looked to be staring at the foundering MRAP, or something nearby. Freyr made out half of a jagged, gaping maw below the eye - that was faintly lit too. Under that, she noticed a clawed hand gripping the side of the building that it peeked out from behind. It was scarred with the same pale yellow phosphorescence as the face.
"Fuck me, It must be five stories tall." 595 shook her head incredulously, an edge of fear creeping in her voice. Freyr couldn't help her fascination. "Wow...I have never seen so much matter...organised into an amalgam like that."
The eye moved slightly, to gaze right at them. "Uh oh." Freyr breathed.</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
For the first moments as Vreta was crossing the grass towards the side entrance, Rhia's mind was still caught in a moment centuries past.
Normally, the agent would have taken a more subtle approach to reach her goal, but one advantage these aliens did have was how exceptionally aware they were of their surroundings. Ironically, they were completely blind, given their lack of eyes, but the hard, plated organ on their heads emitted an exceptionally refined version of echolocation. They seemed to be able to make a mental map of their surroundings, and anyone in it, even out of a normal line of sight. The design of their ship's hallways allowed sound to propagate even further, so stealth seemed out of the question for her.
As she neared the engine room, she saw two weapons suddenly appear from around the corner from two branching paths on opposite sides of the hallways. The aliens holding them barely exposed themselves and started firing, accurately, the moment their weapons came into view. They were projectile weapons, though, so the burst of bullets bounced off of her shields with only some damage to their integrity. The agent leaned heavily on AI assistance for her targeting. Taking a few shots with her pistol, she severed the arm of one of the aliens at the shoulder, and destroyed the weapon of the other. The uninjured one ducked back around the corner until the agent moved closer, then tried to rush out and surprise her with a jagged knife, only to be met with an energy bolt through its forehead. The second was still writhing in pain, but nevertheless tried to reach with its other arm towards the weapon on the ground. Had it not, the agent might have left it alone, but as it stood, it was a simple matter for her to point her pistol over with one hand and almost casually execute it as she walked past.
"There is no hiding from these people." The agent remarked. "If they had better weapons, they would have killed me three times over by now."
The AI in her head was already analyzing and comparing observations from this encounter with all the rest. "Their echolocation is remarkably effective. It may be worth some study, honestly."
In any case, both of them quieted down as the agent finally reached the door to the engine room. If they could take over the engines, then they would hopefully be able to divert the asteroid.
Vreta was surprised that Rhia had not alerted him to the presence of this…creature. His echolocation implants would certainly have been able to detect something of that size. At this point, he wished Void Company was with them. They would have the firepower to deal with something like this. In any case, it did not change their plan. If anything, it made their plan more urgent. "Come on, let's just get inside. I'll cut our way in if we have to. Do we still have control of those turrets? If it is aggressive, maybe we can turn them on it?"</s>
| <|message|>Agent 595
"I'd rather not piss this thing off. Let's just get inside - how are we looking?" 595 replied, glancing back from down the sights. The CSF virus had taken Freyr's suggestion as a challenge; the gouges and hole reappeared alongside several new rends.
A light thump brought the Agent's gaze back to the parkland. A mist was falling, but she could see the outline of a large humanoid shape stepping quietly out from behind the skyscraper. It began stalking closer to them, with the ground shaking slightly under each step.
"You can get in there if you cut away some of the jagged edges." Freyr pointed to the hole in the barrier. "Hurry!" She looked back at the slowly advancing figure.</s> |
<|description|>Agent 595
Species: Human
Gender: Female
Age: UNKNOWN
Nationality: UNKNOWN
Weapons and/or equipment: UNKNOWN
Backstory: UNKNOWN</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
Freyr stood motionless as Vreta disappeared, gazing up at the massive biped as it crept quietly towards them through the mist. It wasn't giving off any predatory cues, apart from a fixing stare like the big cats she'd studied. Part of her was tired of running, and wanted to see what the creature would do if she tried to communicate.
But when 595 glanced back and saw Freyr wasn't moving, she made it clear that wasn't an option. "Move!" The Agent shouted, motioning to the hole with her gun. This made Freyr jump, and she jolted into action. Her shield flared against the hot residue around the hole as she scrambled through. 595 backed up with her weapon up as the creature loomed over the pond with the MRAP in it.
The Agent's suit detected Human shouting in the distance, and tried to clean it up before Freyr called back "I'm through! Your turn!" 595 hesitated for a moment, then pursed her lips and turned to slither through the hole as well.
An oppressive atmosphere cloaked them in the lobby. Muffled creaks and a soft breeze wafted through the maze of walls and spikes around the trio. Freyr cleared her throat softly, then tried comms again. "GCHQ, we're inside the...West entrance. What is the building's status?"
"My readings are all over the place again, like inside the Object." 595 rasped, then coughed chestily. "I don't like this." She finished, once she was able.
Freyr took no notice, she was looking around. It seemed that two broad, tall 'streets' branched off from this lobby on either side of the entryway. They must have been part of the ring-like superstructure - Freyr could see open gantries with a hint of the floors above. There was a set of doors directly in front of them too. "Which way?"</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
As the others joined Vreta in the lobby, he had a moment of concern for Rhia. She had not given him any alerts, but he could notice when she was less present than usual. Not to mention the fact that he could "feel" her mind, in a sense. He could not feel her exact thoughts unless she shared them intentionally, but he always had a sense of her mood in the back of his mind. Rhia, talk to me. I can tell something's going on. Vreta thought.
I'm fine. Right now, at least. Rhia answered. I think we're being scanned in some way, or I am. There is something peering into my memory, I think. There was something that came to my mind, and I couldn't seem to stop it.
Vreta hummed in thought. What she described was familiar to him, though he was not yet sure of what the implications of it were. The Entity on Rothia had that capability, so it could be indicative of the being integrating with the Cradle. Unfortunately, they just did not have enough information to know.
While he was curious if the others were experiencing the same thing, they had no choice but to keep moving. "I don't have the blueprints to this place, so you will have to be the one to guide us." He commented. Vreta took a moment to press one hand against one of the thick spikes jutting out at an angle from the ground to check its strength, then took a step back to get a running start. Sprinting forward, he ran up the side of the spike for a moment, then used it as an elevated point to leap up to the second floor above them. From there, he turned back around to help up the others behind him. "We should try to stick to the high ground as we move, though." He recommended.</s>
<|message|>Agent 595
"I think the operations rooms are on the upper levels." Freyr mused, thinking back to when she last visited. Admittedly, it had been a long time ago, and she'd only been cleared to access the ground floor.
"I was going to try and steal a copy of the floorplan, but I can't interface with the system anymore. In fact, I'm losing power now. We need to be quick." 595 added, feeling a pressure in the back of her head which wasn't there before. Was that something rifling through her mind as if it were a folder, looking at articles of interest? She looked around quickly, trying to spot signs for the infirmary or even a pharmacy locker.
Both of the Humans watched as Vreta vaulted up onto the level above. "I...can't get up there." Freyr said, nervous. "Stand over there." 595 commanded, pointing to a spot directly under Vreta's dangling arms. After a moment's hesitation, she complied. 595 followed her, and crouched down, grasping Freyr's thighs in a vice-like grip. The Agent's suit whirred and clicked, with the pitch gradually increasing until she exploded upwards.
Freyr found herself flying up into the air, and her extended hands being gripped by the Rothian above her.
"I need to find an infirmary - I'm not doing so good." The Agent coughed, looking up to make sure Freyr made it onto the gantry. "We'll have a better chance of spotting it if we cover both floors."</s>
<|message|>Vreta'Sori
Once Vreta ensured that Freyr was securely up on the second floor, Vreta leaned over the guard rail and looked down on the Agent below. The only injury he had seen her take was a piercing strike through her leg. While traumatic to the muscle tissue in the area, that was not the kind of injury he would expect to send her into a coughing fit. Granted, they had been through multiple fights, and he had not been watching her the entire time.
"What kind of injuries have you sustained?" Vreta asked. "Maybe my field kit can help you? Your suit has medical systems, yes? If you have your suit send a report to me, I might be able to program a nanomachine injection to help you." He suggested. Medical nanomachines had pre-loaded programs to deal with common battlefield injuries for Rothian physiology, but if she knew the problem, Rhia could likely custom write a program to help the Agent.</s>
| <|message|>Agent 595
"I've been poisoned." 595 slurred. She was feeling decidedly light-headed all of a sudden. It was hard to delineate whether this was because of the wound, or the heady environment they were in. "Use of foreign nanites is against protocol - it has to be the infirmary." The Agent looked about again, her suit compensating for her unsteady footing and blurring vision. "Give me overwatch, we'll sweep both floors at once."
"Agent!" A male voice called from the entrance. Freyr rushed to the gantry and leaned over as far as she could go to look at the exterior doors. Through the gloom, she could just about see a white-haired man in a tactical vest standing up after crawling through the hole.
He brought his gun up to his eye as 595 slowly turned around to face him. Freyr spotted another person crawling through the gap behind him as he stepped forward.
595 paused for a second before answering. When she responded she sounded drunk. "Gene? That you?" Then the Agent's visor slithered off her face, she doubled over and threw up on the ground.</s> |
<|description|>Ox Squad
Trent Gardner, Advanced Infantry
Drachen Steinboden, Duelist
Marcia Devries, Rifleman
Helene Weisser, Psi Operative
Damian Renser, Gunslinger</s>
<|message|>Helene Weisser
|
| |
| |
Weisser's Combat Log, "Shipping Off"
__________________________________________________________
"My PSO(psychic support officer) insisted that I start a journal before I ship off on my first deployment off this rock. I mean, I didn't even have a diary as a little girl. Too busy listening to pap's stories instead I guess. My hands are shaking as I write this. Not sure if its nerves or excitement. Probably both. Nearly shocked Rodriguez in the shower when I heard the news. XCOM wanted me for some new initiative! Best of the best! I got a gift from home, from pap actually. Don't know how he knew, but he did. An old ballistic pistol from just before the invasion. Said it was a 'good luck charm'. Not sure if I deserve to carry it. I'll try my best. Should probably try to sleep. Gonna be a long day tomorrow. Can't wait!"
Hartford Military Base
New Star, Mars Colony
1100 hrs Local Time
|
---
Hartford. It never stopped to amaze her or fill her with a strong sense of pride at its image painted against the harsh, red sands of Mars. New Star might be the promise of a place among the stars for Humanity, but it was Hartford that made that promise a reality. The will not only to settle new worlds, but the power to protect them from hostile invaders. Helene took uniform yet brisk steps as she followed behind the MEC, dressed in her most pristine and tailored uniform that bore the insignia of her psi-ops program on the right shoulder. Technicians and soldiers stared at them as the three passed by. Helene never once gave them a second glance. Her left hand reached for her shoulder and she gently rubbed it, fingers tracing the stitch-work of the insignia. Her other hand held the synthetic-fiber duffel bag that contained her combat gear.
Her muscles tensed up as they entered the hangar, eyes immediately focusing on the two individuals that appeared to be waiting there though her attention was redirected to the older man in the room. A soft sigh was released as he spoke with authority, glancing over to the younger man that he indicated. Helene remained standing while Corporal Renser introduced himself, hands behind her back with her right thumb pressing against the palm of her left. Once he had finished, she picked up her duffel bag and sat in the farthest seat from his setting the bag at her feat. Helene eagerly looked back at the older man, now introduced as Captain Gardner. A soldier who looked like he'd seen quite a bit of action. She sat up straight, hands smoothing out her uniform, as she continued to listen with full attention.
Helene kept still as a statue except for the slight movement at the edges of her lips that was stubbornly beyond her control. It was an honor, no, a privilege to be given such an important role in what could be a monumental offensive. This was her chance to continue the legacy of the respected Weisser name. Each member of her family dedicated their lives to serving and protecting Humanity. There was no way she could ever return home if she failed. After the captain had finished, Helene left her seat in one fluid motion and stared at him with determination "Only one, sir. When do we set off?"</s>
<|message|>Drachen Steinboden
Drachen's eyes were closed on the ride in the APC to Hartford and his hands were clasped behind his back. Leaning back like he was he almost looked asleep and his face wasn't that mask of anger with cold metallic colored eyes. When the vehicle came to a stop his eyes snapped open and up he got, exiting the vehicle with other recruits. But he stuck with two others, he had memorized their names and faces since they were to be a unit. An MEC directed the three away from the other recruits and to a separate hangar.
Weisser seemed very...proper while they moved. Her eyes didn't leave their sitting objectives. Devries...he didn't really get a read on her yet. Drachen however looked around, an air of caution around him as if he were an animal in a new territory. His hands didn't stay idle, tightening the straps on the fingerless gauntlets or adjusting his belt. It was a mental checklist to make sure he hadn't left anything behind really but most others would see it as a nervous tick.
Once the triplets got to their destination he took note that the jerky chewer was youthful while their commanding officer was an aging soldier. The younger of the two had twin pistols, namely revolvers of a plasma variety. The elder had a plasma rifle and a gremlin, why did they move onto plasma? A question for another time. Still he stood over with the others, staying on his feet rather than sitting down. Their mission would be starting soon, no point in sitting down now.
The mission briefing was short and to the point. They were to go to another system, kill or contain an Ethereal, and hopefully not die. "I have one, sir. Any idea how many contacts there will be?" He questioned, his voice was unsurprisingly deep and rumbled a lot like distant thunder. The others could catch a hint of a German accent but it wasn't even remotely heavy.</s>
<|message|>Marcia Devries
In the hangar, Marcia Devries stood with her fellow soldiers and grinned.
So we're called Ox Squad, huh? I wonder why we're named after an animal? In particular, that animal?
At least circumstances around her have changed. She had waited endlessly during the personnel transport and it had been so boring! Now, the situation was finally heating up.
She looked around her. There were so many tall people. Even the other girl was tall. Everyone looked so... well... buff, at least compared to herself -- which wasn't really a bad thing to Marcia. For instance, she thought the big baldy guy was kinda hot. She thought the smaller one who was chewing on beef jerky was delicious. And the tall girl? -- was well... a girl.
She suddenly recalled her last boyfriend -- if you could call him that. Anything was better than Dillion. Dillion had been somewhat of a playboy and a gambler. Nevertheless, she missed Dillion and the life that he gave her. There had been passion in that one-sided romance, at least for her -- but it had been one-sided. All Dillion wanted in life was to live the exotic life of a professional card player and bone girls, often two times a week. Marcia had been his wingmate despite her love for him. Eventually, she grew tired of being only a plaything.
Now, her life was different. Now, she embraced another passion. It was far superior to the last one. This passion was none other than her line of work. She passionately believed that it was humankind's destiny to expand to the stars and overcome any barrier or any obstacle that got in the way. And because she believed that, she also believed that it was the duty of every soldier to repel alien invaders from mother earth.
That's why she had joined XCOM. She wanted to be of service to her species, and to heal those that fought with her. She wanted to be of help to humankind.
Yet, at times she just wanted to stay in her bed and not have to face her problems. She wanted to snuggle with her cat and never have to confront the world. Sometimes, she wanted to have never grown up and to be in her parent's house back on the colony.
"Hi all," she introduced herself. "I'm Marcia Devries. My question is... well... I'm wondering how we'll get there? The alien stronghold on Arthan-3 in the Utila System, I mean." Um... I sort of slept through the class on interstellar physics. "So will we be put into cryogenic freeze or suspended animation or something? I don't want to go to sleep and then realize that i'm now 30 years older than before. And why are we called Ox Squad?"</s>
| <|message|>Ox Squad
Hartford Military Base
New Star, Mars Colony
1110 hrs Local Time
The captain listened to each question closely, looking at the speaker accordingly and nodding in acknowledgement to each spoken question. "Good batch of questions, for the most part. We leave in ten, our skimmer will take us to the USS Bronzebeard in orbit and we'll jump to slip space about ten hours after that. There are two other strongholds being attacked simultaneously with our objective, but ours is the closest, so our jump is last. As for the number of tangos, expect numerous, Private Steinboden. This is an enemy stronghold after all, so they won't slouch on keeping it manned. Private Devries, you'll be retaking the course on Earth's interstellar travel when the mission is over, but I have addressed the first question. Your second question's answer is quite simple, and that's that there is no particular rhyme or reason. Another squad is Hawk Squad, you've got the Vengeful Sharks, a Spec Ops team of mostly Rippers with a couple of Reapers in support. So, no particular reason, just where our lot fell most likely."
The captain, having given a quick brief of general details and gotten all the new bloods to talk, walked around the table and hit a button on it, bringing the holographic display up on the fortress that they'd be helping to assault. "And since no one asked, I'll give you guys something more in depth. This is the stronghold Alpha as we've labeled it, though intel says the aliens call it Outpost Warden. Regardless, the official plan that the Commander laid out for us is to insert at the top of the stronghold and work our way down to the main hall while also dealing with any defensive emplacements we can." The gunslinger spoke up at this point.
"But we both know you got a second set of orders from the Commander that weren't so official, which are?" The captain, chuckling softly, nodded.
"He did and that was that the unofficial plan is to move as we see fit and focus on getting to the enemy leadership and contain or neutralize. Orbital support is being tasked to remove anti-air and anti-infantry emplacements on the outside of the outpost. Seems simple enough right?" Damian nodded and took another bite of his jerky as the image shifted to a layout of the Bronzebeard. "Now, as for our accommodations on the Bronzebeard, XCOM units are considered a branch of special forces, so we'll have our own armory, barracks and mess hall for our small unit, though it is encouraged that we mix and mingle with the UEG regulars at meal times and during PT." Snapping his fingers, Captain reached behind him and withdrew three XCOM patches and approached each of the new bloods.
"These are your XCOM patches, signifying that you are members of the unit within the UEG and that if you say your mission is of dire importance, then the regs had better listen to you. However," the change in the captain's tone caused the new bloods to jump, "don't abuse that power. You ever hear of the boy who cried wolf? That's what'll happen to your authority."
Returning to his position at the table, the holographic projection turns off and the Captain starts to walk off. "I'll be back in five to gather you four for the trip up to the Bronzebeard, but until then, get to know each other. You'll be working closely for the foreseeable future." And with that, he and his Gremlin were gone. After a moment of silence, the Irish accent in Damian's voice won out as he jumped down to converse with his new squad mates.
"Alright then, where's everyone from? Hobbies, likes, dislikes?"</s> |
<|description|>Ox Squad
Trent Gardner, Advanced Infantry
Drachen Steinboden, Duelist
Marcia Devries, Rifleman
Helene Weisser, Psi Operative
Damian Renser, Gunslinger</s>
<|message|>Marcia Devries
"I'm from South New Star. When I was small, my family immigrated to Mars from France and I love watching holonovels -- especially romance films! I love playing virtual reality games using my neuro-enhancer helmet. I like strategy games and RPGs and first person shooters! And I looove virtual reality dating sims! Not only that, I've logged over 2000 hours in marine combat simulator X. I can totally take out the final boss in The Empire of the Crescent Moon in less than five minutes."
Marcia just wondered if she blabbed too much about herself. I hope they don't think I'm an airhead. I hope they still think I can add my weight in any serious combat situation.
"I love people with courage, and I hate cowards, even though I'm sorta a coward myself."</s>
<|message|>Helene Weisser
---
She could tell she was going to get along very well with the man named Drachen. A hint of acknowledgement, a note of respect sparkled in her violet eyes when she looked at him. It was nothing he said but the attitude in which he carried himself that she found interesting, though his faint German accent sparked a bit of extra camaraderie. However, the question he asked wasn't something that mattered much to her. Her grandfather never cared about how many there were, just that he had to keep fighting for Humanity's future. Now it was her turn to help forge Humanity's destiny among the stars!
The other member of their trio was a woman named Marcia and well...she looked at her a bit stunned for a moment as she asked her questions. That soft, gentle look in her eyes to the way she spoke did not convey the mannerism of someone she expected to see in XCOM "Sure, we put our lives on the line every mission but most dangerous of all...we risked our humanity to defeat them." The words echoed in the back of her mind of a hesitant and sorrowful voice. Helene looked at Marcia warily, but would hold judgement until they got into combat.
Helene leaned forward in her seat, focused solely on the image on the table her mouth slightly open. Old configurations of alien bases were often used to help teach and instruct new recruits, but this was the first time she had seen something like this. The fact they were in charge of assaulting this place in actual mission and not some mock battle made it almost surreal. She became engrossed in its design, trying to commit it to memory when the corporal interrupted and drew her attention away. So the real plan was for the others to take care of the fortifications while they slip in to neutralize any high value targets. Her fingers curled against the fabric of her uniform, tugging at its edges. She couldn't wait to get started.
Attention was shifted back to the display that now showed their vessel. Helene didn't react to the news of their special accommodations as it still felt like a dream. That was until their new captain approached them with their new patches. Helene reached out and took her patch with both hands as if dropping it would cause it to shatter. The overflowing happiness that was almost enough to break her decorum was halted by the words of the captain, so much that a chill raced down her spine "Do not worry about us, Sir! We shall not let that happen!" A crisp, quick salute was accompanied by a fierce look in her eye. The day she had imagined so many times as little girl was here. As her eyes drifted down to the patch, the fingers on her right hand smoothed over the patch to confirm its authenticity. She couldn't wait to send a message back home.
Helene was so lost in thought that she barely heard what the captain said, looking up just as he was already in the process of leaving. Was she sure she heard that right? 'Get to know each other'?Helene looked around still holding the patch closely, her face tense and her eyes unsure. As Damian spoke, she couldn't help but think this wasn't how she expected her career in XCOM to begin. Why waste time playing 20 questions? She just wanted to get things started already. That didn't stop Marcia from grabbing Helene's attention. Probably much to her dismay, her quick onslaught of information had give Helene the exact impression of an airhead. She didn't know taking out this so-called boss in 5 minutes was impressive but she made it sound like some grand achievement. Somehow, this sweet woman was recruited into XCOM and she was going to find out why.
"That is certainly an...interesting list of hobbies. Well it is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Devries."
Hobbies? Likes? Dislikes? These questions all revolved around her least favorite topic "I was born back on Earth. Cologne, Germany." Helene crossed her arms, looking at the rest of the group but not directly "I certaintly dislike talkin about myself, but if it is the captain's orders. I like to hike and camp while watching the stars. There's some places on Earth you can't tell a war ever happened." Helene looked down looking unsatisfied with her own answer, then looked back up "I can't stand people who are all bark and no bite." The pressure between her teeth was enough to snap a tree log. Her brow furrowed as she finished, looking annoyed. With a mission like theirs, she would rather be making preparations than play nice.</s>
<|message|>Drachen Steinboden
Drachen had his arms folded across his chest as he listened to the Captain. He nodded affirmatives where they fit as the man answered the few questions they had. The team name was just chosen at random, they were assaulting a fortress so the number of enemies would be unknown, they left in ten minutes, and apparently they were assaulting multiple fortresses. Why was the UEG dividing their focus? Or were the other fortresses just to distract from the actual objective of killing or detaining this Ethereal?
The Captain brought up a holo-display of the fort they'd be going to and the names of it. Alpha via human, Warden via Alien. Which got him to tilt his head slightly. "Warden...? Is it supposed to be guarding something...?" He questioned aloud. Maybe they were trying to keep humanity penned in the Sol System? It wasn't likely humanity knew how far spread the aliens were. Shortly after letting them see the display the older officer handed out the XCOM patches with a warning not to abuse the power that came with them.
Who knew a simple patch, even on a Private, would hold such weight. Which was odd. But he didn't run things, he just followed orders.
Shit, now they were told to socialize, get to know each other. Was this some sort of video game? He shook his head when the Captain left
and turned his metallic gaze to the other three. Marcia Devries started them off with a slew of information. Games and reading were her thing, and apparently she was good at them. While also preferring the brave over the coward types. Helene Weisser, a fellow German, preferred more physical things like hiking and camping. She enjoyed doers, not talkers.
Sighing he let his arms drop and slip into his pockets. "I'm from Germany on Earth. In my spare time I like working with metal, making things by hand like in the ancient times." He stated, with his build it was very believable. "I dislike laziness, I like being active." He continued on before looking at the dual wielder expectantly.</s>
| <|message|>Ox Squad
Hartford Military Base
New Star, Mars Colony
1113 hrs Local Time
Damian listened to each person and then proceeded to match the Duelist's gaze evenly after everyone had finished. He didn't immediately speak after they'd finished either, instead approaching the holotable and pulling out a modern USB drive. While it would seem that with all the technological advances made, mobile storage would have changed after so many improvements, scientists found that the size of a USB was excellent for easy transport, even decades later.
As he plugged it in and started browsing through the files, he finally spoke, his Irish accent finally coming into full swing. "Well, a pleasure to know all of you better. Now before I give all of you more information about me, let me sum up what I've just learned. Private Devries, you joined the UEG military out of either a sense of moral obligation or because you enjoyed the training sims in high school. Likely the latter based on your excellent ability to defeat the Crescent Moon Empire's emperor so quickly. You, Private Steinboden, likely joined the UEG to find access to metals that you're not allowed to handle on Earth and see what it was we actually faced in the war. Perhaps also because you like smashing things with your ax." The video he had been looking for was now queued, but he didn't play it yet, instead turning to put a flat gaze on Helene.
"And then there's you, Specialist Helene Weisser, granddaughter of the legendary Psi Op Steven Weisser. Your records called you a prodigy, even at a young age, and the Templar program is keeping an eye on you according to rumors. I can give the other two members of our squad a pass, they don't have the legacy of a hero to look up to and live up to, but you? You're here with grandiose ideas of just what this fight will be like, the role you'll fulfill and where you'll end up. You're going to be the one that insists on being the first off the skimmer and the first in the door, throwing some psionic power around with the intent to intimidate and kill as many aliens in one fell swoop as you can." He shakes his head. "You're a right idiot. Rancor Squad was formed a few weeks ago, just before we started mobilizing, full of new recruits full of potential and heading off on their first chrysalid hunt to get them some combat experience. Typically these aren't particularly dangerous and most of both the UEG's and XCOM's new bloods cut their teeth on them regularly. But Specialist Ria Blackwell had big dreams and plans concerning her new position as an XCOM prospect. Here's how that ended for them."
Hitting play on the holo terminal, the video starts up. From the angle of the camera, it's clear that this was pulled from someone's body cam. The video starts out with the usual patrol banter as the squad heads into a tunnel just behind another squad, XCOM patches and a Chimera patch on their backs as they move into the cave. "Chimera squad was to be their leash, their handlers. Get the new blood squad in, and get them out in one piece. Specialist Blackwell was Rancor's temp NCO until their actual CO recovered and she, unfortunately, had other ideas." The video had continued playing and as Chimera Squad made a left at a fork, a voice came into the private channel of the soldier's radio, presumably Specialist Blackwell's, that ordered them right. In minutes, she'd lead them to a small hatchery, if the grotesque scene before them could be called that as gestating bodies littered the ground. The voice came in again as the group took up positions around the nest on higher ground.
"Alright, we're going to toss incendiary to rile up the bugs and then deploy the Napalm grenades to deal with the main rush. Clean up should be easy after that. Prep," the camera shifts around as the person it's on pulls an incendiary out, "and throw." There's the sound of numerous metal things hitting the nest before flames ignite it. There's an inhuman screeching before chrysalids come out of every faucet that the camera can see, way more than the nest size would indicate. The scene that proceeds to play out is horrifying as the squad of new bloods attempts to fall back towards the tunnel they'd come in at. Plasma shots sear into the darkness, tearing apart the bugs as they surge forwards, but not fast enough and the last person in the group, a youthful looking red head, gets grabbed and pulled back, screaming as she's ripped apart.
Two more get pulled into unseen side tunnels as they run past, their fates no less grizzly as purple psionic power rips into the tunnels, too late to save anyone. The video cuts as Chimera squads flamethrower armed MEC comes into sight, bounds past the last two survivors and unleashes napalm on the horde behind them. The Corporal pulls the USB and turns back. "Former Specialist Ria Blackwell was the great niece of Colonel James "Rusty" Blackwell, an accomplished assault specialist within XCOM who lead the attack on the underground base that truly turned the tide in the Invasion war. If that name isn't familiar, Specialist Weisser, then you didn't pay attention to the men your grandfather served with and under. Because of her Uncle's stories, she got the idea that she could be the next Colonel Blackwell, especially after she manifested the Psionic powers her great-uncle had lacked. Because of them and his name, she assumed she knew better than Chimera Squad. That nest? That nest has never been cleared because of what happened to Rancor. We called it the Feeding Grounds because while it looks small, there are more chrysalids hiding in it than in the other three major nests on Mars combined."
He looked over each of the new bloods before continuing. "Blackwell is now serving time in prison, charged with willfully disobeying a superior and getting her three squadmates killed in action unnecessarily. And this was routine and standard for training out here. Now we're going up against the Ethereals and their armies and I can practically see the delusions of grandeur in your head. For the luck of the Irish, get rid of 'em before it gets ya killed. I want all of you to be able to tell stories like Stefan Weisser got to." His grim story delivered and point made, the Irishman lightened up. "As for my hobbies, I build firearms, camp and hunt. I also enjoy the odd bit of gene modding where it's permitted, making and testing new mods in the simulation programs."
Unknown to the group, the Captain hadn't actually gone that far, instead stopping to listen to his Corporal and second in command give his warning and make sure he didn't go overboard about it. The other survivor of the squad, now Sergeant Ethan Sanders, was still attending therapy after what he saw. The body cam didn't show it, but Sanders had seen what happened to the squadmate that was pulled into the left tunnel and it had him waking up in screams some nights. His promotion to sergeant had been a reward for surviving his former NCO's arrogance, but he had yet to be given a new squad due to the PTSD. A chirp in his ear had him rounding the corner, acting like he wasn't aware of what had happened, but after the others had responded. "Alright everyone, time to get to the skimmer. After that, we'll need to get comfy."</s> |
<|description|>Ox Squad
Trent Gardner, Advanced Infantry
Drachen Steinboden, Duelist
Marcia Devries, Rifleman
Helene Weisser, Psi Operative
Damian Renser, Gunslinger</s>
<|message|>Marcia Devries
Marcia stood there, watching the interaction between Corporal Damian and Private Weisser. Her eyes kept darting in between these two. It took a long time to figure out what was going on, but finally, she understood.
She grinned.
Wow, this guy really likes Helene Weisser. Damian just spent 5 minutes lecturing her on her pedigree! Helene Weisser!
I get it. Helene is tall, has a nice body, has great pedigree, and is probably incredibly rich. Some guys really dig that type of stuff.
I don't understand, tho. If he really likes her that much, why doesn't he just say it instead of making up all this macho stuff to scare her?
Based on Marcia's numerous experiments with programmed male behavior in the virtual reality dating sims, Marcia was reasonably sure this was what was happening. Men say and think a lot of things for love, but one thing is certain, they always say and express what they think in the presence of some female somewhere. I just hope Helene figures this out without interpreting it the wrong way.
Marcia grinned, fully intent on watching everything play out. I hope Helene knows what to do with male attention. I wouldn't worry though. From her looks, I know she gets a lot of it.</s>
<|message|>Helene Weisser
---
Drachen's words had provided additional assurance that they'd be able to get along just fine. Words without actions to back them up are simply hollow and meaningless. She followed his gaze to their corporal, who instead of speaking right away moved to the holotable. Helene sat up straight, her hands resting on her thighs as her fingertips pressed lightly down. Her expression was blank but her eyes stared at Damian with suspicion. A pit began to form in the middle of her chest as he began.
Two short summaries of her comrades followed by a brief pause. She gritted her teeth as she felt uneasy which was quickly validated as the corporal spoke. The muscles in her shoulders tensed as she strained to remain silent amongst his mocking remarks like he had any idea what her ideals or beliefs were. Pressure continued to build between her teeth because, unwilling to admit it, some of it was at least partially true. Helene's right foot slid back against the hard concrete, making a slight twitch forward as he called her an idiot to her face. Luckily, she knew how to restrain herself. It wasn't a good look for the military to have psionics flying off the handle. However, the moment he mentioned Blackwell's name and the squad her anger with him was put on standby. Helene sat back as the video played with a furrowed brow.
Nothing that happened during the video appeared to resonate with Helene as she sat there with a coldness in her eyes. However, she never once turned away from what was happening on the screen. Helene continued to stare at where the video had been playing even after the corporal had removed the usb. It was until he spoke her name that she finally deemed it necessary to look up at him. The Blackwells were close family friends of her family's as her grandfather had served under and alongside Colonel James for the majority of the war. Helene was once good friends with Ria, but that all changed shortly before they went to the Academy. They hadn't talked for a few years when this incident occurred, though she never knew the exact details about her case.
Helene couldn't hide her disdain for the corporal as she sat there and quietly mouthed various procedures from her military code. It was all she could to refrain from a outburst. Then there was Devries, who was grinning like a fool next to her. Did Devries enjoy the corporal going off on her? It was enough to make her blood boil just as much. Helene quickly picked up her duffle bag and wasted no time in heading towards the spacecraft "Understood, Sir." She simply said, not deigning to the give the corporal another look as she walked past. At the present, she wouldn't mind if he ended up getting pull off by some bug.</s>
<|message|>Drachen Steinboden
Drachen didn't give and affirmative or negative to Damian's assumption on why he joined the military. If he wanted alien alloys he could just send requests in to XCOM along with money instead of risking life and limb to potentially obtain them. He was however curious as to what they were about to be forced to watch. But when he started talking about Helene Weisser he started to get a feeling this wasn't going to be a kind video. It felt like a 'grind down to build up' session.
The video combined with Damian's words felt unnecessary. It showed the ferocity of Chrysalids, and a poor choice of poking the hornets nest. The result was three dead, two alive, one in prison the other pretty much retired with PTSD. His face was unreadable when Damian looked, the man was in a higher position so he could really reprimand him. Glancing to the two women to his left, his thick eyebrow rose up slightly.
Marcia was grinning like a loon and the girls eyes were dating between Damian and Helene. He couldn't really read what she was thinking...but it felt like she was having wrong thoughts. Could psionic wielders read minds? Helen however was clearly unhappy, giving a disdainful look to the Corporal. The Captain quickly shortly after Damian finished speaking. It was time to get going. Helene was the first to get going, scooping up her duffel and walking away.
A slight shift and he had his own duffel hanging by his index finger over his shoulder before he walked along behind Helene. His stride kept purposefully short so he didn't overtake the woman. He'd have attempted conversation, but he felt like she'd probably want to be left alone for the time being. If she looked back he'd give her as friendly a look as his naturally pissed off face could muster, but for now he stayed silent.</s>
| <|message|>Ox Squad
Hartford Military Base
New Star, Mars Colony
1115 hrs Local Time
Captain Gardner allowed the others to walk by before tapping the Corporal on the shoulder as he walked by, indicating to walk with him just out of earshot of the new bloods while keeping them in sight. "Bit heavy back there, don't you think?" Corporal Renser shrugged, pulling out a toothpick and putting it between his teeth, chewing it a little before replying, any attempt at hiding his accent gone.
"Perhaps a wee bit, but if it means I'm not rubbin' me blarney stone every ten minutes that we all make it home, I'd do it again. Let the gal resent me a bit, she wouldn't be the first and I doubt she'll be the last. Though, I have some concerns about Private Devries. I think she's spent a wee too much time in the dating sims." Trent shook his head and sighed.
"I'll...have to look into it. But for that first bit, you Irish are a strange lot, you know that?" The only response as they walked up the ramp onto the skimmer was a chuckle from the Corporal as he took his seat near the exit. Meanwhile, the Captain stood before the seat nearest the cockpit and looked over his squad. "Alright, we're looking at about a ten minute flight to the USS Bronzebeard. From there, the time is yours to spend as you see fit. Well mostly." As the Holy Mackerel rumbled from take off, the captain stayed standing. "There's a couple of team exercises planned to get used used to first working as a squad and second as a part of a larger force in preparation for the attack, which will take place near the end of the trip so the drills are fresh in our minds."
Finally sitting, the Captain secures himself as the ship begins shaking from breaking atmosphere and heading into orbit, where the USS Bronzebeard is waiting for them. "That's all I have for you for now, so once we've gotten you situated, as I said, the time is yours."
---
USS Bronzebeard
Orbit around Mars
1622 Shipboard Time
The trip to the Bronzebeard certainly proved to be quick, and landing was so smooth, none of the new recruits knew they had reached their hangar until the Mackerel's loading ramp opened, with the Corporal down first. During combat, his job would be to ensure that their skimmer isn't rushed during insertion, but right now, he was simply to guide the new bloods to their line-up position. Once everyone was in position, the Captain stood just in front of them at their right with the Corporal standing behind him. Several other squads were lined up similarly, though there was much more variation to them than to Ox Squad, several containing MEC troopers and even the shimmering advanced concealment cloaks of Strikers. There was no sound after everyone lined up, just stretching silence.
After what would have felt like an eternity, three figures walked out of a door on the other end of the hangar, towards the depths of the Super Heavy War-Cruiser. Two were clearly armored up in the Praetorian armor of the personal guards of Military Command while the third bore the military uniform of none other than Brigadier General Joseph Hartman, who had led the purging of the Europa Chrysalid hives from the frontlines no more than six years prior. Standing on a podium that had risen up in the center of the hangar, his glowing red cybernetic eye unflinching. "Ladies and Gentlemen of the XCOM Initiative, my fellow soldiers. Today marks the first time we've actively sought conflict with the Alien Hive Mind led by the Ethereals since they first touched down on Earth, over sixty years ago. Their technology and unfamiliar physiology gave them an early edge on the standard militaries of the world, but the UN and its allies had foreseen this possibility and created a task force specifically to counter any extraterrestrial threat, founded in the form of XCOM. Using ambush and guerilla combat tactics, the Commander single handedly turned a losing war into the greatest victory humanity has ever seen against any foe. It was because of XCOM's R&D that we were eventually able to turn the tools and technology of the aliens against them and even the playing field, first through improved energy dispersion armor and laser weaponry and then through full Ostryx armor and plasma weaponry. Needless to say, XCOM was the foundation of victory for us.
But that victory did not come without its price, as the memorials show. Not to mention, thirty years ago, after the end of the War, Germany and the United States shut their borders to the rest of the world in response to the revelation that the enemy had been using mind control on their people to get results that cost an unnecessary loss of life. Germany has since rejoined the world at large and the United Earth Government in recent years and now we are prepared to launch our first real counter attack in nearly half a century. Among the long-time squads that are here today is a batch of new bloods," at this point he points to Ox Squad, everyone's eyes following his indication, "in Ox Squad, who's job will be to take on and either contain or eliminate the Ethereal waiting for us on Arthan-3. Everyone else is to secure the stronghold and support them. Now, the UEG regulars don't know that and we're going to keep it that way. Far as they know, everyone has objectives that line up." He looked over each and every squad assembled in the hangar before nodding. "For Humanity! Dismissed!"
And with that one word, the hangar became a flurry of activity as the squads gathered up their gear and split off down different doors heading into the War-Cruiser's interior. Captain Gardner led his squad through a door on the right side of the hangar and down a series of halls that seemed to take them down lower before reaching a door with the head of an Ox painted on it as two other XCOM squads entered doors further away from them on either side, talking and laughing with each other. The path to their barracks and back to the hangar had been easy for the group to memorize and as they walked in, it wouldn't be surprising if they decided to keep to themselves in their barracks, as it was most definitely one of the most advanced setups any of the newer recruits would have ever seen. "Welcome to Ox Squads barracks here on the Bronzebeard. Like I said, we do have independent facilities here, as you can see, but at least TRY to play nice with the UEG regulars. They're what make up the bulk of our forces after all. Go ahead and get comfy, dismissed." The Corporal was already on his way to a small section clearly intended for the squad's SIC and the Captain headed for the only other REAL closed door besides the showers and restrooms and opened it up, revealing an office.
The door closed behind him and Damian was content to set to cleaning his revolvers once his gear was stowed away, which left the others to do what they liked, including checking out the training and PT areas, the mess hall they had and the shooting range. After a few minutes, the Captain came out. "Specialist Weisser, a word before you get too deep into exploration." He went back into his office and waited until she had come in and the door closed before speaking.
"Alright, Specialist. I know the Corporal gave you quite the roasting, so you have my permission to speak freely on the matter. Nothing you say to me will leave this room and I will not reprimand you for any of it. It wasn't hard to see how that left you...unhappy and I need your mind clear for the upcoming mission."</s> |
<|description|>Ox Squad
Trent Gardner, Advanced Infantry
Drachen Steinboden, Duelist
Marcia Devries, Rifleman
Helene Weisser, Psi Operative
Damian Renser, Gunslinger</s>
<|message|>Marcia Devries
The fireplace was warm and cozy. Marcia stretched her legs on the loveseat, casually gazing at the sparkling fire that brought rays of heat on her body. It felt so comfortable. The loveseat's soft cushions caressed her back as she lay peacefully. If only she had someone to share this moment with.
Before she came here, Marcia had been revoltingly bored. Now, the situation was anything but boring. Her eyes glimpsed at the sparkling yellow flames sending rays of warmth on the expensive carpet.
Behind her, she heard footsteps. She twisted her head and saw a man entering the room. She smiled at him.
"Hello, Marcia," said the man.
Marcia smiled, playing her part of the game. "Who are you? How do you know my name?"
"I know all I command," said the man. "I especially know you, Marcia."
"What is your name?" said Marcia, flirtingly.
"You will call me The Commander." The Commander walked to the fireplace and put his hands in front of his robe. "It is a lovely evening, isn't it? A beautiful woman like you deserve a beautiful night. Do you like the fire?"
"I love it," said Marcia.
The Commander twisted around. His eyes connected with Marcia's. "My family built it long ago, before the war began. One of many places where I call home. It is part of my very soul. It can be yours if you do what I want. If... you follow my command... once more."
"How many men have you commanded, commander?" said Marcia.
The Commander smiled. "Too many. For many years, I've devoted my life to my entire race -- our race. I've held so much burden. I've dedicated so much so that one day humanity's children can breathe Earth's air and know that they are safe. But all this time, there has always been something missing. You see, Marcia, I long for a woman's touch, someone to rekindle the flames of lost passion that I have so long neglected. See, Marcia -- I, too, can be vulnerable."
Marcia looked at him. "Why me??"
"Because I love you. I have always loved you. You have always been in my thoughts ever since I set foot in the DNA modification chamber. I became what I am to protect you, Marcia. I have been waiting for you for too long." The Commander walked closer and began taking off his robe.
Marcia could feel his heat... his presence... which stood between her and the fire. It was as if his presence, his fire, was stronger than anything she felt before. "What do you want?" Marcia smiled.
"You know what I want, my love," stated The Commander.
At this point, Marcia had a decision to make. Would she accept his desire?
The following thoughts occurred in her head, some of which was unconscious:
She thought about him. She knew the following facts. He was a man of integrity, of abundance. He was an alpha male. Not only that, but he kept his word, and he loved her. He desired her and only her. He was someone she could open her heart to, someone she could spend a lifetime with. What's there not to like?
She blinked. She realized she had made that decision a long time ago. There was no decision to make.
Hot! Marcia smiled. "Take off your robe."
He smiled as well. He took off his robes, revealing a rather... sizeable endowment. Marcia licked her lips.
His body was perfect. He had great abs, a lean body, a nice tan, and his face was so familiar, yet so new.
Marcia reciprocated by quickly unbuttoning her shirt, letting her breasts free for the Commander to see.
The Commander smiled, again. He took her naked breasts as a sign to escalate the encounter. He came close and kissed her. His hands caressed her body, sending waves of pleasure through her.
His endowment rubbed against her crotch, teasing her.
"Take it off," said Marcia.
The Commander obeyed, pulling her panties off so that her wetness could be caressed.
"Lick it," said Marcia.
The Commander knelt, while Marcia spread her legs. His tongue explored her insides until she could no longer hold her anticipation in.
"Put it in me! Put it in me!" exclaimed Marcia.
The Commander started kissing her stomach, then her breasts, then her neck, then finally her mouth. Meanwhile, he entered her.
"Oh!!!" said Marcia. "Ohh! Keep humping!"
For the next minute, all she felt were all those manly muscles in front of her.... humping her in ecstasy.
She came closer... closer... "Ooooh! Oohhhhhhh!"
BATTERY LOW. COMMENCING AUTOSHUTDOWN, said big blaring words hovering in front of her.
The scene ended. Everything disappeared. The fireplace dissolved like a dream. The man vanished and, suddenly, she realized that she was still in her bunk in the marine barracks in the starship USS Bronzebeard.
"Whaaa?" whispered Marcia.
The neural interface headset she was wearing felt heavy on her head. One of the lights were on. "Battery at 1%" the light said. "Do you want to save the file?"
"Damn it!" she said. Next time I should charge the battery to full before I play another dating sim! I was getting to the best part!</s>
<|message|>Drachen Steinboden
While in the shuttle to get to the Bronzebeard, their Captain mentioned time aboard the ship would be theirs within reason. Some exercises would be happening towards the end of the trip so it'd be fresh in their minds. Alright, that made sense. But shouldn't they be doing light exercises to limber and warm up during the trip? Eh he'd keep himself warmed up until it was time to do the mandatory group exercises and drills.
Once the ship landed, the only indication it did was the ramp opening, the group filed out and lined up. Ah shit...speech time. A mental sigh and he stood at attention, despite the rigid posture his limbs were loose but his spine was tight. His eyes occasionally drifted, taking in the make-up of other squads. Their own was very...org=dinary honestly. Not to much in the tech department, the Gremlin of the Captain and mods being their only tech it seemed. Eh meant they were quieter and potentially faster...maybe. Who knew. But someone important was coming since no one was saying anything.
Some history was spoken, the group was partially introduced with their objective, the regulars weren't to know so hush hush, and now it was time to move. Drachen really wasn't one for speeches, he always believed actions spoke louder than words. The speech finished everyone was dismissed. Here the Captain escorted the four from the Hangar, through some halls, and to a door with an Ox head painted on it. Alright, at least they would know which door was theirs now.
With their barracks were a series of more private independent training facilities. But they would still have to go and train with the UEG Regulars, which honestly didn't bother him. Elitists did though, there was bound to be some on this ship, human nature and all that. They were dismiessed, so he plonked his gear on the bed nearest the door. His duffel was emptied onto his bed which held several sets of clothing, pieces of metal, and his armor. The armor was hung up properly in the standing locker, the clothes he tucked into the footlocker and slid under the bed. The pieces of metal were actually his axe, solid cylinders were screwed together with thick couplers over the joints to strengthen the weakest points and also provide proper grips for his hands. The head of the axe itself was unsurprisingly large, modeled after ancient bardiches. Judging by the extra pieces he could lengthen the haft if he chose to depending on spacing. Opening a pocket on the duffel out came a dozen throwing knives within a neatly bundled black bandolier.
His weapons, and extra length, were put in the locker below his armor before it was secured. Even if it wasn't a firearm you did not leave your weapons and gear just laying around. Helene was called into the Captain's officer, which earned a blink from him. It felt like she was getting a lot of attention, but was this good attention this time? It wasn't hit place to know nor ask, they had only just met today.
Fully unpacked he thought for a moment before going to the physical training room. He scanned the room, taking in the equipment before locking onto what he wanted. What was essentially a boxing ring with training dummies. It was doubtful they'd get into hand to hand combat, but it was always good to hone ones reflexes. So he set the dummy to Chryssalid speed levels with a moderate aggressiveness. After a few seconds of getting in the ring and letting the dummy boot up it came at him swinging.
He held his arms behind his back while the dummy swung, leaning out of the way of one strike, ducking beneath another. He had trained for several years like this, working his way up to this current level of speed despite his bulk weighing him down. Part of the trick wasn't to watch the 'hands' it was to watch the shoulders. Chryssalid's didn't exactly have footwork so you had to watch their shoulders to sort of predict where the next blow would come from and weave with it.</s>
| <|message|>Ox Squad
USS Bronzebeard
Orbit around Mars
1628 Shipboard Time
As the specialist spoke, the Captain sat with his hands clasped in front of him with his chin resting on them, listening to every word she said and measuring the way she said it. Initially she started off with a fairly monotone voice, protesting the way that the Corporal had targeted her was unnecessary while stating former Specialist Blackwell's perceived error. Towards the end, she became more passionate, a good sign to Gardner, before she caught herself and resumed monotone, stating that good soldiers follow orders. Well hearing that's a bit of a disappointment… Standing, the Captain strode over to a bar where he poured himself and the Specialist a glass of whiskey, approaching her and offering one of the two small glasses to her.
"Well, I had been hoping to hear your honest opinion on his discourse, I can understand your concerns for why you were targeted. However, due to former Specialist Ria Blackwell's actions, command sent down an edict that ALL legacies be informed of what happened and warned through the story what would happen if any others got ideas." Regardless of whether or not Helene took the drink, he went to the viewport, where Mars, and the section of the planet beginning to return to a green and blue hue similar to Earth's, were in full view. "Officially, that was supposed to come from me. But the Corporal wanted to keep respect levels for me as the squad captain high, so he took on the responsibility." Turning back around, Trent sighs. "He didn't enjoy it, if you think he did, Weisser. He did it to cover the squad's ass and to keep opinions of me high and, by extension, squad moral high." He took a swig of the whiskey in his hand before beckoning to the door.
"If you've nothing else to say, Specialist, the time is yours until shipboard training begins. I just...remember that good soldier's also still human. Next time a superior officer says speak your mind, I'd suggest you do it. I won't always be around after all." Meanwhile, Damian was still working on his revolver, though he did observe Drachen as he fought the training dummy.
After a few minutes, after watching how he handled a series of jabs from it, he spoke up. "You won't get any better at hand-to-hand fighting a dummy set to fight like a dummy. Try the Muton or Viper settings. Those might offer you some insight on what we're going to expect."</s> |
<|description|>Helene Weisser
| Basic Info
__________________________________________________________
Age: 25
Birthdate: April 4th, 2045
Sexuality: Straight
Nationality: Germany
Class: Psi Operative
Preferred Adv. Class: Templar |
Appearance
__________________________________________________________
Eye Color: Amethyst
Hair Color: Snow White
Weight: 161 lbs / 73 kg
Height: 5' 11" / 180.3 cm
Complexion: Light, Fair
Body Physique: Lean, Muscular
Helene's body is well-toned with lean muscles. Her white hair is always done up in a bun or a pony-tail and never lets it down in public. Every step she takes carries weight and the pride that her heritage and training has afforded her. A fearsome gaze hides the bright, energetic person behind the purple eyes. Extensive training and little time in actual combat has ensured that Helene's body is relatively spotless. |
---
|
| |
| Social
__________________________________________________________
Affliations:
* Sigmund Weisser- Father and current head of Weisser Armaments.
* Katrin Weisser- Mother and renowned researcher of xenobiology.
* Stefan Weisser - Grandfather and Former President of Weisser Armaments.
* Leon Weisser - Older Brother, Military Service Classified.
* Alexander Smith - Close Friend from the Academy, stationed on Mars
Relationships:
* TBD
* TBD
* TBD
* TBD
|
Equipment
__________________________________________________________
* Plasma Rifle
* Ion Knife
* Weisser W45 Pistol (C. 2015)
* Plasma Grendade
* Customized Psi-amp
* Standard-issue Ostryx Body Armor
Gene Mods
* Muscle Fiber Density
* Bioelectric Skin
|
---
Biography
__________________________________________________________
Helene was born five years after the official end of the Alien's invasion of Earth. Her grandfather, Stefan Weisser, was serving in the German Military when the conflict first started. At the time, he was a potential prospect for Germany's KSK but instead was recruited into XCOM shortly after the devastation of Berlin. Stefan served valiantly and with courage alongside his squad, nicknamed the "Grim Crows". However, Stefan's impact on the war was truly measured when he was one of the first candidates to successful undergo the testing for psionics. While some may call it a gift, Stefan was brought to some of the most brutal and intense fighting of the war in attempt to use his psionics to turn the tide. Helene's father was born on one of XCOM's base in the middle of the war, though due to security concerns he was forced to remain with his mother. The war ended and Stefan Weisser had managed to live through it all, taking over control of the family business after learning his father had passed away.
By the time Helene was born, Stefan had retired placing his son in charge of the business. Weisser Armaments took the brunt of manufacturing Earth's new line of plasma weaponry, using the experience and information from XCOM to produce the weapons on a wider scale. This, of course, afforded the Weisser family a life of luxury that many recovering from the war did not possess. Helene never wanted for anything in her life, though she often found herself enthralled in her grandfather's tales when he would tell them. It didn't matter the distant look he would get sometimes in his eyes, she wanted to be a hero just like him. That was why when Helene starting showing signs for natural psionic ability, she was overjoyed and happier than she had ever been. Her father enrolled her in a special school for other individuals like her. No matter the obstacle Helene fought her way to the top without regard for anyone else. The school was also charged with preparing the students for military service, as the demand for their talents were high. Helene proved to be a fearsome combatant with the image of her grandfather standing atop a pile of dead aliens encouraged her to push herself.
Helene didn't even hesitate going into military service at the end of her education, knowing that she had to do her part to defeat the alien menace once and for all. With top marks and at the top of her class, Helene was admitted into a program exclusive to psionics after completing her basic training. As part of the program, she was outfitted with two genetic modifications throughout her training. Higher density muscles meant she could jump, hit, and run faster than most. Bioelectric skin allowed her to sense when others were present or approaching, even release some of the electricity in short, controlled bursts. After her training was finally completed, she was shipped off to Mars to protect humanity's interests on the red planet. However, it was her first time being part of a squad that didn't possess her abilities. It was clear from over-hearing conversations that some of the regular grunts didn't think too highly of psionic power.
Luckily, her time in the colony of New Star didn't last long as she was transferred into a new unit with a new set of goals. It was time to strike back at the same aliens who had devastated Earth. The same enemies that her grandfather had fought and made him a legend. This time it would be the aliens on the defensive. She was going to uphold the honor of the Weisser name and forge her own legend.</s>
<|message|>Ox Squad
Hartford Military Base
New Star, Mars Colony
1110 hrs Local Time
The captain listened to each question closely, looking at the speaker accordingly and nodding in acknowledgement to each spoken question. "Good batch of questions, for the most part. We leave in ten, our skimmer will take us to the USS Bronzebeard in orbit and we'll jump to slip space about ten hours after that. There are two other strongholds being attacked simultaneously with our objective, but ours is the closest, so our jump is last. As for the number of tangos, expect numerous, Private Steinboden. This is an enemy stronghold after all, so they won't slouch on keeping it manned. Private Devries, you'll be retaking the course on Earth's interstellar travel when the mission is over, but I have addressed the first question. Your second question's answer is quite simple, and that's that there is no particular rhyme or reason. Another squad is Hawk Squad, you've got the Vengeful Sharks, a Spec Ops team of mostly Rippers with a couple of Reapers in support. So, no particular reason, just where our lot fell most likely."
The captain, having given a quick brief of general details and gotten all the new bloods to talk, walked around the table and hit a button on it, bringing the holographic display up on the fortress that they'd be helping to assault. "And since no one asked, I'll give you guys something more in depth. This is the stronghold Alpha as we've labeled it, though intel says the aliens call it Outpost Warden. Regardless, the official plan that the Commander laid out for us is to insert at the top of the stronghold and work our way down to the main hall while also dealing with any defensive emplacements we can." The gunslinger spoke up at this point.
"But we both know you got a second set of orders from the Commander that weren't so official, which are?" The captain, chuckling softly, nodded.
"He did and that was that the unofficial plan is to move as we see fit and focus on getting to the enemy leadership and contain or neutralize. Orbital support is being tasked to remove anti-air and anti-infantry emplacements on the outside of the outpost. Seems simple enough right?" Damian nodded and took another bite of his jerky as the image shifted to a layout of the Bronzebeard. "Now, as for our accommodations on the Bronzebeard, XCOM units are considered a branch of special forces, so we'll have our own armory, barracks and mess hall for our small unit, though it is encouraged that we mix and mingle with the UEG regulars at meal times and during PT." Snapping his fingers, Captain reached behind him and withdrew three XCOM patches and approached each of the new bloods.
"These are your XCOM patches, signifying that you are members of the unit within the UEG and that if you say your mission is of dire importance, then the regs had better listen to you. However," the change in the captain's tone caused the new bloods to jump, "don't abuse that power. You ever hear of the boy who cried wolf? That's what'll happen to your authority."
Returning to his position at the table, the holographic projection turns off and the Captain starts to walk off. "I'll be back in five to gather you four for the trip up to the Bronzebeard, but until then, get to know each other. You'll be working closely for the foreseeable future." And with that, he and his Gremlin were gone. After a moment of silence, the Irish accent in Damian's voice won out as he jumped down to converse with his new squad mates.
"Alright then, where's everyone from? Hobbies, likes, dislikes?"</s>
<|message|>Marcia Devries
"I'm from South New Star. When I was small, my family immigrated to Mars from France and I love watching holonovels -- especially romance films! I love playing virtual reality games using my neuro-enhancer helmet. I like strategy games and RPGs and first person shooters! And I looove virtual reality dating sims! Not only that, I've logged over 2000 hours in marine combat simulator X. I can totally take out the final boss in The Empire of the Crescent Moon in less than five minutes."
Marcia just wondered if she blabbed too much about herself. I hope they don't think I'm an airhead. I hope they still think I can add my weight in any serious combat situation.
"I love people with courage, and I hate cowards, even though I'm sorta a coward myself."</s>
| <|message|>Helene Weisser
She could tell she was going to get along very well with the man named Drachen. A hint of acknowledgement, a note of respect sparkled in her violet eyes when she looked at him. It was nothing he said but the attitude in which he carried himself that she found interesting, though his faint German accent sparked a bit of extra camaraderie. However, the question he asked wasn't something that mattered much to her. Her grandfather never cared about how many there were, just that he had to keep fighting for Humanity's future. Now it was her turn to help forge Humanity's destiny among the stars!
The other member of their trio was a woman named Marcia and well...she looked at her a bit stunned for a moment as she asked her questions. That soft, gentle look in her eyes to the way she spoke did not convey the mannerism of someone she expected to see in XCOM "Sure, we put our lives on the line every mission but most dangerous of all...we risked our humanity to defeat them." The words echoed in the back of her mind of a hesitant and sorrowful voice. Helene looked at Marcia warily, but would hold judgement until they got into combat.
Helene leaned forward in her seat, focused solely on the image on the table her mouth slightly open. Old configurations of alien bases were often used to help teach and instruct new recruits, but this was the first time she had seen something like this. The fact they were in charge of assaulting this place in actual mission and not some mock battle made it almost surreal. She became engrossed in its design, trying to commit it to memory when the corporal interrupted and drew her attention away. So the real plan was for the others to take care of the fortifications while they slip in to neutralize any high value targets. Her fingers curled against the fabric of her uniform, tugging at its edges. She couldn't wait to get started.
Attention was shifted back to the display that now showed their vessel. Helene didn't react to the news of their special accommodations as it still felt like a dream. That was until their new captain approached them with their new patches. Helene reached out and took her patch with both hands as if dropping it would cause it to shatter. The overflowing happiness that was almost enough to break her decorum was halted by the words of the captain, so much that a chill raced down her spine "Do not worry about us, Sir! We shall not let that happen!" A crisp, quick salute was accompanied by a fierce look in her eye. The day she had imagined so many times as little girl was here. As her eyes drifted down to the patch, the fingers on her right hand smoothed over the patch to confirm its authenticity. She couldn't wait to send a message back home.
Helene was so lost in thought that she barely heard what the captain said, looking up just as he was already in the process of leaving. Was she sure she heard that right? 'Get to know each other'?Helene looked around still holding the patch closely, her face tense and her eyes unsure. As Damian spoke, she couldn't help but think this wasn't how she expected her career in XCOM to begin. Why waste time playing 20 questions? She just wanted to get things started already. That didn't stop Marcia from grabbing Helene's attention. Probably much to her dismay, her quick onslaught of information had give Helene the exact impression of an airhead. She didn't know taking out this so-called boss in 5 minutes was impressive but she made it sound like some grand achievement. Somehow, this sweet woman was recruited into XCOM and she was going to find out why.
"That is certainly an...interesting list of hobbies. Well it is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Devries."
Hobbies? Likes? Dislikes? These questions all revolved around her least favorite topic "I was born back on Earth. Cologne, Germany." Helene crossed her arms, looking at the rest of the group but not directly "I certaintly dislike talkin about myself, but if it is the captain's orders. I like to hike and camp while watching the stars. There's some places on Earth you can't tell a war ever happened." Helene looked down looking unsatisfied with her own answer, then looked back up "I can't stand people who are all bark and no bite." The pressure between her teeth was enough to snap a tree log. Her brow furrowed as she finished, looking annoyed. With a mission like theirs, she would rather be making preparations than play nice.</s> |
<|description|>Drachen Steinboden
Age: 29
Nationality: German
Base of Operations: Earth; Europe
Class: Duelist
Preferred Advanced Class: Knight
Equipment:
* Main Weapon: Ion Ostryx Battle Axe
* Secondary Weapon: Ion Throwing Knives
* Armor: Ostryx Body Armor
* Gear: Plasmic Grenade
Gene Mods:
* Adaptive Nerve Firing: Allows a soldier to react faster to attacks. Boosting the soldiers Dodge that makes enemies miss more often.
* Adaptive Bone Marrow: Allows a soldier to heal faster than normal and grants Drachen an immunity to Chryssalid Poison.
Appearance:
Drachen is a rather large man, standing at six feet four inches with a heavy build. Thick muscles that would look more at home on a Heavy unit than a Duelist. His skin is darkly tanned from being outside so much, and is littered with numerous scars from various wounds over the years. On his back are a set of draconic wing tattoos that look surprisingly real. He's strangely hairless as well despite his ancestry.
Like the rest of him he's completely bald, whether by choice or not is in his file. Thick black eyebrows rest on a rather thick ridge, making him look angry and casting a small shadow over his eyes. Said eyes are a steel gray in color and slightly sunken. Between his eyes and lower down he has a block-ish nose. His lips are average, but hold a slight natural frown that gives his overall look to be angry.
Backstory:
Drachen was born in Germany a year after the war for Earth was over. His name is kind of a give away on that along with some of a remaining accent. His younger years flew by in an unimportant blur until he joined up with the military. Schools didn't cover the Alien Invasion very well, a lot of hush hush details apparently. Here he learned a lot more on what actually happened in the war by checking records available in his off time.
During training he found that he preferred getting up close and personal instead of hiding a mile away to blow somethings head off. His size, endurance, and overall might, tended to win out over technique when it came to hand to hand. A few Veterans of the War that were still active compared him to a Muton. Although biologically his strength didn't compare to their brutish might. After learning hand to hand techniques he was moved on to learn the weaponry of a Duelist. Swords and throwing knives. Unfortunately the swords were simply too light and adding weight would make the weapon awkward and clumsy. So an axe was made with the same technology. Thankfully an axe tended to follow the same attack patterns as a sword minus drawing cuts.
Unfortunately, in his mind anyway, there weren't any Aliens around after all that training. It was basic patrols, hunts that came up empty, and more training. Well he trained on his own, going above and beyond the norm. Between orders he did everything he could to increase his strength, surpass his previous move speeds, and to hone his reflexes despite the Gene Mods active within his body. Hell the Adaptive Bone Marrow let him abuse himself to go even further beyond normal human standards.
Finally it was decades after the War and Humanity decided it was time to go Alien hunting through space. He didn't really understand the tech to traverse space, would they be in cryo like in the movies? Or did the ships just move that fast now that they could just...warp to the planets and go on the offensive? He'd find out soon enough.</s>
<|message|>Ox Squad
Hartford Military Base
New Star, Mars Colony
1100 hrs Local Time
Hartford was always busy before, since it was the primary defense point on Mars against another Extraterrestrial incursion of Earth. There were always technicians moving between workstations, fighters patrolling the airspace above the cannon and between the two colonies and soldiers on patrol or out for their daily PT routines and training. There were constant expeditions out into the martian wilderness in search of Chrysalid nests on top of that. It had taken about five years after New Star was established to realize that the Ethereals had allowed the Chrysalids to build nests on the red planet, right after a massive swarm nearly overran the then newly built Harford Base while the defense cannon was under construction. But today, as the newest arrivals from Earth arrived in an APC from the starport on the other side of New Star, there was an air of urgency.
Word had come from high command back on Earth that preparations were being made to launch an attack on an Alien stronghold in the next solar system on a planet that the xenobiologists were calling Arthan-3. The ADVENT Initiative had been identified as the primary guard force there, but shortly before the order to prep for invasion came through, a high value transport was identified arriving at the location and Commander Jervald, the legendary mind that had orchestrated XCOM's masterful defeat of the Aliens in many early engagements, saw a valuable opportunity to remove an Ethereal from play and establish a foothold in other parts of the Galaxy.
Amongst the new arrivals were three XCOM recruits that showed promise during training, Drachen Steinboden, a Duelist who forewent the typical grace of the fighters for a more brute force approach, but none-the-less had scored high enough in his class to catch the group's eye. Marcia Devries, a rifleman who did exceptionally well in her medical training, XCOM's recruiter hoped to make her a combat medic when the time comes. And lastly, though certainly not least, the granddaughter of the legendary psi-op Stefan Weisser, Helene Weisser, who was a powerful Psi-Op herself. The three were quickly separated from the rest of the new arrivals by a large MEC trooper and directed to a separate hangar, where a young man with dual plasmic revolvers sat on a crate chewing on a piece of jerky while an older man with a plasma rifle across his back and a Gremlin floating around him as he reviewed a holographic table with the fortress layout.
However, as the three walked in, the Gremlin beeped and the older man turned to face them, a scar crossing his right eye and a robotic eye glowed green. "Ah, the new blood finally arrived. Take a seat over by your squad mate, who will introduce himself or spend the next week on KP before the operation, and then I'll get on with the mission briefing." The young man sighed mid-chew and then finished, swallowing before he gave a lazy wave, the light glinting briefly off his storm-grey eyes.
"Corporal Damian Renser, gunslinger. I round out our squad of five." The older man nodded as the others took their positions and then spoke again.
"And I'm Captain Trent Gardner, advanced infantry specialist. And I welcome you all to Ox Squad, the newest squad to be formed under XCOM's direct command alongside the UEG regulars. Now that that's done, here's the mission. As you've likely heard by now, long range recon has found a stronghold on Arthan-3 in the Utila System that was recently visited by a potential HVT. Normally the Commander would pass it up and look for a better launch point for the invasion, but he recognized the shuttle as one belonging to an Ethereal, which we don't often see this close to the Sol system after their failed invasion ended thirty years ago. So you're aware, they want you new bloods to see what the Aliens are actually capable of in person, so while normally you'd be a more reserve role, we'll be in the Vanguard of the attack and responsible for finding the HVT and eliminating or containing them. As such, we'll be in this Starskimmer Holy Mackeral, waiting for us in bay 8. Questions, concerns, complaints?"
Damian didn't speak and instead continued chewing on his jerky while he waited for his new squadmates to speak up.</s>
<|message|>Helene Weisser
|
| |
| |
Weisser's Combat Log, "Shipping Off"
__________________________________________________________
"My PSO(psychic support officer) insisted that I start a journal before I ship off on my first deployment off this rock. I mean, I didn't even have a diary as a little girl. Too busy listening to pap's stories instead I guess. My hands are shaking as I write this. Not sure if its nerves or excitement. Probably both. Nearly shocked Rodriguez in the shower when I heard the news. XCOM wanted me for some new initiative! Best of the best! I got a gift from home, from pap actually. Don't know how he knew, but he did. An old ballistic pistol from just before the invasion. Said it was a 'good luck charm'. Not sure if I deserve to carry it. I'll try my best. Should probably try to sleep. Gonna be a long day tomorrow. Can't wait!"
Hartford Military Base
New Star, Mars Colony
1100 hrs Local Time
|
---
Hartford. It never stopped to amaze her or fill her with a strong sense of pride at its image painted against the harsh, red sands of Mars. New Star might be the promise of a place among the stars for Humanity, but it was Hartford that made that promise a reality. The will not only to settle new worlds, but the power to protect them from hostile invaders. Helene took uniform yet brisk steps as she followed behind the MEC, dressed in her most pristine and tailored uniform that bore the insignia of her psi-ops program on the right shoulder. Technicians and soldiers stared at them as the three passed by. Helene never once gave them a second glance. Her left hand reached for her shoulder and she gently rubbed it, fingers tracing the stitch-work of the insignia. Her other hand held the synthetic-fiber duffel bag that contained her combat gear.
Her muscles tensed up as they entered the hangar, eyes immediately focusing on the two individuals that appeared to be waiting there though her attention was redirected to the older man in the room. A soft sigh was released as he spoke with authority, glancing over to the younger man that he indicated. Helene remained standing while Corporal Renser introduced himself, hands behind her back with her right thumb pressing against the palm of her left. Once he had finished, she picked up her duffel bag and sat in the farthest seat from his setting the bag at her feat. Helene eagerly looked back at the older man, now introduced as Captain Gardner. A soldier who looked like he'd seen quite a bit of action. She sat up straight, hands smoothing out her uniform, as she continued to listen with full attention.
Helene kept still as a statue except for the slight movement at the edges of her lips that was stubbornly beyond her control. It was an honor, no, a privilege to be given such an important role in what could be a monumental offensive. This was her chance to continue the legacy of the respected Weisser name. Each member of her family dedicated their lives to serving and protecting Humanity. There was no way she could ever return home if she failed. After the captain had finished, Helene left her seat in one fluid motion and stared at him with determination "Only one, sir. When do we set off?"</s>
| <|message|>Drachen Steinboden
Drachen's eyes were closed on the ride in the APC to Hartford and his hands were clasped behind his back. Leaning back like he was he almost looked asleep and his face wasn't that mask of anger with cold metallic colored eyes. When the vehicle came to a stop his eyes snapped open and up he got, exiting the vehicle with other recruits. But he stuck with two others, he had memorized their names and faces since they were to be a unit. An MEC directed the three away from the other recruits and to a separate hangar.
Weisser seemed very...proper while they moved. Her eyes didn't leave their sitting objectives. Devries...he didn't really get a read on her yet. Drachen however looked around, an air of caution around him as if he were an animal in a new territory. His hands didn't stay idle, tightening the straps on the fingerless gauntlets or adjusting his belt. It was a mental checklist to make sure he hadn't left anything behind really but most others would see it as a nervous tick.
Once the triplets got to their destination he took note that the jerky chewer was youthful while their commanding officer was an aging soldier. The younger of the two had twin pistols, namely revolvers of a plasma variety. The elder had a plasma rifle and a gremlin, why did they move onto plasma? A question for another time. Still he stood over with the others, staying on his feet rather than sitting down. Their mission would be starting soon, no point in sitting down now.
The mission briefing was short and to the point. They were to go to another system, kill or contain an Ethereal, and hopefully not die. "I have one, sir. Any idea how many contacts there will be?" He questioned, his voice was unsurprisingly deep and rumbled a lot like distant thunder. The others could catch a hint of a German accent but it wasn't even remotely heavy.</s> |
<|description|>Drachen Steinboden
Age: 29
Nationality: German
Base of Operations: Earth; Europe
Class: Duelist
Preferred Advanced Class: Knight
Equipment:
* Main Weapon: Ion Ostryx Battle Axe
* Secondary Weapon: Ion Throwing Knives
* Armor: Ostryx Body Armor
* Gear: Plasmic Grenade
Gene Mods:
* Adaptive Nerve Firing: Allows a soldier to react faster to attacks. Boosting the soldiers Dodge that makes enemies miss more often.
* Adaptive Bone Marrow: Allows a soldier to heal faster than normal and grants Drachen an immunity to Chryssalid Poison.
Appearance:
Drachen is a rather large man, standing at six feet four inches with a heavy build. Thick muscles that would look more at home on a Heavy unit than a Duelist. His skin is darkly tanned from being outside so much, and is littered with numerous scars from various wounds over the years. On his back are a set of draconic wing tattoos that look surprisingly real. He's strangely hairless as well despite his ancestry.
Like the rest of him he's completely bald, whether by choice or not is in his file. Thick black eyebrows rest on a rather thick ridge, making him look angry and casting a small shadow over his eyes. Said eyes are a steel gray in color and slightly sunken. Between his eyes and lower down he has a block-ish nose. His lips are average, but hold a slight natural frown that gives his overall look to be angry.
Backstory:
Drachen was born in Germany a year after the war for Earth was over. His name is kind of a give away on that along with some of a remaining accent. His younger years flew by in an unimportant blur until he joined up with the military. Schools didn't cover the Alien Invasion very well, a lot of hush hush details apparently. Here he learned a lot more on what actually happened in the war by checking records available in his off time.
During training he found that he preferred getting up close and personal instead of hiding a mile away to blow somethings head off. His size, endurance, and overall might, tended to win out over technique when it came to hand to hand. A few Veterans of the War that were still active compared him to a Muton. Although biologically his strength didn't compare to their brutish might. After learning hand to hand techniques he was moved on to learn the weaponry of a Duelist. Swords and throwing knives. Unfortunately the swords were simply too light and adding weight would make the weapon awkward and clumsy. So an axe was made with the same technology. Thankfully an axe tended to follow the same attack patterns as a sword minus drawing cuts.
Unfortunately, in his mind anyway, there weren't any Aliens around after all that training. It was basic patrols, hunts that came up empty, and more training. Well he trained on his own, going above and beyond the norm. Between orders he did everything he could to increase his strength, surpass his previous move speeds, and to hone his reflexes despite the Gene Mods active within his body. Hell the Adaptive Bone Marrow let him abuse himself to go even further beyond normal human standards.
Finally it was decades after the War and Humanity decided it was time to go Alien hunting through space. He didn't really understand the tech to traverse space, would they be in cryo like in the movies? Or did the ships just move that fast now that they could just...warp to the planets and go on the offensive? He'd find out soon enough.</s>
<|message|>Ox Squad
Hartford Military Base
New Star, Mars Colony
1110 hrs Local Time
The captain listened to each question closely, looking at the speaker accordingly and nodding in acknowledgement to each spoken question. "Good batch of questions, for the most part. We leave in ten, our skimmer will take us to the USS Bronzebeard in orbit and we'll jump to slip space about ten hours after that. There are two other strongholds being attacked simultaneously with our objective, but ours is the closest, so our jump is last. As for the number of tangos, expect numerous, Private Steinboden. This is an enemy stronghold after all, so they won't slouch on keeping it manned. Private Devries, you'll be retaking the course on Earth's interstellar travel when the mission is over, but I have addressed the first question. Your second question's answer is quite simple, and that's that there is no particular rhyme or reason. Another squad is Hawk Squad, you've got the Vengeful Sharks, a Spec Ops team of mostly Rippers with a couple of Reapers in support. So, no particular reason, just where our lot fell most likely."
The captain, having given a quick brief of general details and gotten all the new bloods to talk, walked around the table and hit a button on it, bringing the holographic display up on the fortress that they'd be helping to assault. "And since no one asked, I'll give you guys something more in depth. This is the stronghold Alpha as we've labeled it, though intel says the aliens call it Outpost Warden. Regardless, the official plan that the Commander laid out for us is to insert at the top of the stronghold and work our way down to the main hall while also dealing with any defensive emplacements we can." The gunslinger spoke up at this point.
"But we both know you got a second set of orders from the Commander that weren't so official, which are?" The captain, chuckling softly, nodded.
"He did and that was that the unofficial plan is to move as we see fit and focus on getting to the enemy leadership and contain or neutralize. Orbital support is being tasked to remove anti-air and anti-infantry emplacements on the outside of the outpost. Seems simple enough right?" Damian nodded and took another bite of his jerky as the image shifted to a layout of the Bronzebeard. "Now, as for our accommodations on the Bronzebeard, XCOM units are considered a branch of special forces, so we'll have our own armory, barracks and mess hall for our small unit, though it is encouraged that we mix and mingle with the UEG regulars at meal times and during PT." Snapping his fingers, Captain reached behind him and withdrew three XCOM patches and approached each of the new bloods.
"These are your XCOM patches, signifying that you are members of the unit within the UEG and that if you say your mission is of dire importance, then the regs had better listen to you. However," the change in the captain's tone caused the new bloods to jump, "don't abuse that power. You ever hear of the boy who cried wolf? That's what'll happen to your authority."
Returning to his position at the table, the holographic projection turns off and the Captain starts to walk off. "I'll be back in five to gather you four for the trip up to the Bronzebeard, but until then, get to know each other. You'll be working closely for the foreseeable future." And with that, he and his Gremlin were gone. After a moment of silence, the Irish accent in Damian's voice won out as he jumped down to converse with his new squad mates.
"Alright then, where's everyone from? Hobbies, likes, dislikes?"</s>
<|message|>Marcia Devries
"I'm from South New Star. When I was small, my family immigrated to Mars from France and I love watching holonovels -- especially romance films! I love playing virtual reality games using my neuro-enhancer helmet. I like strategy games and RPGs and first person shooters! And I looove virtual reality dating sims! Not only that, I've logged over 2000 hours in marine combat simulator X. I can totally take out the final boss in The Empire of the Crescent Moon in less than five minutes."
Marcia just wondered if she blabbed too much about herself. I hope they don't think I'm an airhead. I hope they still think I can add my weight in any serious combat situation.
"I love people with courage, and I hate cowards, even though I'm sorta a coward myself."</s>
<|message|>Helene Weisser
---
She could tell she was going to get along very well with the man named Drachen. A hint of acknowledgement, a note of respect sparkled in her violet eyes when she looked at him. It was nothing he said but the attitude in which he carried himself that she found interesting, though his faint German accent sparked a bit of extra camaraderie. However, the question he asked wasn't something that mattered much to her. Her grandfather never cared about how many there were, just that he had to keep fighting for Humanity's future. Now it was her turn to help forge Humanity's destiny among the stars!
The other member of their trio was a woman named Marcia and well...she looked at her a bit stunned for a moment as she asked her questions. That soft, gentle look in her eyes to the way she spoke did not convey the mannerism of someone she expected to see in XCOM "Sure, we put our lives on the line every mission but most dangerous of all...we risked our humanity to defeat them." The words echoed in the back of her mind of a hesitant and sorrowful voice. Helene looked at Marcia warily, but would hold judgement until they got into combat.
Helene leaned forward in her seat, focused solely on the image on the table her mouth slightly open. Old configurations of alien bases were often used to help teach and instruct new recruits, but this was the first time she had seen something like this. The fact they were in charge of assaulting this place in actual mission and not some mock battle made it almost surreal. She became engrossed in its design, trying to commit it to memory when the corporal interrupted and drew her attention away. So the real plan was for the others to take care of the fortifications while they slip in to neutralize any high value targets. Her fingers curled against the fabric of her uniform, tugging at its edges. She couldn't wait to get started.
Attention was shifted back to the display that now showed their vessel. Helene didn't react to the news of their special accommodations as it still felt like a dream. That was until their new captain approached them with their new patches. Helene reached out and took her patch with both hands as if dropping it would cause it to shatter. The overflowing happiness that was almost enough to break her decorum was halted by the words of the captain, so much that a chill raced down her spine "Do not worry about us, Sir! We shall not let that happen!" A crisp, quick salute was accompanied by a fierce look in her eye. The day she had imagined so many times as little girl was here. As her eyes drifted down to the patch, the fingers on her right hand smoothed over the patch to confirm its authenticity. She couldn't wait to send a message back home.
Helene was so lost in thought that she barely heard what the captain said, looking up just as he was already in the process of leaving. Was she sure she heard that right? 'Get to know each other'?Helene looked around still holding the patch closely, her face tense and her eyes unsure. As Damian spoke, she couldn't help but think this wasn't how she expected her career in XCOM to begin. Why waste time playing 20 questions? She just wanted to get things started already. That didn't stop Marcia from grabbing Helene's attention. Probably much to her dismay, her quick onslaught of information had give Helene the exact impression of an airhead. She didn't know taking out this so-called boss in 5 minutes was impressive but she made it sound like some grand achievement. Somehow, this sweet woman was recruited into XCOM and she was going to find out why.
"That is certainly an...interesting list of hobbies. Well it is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Devries."
Hobbies? Likes? Dislikes? These questions all revolved around her least favorite topic "I was born back on Earth. Cologne, Germany." Helene crossed her arms, looking at the rest of the group but not directly "I certaintly dislike talkin about myself, but if it is the captain's orders. I like to hike and camp while watching the stars. There's some places on Earth you can't tell a war ever happened." Helene looked down looking unsatisfied with her own answer, then looked back up "I can't stand people who are all bark and no bite." The pressure between her teeth was enough to snap a tree log. Her brow furrowed as she finished, looking annoyed. With a mission like theirs, she would rather be making preparations than play nice.</s>
| <|message|>Drachen Steinboden
Drachen had his arms folded across his chest as he listened to the Captain. He nodded affirmatives where they fit as the man answered the few questions they had. The team name was just chosen at random, they were assaulting a fortress so the number of enemies would be unknown, they left in ten minutes, and apparently they were assaulting multiple fortresses. Why was the UEG dividing their focus? Or were the other fortresses just to distract from the actual objective of killing or detaining this Ethereal?
The Captain brought up a holo-display of the fort they'd be going to and the names of it. Alpha via human, Warden via Alien. Which got him to tilt his head slightly. "Warden...? Is it supposed to be guarding something...?" He questioned aloud. Maybe they were trying to keep humanity penned in the Sol System? It wasn't likely humanity knew how far spread the aliens were. Shortly after letting them see the display the older officer handed out the XCOM patches with a warning not to abuse the power that came with them.
Who knew a simple patch, even on a Private, would hold such weight. Which was odd. But he didn't run things, he just followed orders.
Shit, now they were told to socialize, get to know each other. Was this some sort of video game? He shook his head when the Captain left
and turned his metallic gaze to the other three. Marcia Devries started them off with a slew of information. Games and reading were her thing, and apparently she was good at them. While also preferring the brave over the coward types. Helene Weisser, a fellow German, preferred more physical things like hiking and camping. She enjoyed doers, not talkers.
Sighing he let his arms drop and slip into his pockets. "I'm from Germany on Earth. In my spare time I like working with metal, making things by hand like in the ancient times." He stated, with his build it was very believable. "I dislike laziness, I like being active." He continued on before looking at the dual wielder expectantly.</s> |
<|description|>Drachen Steinboden
Age: 29
Nationality: German
Base of Operations: Earth; Europe
Class: Duelist
Preferred Advanced Class: Knight
Equipment:
* Main Weapon: Ion Ostryx Battle Axe
* Secondary Weapon: Ion Throwing Knives
* Armor: Ostryx Body Armor
* Gear: Plasmic Grenade
Gene Mods:
* Adaptive Nerve Firing: Allows a soldier to react faster to attacks. Boosting the soldiers Dodge that makes enemies miss more often.
* Adaptive Bone Marrow: Allows a soldier to heal faster than normal and grants Drachen an immunity to Chryssalid Poison.
Appearance:
Drachen is a rather large man, standing at six feet four inches with a heavy build. Thick muscles that would look more at home on a Heavy unit than a Duelist. His skin is darkly tanned from being outside so much, and is littered with numerous scars from various wounds over the years. On his back are a set of draconic wing tattoos that look surprisingly real. He's strangely hairless as well despite his ancestry.
Like the rest of him he's completely bald, whether by choice or not is in his file. Thick black eyebrows rest on a rather thick ridge, making him look angry and casting a small shadow over his eyes. Said eyes are a steel gray in color and slightly sunken. Between his eyes and lower down he has a block-ish nose. His lips are average, but hold a slight natural frown that gives his overall look to be angry.
Backstory:
Drachen was born in Germany a year after the war for Earth was over. His name is kind of a give away on that along with some of a remaining accent. His younger years flew by in an unimportant blur until he joined up with the military. Schools didn't cover the Alien Invasion very well, a lot of hush hush details apparently. Here he learned a lot more on what actually happened in the war by checking records available in his off time.
During training he found that he preferred getting up close and personal instead of hiding a mile away to blow somethings head off. His size, endurance, and overall might, tended to win out over technique when it came to hand to hand. A few Veterans of the War that were still active compared him to a Muton. Although biologically his strength didn't compare to their brutish might. After learning hand to hand techniques he was moved on to learn the weaponry of a Duelist. Swords and throwing knives. Unfortunately the swords were simply too light and adding weight would make the weapon awkward and clumsy. So an axe was made with the same technology. Thankfully an axe tended to follow the same attack patterns as a sword minus drawing cuts.
Unfortunately, in his mind anyway, there weren't any Aliens around after all that training. It was basic patrols, hunts that came up empty, and more training. Well he trained on his own, going above and beyond the norm. Between orders he did everything he could to increase his strength, surpass his previous move speeds, and to hone his reflexes despite the Gene Mods active within his body. Hell the Adaptive Bone Marrow let him abuse himself to go even further beyond normal human standards.
Finally it was decades after the War and Humanity decided it was time to go Alien hunting through space. He didn't really understand the tech to traverse space, would they be in cryo like in the movies? Or did the ships just move that fast now that they could just...warp to the planets and go on the offensive? He'd find out soon enough.</s>
<|message|>Marcia Devries
Marcia stood there, watching the interaction between Corporal Damian and Private Weisser. Her eyes kept darting in between these two. It took a long time to figure out what was going on, but finally, she understood.
She grinned.
Wow, this guy really likes Helene Weisser. Damian just spent 5 minutes lecturing her on her pedigree! Helene Weisser!
I get it. Helene is tall, has a nice body, has great pedigree, and is probably incredibly rich. Some guys really dig that type of stuff.
I don't understand, tho. If he really likes her that much, why doesn't he just say it instead of making up all this macho stuff to scare her?
Based on Marcia's numerous experiments with programmed male behavior in the virtual reality dating sims, Marcia was reasonably sure this was what was happening. Men say and think a lot of things for love, but one thing is certain, they always say and express what they think in the presence of some female somewhere. I just hope Helene figures this out without interpreting it the wrong way.
Marcia grinned, fully intent on watching everything play out. I hope Helene knows what to do with male attention. I wouldn't worry though. From her looks, I know she gets a lot of it.</s>
<|message|>Helene Weisser
---
Drachen's words had provided additional assurance that they'd be able to get along just fine. Words without actions to back them up are simply hollow and meaningless. She followed his gaze to their corporal, who instead of speaking right away moved to the holotable. Helene sat up straight, her hands resting on her thighs as her fingertips pressed lightly down. Her expression was blank but her eyes stared at Damian with suspicion. A pit began to form in the middle of her chest as he began.
Two short summaries of her comrades followed by a brief pause. She gritted her teeth as she felt uneasy which was quickly validated as the corporal spoke. The muscles in her shoulders tensed as she strained to remain silent amongst his mocking remarks like he had any idea what her ideals or beliefs were. Pressure continued to build between her teeth because, unwilling to admit it, some of it was at least partially true. Helene's right foot slid back against the hard concrete, making a slight twitch forward as he called her an idiot to her face. Luckily, she knew how to restrain herself. It wasn't a good look for the military to have psionics flying off the handle. However, the moment he mentioned Blackwell's name and the squad her anger with him was put on standby. Helene sat back as the video played with a furrowed brow.
Nothing that happened during the video appeared to resonate with Helene as she sat there with a coldness in her eyes. However, she never once turned away from what was happening on the screen. Helene continued to stare at where the video had been playing even after the corporal had removed the usb. It was until he spoke her name that she finally deemed it necessary to look up at him. The Blackwells were close family friends of her family's as her grandfather had served under and alongside Colonel James for the majority of the war. Helene was once good friends with Ria, but that all changed shortly before they went to the Academy. They hadn't talked for a few years when this incident occurred, though she never knew the exact details about her case.
Helene couldn't hide her disdain for the corporal as she sat there and quietly mouthed various procedures from her military code. It was all she could to refrain from a outburst. Then there was Devries, who was grinning like a fool next to her. Did Devries enjoy the corporal going off on her? It was enough to make her blood boil just as much. Helene quickly picked up her duffle bag and wasted no time in heading towards the spacecraft "Understood, Sir." She simply said, not deigning to the give the corporal another look as she walked past. At the present, she wouldn't mind if he ended up getting pull off by some bug.</s>
| <|message|>Drachen Steinboden
Drachen didn't give and affirmative or negative to Damian's assumption on why he joined the military. If he wanted alien alloys he could just send requests in to XCOM along with money instead of risking life and limb to potentially obtain them. He was however curious as to what they were about to be forced to watch. But when he started talking about Helene Weisser he started to get a feeling this wasn't going to be a kind video. It felt like a 'grind down to build up' session.
The video combined with Damian's words felt unnecessary. It showed the ferocity of Chrysalids, and a poor choice of poking the hornets nest. The result was three dead, two alive, one in prison the other pretty much retired with PTSD. His face was unreadable when Damian looked, the man was in a higher position so he could really reprimand him. Glancing to the two women to his left, his thick eyebrow rose up slightly.
Marcia was grinning like a loon and the girls eyes were dating between Damian and Helene. He couldn't really read what she was thinking...but it felt like she was having wrong thoughts. Could psionic wielders read minds? Helen however was clearly unhappy, giving a disdainful look to the Corporal. The Captain quickly shortly after Damian finished speaking. It was time to get going. Helene was the first to get going, scooping up her duffel and walking away.
A slight shift and he had his own duffel hanging by his index finger over his shoulder before he walked along behind Helene. His stride kept purposefully short so he didn't overtake the woman. He'd have attempted conversation, but he felt like she'd probably want to be left alone for the time being. If she looked back he'd give her as friendly a look as his naturally pissed off face could muster, but for now he stayed silent.</s> |
<|description|>Marcia Devries
Age: 21
Nationality: French
Base of Operations: Mars Colony New Star
Class: Rifleman
Preferred Advanced Class: Combat Medic
Equipment: A high capacity, high caliber side arm (plasma weapon) with an advanced combat shield and advanced medical support technology and training.
Backstory: She came from the martian colonies. A girl of no great skill or authority. During her teenage years, she developed combats skills after joining the xcom. She fought her way into success through the training centers of xcom as well as the virtual reality simulations.
She is fierce and passionate at times. At other times, she is cowardly and afraid. She loves cats.
Appearance: She looks like a regular girl! she is brunette, somewhat short, fit, and shows her emotions on her face for all to see.</s>
<|message|>Helene Weisser
|
| |
| |
Weisser's Combat Log, "Shipping Off"
__________________________________________________________
"My PSO(psychic support officer) insisted that I start a journal before I ship off on my first deployment off this rock. I mean, I didn't even have a diary as a little girl. Too busy listening to pap's stories instead I guess. My hands are shaking as I write this. Not sure if its nerves or excitement. Probably both. Nearly shocked Rodriguez in the shower when I heard the news. XCOM wanted me for some new initiative! Best of the best! I got a gift from home, from pap actually. Don't know how he knew, but he did. An old ballistic pistol from just before the invasion. Said it was a 'good luck charm'. Not sure if I deserve to carry it. I'll try my best. Should probably try to sleep. Gonna be a long day tomorrow. Can't wait!"
Hartford Military Base
New Star, Mars Colony
1100 hrs Local Time
|
---
Hartford. It never stopped to amaze her or fill her with a strong sense of pride at its image painted against the harsh, red sands of Mars. New Star might be the promise of a place among the stars for Humanity, but it was Hartford that made that promise a reality. The will not only to settle new worlds, but the power to protect them from hostile invaders. Helene took uniform yet brisk steps as she followed behind the MEC, dressed in her most pristine and tailored uniform that bore the insignia of her psi-ops program on the right shoulder. Technicians and soldiers stared at them as the three passed by. Helene never once gave them a second glance. Her left hand reached for her shoulder and she gently rubbed it, fingers tracing the stitch-work of the insignia. Her other hand held the synthetic-fiber duffel bag that contained her combat gear.
Her muscles tensed up as they entered the hangar, eyes immediately focusing on the two individuals that appeared to be waiting there though her attention was redirected to the older man in the room. A soft sigh was released as he spoke with authority, glancing over to the younger man that he indicated. Helene remained standing while Corporal Renser introduced himself, hands behind her back with her right thumb pressing against the palm of her left. Once he had finished, she picked up her duffel bag and sat in the farthest seat from his setting the bag at her feat. Helene eagerly looked back at the older man, now introduced as Captain Gardner. A soldier who looked like he'd seen quite a bit of action. She sat up straight, hands smoothing out her uniform, as she continued to listen with full attention.
Helene kept still as a statue except for the slight movement at the edges of her lips that was stubbornly beyond her control. It was an honor, no, a privilege to be given such an important role in what could be a monumental offensive. This was her chance to continue the legacy of the respected Weisser name. Each member of her family dedicated their lives to serving and protecting Humanity. There was no way she could ever return home if she failed. After the captain had finished, Helene left her seat in one fluid motion and stared at him with determination "Only one, sir. When do we set off?"</s>
<|message|>Drachen Steinboden
Drachen's eyes were closed on the ride in the APC to Hartford and his hands were clasped behind his back. Leaning back like he was he almost looked asleep and his face wasn't that mask of anger with cold metallic colored eyes. When the vehicle came to a stop his eyes snapped open and up he got, exiting the vehicle with other recruits. But he stuck with two others, he had memorized their names and faces since they were to be a unit. An MEC directed the three away from the other recruits and to a separate hangar.
Weisser seemed very...proper while they moved. Her eyes didn't leave their sitting objectives. Devries...he didn't really get a read on her yet. Drachen however looked around, an air of caution around him as if he were an animal in a new territory. His hands didn't stay idle, tightening the straps on the fingerless gauntlets or adjusting his belt. It was a mental checklist to make sure he hadn't left anything behind really but most others would see it as a nervous tick.
Once the triplets got to their destination he took note that the jerky chewer was youthful while their commanding officer was an aging soldier. The younger of the two had twin pistols, namely revolvers of a plasma variety. The elder had a plasma rifle and a gremlin, why did they move onto plasma? A question for another time. Still he stood over with the others, staying on his feet rather than sitting down. Their mission would be starting soon, no point in sitting down now.
The mission briefing was short and to the point. They were to go to another system, kill or contain an Ethereal, and hopefully not die. "I have one, sir. Any idea how many contacts there will be?" He questioned, his voice was unsurprisingly deep and rumbled a lot like distant thunder. The others could catch a hint of a German accent but it wasn't even remotely heavy.</s>
<|message|>Marcia Devries
In the hangar, Marcia Devries stood with her fellow soldiers and grinned.
So we're called Ox Squad, huh? I wonder why we're named after an animal? In particular, that animal?
At least circumstances around her have changed. She had waited endlessly during the personnel transport and it had been so boring! Now, the situation was finally heating up.
She looked around her. There were so many tall people. Even the other girl was tall. Everyone looked so... well... buff, at least compared to herself -- which wasn't really a bad thing to Marcia. For instance, she thought the big baldy guy was kinda hot. She thought the smaller one who was chewing on beef jerky was delicious. And the tall girl? -- was well... a girl.
She suddenly recalled her last boyfriend -- if you could call him that. Anything was better than Dillion. Dillion had been somewhat of a playboy and a gambler. Nevertheless, she missed Dillion and the life that he gave her. There had been passion in that one-sided romance, at least for her -- but it had been one-sided. All Dillion wanted in life was to live the exotic life of a professional card player and bone girls, often two times a week. Marcia had been his wingmate despite her love for him. Eventually, she grew tired of being only a plaything.
Now, her life was different. Now, she embraced another passion. It was far superior to the last one. This passion was none other than her line of work. She passionately believed that it was humankind's destiny to expand to the stars and overcome any barrier or any obstacle that got in the way. And because she believed that, she also believed that it was the duty of every soldier to repel alien invaders from mother earth.
That's why she had joined XCOM. She wanted to be of service to her species, and to heal those that fought with her. She wanted to be of help to humankind.
Yet, at times she just wanted to stay in her bed and not have to face her problems. She wanted to snuggle with her cat and never have to confront the world. Sometimes, she wanted to have never grown up and to be in her parent's house back on the colony.
"Hi all," she introduced herself. "I'm Marcia Devries. My question is... well... I'm wondering how we'll get there? The alien stronghold on Arthan-3 in the Utila System, I mean." Um... I sort of slept through the class on interstellar physics. "So will we be put into cryogenic freeze or suspended animation or something? I don't want to go to sleep and then realize that i'm now 30 years older than before. And why are we called Ox Squad?"</s>
<|message|>Ox Squad
Hartford Military Base
New Star, Mars Colony
1110 hrs Local Time
The captain listened to each question closely, looking at the speaker accordingly and nodding in acknowledgement to each spoken question. "Good batch of questions, for the most part. We leave in ten, our skimmer will take us to the USS Bronzebeard in orbit and we'll jump to slip space about ten hours after that. There are two other strongholds being attacked simultaneously with our objective, but ours is the closest, so our jump is last. As for the number of tangos, expect numerous, Private Steinboden. This is an enemy stronghold after all, so they won't slouch on keeping it manned. Private Devries, you'll be retaking the course on Earth's interstellar travel when the mission is over, but I have addressed the first question. Your second question's answer is quite simple, and that's that there is no particular rhyme or reason. Another squad is Hawk Squad, you've got the Vengeful Sharks, a Spec Ops team of mostly Rippers with a couple of Reapers in support. So, no particular reason, just where our lot fell most likely."
The captain, having given a quick brief of general details and gotten all the new bloods to talk, walked around the table and hit a button on it, bringing the holographic display up on the fortress that they'd be helping to assault. "And since no one asked, I'll give you guys something more in depth. This is the stronghold Alpha as we've labeled it, though intel says the aliens call it Outpost Warden. Regardless, the official plan that the Commander laid out for us is to insert at the top of the stronghold and work our way down to the main hall while also dealing with any defensive emplacements we can." The gunslinger spoke up at this point.
"But we both know you got a second set of orders from the Commander that weren't so official, which are?" The captain, chuckling softly, nodded.
"He did and that was that the unofficial plan is to move as we see fit and focus on getting to the enemy leadership and contain or neutralize. Orbital support is being tasked to remove anti-air and anti-infantry emplacements on the outside of the outpost. Seems simple enough right?" Damian nodded and took another bite of his jerky as the image shifted to a layout of the Bronzebeard. "Now, as for our accommodations on the Bronzebeard, XCOM units are considered a branch of special forces, so we'll have our own armory, barracks and mess hall for our small unit, though it is encouraged that we mix and mingle with the UEG regulars at meal times and during PT." Snapping his fingers, Captain reached behind him and withdrew three XCOM patches and approached each of the new bloods.
"These are your XCOM patches, signifying that you are members of the unit within the UEG and that if you say your mission is of dire importance, then the regs had better listen to you. However," the change in the captain's tone caused the new bloods to jump, "don't abuse that power. You ever hear of the boy who cried wolf? That's what'll happen to your authority."
Returning to his position at the table, the holographic projection turns off and the Captain starts to walk off. "I'll be back in five to gather you four for the trip up to the Bronzebeard, but until then, get to know each other. You'll be working closely for the foreseeable future." And with that, he and his Gremlin were gone. After a moment of silence, the Irish accent in Damian's voice won out as he jumped down to converse with his new squad mates.
"Alright then, where's everyone from? Hobbies, likes, dislikes?"</s>
| <|message|>Marcia Devries
"I'm from South New Star. When I was small, my family immigrated to Mars from France and I love watching holonovels -- especially romance films! I love playing virtual reality games using my neuro-enhancer helmet. I like strategy games and RPGs and first person shooters! And I looove virtual reality dating sims! Not only that, I've logged over 2000 hours in marine combat simulator X. I can totally take out the final boss in The Empire of the Crescent Moon in less than five minutes."
Marcia just wondered if she blabbed too much about herself. I hope they don't think I'm an airhead. I hope they still think I can add my weight in any serious combat situation.
"I love people with courage, and I hate cowards, even though I'm sorta a coward myself."</s> |
<|description|>Marcia Devries
Age: 21
Nationality: French
Base of Operations: Mars Colony New Star
Class: Rifleman
Preferred Advanced Class: Combat Medic
Equipment: A high capacity, high caliber side arm (plasma weapon) with an advanced combat shield and advanced medical support technology and training.
Backstory: She came from the martian colonies. A girl of no great skill or authority. During her teenage years, she developed combats skills after joining the xcom. She fought her way into success through the training centers of xcom as well as the virtual reality simulations.
She is fierce and passionate at times. At other times, she is cowardly and afraid. She loves cats.
Appearance: She looks like a regular girl! she is brunette, somewhat short, fit, and shows her emotions on her face for all to see.</s>
<|message|>Helene Weisser
---
She could tell she was going to get along very well with the man named Drachen. A hint of acknowledgement, a note of respect sparkled in her violet eyes when she looked at him. It was nothing he said but the attitude in which he carried himself that she found interesting, though his faint German accent sparked a bit of extra camaraderie. However, the question he asked wasn't something that mattered much to her. Her grandfather never cared about how many there were, just that he had to keep fighting for Humanity's future. Now it was her turn to help forge Humanity's destiny among the stars!
The other member of their trio was a woman named Marcia and well...she looked at her a bit stunned for a moment as she asked her questions. That soft, gentle look in her eyes to the way she spoke did not convey the mannerism of someone she expected to see in XCOM "Sure, we put our lives on the line every mission but most dangerous of all...we risked our humanity to defeat them." The words echoed in the back of her mind of a hesitant and sorrowful voice. Helene looked at Marcia warily, but would hold judgement until they got into combat.
Helene leaned forward in her seat, focused solely on the image on the table her mouth slightly open. Old configurations of alien bases were often used to help teach and instruct new recruits, but this was the first time she had seen something like this. The fact they were in charge of assaulting this place in actual mission and not some mock battle made it almost surreal. She became engrossed in its design, trying to commit it to memory when the corporal interrupted and drew her attention away. So the real plan was for the others to take care of the fortifications while they slip in to neutralize any high value targets. Her fingers curled against the fabric of her uniform, tugging at its edges. She couldn't wait to get started.
Attention was shifted back to the display that now showed their vessel. Helene didn't react to the news of their special accommodations as it still felt like a dream. That was until their new captain approached them with their new patches. Helene reached out and took her patch with both hands as if dropping it would cause it to shatter. The overflowing happiness that was almost enough to break her decorum was halted by the words of the captain, so much that a chill raced down her spine "Do not worry about us, Sir! We shall not let that happen!" A crisp, quick salute was accompanied by a fierce look in her eye. The day she had imagined so many times as little girl was here. As her eyes drifted down to the patch, the fingers on her right hand smoothed over the patch to confirm its authenticity. She couldn't wait to send a message back home.
Helene was so lost in thought that she barely heard what the captain said, looking up just as he was already in the process of leaving. Was she sure she heard that right? 'Get to know each other'?Helene looked around still holding the patch closely, her face tense and her eyes unsure. As Damian spoke, she couldn't help but think this wasn't how she expected her career in XCOM to begin. Why waste time playing 20 questions? She just wanted to get things started already. That didn't stop Marcia from grabbing Helene's attention. Probably much to her dismay, her quick onslaught of information had give Helene the exact impression of an airhead. She didn't know taking out this so-called boss in 5 minutes was impressive but she made it sound like some grand achievement. Somehow, this sweet woman was recruited into XCOM and she was going to find out why.
"That is certainly an...interesting list of hobbies. Well it is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Devries."
Hobbies? Likes? Dislikes? These questions all revolved around her least favorite topic "I was born back on Earth. Cologne, Germany." Helene crossed her arms, looking at the rest of the group but not directly "I certaintly dislike talkin about myself, but if it is the captain's orders. I like to hike and camp while watching the stars. There's some places on Earth you can't tell a war ever happened." Helene looked down looking unsatisfied with her own answer, then looked back up "I can't stand people who are all bark and no bite." The pressure between her teeth was enough to snap a tree log. Her brow furrowed as she finished, looking annoyed. With a mission like theirs, she would rather be making preparations than play nice.</s>
<|message|>Drachen Steinboden
Drachen had his arms folded across his chest as he listened to the Captain. He nodded affirmatives where they fit as the man answered the few questions they had. The team name was just chosen at random, they were assaulting a fortress so the number of enemies would be unknown, they left in ten minutes, and apparently they were assaulting multiple fortresses. Why was the UEG dividing their focus? Or were the other fortresses just to distract from the actual objective of killing or detaining this Ethereal?
The Captain brought up a holo-display of the fort they'd be going to and the names of it. Alpha via human, Warden via Alien. Which got him to tilt his head slightly. "Warden...? Is it supposed to be guarding something...?" He questioned aloud. Maybe they were trying to keep humanity penned in the Sol System? It wasn't likely humanity knew how far spread the aliens were. Shortly after letting them see the display the older officer handed out the XCOM patches with a warning not to abuse the power that came with them.
Who knew a simple patch, even on a Private, would hold such weight. Which was odd. But he didn't run things, he just followed orders.
Shit, now they were told to socialize, get to know each other. Was this some sort of video game? He shook his head when the Captain left
and turned his metallic gaze to the other three. Marcia Devries started them off with a slew of information. Games and reading were her thing, and apparently she was good at them. While also preferring the brave over the coward types. Helene Weisser, a fellow German, preferred more physical things like hiking and camping. She enjoyed doers, not talkers.
Sighing he let his arms drop and slip into his pockets. "I'm from Germany on Earth. In my spare time I like working with metal, making things by hand like in the ancient times." He stated, with his build it was very believable. "I dislike laziness, I like being active." He continued on before looking at the dual wielder expectantly.</s>
<|message|>Ox Squad
Hartford Military Base
New Star, Mars Colony
1113 hrs Local Time
Damian listened to each person and then proceeded to match the Duelist's gaze evenly after everyone had finished. He didn't immediately speak after they'd finished either, instead approaching the holotable and pulling out a modern USB drive. While it would seem that with all the technological advances made, mobile storage would have changed after so many improvements, scientists found that the size of a USB was excellent for easy transport, even decades later.
As he plugged it in and started browsing through the files, he finally spoke, his Irish accent finally coming into full swing. "Well, a pleasure to know all of you better. Now before I give all of you more information about me, let me sum up what I've just learned. Private Devries, you joined the UEG military out of either a sense of moral obligation or because you enjoyed the training sims in high school. Likely the latter based on your excellent ability to defeat the Crescent Moon Empire's emperor so quickly. You, Private Steinboden, likely joined the UEG to find access to metals that you're not allowed to handle on Earth and see what it was we actually faced in the war. Perhaps also because you like smashing things with your ax." The video he had been looking for was now queued, but he didn't play it yet, instead turning to put a flat gaze on Helene.
"And then there's you, Specialist Helene Weisser, granddaughter of the legendary Psi Op Steven Weisser. Your records called you a prodigy, even at a young age, and the Templar program is keeping an eye on you according to rumors. I can give the other two members of our squad a pass, they don't have the legacy of a hero to look up to and live up to, but you? You're here with grandiose ideas of just what this fight will be like, the role you'll fulfill and where you'll end up. You're going to be the one that insists on being the first off the skimmer and the first in the door, throwing some psionic power around with the intent to intimidate and kill as many aliens in one fell swoop as you can." He shakes his head. "You're a right idiot. Rancor Squad was formed a few weeks ago, just before we started mobilizing, full of new recruits full of potential and heading off on their first chrysalid hunt to get them some combat experience. Typically these aren't particularly dangerous and most of both the UEG's and XCOM's new bloods cut their teeth on them regularly. But Specialist Ria Blackwell had big dreams and plans concerning her new position as an XCOM prospect. Here's how that ended for them."
Hitting play on the holo terminal, the video starts up. From the angle of the camera, it's clear that this was pulled from someone's body cam. The video starts out with the usual patrol banter as the squad heads into a tunnel just behind another squad, XCOM patches and a Chimera patch on their backs as they move into the cave. "Chimera squad was to be their leash, their handlers. Get the new blood squad in, and get them out in one piece. Specialist Blackwell was Rancor's temp NCO until their actual CO recovered and she, unfortunately, had other ideas." The video had continued playing and as Chimera Squad made a left at a fork, a voice came into the private channel of the soldier's radio, presumably Specialist Blackwell's, that ordered them right. In minutes, she'd lead them to a small hatchery, if the grotesque scene before them could be called that as gestating bodies littered the ground. The voice came in again as the group took up positions around the nest on higher ground.
"Alright, we're going to toss incendiary to rile up the bugs and then deploy the Napalm grenades to deal with the main rush. Clean up should be easy after that. Prep," the camera shifts around as the person it's on pulls an incendiary out, "and throw." There's the sound of numerous metal things hitting the nest before flames ignite it. There's an inhuman screeching before chrysalids come out of every faucet that the camera can see, way more than the nest size would indicate. The scene that proceeds to play out is horrifying as the squad of new bloods attempts to fall back towards the tunnel they'd come in at. Plasma shots sear into the darkness, tearing apart the bugs as they surge forwards, but not fast enough and the last person in the group, a youthful looking red head, gets grabbed and pulled back, screaming as she's ripped apart.
Two more get pulled into unseen side tunnels as they run past, their fates no less grizzly as purple psionic power rips into the tunnels, too late to save anyone. The video cuts as Chimera squads flamethrower armed MEC comes into sight, bounds past the last two survivors and unleashes napalm on the horde behind them. The Corporal pulls the USB and turns back. "Former Specialist Ria Blackwell was the great niece of Colonel James "Rusty" Blackwell, an accomplished assault specialist within XCOM who lead the attack on the underground base that truly turned the tide in the Invasion war. If that name isn't familiar, Specialist Weisser, then you didn't pay attention to the men your grandfather served with and under. Because of her Uncle's stories, she got the idea that she could be the next Colonel Blackwell, especially after she manifested the Psionic powers her great-uncle had lacked. Because of them and his name, she assumed she knew better than Chimera Squad. That nest? That nest has never been cleared because of what happened to Rancor. We called it the Feeding Grounds because while it looks small, there are more chrysalids hiding in it than in the other three major nests on Mars combined."
He looked over each of the new bloods before continuing. "Blackwell is now serving time in prison, charged with willfully disobeying a superior and getting her three squadmates killed in action unnecessarily. And this was routine and standard for training out here. Now we're going up against the Ethereals and their armies and I can practically see the delusions of grandeur in your head. For the luck of the Irish, get rid of 'em before it gets ya killed. I want all of you to be able to tell stories like Stefan Weisser got to." His grim story delivered and point made, the Irishman lightened up. "As for my hobbies, I build firearms, camp and hunt. I also enjoy the odd bit of gene modding where it's permitted, making and testing new mods in the simulation programs."
Unknown to the group, the Captain hadn't actually gone that far, instead stopping to listen to his Corporal and second in command give his warning and make sure he didn't go overboard about it. The other survivor of the squad, now Sergeant Ethan Sanders, was still attending therapy after what he saw. The body cam didn't show it, but Sanders had seen what happened to the squadmate that was pulled into the left tunnel and it had him waking up in screams some nights. His promotion to sergeant had been a reward for surviving his former NCO's arrogance, but he had yet to be given a new squad due to the PTSD. A chirp in his ear had him rounding the corner, acting like he wasn't aware of what had happened, but after the others had responded. "Alright everyone, time to get to the skimmer. After that, we'll need to get comfy."</s>
| <|message|>Marcia Devries
Marcia stood there, watching the interaction between Corporal Damian and Private Weisser. Her eyes kept darting in between these two. It took a long time to figure out what was going on, but finally, she understood.
She grinned.
Wow, this guy really likes Helene Weisser. Damian just spent 5 minutes lecturing her on her pedigree! Helene Weisser!
I get it. Helene is tall, has a nice body, has great pedigree, and is probably incredibly rich. Some guys really dig that type of stuff.
I don't understand, tho. If he really likes her that much, why doesn't he just say it instead of making up all this macho stuff to scare her?
Based on Marcia's numerous experiments with programmed male behavior in the virtual reality dating sims, Marcia was reasonably sure this was what was happening. Men say and think a lot of things for love, but one thing is certain, they always say and express what they think in the presence of some female somewhere. I just hope Helene figures this out without interpreting it the wrong way.
Marcia grinned, fully intent on watching everything play out. I hope Helene knows what to do with male attention. I wouldn't worry though. From her looks, I know she gets a lot of it.</s> |
<|description|>Leo Dalmer
Appearance:
Alias(es): Silver Spider
Age: 27
Gender: Male
Description:
* Height - 5'9
* Weight - 160 lbs
* Skin Colour - White
* Hair Colour - Brown (buzz cut)
* Eye Colour - Brown
* Build - Lean
Magic Type: Ki
Role: Knight
Specialty: Swordsmanship
Personality:
* Cool
* Calm
* Cocky
* Reckless in battle
* Listless in peace
* Adrenaline junkie
Background:
Unlike most knights of Belisio, Leo did not come from a prestigious family or long line of warriors. Instead, his father was a wandering strider and his mother was a battlemage in the army, both seasoned pirate hunters but nonetheless of common stock who would have lived ordinary lives if not for their talents.
Trained by his father, Leo learned the ways of ki and swordsmanship to be able to fend for himself should anything befall his parents. It was hoped that he would live a peaceful life and never have to use his skills in practice, but the more he trained, the more bored he became with ordinary life until nothing else interested him except for swordsmanship.
Growing up, he entered every competition he could and always proved himself better than everyone else. Never knowing defeat, Leo grew arrogant and proud, but it wasn't enough to be the best in competitions. He wanted to fight for real. As soon as he came of age, he joined the military and passed through training with flying colours, eager to prove himself in combat at the first opportunity. An opportunity that came in the form of pirates attacking a convoy of mist tankers which Leo had been assigned to guard.
The attack came sudden and swift with the pirates using their speeders to ambush the convoy before anyone could react, their movements having been concealed by the clouds. With the military escort airship leading at the fore and the pirates attacking from the rear, it would not have been able to turn around fast enough to address the threat before the tanker furthest away would be taken over. Its fate was in the hands of the soldiers serving as security aboard the vessel, a single squad including Leo.
With the pirates already on board and en route to the bridge, it was already too late to shoot them out of the sky. The fighting would come down to close quarters combat within narrow corridors and spaces. As it so happened, Leo excelled in such conditions and like a spider striking from its nest, he sprang his own ambush upon the pirates before they could make it to the bridge. With a single stroke of his sword, the entire raiding party was wiped out in an instant and Leo felt the greatest thrill of his life.
After that, his ascent to knighthood was all but assured as he went on to achieve similar feats throughout his career, honing his skill and developing new fighting techniques between missions. Seeing what he was becoming though, Leo's father expressed disapproval at his son's increasingly reckless attitude and addiction to combat. Leo remained unfazed and unchanged however, so the day he became a knight was the day his father disowned him, telling him he was not welcome back home for as long as he remained a spider.
His mother, long retired from military life, tried in vain to get the two to reconcile over the next few years. However, even to this day with the Vaimese fleet upon the horizon, father and son remain estranged, and Leo is all too eager to plunge into the fray once again.
Equipment:
* Silverfang - The sword that gave Leo the first half of his knightly name, the Silverfang is a master crafted saber with a simple yet elegantly designed silver hilt and black leather grips. Its blade is always kept to a mirror polish and honed with obsessive care. Easily shattered without ki reinforcement.
* Nerve suit - A body suit made up of artificial muscle fibers, designed to augment Leo's strength without sacrificing speed and mobility. Also capable of hardening to stop shrapnel and high caliber bullets, but vulnerable to bladed weapons and offers no protection against concussive force or extreme temperatures.
* Gilded plate armour - Ornately decorated steel plates meant more for protecting the nerve suit than the wearer, but can protect from low calibre bullets in a pinch. Denotes the wearer's status as a knight.
Abilities:
* Ki Reinforcement - Rather than using ki to reinforce his body or armour, Leo focuses all of his power into the blade of his sword, allowing him to cut through anything and anyone.
* Air Slash - Charge sword with ki and send it forth as a flying blade of energy, attacking foes from a distance.
* Enhanced reflexes - Years of training has honed Leo's instincts to a razor's edge, allowing him to dodge bullets or even deflect them with his sword.
* Enhanced senses - By focusing ki into his sense of hearing and touch, Leo is able to pick up vibrations in the ground, walls and the very air to detect enemies like prey within a spider's web.
Extra:</s>
<|message|>Leo Dalmer
"But of course," Leo replied as he moved into a guard stance, straightening his posture with his free hand held behind his back and his sabre pointed forward at Tyrhallan. "We could be facing the biggest fight of our lives soon. A bit of last minute practice wouldn't hurt. Much."
Tapping into the energies of his very soul, Leo closed his eyes and breathed deeply until he felt strength flowing through him from the core of his heart to the fingertips of his sword hand. In another breath that strength extended to the hilt of the sabre then onto the blade itself, forming a sheathe of ki around it and reinforcing the bonds within the steel until it hummed with power. When Leo opened his eyes, he felt as though he could cut down Gaia herself as he cracked a smile at Tyrhallan.
"Will you oblige me by attacking first, sir?" the Silver Spider asked amiably. "Or shall I make the first m-"
Sensing a disturbance in the air, Leo looked away from his opponent as he searched for its source and saw a squad of battlemages gathering nearby, one of them looking back at Leo in particular with hands raised in front of him. Seeing the faint distortions of light in the space between them, a clear sign of mana at work, Leo lowered his sabre as he said, "It looks like we have an audience."
Whatever his differences with the other knights, if it was one thing Leo shared with them it was their rivalry with the mages. All knights had this in common. That was unless their noble leader, Tyrhallan, had anything to say about it of course, but then again Leo was never one to pass up a good opportunity for entertainment. Shooting a mischievous glance at the Captain, Leo raised his hand in greeting towards the mages as he called out, "Ho there friends! Looking for the war or are you just lost?"</s>
<|message|>Tyrhallan Venray
"Confident as always. Some would say such confidence will not always hold up."
Tyrhallan watched the man shift to a more suitable battle stance. He could sense Leo was adjusting and raising his ki, probably as much as he was. The only difference was where they chose to send that energy.
To Tyr it was spend in a single fraction. What good were barriers and walls when your opponent was already within one's own inner circle. No way to deflect, all that was needed was one strike. It was his preferred method of fighting. Like a Viper or a Falcon swooping down with outstretched talons.
He was about to oblige Leo for once, knowing the young man's reputation and love for the deathly dance.
It would be a good way to warm up indeed and to allow the man to lose some that unspent eager rage. That need for a fight, a gnawing feeling that would overcome every warrior, even someone like himself fell to its powers when he was not careful.
With the battle closing in on them, this might be his only reprieve before the storm.
Tyrhallan needed to silence his own troubled mind, he was about to respond when he noticed that Leo had noticed their spectators.
Or rather the mage who had been quite ready to use his magic on them.
Hearing Leo's words however made him roll his eyes in resignation, could the young man find some more wisdom in the silence of his tongue instead of using it to start another fight to release the bottled up desires. He was itching for a fight all right, by all accounts he best prevent the fool from being burst into flames.
He turned as well facing the mage and those behind him with a stern but friendly expression, holding up his hand in a gentle gesture.
"All is well, there is no need for your well-meant interference Battle Mage. Keep your watchful eye though, for I believe it will prove lifesaving in the battle to come. Be assured for I have control over this particular situation."
To Leo he send a look of 'Don't goad them. This is not the time.'</s>
<|message|>Arn
Arn lowered his arms when Leo addressed him. He cancelled his connection with Gia and the casting ceased immediately. The feeling in his stomach dissipated and his heart rate went back to normal. He gave Leo a quizzical look. Most of sarcasm was lost on the battle mage. He wondered why there was an annoyed feeling in the air.
Apparently, he had walked in on another Knightly duel. Knights often dueled for honor, or to prove something or etc. While there was some sort of unwritten rule that Knights and mages were to never get along this fell along the lines of politics for him and he cared little for it. He never even knew what the disagreement was supposed to be anyway. When the knight with noble demeanor utilized his politically correct address the battle mage shrugged.
"I did not mean to intervene in any sort of practice or sparring session. However, as you are well aware gentlemen, training must be routed via the appropriate channels and sanctioned by the Commanding Officer. Unless, immediate training is necessary to ensure efficient and safe mission completion. If this was a sparing session, the rules state that there must be at least a witness to prevent any sparring from veering into brawls."
He approached the pair. He moved easily and confidently. He was not much shorter than Dalmer. He could appreciate both the knight's stature and obvious fitness levels. If a spar match was to ensue, the mage had no doubt that they would give a good show. This gave him an idea and addressed the warriors in an even but respectful tone.
"I understand that you gentlemen would like to blow off some steam instead of all this waiting. Honestly, I think your spar would perhaps serve as a diversion for the junior personnel which would boost their morale and prevent any last minute jitter from setting in." He looked both directly in the eyes. He did not care for politics but he cared for the lives of men and women who served in the military. Arn would do his best to keep as many alive as he could even if that meant his own death.</s>
| <|message|>Leo Dalmer
I couldn't help it, Leo gestured back with an elaborate shrug.
As the mage spoke again however, it quickly became apparent that he would provide no amusement and his words soon became noise to Leo as he wondered what kind of magic the man might have used on him.
Leo had fought mages before, but try as he might, he never could decipher what the signs of their power meant before taking form and effect. Whether it was a slight shimmer in the air, almost imperceptible to the untrained eye, or the physical movements of the mages themselves, it was impossible to read. All Leo knew was to get out of the way before anything happened and launch a counter attack as quickly as possible.
A horizontal slash towards the neck, unprotected by the armour, Leo thought as he imagined ways of killing the mage in a combat scenario, resisting the impulsive urge to do it for real.
Then with an abruptness that was almost surprising, the mage stepped forward to approach the two knights, close enough for Leo to see the man's brown eyes and startlingly small irises. This time, Leo could not help paying close attention as the mage spoke.
"Well, how about that," Leo said, nodding with approval as he turned towards Tyrhallan. "What do you say, Captain? Shall we put on a show for them?"</s> |
<|description|>Leo Dalmer
Appearance:
Alias(es): Silver Spider
Age: 27
Gender: Male
Description:
* Height - 5'9
* Weight - 160 lbs
* Skin Colour - White
* Hair Colour - Brown (buzz cut)
* Eye Colour - Brown
* Build - Lean
Magic Type: Ki
Role: Knight
Specialty: Swordsmanship
Personality:
* Cool
* Calm
* Cocky
* Reckless in battle
* Listless in peace
* Adrenaline junkie
Background:
Unlike most knights of Belisio, Leo did not come from a prestigious family or long line of warriors. Instead, his father was a wandering strider and his mother was a battlemage in the army, both seasoned pirate hunters but nonetheless of common stock who would have lived ordinary lives if not for their talents.
Trained by his father, Leo learned the ways of ki and swordsmanship to be able to fend for himself should anything befall his parents. It was hoped that he would live a peaceful life and never have to use his skills in practice, but the more he trained, the more bored he became with ordinary life until nothing else interested him except for swordsmanship.
Growing up, he entered every competition he could and always proved himself better than everyone else. Never knowing defeat, Leo grew arrogant and proud, but it wasn't enough to be the best in competitions. He wanted to fight for real. As soon as he came of age, he joined the military and passed through training with flying colours, eager to prove himself in combat at the first opportunity. An opportunity that came in the form of pirates attacking a convoy of mist tankers which Leo had been assigned to guard.
The attack came sudden and swift with the pirates using their speeders to ambush the convoy before anyone could react, their movements having been concealed by the clouds. With the military escort airship leading at the fore and the pirates attacking from the rear, it would not have been able to turn around fast enough to address the threat before the tanker furthest away would be taken over. Its fate was in the hands of the soldiers serving as security aboard the vessel, a single squad including Leo.
With the pirates already on board and en route to the bridge, it was already too late to shoot them out of the sky. The fighting would come down to close quarters combat within narrow corridors and spaces. As it so happened, Leo excelled in such conditions and like a spider striking from its nest, he sprang his own ambush upon the pirates before they could make it to the bridge. With a single stroke of his sword, the entire raiding party was wiped out in an instant and Leo felt the greatest thrill of his life.
After that, his ascent to knighthood was all but assured as he went on to achieve similar feats throughout his career, honing his skill and developing new fighting techniques between missions. Seeing what he was becoming though, Leo's father expressed disapproval at his son's increasingly reckless attitude and addiction to combat. Leo remained unfazed and unchanged however, so the day he became a knight was the day his father disowned him, telling him he was not welcome back home for as long as he remained a spider.
His mother, long retired from military life, tried in vain to get the two to reconcile over the next few years. However, even to this day with the Vaimese fleet upon the horizon, father and son remain estranged, and Leo is all too eager to plunge into the fray once again.
Equipment:
* Silverfang - The sword that gave Leo the first half of his knightly name, the Silverfang is a master crafted saber with a simple yet elegantly designed silver hilt and black leather grips. Its blade is always kept to a mirror polish and honed with obsessive care. Easily shattered without ki reinforcement.
* Nerve suit - A body suit made up of artificial muscle fibers, designed to augment Leo's strength without sacrificing speed and mobility. Also capable of hardening to stop shrapnel and high caliber bullets, but vulnerable to bladed weapons and offers no protection against concussive force or extreme temperatures.
* Gilded plate armour - Ornately decorated steel plates meant more for protecting the nerve suit than the wearer, but can protect from low calibre bullets in a pinch. Denotes the wearer's status as a knight.
Abilities:
* Ki Reinforcement - Rather than using ki to reinforce his body or armour, Leo focuses all of his power into the blade of his sword, allowing him to cut through anything and anyone.
* Air Slash - Charge sword with ki and send it forth as a flying blade of energy, attacking foes from a distance.
* Enhanced reflexes - Years of training has honed Leo's instincts to a razor's edge, allowing him to dodge bullets or even deflect them with his sword.
* Enhanced senses - By focusing ki into his sense of hearing and touch, Leo is able to pick up vibrations in the ground, walls and the very air to detect enemies like prey within a spider's web.
Extra:</s>
<|message|>Tyrhallan Venray
Tyrhallan's eyes changed for a moment at the mentioning of the man's name and Battalion.
The fact he was still alive, was quite miraculous. Not unlike his own Vanguard Battalion they were close to the front, they usually took the hardest hits, since the main focus would be on them, unlike Tyrhallan's who were truthfully more comparable to raiders.
Knives with stealth, leaving the enemy in disarray.
The insulting string of words Arn let out would have earned him a couple of demands for a Duel if he was facing any other knight.
"Yes, thank you." He said curtly and coldly, keeping in mind that the man either simply didn't care for manners or simply wasn't aware of his own rude behaviour.
Tyrhallan wasn't going to flare up for this man's enjoyment. As far as he was concerned if the man was actively trying to goad him into a reponse then he was truly to be pitied indeed.
It also didn't contribute to the actual sparring match.
Tyrhallan wouldn't bite anyway, he stepped away from them, making sure he gave orders to his Sergeant before disappearing, though as soon as his men would hear of the Duel they would want to observe it. It was only fair that he would inform them.
"We will reconvene at your suggested location."
Undoubtedly the bets would be placed.</s>
<|message|>Leo Dalmer
"Finally," Leo drawled as he hung his sabre over his neck and followed after Tyrhallan with a swaggering gait.
The Spider had more than enough of all this talking, but looking back at the hilltop they were leaving behind, he couldn't help feeling a tinge of regret for moving away from that spot. Two knights crossing swords atop a hill in the light of dusk, nothing could have made a more ideal scenery. Then again however, there was something to be said for the wide open space and even ground of a windswept meadow such as the one they were heading towards.
"Here will do," Leo said as he lowered his sabre, letting it trail over the stalks of grass all around them before turning to face the Crimson Rider. "What do you think?"
Seeing soldiers and other onlookers pointing at them from a distance, Leo smirked as he continued while taking up the same guard stance from before, "Ready to demonstrate how a knight talks?"</s>
<|message|>Tyrhallan Venray
Tyrhallan took the liberty of informing Sergeant Firenze of his sparring match, telling him for the time being he had command whilst he was occupied with his opponent.
Naturally the most curious of the bunch caught on and eagerly informed the others.
"Cap'n is gonna fight Spider. This is gonna be good."
"My money is on the Captain bet you 5 silverlings he's gonna make the boy eat dust..."
"Nah, I'll put my money on the Spider, I've seen him fight before, he's got some mean moves."
Tyrhallan ignored the other knights as they saw the opportunity to start a betting pool and placing bets.
His men eager to see the outcome followed quickly in his shadow as they moved towards their 'new arena'.
Here will do," Leo said as he lowered his sabre, letting it trail over the stalks of grass all around them before turning to face the Crimson Rider. "What do you think?"
His eyes ran over the desired area, following the lay of the land, the sweet early summergrass glowing golden as the wind sung through it.
He looked back at Leo and gave a single strong, weightful nod, before he watched the sun for a moment more.
Quickly the men began with setting up the ring, a large set of circles were drawn in the meadow, the grass flattened to establish the small little world Tyrhallan and Leo would contain themselves to.
A knights world.
A world wherein you waltzed with Death.
If the men did not take care and restrained themselves to a fine lined degree their dance would end...forever...
He watched Leo smirk, eagerly taking up the same guarding stance once more.
"Ready to demonstrate how a knight talks?"
Tyrhallan smiled at those words allowing a pause to fall as he moved fluidly, nonchalantly into position.
"Dalmer, tell me...What defines you?"
"What will you tell Death when Death finally shows you its face?"
"When it has had enough and is tired of all those poor fools that have had the sad predicament of being in the way of your blade?"
"Will you embrace it or will you battle it, I wonder..." Tyrhallan said as he slid his own blade out of its sheath.
As he held it up he gazed for a moment in the black abyss that reflected his image.
There were few that ever had the good fortune to see the unsheathed sword. This was due to Tyrhallan's fightingstyle and if they did, it was usually the last thing that flashed before their eyes, before they met the sharp steel of 'Fatebringer'.
As the wind changed so did Tyrhallan.
The wrist of his right arm turned and the blade rotated with it, its glint eerie, as it almost seemed that the rays of sunlight that reached the blade were slashed into a broken myriad of colours.
The predatory gaze had returned, his eyes darkened as his arm moved in a creeping pace into its position.
Starting in an open Vom Tag position he waited for the Arbiter to start off their little sparring match.
The muscles and nerves in his legs tightening and straining to literally burst into action. As soon as Arn had opened their match, Tyrhallan, true to his name, dove forwards at his opponent with a terrifying speed. Bringing in a mastercut, using his speed and momentum to swing the blade upward and tilt it. Knowing his opponent used speed in his attacks and dodges too not allowing Leo to simply block his blow.
Now it would come down to technique and skill.
As the blades collided, they sung, Tyrhallan turned his Zwerchhau inward, knowing most opponents would be too off guard by the first strike, that the follow up often was fatal.
He also knew that Leo wasn't a fool and had talent, but he would be pleased if their fight lasted for bit longer at the least.
[url](For the move youtube.com/watch?v=yejU_Cq8Qzs for those interested)[/url]</s>
<|message|>Arn
Arn followed the pair to the designated area. He gave a sweeping look towards those in the vicinity. Almost as if it could be sensed in the air, heads started to turn to their passing. He noticed that the White haired knight seemed to command respect. A very obvious shield with two crossed swords became evident. How had he missed that? The battlemage's opinion of the man grew some. If the white haired knight was indeed the commanding officer, and if Arn remembered his knight ranks correctly he was, then the amount of reservation and propriety at Arn's apparent impudence was astronomical. Most knights, especially high born ones, would have lashed him with tongue and later maybe even with a proper cat o nine tails.
As it was, Arn had observed some dissatisfaction register on the face of the knight but he had attributed it to the way he usually talks which off puts people. Their short walk to the designated area had gathered quite the following. The news of the match spreading like waves upon a still lake. The anticipation was brimming on the eyes of those starting to gather. A group of designated men prepared the area eagerly. He caught the names and code names of the knights' he had been so bold as to lecture.
It seemed like the white haired Knight was indeed the Captain Tyrhallan in command of the current outfit which he and his mage battalion had been assigned to. The other, as he had suspected upon hearing the family name was the one named the Spider. Both were renowned fighters and the usually calm and collected battlemage started to feel a twinge of excitement at being able to witness their prowess. In battle, its hard to actually measure a man's skill as any move that wounds or kills is a good one. Even efficient fighters must sometimes sacrifice finesse for numbers in the battle field. But here, it was just the two of them. Only skill would determine the victor.
Sensing the impatience of those gathered added to his own desire to witness a good show, Arn pronounced loud and clear the match to begin. A burst of noise followed. Jeers, cheers and swears stirred a cacophony that would have been appropriate if this was a covert mission. Their position on the hill would perhaps work to their advantage. The ruckus might travel to the village of Presper. Any person in favor of the Belisian's would take the noise as a sign of hope. Those that would raise arms against them would interpret it as a sign of danger.
Whatever the case, the fight was underway. Despite the chaos on the sidelines, the two fighters were all on their world own inside the circles. Arn himself was captivated by the dance that the knights had embarked upon. He would be able to learn about these me in each strike. For though he was only a mage, he appreciated all aspects of martial prowess. The battlemage gulped as he felt more than saw the disturbance in the Aether fields around the two opponents. After all, blade wilders tapped in a different way to the life force of Gia.
This match was indeed something to devote one's attention to.</s>
| <|message|>Leo Dalmer
"That's not exactly what I meant by how a knight talks," Leo responded wryly as Tyrhallan finished speaking. "But I can show you the answer."
Then the Knight Captain drew his blade and Leo noted the shift in his demeanor as he took up his stance, his eyes like that of a predator about to strike. There you are, Leo thought as he controlled his breathing, channeling ki into his sabre and bracing for whatever might come. The Crimson Rider.
Time seemed to slow down as Arn called for the match to begin and almost immediately, Tyrhallan was upon him. His sword came as a blur from the left, tilting up towards Leo's head which he narrowly caught on the strong of his sabre, just above the hilt.
My reflexes are a match for his speed, Leo realized in that instant as he countered with a vertical slash, only to meet Tyrhallan's follow up attack whipping around to the other side of his head. Their blades clashed once again and Leo leapt back to avoid a potential third strike.
"Trying to give me a haircut?" Leo casually asked as he slowly circled around his opponent, watching every little movement. "I see you're good with the high guard, but what about..."
All of a sudden, the Spider dropped into a crouch and swung his sword in a wide horizontal arc, releasing the ki in his blade into the very air and sending it forth as a blade of wind aimed directly at Tyrhallan's feet.</s> |
<|description|>Leo Dalmer
Appearance:
Alias(es): Silver Spider
Age: 27
Gender: Male
Description:
* Height - 5'9
* Weight - 160 lbs
* Skin Colour - White
* Hair Colour - Brown (buzz cut)
* Eye Colour - Brown
* Build - Lean
Magic Type: Ki
Role: Knight
Specialty: Swordsmanship
Personality:
* Cool
* Calm
* Cocky
* Reckless in battle
* Listless in peace
* Adrenaline junkie
Background:
Unlike most knights of Belisio, Leo did not come from a prestigious family or long line of warriors. Instead, his father was a wandering strider and his mother was a battlemage in the army, both seasoned pirate hunters but nonetheless of common stock who would have lived ordinary lives if not for their talents.
Trained by his father, Leo learned the ways of ki and swordsmanship to be able to fend for himself should anything befall his parents. It was hoped that he would live a peaceful life and never have to use his skills in practice, but the more he trained, the more bored he became with ordinary life until nothing else interested him except for swordsmanship.
Growing up, he entered every competition he could and always proved himself better than everyone else. Never knowing defeat, Leo grew arrogant and proud, but it wasn't enough to be the best in competitions. He wanted to fight for real. As soon as he came of age, he joined the military and passed through training with flying colours, eager to prove himself in combat at the first opportunity. An opportunity that came in the form of pirates attacking a convoy of mist tankers which Leo had been assigned to guard.
The attack came sudden and swift with the pirates using their speeders to ambush the convoy before anyone could react, their movements having been concealed by the clouds. With the military escort airship leading at the fore and the pirates attacking from the rear, it would not have been able to turn around fast enough to address the threat before the tanker furthest away would be taken over. Its fate was in the hands of the soldiers serving as security aboard the vessel, a single squad including Leo.
With the pirates already on board and en route to the bridge, it was already too late to shoot them out of the sky. The fighting would come down to close quarters combat within narrow corridors and spaces. As it so happened, Leo excelled in such conditions and like a spider striking from its nest, he sprang his own ambush upon the pirates before they could make it to the bridge. With a single stroke of his sword, the entire raiding party was wiped out in an instant and Leo felt the greatest thrill of his life.
After that, his ascent to knighthood was all but assured as he went on to achieve similar feats throughout his career, honing his skill and developing new fighting techniques between missions. Seeing what he was becoming though, Leo's father expressed disapproval at his son's increasingly reckless attitude and addiction to combat. Leo remained unfazed and unchanged however, so the day he became a knight was the day his father disowned him, telling him he was not welcome back home for as long as he remained a spider.
His mother, long retired from military life, tried in vain to get the two to reconcile over the next few years. However, even to this day with the Vaimese fleet upon the horizon, father and son remain estranged, and Leo is all too eager to plunge into the fray once again.
Equipment:
* Silverfang - The sword that gave Leo the first half of his knightly name, the Silverfang is a master crafted saber with a simple yet elegantly designed silver hilt and black leather grips. Its blade is always kept to a mirror polish and honed with obsessive care. Easily shattered without ki reinforcement.
* Nerve suit - A body suit made up of artificial muscle fibers, designed to augment Leo's strength without sacrificing speed and mobility. Also capable of hardening to stop shrapnel and high caliber bullets, but vulnerable to bladed weapons and offers no protection against concussive force or extreme temperatures.
* Gilded plate armour - Ornately decorated steel plates meant more for protecting the nerve suit than the wearer, but can protect from low calibre bullets in a pinch. Denotes the wearer's status as a knight.
Abilities:
* Ki Reinforcement - Rather than using ki to reinforce his body or armour, Leo focuses all of his power into the blade of his sword, allowing him to cut through anything and anyone.
* Air Slash - Charge sword with ki and send it forth as a flying blade of energy, attacking foes from a distance.
* Enhanced reflexes - Years of training has honed Leo's instincts to a razor's edge, allowing him to dodge bullets or even deflect them with his sword.
* Enhanced senses - By focusing ki into his sense of hearing and touch, Leo is able to pick up vibrations in the ground, walls and the very air to detect enemies like prey within a spider's web.
Extra:</s>
<|message|>Leo Dalmer
As Tyrhallan leapt into the air and evaded Leo's attack, the blade of wind exploded into a shower of grass where it struck the ground, cutting a scar into the soil. Aimed any higher and it would have severed the legs of those at the front of the audience, but then again Leo had no concern for such things when he was so focused on his opponent.
Magnificent, Leo thought as he bounded away once again to avoid Tyrhallan's counterattack, a vertical strike from above. But you've given me an opening.
As soon as the Crimson Rider had completed his descent, Leo sprang off from his back foot and committed himself to a lunging thrust aimed at his opponent's centre where he crouched upon the ground. It was a highly risky maneuver, but true to Leo's reckless nature, he saw an opening and wasted no time in exploiting it.
Just as the point of his sabre was about to run through Tyrhallan's chest however, it stopped just a hair short as Leo checked his attack at the last moment and said, "Spiders are ambush predators, you know. We let prey lead themselves to us... although."
Leo looked down as he continued, "Clearly not without risk."
At that moment, a dropship flew above everyone's heads and slowed to a stop as it descended on an empty patch of grass free from dueling knights and gawking soldiers. Its side door opened as soon as it touched down and a soldier came rushing out, calling above the whir of the engines, "Message for Knight Captain Venray!"</s>
<|message|>Arn
The blades sang the deadly song that was being danced upon by the two knights. Hard to say if the song was the lead or if the dance was what composed the song of steel upon steel. However, the fact that there was death in each and every strike was not debated. The rings were echoed by shouts and groans from the spectators. Obviously the fighting pair each had a following. So entranced where the spectators that they seemed to almost be blind to the obvious danger of being so close to skilled and probably honorable killers but killers none the less.
The thought had barely been processed in his mind when the ground took the attack meant for the Knight Captain. Dirt and grass covered the shins and thighs of the spectators closest to the action. Arn gave thanks that it was not blood and sinew instead. He figured that as the arbiter it was his job to ensure the safety of those in the immediate area.
The battle mage grunted disapprovingly at the recklessness of Dalmer as his new strike was now aimed at the Captain's chest. While there was perhaps no doubt the Captain could handle himself, such reckless abandon was not befitting a duel. Still, both knew the risk and they had accepted it. Arn's immediate concern was protecting the soldiers who were definitely not in any way able to evade such attacks.
He would have to put up walls around the pair, who knew how long and how heated the battle would get. He concentrated on the Aether, an outline around him beginning to appear. A few soldiers around him stepped away from him in caution.
However, before he was able to utilize his connection to Gia and by sheer force cause the ground to rise putting up walls around the dueling knights a different sound from the cheers and metal against metal could be heard. The whirl of propeller and the sudden gust of downdraft cause not only the spectators but the fighters to diver their eyes to the interrupting drop ship. Apparently, a message requested the attention of the Captain. Arn had no doubt that Leo would be upset. He pitied any adversary the young Knight might encounter on who he could relieve his frustration and having been so rudely denied further pleasure in fighting a man of the Captain's caliber.</s>
<|message|>Eilis
"Exactly." Tyrhallan said knowing the range of his blade as his own had come up, except if Dalmer hadn't checked himself, he would have impaled himself as well.
As the two glanced at each other in a moment of silence, Tyr's eyes changed again, the warmth and light returning as he pulled back his sword and rose from his position. He was about to sheathe it when a dropship flew overhead.
Frowning Tyrhallan watched as it landed and opened its side door. A single figure rushed out, demanding his attention.
The frown returned.
Trouble... He assumed as he watched the messenger address him.
"Here." He spoke up as he turned around completely giving the man his full attention.
Quite some distance away from them a small smuggler's barge slinked through the clouds. Peeking out of the clouds every once in a while to keep its cover as it tried to head for the border with Belisio.
On the bow stood a figure, a woman. She nervously gazed ahead clutching the frayed old cloak tightly around her as the unpredictable wind currents blew and tore at it in an attempt to blow it away.
Her mind was in turmoil, she kept replaying parts of 'that moment' over and over, wondering if she ever had any choice, wondering what had happened if she had chosen a different path.
Her eyes told stories of their own, there was a melancholic sadness and depth that told you they had seen more then one of her young age should.
They were staring into the clouds, reliving the memories once again.
"I won't do it."
"Submit Child! You have no say in this matter!"
"NO! I won't."
"Then you leave us no choice."
"Mardras, I beg of you no! NO!NO!"
"Hush now Eilis, stop your insolence..."
She had felt the burning eyes and felt how the Mardras had ripped her clothes open. How she had set her cold spellwoven fingers against her skin. She shivered reliving the sensation as the memories brought back a hint of the excruciating pain.
She had fought so hard, but the straps had held. Her torture had continued as he had watched on.
His eyes. She would never forget his eyes. That lifeless look of utter hunger, drinking in her struggle as if it was some sort of divine nectar.
She shook her head shaking off the pain and trying to block out the images her memories conjured in her mind.
But still those eyes watched her, it would be a while before they would fade again, back into the shadows of her mind.
Like she would, she prayed she would never have to look upon those eyes again. She would flee accross the border into Belisio and with some luck hide away in some no name village. She was still young and if the smuggler's payment was any indication, she wasn't all that undesirable, she probably would be able to find a nice young farmer and keep some pigs or something of the like.
"Seeing anything little miss?" She could smell the stench of alcohol on his breath, before she felt his hungry eyes. She didn't need to see him to know he was undressing her with his eyes. The look had been similar to the other one, only the smuggler's was...what was the word for it?
More transparent, was the best she could come up with it. The man had wanted a ridiculous sum of money, she had seen him take everything from the poor family that was hiding below decks, undoubtless he had done this before.
She had had nothing to give, no coin to please his gold lust, to make it worth his trouble. So she bartered with the only thing she had left, herself. If he delivered her safely across the border and away from battle then he could do with her as he pleased.
She stepped away from him as his roving hands had reached out, but missed, now making him lose his balance, making him readjust his footing.
"We'll cross the border soon and you know what that means little Miss. When I have kept my deal, you'll keep yours."
"Provided you'll be able to escape being sighted by those warships first." She demanded.
"What warships? They're miles off."
"Clearly their winds have changed, take a look over the starboard stern, they're going to catch up with us..." She said nodding behind the man to the small shapes on the horizon.</s>
| <|message|>Leo Dalmer
The soldier approached Tyrhallan and gave a short bow as he continued, "Orders from the king, sir. The enemy vanguard is near and their scouts are following the refugee ships crossing the border, presumably using them as a shield to prevent us from using our guns. You're to gather reinforcements and move to intercept immediately, engaging by boarding action. The dropship will be at your disposal."
Overhearing the conversation, Leo sheathed his sabre as he called out to the soldier, "What are their numbers?"
"Three frigates, sir."
The news caused a ripple of murmurs among the soldiers, but Leo only smiled cheerfully as he turned to Tyrhallan and said, "Looks like we get to be first in the fray. Lucky us."
And he meant it too. Only the Silver Spider could be so earnestly delighted by the prospect of an impending battle.
"So asides from me, who else will you be taking?" Leo asked as he jerked his head towards Arn. "Him?"</s> |
<|description|>Tyrhallan Venray
Appearance:</s>
<|message|>Tyrhallan Venray
Tyrhallan ever the obedient son and knight had set out as soon as the news of unrest reached his ears.
His uncle had burst into the estate with as much haste as that old leg of his could muster.
The old man had long since retired, but still held an important post at court. Close to the king to offer counsel, when asked and instructed to be of service as an honour guard and instructor to the queen. It was a position of honour, without actually seeing any battle, but offering the queen his knowledge on matters. Which wasn't all that often.
So it came to pass that his 'friendship' with the royal Spymaster developed through their love of Ur. A game that required; risk, luck and strategy. It was through this friendship he heard of the new developments on the border. During a game, which he had been winning, the Spymaster calmly had informed him of the new situation.
So it was that his uncle gave up his victory and his winnings, hurrying down to the Venray estate. To warn his brother's family of what was about to come.
Prepare.
The Empire is on the move.
Coming to crush the resistance by conquering Belisio and force them to their knees.
War marches ahead to dine on the Lionhearted
Or so the rumours and whispers of the spies had spoken.
The Spymaster's spies had also reported the upcoming stream of refugees fleeing from the incoming wheels of war. If they would be overtaken, they would get caught up in the middle of all of this.
The poor souls would be stuck between two terrible forces.
They would probably be the first true victims to be fed to the ever hungry beast called War.
'The machine that would grind all into dust and leave behind nothing but a barren wasteland, as fields are painted red as the call of the carrion cuts through the deafening silence...' Or so the scholars quoted Folken, one of their philosophers of old.
And they wouln't be wrong, but sometimes war was inevitable.
Tyrhallan had seen battle before, though he did not doubt that those were but a taste of what the Empire was capable of.
He remembered his Uncle's stories, telling him of the strength of the Vaimese Empire and the might of their mages.
He has spoken of the fall of Rhevendahl a small kingdom bordering their Empire, how they had quite literally smote the capital into a pile of ash and dust.
A thousand years of peaceful coexistence torn asunder for the hungry expansion drift of the Empire.
Renamed, their own history and lore was ripped from the pages, droned out until only the words of the Empire remained.
It was a fate that would befall all those who failed to resist the Empire.
Tyrhallan had questioned his Uncle on the truth of these matters.
Surely not all in the Empire were so keen on the destruction of history and knowledge?
He remembered his Uncle laughing at him. Telling him that true conquerors know that in order to conquer completely, you need to wipe out more than just a defending army. You need to erase all the things that binds those that resist together.
One thought, One ruler, One Empire. Create separation and stifle the opposition, then indoctrinate.
Now the soldiers of Rhevendahl, belong to the most fearsome, most terrifying forces of the Empire.
Soon enough his mettle would be tested once more, in the defence of hearth and home. As the last troops were boarding the airships or calmly awaiting orders Tyrhallan noticed the lone figure off to the side.
He instantly recognized him as 'Upstart Dalmer'.
At least that was the name he had called him the first time they met.
He had rocked quite a few boats with his mercurial behaviour.
By the Gods, the boy was a talented fighter, but his rebellious nature would cost him one day.
Tyrhallan moved over towards him watching him hone his blade.
"I believe you sharpened your fang enough, Spider." He said striking up a conversation.
"Of all the upstarts they had to stuck me with...they gave me you."
A smile curled around his lips as his stern gaze softened and connected with the younger man.
"They must be desperate indeed. So tell me, who did you annoy?" He asked cocking an eyebrow.</s>
<|message|>Leo Dalmer
"Annoy? I'm the one who's annoyed," Leo scoffed as he returned his attention to his sword, Silverfang, shining brightly even in the waning sunlight. "I thought the action would've started already by the time I got here, but it looks like I showed up too soon."
Running the sharpening stone along the edge of his sabre with a few final strokes, Leo stood up and held his blade in the air, examining his work as he continued, "Still... war, huh? Who would have thought. I wonder if your uncle knows who to thank for that. Well, not that I'm complaining. Kind of feels like I was born for this, you know?"
Turning his eyes towards his fellow knight and Captain, Tyrhallan the Crimson Rider, Leo looked him up and down with an appraising gaze as he took note of the highborn lordling's equipment. Fancy sword, fancy armour, red as his knightly name and pretty as a painting. Fully prepared for battle apparently.
"Say, how about a sparring session?" Leo asked with a glint in his eye as he swept his blade through the air in a flourish. "Just to warm up a bit."</s>
<|message|>Tyrhallan Venray
Tyrhallan calmly listened as he watched the ever eager Leo get up.
"My Uncle and I were expecting something of the nature. The Empire has grown rather substantially in a relatively short amount of time.
'That' usually indicates War, unless the Vaimese have grown capable of reconstructing the planet. Landstitching is one thing, creating land is quite another feat and I don't see the mages of the Empire pulling that trick off just yet. My Uncle as ever was always concerned about Belisio's fate. Considering the last show of might of the Empire, I feel more unnerved about this one."
At Leo's eagerness he frowned growing more serious, hoping his words would one day stick.
"You are made for it, but being born for it is something else entirely. 'If blood is all you crave, blood is what your share will be.'" He said quoting the old scholar Folken.
"Look for something more than just blood. Look for something higher, greater than your own lusts or glory." Tyrhallan advised before he sighed.
He watched Silverfang slice through the air, as the muscles in his legs and feet tightened, ready to react and dodge should the boy be as brazen as they claimed him to be.
"You sure you want that?" He asked once more as he took hold of his own blade.
A eyes darkened in colour as the seriousness was set to steel, a look of a bird of prey focussing on his potential opponent.</s>
<|message|>Arn
The marching orders had been cryptic but simple. Arn had merely nodded and gotten his ruck sack ready unlike the groans of complaint from the others in his squad. The battle mage was finished before the other had even reached for their own gear. He did not have much in the ways of possessions. Indeed, almost all he owned was gear issued to him by the military. The only things that had ever meant anything to him were already on his person.
On his neck was the medallion which had belonged to his mother. It was made of cheap metal and it had melted into a charred twisted version of its original self, much like his own mother when she died. Some may confuse it for abstract art, other would say that it was a trophy from the many victims of the Hellspawn's flames. Few would know that it was the only thing he had of his mother.
The other items were strapped to his midsection. A set of ebony looking Daisho. These, unlike his medallion, reminded him of the temperance of mind and body. They had been a gift from his master and commander. The only man to have been able to get Arn to listen and the one who taught him about how to tamper the fire rolling inside him. His master taught him that war is no place for anger. Just as the blade does not feel so must the man. However, it is also the man who must decide who falls before his blade. It is here that the true essence of the warrior lies. Any man can kill another. Only a warrior knows that the life he takes is the necessary one. This would prevent any future self doubt and self punishment in deciding if what he did was right, just or honorable.
Arn shouldered his pack putting the straps through the armholes of his Flak armor. He had been on many raids and missions so certain habits were second nature to him. The battle mage set it down at their assigned spot. It would stay there, undisturbed, until it was time to load the ships and begin the mission. They would drop from the sky. His squad was nicknamed "The Shooting Stars". However, the name had nothing to do with something as simple a wishing astral body. Indeed, many in the squad never stayed long. For just like their nickname, they soon burned up. The squad was made up mainly of lower ranked soldiers which were "Expendable".
The battle mage cared nothing for these semantics. His job was to fall from the sky and unleash hell while the more prestigious members of the military came in and cleaned up the rabble to earn all the glory. He cared little for the politics of rank and station.
He was approaching their designated gear area to drop off his battle gear. This would be the place his squad would meet up at and receive their orders as they donned gear. He was the first one there which meant that his red tinted, samurai styled flak armor would mark the area the squad would utilize.
As he approached, he noticed two men, knights by the look of them, talking. He felt no need to approach them as he was not a socially inclined person but a name caught his ear.
Dalmer
He had heard the name before. Apparently, this knight was not like the others. Indeed they share very much the same status of low birth. However, apparently, this foot man turned knight had risen through the ranks. Arn was not sure if he was impressed or indifferent but he took a bit longer than necessary to drop of his gear. Just because he did not engage in politics did not mean he was not aware of them. He was no self proclaimed savior of those of low birth but he could not stand people utilizing their status to look down and harass others.
He straightened up when the obvious noble addressed the other knight with derision. An annoyed looked crossed Arn's face as he looked in the direction of the two men who could not be more than 20 or so feet from him. the Battle mage did not want to be caught off guard in the event the lower ranked knight all of a sudden sprang on his superior. Arn took a step back and raised his hands.
He reached into the Aether. His eyes saw the the hidden bands that held the broken world together. He felt a buzz as his own soul connected in harmony to Gia. He felt that familiar feeling of falling through the air as his connection to Gia grew stronger. I his mind he pictured the very air atoms in front of him. If needed, he would push the strings in front of him. The result would be a blast of air he would aim at Leo.
Arn did not know what was going on but he did not want either of the knights to start something that would put the rest of the Army on edge an eve before the actual battle. He would not harm anyone but if needed he would try to talk them down.</s>
<|message|>Leo Dalmer
"But of course," Leo replied as he moved into a guard stance, straightening his posture with his free hand held behind his back and his sabre pointed forward at Tyrhallan. "We could be facing the biggest fight of our lives soon. A bit of last minute practice wouldn't hurt. Much."
Tapping into the energies of his very soul, Leo closed his eyes and breathed deeply until he felt strength flowing through him from the core of his heart to the fingertips of his sword hand. In another breath that strength extended to the hilt of the sabre then onto the blade itself, forming a sheathe of ki around it and reinforcing the bonds within the steel until it hummed with power. When Leo opened his eyes, he felt as though he could cut down Gaia herself as he cracked a smile at Tyrhallan.
"Will you oblige me by attacking first, sir?" the Silver Spider asked amiably. "Or shall I make the first m-"
Sensing a disturbance in the air, Leo looked away from his opponent as he searched for its source and saw a squad of battlemages gathering nearby, one of them looking back at Leo in particular with hands raised in front of him. Seeing the faint distortions of light in the space between them, a clear sign of mana at work, Leo lowered his sabre as he said, "It looks like we have an audience."
Whatever his differences with the other knights, if it was one thing Leo shared with them it was their rivalry with the mages. All knights had this in common. That was unless their noble leader, Tyrhallan, had anything to say about it of course, but then again Leo was never one to pass up a good opportunity for entertainment. Shooting a mischievous glance at the Captain, Leo raised his hand in greeting towards the mages as he called out, "Ho there friends! Looking for the war or are you just lost?"</s>
| <|message|>Tyrhallan Venray
"Confident as always. Some would say such confidence will not always hold up."
Tyrhallan watched the man shift to a more suitable battle stance. He could sense Leo was adjusting and raising his ki, probably as much as he was. The only difference was where they chose to send that energy.
To Tyr it was spend in a single fraction. What good were barriers and walls when your opponent was already within one's own inner circle. No way to deflect, all that was needed was one strike. It was his preferred method of fighting. Like a Viper or a Falcon swooping down with outstretched talons.
He was about to oblige Leo for once, knowing the young man's reputation and love for the deathly dance.
It would be a good way to warm up indeed and to allow the man to lose some that unspent eager rage. That need for a fight, a gnawing feeling that would overcome every warrior, even someone like himself fell to its powers when he was not careful.
With the battle closing in on them, this might be his only reprieve before the storm.
Tyrhallan needed to silence his own troubled mind, he was about to respond when he noticed that Leo had noticed their spectators.
Or rather the mage who had been quite ready to use his magic on them.
Hearing Leo's words however made him roll his eyes in resignation, could the young man find some more wisdom in the silence of his tongue instead of using it to start another fight to release the bottled up desires. He was itching for a fight all right, by all accounts he best prevent the fool from being burst into flames.
He turned as well facing the mage and those behind him with a stern but friendly expression, holding up his hand in a gentle gesture.
"All is well, there is no need for your well-meant interference Battle Mage. Keep your watchful eye though, for I believe it will prove lifesaving in the battle to come. Be assured for I have control over this particular situation."
To Leo he send a look of 'Don't goad them. This is not the time.'</s> |
<|description|>Tyrhallan Venray
Appearance:</s>
<|message|>Tyrhallan Venray
"Confident as always. Some would say such confidence will not always hold up."
Tyrhallan watched the man shift to a more suitable battle stance. He could sense Leo was adjusting and raising his ki, probably as much as he was. The only difference was where they chose to send that energy.
To Tyr it was spend in a single fraction. What good were barriers and walls when your opponent was already within one's own inner circle. No way to deflect, all that was needed was one strike. It was his preferred method of fighting. Like a Viper or a Falcon swooping down with outstretched talons.
He was about to oblige Leo for once, knowing the young man's reputation and love for the deathly dance.
It would be a good way to warm up indeed and to allow the man to lose some that unspent eager rage. That need for a fight, a gnawing feeling that would overcome every warrior, even someone like himself fell to its powers when he was not careful.
With the battle closing in on them, this might be his only reprieve before the storm.
Tyrhallan needed to silence his own troubled mind, he was about to respond when he noticed that Leo had noticed their spectators.
Or rather the mage who had been quite ready to use his magic on them.
Hearing Leo's words however made him roll his eyes in resignation, could the young man find some more wisdom in the silence of his tongue instead of using it to start another fight to release the bottled up desires. He was itching for a fight all right, by all accounts he best prevent the fool from being burst into flames.
He turned as well facing the mage and those behind him with a stern but friendly expression, holding up his hand in a gentle gesture.
"All is well, there is no need for your well-meant interference Battle Mage. Keep your watchful eye though, for I believe it will prove lifesaving in the battle to come. Be assured for I have control over this particular situation."
To Leo he send a look of 'Don't goad them. This is not the time.'</s>
<|message|>Arn
Arn lowered his arms when Leo addressed him. He cancelled his connection with Gia and the casting ceased immediately. The feeling in his stomach dissipated and his heart rate went back to normal. He gave Leo a quizzical look. Most of sarcasm was lost on the battle mage. He wondered why there was an annoyed feeling in the air.
Apparently, he had walked in on another Knightly duel. Knights often dueled for honor, or to prove something or etc. While there was some sort of unwritten rule that Knights and mages were to never get along this fell along the lines of politics for him and he cared little for it. He never even knew what the disagreement was supposed to be anyway. When the knight with noble demeanor utilized his politically correct address the battle mage shrugged.
"I did not mean to intervene in any sort of practice or sparring session. However, as you are well aware gentlemen, training must be routed via the appropriate channels and sanctioned by the Commanding Officer. Unless, immediate training is necessary to ensure efficient and safe mission completion. If this was a sparing session, the rules state that there must be at least a witness to prevent any sparring from veering into brawls."
He approached the pair. He moved easily and confidently. He was not much shorter than Dalmer. He could appreciate both the knight's stature and obvious fitness levels. If a spar match was to ensue, the mage had no doubt that they would give a good show. This gave him an idea and addressed the warriors in an even but respectful tone.
"I understand that you gentlemen would like to blow off some steam instead of all this waiting. Honestly, I think your spar would perhaps serve as a diversion for the junior personnel which would boost their morale and prevent any last minute jitter from setting in." He looked both directly in the eyes. He did not care for politics but he cared for the lives of men and women who served in the military. Arn would do his best to keep as many alive as he could even if that meant his own death.</s>
<|message|>Leo Dalmer
I couldn't help it, Leo gestured back with an elaborate shrug.
As the mage spoke again however, it quickly became apparent that he would provide no amusement and his words soon became noise to Leo as he wondered what kind of magic the man might have used on him.
Leo had fought mages before, but try as he might, he never could decipher what the signs of their power meant before taking form and effect. Whether it was a slight shimmer in the air, almost imperceptible to the untrained eye, or the physical movements of the mages themselves, it was impossible to read. All Leo knew was to get out of the way before anything happened and launch a counter attack as quickly as possible.
A horizontal slash towards the neck, unprotected by the armour, Leo thought as he imagined ways of killing the mage in a combat scenario, resisting the impulsive urge to do it for real.
Then with an abruptness that was almost surprising, the mage stepped forward to approach the two knights, close enough for Leo to see the man's brown eyes and startlingly small irises. This time, Leo could not help paying close attention as the mage spoke.
"Well, how about that," Leo said, nodding with approval as he turned towards Tyrhallan. "What do you say, Captain? Shall we put on a show for them?"</s>
<|message|>Tyrhallan Venray
Tyrhallan unlike Leo listened patiently to the Battlemage. He observed the shift in demeanour and carefully took a long reading look over the man, who appeared closer to him in age, but with mages one couldn't really tell.
He was a bit perturbed by the man to lecture 'him' of all people on the rules, but he chastised himself stating that he most likely would have done the same thing. Nevertheless, it rubbed him the wrong way. He would have to find out the man's name later and make a mental note of it...if his underlings ever complained about his strictness towards the rules he would drag up this guy.
Still to his surprise and that of he actually proposed to turn their little warm up into a proper sparring match.
He pondered the request not showing his immediate thoughts on the matter, unlike Dalmer who's eagerness was akin to that of dog waiting for its treat.
He turned his gaze towards the sky again as if he was listening or searching for something, before a soft exclamation of breath was given in agreement.
"Very well and considering your own contribution to this sparring match Battle Mage, you can be the Arbiter." He said as he narrowed his eyes. "After all someone has to oversee the rules and judging of the match, someone as impartial as you would do nicely."</s>
<|message|>Arn
Arn felt both men studying him. He felt no danger or awkwardness from this. He actually expected it from veteran soldiers which actually spoke beneficially for the two knights. They were appraising him not on the looks of his clothes or age but on actual battle efficiency and theat. He felt it only proper that he would do the same. It was easy to see that these two had seen many battles. Real ones at that. The way they held their weapons was very comfortable, very learned. The knights had managed to meld with their weapons to the point that it was part of them. Just as one forgets they have toes or arms until they are needed.
The battlemage's eyes fluttered to Leo, who enthusiastically agreed to the proposal. It was not hard to imagine that the knight enjoyed the thrill of battle. After all, the clang of steel and the din of battle are but songs to an battle happy heart. His attention was demanded by the hidden tone in the other knight's tone. While polite and proper, Arn had been on the receiving end of such tones all his military career. He had no problem sharing his origin and his mother's occupation. Disrespect of either of these however, would land him in the brig again or perhaps in the stocks.
Instead of feeling annoyed or irritated at the condescending tone the obviously nobly birthed warrior sent his way, Arn merely shrugged. The battlemage's own tone was calm and almost monotone. "I will readily be the Arbiter. For ease of communication allow me to introduce myself. I am Arn of the second Battlemage battalion, the Shooting Stars. I have no family name." He offered this last statement as a way to prevent any further questioning not as a way of apology.
"I do not believe that rules and procedures would need to be enforced in a battle between knights. It is understood that your honor is your bond. The match rules will be simple. The battle ends upon loss of consciousness or forfeit. However, I will ensure that no excessive force is used and would like to ask you gentlemen do not feel honor bound to prevent defeat. After all, tomorrow will require all available swords." His tone was without feeling but his words could be construed as insulting. Arn however merely held the two knights gaze.
"Might I suggest we move this to marshalling spot B? I believe that they have yet to fully utilize it for the on load of stores." He turned his head in the direction though he was sure that they would know where that was. All squad leaders and supervisors had been given muster orders and locations.</s>
<|message|>Tyrhallan Venray
Tyrhallan's eyes changed for a moment at the mentioning of the man's name and Battalion.
The fact he was still alive, was quite miraculous. Not unlike his own Vanguard Battalion they were close to the front, they usually took the hardest hits, since the main focus would be on them, unlike Tyrhallan's who were truthfully more comparable to raiders.
Knives with stealth, leaving the enemy in disarray.
The insulting string of words Arn let out would have earned him a couple of demands for a Duel if he was facing any other knight.
"Yes, thank you." He said curtly and coldly, keeping in mind that the man either simply didn't care for manners or simply wasn't aware of his own rude behaviour.
Tyrhallan wasn't going to flare up for this man's enjoyment. As far as he was concerned if the man was actively trying to goad him into a reponse then he was truly to be pitied indeed.
It also didn't contribute to the actual sparring match.
Tyrhallan wouldn't bite anyway, he stepped away from them, making sure he gave orders to his Sergeant before disappearing, though as soon as his men would hear of the Duel they would want to observe it. It was only fair that he would inform them.
"We will reconvene at your suggested location."
Undoubtedly the bets would be placed.</s>
<|message|>Leo Dalmer
"Finally," Leo drawled as he hung his sabre over his neck and followed after Tyrhallan with a swaggering gait.
The Spider had more than enough of all this talking, but looking back at the hilltop they were leaving behind, he couldn't help feeling a tinge of regret for moving away from that spot. Two knights crossing swords atop a hill in the light of dusk, nothing could have made a more ideal scenery. Then again however, there was something to be said for the wide open space and even ground of a windswept meadow such as the one they were heading towards.
"Here will do," Leo said as he lowered his sabre, letting it trail over the stalks of grass all around them before turning to face the Crimson Rider. "What do you think?"
Seeing soldiers and other onlookers pointing at them from a distance, Leo smirked as he continued while taking up the same guard stance from before, "Ready to demonstrate how a knight talks?"</s>
| <|message|>Tyrhallan Venray
Tyrhallan took the liberty of informing Sergeant Firenze of his sparring match, telling him for the time being he had command whilst he was occupied with his opponent.
Naturally the most curious of the bunch caught on and eagerly informed the others.
"Cap'n is gonna fight Spider. This is gonna be good."
"My money is on the Captain bet you 5 silverlings he's gonna make the boy eat dust..."
"Nah, I'll put my money on the Spider, I've seen him fight before, he's got some mean moves."
Tyrhallan ignored the other knights as they saw the opportunity to start a betting pool and placing bets.
His men eager to see the outcome followed quickly in his shadow as they moved towards their 'new arena'.
Here will do," Leo said as he lowered his sabre, letting it trail over the stalks of grass all around them before turning to face the Crimson Rider. "What do you think?"
His eyes ran over the desired area, following the lay of the land, the sweet early summergrass glowing golden as the wind sung through it.
He looked back at Leo and gave a single strong, weightful nod, before he watched the sun for a moment more.
Quickly the men began with setting up the ring, a large set of circles were drawn in the meadow, the grass flattened to establish the small little world Tyrhallan and Leo would contain themselves to.
A knights world.
A world wherein you waltzed with Death.
If the men did not take care and restrained themselves to a fine lined degree their dance would end...forever...
He watched Leo smirk, eagerly taking up the same guarding stance once more.
"Ready to demonstrate how a knight talks?"
Tyrhallan smiled at those words allowing a pause to fall as he moved fluidly, nonchalantly into position.
"Dalmer, tell me...What defines you?"
"What will you tell Death when Death finally shows you its face?"
"When it has had enough and is tired of all those poor fools that have had the sad predicament of being in the way of your blade?"
"Will you embrace it or will you battle it, I wonder..." Tyrhallan said as he slid his own blade out of its sheath.
As he held it up he gazed for a moment in the black abyss that reflected his image.
There were few that ever had the good fortune to see the unsheathed sword. This was due to Tyrhallan's fightingstyle and if they did, it was usually the last thing that flashed before their eyes, before they met the sharp steel of 'Fatebringer'.
As the wind changed so did Tyrhallan.
The wrist of his right arm turned and the blade rotated with it, its glint eerie, as it almost seemed that the rays of sunlight that reached the blade were slashed into a broken myriad of colours.
The predatory gaze had returned, his eyes darkened as his arm moved in a creeping pace into its position.
Starting in an open Vom Tag position he waited for the Arbiter to start off their little sparring match.
The muscles and nerves in his legs tightening and straining to literally burst into action. As soon as Arn had opened their match, Tyrhallan, true to his name, dove forwards at his opponent with a terrifying speed. Bringing in a mastercut, using his speed and momentum to swing the blade upward and tilt it. Knowing his opponent used speed in his attacks and dodges too not allowing Leo to simply block his blow.
Now it would come down to technique and skill.
As the blades collided, they sung, Tyrhallan turned his Zwerchhau inward, knowing most opponents would be too off guard by the first strike, that the follow up often was fatal.
He also knew that Leo wasn't a fool and had talent, but he would be pleased if their fight lasted for bit longer at the least.
[url](For the move youtube.com/watch?v=yejU_Cq8Qzs for those interested)[/url]</s> |
<|description|>Tyrhallan Venray
Appearance:</s>
<|message|>Arn
The battle mage was about to answer her question when he had to keep himself from falling while gently holding her back at her sudden outburst. He marveled at her concern. If he understood her sudden urgency correctly she was not looking for friends or family but other refugees, more likely strangers. It was rare to find people like her.
Thankfully, the medic and his aid entered. Probably having been summoned by Tobi. Arn shrugged as the doctor chastised him and the young lady. Just like Elise, the doctors cared for their patients. He could not remember his name but Arn was sure he had seen him before. After all, he had been bed bound many times. The more patients in danger the stricter they wanted to seem. Things must be really bad judging from the doctor's demeanor.
He listened intently and interested as the refugee recounted the tale. He nodded to the request of the man. Based on what he heard the mage could figure out that the lady had indeed suffered an extreme case of Magicka Shock. However, that did not explain the glowing patterns on the young lady skin. He almost traced the locations where he had seen them but he stopped himself thinking such actions would cause concern and make him look like a creep.
Arn kept a calm hand upon the young lady's own. For some reason, he was surprised that he was holding it that long. After all, he was not one for physical touch and definitely not one to try his chance with the ladies. He chased those thoughts away and instead convinced himself he would do the same for any one wounded in battle.
Once the physician left, Arn once again addressed the young lady in a calm voice. "Try to close your eyes. They are not very useful right now and they will dry if you leave them open too long. You need not worry, I will be here." His voice was low but not only because he was trying to keep her calm but because standing by her bed side was taxing his already exhausted body. Yet he was determined to keep his promise and stay by her side.
Tobi came in next and Arn raised a hand stopping any incessant talking the young lad had in mind. The young mage took one look at the young lady understanding. Noticing that his senior was weakening Tobi offered him the seat he had been using. Arn gave him a thank you nod and then motioned he should leave. Before he left, he gave Arn a meaningful look and raised his eyebrows suggestively. This earned him a scowl from the senior mage and the young lad threw up his arms in defense as he backed away.
Arn sat down with some effort but siged as he managed to sit. "To answer your earlier question Miss Elise. We are aboard one of the hospital ships of the Belisian military" He looked around and he found the symbol of the ship on the bulk head. It sported two wings spread with a sun in the middle. "We are aboard the one named Auriel's Mercy, or The Mercy as we call it." The ship had been named after a very talented and beloved medic which lived during the time of the Sorceror King and who saved many from the ravages of the empire.
He leaned back and closed his own eyes. "I will tell you more but you must promise me that you will attempt to sleep. There is not much for us to do except rest and get better." He shifted in his seat trying to get comfortable. "You had asked if I had gotten hurt in the battle. My simple answer is yes. I had the priviledge of assisting the Knight Captain Tyrhallan in a mission. I am glad that one of our objectives, which was to try and rescue the refugees running from the Viemesse, was accomplished." He turned to look at her. "Though from what I hear it is you who we have to thank for that." He continued. "But please don't concern yourself with me. It is my duty to be placed in harms way. You on the other hand, showed true bravery. If you are also a refugee. I would not be amiss in predicting that the Academy might show interest in you." He sighed a bit annoyed. "though I cannot say if you would appreciate such interest."</s>
<|message|>Eilis
At Arn's words a visible weight seemed to be lifted off of her. The strained, burdened hunching her body had been in straightened a bit as if relieved of its load. A shaking heavy exhale followed, followed by another long one as a couple of tears escaped her eyes. As a smile crossed her face she closed her eyes as she eased up on her grip on Arn. Her long fingers still shaking slightly, but more relaxed then she had been.
"I did it..." Her voice softly uttered barely believing her own words. "I've made it." She straightened her back looking up for a moment trying to contain herself.
The other hand that Arn still had been holding, now slipped free and took it in her own, lifting it to her cheek to make sure she wasn't dreaming. Another sigh of relief followed up another smile before she realized what she had been doing.
She let him go, softly apologizing for her behaviour.
"I..I'm sorry, I know it must have been quite a bother to you, to be forced to sit here and look after me especially when you need rest yourself." She said as she continued to listen to him.
"Forgive me, but I am no high born lady, my name is Eilis, not Elise." She gently corrected Arn. "But it's not a big deal really...if you want to call me Elise..." One could sense the nervousness in her voice before Arn's final words turned her face to horror.
"NO!" A short flare again as the bindings flashed up. Eilis's body reacting as if being struck by a whip. The outburst and the body's reaction was so strange coming from such a timid girl. It must have puzzled those that witnessed it and didn't know what it was.
Eilis seemed shaken or disturbed by something more then just physical pain, the expression that had been visible a more before was stripped from her face again, replaced by an expression of sad acceptance.
"I'm sorry, but I can't." Was all she said as she tucked her knees up, wrapping her arms around them. A long pause and silence followed, filled only by the occasional beeps of the monitors and screens displaying their vitals and the roaring of the engines.
Suddenly Eilis's soft voice piped up again, careful and yet straight to the point.
"Arn. Do you sometimes think life would be better if you simply weren't born?" Eilis asked.</s>
| <|message|>Tyrhallan Venray
Once Tyrhallan received the full reports he realized what a mistake he had made. His negligence would be costly.
He knew full well that someone would have to bear the blame and responsibility for it. Undoubtedly it would be him.
He smiled in disbelief.
No. If they were really vindictive they could even take their anger out on his men and he would not stand for that. He would not let those who served loyally be punished for doing what was asked of them.
His Uncle had warned him it would come with the territory. Being a commander was nice when there were times of peace, but less attractive when war came to call.
Finishing his 'cleaning up' and reading all the reports that had been gathered Tyrhallan stood up from the chair he had been resting in.
He gazed at his reflection in the mirror for a moment.
He supposed that he was 'presentable enough' to be facing the Knight Commander. With the blood now washed from his hair and body, he had regained some semblance of his old self.
Why didn't he feel like it though?
As he moved out of his temporary bunk he walked down the busy corridors, men saluting him and making his way to the bridge even longer and more cumbersome than it initially was.
They couldn't know and Tyrhallan was not raised to be selfish. What little comfort or respect he could give them was but a small price to pay and in truth it reassured him that whatever would be laid at his feet in the coming moments, at least he had earned their respect.
When he reached the bridge he halted a moment so that his coming would not surprise those at work.
"With your permission I wish to enter." He asked respectfully of the Captain.
"Permission given Knight Captain Venray. Enter."
As Tyrhallan stepped inside his eyes glanced quickly across those present, before halting at someone unexpected. Someone he did not recognise.
A woman, still looking rather exhausted.
His eyes darted quickly back towards the Captain and the main consoles.
"Captain, I should like to report to the Knight Commander. Can you set up a communication link with him? I believe you were handed his communication commands beforehand."
Captain eyes him rather worriedly.
"Should we set up a private link for you in your bunk?"
"I would rather have a secure line, but thank you." Tyrhallan replied as he nodded in thanks.
"Very well. Arteri, set up a link for the Knight Captain." The Captain ordered before he barked. "The rest of you will mind your own business. Eyes on your own screen Foss." He snarked knowing his underlings well enough.
"Connecting sir." Arteri the com officer warned Tyrhallan.
Tyrhallan straightened his back as he clasped his arms behind him, spreading his feet to strengthen his stance, grounding himself. He would need it.
As the image of the Knight Commander flashed up in front of him, the connection was made.
The expression the commander had was in short one that could hew stone and the glare that he cast at Tyrhallan one that could cut Diamonds.
"So the 'Noble and Honourable' Knight Captain finally decides to call." The voice sweetly spoke, but sounded as menacing as that of a butcher who sharpened his knifes before gutting the pig.
"I wish to offer you my report. Sir."
"You WISH to offer YOUR REPORT? What pray could that be about? Could it be about the bloody Army that is currently aiming its guns at us? The army your precious Vanguard was supposed to halt?! What the hell are you all doing up there!"
"The scouts had mentioned the 3 large frigates and we managed successfully to destroy two whilst the other tucked tail and ran." Tyrhallan remained calm as he had practiced before.
"We failed to see their other force through the heavy storm that blanketed them. I am sending you the details as we have them."
"And where the hell were you then? You were placed in your position because of your supposed 'expertise' and knowledge, but if this is a taste of that then I want none of it, Venray!" The Knight Commander barked and yelled.
The few brave enough to look up from their screens glanced with some pity at the Knight Captain and Arteri, who was uploading the numbers from the data pad Tyrhallan had given him.
As soon as the numbers came through the snarl tempered somewhat, but was filled with disdain.
"Sir, I spread my forces to counter the frigates and took a couple of men for a raiding mission, we entered one of the Frigates and turned it onto the other, resulting in the destruction of both of them. We also managed to rescue the refugees during this." He stated matter-of-factly knowing that if he even attempted to talk back or reason, he would make things worse.
"How good of you." The sarcasm dripped off of the statement. "That's something at least out of this ridiculous mess."
A silence followed as Tyrhallan allowed him to think and take a look at the numbers.
"What do you want us to do Sir, should we join up with you?"
And the snarl was back.
"So you can competently screw up the rest of our defences? I think not! You and your Vanguard will report to the rear."
Tyrhallan's eyes flashed worriedly as he heard it.
"Sir, the men need not be punished…"
"SILENCE! Are you disobeying my orders Venray?!"
Tyrhallan cut his tongue immediately as he replied.
"No Sir."
"You will report to the rear, be glad I don't demote you! You're a sorry excuse for a commanding officer! Now you will bear the consequences of that, your Uncle is no longer here to protect you.
I don't want you anywhere near me as far as I am concerned. This is war and I won't stand for mediocrity." He said before he cut the feed.
As the screen turned black a heavy sigh followed before Tyrhallan turned to the Captain.
"Thank you, I believe you have your heading now." Was all he said calmly, before nodding his head in thanks and heading towards the door.</s> |
<|description|>Tyrhallan Venray
Appearance:</s>
<|message|>Eilis
"Eilis, all my life I have had a simple reason to live. I felt that I needed a reason to be alive. I felt that by being useful my life was not a waste. However, I did not know that I actually needed someone to live that life with. I am glad you are still here and that I got to meet you. This world would have lost too much with you gone." He squeezed her hand.
"Oh I don't know about that...The world was fine before I was born and I have no doubt it will continue just fine without me." Eilis said rather self-deprecatingly. She looked down at his hand as he squeezed hers. Her smile returning at the gentle and kind gesture. This man had the strange capacity of making her feel good about herself.
Maybe it was the fact that he was frankly one of the few who was consistent in his regard for her and treated her with actual decency and kindness.
If there were hidden motives behind his actions, they weren't malign. So she further silences that ever doubting voice inside her head.
"I will be by your side as I have already promised. It will be my honor to be your shield. Not as a disposable item but as a reason for my existence. I ask that you allow me this. I ask that you live this life with me?"
He held his breath awaiting her response.
Eilis listened to his words, his voice and his reponse. Whether it was the slight choked sound to indicate his carefulness or uncertainty in how to respond or the fact that he had held his breath at the end of it, made Eilis worry she had upset Arn somehow.
She raised her hand and placed it over his chest.
"Breathe Arn." She requested before she took his hand in hers again, a thing she had done earlier but this time she placed it over her heart.
"I'd rather not have you refering to yourself as a shield, so how about this? Bow and Arrow, if you must use a weaponry analogy." She spoke teasingly, as she looked up at him with a glint of misschief in her eyes, the corners of her lips slightly upturned.
"For one is not complete without the other, depends on the other and if I may ask so selfishly cannot find its way without the other guiding it. And your light is guiding me through a dark maze I could not manage to overcome on my own." She cast her eyes down again.
"I still doubt whether or not I am doing you wrong by tainting you with association, but I can't do this on my own..." She frowned.
"All I wanted was a quiet simple life, it seems Fate has decided differently, but thankfully it allowed me to meet you." She stated looking at him again with a look of hope. "I want to stay with you. I feel safe with you. I trust you....gods I sound like a child." She chastized herself before wondering something.
Did he see her as one? A helpless child in need of protection? Not that she could blame him, she hadn't exactly offered him anything remotely resembling a woman's ettiquete in being proper and demure. She had been as inconsistent as the weather, Arn probably thought she was unpredictable.
And she was hardly a prize, tattoed from head to toe, some plain refugee with a bunch of mad Tahjai after her. She was more trouble than she was worth and that was her own evaluation. She wondered what Arn saw in her that made him so invested.
No, she knew, she had felt it too. Their connection. His innerflame, the light of his soul touching hers, warming her.
"Forgive me, but I can't seem to let you go." She whispered before she leaned forward and closed her eyes placing a gentle kiss on his forehead.</s>
<|message|>Arn
Arn shook his head slightly at her self deprecation. How could she believe that? How could she not see how important she was? There was literally a group of high powered individuals who were looking for her. This may not be a very amiable point but it was logical. Also, his world had been turned upside down due to her. Had it not been for her, his life would continue to in the same straight and clear path that he was on.
Despite him being a collected and always composed person, the turmoil and uncertainty that she had brought in just the mere moments of knowing her stirred some deep need in him that he did not know he had. The mystery of her, her life, and the future was very appealing to the master mage.
His logical mind posed many questions and he wanted to follow each one but at this moment, he wanted to give her his full attention. Even this inner reflections, which he was used to doing all his life, seemed somehow in appropriate with her being next to her.
"Breathe Arn."
He smiled and he took a deep breath. His lungs filled with the air in the room and with something else. A slight hint of something else. Was it Her? He chasticed himself for the thought. It was not clear wetehr the feeling that she had arose in him were romantic. But he did feel drawn to her, connected to her, and he very much felt that not being with her would somehow be a great loss.
Yet, despite even the interactions which have brought them close and even opened doors into his soul that had been stuck shut, he still felt like a creep imagining that the sweet scent was somehow related to her.
To deviate his mental train from the current track which would only bring red flush to his face and quicken his heart, the battlemage decided to analyze the analogy she had presented.
"Bow and arrow?" He spoke the question softly more to himself. He was sure he had heard the words before but as the current world's technology had more efficient and deadly munitions or projectiles, they had not been used in actual battle for millennia.
His quick mind searched through the archives of his mind for the reference in an over eager way to compensate for his previous thoughts. Immediately, his mind raced through references of military weapons. Putting all pieces together he understood what she meant. Alone, both were not very efficient. However, together they could be quite deadly. These were simple instruments and Arn liked nothing if not simplicity.
He smiled down at her and chuckled, this time more easily, at her mischievous glint on those eyes of hers. He could see his reflection in them and wondered if she would feel just at ease once her Dark Sight had passed. The master mage was not a vain person or even cared about looks but he felt that perhaps she may have an image in her mind that would dissipate once she actually beheld him.
He sighed in understanding. His own life was not something that he would gleefuly wish on somebody else. There had been many times in his young life when he wished him and his mother could live in a small house, she would wake up and make him breakfast and he would run along with his friends to some imaginary school.
He wondered if strife and challenges was all that people born with an affinity to magic could hope for. Here was a lovely young lady that had seen more pain that some soldiers and only those who had gone through similar circumstances could understand.
What he could not understand was the sudden concern in her face. Arn was glad she felt him trustworthy and safe. Was she perhaps doubting her own conclusions? What else could he do to reassure her. He wondered if he had said something wrong or something to bring up doubts in her. His own face morphed into one of concern.
"Forgive me, but I can't seem to let you go." She whispered before she leaned forward and closed her eyes placing a gentle kiss on his forehead.
The place where her lips touched his skin was the epicenter of a warm wave that spread outward to his whole body. He smiled at that. A warmth that was obvious radiated from his body. He felt a joy in hearing that. Eilis seemed to enjoy his company and not because of his destructive and weaponized potential. In fact he had done nothing more than be a human heating pad. Some part of his mind wondered at this phenomenon.
Normally it took concentration and tapping into the Aether to produce these thermal changes. Instead, the connection with her seemed to naturally cause a reaction that surpassed understanding. That analytical side of his brain wanted to study, to question, and to test. He wondered if their connection could work both ways and he could provoke changes in her.
His other side wanted to just stay still in the moment between them for eons. This side of his brain saw their connection as inevitable. Arn was not very familiar with this side. It made illogical and outlandish arguments. Yet, despite their definitive fallacy, the mage could not say they were wrong.
In the fraction of a second that the battle for control and command raged in his mind a truce was finally called and was embodies by a simple
"Nor I want to let you go either."</s>
| <|message|>Tyrhallan Venray
"Very well Cap, you may call me Tobi. My dad was the true Tailor, I just carry the name."
Tyrhallan nodded at the young mage.
"Do not dismiss yourself so easily. You are your family's namebearer, the family line and name will continue because of you, whether or not you consider yourself worthy of it." He offered as they sought for a place to sit. Finding one soon enough he joined the young mage at the table, setting out everything to its rightful place. Even simply pleasures and as display and napkins were a few of the rituals that made life and war more easy to bear. Folding his hands he took a moment of silence and contemplation before making the ritualistic gesture touching his forehead and moving the hand up and down.
"As above, So Below." Was the soft murmur that followed before he picked up his cutlerly and started eating.
There was a clear difference in table ettiquete between the two, but Tyrhallan never sought to tell other people how to live their lives in their 'off duty' moments. Nevertheless had after a while his troops started to mimic some of Tyrhallan's behaviour and if the Captain joined them at the same moment they all waiting until his regular blessing passed his lips. Everyone sat a little straighter, cutlerly was held more properly and no knives were licked off for the sake of getting everything.
Tyrhallan had been asked by others how he had managed that ragtag bunch of hardheads to 'straighten up' and he had simply told those that inquired the truth. That a good example set by a superior and consistency made others follow suit.
It was why those who 'paid their way' to get in annoyed the hell out of Tyrhallan.
That was not the Venray way.
One had to be able to relate through experience to understand those he was supposed to lead. He had done the same menial tasks as mopping, cleaning, drilling all that he asked of his Knights he himself had done or would do without batting an eye.
Taking his time enjoying his meal Tobias suddenly struck up conversation again.
"I read in a book that leadership is the ability to inspire others to surpass their own limitations and often even surpass those that are currently in leadership." He stopped measuring up Tyrhallan with eyes that suddenly seemed older than the young face betrayed.
"I agree with you that the King is a great leader. Not because he called us to action but because even if he is to die, he cemented in our minds a last image of him that will enable those surviving to continue the fight." He took another bite of a red fruit which was soft, sweet and also acidy.
"This is how we feel about Master Mage Arn. Many in the Shooting Stars consider him a hero. To us he is what a battle mage should be. I follow him into battle again and again not because he is a master but because he inspires me to do my best." His voice was soft and respectful.
"I have to ask Cap. Other than pissing Captain Evander off, why did you request Master Mage Arn's transfer?" The young man's eyes were narrowed. It was not that he did not trust Tyrhallan but in a sense, he felt the man was taking something valuable from them.
"Sure the Master Mage is some heavy fire power and can cause quite some damage on the battle field. But so can a heavy pulse cannon and I reckon the cannon will be easier to handle." He sighed. "If you have not discussed this decision with him, you may find he does not like others to make choices for him. Just ask Captain Evander." A slight smirk appeared on the boy's face.
"You appear to be an honorable man. So I am sure your reasoning is good but I guess I feel a bit protective of the Master Mage." Tobi shrugged and put more food in his mouth.
"You seem to have misinterpreted my intentions young master Tobias." He said after he finished and swallowed his mouthful.
"First and foremost leadership is more then inspiring people. Whilst there are many views on it, I believe that leadership is Duty. Responsibility and Respect whether for themselves as for others. Great leaders have the capacity to transfer vision into reality." He sighed.
"I am no more honourable than you or sir Arn. I have however always told myself that my power and my position should be used to aid those who otherwise will be overlooked or discarded. It is why I chose to be a Knight first and then a Lord. Whilst I am loyal to the King and Queen and I will defend them at the cost of my own life, I just wished that they had not withdrawn so from the common people...a good Lord must know his subjects and their struggles, just as a good leader should the strengths and weaknesses of his men." He said a he took another bite.
"Appearing now in full regalia is a powerfull message, but I believe it would have been a stronger message and carried wider if he had gone amongst the commoners, would be able to look them in the eye and tell them of the dangers that lie on our doorstep." He frowned before he shook his head. "Don't mind me. Fancies of a dutiful Knight I suppose." He added with a sad undertone.
"As for Sir Arn I chose to set him free from Evander and true I did not seek his approval before doing so and he may fault me for that, but I also am no fool. Evander despises him. In the end he would have taken it out of Sir Arn one way or another. Also, I believe that Ser Arn has cleaned up enough of his mess, fixing his poor leadership. The sooner that comes to light the better. Hopefully...before too many souls lose their lives..." He said with a stern grimace.
"I chose to take him away from Evander, not out of spite or to rob you of your 'true Captain', but because I believe he needs room to move. Room that if I know Evander well enough he would not wish to give him. Though it is commendable and speaks highly of you that you dare breach the subject with me on it. It shows your high regard for Sir Arn and such behaviour I can only applaud." A heavy sigh followed, his rainbow coloured eyes darkened as he stared at young Tobi.
"I also believe there is more to this young woman. My instincts and gut are telling me there is more to trouble concerning her, despite what Arn said she is no 'mere refugee'." He took a sip from his glass of water. "I'm not sure what it is, but something puts me on edge. I am also quite certain that Evander would have demanded to interrogate her. I figured I would spare her such harsh treatment and Arn such troubles." He said finishing his food and drink placing the glass down with a little more force to emphasize his point. He then dabbed the corners of his mouth giving Tobias a long calculating look.
"Young Master Tailor, should you ever have need of it... you may come to me for help. Whilst I am not all powerful, know I would not turn you away." He offered as he took another stone from a pouch he carried on his belt before he placed it on the table and pushed it towards the young mage. It was a similar stone to what Arn had received, but this one was a bit more plain, still the V was carved into the stone and it had been sanded to a smooth surface.</s> |
<|description|>Arn
Appearance:
Alias(es): Hellspawn
Age:36
Gender: Male
Description:
Height-5'9
Weight-180
Skin: Tan
Hair: darkish brown
eye colour: dark brown, almost makes it seem like he has no iris
build: Average build as fit as any regular military member
special features,
Magic Type: Mana
Role: Battlemage
Specialty: Elemental magic
Personality:
Quiet
Studious
knowlegable
Lack of sympathy\
Loves sweets
Hates Pirates, criminals, evil doers
Explosive when angered
Background:
Born of Hell's Flames
Arn was born to a mother who had been sold to a brothel by pirates. He never knew why he had been allowed to live when other females merely killed the embryo in utero. Perhaps it was his mother's need for somebody to truly love instead of the myriad of men who visited her bed.
Whatever the case, Arn grew in the rough and deadly environment of vice and vile. Despite this, he still thought that life had more to offer. He grew up really quick, always wanting to take care and protect his mother. He spent his time running from bullies and just trying to survive really. While he hid from the older kids, he would spend his time reading random books he found in the trash. His favorite was of oriental stories of men of valor, strength, and honor.
It was this mentality that steered him in the direction of trying to be a hero. It was one of time that a particularly violent customer visited his mother and he was hiding in the balcony that he attempted to act on his illusions of saving her from that life. He burst in while the man abused his mother. Arn tried to attack the man but ended up getting beat. His mother then tried to protect him and the drunk and angry man beat her unconscious. Thinking her dead, the young boy knocked the man down and in a feat of anger somehow activated his contact with Gea which manifested into an inferno.
Flames engulfed his hands which in turn devoured not only the violent man, but his mother and the building with all in it. Authorities would later report finding the crying boy holding the charred body of a female, his own hands sporting serious burns.
Learning to Temper the Fire
Eventually, it was discovered that the sad angry boy was adept in magic. He was recruited by the military and sent to study at the academy in Belisio. He was too dark, sad, and awkward to be of good social standing. However, he was able to forgo this with the sanctity of the vast library. It was here that he fully threw himself into learning all he could of magic. He felt that in some way, his mother's sacrifice had unlocked this gift in him. It was a way for him to feel closer to her in a world where he felt alone. Due to his focus and innate gift, he was soon a top level student which meant he was in the focus of jealousy and bullying from less capable more influential students. Luckily for him, the military cared nothing for his lack of social know how. Instead, he went on to become the youngest battle mage so far.
Forged in the Fires of War.
Arn was no stranger to death and suffering even before he stepped into the battle field. However, he was too good of a killer even for his superiors. He specially seemed to be extra vicious against pirates or criminals. Many of his squad mates could swear they saw his dark eyes gleam with fire as he incinerated people who had been on the verge of surrendering. This and the fact he preferred fire attacks that earned him the nickname Hellspawn. He was headed towards a court martial when a Knight took him under his wing.
The only reason why Arn listened to him was because the knight reminded him of the oriental warriors he had read in his novels. The Knight taught Arn self control, temperance, and peace. Interestingly enough, this made him an even more efficient killing machine. However, this new facet was much more focused. He still felt no remorse in killing bad people, but his incidents of friendly fire were all but none existent. He won the trust of his squad mates and superiors but the nick name never went away. Indeed, many in the underworld still say the name in hushed tones.
Equipment:
Samurai armor fashioned battle vest that is made of Kevlar plates able to withstand small caliber bullets and some explosives.
Keeps Ornamental Daisho swords but that are still able to be used in battle
Abilities:
Flamethrower- His mana excites the atoms around him and engulfs his hands/feet in flame and able to expel it up to 15FT like a flame thrower
Burst- able to produce an outwardly expanding flame ball with the force of a claymore mine. Produces fire and concussion damage.
Rock Wall: Causes a concentrated seismic reaction that produces a rock wall up to 6ft tall and about 3ft thick.
Avalanche: Able to deteriorate an area of ground by cutting the Aether strings which will cause a collapse of about 3ft deep to an area of a bout 15ft.
Wind Bullet: Able to compress the air around him and fire it off at high velocities.
Wind Cushion: Focuses a high air pressure to form an upward force to slow the rate of descent. Especially effective if used with parachutes or other such devices.
Hydrocannon- synthesizes the moisture into a stream as powerful as a fireman's hose.
Extra: (Optional)</s>
<|message|>Tyrhallan Venray
"Confident as always. Some would say such confidence will not always hold up."
Tyrhallan watched the man shift to a more suitable battle stance. He could sense Leo was adjusting and raising his ki, probably as much as he was. The only difference was where they chose to send that energy.
To Tyr it was spend in a single fraction. What good were barriers and walls when your opponent was already within one's own inner circle. No way to deflect, all that was needed was one strike. It was his preferred method of fighting. Like a Viper or a Falcon swooping down with outstretched talons.
He was about to oblige Leo for once, knowing the young man's reputation and love for the deathly dance.
It would be a good way to warm up indeed and to allow the man to lose some that unspent eager rage. That need for a fight, a gnawing feeling that would overcome every warrior, even someone like himself fell to its powers when he was not careful.
With the battle closing in on them, this might be his only reprieve before the storm.
Tyrhallan needed to silence his own troubled mind, he was about to respond when he noticed that Leo had noticed their spectators.
Or rather the mage who had been quite ready to use his magic on them.
Hearing Leo's words however made him roll his eyes in resignation, could the young man find some more wisdom in the silence of his tongue instead of using it to start another fight to release the bottled up desires. He was itching for a fight all right, by all accounts he best prevent the fool from being burst into flames.
He turned as well facing the mage and those behind him with a stern but friendly expression, holding up his hand in a gentle gesture.
"All is well, there is no need for your well-meant interference Battle Mage. Keep your watchful eye though, for I believe it will prove lifesaving in the battle to come. Be assured for I have control over this particular situation."
To Leo he send a look of 'Don't goad them. This is not the time.'</s>
<|message|>Arn
Arn lowered his arms when Leo addressed him. He cancelled his connection with Gia and the casting ceased immediately. The feeling in his stomach dissipated and his heart rate went back to normal. He gave Leo a quizzical look. Most of sarcasm was lost on the battle mage. He wondered why there was an annoyed feeling in the air.
Apparently, he had walked in on another Knightly duel. Knights often dueled for honor, or to prove something or etc. While there was some sort of unwritten rule that Knights and mages were to never get along this fell along the lines of politics for him and he cared little for it. He never even knew what the disagreement was supposed to be anyway. When the knight with noble demeanor utilized his politically correct address the battle mage shrugged.
"I did not mean to intervene in any sort of practice or sparring session. However, as you are well aware gentlemen, training must be routed via the appropriate channels and sanctioned by the Commanding Officer. Unless, immediate training is necessary to ensure efficient and safe mission completion. If this was a sparing session, the rules state that there must be at least a witness to prevent any sparring from veering into brawls."
He approached the pair. He moved easily and confidently. He was not much shorter than Dalmer. He could appreciate both the knight's stature and obvious fitness levels. If a spar match was to ensue, the mage had no doubt that they would give a good show. This gave him an idea and addressed the warriors in an even but respectful tone.
"I understand that you gentlemen would like to blow off some steam instead of all this waiting. Honestly, I think your spar would perhaps serve as a diversion for the junior personnel which would boost their morale and prevent any last minute jitter from setting in." He looked both directly in the eyes. He did not care for politics but he cared for the lives of men and women who served in the military. Arn would do his best to keep as many alive as he could even if that meant his own death.</s>
<|message|>Leo Dalmer
I couldn't help it, Leo gestured back with an elaborate shrug.
As the mage spoke again however, it quickly became apparent that he would provide no amusement and his words soon became noise to Leo as he wondered what kind of magic the man might have used on him.
Leo had fought mages before, but try as he might, he never could decipher what the signs of their power meant before taking form and effect. Whether it was a slight shimmer in the air, almost imperceptible to the untrained eye, or the physical movements of the mages themselves, it was impossible to read. All Leo knew was to get out of the way before anything happened and launch a counter attack as quickly as possible.
A horizontal slash towards the neck, unprotected by the armour, Leo thought as he imagined ways of killing the mage in a combat scenario, resisting the impulsive urge to do it for real.
Then with an abruptness that was almost surprising, the mage stepped forward to approach the two knights, close enough for Leo to see the man's brown eyes and startlingly small irises. This time, Leo could not help paying close attention as the mage spoke.
"Well, how about that," Leo said, nodding with approval as he turned towards Tyrhallan. "What do you say, Captain? Shall we put on a show for them?"</s>
<|message|>Tyrhallan Venray
Tyrhallan unlike Leo listened patiently to the Battlemage. He observed the shift in demeanour and carefully took a long reading look over the man, who appeared closer to him in age, but with mages one couldn't really tell.
He was a bit perturbed by the man to lecture 'him' of all people on the rules, but he chastised himself stating that he most likely would have done the same thing. Nevertheless, it rubbed him the wrong way. He would have to find out the man's name later and make a mental note of it...if his underlings ever complained about his strictness towards the rules he would drag up this guy.
Still to his surprise and that of he actually proposed to turn their little warm up into a proper sparring match.
He pondered the request not showing his immediate thoughts on the matter, unlike Dalmer who's eagerness was akin to that of dog waiting for its treat.
He turned his gaze towards the sky again as if he was listening or searching for something, before a soft exclamation of breath was given in agreement.
"Very well and considering your own contribution to this sparring match Battle Mage, you can be the Arbiter." He said as he narrowed his eyes. "After all someone has to oversee the rules and judging of the match, someone as impartial as you would do nicely."</s>
| <|message|>Arn
Arn felt both men studying him. He felt no danger or awkwardness from this. He actually expected it from veteran soldiers which actually spoke beneficially for the two knights. They were appraising him not on the looks of his clothes or age but on actual battle efficiency and theat. He felt it only proper that he would do the same. It was easy to see that these two had seen many battles. Real ones at that. The way they held their weapons was very comfortable, very learned. The knights had managed to meld with their weapons to the point that it was part of them. Just as one forgets they have toes or arms until they are needed.
The battlemage's eyes fluttered to Leo, who enthusiastically agreed to the proposal. It was not hard to imagine that the knight enjoyed the thrill of battle. After all, the clang of steel and the din of battle are but songs to an battle happy heart. His attention was demanded by the hidden tone in the other knight's tone. While polite and proper, Arn had been on the receiving end of such tones all his military career. He had no problem sharing his origin and his mother's occupation. Disrespect of either of these however, would land him in the brig again or perhaps in the stocks.
Instead of feeling annoyed or irritated at the condescending tone the obviously nobly birthed warrior sent his way, Arn merely shrugged. The battlemage's own tone was calm and almost monotone. "I will readily be the Arbiter. For ease of communication allow me to introduce myself. I am Arn of the second Battlemage battalion, the Shooting Stars. I have no family name." He offered this last statement as a way to prevent any further questioning not as a way of apology.
"I do not believe that rules and procedures would need to be enforced in a battle between knights. It is understood that your honor is your bond. The match rules will be simple. The battle ends upon loss of consciousness or forfeit. However, I will ensure that no excessive force is used and would like to ask you gentlemen do not feel honor bound to prevent defeat. After all, tomorrow will require all available swords." His tone was without feeling but his words could be construed as insulting. Arn however merely held the two knights gaze.
"Might I suggest we move this to marshalling spot B? I believe that they have yet to fully utilize it for the on load of stores." He turned his head in the direction though he was sure that they would know where that was. All squad leaders and supervisors had been given muster orders and locations.</s> |
<|description|>Arn
Appearance:
Alias(es): Hellspawn
Age:36
Gender: Male
Description:
Height-5'9
Weight-180
Skin: Tan
Hair: darkish brown
eye colour: dark brown, almost makes it seem like he has no iris
build: Average build as fit as any regular military member
special features,
Magic Type: Mana
Role: Battlemage
Specialty: Elemental magic
Personality:
Quiet
Studious
knowlegable
Lack of sympathy\
Loves sweets
Hates Pirates, criminals, evil doers
Explosive when angered
Background:
Born of Hell's Flames
Arn was born to a mother who had been sold to a brothel by pirates. He never knew why he had been allowed to live when other females merely killed the embryo in utero. Perhaps it was his mother's need for somebody to truly love instead of the myriad of men who visited her bed.
Whatever the case, Arn grew in the rough and deadly environment of vice and vile. Despite this, he still thought that life had more to offer. He grew up really quick, always wanting to take care and protect his mother. He spent his time running from bullies and just trying to survive really. While he hid from the older kids, he would spend his time reading random books he found in the trash. His favorite was of oriental stories of men of valor, strength, and honor.
It was this mentality that steered him in the direction of trying to be a hero. It was one of time that a particularly violent customer visited his mother and he was hiding in the balcony that he attempted to act on his illusions of saving her from that life. He burst in while the man abused his mother. Arn tried to attack the man but ended up getting beat. His mother then tried to protect him and the drunk and angry man beat her unconscious. Thinking her dead, the young boy knocked the man down and in a feat of anger somehow activated his contact with Gea which manifested into an inferno.
Flames engulfed his hands which in turn devoured not only the violent man, but his mother and the building with all in it. Authorities would later report finding the crying boy holding the charred body of a female, his own hands sporting serious burns.
Learning to Temper the Fire
Eventually, it was discovered that the sad angry boy was adept in magic. He was recruited by the military and sent to study at the academy in Belisio. He was too dark, sad, and awkward to be of good social standing. However, he was able to forgo this with the sanctity of the vast library. It was here that he fully threw himself into learning all he could of magic. He felt that in some way, his mother's sacrifice had unlocked this gift in him. It was a way for him to feel closer to her in a world where he felt alone. Due to his focus and innate gift, he was soon a top level student which meant he was in the focus of jealousy and bullying from less capable more influential students. Luckily for him, the military cared nothing for his lack of social know how. Instead, he went on to become the youngest battle mage so far.
Forged in the Fires of War.
Arn was no stranger to death and suffering even before he stepped into the battle field. However, he was too good of a killer even for his superiors. He specially seemed to be extra vicious against pirates or criminals. Many of his squad mates could swear they saw his dark eyes gleam with fire as he incinerated people who had been on the verge of surrendering. This and the fact he preferred fire attacks that earned him the nickname Hellspawn. He was headed towards a court martial when a Knight took him under his wing.
The only reason why Arn listened to him was because the knight reminded him of the oriental warriors he had read in his novels. The Knight taught Arn self control, temperance, and peace. Interestingly enough, this made him an even more efficient killing machine. However, this new facet was much more focused. He still felt no remorse in killing bad people, but his incidents of friendly fire were all but none existent. He won the trust of his squad mates and superiors but the nick name never went away. Indeed, many in the underworld still say the name in hushed tones.
Equipment:
Samurai armor fashioned battle vest that is made of Kevlar plates able to withstand small caliber bullets and some explosives.
Keeps Ornamental Daisho swords but that are still able to be used in battle
Abilities:
Flamethrower- His mana excites the atoms around him and engulfs his hands/feet in flame and able to expel it up to 15FT like a flame thrower
Burst- able to produce an outwardly expanding flame ball with the force of a claymore mine. Produces fire and concussion damage.
Rock Wall: Causes a concentrated seismic reaction that produces a rock wall up to 6ft tall and about 3ft thick.
Avalanche: Able to deteriorate an area of ground by cutting the Aether strings which will cause a collapse of about 3ft deep to an area of a bout 15ft.
Wind Bullet: Able to compress the air around him and fire it off at high velocities.
Wind Cushion: Focuses a high air pressure to form an upward force to slow the rate of descent. Especially effective if used with parachutes or other such devices.
Hydrocannon- synthesizes the moisture into a stream as powerful as a fireman's hose.
Extra: (Optional)</s>
<|message|>Tyrhallan Venray
Tyrhallan's eyes changed for a moment at the mentioning of the man's name and Battalion.
The fact he was still alive, was quite miraculous. Not unlike his own Vanguard Battalion they were close to the front, they usually took the hardest hits, since the main focus would be on them, unlike Tyrhallan's who were truthfully more comparable to raiders.
Knives with stealth, leaving the enemy in disarray.
The insulting string of words Arn let out would have earned him a couple of demands for a Duel if he was facing any other knight.
"Yes, thank you." He said curtly and coldly, keeping in mind that the man either simply didn't care for manners or simply wasn't aware of his own rude behaviour.
Tyrhallan wasn't going to flare up for this man's enjoyment. As far as he was concerned if the man was actively trying to goad him into a reponse then he was truly to be pitied indeed.
It also didn't contribute to the actual sparring match.
Tyrhallan wouldn't bite anyway, he stepped away from them, making sure he gave orders to his Sergeant before disappearing, though as soon as his men would hear of the Duel they would want to observe it. It was only fair that he would inform them.
"We will reconvene at your suggested location."
Undoubtedly the bets would be placed.</s>
<|message|>Leo Dalmer
"Finally," Leo drawled as he hung his sabre over his neck and followed after Tyrhallan with a swaggering gait.
The Spider had more than enough of all this talking, but looking back at the hilltop they were leaving behind, he couldn't help feeling a tinge of regret for moving away from that spot. Two knights crossing swords atop a hill in the light of dusk, nothing could have made a more ideal scenery. Then again however, there was something to be said for the wide open space and even ground of a windswept meadow such as the one they were heading towards.
"Here will do," Leo said as he lowered his sabre, letting it trail over the stalks of grass all around them before turning to face the Crimson Rider. "What do you think?"
Seeing soldiers and other onlookers pointing at them from a distance, Leo smirked as he continued while taking up the same guard stance from before, "Ready to demonstrate how a knight talks?"</s>
<|message|>Tyrhallan Venray
Tyrhallan took the liberty of informing Sergeant Firenze of his sparring match, telling him for the time being he had command whilst he was occupied with his opponent.
Naturally the most curious of the bunch caught on and eagerly informed the others.
"Cap'n is gonna fight Spider. This is gonna be good."
"My money is on the Captain bet you 5 silverlings he's gonna make the boy eat dust..."
"Nah, I'll put my money on the Spider, I've seen him fight before, he's got some mean moves."
Tyrhallan ignored the other knights as they saw the opportunity to start a betting pool and placing bets.
His men eager to see the outcome followed quickly in his shadow as they moved towards their 'new arena'.
Here will do," Leo said as he lowered his sabre, letting it trail over the stalks of grass all around them before turning to face the Crimson Rider. "What do you think?"
His eyes ran over the desired area, following the lay of the land, the sweet early summergrass glowing golden as the wind sung through it.
He looked back at Leo and gave a single strong, weightful nod, before he watched the sun for a moment more.
Quickly the men began with setting up the ring, a large set of circles were drawn in the meadow, the grass flattened to establish the small little world Tyrhallan and Leo would contain themselves to.
A knights world.
A world wherein you waltzed with Death.
If the men did not take care and restrained themselves to a fine lined degree their dance would end...forever...
He watched Leo smirk, eagerly taking up the same guarding stance once more.
"Ready to demonstrate how a knight talks?"
Tyrhallan smiled at those words allowing a pause to fall as he moved fluidly, nonchalantly into position.
"Dalmer, tell me...What defines you?"
"What will you tell Death when Death finally shows you its face?"
"When it has had enough and is tired of all those poor fools that have had the sad predicament of being in the way of your blade?"
"Will you embrace it or will you battle it, I wonder..." Tyrhallan said as he slid his own blade out of its sheath.
As he held it up he gazed for a moment in the black abyss that reflected his image.
There were few that ever had the good fortune to see the unsheathed sword. This was due to Tyrhallan's fightingstyle and if they did, it was usually the last thing that flashed before their eyes, before they met the sharp steel of 'Fatebringer'.
As the wind changed so did Tyrhallan.
The wrist of his right arm turned and the blade rotated with it, its glint eerie, as it almost seemed that the rays of sunlight that reached the blade were slashed into a broken myriad of colours.
The predatory gaze had returned, his eyes darkened as his arm moved in a creeping pace into its position.
Starting in an open Vom Tag position he waited for the Arbiter to start off their little sparring match.
The muscles and nerves in his legs tightening and straining to literally burst into action. As soon as Arn had opened their match, Tyrhallan, true to his name, dove forwards at his opponent with a terrifying speed. Bringing in a mastercut, using his speed and momentum to swing the blade upward and tilt it. Knowing his opponent used speed in his attacks and dodges too not allowing Leo to simply block his blow.
Now it would come down to technique and skill.
As the blades collided, they sung, Tyrhallan turned his Zwerchhau inward, knowing most opponents would be too off guard by the first strike, that the follow up often was fatal.
He also knew that Leo wasn't a fool and had talent, but he would be pleased if their fight lasted for bit longer at the least.
[url](For the move youtube.com/watch?v=yejU_Cq8Qzs for those interested)[/url]</s>
| <|message|>Arn
Arn followed the pair to the designated area. He gave a sweeping look towards those in the vicinity. Almost as if it could be sensed in the air, heads started to turn to their passing. He noticed that the White haired knight seemed to command respect. A very obvious shield with two crossed swords became evident. How had he missed that? The battlemage's opinion of the man grew some. If the white haired knight was indeed the commanding officer, and if Arn remembered his knight ranks correctly he was, then the amount of reservation and propriety at Arn's apparent impudence was astronomical. Most knights, especially high born ones, would have lashed him with tongue and later maybe even with a proper cat o nine tails.
As it was, Arn had observed some dissatisfaction register on the face of the knight but he had attributed it to the way he usually talks which off puts people. Their short walk to the designated area had gathered quite the following. The news of the match spreading like waves upon a still lake. The anticipation was brimming on the eyes of those starting to gather. A group of designated men prepared the area eagerly. He caught the names and code names of the knights' he had been so bold as to lecture.
It seemed like the white haired Knight was indeed the Captain Tyrhallan in command of the current outfit which he and his mage battalion had been assigned to. The other, as he had suspected upon hearing the family name was the one named the Spider. Both were renowned fighters and the usually calm and collected battlemage started to feel a twinge of excitement at being able to witness their prowess. In battle, its hard to actually measure a man's skill as any move that wounds or kills is a good one. Even efficient fighters must sometimes sacrifice finesse for numbers in the battle field. But here, it was just the two of them. Only skill would determine the victor.
Sensing the impatience of those gathered added to his own desire to witness a good show, Arn pronounced loud and clear the match to begin. A burst of noise followed. Jeers, cheers and swears stirred a cacophony that would have been appropriate if this was a covert mission. Their position on the hill would perhaps work to their advantage. The ruckus might travel to the village of Presper. Any person in favor of the Belisian's would take the noise as a sign of hope. Those that would raise arms against them would interpret it as a sign of danger.
Whatever the case, the fight was underway. Despite the chaos on the sidelines, the two fighters were all on their world own inside the circles. Arn himself was captivated by the dance that the knights had embarked upon. He would be able to learn about these me in each strike. For though he was only a mage, he appreciated all aspects of martial prowess. The battlemage gulped as he felt more than saw the disturbance in the Aether fields around the two opponents. After all, blade wilders tapped in a different way to the life force of Gia.
This match was indeed something to devote one's attention to.</s> |
<|description|>Arn
Appearance:
Alias(es): Hellspawn
Age:36
Gender: Male
Description:
Height-5'9
Weight-180
Skin: Tan
Hair: darkish brown
eye colour: dark brown, almost makes it seem like he has no iris
build: Average build as fit as any regular military member
special features,
Magic Type: Mana
Role: Battlemage
Specialty: Elemental magic
Personality:
Quiet
Studious
knowlegable
Lack of sympathy\
Loves sweets
Hates Pirates, criminals, evil doers
Explosive when angered
Background:
Born of Hell's Flames
Arn was born to a mother who had been sold to a brothel by pirates. He never knew why he had been allowed to live when other females merely killed the embryo in utero. Perhaps it was his mother's need for somebody to truly love instead of the myriad of men who visited her bed.
Whatever the case, Arn grew in the rough and deadly environment of vice and vile. Despite this, he still thought that life had more to offer. He grew up really quick, always wanting to take care and protect his mother. He spent his time running from bullies and just trying to survive really. While he hid from the older kids, he would spend his time reading random books he found in the trash. His favorite was of oriental stories of men of valor, strength, and honor.
It was this mentality that steered him in the direction of trying to be a hero. It was one of time that a particularly violent customer visited his mother and he was hiding in the balcony that he attempted to act on his illusions of saving her from that life. He burst in while the man abused his mother. Arn tried to attack the man but ended up getting beat. His mother then tried to protect him and the drunk and angry man beat her unconscious. Thinking her dead, the young boy knocked the man down and in a feat of anger somehow activated his contact with Gea which manifested into an inferno.
Flames engulfed his hands which in turn devoured not only the violent man, but his mother and the building with all in it. Authorities would later report finding the crying boy holding the charred body of a female, his own hands sporting serious burns.
Learning to Temper the Fire
Eventually, it was discovered that the sad angry boy was adept in magic. He was recruited by the military and sent to study at the academy in Belisio. He was too dark, sad, and awkward to be of good social standing. However, he was able to forgo this with the sanctity of the vast library. It was here that he fully threw himself into learning all he could of magic. He felt that in some way, his mother's sacrifice had unlocked this gift in him. It was a way for him to feel closer to her in a world where he felt alone. Due to his focus and innate gift, he was soon a top level student which meant he was in the focus of jealousy and bullying from less capable more influential students. Luckily for him, the military cared nothing for his lack of social know how. Instead, he went on to become the youngest battle mage so far.
Forged in the Fires of War.
Arn was no stranger to death and suffering even before he stepped into the battle field. However, he was too good of a killer even for his superiors. He specially seemed to be extra vicious against pirates or criminals. Many of his squad mates could swear they saw his dark eyes gleam with fire as he incinerated people who had been on the verge of surrendering. This and the fact he preferred fire attacks that earned him the nickname Hellspawn. He was headed towards a court martial when a Knight took him under his wing.
The only reason why Arn listened to him was because the knight reminded him of the oriental warriors he had read in his novels. The Knight taught Arn self control, temperance, and peace. Interestingly enough, this made him an even more efficient killing machine. However, this new facet was much more focused. He still felt no remorse in killing bad people, but his incidents of friendly fire were all but none existent. He won the trust of his squad mates and superiors but the nick name never went away. Indeed, many in the underworld still say the name in hushed tones.
Equipment:
Samurai armor fashioned battle vest that is made of Kevlar plates able to withstand small caliber bullets and some explosives.
Keeps Ornamental Daisho swords but that are still able to be used in battle
Abilities:
Flamethrower- His mana excites the atoms around him and engulfs his hands/feet in flame and able to expel it up to 15FT like a flame thrower
Burst- able to produce an outwardly expanding flame ball with the force of a claymore mine. Produces fire and concussion damage.
Rock Wall: Causes a concentrated seismic reaction that produces a rock wall up to 6ft tall and about 3ft thick.
Avalanche: Able to deteriorate an area of ground by cutting the Aether strings which will cause a collapse of about 3ft deep to an area of a bout 15ft.
Wind Bullet: Able to compress the air around him and fire it off at high velocities.
Wind Cushion: Focuses a high air pressure to form an upward force to slow the rate of descent. Especially effective if used with parachutes or other such devices.
Hydrocannon- synthesizes the moisture into a stream as powerful as a fireman's hose.
Extra: (Optional)</s>
<|message|>Leo Dalmer
The soldier approached Tyrhallan and gave a short bow as he continued, "Orders from the king, sir. The enemy vanguard is near and their scouts are following the refugee ships crossing the border, presumably using them as a shield to prevent us from using our guns. You're to gather reinforcements and move to intercept immediately, engaging by boarding action. The dropship will be at your disposal."
Overhearing the conversation, Leo sheathed his sabre as he called out to the soldier, "What are their numbers?"
"Three frigates, sir."
The news caused a ripple of murmurs among the soldiers, but Leo only smiled cheerfully as he turned to Tyrhallan and said, "Looks like we get to be first in the fray. Lucky us."
And he meant it too. Only the Silver Spider could be so earnestly delighted by the prospect of an impending battle.
"So asides from me, who else will you be taking?" Leo asked as he jerked his head towards Arn. "Him?"</s>
<|message|>Tyrhallan Venray
Tyrhallan listened quietly hearing the men's murmur and buzz as the news startled them all.
The eager anticipation of the Spider however was alarming, were it not that Tyrhallan knew him well enough and had on occasion tried to talk some sense into him, however futile the effort might be.
If the Vaimese Vanguard send out three frigates, then undoubtedly they meant to strike hard and fast. It's ploy to create such a disarray that their lines would easily be scattered and broken...and if they were not halted there would be little indeed that would be able to pose a threat to them.
"How long before they reach us?"
"Within the hour, the high rise winds have picked up and there's a stormy Western current, undoubtedly created by magic."
Tyrhallan nodded before he raised his hand commanding the attention of his men.
"All right that's enough of that..." He spoke aloud, silencing the murmurs and nervous gossip.
"My brave brothers and sisters, this is the hour we are called to battle.
I will not lie to you. The enemy we face is one that has send many a nation to crumble, but even giants stumble and fall. And if we do not stop them in their tracks they will do the same to our kingdom. Remember! To robbery, slaughter, plunder, they give the lying name of empire; they make a desert and dare call it peace.
Fight!
Fight not just for me or yourselves...Fight for those that cannot.
Fight for that is our vow. Protect and defend the weak.
Fight and we will send the dogs packing, with their tails tucked between their legs.
For they do not fight for hearth and home.
We do.
For we are Knights!
For Hearth and Home! For Belisio!"
Tyrhallan finished his rallying speech.
As his men started chanted along before falling into position grabbing further gear and awaiting further orders.
Tyrhallan eyed his Senior Knight and two others who were more familiar with his tactics. Men of standing and reputation with the men.
"Sarban, take 5 men of your choosing and approach them from the left flank. Cut us an opening, attack plan Osprey. Firenze, you're taking a handful of your sharpest blades and go lie in wait, set up a series of crossfires get to the refugees and pull them out, the rest will follow old Tyndale. Hold the Fort, till our own forces relieve you.
I'll be taking a few for a circling attack; The Peregrine." He said as the appointed men gathered closer listening intently. The mentioned knights nodded selecting their needed hands for this plan of action, explaining further actions to the newer faces amongst them.
Tyrhallan turned to Dalmer and to Arn.
"You two are coming with me, if we get separated, do what you must to halt the enemy's advances. Dalmer...do not make me regret giving you free reign on this. We need to hit hard, preferably taking them out if we can..." He said as his eyes hardened again.
"Move out. We'll take the Dropship."</s>
| <|message|>Arn
Arn did not to rely on his tactical and mage training to let him know what the news entailed. He had seen this scene played out many times. It seemed that such news always arrived at the exact moment that soldiers least wanted them. Why could the not come when everyone was fired up for battle and in full battle gear? No they came when men were leisure-ing about. This meant that the squad leaders and other officers had to gather them like scattered kittens and re focus them into tigers and lions.
The battlemage however, was an old veteran He knew that one needed to strike hard and strike fast. That would get the wheels of battle in motion and those who remembered and abided by their training would survive and make the wheel that much more efficient. He did not even care to listen to the rest of the message as he made his way to were his gear lay. With an efficient and practiced manner he un hooked his red tinged battle vest and swung it over his head. It rested snug as he secured the claps. His bare arms free of the sleeves that all battlemages wore to signify rank. This was the reason many confused him with a novice or apprentice. Few knew that he was actually just below if not a master already.
Arn verified his Daisho was secured and made his way back. There was a ripple as the news made its way to the corners of the host gathered on the hill top. He caught bits of it as he made his way back. Some from his battalion had seen him gear up and those who had been in battle with him before moved to do the same. They knew that Arn thought himself as a weapon no different that the blades at his waist. They also knew that one does not harness a sword unless there is some need for it.
He got back in time to listen to the last notes of what had been no doubt a rousing speech if the mood of the knights that were now mobilizing was any clue. He did not care much for such things. What he did care was what the captain did next. He efficiently directed his troops. The smoothness at which his knights operated and carried out his orders was a testament to Tyrhallan's own leadership style.
The usually expressionless Arn flared his eyes in amazement. The knight captain had requested he and the Spider come with him. Under normal circumstances the battlemage would have respectfully refused as his Lieutenant would have to be the ones giving out the orders. However, he was intrigued by both these men. He had seen just a glimpse of their skills in their duel. Arn wanted to see these skills in the heat of battle.
This desire was nothing so base as to witness brutal carnage.. As a man who thought of himself as nothing more of a weapon, it would be great to see two masters of the craft wielding theirs.
Arn shrugged his acknowledgement of the request/order from the silver haired knight. "Very well, if I can be of assistance I will follow you." His tone did not betray his inner musings. He partly turned to a younger battle mage who had approached him after he had seen Arn gear up. "Tobi, please let the Captain know that I will be accompanying Knight Captain Tyrhallan on….on second thought, tell him you have not seen me if he asks." The younger battlemage gave him a smirk. Arn shook his head as if denying the unspoken thoughts in the young one's mind. "I just don't see the point of both of us getting a lecture prior to the battle. I will deal with the aftermath when I return."
With that the young one took off at a trot towards the line of gear where the rest of the battlemages had now gathered to don on gear. Arn followed the young figure for a second or two and then turned to both knights. "I am at your disposal and am ready to depart as you wish."</s> |
<|description|>Arn
Appearance:
Alias(es): Hellspawn
Age:36
Gender: Male
Description:
Height-5'9
Weight-180
Skin: Tan
Hair: darkish brown
eye colour: dark brown, almost makes it seem like he has no iris
build: Average build as fit as any regular military member
special features,
Magic Type: Mana
Role: Battlemage
Specialty: Elemental magic
Personality:
Quiet
Studious
knowlegable
Lack of sympathy\
Loves sweets
Hates Pirates, criminals, evil doers
Explosive when angered
Background:
Born of Hell's Flames
Arn was born to a mother who had been sold to a brothel by pirates. He never knew why he had been allowed to live when other females merely killed the embryo in utero. Perhaps it was his mother's need for somebody to truly love instead of the myriad of men who visited her bed.
Whatever the case, Arn grew in the rough and deadly environment of vice and vile. Despite this, he still thought that life had more to offer. He grew up really quick, always wanting to take care and protect his mother. He spent his time running from bullies and just trying to survive really. While he hid from the older kids, he would spend his time reading random books he found in the trash. His favorite was of oriental stories of men of valor, strength, and honor.
It was this mentality that steered him in the direction of trying to be a hero. It was one of time that a particularly violent customer visited his mother and he was hiding in the balcony that he attempted to act on his illusions of saving her from that life. He burst in while the man abused his mother. Arn tried to attack the man but ended up getting beat. His mother then tried to protect him and the drunk and angry man beat her unconscious. Thinking her dead, the young boy knocked the man down and in a feat of anger somehow activated his contact with Gea which manifested into an inferno.
Flames engulfed his hands which in turn devoured not only the violent man, but his mother and the building with all in it. Authorities would later report finding the crying boy holding the charred body of a female, his own hands sporting serious burns.
Learning to Temper the Fire
Eventually, it was discovered that the sad angry boy was adept in magic. He was recruited by the military and sent to study at the academy in Belisio. He was too dark, sad, and awkward to be of good social standing. However, he was able to forgo this with the sanctity of the vast library. It was here that he fully threw himself into learning all he could of magic. He felt that in some way, his mother's sacrifice had unlocked this gift in him. It was a way for him to feel closer to her in a world where he felt alone. Due to his focus and innate gift, he was soon a top level student which meant he was in the focus of jealousy and bullying from less capable more influential students. Luckily for him, the military cared nothing for his lack of social know how. Instead, he went on to become the youngest battle mage so far.
Forged in the Fires of War.
Arn was no stranger to death and suffering even before he stepped into the battle field. However, he was too good of a killer even for his superiors. He specially seemed to be extra vicious against pirates or criminals. Many of his squad mates could swear they saw his dark eyes gleam with fire as he incinerated people who had been on the verge of surrendering. This and the fact he preferred fire attacks that earned him the nickname Hellspawn. He was headed towards a court martial when a Knight took him under his wing.
The only reason why Arn listened to him was because the knight reminded him of the oriental warriors he had read in his novels. The Knight taught Arn self control, temperance, and peace. Interestingly enough, this made him an even more efficient killing machine. However, this new facet was much more focused. He still felt no remorse in killing bad people, but his incidents of friendly fire were all but none existent. He won the trust of his squad mates and superiors but the nick name never went away. Indeed, many in the underworld still say the name in hushed tones.
Equipment:
Samurai armor fashioned battle vest that is made of Kevlar plates able to withstand small caliber bullets and some explosives.
Keeps Ornamental Daisho swords but that are still able to be used in battle
Abilities:
Flamethrower- His mana excites the atoms around him and engulfs his hands/feet in flame and able to expel it up to 15FT like a flame thrower
Burst- able to produce an outwardly expanding flame ball with the force of a claymore mine. Produces fire and concussion damage.
Rock Wall: Causes a concentrated seismic reaction that produces a rock wall up to 6ft tall and about 3ft thick.
Avalanche: Able to deteriorate an area of ground by cutting the Aether strings which will cause a collapse of about 3ft deep to an area of a bout 15ft.
Wind Bullet: Able to compress the air around him and fire it off at high velocities.
Wind Cushion: Focuses a high air pressure to form an upward force to slow the rate of descent. Especially effective if used with parachutes or other such devices.
Hydrocannon- synthesizes the moisture into a stream as powerful as a fireman's hose.
Extra: (Optional)</s>
<|message|>Leo Dalmer
Leo listened with some interest as Tyrhallan recounted his struggle against the Vaimese captain. Though the details were sparse and to the point, one thing was clear. The enemy was strong, perhaps as strong as the Knight Commander himself, Chisom Balthair the Black Bull. As Leo knew from personal experience, three knights together could not equal the Knight Commander's strength and this Captain Aurelia had managed to defeat two in close combat, vanquishing one and routing the other.
Now that he knew the circumstances of Abene Itzal's death, regret began to stir in the Spider's heart as he imagined what could have been had he accompanied Tyrhallan rather than the battlemage. The regret came not from the loss of a fellow knight, but the loss of an opportunity to truly test his blade and though the soldiers of Vaim proved a worthier challenge than some marauding band of pirate scum, Leo could not help feeling like he had been cheated out of something more. All of a sudden, the thrill of battle he had experienced earlier seemed to become cheap and unsatisfactory.
What a waste, he thought ruefully as he stared down at the cast on his leg and said, "So that's it then, we're going to miss the show at Presper... I wonder how it's going right now."
Looking up at the ceiling, Leo tried to picture the entire Vaimese war fleet clashing against the Belisian Hearthguard and when he realized that the scope of such a battle was far too large to envision, he simply shrugged and continued, "Well look on the bright side, if we lose then you won't have to worry about notifying anyone. We'll either be dead or enslaved. Anyways, I got what I came here for."
As Leo turned to leave, he nodded his head towards Arn and said, "Now that I know the mage is still alive, I can sleep a little better at night knowing who to turn to whenever my tea gets cold. And if it makes you feel any better, Venray, I'll annoy the shit out of whoever they replace you with. You can count on that, sir. In the meantime, I'll be off to my next objective."
With a companionable clap on Tyrhallan's shoulder, Leo departed from the room and called out as he hobbled off on his crutches, "You know they're serving salmon in the cafeteria? Actual salmon! I thought they were extinct!"</s>
<|message|>Eilis
"So that's it then, we're going to miss the show at Presper... I wonder how it's going right now."
"Well look on the bright side, if we lose then you won't have to worry about notifying anyone. We'll either be dead or enslaved. Anyways, I got what I came here for. Now that I know the mage is still alive, I can sleep a little better at night knowing who to turn to whenever my tea gets cold. And if it makes you feel any better, Venray, I'll annoy the shit out of whoever they replace you with. You can count on that, sir. In the meantime, I'll be off to my next objective."
Tyrhallan couldn't help but smile at that last remark of the Spider feeling the clap on his shoulder.
"You know they're serving salmon in the cafeteria? Actual salmon! I thought they were extinct!"
"Never doubted you Dalmer and you know what that means right? Either it is a fake or some radioactive spawn. Real wild Salmon are as rare as albino dragons." Tyrhallan called after him.
Eilis who had been silent up until this point heard the final words of this strange man as he walked off. She pulled at Arn's clothing.
"What's a salmon?" Showing her unfamiliairity with it, clearly someone as well read as Eilis should know what salmon was, yet the expression that was displayed for the men to see was inquisitive. She was serious she did not know.
"A fish young lady. A very tasty and filling fish. I'll see if I can wrestle some free from Dalmer's clutches and send it down to you both. Sir Arn, just...keep an eye on her." He stated following after the Spider leaving the two alone again.</s>
| <|message|>Arn
Arn understood Leo's sentiment. His was not due to a thirst for battle but at feeling useless. He was a weapon that would be left at home and not even have the privilege of seeing the battle. Many of his junior mages would participate, who knows how many would die.
He pursed his lips knowing full well that their Captain, a mage called Evander Alessan, would try to seek glory at the expense of the lives of his men. The only qualification the man held was being of noble birth. The man hated Arn because though not being openly rebellious, the senior mage was basically untouchable being short of a war hero.
He had been punished many times by serving extra time cleaning the barracks etc. but nothing that would seriously affect Arn. Indeed, many of the junior mages felt it was Arn who was truly the leader in the Shooting Stars. They would often follow his direction in battle and looked to Tobi as a sort of older brother.
The apprentice mage of course did not dissuade this sort of thinking riding on the coat tails of Arn. Yet none, not even Arn, could reject the fact that many of the young men were still alive due to his experience in battle and his ability to make decisions that were practical and not the book version tactics of Evander.
The battlemage's eyes shifted to Tobi. While he held not sort of deep connection with the lad he still felt responsible for him. The young man caught a glance of the other's gaze and nodded understanding. The younger man knew that Arn was entrusting the squad to him. In the heat of battle when all the fancy plans that Evander came up with would shatter on first impact, it would be the quick thinking of the lad that would save as many as possible.
As if taking his cue from Leo, Tobi gave a smart ass salute to Arn "Well, if this is to be my last meal, I guess radioative fish sounds just as good as any." He gave the senior mage a smirk. "Besides, I think you are in better company that I could provide huh boss?" The irreverent little guy turned and left ignoring a pircing glace from his senior.
Arn turned to Eilis as she pulled his robe but before he could answer her question, Tyrhallan answered for him. It surprised the battlemage that she did not know. However, from what he had gathered her education probably centered on magical literature and anything that could enhance her gift. He wondered if such one track minded education was true of all the Viemese military. If that was the case, then they face fanatics who had been breed to believe in their own superiority and cuse. This made them extremely dangerous.
The senior mage nodded at Tyrhallan's request/order. Arn still felt bad about not being completely honest with a man who had been nothing but open with him but still his word was a bond he could not break. He turned to Eilis. "That was the Knight Captain I was talking to you about. I hope that you can come to trust him and reveal your secret to him. He would be a great ally to have."
Arn sighed as he sat back down. "Although if what he said was true, the future is riding on this upcoming battle"</s> |
<|description|>Arn
Appearance:
Alias(es): Hellspawn
Age:36
Gender: Male
Description:
Height-5'9
Weight-180
Skin: Tan
Hair: darkish brown
eye colour: dark brown, almost makes it seem like he has no iris
build: Average build as fit as any regular military member
special features,
Magic Type: Mana
Role: Battlemage
Specialty: Elemental magic
Personality:
Quiet
Studious
knowlegable
Lack of sympathy\
Loves sweets
Hates Pirates, criminals, evil doers
Explosive when angered
Background:
Born of Hell's Flames
Arn was born to a mother who had been sold to a brothel by pirates. He never knew why he had been allowed to live when other females merely killed the embryo in utero. Perhaps it was his mother's need for somebody to truly love instead of the myriad of men who visited her bed.
Whatever the case, Arn grew in the rough and deadly environment of vice and vile. Despite this, he still thought that life had more to offer. He grew up really quick, always wanting to take care and protect his mother. He spent his time running from bullies and just trying to survive really. While he hid from the older kids, he would spend his time reading random books he found in the trash. His favorite was of oriental stories of men of valor, strength, and honor.
It was this mentality that steered him in the direction of trying to be a hero. It was one of time that a particularly violent customer visited his mother and he was hiding in the balcony that he attempted to act on his illusions of saving her from that life. He burst in while the man abused his mother. Arn tried to attack the man but ended up getting beat. His mother then tried to protect him and the drunk and angry man beat her unconscious. Thinking her dead, the young boy knocked the man down and in a feat of anger somehow activated his contact with Gea which manifested into an inferno.
Flames engulfed his hands which in turn devoured not only the violent man, but his mother and the building with all in it. Authorities would later report finding the crying boy holding the charred body of a female, his own hands sporting serious burns.
Learning to Temper the Fire
Eventually, it was discovered that the sad angry boy was adept in magic. He was recruited by the military and sent to study at the academy in Belisio. He was too dark, sad, and awkward to be of good social standing. However, he was able to forgo this with the sanctity of the vast library. It was here that he fully threw himself into learning all he could of magic. He felt that in some way, his mother's sacrifice had unlocked this gift in him. It was a way for him to feel closer to her in a world where he felt alone. Due to his focus and innate gift, he was soon a top level student which meant he was in the focus of jealousy and bullying from less capable more influential students. Luckily for him, the military cared nothing for his lack of social know how. Instead, he went on to become the youngest battle mage so far.
Forged in the Fires of War.
Arn was no stranger to death and suffering even before he stepped into the battle field. However, he was too good of a killer even for his superiors. He specially seemed to be extra vicious against pirates or criminals. Many of his squad mates could swear they saw his dark eyes gleam with fire as he incinerated people who had been on the verge of surrendering. This and the fact he preferred fire attacks that earned him the nickname Hellspawn. He was headed towards a court martial when a Knight took him under his wing.
The only reason why Arn listened to him was because the knight reminded him of the oriental warriors he had read in his novels. The Knight taught Arn self control, temperance, and peace. Interestingly enough, this made him an even more efficient killing machine. However, this new facet was much more focused. He still felt no remorse in killing bad people, but his incidents of friendly fire were all but none existent. He won the trust of his squad mates and superiors but the nick name never went away. Indeed, many in the underworld still say the name in hushed tones.
Equipment:
Samurai armor fashioned battle vest that is made of Kevlar plates able to withstand small caliber bullets and some explosives.
Keeps Ornamental Daisho swords but that are still able to be used in battle
Abilities:
Flamethrower- His mana excites the atoms around him and engulfs his hands/feet in flame and able to expel it up to 15FT like a flame thrower
Burst- able to produce an outwardly expanding flame ball with the force of a claymore mine. Produces fire and concussion damage.
Rock Wall: Causes a concentrated seismic reaction that produces a rock wall up to 6ft tall and about 3ft thick.
Avalanche: Able to deteriorate an area of ground by cutting the Aether strings which will cause a collapse of about 3ft deep to an area of a bout 15ft.
Wind Bullet: Able to compress the air around him and fire it off at high velocities.
Wind Cushion: Focuses a high air pressure to form an upward force to slow the rate of descent. Especially effective if used with parachutes or other such devices.
Hydrocannon- synthesizes the moisture into a stream as powerful as a fireman's hose.
Extra: (Optional)</s>
<|message|>Arn
the question brought an almost silly confused face to the Master Mage's face. The man had to work at hyper speed to try and figure out what the young woman was asking. The words were said and his ears received the sounds but the meaning was lost to him. A second passed then two as he tried how to best formulate first the meaning of the question and second how to formulate his response.
Normally articulate and sure of what he said. He often meant what he said and said what he meant. There was no mistake in his communication with his fellow squad members and even between him and Evander. However, in this particular situation he was not sure if saying what he thought in his head was appropriate or it would be well received. The debate lasted another second or two. Finally, the voice of reason, having been silent for too long during his recent interactions with the lovely Eilis, managed to settle the dispute.
He cleared his throat and began in as comfortable a tone trying to emphasize the veracity of the words he was speaking. "If I understand your question correctly you believe that the tattoos you sport have warped your features in such a way that you think you have become grotesque."
He placed a hand on her head and gently brushed back a few unruly strands that have fallen on her face. He studied what he been asked to evaluate. To his eyes, all he could see was a lovely skin and two jeweled eyes that looked up half glazed at him, the last remnants of Dark Sight seeming to disappear.
"I would like to assure you most strongly that this is not the case." He traced the lines of tattoos, two smaller ones framing a third thicker one. His finger gently followed the contours of the lines, his callused hand slowly traversing the soft skin. He started at the crown of her head just at the hair line and followed it down to the ridge of her nose and down one side to her check down to her jaw. He fought the urge to continue down journey down the neck. Instead, he moved his hand and traced upward from the sleeve looking tattoo up her forearm to her shoulder.
To break the quickly becoming awkward silence when he remembered that she still could not see clearly he addressed her again.
"If nothing else, Eilis. They are quite captivating. Please forgive me for saying this but where it not for their harmful origins and function, they would be suitable adornment for a lady such as you." He smiled down at her as he cleared his throat further. "Even as they are, I have to admit that I find myself wanting to closely examine them." He cleared his throat again a bit embarrassed at his forwardness but too much had transpired between them to pay attention to propriety.
"When you have fully recovered your sight, I shall find you a proper reflective surface so that you can make your own conclusions. As it stands, all I see before me is a lovely lady." He said in his most amicable and truthful tone.
He added. "And that is the truth"</s>
<|message|>Eilis
She looked up hopeful at his words, but turned the palms of her hands upward, staring at her hands and the bits of tattoo she could see, before her jaw tightened and a slight tremble followed through showing itself in her hands as she squeezed them tight for a moment.
"Thank you Arn, eventhough I can't really believe what you say, I know I put you in a bad spot because I asked for your opinion, with having little real confidence in a satisfying answer." She told him truthfully before she sighed.
"Right...I suppose I should help you healing." She whispered as she placed a hand on his side.
"Close your eyes Arn...I can't do this with you staring at me." Eilis said with a teasing smile before she lifted his shirt up, letting of a soft 'tsk'.
"Arn, why didn't you say anything?" She said as he fingers felt their around his side wounds and stitchings. "Now, hold still." She more or less ordered him with a stern but gentle voice as she exhaled and a soft glow emitted from her fingers. It was a fine line she had to walk, slowly she increased her magic trying to keep her tattoo's from activating, whilst at the same time transfer some aid to Arn's own abilities to heal. Slowly Arn would be able to feel a new kind of warmth. He would be able to see the magical layer, the connection passing through them. However Eilis too much of a chance and the response was instant. She reacted as if she was being slapped or stung, the tattoo's flared and crackled, making Eilis wince and adjust instantly.
"I'm all right. Let me do this for you." She told him.</s>
| <|message|>Arn
All Arn could do was sigh deeply in resignation. It would be hard to make her believe his words. After all, there was no reason for her to truly trust him. They had shared much yes, but nothing has been proven or put to the test that would engender any such stead fast belief.
Still, it made the mage sad that a lovely lady like Eilis would doubt her own beauty but he knew that often, the closer you are to the trees its hard for you to see the forest.
"Thank you Arn, even though I can't really believe what you say, I know I put you in a bad spot because I asked for your opinion, with having little real confidence in a satisfying answer."
The master mage shook his head. "You need not apologize. I gave you my honest response. It is my regret that my given answer was not satisfactory. However, of one thing you can be sure. No matter how many times you ask me, the reply will be the same. If anything, my assessment may be further strengthened."
There was a second or two of silence. Eilis broke it by fussing over his busted stitching. In fact, Arn had forgotten all about his ailments but as if his body was looking to betray him, the sudden attention the cuts got brough a slight grunt to the throat of the man as she examined the wounds.
He thankfully closed his eyes, a slight smirk on his face acknowledging her playful jab. The mage needed to concentrate on not complaining too much. An objection had started to formulate on his head but he knew that the playful order would very much turn serious if he tried to be stubborn and not allow her to help him.
With his eyes closed he did not see but felt her start her work. With a slight gasp he reacted to the magic that was being poured into him. Arn could feel Eilis. Not just the flow of magic itself but somehow, the energy belonged uniquely to her. The flow was like a soothing balm as it moved at an almost microscopic level. He could feel his body reacting. He could feel himself tensing but immediately relaxing as the healing warmth covered the wounds like gentle bandages.
Despite her commandment, he opened his eyes. He could see the glow and position of her hands matched the tingly feeling in his body. He was amazed. Very few people even had the knowledge of such procedures much less be able to so readily and efficiently perform this magical "healing".
In truth, the process was more scientific than mystic. Eilis was pouring energy into Arn giving of herself to promote that natural healing that all bodies are capable of. This borrowed energy would provide the fuel and coax the cells into regenerating at speeds that it normally would not be able to. In other words, she was giving Arn her own life force. Such technique was dangerous due to the possibility of giving too much and if a person continued to do so, injury or death was even possible.
To be able to control her magic, let alone pour it so efficiently, was a matter to be praised. However, the mage worried that in her weakened state and the restrictions the tattoos posed, if he had understood her explanation correctly, could be harmful to the young woman.
As if to fullfill his concerns. He saw her weaken and immediately made a move to help her.
"I'm all right. Let me do this for you."
The mage was reluctant but he knew that she would not hear of it. He starting to realize that the young woman had a very stubborn streak. No doubt, this quality had kept her alive and going when others in her situation would have given in to desperation, or death.
"Ok, I will not stop you despite the fact that I am inclined to do" he told her in his own stubborn voice. "However, I will not let you do this alone. Allow me to do this with you."
To emphasize his words, he closed his eyes again. This time, he concentrated on his own magical energy which he always felt was located near his solar plexus. In his minds eye, he could see his own energy, a sort of rich red, swirling like liquid flame.
He directed that energy at a steady stream towards his wounds. There, he felt Eilis own, like a sort of gentle breeze. The color was not completely clear to him but he knew it was there. As his magic reached hers, it swirled, combined and danced. The magic acted as if they were old friends coming together again.
The dance was playful and with much swirling, flowing and combining. He could feel his body reacting, the wounds felt itchy as new cells formed at speeds only achieved in the womb. Still, sooner or later the pair would tire. He placed a hand on hers.
Another hand he placed under her chin and lifted the face to look at him. "I thank you. Please, let this be enough for now. Not only am I concerned about your wellbeing but also, such quick healing might arise suspicions."
He smiled at her. "As I have stated before. You are a mystery and I apologize before hand for my inability to stop myself from wanting to get to know you."</s> |
<|description|>Kailani Meribella Cortessa (nickname: Kaia(ky-uh) or Lani(lah-nee), most people just call her by her first name, but the rest is used for formal settings since she is part of the royal bloodline)
Character Sheet
Age: 21
Appearance: She is somewhat short for a mer-girl, measuring about 5'8 from head to tail. Her olive skin is smooth, enveloping smooth muscles and a flat abdomen. Her eyes are a deep, sea-green(shifting to blue at times based on her mood), and her thick raven hair falls down her shoulders, with some of it covering her eyes since it varies in length. There is usually a small smirk playing across her naturally ruby-red lips, due to her sarcastic and cynical nature. Her tail is a light blue shade, with the fins being just a shade brighter, and she typically dons dark purple sea-shells while under the sea. When she is out of the ocean, she typically chooses some form of jean-shorts, white khakis, or jeggings, paired with a cute and colorful top and black lacy undergarments, and converse or tennies, so she can run.
Bio: Will work on it and reveal it throughout the roleplay
Role in this story: The merperson who is found(possibly, by her own royal cousin) along the beach, a member of one of many royal bloodlines in the merworld.
Species: Mermaid-human hybrid of some sort, like transforms when her feet hit the sand (assuming this is how the main character's mother and father may have met/mated)
Other: She is a feisty soul and the daughter of a woman who is the only surviving sibling of the current royal queen of the merpeople(in their territory). Were the king and queen of her province to die, then her mother would become queen by default, should the current royal couple not claim an heir before then. Therefore, despite her snobbery at times, she is often treated with some level of respect, since she is next to next-in-line to the throne; she is not treated as well as a true heir would be, though. She is open to relations with both sexes, but isn't one for long-term relationships, mostly flirts/flings. Her father is a tramp who took off when he learned her mother was pregnant. She doesn't know much about him at all, except that he's a human.</s>
<|message|>Jessica Smith
The story will start off along the beach, in town, or near the water, depending on the main characters.
Also, as far as important locations:
There is a cave near the beach where half of it is underwater, but only up to a point.
The beach itself is an important location.
There may be others as the roleplay progresses.</s>
<|message|>Jessica Smith
Starter:
The moon was high up in the sky. It was a full moon. The waves hit the shore. It was a rather quiet night. The beach was unusually relaxing, despite the strange energy that was in the air.
This night, a new story was to begin....</s>
<|message|>Kailani Meribella Cortessa (nickname: Kaia(ky-uh) or Lani(lah-nee), most people just call her by her first name, but the rest is used for formal settings since she is part of the royal bloodline)
It was so peaceful out tonight. Kailani had just been coming up for some air, and was enjoying the still calmness of the ocean's surface surrounding her for miles in each direction. Well, all but one of them; just a half a mile or so to her north was a small beach, with a cove nearby that was just perfect for hiding away and forgetting one's troubles. She loved it there. As she basked in the moonlight, however, Kailani heard a noise, which elicited a small gasp from her lips as she quickly darted under the water.
Swimming a bit closer to the shore, Kailani poked her head up just enough so that she could see above the water. She was startled, seeing a young boy was walking along the sand there, now just several yards ahead of her. The sound she had heard must have come from him, whether it was the kicking of sand, his feet shuffling along, or maybe even something he'd said... What if he'd seen her? He wasn't freaking out, so maybe he hadn't.
Being a bit of a daredevil, despite her fear and sound reasoning, Kailani swam just a little bit closer, stopping behind a rock near the cove. She wanted to get a better look at the boy, and she noticed his features: raven hair, much like her own, tan skin, and eyes that were just too far away to truly see. Eventually, he turned around and receded from her view; he seemed to be heading toward a shack not far away...</s>
<|message|>Jessica Smith
Jessica Smith was leaving her place of work. She sighed and looked around. She glanced up at the full moon and she suddenly had a strange feeling. Something was about to happen. But, she was not sure what it was. She had no answer. She could only wait and see...
Anyway, she headed home. She was unaware of what would happen at the beach or anything like that.</s>
<|message|>Kailani Meribella Cortessa (nickname: Kaia(ky-uh) or Lani(lah-nee), most people just call her by her first name, but the rest is used for formal settings since she is part of the royal bloodline)
Waking up the next day to beautiful sun beams hitting the emerald waves above her head was always refreshing; and today was no different. Kailani stretched out her arms and yawned, taking in the morning (or rather, afternoon, for she was no light sleeper nor an early riser) light. Getting out of bed, she let her hair down, and swam toward the ceiling of her bedroom. Made entirely out of glass, this ceiling worked perfectly as an inconspicuous window, out of which Kailani would often peer in order to gaze upon her people.
Well, one day they could be her people: after the current king and queen passed on, and if they did not produce an heir, Kailani's mother would be the next to the throne. This was because Kaia's mother was the queen's one and only sister, and so therefore, subsequently, Kailani would become next-in-line. But, all she knew for right now was that if she didn't get a move on soon, Kailani would be in big trouble with her mother today. And she would be especially frustrated to know that Kailani had spent all evening gazing at the moon, far too close to the shore and a human man, no less. So, she finished her daydreaming, brushed her tangled hair, and hurriedly swam downstairs.</s>
<|message|>Alexander 'Alex' Moore
Alex awoke to the sound of his phone alarm, the gentle piano melody filled his darkened room as he struggled to wake up. like every morning Alex hated his daily routine. After quickly making his bed Alex went about getting ready to go for a morning run. Due to his job as a security guard for a privately owned security company, a job He hated, he was required to stay in shape. As he pulled on his running shoes he mentally planned out his run.Alex planned to run from his apartment down to the beach and back. After making sure he had his keys andf phone Alex headed out to start his run.</s>
<|message|>Jessica Smith
Jessica continued on her way. She was home soon enough. She was resting, trying to relax. She glanced out the window at times. She could not shake that feeling from before.
"What is going on?"
She finally voiced the question out loud. Anyway, she tried to get ready to get some sleep since she had been up for quite some time at this point.</s>
<|message|>Kailani Meribella Cortessa (nickname: Kaia(ky-uh) or Lani(lah-nee), most people just call her by her first name, but the rest is used for formal settings since she is part of the royal bloodline)
After listening to her mother's morning ramblings and discussing her itinerary for the day (her mother was always wary of her as Kailani tended to get into some mischief while she was consulting with the palace advisors until evening), Kaia speedily left her underwater home and swam immediately toward the same spot that she had been the previous night; the beautiful shore of an even more beautiful, natural white-sand beach. Her mother would surely ground her for life if she caught her so close to the coast, especially in broad daylight, but she always felt that the risk was worth the reward.
As Kaia approached the ocean's shining surface, she slowly raised her head up out of the water, searching in every direction with her eyes first before fully allowing her face to be above the waves, being careful to make sure that there were not any humans close enough that they could see her. The only person she saw was a young man jogging swiftly across the sand, about a mile away from where she patiently waded, taking in the warmth of the sun and the beauty of the bright, blue, endless sky above. Off to the right and over the horizon, though, Kailani saw dark clouds forming, and she knew that come afternoon time it would likely be pouring rain.</s>
<|message|>Jessica Smith
Jessica slept for a while. She awoke from what was seemingly a bad dream not long after. She could not shake the bad feeling that she had.
"What is going on?"
She repeated her earlier question.
Anyway, she could not fall back asleep and so she would change and go for a walk to clear her head. She would soon end up on the beach, looking at the moon and such.</s>
| <|message|>Kailani Meribella Cortessa (nickname: Kaia(ky-uh) or Lani(lah-nee), most people just call her by her first name, but the rest is used for formal settings since she is part of the royal bloodline)
Evening finally rolled around, and with it, a giant storm. The clouds were thick and a deep grey above her, and the swirling waters were chaotic all around her, imitating a whirlpool. Winds whipped her ebony locks around her face in every direction, and she had to use her hands to keep it away, in order to continue spy- erm, people-watching? Kailani had wasted the day away wading near the shore, and she thought that she saw the same man from earlier that morning taking another jog. She could also spot a young woman ahead, walking slowly along the sand. She was still a few miles out, so Kailani assumed that the two could not return her gaze, and that she would be in the clear. She would head home to her mother soon, she told herself, she only wanted to stay out here above the sea for just a bit longer...
Kaia observed the two separately for a few minutes, analyzing their behaviors, but unfortunately, that meant that she did not see what she really should have been paying attention to: the gigantic wave that built up directly behind her. A wall of dark, ominous water slammed down on top of her, which wouldn't have been such a big deal (sure, the amount of water being forced into her lungs at such great velocity was painful, even for a mermaid, but she could manage) except for the fact that there was something else in the water, too. Before Kailani could dart out of the way, an entire whale came up with the wave and knocked Kailani senseless. She was hit so hard that her limp body was flung across the top of the water, and then tumbled through the more shallow waves, and into a tall stone jutting out from the water near the cove. Her body appeared lifeless, washing up on the shore about equidistance between the two human strangers.</s> |
<|description|>Nicole Cognoscenti
The Mundane
Age: 17
Sanctum City: Hasta
Description: Nicole is a girl of average height, a slender build, and irrepressible good cheer to cram inside it. Blue-eyed and always grinning, her sharp features are framed by scarlet hair, cut fashionably to the bottom of her neck with bangs that occasionally fall into her eyes.
Hasta is one of the world's most fashionable Sanctum Cities, with all but its poorest denizens dressed beautifully in casual, flowing fashions and bright colors. Nicole is no exception, although she does her best to dress fashionably casual. Whether oversized hoodies or cropped tops, tight jeans or her school uniform's skirt, one of her only sartorial mainstays is the peach colored tassel scarf she's almost always thrown haphazardly around her neck. Sometimes she'll top her head in a cute little beret.
Personality: A laid-back and cheerful girl who always tries her best at everything. Nicole may not be the most zealous fighter or the most charismatic presence, but she's a stabilizing force among what may otherwise be a chaotic ensemble of students. She exudes a quiet calm about most things, a playful energy often expelled through practical jokes, and a willingness to laugh at herself and others. She's grown up into a fairly privileged life and tries to keep that knowledge in the back of her mind, so it allows her some measure of empathy for other girls who may not have had it as easy as she did. It makes her a solid, unifying presence among friend groups and just a generally good time to be around.
Though she plays it close to the chest, Nicole is a deeply idealistic, romantic girl, with notions of true love and eternal good vibes that she tries not to espouse too often. She has a headful of dreams about some kind of nebulous "better life," although what that life would be like and how it would be an improvement over her own free-flowing existence is something she hasn't quite figured out.
Background: Nicole was born among the upper middle class of the beautiful, fashionable, (sort of) sunny Sanctum City of Hasta. One of the cultural capitals of the world, her childhood was cosmopolitan and largely peaceful, with a large pool of friends across all walks of life. Her parents did what they could to shelter her through much of her childhood, but they were politically active people, often taking up the causes of the downtrodden and unfortunate who were unable to share in Hasta's joys. Eventually, as she grew older, Nicole came to share their passion for altruism.
For a time, like most girls, she dreamed that she was a secret princess - some long-lost member of a Duodecim family, someone who could achieve great heights and make a difference in a scary world. Eventually, she had given up on that dream and resolved to make change in meaningful, realistic ways somehow. It was realizing her magical potential at the age of thirteen that helped give her a sense of wonder again, made her dream of stopping Voids and serving as a paragon for all the world's helpless - someone with the power to make people listen.
Having decided her dream was worth pursuing once again, in a decidedly more fantastical direction this time, Nicole applied to Nova Lux Academy with stars in her eyes, and was overjoyed to be accepted.
---
The Magic
Armgaus Name: Twinkling Scarlet Emerald
Gladius:
Vedfolnir
A blued steel sabre balanced to Nicole's hand, with a small, polished chunk of red beryl at the hilt. Its size belies the potential reach of the blade, as combined with her Elementum Nicole's slashes can seem to extend three times longer than the length of the blade would suggest.
Parma: Nicole's eyes and hair glow a brighter orange, her skin begins to twinkle slightly, and she wears an all-white ensemble of her normal beret, a midriff baring top and shorts, with thigh high boots and a holster.
Elementum: Wind
Elementum Abilities: In keeping with her elementum and her own breezy personality, Nicole has a great degree of agility and levity, often joking that she can dodge any attack thrown at her as long as she's not feeling lazy. It may not be an entirely empty boast; though not a particular powerhouse, her agility makes her a capable duelist with her sabre. She can also use her ability to make great leaps, bordering on sustained flight if she can keep her concentration - although doing so obviously limits her effectiveness in combat.</s>
<|message|>Dana Noel
"Oh, uh, for about a year, I guess," Dana replied to Victoria's question. "It's really not all that amazing, though," she added with a sheepish grin, feeling a little embarrassed by Penny's astonishment at her abilities. "I mean, I haven't exactly 'mastered' anything yet. I can only patch up minor injuries and stuff. So, yeah," she finished with a nervous giggle. "Nothin' really special…"
"But those lighting powers of yours are pretty sweet!" she told Penny, hoping to take the focus off of herself for a bit. "And don't worry! I'm sure once you get your Ars Armgaus and learn to better control your abilities, you'll be able to do all kinds of cool stuff!"</s>
<|message|>Penny Grenoble
"That's great!" Penny says to Dana. "You already seem to have pretty good control of it, you'll probably be a natural Ars Magi. All I know is how to turn it on and off, though I will admit it's an easy way to entertain my younger brothers and sisters by holding a lamp in my fingers and lighting it."
She turns to ask Victoria.
"I haven't really read up on the numbers, but... how many students enroll at the academy every year? And how many students overall are there?"</s>
<|message|>Nicole Cognoscenti
---
Nicole watched the other four girls introduce themselves, each of them getting a big smile and a cocked head to denote varying interest levels. Penny and Dana seemed like sweet girls, a pair of chatterboxes that reminded her of the kids in her neighborhood back in Hasta. Children had always sensed something about Nicole that she herself was ignorant of, and had tagged along with her in the hopes that she would invent an adventure for them to go on. When she was twelve or thirteen, it used to bother her more. After she discovered her magical potential, though, she found it more exciting. Children were super-spreaders when it came to adventure and fun, and Nicole had found herself easily infected by their zeal. Penny and Dana seemed like two such fun-loving girls, and Nicole was sure they would be friends in no time.
On the other hand, she definitely wouldn't need Victoria Glass' help to point out the nobles. They were both gorgeous, and completely at odds - light and dark, both seeming to want nothing to do with the other. Vanna's lineage would be familiar to almost anyone alive. She had never seen a member of the Duodecim this close before, and Nicole would be insane not to be a little bit starstruck. But Vanna seemed down-to-earth enough for a member of one of the planet's most celebrated, powerful families. Maybe it was a 'second daughter, not an immediate heiress' kinda thing. Secure the bag and forge your own path, that sounded good.
The other girl, Astrelle, was the only one who hadn't called out where she hailed from, but if Victoria's words to her hadn't clued Nicole in the Lennox daughter's accent definitely would. Her eyes brightened when she realized there was a girl who was (in a global sense, anyway) just down the road from her onboard. It would be nice to have someone else who had some idea of things she was talking about, if she ever talked about home. She waved her fingers at the other Venusian, with her cheek still balanced on her knee, and shot her a big, friendly grin.
"Hey," she said good-naturedly, lifting her cheek up to balance her chin on her crooked knee again. She wrapped both hands around her right ankle after she was done with her greeting wave, rocking back and forth slightly. "I know who you are - well, like, your family, at least. How often do you make it over to Hasta?"</s>
<|message|>Astrelle Lennox
---
The following introductions caught Astrelle by surprise. An energetic girl with shining, golden eyes promptly used magic to ease the pain of Penny's unfortunate head injury. For a brief moment, Astrelle wondered if her reason for doing so was to boast her talent, but her suspicions were quickly eliminated. The girl, introducing herself as Dana, had a lively and bright disposition—an eerily perfect match for her Light Elementum. Her existence seemed positioned as the the polar opposite of Astrelle, in both behaviour and magic. Even in this minor interaction, Astrelle noticed how different they were in the way Dana shone with enthusiasm when she spoke, and the sympathy she carried when she tended to an injured stranger. It was slightly unsettling—if elemental affinity could be dictated by the type of person you were, did it mean they were truly opposites? She wondered what kind of fulfilling life Dana must have lived to be so…well, bright.
Penny replied to Dana's show of magic with her own demonstration, generating small sparks between her fingers. Astrelle raised a single eyebrow at the curious sight, but promptly returned her gaze to her cup of tea. She giggled softly to herself, thinking about whether or not the electric girl would short circuit if she were splashed with water, but the thought quickly dissipated; it was just a dumb joke. The two girls were rather chatty, and Astrelle paid their banter no mind.
The last introduction was most surprising. Vanna hailed from royalty, and given the level of decorum and poise she had exercised so far, there was no reason to doubt her declaration. Astrelle almost laughed at the ill-fated coincidence. She thought she may escape the burden of high society by coming to Nova Lux, but it appeared to have followed her instead. There was little she knew about the Diana clan, but they had a reputation for being righteous and principled even among the Duodecim families. Astrelle felt that the honorable Diana girl may want little to do with the black sheep of the Venus retainers, if she heard the unpleasant rumours of her character.
Victoria Glass made a comment on their backgrounds as well. Though Astrelle disliked mentions of her family, her statement was objective and succinct. It only bothered her that the label of her family name invited unwarranted opinions and expectations, which were extended to her. The Lennoxes presented themselves as highly capable and loyal retainers, and people expected Astrelle to fit the same mold. She, however, craved a unique, individual identity.
"Oh?" Astrelle's eyes drifted over to Nicole, who mentioned being familiar with her family. It annoyed her that she brought up the bothersome topic again, but Astrelle made a conscious effort to keep a smile on her face. She wondered how much she knew about her family—through all the lectures and punishments given to Astrelle, her family constantly emphasized the importance of their image. If they truly were so concerned about public opinion, her parents may have avoided talking about her to others. However, there was only so much even the Lennoxes could control.
"I used to go to Hasta more often in my childhood. Once or twice a year maybe? I stopped going a few years ago and haven't been since…" Astrelle's voice trailed off slightly towards the end, remembering why she stopped going. She chuckled as she swatted the thoughts away. "I had a rather enthusiastic shopping spree the last time I was there. Have you been to Valentia?"</s>
| <|message|>Nicole Cognoscenti
Nicole giggled too, sitting up straighter and kicking both her legs up over the armrest of her chair. She decided to try and enjoy her sandwich a little bit, since she wasn't sure when they would get to eat again upon arrival. Her stomach fluttered between bites, though, and she already knew she would be unable to finish even half. In the relative solitude of her cabin, between thoughts of excelling in school and dropping the ball on kisses, focusing on the occasional pangs of hunger had kept her grounded. But now she was here, and he excitement of it all - new classmates, new cities, a complete shift in the course of her life - had pretty much killed those cravings. Instead, she settled for breaking off little pieces of focaccia and nibbling on them while Astrelle spoke.
"Two years ago," she responded in the affirmative. "My parents and I went as a reward for, uh..."
She snapped her fingers, still trying to remember. So much of her childhood revolved around one good cause or another. They were all worthwile, but each demanded its own energy from her parents, and each had involved Nicole in whatever small way she could. The scope compounded; sometimes it could grow exhausting juggling it all, and that was for her as a kid, handing out stickers or selling chocolate bars or whatever. She knew it had to be worse for her folks. So by the time she had discovered her magical potential...well, that just meant she had to find the energy somewhere.
"Some benefit or another. I think it was, like, funds for the Castor families?" Now that she thought about it, that sounded right. Castor had been an airship that had disappeared around that time, carrying some minor dignitaries amidst a flock of innocent civilians. Since the brunt were from Valentia, multiple benefactors from her sister city had gone about raising funds as relief for victims' families, the Cognoscenti family among them. Riiiight. "We spent about a week. I spent a lot of the time with my parents or at the arcades, but I managed to sneak into a club or two and hear some music between all the speeches." She grinned playfully.</s> |
<|description|>Nicole Cognoscenti
The Mundane
Age: 17
Sanctum City: Hasta
Description: Nicole is a girl of average height, a slender build, and irrepressible good cheer to cram inside it. Blue-eyed and always grinning, her sharp features are framed by scarlet hair, cut fashionably to the bottom of her neck with bangs that occasionally fall into her eyes.
Hasta is one of the world's most fashionable Sanctum Cities, with all but its poorest denizens dressed beautifully in casual, flowing fashions and bright colors. Nicole is no exception, although she does her best to dress fashionably casual. Whether oversized hoodies or cropped tops, tight jeans or her school uniform's skirt, one of her only sartorial mainstays is the peach colored tassel scarf she's almost always thrown haphazardly around her neck. Sometimes she'll top her head in a cute little beret.
Personality: A laid-back and cheerful girl who always tries her best at everything. Nicole may not be the most zealous fighter or the most charismatic presence, but she's a stabilizing force among what may otherwise be a chaotic ensemble of students. She exudes a quiet calm about most things, a playful energy often expelled through practical jokes, and a willingness to laugh at herself and others. She's grown up into a fairly privileged life and tries to keep that knowledge in the back of her mind, so it allows her some measure of empathy for other girls who may not have had it as easy as she did. It makes her a solid, unifying presence among friend groups and just a generally good time to be around.
Though she plays it close to the chest, Nicole is a deeply idealistic, romantic girl, with notions of true love and eternal good vibes that she tries not to espouse too often. She has a headful of dreams about some kind of nebulous "better life," although what that life would be like and how it would be an improvement over her own free-flowing existence is something she hasn't quite figured out.
Background: Nicole was born among the upper middle class of the beautiful, fashionable, (sort of) sunny Sanctum City of Hasta. One of the cultural capitals of the world, her childhood was cosmopolitan and largely peaceful, with a large pool of friends across all walks of life. Her parents did what they could to shelter her through much of her childhood, but they were politically active people, often taking up the causes of the downtrodden and unfortunate who were unable to share in Hasta's joys. Eventually, as she grew older, Nicole came to share their passion for altruism.
For a time, like most girls, she dreamed that she was a secret princess - some long-lost member of a Duodecim family, someone who could achieve great heights and make a difference in a scary world. Eventually, she had given up on that dream and resolved to make change in meaningful, realistic ways somehow. It was realizing her magical potential at the age of thirteen that helped give her a sense of wonder again, made her dream of stopping Voids and serving as a paragon for all the world's helpless - someone with the power to make people listen.
Having decided her dream was worth pursuing once again, in a decidedly more fantastical direction this time, Nicole applied to Nova Lux Academy with stars in her eyes, and was overjoyed to be accepted.
---
The Magic
Armgaus Name: Twinkling Scarlet Emerald
Gladius:
Vedfolnir
A blued steel sabre balanced to Nicole's hand, with a small, polished chunk of red beryl at the hilt. Its size belies the potential reach of the blade, as combined with her Elementum Nicole's slashes can seem to extend three times longer than the length of the blade would suggest.
Parma: Nicole's eyes and hair glow a brighter orange, her skin begins to twinkle slightly, and she wears an all-white ensemble of her normal beret, a midriff baring top and shorts, with thigh high boots and a holster.
Elementum: Wind
Elementum Abilities: In keeping with her elementum and her own breezy personality, Nicole has a great degree of agility and levity, often joking that she can dodge any attack thrown at her as long as she's not feeling lazy. It may not be an entirely empty boast; though not a particular powerhouse, her agility makes her a capable duelist with her sabre. She can also use her ability to make great leaps, bordering on sustained flight if she can keep her concentration - although doing so obviously limits her effectiveness in combat.</s>
<|message|>Penny Grenoble
Penny feels the airship tremble again. She's never ridden an airship before, so she's not entirely sure if this is normal or not, but the other girls seem to notice it with unease. It makes Penny nervous as a result.
Vanna's explanation answers Penny pretty well, but...
'Somehow, I get the feeling I've been insulted,' she thinks, trying to read Vanna's expression. It's just the tone of the answer, aloof yet somehow condescending. It annoys Penny - but somehow, she shouldn't really be upset. She at least should have read up on the Academy for the two years she's been waiting to get transferred, so she wouldn't look like some clueless hick from the boonies, but it's a bit late for that now. She resolves to study hard once they get there, and prove her worth.
"I'll say you have," Penny answers Vanna in resignation.
Dana's response earns an odd response from Penny. She assumes an expression of mock annoyance, and looks at the cheerful girl.
"Oh really?" she asks in mock challenge. "Mind telling me why you think Gunslinger Alexa is better? I mean, Altea has the more meaningful character arcs, if you ask me.
"Also, how many sisters do you have? I've got three - and three brothers too."</s>
<|message|>Dana Noel
"Yeah, I guess you're right about that," Dana conceded in response to Penny's observation that Altea had better character arcs than her own favorite show. "At least, if you're only talking about the first season," she added with a grin. "Season two took a really deep look at a lot of Alexis's emotional vulnerabilities, especially her until-then unrequited love for her best friend. But that's not really the reason why I love her show," Dana continued. "It's mainly because of all the crazy, hyperkinetic action and cool designs for characters, vehicles, monsters, and all that stuff! Then there's all the comedy too! It's just really fun to watch! I mean, what other show has the main character go up against a biomechanical titan the size of a sanctum city in the first few minutes of the very first episode?!"
It was clear to see that Dana was getting even more excited than usual just thinking about it, but she quickly shifted gears when Penny voiced a new question.
"Oh, uh, sisters? Yeah, I have four," Dana replied. "They're all older than me, though, which is fine, cause they're all really encouraging and supportive. The perfect big sisters!" she added with a giggle. "What are your sisters like?"</s>
<|message|>Penny Grenoble
"See, that's it, isn't it?" Penny says with an air of academic discussion. "Altea's more... well, I suppose there's no better for it without sounding condescending, so let's say 'dark' and 'grounded'. The setting is everyday, she's more relateable as an everyday person, and while it does have more fantasy elements it still has a darker tone to it regarding loss and sacrifice. Alexis is, well, bubbly and energetic, and it takes almost halfway into season two to really start the character development going. I'd say the episode when they bring in Pretty Soldier Glenda, but she's a red herring at first to properly set up the rivalry with Alex..."
She pauses, then turns to face Dana.
"Okay, fine, I watch Gunslinger Alexis whenever I could," she admits, "but I'll take Altea over it anyday. Not saying it's bad, just saying I prefer mine.
"As for my sisters, well, we got the twins Liz'n'Liz - that's Elizabeth and Melissa - as the oldest, older than me by almost two years, I'm the one they had after, and then there's Nessa, she's ten and the youngest daughter, but David's the youngest and he's eight. Liznliz - yeah, we just put the two together most of the time - they're tomboys, and they can be a pain sometimes, but they're pretty cool and helpful most of the times. They're couriers, so they taught me how to rollerblade; they're really good at it. And Nessa's just a daddy's girl and a real sweetheart. I'm the one stuck being the responsible kid in the family most of the time..."</s>
<|message|>Nicole Cognoscenti
---
Yikes. I guess people aren't into goth girls because they're chatty, right?
Nicole let it be for now, half because she was trying to decide whether or not she dug Astrelle's vibes, too, and half because she was currently wondering whether invoking the name of a crashed airship onboard one currently in flight was, itself, a case of bad vibes. She gulped down the nibble of sandwich she was working on - just in case they were really crashing, so she wouldn't have to die with food in her mouth like a slob - and, when the turbulence settled itself, took a bite of another. In the absence of the Wing of Justice, the girls started to talk to themselves about daytime cartoons and their families, in the same breath.
It was interesting hearing everyone's backgrounds and perspectives. They were all so alien to Nicole. The vibe philosopher finally set down her sandwich and chimed in, a little sheepishly.
"I guess I'm the weirdo," she explained. "I was an only child, and uh..." She looked around, especially between Penny and Dana. "I don't really know what you're talking about with Alexis and Glenda or whoever. I'm an Eradicator II: See You in Hell kinda girl."</s>
<|message|>Penny Grenoble
"Oh, yeah, I know that one," Penny says with a chuckle. "Liznliz watched the whole series, though you ask me, it really went downhill after the fifth. The second, though, that's a classic.
"So Nichole, you're from Hasta right?" she continues, pressing the conversation. "I hear some still call it by its old name, Paris. It's kind of interesting, because most Sanctum Cities generally just go by their official names these days. Is it really the City of Lights? I've seen a few pics on the 'Web whenever the connection gets through, and I'd have to say it's beautiful. I'm surprised you still have a building that's centuries old in the middle of your city, I think it's pretty cool!"</s>
| <|message|>Nicole Cognoscenti
Nicole grinned at Penny's enthusiasm. She guessed that if her image of Hasta came from what she was able to see on the Web, it was understandable how it would seem like paradise. Hell, it was paradise. Coming where she'd come from, more privileged than most but not as well-off as some, it was hard not to feel almost...almost like she was living within a snow globe. Just an everyday girl going about her life beneath lights that were always perfect, and so never felt the need to change.
"It is pretty cool," she agreed, winking at the other girl. "But not exactly like what you might see online. The reality is that heritage buildings like that, especially ones that survived from the old days, require some real upkeep, even in this day and age. Even people who live there can't always visit. Lotta magitech goes into keeping them functioning, and there's always some support or observation deck that needs restoring every year. But yeah, prrr-etty cool. Romantic, if you ever get the chance."
Here she was, giving out romantic advice like some kind of wise older sister, when the best she could do was bump knuckles with a boy she'd loved since elementary school. Romantic. Yeah. So you can do your best Eradicator impersonation and shoot finger guns at a boy when he's saying goodbye. It's basically a frickin' proposal...
"It's definitely the City of Lights, too. I think it's prettiest in the rain, when you can see everything in the city fizzle. Not so great if you like to stargaze, but I never really minded. You should stick with Hasta, though," she advised knowingly. "You'll sound like a real tourist if you call it Paris, though."</s> |
<|description|>Nicole Cognoscenti
The Mundane
Age: 17
Sanctum City: Hasta
Description: Nicole is a girl of average height, a slender build, and irrepressible good cheer to cram inside it. Blue-eyed and always grinning, her sharp features are framed by scarlet hair, cut fashionably to the bottom of her neck with bangs that occasionally fall into her eyes.
Hasta is one of the world's most fashionable Sanctum Cities, with all but its poorest denizens dressed beautifully in casual, flowing fashions and bright colors. Nicole is no exception, although she does her best to dress fashionably casual. Whether oversized hoodies or cropped tops, tight jeans or her school uniform's skirt, one of her only sartorial mainstays is the peach colored tassel scarf she's almost always thrown haphazardly around her neck. Sometimes she'll top her head in a cute little beret.
Personality: A laid-back and cheerful girl who always tries her best at everything. Nicole may not be the most zealous fighter or the most charismatic presence, but she's a stabilizing force among what may otherwise be a chaotic ensemble of students. She exudes a quiet calm about most things, a playful energy often expelled through practical jokes, and a willingness to laugh at herself and others. She's grown up into a fairly privileged life and tries to keep that knowledge in the back of her mind, so it allows her some measure of empathy for other girls who may not have had it as easy as she did. It makes her a solid, unifying presence among friend groups and just a generally good time to be around.
Though she plays it close to the chest, Nicole is a deeply idealistic, romantic girl, with notions of true love and eternal good vibes that she tries not to espouse too often. She has a headful of dreams about some kind of nebulous "better life," although what that life would be like and how it would be an improvement over her own free-flowing existence is something she hasn't quite figured out.
Background: Nicole was born among the upper middle class of the beautiful, fashionable, (sort of) sunny Sanctum City of Hasta. One of the cultural capitals of the world, her childhood was cosmopolitan and largely peaceful, with a large pool of friends across all walks of life. Her parents did what they could to shelter her through much of her childhood, but they were politically active people, often taking up the causes of the downtrodden and unfortunate who were unable to share in Hasta's joys. Eventually, as she grew older, Nicole came to share their passion for altruism.
For a time, like most girls, she dreamed that she was a secret princess - some long-lost member of a Duodecim family, someone who could achieve great heights and make a difference in a scary world. Eventually, she had given up on that dream and resolved to make change in meaningful, realistic ways somehow. It was realizing her magical potential at the age of thirteen that helped give her a sense of wonder again, made her dream of stopping Voids and serving as a paragon for all the world's helpless - someone with the power to make people listen.
Having decided her dream was worth pursuing once again, in a decidedly more fantastical direction this time, Nicole applied to Nova Lux Academy with stars in her eyes, and was overjoyed to be accepted.
---
The Magic
Armgaus Name: Twinkling Scarlet Emerald
Gladius:
Vedfolnir
A blued steel sabre balanced to Nicole's hand, with a small, polished chunk of red beryl at the hilt. Its size belies the potential reach of the blade, as combined with her Elementum Nicole's slashes can seem to extend three times longer than the length of the blade would suggest.
Parma: Nicole's eyes and hair glow a brighter orange, her skin begins to twinkle slightly, and she wears an all-white ensemble of her normal beret, a midriff baring top and shorts, with thigh high boots and a holster.
Elementum: Wind
Elementum Abilities: In keeping with her elementum and her own breezy personality, Nicole has a great degree of agility and levity, often joking that she can dodge any attack thrown at her as long as she's not feeling lazy. It may not be an entirely empty boast; though not a particular powerhouse, her agility makes her a capable duelist with her sabre. She can also use her ability to make great leaps, bordering on sustained flight if she can keep her concentration - although doing so obviously limits her effectiveness in combat.</s>
<|message|>Astrelle Lennox
---
The conversation about television series continued as Astrelle sat back and tended to her cup of tea. The class division appeared more prominent, observing that Vanna scarcely contributed to the conversation either.
Before long, the tremors started up again. A low rumble shook the ship, accompanied by the rattling of the silverware in front of the girls. The shaking was enough of a distraction that Astrelle could pay attention to little else, as anxiety crept into her heart. The thumping of her heartbeat accelerated with the intensity of the tremors. Keeping her teacup still was hardly a concern anymore, and she allowed the porcelain to slide off the table at the peak of the ship's shaking.
Then, a stillness, though momentary, washed over Astrelle with relief like ebbing waves, slowly purging bits of her anxiety with every push and pull of the tide.
Astrelle's distress had almost been erased by the deceptive calm, before the cabin was bathed in a red light. Its source was clearly visible from the cabin window—a glowing, disembodied eye that few around before disappearing into the dark abyss below. Astrelle's body tensed up at the eerie fright, and as quick as it went, her panic returned.
Nothing could've prepared Astrelle for the calamity that came next. A terrifying weightlessness instantly flooded her senses as the airship plunged downwards and inertia lifted her body from the seat. There wasn't enough time to find something stable to hold on to; she was powerless as the force of the ship's movements flung her around the room like a ragdoll. She shrieked in pain when her back slammed against the window, though she managed to lift her arms in front of her face to shield from shards of broken porcelain and glass amidst the frenzy.
When the turbulence finally subsided, Astrelle dropped to the floor with a thud.
Her body ached from the assault. She barely registered the flickering lights, though the distorted voices and sounds outside their cabin posed some concern. Astrelle focused on recovering from the fall, and groaned as she lifted herself to a standing position.
The lights died and the cabin was dark, but the flow of magic was palpable in the air. Astrelle focused it to her eyes. In an instant, the opaque dark lifted its obscuring veil, and though visible, everything looked washed with a tint of grey. It didn't seem like her ability was needed however, when Dana cast her light magic and dispelled the shadows for the others. Astrelle was somewhat satisfied to keep her cards hidden for the time being.
Vanna was quick to take leadership of the situation. Astrelle's impression of Vanna after the short-lived tea party was that she took everything too seriously, but nevertheless, her steely nature was commendable and helpful in this moment of uncertainty.
"Sitting here seems rather useless," Astrelle chimed, regaining her usual composure and cold-hearted smile. "There were some voices outside the cabin earlier. We can go in that direction."</s>
<|message|>Dana Noel
Dana smiled and nodded as Penny gave her explanation for why she preferred Altea over Alexis, knowing that everyone had their own unique tastes and that Penny's opinion as well as her own were both completely subjective, and thus, completely valid. And that was perfectly fine. After all, such differences usually led to some of the best discussions, at least in Dana's personal experience. Indeed, just after Penny had finished describing her sisters, Nicole had joined the conversation, professing her love for Eradicator II.
"Oh, totally!" Dana agreed. "I'm a big fan of that series, too! And you're right about the second being the best," she added after Penny voiced her own thoughts on the series. "But, like, isn't that the case with most series? The second installment is usually the best one. I mean, ya got Aliens, Wrath of Khan, Empire Strikes Back, Judgment Day…"
By this point, the conversation had shifted to home cities, leaving Dana to take up the role of a passive listener. Hasta sounded really cool, and she couldn't help but feel that it was a shame they weren't heading there instead… Still, Palmyra was probably cool too, in its own way. After all, it was home to Nova Lux Academy! That alone made visiting it something to look forward to.
If they ever got there…
"Woah!" Dana yelped as the airship shuddered violently. She then felt her heart stop as a glowing, red eye appeared outside the viewport. It departed moments later, but it still left Dana more than a little shaken up. She had never seen a void up close before, and she doubted any of her fellow Ars Magi candidates had either. Before she could confirm that by asking, or even glancing at their faces, they were all thrown into the air by a massive jolt. Dana was sent flying into the rear wall, slamming her head in the process. The vessel finally regained control a few seconds later, but before Dana's dizzy mind could even take note of that, the lights flickered off, bathing the room in darkness.
"Owww…" Dana groaned, wincing as she clutched her aching head. "I'm a little beaten up, but I think I'll live," she replied to Penny's inquiry as she slowly got to her feet. "Anyone get the number of that giant eye monster?" she asked after a moment, in a meager attempt to add a bit of levity to the situation.
She could hear the sounds of weapons fire from beyond the door, so they clearly weren't out of the proverbial woods just yet, and it was still quite dark, although Penny seemed to be providing some sparks to help with that problem. Dana was just about to add her own powers to the effort when the calm, but commanding voice of Vanna requested she do just that.
"Sure thing!" she replied. Gathering her magic, she formed a small sphere of glowing, golden light above the tip of one finger.
After that, Vanna swiftly took charge of the situation, providing two possible courses of action. Astrelle was quick to give her vote to the second option, and Dana found herself in full agreement with the other girl's sentiment.
"Sounds like a plan!" Dana declared with what she hoped was a reassuring grin. "People may need our help, and if there's a chance we can make a difference, then we gotta take it!"</s>
| <|message|>Nicole Cognoscenti
Maybe she should have asked one of the sailors if it was okay to invoke a doomed ship on a voyage, because when Laurus jolted underneath them, it reeked of such perfect ironic timing that Nicole wondered if she'd cursed them all.
She had never before felt the surface buckle underneath her the way that the ship did then, a sudden lurch that left her with the sick feeling of her organs having to catch up with their proper positions. She watched the other girls lose their footing one by one, heads and limbs slamming into the room that had been so comforting moments ago. Even with the ship's screams of protest overwhelming her ears, somehow she could make out the yelps and cries of pain from her fellow would-be students. Wait, would-be?
Is this it? We're not even gonna see the school? Fuck, dude.
Fuck, dude? The strange serenity of her reaction surprised her, even in the split second she could register it. She supposed that was who she was: Nicole Cognoscenti, queen of vibes, always going with the flow. Even at the end, her smile would be on the wind.
--and then the gods noticed her, and decided it was her turn to be tossed about.
The ship bucked again with a squeal of metal, and Nicole was launched off her feet, thrown in the same direction as the table she'd been snacking from minutes previously. One of the other girls hurtled past her, and Nicole reached for her hand out of desperate impulse - Astrelle's, maybe, or Dana's or even Vanna's - but the girl was gone before their fingers could do more than brush. The table had slammed into a wall, two of its wooden legs snapped off. It was a recipe for impalement; at best she would slam into the table face first, and after that any case she might have had for being the prettiest girl in the class would be dead in the water.
My smile is on the wind.
Nicole closed her eyes, let go of her body, and smiled.
She felt herself curl up into a ball and undergo a single, controlled somersault. When she had finished her rotation, her legs outstretched, and the tip of her boot bounced off the shrapnel-studded wooden surface as easily as it would have bounced off a trampoline. While she was in the air, the ship's uncontrolled fall into hell finally halted, and the girls began to haul themselves upright from whatever they'd grabbed onto or fallen against. Nicole, the lone girl still suspended in the air, was panting softly when she landed on her feet, but it was hard to wipe the goofy, exhilarated grin off her face. The whole thing, from initial turbulence to her graceful magic gymnastic routine, felt like the longest hour of Nicole's life.
It had only been six seconds.
She looked around to see if everyone was okay. Most of them looked sore, slightly ruffled up, but like they could handle themselves in what seemed like an imminent fight. Vanna was already giving out orders about as effectively as any veteran Wing of Justice, even though inside she must have been as taken aback as the rest of them. While she was talking, Nicole bent down to pick up her beret. She pouted slightly when she saw a couple condiment smears from one of the sandwiches, but pulled it back on, just facing in a different direction from the rest of the girls. Hopefully her hair was enough of a mess to distract from that kind of thing anyway, and besides, who was she going to be vain for? Vanna? Astrelle? The giant demon eye from the blackest flames of hell?
If that was her audience, she would rock her mayo beret with pride.
"Speaking of people, and uh, help, and all," she said, once she had collected enough breath and felt the tingles of her instinctive magical display fading from her extremities. "How far could the Wing of Justice have gotten? Hopefully she's not too beat up to pitch in, but either way, I kinda want a couple answers. 'Cause I'm feeling a little screwed right about now. Anyone else feel like she definitely knew we were getting perved on by that giant eye? Not just me, right?</s> |
<|description|>Nicole Cognoscenti
The Mundane
Age: 17
Sanctum City: Hasta
Description: Nicole is a girl of average height, a slender build, and irrepressible good cheer to cram inside it. Blue-eyed and always grinning, her sharp features are framed by scarlet hair, cut fashionably to the bottom of her neck with bangs that occasionally fall into her eyes.
Hasta is one of the world's most fashionable Sanctum Cities, with all but its poorest denizens dressed beautifully in casual, flowing fashions and bright colors. Nicole is no exception, although she does her best to dress fashionably casual. Whether oversized hoodies or cropped tops, tight jeans or her school uniform's skirt, one of her only sartorial mainstays is the peach colored tassel scarf she's almost always thrown haphazardly around her neck. Sometimes she'll top her head in a cute little beret.
Personality: A laid-back and cheerful girl who always tries her best at everything. Nicole may not be the most zealous fighter or the most charismatic presence, but she's a stabilizing force among what may otherwise be a chaotic ensemble of students. She exudes a quiet calm about most things, a playful energy often expelled through practical jokes, and a willingness to laugh at herself and others. She's grown up into a fairly privileged life and tries to keep that knowledge in the back of her mind, so it allows her some measure of empathy for other girls who may not have had it as easy as she did. It makes her a solid, unifying presence among friend groups and just a generally good time to be around.
Though she plays it close to the chest, Nicole is a deeply idealistic, romantic girl, with notions of true love and eternal good vibes that she tries not to espouse too often. She has a headful of dreams about some kind of nebulous "better life," although what that life would be like and how it would be an improvement over her own free-flowing existence is something she hasn't quite figured out.
Background: Nicole was born among the upper middle class of the beautiful, fashionable, (sort of) sunny Sanctum City of Hasta. One of the cultural capitals of the world, her childhood was cosmopolitan and largely peaceful, with a large pool of friends across all walks of life. Her parents did what they could to shelter her through much of her childhood, but they were politically active people, often taking up the causes of the downtrodden and unfortunate who were unable to share in Hasta's joys. Eventually, as she grew older, Nicole came to share their passion for altruism.
For a time, like most girls, she dreamed that she was a secret princess - some long-lost member of a Duodecim family, someone who could achieve great heights and make a difference in a scary world. Eventually, she had given up on that dream and resolved to make change in meaningful, realistic ways somehow. It was realizing her magical potential at the age of thirteen that helped give her a sense of wonder again, made her dream of stopping Voids and serving as a paragon for all the world's helpless - someone with the power to make people listen.
Having decided her dream was worth pursuing once again, in a decidedly more fantastical direction this time, Nicole applied to Nova Lux Academy with stars in her eyes, and was overjoyed to be accepted.
---
The Magic
Armgaus Name: Twinkling Scarlet Emerald
Gladius:
Vedfolnir
A blued steel sabre balanced to Nicole's hand, with a small, polished chunk of red beryl at the hilt. Its size belies the potential reach of the blade, as combined with her Elementum Nicole's slashes can seem to extend three times longer than the length of the blade would suggest.
Parma: Nicole's eyes and hair glow a brighter orange, her skin begins to twinkle slightly, and she wears an all-white ensemble of her normal beret, a midriff baring top and shorts, with thigh high boots and a holster.
Elementum: Wind
Elementum Abilities: In keeping with her elementum and her own breezy personality, Nicole has a great degree of agility and levity, often joking that she can dodge any attack thrown at her as long as she's not feeling lazy. It may not be an entirely empty boast; though not a particular powerhouse, her agility makes her a capable duelist with her sabre. She can also use her ability to make great leaps, bordering on sustained flight if she can keep her concentration - although doing so obviously limits her effectiveness in combat.</s>
<|message|>Penny Grenoble
"Shit," Penny hisses, any sense of propriety going out the window when the monsters attacked. Half of her is of a mind to run and grab the gun, but she realizes she'd have little skill actually using it; she might even be more of a danger to everyone present than the Void. She also realizes she can't stand there, gawping. The other half is terrified; she's read horrors stories about Void, but never actually seen one up close - now she's practically within reach of a living nightmare creature. It's almost all she can do to keep calm.
It takes her a moment before she realizes she's running right at the Void.
"Hey asshole!" she cries out to the Void, hand clenched tightly into a fist as she fills it as best as she can with with a surge of electrical elementum. "HEADS UP!"
Performing a running jump, she gives a war cry as she slams her fist into the Void as hard as she can, amplifying its power with lightning.
'Welp, it was nice while it lasted,' she thinks. 'Doubt it'll do more than piss it off, but worth a shot...'</s>
<|message|>Dana Noel
Continuing to provide illumination, Dana cautiously led her fellow candidates into the darkened corridor. They had barely left the cabin, when they were approached by a pair of soldiers. One of the soldiers began to inform them that there had been an emergency (no kidding…), before he was suddenly yanked back into the darkness by some unseen force. Not wasting a moment, his companion whirled around and opened fire on the unknown attacker, the glowing discharge of his magitech rifle revealing the identity of their enemy.
"Holy crap…!" Dana gasped as she beheld the void's terrifying appearance, as well as the following horrific sight of it impaling the second solider and pinning him to the wall.
With a roar of outrage, Penny charged the creature, a crackling orb of lighting clenched in her fist. The strike staggered the monster enough for it to release its hold on the soldier, giving Dana the opportunity she needed.
"Hang in there, pal!" Dana called to the wounded soldier as she rushed over to kneel down beside him. "I'll get ya all patched up, so don't worry!" she added, flashing him reassuring smile.
Even with the increased quantity of Nox providing additional power, Dana wasn't sure exactly how much healing she could perform, but she knew that keeping a positive outlook was crucial in situations like these. As she set about her work, she only hoped that her new friends could finish what Penny started and take care of their monstrous foe for good.</s>
<|message|>Astrelle Lennox
---
The girls slowly made their way through the corridors. Dana, with her light, stayed at the front of the group. Gunfire sounded from a distance and rang throughout the airship, and dread twisted in Astrelle's gut. Someone, people, were fighting something, and as much as she didn't want to believe it, she had an idea of what it was. Her hands were clenched tightly in fists as they proceeded through the eerie passage, with only the sounds of their footsteps and distant warfare as company.
Astrelle spotted the figures in the darkness slightly sooner than the others, with her eyes that pierced through the shadows. She let out an audible, sharp gasp and reactively covered her mouth with her hands, as if it were a mistake to make a sound. The sinister aura of the humanoid being sent a surge of panic through her body, and she found it hard to control her trembling. Fear froze her, and Astrelle could only watch helplessly as a soldier was impaled with the creature's claws. She regretted, in that moment, the clarity of her vision; she could see the glisten of the victim's blood still trailing off the monster's appendages.
Astrelle watched in disbelief as Penny charged at the Void, seemingly unfazed by the sight of the monster quite literally pinning a full grown man onto a wall with little effort. Her willingness to fight was interpreted more like an idiotic death wish in Astrelle's perspective. Regardless, it worked out better for her that Penny was on the offense; Astrelle's abilities were not suited for attacking, and if someone had to be sacrificed for the others to survive, she was satisfied as long as it wasn't herself. The way Astrelle saw it, Penny seemed more than willing to risk her own life.
Something in Astrelle snapped and dispelled her fear. She had connected the right dots or found some rationalization that allowed her to come to terms with reality, and couldn't help but laugh. The scene before her only affirmed her pessimistic expectations of being an Ars Magi. Her predictions were merely accurate. Her boisterous laughter filled the small hallway.
"I'm so excited to be an Ars Magi," Astrelle mimicked sarcastically, recounting the girls' statements from the tea party. The thought of imminent death overruled any desire to stay polite to the others. An eerie grin stretched across her face, "Wouldn't it be so fun to be impaled by a Void like the poor guard?"
Perhaps now, their naiveté would be replaced by caution. She didn't care about how wonderful the government tried to sell it on TV, or how honorable the station was in society—she just didn't want to die. Unlike the others, she never asked to be an Ars Magi and never wanted to be one. She wanted to go back to her life of luxury—even becoming a dog to the Venus clan seemed like a better idea than this.
In reaction to Penny's attack, the menacing creature released the injured soldier from its grasp. Dana was quick to act, rushing to the injured man and performing healing magic. The monster looked distracted now, but it was only a matter of time before it turned its attention to its assailant. Astrelle kept silent and maneuvered to the back of the group, giving no heed to how self-serving the action appeared. She could feel her power building amidst the shrouds of Nox, but even then, her abilities to sink into shadows and generate darkness were not skills that dealt damage. The most she could do is evade the monster's attacks, but that would only help herself. There was the possibility that her high evasion would be useful if Astrelle acted as bait, but there was absolutely no way she would suggest herself for that position.
"Unfortunately, my abilities aren't suited for fighting," Astrelle smiled, finally regaining some sense of calm. She gestured to the darkness of the corridor behind them. "The most I can do is act as a guard dog for your backs, or I can go and try to find Victoria."</s>
| <|message|>Nicole Cognoscenti
Nicole's breath left her lungs for a moment at the sight of the Void's savagery. It was strange - an airship crash, the screaming and gnashing of metal and wood around her, had left her serenely calm, and yet this...this...an airship crash sucked, but at least it was an act of God. This was something else.
Penny, no doubt similarly terrified beyond measure, charged right in without consulting any of them. Before Nicole could even call out for her to wait, the bespectacled girl ran in with a war cry to haymaker the Void with as much lightning and power as her little body could cook with. Dana was doing her thing on the guard, probably saving his life, which almost brought a smile to Nicole's face despite herself. Even Astrelle's snide, panicked barbs didn't quite touch the fuzzy feeling that Dana's act of altruism gave her...
...although it did make her roll her eyes a little.
"I'm so excited to be an Ars Magi. Wouldn't it be so fun to be impaled by a Void like the poor guard? Unfortunately, my abilities aren't suited for fighting. The most I can do is act as a guard dog for your backs, or I can go and try to find Victoria."
Nicole tilted her head and smiled back.
"Well, you and me both. So why don't we both go ahead together? Maybe find Victoria, maybe find some answers, maybe die screaming. Your date, your call, babe."</s> |
<|description|>Nicole Cognoscenti
The Mundane
Age: 17
Sanctum City: Hasta
Description: Nicole is a girl of average height, a slender build, and irrepressible good cheer to cram inside it. Blue-eyed and always grinning, her sharp features are framed by scarlet hair, cut fashionably to the bottom of her neck with bangs that occasionally fall into her eyes.
Hasta is one of the world's most fashionable Sanctum Cities, with all but its poorest denizens dressed beautifully in casual, flowing fashions and bright colors. Nicole is no exception, although she does her best to dress fashionably casual. Whether oversized hoodies or cropped tops, tight jeans or her school uniform's skirt, one of her only sartorial mainstays is the peach colored tassel scarf she's almost always thrown haphazardly around her neck. Sometimes she'll top her head in a cute little beret.
Personality: A laid-back and cheerful girl who always tries her best at everything. Nicole may not be the most zealous fighter or the most charismatic presence, but she's a stabilizing force among what may otherwise be a chaotic ensemble of students. She exudes a quiet calm about most things, a playful energy often expelled through practical jokes, and a willingness to laugh at herself and others. She's grown up into a fairly privileged life and tries to keep that knowledge in the back of her mind, so it allows her some measure of empathy for other girls who may not have had it as easy as she did. It makes her a solid, unifying presence among friend groups and just a generally good time to be around.
Though she plays it close to the chest, Nicole is a deeply idealistic, romantic girl, with notions of true love and eternal good vibes that she tries not to espouse too often. She has a headful of dreams about some kind of nebulous "better life," although what that life would be like and how it would be an improvement over her own free-flowing existence is something she hasn't quite figured out.
Background: Nicole was born among the upper middle class of the beautiful, fashionable, (sort of) sunny Sanctum City of Hasta. One of the cultural capitals of the world, her childhood was cosmopolitan and largely peaceful, with a large pool of friends across all walks of life. Her parents did what they could to shelter her through much of her childhood, but they were politically active people, often taking up the causes of the downtrodden and unfortunate who were unable to share in Hasta's joys. Eventually, as she grew older, Nicole came to share their passion for altruism.
For a time, like most girls, she dreamed that she was a secret princess - some long-lost member of a Duodecim family, someone who could achieve great heights and make a difference in a scary world. Eventually, she had given up on that dream and resolved to make change in meaningful, realistic ways somehow. It was realizing her magical potential at the age of thirteen that helped give her a sense of wonder again, made her dream of stopping Voids and serving as a paragon for all the world's helpless - someone with the power to make people listen.
Having decided her dream was worth pursuing once again, in a decidedly more fantastical direction this time, Nicole applied to Nova Lux Academy with stars in her eyes, and was overjoyed to be accepted.
---
The Magic
Armgaus Name: Twinkling Scarlet Emerald
Gladius:
Vedfolnir
A blued steel sabre balanced to Nicole's hand, with a small, polished chunk of red beryl at the hilt. Its size belies the potential reach of the blade, as combined with her Elementum Nicole's slashes can seem to extend three times longer than the length of the blade would suggest.
Parma: Nicole's eyes and hair glow a brighter orange, her skin begins to twinkle slightly, and she wears an all-white ensemble of her normal beret, a midriff baring top and shorts, with thigh high boots and a holster.
Elementum: Wind
Elementum Abilities: In keeping with her elementum and her own breezy personality, Nicole has a great degree of agility and levity, often joking that she can dodge any attack thrown at her as long as she's not feeling lazy. It may not be an entirely empty boast; though not a particular powerhouse, her agility makes her a capable duelist with her sabre. She can also use her ability to make great leaps, bordering on sustained flight if she can keep her concentration - although doing so obviously limits her effectiveness in combat.</s>
<|message|>Astrelle Lennox
---
What hope Astrelle had for some salvation was quickly diminished when she arrived to the control room. Soldiers were injured and strewn about the premises, and no Ars Magi, capable of dispelling the threat, was to be seen in the room at all. What chance of survival did the girls have against the Void without help? Astrelle thought back to Penny's broken arm, which happened with such little effort on the Void's part that she shook at the thought of what the monster could do with more time. Vanna was capable, but Astrelle couldn't find it in her to believe that she could win against something so inhumanly strong.
Outside the large window of the control room, dancing flashes of light caught her eye. It became clear to her after a brief moment that the lights were sparks of colliding weaponry, metals, and magic; there were two figures in the cloudy darkness that traded blows. Astrelle's feet carried her to the window reflexively, and she pressed her hand against the cold glass. She was sure of it—Victoria Glass was out there, fighting a masked assailant who was undoubtedly another Ars Magi. Confusion clouded her mind. Weren't Ars Magi all on the same side?
Dana and Nicole's arrival startled Astrelle out of her thoughts. It appeared as though they were able to make it past the Void after all, despite their luggage. Astrelle had to give them credit for that much, since she believed that the endeavour would've ended with their deaths. Dana noticed the fighting on the decks of the ship as well, though seemed more concerned with the injured soldier she had so valiantly hauled over to the control room.
"What is Victoria doing?" There was a slight tremor in Astrelle's voice, despite the effort to keep her speech calm. She looked away from the window and towards the two girls. "She's—It looks like she's fighting another Ars Magi. That's absurd. Who's going to help Penny and Vanna?"
A dangerous thought flashed across her mind. Was it possible that what the public knew about the monsters outside the wall, and Ars Magi, their defenders, were no more than lies or disguised truths? Why were there Ars Magic fighting one of their own in the first place? There was certainly something the governing powers were hiding. She couldn't rationalize the sight of two feuding Ars Magi any other way.</s>
<|message|>Diana Khay "V" Vanna
---
The beginning always seemed so still.
Calm.
Yes. Calm. It was always this way, a brief moment to reflect before action. It was in this stagnant silence that Vanna felt more at home and more alive than she had this entire journey. A peculiar thing but it's not like one could control such inclinations. That last second before take off, that last breath before the pitcher began his windup; that was Vanna's comfort zone.
That was when everything felt right.
In that singular second Vanna heard nothing else. None of the other girls in the room mattered anymore. It was just her and the Void.
And then it began.
The beast disappeared in a flash, the gap between the two shrank instantly; her opponent did not want Vanna to have any time to contemplate her decisions. All it wanted was the kill: a savage creature through and through. The speed was indeed otherworldly, faster than any human Vanna had faced thus far. But it wasn't quite fast enough.
The comfort zone.
The shift in gear came naturally to the daughter of Diana, her head swiftly turning away from the beast's outstretched hand. Nevertheless she felt a sharp jolt as her body let her know she too hadn't quite been quick enough. The clawed fingers had found a mark across her left cheek but now wasn't the time to buckle in pain. Diana Khay Vanna would not perish here. Could not. Adrenaline would do its job to make the pain fleeting and so Vanna would do her job and retaliate against the creature.
She had scarcely finished her sidestep of the beast's attack before beginning her counter: A quick, singular thrust at the heart of the monster. A strike she had rehearsed for years, albeit never with the leg of a chair, but an actor can't always choose their props. Like a seasoned sniper she knew before contact that her aim was true. The chair leg shattered as she pierced the Void's core forcing Vanna to leap back and let go of her short lived companion.
But the damage had been done, the creature was on its knees, convulsing in pain? She wasn't sure if the Void could even feel such a thing. Still the important fact of the matter was that her plan had worked. The desperate action had opened a path for the others to escape, or rather get them out of this particular ordeal, she could only hope that they had found support on the other side.
Now she needed to decide upon her own path. The one other girl left in the hallway, Penny Grenoble, had managed to regain her own footing and was looking to Vanna for instruction.
"I say we finish this thing off, but if you think we can make a break for it, I'm with ya. I think I got one last charge for this ugly fucker, so just say the word."
While she may have drawn complaints with Penny's coarse choice in words, Vanna also couldn't help but agree with the overarching decision. Right now the beast was on its knees, right now it could be hurt and the core would shatter, but there was no telling what might happen if the two girls turned their back on the Void.
"Miss" Vanna winced, the gash across her cheek was deeper than she thought "Grenoble. Save your energy. You may need it. Not sure if... if this will work."
It hurt to finish the sentence but she pushed forward. Now it was time to put theory into practice. Her weapon was gone and attacking with her barefists seemed suicidal- she needed a new option. Dana Noel. Yes, she was overflowing with Nox, more Aether coursed through her today than it had her entire life, if she couldn't project her Elementum outward today, the way her fellow initiate had so effortlessly, when would she?
Focus...
Concentrate on the energy within, let it swirl, let it flow, let it breathe, and then guide it... Guide it to her fingers, let it accumulate and condense. Capture it all within the palm of her hand....
And then it went.
Out of her hand exploded a blast of energy. The Aether she had been building up for so long surged outwards and towards the Void. It was a pinpoint blast aimed for the core: a hammer to drive in the last remaining piece of wood left in the heart of the beast.
tired.....
But as the blast of energy left her hand so too did the little strength Vanna still possessed. She had drained her reserves and now she was at the mercy of pain and fatigue. Her vision blurred and the ceiling seemed to fly farther away. No the ceiling wasn't flying she was falling. Ah she'd been here before...
Her eyes closed quickly as the Lady of Potentia slumped to the ground. Exhaustion had claimed yet another victim. The other girls could take care of themselves. Now she could rest.
But she had won. Again.
She had been victorious.
Right?</s>
| <|message|>Nicole Cognoscenti
For all her bluster and optimism in the face of getting past the Void, as well as the fact that she clearly rated the girls' chances higher than Astrelle or the survivors of the control room, Nicole's good cheer did have his limits. Like Dana and Astrelle, she did an anxious double take at the figures of Victoria Glass and another woman fighting. The startled reactions were right; that could only be another Ars Magi, wielding a blade that seemed as close to a forged lightning bolt as anything Nicole had ever seen. Astrelle gave voice to her incredulity.
"What is Victoria doing? She's—It looks like she's fighting another Ars Magi. That's absurd. Who's going to help Penny and Vanna?"
Aww, shit, so you do care...
Still, it was hard not to silently agree with her. Nicole had really banked on the Wing to help bail the girls out of trouble, but seeing, for herself, two Ars Magi dueling to the death...it was impossible for her to wrap her mind around. Maybe they had all died in the crash after all, this was some kind of shared hell where they were all trapped in Penny and Dana's cartoons, and one of them had accidentally conjured up some cruel, sexy rival character who had fallen from grace. Or maybe they were alive, those conspiracy sites were right, and there were such things as Ars Magi who acted as mercenaries - or even worse, cabals who were capable of even worse schemes, things that precocious girls like them - well, like Dana, Penny, and Nicole - were capable of imagining. Nicole really didn't give a fuck about the explanation behind the current situation. What mattered was that the girls were back there, they were stuck here, and Victoria was out of reach. If staying behind to fight one Void was basically suicide, then going out to help Victoria in their states would be about as helpful as a staring contest with a solar flare.
"I'm going back for them," she volunteered, aiming her smile at Astrelle Lennox - a look with good cheer to rival Penny and Dana, with some cheekiness for flavor and an implicit hint of understanding. "We've done all we can for this guy, and he's in better hands than ours. None of us are gonna turn the tide up there. Dana's put herself through a lot already, and you're probably happy in the control room, right, babe? One trip was probably stressful enough."
What had been an implicit hint grew more pronounced, and she stuck up a peace sign over one eye.
"If I die, you two were totally my favorite classmates. Back in a sec."
With a wink, and the same grace she had avoided injury with during the ship's descent, Nicole took a small leap behind her, sprung her second foot backwards, and skipped back down the hall like a stone towards her other new friends.</s> |
<|description|>Nicole Cognoscenti
The Mundane
Age: 17
Sanctum City: Hasta
Description: Nicole is a girl of average height, a slender build, and irrepressible good cheer to cram inside it. Blue-eyed and always grinning, her sharp features are framed by scarlet hair, cut fashionably to the bottom of her neck with bangs that occasionally fall into her eyes.
Hasta is one of the world's most fashionable Sanctum Cities, with all but its poorest denizens dressed beautifully in casual, flowing fashions and bright colors. Nicole is no exception, although she does her best to dress fashionably casual. Whether oversized hoodies or cropped tops, tight jeans or her school uniform's skirt, one of her only sartorial mainstays is the peach colored tassel scarf she's almost always thrown haphazardly around her neck. Sometimes she'll top her head in a cute little beret.
Personality: A laid-back and cheerful girl who always tries her best at everything. Nicole may not be the most zealous fighter or the most charismatic presence, but she's a stabilizing force among what may otherwise be a chaotic ensemble of students. She exudes a quiet calm about most things, a playful energy often expelled through practical jokes, and a willingness to laugh at herself and others. She's grown up into a fairly privileged life and tries to keep that knowledge in the back of her mind, so it allows her some measure of empathy for other girls who may not have had it as easy as she did. It makes her a solid, unifying presence among friend groups and just a generally good time to be around.
Though she plays it close to the chest, Nicole is a deeply idealistic, romantic girl, with notions of true love and eternal good vibes that she tries not to espouse too often. She has a headful of dreams about some kind of nebulous "better life," although what that life would be like and how it would be an improvement over her own free-flowing existence is something she hasn't quite figured out.
Background: Nicole was born among the upper middle class of the beautiful, fashionable, (sort of) sunny Sanctum City of Hasta. One of the cultural capitals of the world, her childhood was cosmopolitan and largely peaceful, with a large pool of friends across all walks of life. Her parents did what they could to shelter her through much of her childhood, but they were politically active people, often taking up the causes of the downtrodden and unfortunate who were unable to share in Hasta's joys. Eventually, as she grew older, Nicole came to share their passion for altruism.
For a time, like most girls, she dreamed that she was a secret princess - some long-lost member of a Duodecim family, someone who could achieve great heights and make a difference in a scary world. Eventually, she had given up on that dream and resolved to make change in meaningful, realistic ways somehow. It was realizing her magical potential at the age of thirteen that helped give her a sense of wonder again, made her dream of stopping Voids and serving as a paragon for all the world's helpless - someone with the power to make people listen.
Having decided her dream was worth pursuing once again, in a decidedly more fantastical direction this time, Nicole applied to Nova Lux Academy with stars in her eyes, and was overjoyed to be accepted.
---
The Magic
Armgaus Name: Twinkling Scarlet Emerald
Gladius:
Vedfolnir
A blued steel sabre balanced to Nicole's hand, with a small, polished chunk of red beryl at the hilt. Its size belies the potential reach of the blade, as combined with her Elementum Nicole's slashes can seem to extend three times longer than the length of the blade would suggest.
Parma: Nicole's eyes and hair glow a brighter orange, her skin begins to twinkle slightly, and she wears an all-white ensemble of her normal beret, a midriff baring top and shorts, with thigh high boots and a holster.
Elementum: Wind
Elementum Abilities: In keeping with her elementum and her own breezy personality, Nicole has a great degree of agility and levity, often joking that she can dodge any attack thrown at her as long as she's not feeling lazy. It may not be an entirely empty boast; though not a particular powerhouse, her agility makes her a capable duelist with her sabre. She can also use her ability to make great leaps, bordering on sustained flight if she can keep her concentration - although doing so obviously limits her effectiveness in combat.</s>
<|message|>Nicole Cognoscenti
---
She supposed what she admired most about her parents, their boundless activism, was that they seemed to find the beauty in everything - every day, every cause, every person. There was something to love about yourself, and those around you, but sometimes it took work to find it. It was easy to draw a path from that philosophy to her good nature and the laid-back way she treated her peers. But Palmyra was a homely city by nature. The buildings were mere cubes stacked upon cubes, with artless neon and xenon for splashes of color, like trying to disguise stale bread with cake frosting. Hasta was cosmopolitan as Sanctum Cities went, so she recognized one sign in three, likely more than most of the other girls present.
But the signs she read only discouraged her further. Grocery. Cab depot. Grocery. Accountant. School. Hospital. Library. Hospital. Restaurant! ...Accountant.
Obviously, there was plenty of representation for the world's one true universal church - the pizza joint. She even saw a few cafes, such as they were. But they were wedged in between other structures (which was all they were) and lacked patios, let alone rooftop views. She could count the number that were actually on a street corner on one hand. But pan pizza and cappuccinos were for binging with her study group, not a replacement for nightlife. She looked for telltale signs of arcades or little hole in the wall bars, the kinds of places that she had grown up sneaking into with friends, but nothing jumped out. The city was a den of brutalism; the rare peeks she got of its inner workings were cold and lifeless. Even Astrelle - who was doing her best to make the other girls think she lived up to those descriptors - must have been miserable, she mused. This was a far cry from what she remembered of Valentia too.
So it was that Nicole, whose humor and vibe had seemed indefatigable even at their emotional nadir during the attack, spent most of their first ride through Palmyra in contemplative, almost sullen silence.
"So there's the answer to 'what happens when you make a barracks into an entire city. And here I thought Ciscia's D-Fens Quarter was ugly and blocky."
"Yeah, I guess it's not much to look at. But, when ya think about it, it's really the people inside the buildings that count."
Nicole mustered a half smile at the sentiment - and at the image of her mom spoiling Dana the way she'd spoiled all her other friends - but the most she could muster was a quiet "Yeah..."
"You're hopelessly cheerful, aren't you?" Penny was saying to Dana. "Eh, as long as they have a decent pizza joint in town, I'm fine with it."
"I've seen a few so far," Nicole assured her, but after that she remained withdrawn from the conversation.
The checkup cheered her up a bit. She was polite to the technicians, and they were polite back; soon, she was able to make a couple joke during her blood draw. By the time she was undergoing her examination the ennui had faded to the point where she was even able to hit on her doctor, who deflected her with a smile and professional grace. It was probably for the best. It would never work. She was in her late twenties, and a doctor for the military - clearly, a woman in such a lax, carefree position would never be able to handle Nicole's skill on the Dance Til Sunrise pad at the arcade, or withstand her high-intensity erotic brofists.
She smiled and thought of home, and of all the times her Prince Charming's eyes of molten gold had rolled into their sockets at her antics. She swore, leaving the hospital, that she would keep making the best of all this. The other girls would probably need her help to do the same.
Her new attitude, same as the old attitude, was on full display when they finally arrived at their dorms. She was going to be living with Astrelle, a realization she had audibly laughed at when the arrangements were made. Odds were she'd be covered with a pillow and hacked to death while sleeping in a few months, but in the meantime, Nicole was going to make the most of it. As soon as they stepped through the portal and into their own home, she was breezing through the place with the same effervescence she had glided up and down their beleaguered vessel with. The bed was a little small, but about what she would have expected from any university. The kitchenette was much more her speed, and she quickly began inspecting the cabinets to see what kind of dinnerware was available to them, testing burners on the stove, the ice maker in the fridge, all the usual things. Not that she expected Nova Lux to leave anything lacking, but...
...well, after her first glimpses of Palmyra, she'd totally almost expected shit to be lacking.
"Nooo shit," she exclaimed playfully once she had stepped out of their bathroom. Her grin was so wide it had almost caused her nose to wrinkle. "It's a real shower. With glass and everything. I was starting to think we'd get, like, a prison shower or something."</s>
<|message|>Astrelle Lennox
---
The remainder of the airship ride passed by in a blur. Since Victoria left, Astrelle stayed silent; most of the girls were asleep anyway. The crash that followed the waves of adrenaline and fear had finally caught up to Astrelle, and she had no more energy for protests or snarky remarks. She didn't even complain as medical staff poked and prodded her body for testing, a procedure she found completely demeaning. The exhaustion also gave Astrelle some time for self-reflection, though having so much time to think was rather unpleasant. A feeling of regret lingered in the aftermath of the battle. She couldn't avoid fixating on her disgraceful display of emotion when she had practiced composure so diligently for years. She resolved that it would never happen again.
The walk to the girls' dorms was somber at best. The darkness concealed much of the surrounding landscape of the new home, and Astrelle had no desire to use her abilities to witness it. The dreary atmosphere spoke loudly enough for what Palmyra might've looked like. Her eyes focused ahead instead, at the back of the faculty member that led them through the campus, or on the damp cobblestone they walked on.
The faculty member's tour and explanations were curt, which Astrelle appreciated at so late an hour. She was less than pleased to learn that she'd be sharing a room with someone, but given that it was mandatory, Nicole seemed more tolerable than the others. Unfortunately, bringing dates back home was not a possibility with this arrangement. The room was more spacious than Astrelle expected—she expected something akin to a small closet—equipped with a kitchenette and bathroom too, though it looked like spending was frugal on the furniture itself. Everything was, of course, painted in patriotic blues and golds, a color combo that Astrelle was surely going to tire of quickly.
In her exhaustion, Astrelle wasted no effort in throwing her bags on a side of the room she chose haphazardly, and fell into the springy mattress—she thought softness would cushion her fall, but her back hit the cushion more roughly than she imagined. Unlike Astrelle, Nicole had been examining the amenities and her comment about the showers almost made her laugh.
A weak half-smile tugged slightly at Astrelle's lips. "It better have hot water too. Do you want to find out first or should I?"</s>
| <|message|>Nicole Cognoscenti
She winced at the sight of Astrelle hitting the mattress - not an airy hit, like the grace of a child bouncing on their mattress, but like a...like a wet sponge, hitting the sink. Or a bug on a windscreen. Nicole stretched out her left arm and pushed her extended index finger into the unoccupied mattress, testing it for any sign of flex.
"Oh my God." She pressed her finger deeper into the mattress, and although it wasn't firm enough to stop her once she put a little pressure on it, she could almost hear the squeak of a spring inside. A tiny exhale blew through her pursed lips in displeasure, an unbidden little noise that reminded her of the beauty of the human body - all those different systems, working in tandem and unison, to keep people as different as the five of them, Victoria, and all their guards grooving the exact same. Her displeasure must have been a cry for help from her skeletal system that had thrown a little switch in the nervous system, then come out through respiratory...the beauty of the human body, indeed. And hey, speaking of beautiful bodies...
"Ha, y'know what?" She looked back at Astrelle and laughed, impish amusement in her eyes. "You look prrr-etty comfy where you're at, and you're already going to hate me enough when I start leaving skincare stuff out. So why don't I bite the bullet on the first shower and tag you in when it's at Goldilocks temp?"
After Nicole walked into the bathroom with her chosen set of towels - surprisingly not starchy enough to have recently cleaned up a crime scene - a clean set of clothes, and a music player on medium volume, the classic sounds of a girl a new shower for the first time started to ring out, muffled, through the walls.
"Porca miseria!"
A few seconds passed. The faucet made a squeaky sound, followed by a squeal of anger and shock.
"Ma che cazzo fai!?"
Twenty minutes later, Nicole walked out in her chosen sleepwear - a faded black t-shirt commemorating the release of the Sancho Stromboli action classic Behemoth (a collector's dream that Nicole's dad had gotten for attending the premiere back in his day) and a pair of short emerald shorts - and a forced grin on her face. Her long legs, as well as her forearms and what parts of her collar were showing, had turned salmon. She plopped down on the mattress; the springs squeaked again.
"Found Goldilocks," she said, grinning through gritted teeth. "Watch the cold faucet. That one sneaks up on you."</s> |
<|description|>Nicole Cognoscenti
The Mundane
Age: 17
Sanctum City: Hasta
Description: Nicole is a girl of average height, a slender build, and irrepressible good cheer to cram inside it. Blue-eyed and always grinning, her sharp features are framed by scarlet hair, cut fashionably to the bottom of her neck with bangs that occasionally fall into her eyes.
Hasta is one of the world's most fashionable Sanctum Cities, with all but its poorest denizens dressed beautifully in casual, flowing fashions and bright colors. Nicole is no exception, although she does her best to dress fashionably casual. Whether oversized hoodies or cropped tops, tight jeans or her school uniform's skirt, one of her only sartorial mainstays is the peach colored tassel scarf she's almost always thrown haphazardly around her neck. Sometimes she'll top her head in a cute little beret.
Personality: A laid-back and cheerful girl who always tries her best at everything. Nicole may not be the most zealous fighter or the most charismatic presence, but she's a stabilizing force among what may otherwise be a chaotic ensemble of students. She exudes a quiet calm about most things, a playful energy often expelled through practical jokes, and a willingness to laugh at herself and others. She's grown up into a fairly privileged life and tries to keep that knowledge in the back of her mind, so it allows her some measure of empathy for other girls who may not have had it as easy as she did. It makes her a solid, unifying presence among friend groups and just a generally good time to be around.
Though she plays it close to the chest, Nicole is a deeply idealistic, romantic girl, with notions of true love and eternal good vibes that she tries not to espouse too often. She has a headful of dreams about some kind of nebulous "better life," although what that life would be like and how it would be an improvement over her own free-flowing existence is something she hasn't quite figured out.
Background: Nicole was born among the upper middle class of the beautiful, fashionable, (sort of) sunny Sanctum City of Hasta. One of the cultural capitals of the world, her childhood was cosmopolitan and largely peaceful, with a large pool of friends across all walks of life. Her parents did what they could to shelter her through much of her childhood, but they were politically active people, often taking up the causes of the downtrodden and unfortunate who were unable to share in Hasta's joys. Eventually, as she grew older, Nicole came to share their passion for altruism.
For a time, like most girls, she dreamed that she was a secret princess - some long-lost member of a Duodecim family, someone who could achieve great heights and make a difference in a scary world. Eventually, she had given up on that dream and resolved to make change in meaningful, realistic ways somehow. It was realizing her magical potential at the age of thirteen that helped give her a sense of wonder again, made her dream of stopping Voids and serving as a paragon for all the world's helpless - someone with the power to make people listen.
Having decided her dream was worth pursuing once again, in a decidedly more fantastical direction this time, Nicole applied to Nova Lux Academy with stars in her eyes, and was overjoyed to be accepted.
---
The Magic
Armgaus Name: Twinkling Scarlet Emerald
Gladius:
Vedfolnir
A blued steel sabre balanced to Nicole's hand, with a small, polished chunk of red beryl at the hilt. Its size belies the potential reach of the blade, as combined with her Elementum Nicole's slashes can seem to extend three times longer than the length of the blade would suggest.
Parma: Nicole's eyes and hair glow a brighter orange, her skin begins to twinkle slightly, and she wears an all-white ensemble of her normal beret, a midriff baring top and shorts, with thigh high boots and a holster.
Elementum: Wind
Elementum Abilities: In keeping with her elementum and her own breezy personality, Nicole has a great degree of agility and levity, often joking that she can dodge any attack thrown at her as long as she's not feeling lazy. It may not be an entirely empty boast; though not a particular powerhouse, her agility makes her a capable duelist with her sabre. She can also use her ability to make great leaps, bordering on sustained flight if she can keep her concentration - although doing so obviously limits her effectiveness in combat.</s>
<|message|>Penny Grenoble
Penny never realized how annoying the Reveille trumpet blast could be, and for a moment, felt immense annoyance at being woken so rudely especially after the long day yesterday. For a moment, she lays in bed, growling to herself, before remembering she's in a dorm with only one other roommate, and unfettered access to a hot shower. The idea makes her perk up with a grin.
'Thirty minutes?' she thinks looking at the clock on her PDA/phone. 'That's not a lotta time, is it? Certainly not for a long, soaking bath.
'But maybe enough for a good shower? Let's try that...'
She gets up to answer the knock, and finds a new issue of the school uniform, something she's grateful for as her old one still had claw marks from the fight with the Void yesterday.
"Thanks," she says to the faculty member, perhaps a bit overly enthusiastically, then makes a break for the shower.
Several minutes later, Penny feels herself relax under the hot, steamy shower, letting the scalding water sprinkle all over her while trying not to get it inside her arm cast. She feels the knots from last night still there, but perhaps the soothing sensation of a shower could help with some of those.
Coming out of the shower, drying her long, heavy hair, she gives a contented sigh.
"Yeah, I needed that," she muses. "Hey, Dana, shower's free now, but ya better hurry up, they want us in the main hall in less than half an hour."
She gets dressed quickly, though she pauses to braid her long hair, checking to see if it's done right, and making sure her appearance is right; breaking in new clothes is always a fun experience. Fortunately, though, they got her size just right. She tests the joints and moves her arms. She remembers that they asked for sizes when she enrolled at the school.
"Seriously, is this what having a custom tailor feels like?" she asks. "I could get used to this..."
After tidying up her bed, she follows the others to the main hall, looking around at the sheer size and elegance of the architecture. Orientation speech, that's expected, but Penny still pays attention to the Headmaster's words; she always took pride in her schoolwork, and she's not going to let being an Ars Magi change that - if anything, she feels it should encourage her to do her best.
What she's less enthusiastic about is the full medical checkup. She feels like she's been poked and prodded in every place imaginable - though she's fortunately excused from some other tests because of last night's medical examination. However, it does mean she notices the annoyed and jealous glares of the other girls forced to undergo the full suite of tests.
Breakfast, however, makes up for it, and she digs in heartily. She's just sad there are no fancy desserts like there was on the flight, but she can live with that.
Penny listens to the conversations while trying to be discrete. She turns to her flight-mates.
"Ugh, just had a horrible thought," she says with a mild grin. "'Hey, we just tested you, and while you have magic, we don't think you're a suitable candidate for the procedure. Sorry to waste your time, now pack your bags because you're going home.' Wonder if they ever had a case like that.
"Yeah, I feel bad for thinking about it."</s>
<|message|>Dana Noel
The day following their arrival at Nova Lux was a whirlwind of events. It seemed like Dana had just climbed out of bed, and, before she even knew it, she was sitting down for dinner in the academy's cafeteria. Despite all that, she was still in high spirits and full of her characteristic energy.
"I can't wait to use real magic, it's going to be awesome!" one of the other cadets was saying.
"You bet it is!" Dana agreed with a happy giggle. "My heart's racing just imagining it!"
Penny swiftly brought Dana back down to earth with a rather gloomy idea.
"That's kinda depressing," Dana observed with a nervous giggle. "But I don't think it's anything to worry about," she hastened to add. "I mean, we went through a buncha prelim tests back home, and I doubt they'd go through all the hassle of bringin' us here, if there was any chance we'd just have to be sent home again."
"What do you think you'll look like after you transform?" Another girl asked.
"Probably just like my normal awesome self, only even more badass," her friend replied with a confident grin.
"Yeah!" Dana added. "From what I've heard, ya don't really change all that much. Ya just get a super cool outfit, based on your personality and your mental image of your ideal magical self! So, like, I'll probably look a lot like Beautiful Guardian Gunslinger Alexis! And my Gladius'll probably be some kinda super cool magitech pistol, or somethin'! Whadya think, Penny?!" she asked her roommate excitedly. "Wouldn't it be awesome if ya looked like Magical Maid Altea?!"</s>
| <|message|>Nicole Cognoscenti
It was nice to see Penny and Dana with such a pep in their step. It helped Nicole keep her spirits high and nerves low after a sluggish start to her own day.
Normally, she was a morning person herself - easy-going and amiable, the one to fix coffee for her parents, go out for a run in the morning and watch as the dew lifted off the streets of Hasta. But she wasn't in Hasta, and the jet lag had pummeled Nicole as hard as any of the furniture on the crashing Laurus. She'd spent most of the night rolling from side to side, doing her best not to sleep on the parts of her body the shower had scalded or trying to focus on the sound of her own breathing. For a while she'd tried to keep it in unison with the breathing of Astrelle, sleeping across the room (or maybe just doing a good job of faking like Nicole had) or trying to breathe in time with some of her favorite songs. In between those, she grumbled to herself about not being able to sleep naked with a new roommate. It was a charcuterie of things of things designed to keep her off her game - new city, new time zone, new routine, and a pair of basketball shorts to cut off the sacred sheet-legs symbiosis.
But being around the same group of girls she'd survived a freak Void attack had helped. Nicole was a bit quieter and less personable than she'd been at first, but as the day went on and the girls went through their tests, it began to dawn upon all of them the enormity of what was to come, and her mood began to stabilize as others became more excitable or pessimistic. Naturally, the girls had begun to talk among themselves about their impending surgeries - or the idea of being turned down for them, which was such a cosmically unlucky, crappy thought that Nicole giggled at it when Penny brought it up.
"Ugh, just had a horrible thought. 'Hey, we just tested you, and while you have magic, we don't think you're a suitable candidate for the procedure. Sorry to waste your time, now pack your bags because you're going home.' Wonder if they ever had a case like that. Yeah, I feel bad for thinking about it."
"That's kinda depressing. But I don't think it's anything to worry about. I mean, we went through a buncha prelim tests back home, and I doubt they'd go through all the hassle of bringin' us here, if there was any chance we'd just have to be sent home again."
"Besides, they're not really in the business of wasting time here," Nicole pitched in, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees and head in hands. "You heard how early they blew the horn for us, and with the way things have run so far, I doubt they're going to waste time bringing a girl into where they do procedures just to bounce her out. If they were gonna go through all that trouble they'd be more likely to kill you just to shut you up."
She winked at her new friends and adjusted her newest skirt, glowering at it with an irritation she hadn't even directed at Astrelle at her worst yesterday.
"I wish they'd kill me, frickin' uniform..." she grumbled. "Hey, wait, I probably shouldn't say that, right? That's probably what they say in those shows you guys watch before things go bad. Forget I said that."
They were on the subject of their favorite shows again, discussing how they hoped their transformations would be modeled after certain girls from certain Adjective Adjective Job Title Noun anime. She thought again of their discussion on the airship yesterday, and the innocence with which they'd discussed Ars Magi propaganda. Astrelle hadn't been fooled, and she was probably smarter not to be. But why go through all the trouble of being an Ars Magi just to feel like shit about it?
"You'll have to tell me who I'd be," Nicole said with an apologetic grin. "I really only speak the language when it comes to over-the-top macho stuff."
God, it would be so sick if I became Eradicator. Or Demonetta or Roboslut. She pictured herself, slinging a pair of pistols in either direction. I don't kiss magical girls. I turn 'em to slag.
"Maybe you girls could give me, like, a list of beginner's stuff to watch for nights off? Help amica tua out?"</s> |
<|description|>Nicole Cognoscenti
The Mundane
Age: 17
Sanctum City: Hasta
Description: Nicole is a girl of average height, a slender build, and irrepressible good cheer to cram inside it. Blue-eyed and always grinning, her sharp features are framed by scarlet hair, cut fashionably to the bottom of her neck with bangs that occasionally fall into her eyes.
Hasta is one of the world's most fashionable Sanctum Cities, with all but its poorest denizens dressed beautifully in casual, flowing fashions and bright colors. Nicole is no exception, although she does her best to dress fashionably casual. Whether oversized hoodies or cropped tops, tight jeans or her school uniform's skirt, one of her only sartorial mainstays is the peach colored tassel scarf she's almost always thrown haphazardly around her neck. Sometimes she'll top her head in a cute little beret.
Personality: A laid-back and cheerful girl who always tries her best at everything. Nicole may not be the most zealous fighter or the most charismatic presence, but she's a stabilizing force among what may otherwise be a chaotic ensemble of students. She exudes a quiet calm about most things, a playful energy often expelled through practical jokes, and a willingness to laugh at herself and others. She's grown up into a fairly privileged life and tries to keep that knowledge in the back of her mind, so it allows her some measure of empathy for other girls who may not have had it as easy as she did. It makes her a solid, unifying presence among friend groups and just a generally good time to be around.
Though she plays it close to the chest, Nicole is a deeply idealistic, romantic girl, with notions of true love and eternal good vibes that she tries not to espouse too often. She has a headful of dreams about some kind of nebulous "better life," although what that life would be like and how it would be an improvement over her own free-flowing existence is something she hasn't quite figured out.
Background: Nicole was born among the upper middle class of the beautiful, fashionable, (sort of) sunny Sanctum City of Hasta. One of the cultural capitals of the world, her childhood was cosmopolitan and largely peaceful, with a large pool of friends across all walks of life. Her parents did what they could to shelter her through much of her childhood, but they were politically active people, often taking up the causes of the downtrodden and unfortunate who were unable to share in Hasta's joys. Eventually, as she grew older, Nicole came to share their passion for altruism.
For a time, like most girls, she dreamed that she was a secret princess - some long-lost member of a Duodecim family, someone who could achieve great heights and make a difference in a scary world. Eventually, she had given up on that dream and resolved to make change in meaningful, realistic ways somehow. It was realizing her magical potential at the age of thirteen that helped give her a sense of wonder again, made her dream of stopping Voids and serving as a paragon for all the world's helpless - someone with the power to make people listen.
Having decided her dream was worth pursuing once again, in a decidedly more fantastical direction this time, Nicole applied to Nova Lux Academy with stars in her eyes, and was overjoyed to be accepted.
---
The Magic
Armgaus Name: Twinkling Scarlet Emerald
Gladius:
Vedfolnir
A blued steel sabre balanced to Nicole's hand, with a small, polished chunk of red beryl at the hilt. Its size belies the potential reach of the blade, as combined with her Elementum Nicole's slashes can seem to extend three times longer than the length of the blade would suggest.
Parma: Nicole's eyes and hair glow a brighter orange, her skin begins to twinkle slightly, and she wears an all-white ensemble of her normal beret, a midriff baring top and shorts, with thigh high boots and a holster.
Elementum: Wind
Elementum Abilities: In keeping with her elementum and her own breezy personality, Nicole has a great degree of agility and levity, often joking that she can dodge any attack thrown at her as long as she's not feeling lazy. It may not be an entirely empty boast; though not a particular powerhouse, her agility makes her a capable duelist with her sabre. She can also use her ability to make great leaps, bordering on sustained flight if she can keep her concentration - although doing so obviously limits her effectiveness in combat.</s>
<|message|>Penny Grenoble
Vanna's performance was elegant and calculated. Nichole's was showy, and while she did get hit once, she still looked stylish. Dana simply smoked her opposition at range. Astrelle even did an impressive job turning her adversaries to ribbons. Penny knows she got careless with the last Void, but perhaps she could plan around that next time; she wields a massive hammer, and she can only do large, swinging blows. If she's to survive her encounters with Void, she needs to plan around this vulnerability. Not to mention the possibility of rogue Ars Magi, who can think in ways no Void can.
She hears the transmission, and listens to what it says, before catching something move in the corner of her eye. Something big, black - and moving at her very fast. Her eyes widen in surprise, but she barely has any time to get out of the way before large black tentacles slam into her, sending her small frame flying and knocking the very breath out of her lungs. She feels herself flying, propelled at ludicrous speed through air, then brick and mortar as though it were children's building blocks. It feels like a vice is trying to crush her chest, right around the collarbone area, and the force of the impact leaves her coughing for breath and her back sore. Then it yanks her in the opposite direction and starts dragging her towards... whatever it is. Then it steps out of the shadows, its viselike grip letting go, and Penny can finally get a good look at her new adversary as her vision refocuses and her breath slowly returns.
It's another Void, similar in many ways to the ones she just fought - but this one is bigger, and clearly much stronger and dangerous. D-classes were just stretchy but human-looking. This one looks monstrous, there's no other word for it.
Tch, something tells me I'm not in a test anymore, she thinks, getting up to shaky legs and taking several hard breaths to recover. If I knew I was going to get smacked repeatedly, might have gone into this more carefully. Still, lesson learned - let's just try and survive the next few minutes first!
There's no time to recover her breath; the thing's long, stretchy arms and fast reflexes mean that Penny can't just flank it as easily as she did the D-classes. She needs to get mobile, quickly. With a thought, Groß Eisen bursts to life, the rocket exhaust allowing Penny to start skating around on her rollerblade quickly, weaving and moving quickly to avoid getting hammered once again by those long, stretchy arms.
"Come on, freakshow!" she calls out to the Void. "Let's see how good you are with those Stretch Armstrong arms when you're not a bushwhacking little cheat!"
She switches to her comm even as she skates furiously, trying to find a weak point in its design. She frantically tries to remember the official reports on Voids, trying to remember if there's anything she needs to watch out for.
"Guys, some backup would be really nice right now," she yells into the comm.</s>
<|message|>Dana Noel
Dana watched with gleeful excitement as each of her friends faced the Voids in turn. She thought it was awesome how their unique personalities influenced their fighting styles, and she couldn't help but imagine how cool it would be if they could all team up to face an opponent together. Their hypothetical foe wouldn't stand a chance, and she giggled at the mental image of the five of them standing triumphant atop the corpse of an enormous Void. But wait… Voids didn't leave corpses, did they? Well, that was slightly disappointing… Even now, Penny was proving that fact as she finished pounding her opponents into paste.
"Woo hoo! Go Penny!" Dana cheered. She was a little disappointed the tests were finished, but she also couldn't wait to see what was next.
As it turned out, the next item on the agenda would have to be postponed as, without warning, a spindly limb whipped out of an alley and smashed Penny through a building.
"Penny!" Dana cried in alarm, her eyes going wide at the sight.
Thankfully, her bespectacled friend quickly managed to fend off the surprise attack, which revealed itself to have originated from a Void that was significantly more menacing looking than anything they had faced before.
"Guys, some backup would be really nice right now," Penny called over the comm.
The officer in charge proceeded to order them to provide just that, but Dana was already in motion before they had even started speaking. Her friend was in danger, and she didn't need an order to rush to Penny's aid.
"Hang in there, Penny!" Dana told the bespectacled Are Magi. "We're on our way!"
Transforming in a flash, Dana sprinted onto the battlefield. "Hey, ugly!" she called out. "Eat this!" Drawing her gladius, the energetic Ars Magi took careful aim and fired a beam at the Void's torso. She didn't expect the attack to have anywhere near the kind of effect it had on the monster's lesser brethren, but hopefully it would at least serve to soften the creature up enough for the rest of her friends to finish it off.</s>
| <|message|>Nicole Cognoscenti
She was proud of all her teammates. When the side was retired and she returned to her perch above the testing area, Nicole gave Astrelle a comforting wink on the other girl's way out to face her demons. She gave another to Penny, along with a friendly knuckle touch. For Astrelle's test, the Hastan watched with both her arms around her two younger teammates, eagerly taking in her roommate's performance. She had taken a quick lick, like Nicole had, but overall she acquitted herself well. Afterwards, she had taken a minute to recuperate on the ground; Nicole's mouth twitched sympathetically, remembering how laid up the both of them had been over the last few days.
Penny's turn came next, along with some encouraging cheers from both Dana, who already seemed inseparable with the glasses-wearing girl, and a single whoop-whoop! from Nicole herself. Penny kicked as much ass as any of them; as flustered as she had been at their luncheon days before, there was no denying she had the heart of a scrapper, and she proved it by brandishing her enormous fucking hammer, oh man that's cool until victory fell at her defeat. Cheers broke out again from the tower.
Then it all went wrong.
The air around Penny began to crackle again, along with a brutal impact that struck the bespectacled girl from nowhere for the second time since Nicole had known her. If they had still been the powerless girls on the Laurus, she might have been crippled by the surprise attack. Now she was an Ars Magi - they all were. And she was more than capable of surprising back.
With some help, of course.
The wind is on my back. May my sword cut like my smile.
"Vi faccio vedere come lotte un Hastano!"
Her second transformation felt as good as the first. Nicole vaulted over the lip of the tower and laughed aloud, raucously, as the wind rushed around her and whipped her hair back in a scarlet frenzy. In the four seconds it took her to freefall, her thoughts turned over in her head:
Catchphrase, that one was a must. Hot guys and gals will eat that kind of crap up.
Her feet hit the ground, as lightly as if she'd stepped out of bed. Her gladius formed in her hand; she sprung forward, using Dana's beam for cover.
"Dana, keep using those! Chase it towards one of us!" she called out, laughing airily as she twirled towards danger. Nevertheless, her words had adopted an iron tone; she had gotten to see both of her friends in action, knew their mettle, and knew how to encourage them to be the magical girls they'd always dreamt of. "Penny, don't stray from its right! The left is mine!"
And it was; she nimbly dodged a spindly arm, having learned quickly from her first time at the wrong end of a Void's swing. Content with her gameplan and feeling her confidence swell after such an effortless dodge, Nicole kicked herself off the ground as though her legs were springs. Her sword swung in the direction of what almost passed for a neck, the size of the sword belying the shape of buffeting winds that formed its true blade.</s> |
<|description|>Nicole Cognoscenti
The Mundane
Age: 17
Sanctum City: Hasta
Description: Nicole is a girl of average height, a slender build, and irrepressible good cheer to cram inside it. Blue-eyed and always grinning, her sharp features are framed by scarlet hair, cut fashionably to the bottom of her neck with bangs that occasionally fall into her eyes.
Hasta is one of the world's most fashionable Sanctum Cities, with all but its poorest denizens dressed beautifully in casual, flowing fashions and bright colors. Nicole is no exception, although she does her best to dress fashionably casual. Whether oversized hoodies or cropped tops, tight jeans or her school uniform's skirt, one of her only sartorial mainstays is the peach colored tassel scarf she's almost always thrown haphazardly around her neck. Sometimes she'll top her head in a cute little beret.
Personality: A laid-back and cheerful girl who always tries her best at everything. Nicole may not be the most zealous fighter or the most charismatic presence, but she's a stabilizing force among what may otherwise be a chaotic ensemble of students. She exudes a quiet calm about most things, a playful energy often expelled through practical jokes, and a willingness to laugh at herself and others. She's grown up into a fairly privileged life and tries to keep that knowledge in the back of her mind, so it allows her some measure of empathy for other girls who may not have had it as easy as she did. It makes her a solid, unifying presence among friend groups and just a generally good time to be around.
Though she plays it close to the chest, Nicole is a deeply idealistic, romantic girl, with notions of true love and eternal good vibes that she tries not to espouse too often. She has a headful of dreams about some kind of nebulous "better life," although what that life would be like and how it would be an improvement over her own free-flowing existence is something she hasn't quite figured out.
Background: Nicole was born among the upper middle class of the beautiful, fashionable, (sort of) sunny Sanctum City of Hasta. One of the cultural capitals of the world, her childhood was cosmopolitan and largely peaceful, with a large pool of friends across all walks of life. Her parents did what they could to shelter her through much of her childhood, but they were politically active people, often taking up the causes of the downtrodden and unfortunate who were unable to share in Hasta's joys. Eventually, as she grew older, Nicole came to share their passion for altruism.
For a time, like most girls, she dreamed that she was a secret princess - some long-lost member of a Duodecim family, someone who could achieve great heights and make a difference in a scary world. Eventually, she had given up on that dream and resolved to make change in meaningful, realistic ways somehow. It was realizing her magical potential at the age of thirteen that helped give her a sense of wonder again, made her dream of stopping Voids and serving as a paragon for all the world's helpless - someone with the power to make people listen.
Having decided her dream was worth pursuing once again, in a decidedly more fantastical direction this time, Nicole applied to Nova Lux Academy with stars in her eyes, and was overjoyed to be accepted.
---
The Magic
Armgaus Name: Twinkling Scarlet Emerald
Gladius:
Vedfolnir
A blued steel sabre balanced to Nicole's hand, with a small, polished chunk of red beryl at the hilt. Its size belies the potential reach of the blade, as combined with her Elementum Nicole's slashes can seem to extend three times longer than the length of the blade would suggest.
Parma: Nicole's eyes and hair glow a brighter orange, her skin begins to twinkle slightly, and she wears an all-white ensemble of her normal beret, a midriff baring top and shorts, with thigh high boots and a holster.
Elementum: Wind
Elementum Abilities: In keeping with her elementum and her own breezy personality, Nicole has a great degree of agility and levity, often joking that she can dodge any attack thrown at her as long as she's not feeling lazy. It may not be an entirely empty boast; though not a particular powerhouse, her agility makes her a capable duelist with her sabre. She can also use her ability to make great leaps, bordering on sustained flight if she can keep her concentration - although doing so obviously limits her effectiveness in combat.</s>
<|message|>Penny Grenoble
---
At Amanda's name, Penny looks up and cocks an eyebrow. At least blondie had guts, which improved her standing in Penny's eyes. She turns back to the conversation at hand.
"So it was just a coincidence that our group was attacked just as they wrapped things up," Penny states. "If these attacks happened at roughly the same time, seems like they snuck in through a gap in the defenses and attacked anyone in range. I hope they get that fixed; Everyone seems to have gotten out okay, but that was close. Or at least, I hope everyone got out okay.
"And don't worry, Cara, you'll get your chance. Just be careful and don't get bushwhacked like I did; not fun, I'll tell ya that much."
In response to Cara's question about food, Penny smirks.
"Weeeelll, don't know about burgers, but I think we spotted a pizza place when we came in last night," she says. "Even in an armored bunker, people gotta eat, and one can't live off MREs alone. Well, you can, but I don't think that'll be very fun."
She turns back to the list of classifications and frowns. Ars Magi are an elite force; to have any more than a dozen in a single op was usually seen as inefficient. And yet for Class A Voids to require many Ars Magi to fight it was chilling.
She sighs. Best not to get too worked up about it right now, especially since today proved almost as taxing as their rough flight yesterday.</s>
<|message|>Dana Noel
---
Dana grinned when she saw Nicole enter. She was glad that the red-head seemed to be mending well, or well enough to lay across the top of a couch at any rate. The Hastian went on to give Dana a playful poke before complementing her performance in the earlier battle.
"Thanks, Nicole," Dana replied, tilting her head back to smile up at her teammate. "And if we're talkin' about giant robots, I'm happy as long as I get to fire the big, shoulder-mounted cannons! We are gonna have shoulder-mounted cannons, right?" she asked in mock seriousness.
Nicole proceeded to inquire about when the other teams were attacked by their own surprise Voids, which garnered an interesting variety of responses. In particular, Priya's team didn't even get to finish all of their tests, which went some way towards disproving Penny's idea that there was a conspiracy at work, at least as far as Dana was concerned. Priya then went on to describe her Gladius, and Dana couldn't help but share her excitement as she listened with rapt interest. At least, until Cara spoke up, mentioning that her team's tests occurred without any unplanned interruptions.
She almost sounds disappointed… Dana thought. Then again, I'd probably feel the same way if we missed out. After all, fighting that thing was pretty awesome! The energetic Norban grinned as she thought of how well they'd worked together to defeat their bonus adversary.
That grin only broadened with the mention of off-campus food.
"I'd love to go get some pizza with you guys!" Dana declared in her typical upbeat tone. "Nothin' against cafeteria food, but ya just can't beat a good pizza, especially when shared with friends!"</s>
| <|message|>Nicole Cognoscenti
Though her smile remained on her face as she listened politely to Priya and Dana's talk of gladii and swords, more of Nicole's focus was spent on mulling over Priya's account of her team's baptism by fire. Only luck and the grace of a few seconds had spared Penny from the same kind of mid-trial surprise that Amanda had prevented. They'd all been ushered into dark little corners of Palmyra, after all, where they'd been warned of potentially intense Void activity - but what else had there been? Something about diffusion levels, and allowing the manifestation of Voids to begin with. Had those levels been adjusted again during certain group's tests, like theirs or Priya's? Why? Another phase to the test? Some conspiracy, like Penny thought?
Her stomach ached a little as she sat up, languid above her teammate's heads. Her attention fell on Cara, violet eyes tracing down the length of the girl's neck and down to her chest before bouncing back up to her face. Vanna's roommate seemed less than enthused about her own thoroughly average test. She could be living proof of a coincidence or an unwitting member of a control group, as Astrelle had been positing since the minute their airship had been attacked. She might need to talk to both of them and see what they thought. But what good would that do tonight, when the adrenaline still fluttered in each of their bodies and they were celebrating their birth as Ars Magi?
Her gaze turned onto the top of the bespectacled little conspiracy theorist's head, stroking her hair braid thoughtfully for a second before her megawatt smile turned back on.
"We passed a few pizza places, actually," she added. "Well, count me in, but don't expect me to sit by idly and let you guys pick a bad spot. A true Hastan can pick a crappy pizza dive from space if she had to. We should grab Astrelle and Vanna on our way out the door, too."</s> |
<|description|>Nicole Cognoscenti
The Mundane
Age: 17
Sanctum City: Hasta
Description: Nicole is a girl of average height, a slender build, and irrepressible good cheer to cram inside it. Blue-eyed and always grinning, her sharp features are framed by scarlet hair, cut fashionably to the bottom of her neck with bangs that occasionally fall into her eyes.
Hasta is one of the world's most fashionable Sanctum Cities, with all but its poorest denizens dressed beautifully in casual, flowing fashions and bright colors. Nicole is no exception, although she does her best to dress fashionably casual. Whether oversized hoodies or cropped tops, tight jeans or her school uniform's skirt, one of her only sartorial mainstays is the peach colored tassel scarf she's almost always thrown haphazardly around her neck. Sometimes she'll top her head in a cute little beret.
Personality: A laid-back and cheerful girl who always tries her best at everything. Nicole may not be the most zealous fighter or the most charismatic presence, but she's a stabilizing force among what may otherwise be a chaotic ensemble of students. She exudes a quiet calm about most things, a playful energy often expelled through practical jokes, and a willingness to laugh at herself and others. She's grown up into a fairly privileged life and tries to keep that knowledge in the back of her mind, so it allows her some measure of empathy for other girls who may not have had it as easy as she did. It makes her a solid, unifying presence among friend groups and just a generally good time to be around.
Though she plays it close to the chest, Nicole is a deeply idealistic, romantic girl, with notions of true love and eternal good vibes that she tries not to espouse too often. She has a headful of dreams about some kind of nebulous "better life," although what that life would be like and how it would be an improvement over her own free-flowing existence is something she hasn't quite figured out.
Background: Nicole was born among the upper middle class of the beautiful, fashionable, (sort of) sunny Sanctum City of Hasta. One of the cultural capitals of the world, her childhood was cosmopolitan and largely peaceful, with a large pool of friends across all walks of life. Her parents did what they could to shelter her through much of her childhood, but they were politically active people, often taking up the causes of the downtrodden and unfortunate who were unable to share in Hasta's joys. Eventually, as she grew older, Nicole came to share their passion for altruism.
For a time, like most girls, she dreamed that she was a secret princess - some long-lost member of a Duodecim family, someone who could achieve great heights and make a difference in a scary world. Eventually, she had given up on that dream and resolved to make change in meaningful, realistic ways somehow. It was realizing her magical potential at the age of thirteen that helped give her a sense of wonder again, made her dream of stopping Voids and serving as a paragon for all the world's helpless - someone with the power to make people listen.
Having decided her dream was worth pursuing once again, in a decidedly more fantastical direction this time, Nicole applied to Nova Lux Academy with stars in her eyes, and was overjoyed to be accepted.
---
The Magic
Armgaus Name: Twinkling Scarlet Emerald
Gladius:
Vedfolnir
A blued steel sabre balanced to Nicole's hand, with a small, polished chunk of red beryl at the hilt. Its size belies the potential reach of the blade, as combined with her Elementum Nicole's slashes can seem to extend three times longer than the length of the blade would suggest.
Parma: Nicole's eyes and hair glow a brighter orange, her skin begins to twinkle slightly, and she wears an all-white ensemble of her normal beret, a midriff baring top and shorts, with thigh high boots and a holster.
Elementum: Wind
Elementum Abilities: In keeping with her elementum and her own breezy personality, Nicole has a great degree of agility and levity, often joking that she can dodge any attack thrown at her as long as she's not feeling lazy. It may not be an entirely empty boast; though not a particular powerhouse, her agility makes her a capable duelist with her sabre. She can also use her ability to make great leaps, bordering on sustained flight if she can keep her concentration - although doing so obviously limits her effectiveness in combat.</s>
<|message|>Cordelia Whittaker
Cordelia Whittaker
---
"Ms. Whittaker, as a result of your preliminary exam results, we have decided to place you on a team of five individual Ars Magi."
"I understand."
Cordelia examined each of her new individual teammates during the gala one at a time. She had heard of each of them in some capacity at one time or another. Yet, there were things about them that she found off-putting. Characteristics, personality traits she had not anticipated. There was Penny Grenoble, known for her intellect and ability to control an element as ambivalent and prevalent as electricity. By all accounts a known quantity on the battlefield. Yet here she was across from Cordelia, struggling with the formal attire afforded to them by this academy. And then there was the scarlet-haired girl who sat beside her. Perfectly in tune with what each of her teammates was feeling.
It was odd.
However, even as carefully as she plucked at the strings of her friends, laughing in rhythm with them, something was missing. Something that had once been there now wasn't, a wedge through which Cordelia could be planted and grow. She saw what was quite possibly a role to be played for these girls. Her comrades in arms. This was who she was now. This was how she could continue to serve.
"Please understand that this is not a punishment, nor a reward for your performance. This is simply where Nova Lux has determined you will be best suited in the coming weeks."
"I understand."
The band exploded from a lull. As if puppets on strings, everyone jumped from their chairs and erupted into conversation. Cordelia immediately felt herself seize up as she realized she was to get to know these very same girls through conversation. The sharing of opinions that Cordelia had never truly formed. Her mind instantly threw herself back to what she knew. Etiquette classes, the way someone impressed another through shared facsimiles, rather than words.
Cordelia stood up a beat after the rest of her table, immediately spewing a few niceties towards Penny as she made her way towards the Scarlet haired girl at the head of the table.
"Nicole Cognoscenti. Considered by many to be a leader among her peers, with a discerning eye and a lightness on her feet. It is my utmost pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Cordelia Whittaker, and I am to join this team. It would be my greatest honour that you afford me a dance," Cordelia said. She dipped into a slight bow and held her hand towards her new companion.</s>
<|message|>Dana Noel
---
The Laurus girls' night on the town turned out to be one of the most enjoyable experiences of Dana's young life. The cheerful Norban had relished the opportunity to bond with her new friends, and while she had gone on similar outings back home, none of them had quite compared to this. And Dana knew she wasn't the only one who felt that way. Her bespectacled roommate had joyfully taken in the various sights and sounds with the wonderment of one entirely unused to such things, while Nicole had been like a dazzling whirlwind as she guided them to each new location and interacted with the locals as though she were a native of the city. In fact, even Vanna and Astrelle seemed to be having fun as the quartet's tour took them from arcade, to shop, to restaurant, to movie theater, to nightclub, and then back to the arcade once more for another game of Duel of Destiny (although that might have just been Dana and Penny, it was all something of a blur). Even now, several days later, the night was still fresh in her mind, even as a far different evening was about to begin…
Right from the outset, there had been a considerable surprise, in the form of Astrelle's absence. Had she quit? Been reassigned? Expelled? None of their fellow cadets seemed to know, and the academy's staff were as tightlipped as ever. Dana only hoped their somewhat anti-social friend was all right… Still, the energetic Norban knew that this wasn't the time or place to worry about such matters. There was a new teammate to meet, and, perhaps more importantly, a suffering roommate to support.
"Why did you talk me into this?" Penny groaned as she fidgeted with her uniform. "I don't know how to dance formally. Should have just faked being sick like I planned, but you dragged me out here anyways."
Although Penny had been dreading the ball ever since it had been announced, Dana was very much looking forward to the experience and had insisted that Penny not chicken out of it.
"Hey, I'm completely lost when it comes to this formal stuff, too," the energetic Norban told her roommate with a grin. "But it's still pretty cool to meet all these high-ranking people, and who knows? Maybe we can even make some new friends?! Or maaaybe a new boyfriend?" she added mischievously while gently elbowing her bespectacled friend under the table. "That group of guys from the officers' academy over there are lookin' kinda bored," she noted, gesturing at a small cluster of young men with her thumb. "I'm sure they'd love to meet two genuine Ars Magi, so why don't we go over and introduce ourselves?! And don't worry about feelin' embarrassed," she added as she got up and proceeded to pull Penny to her feet as well. "I know ya might not be the best in social situations, but just think of this as another kinda battle! If ya go in there with that good ol' Penny Grenoble confidence, I'm sure everything'll work out!"</s>
<|message|>Penny Grenoble
---
Penny sighs at the boundless optimism of her teammate. This is definitely one of those times it could be a little exhausting. Right now, she could come up with almost a dozen excuses of varying strength so as to ditch the dance and why she's worried she'll screw it up somehow, but she suspects the Norban would just shoot down each one with her usual cheer. She only halfheartedly resists when Dana pulls her to her feet, not wanting to go through this ordeal but eventually giving up on changing her teammate's mind.
As they got up, a white-haired girl came up and said hello, giving Penny some rather formal greetings, before moving on to address Nichole.
"And hello to you too," Penny replies, a little surprised. She studies the newcomer. "Wait, are you Astrelle's replacement?"
Astrelle hadn't been around in the past few days. Dana was worried that Astrelle had been expelled, but in truth the dark-haired girl was probably just transferred to a different dorm and class. Still, the move had been surprising, and the group felt a little empty without her.
She raises an eyebrow in amusement as Cordelia, as the girl introduced herself, asked Nichole for a dance. She looks to see if the Hastian girl accepts.</s>
| <|message|>Nicole Cognoscenti
If you had given the Laurus team an anonymous poll on which of them would be most excited for the Inaugural Ball, it was likely that all of them would have put Nicole at the summit of their ranked choices - save perhaps Nicole herself, who thought it was pretty goddamn egotistical to list herself at the top of anything like that and listed Dana just to be humble. Still, the Hastan girl had made no secret of her excitement about the upcoming event, and had fussed over the perfect subtle ornaments for Penny and Dana to wear without clashing with their official uniform. It was great to shop with Vanna, too - Nicole had never hurt for money growing up, but that didn't make her family outrageously wealthy, either. Having a daughter of the Duodecim to do brunch with made things like footing the bill for rings or piercings a cinch. Her anticipation had mounted in tandem with Penny's anxiousness at the prospects of a party, with plenty of hot guys and babes to take runs at wooing a fully-fledged Ars Magi.
Then, one night, she had arrived back at their dorm from a jaunt to the city with a pair of gyros for her and Astrelle to split and found the Lennox girl, and every one of her material possessions, gone from the dorm. Nicole may as well have spent every night there alone. Not so much as a black hair in the shower. She had munched on both gyros alone and tried every technique under the sun to try and get some sleep, from quiet songs on her phone to sleeping naked to every idea in between. Nobody she texted, nothing she listened to or touched or tried to think of, lulled her to sleep for more than an hour. The next night was much the same, and the night before that. Had she failed the test somehow after all? Did her parents pull some strings to get her home after her near-brush with death against the Class C? ...Had it been Nicole's fault? Or was it something to do with the questions that her roommate had posed of Nova Lux and the Ars Magi since the day they'd met?
The questions had consumed Nicole's sleep, and they had come to visibly haunt her in both demeanor and with light circles under her eyes that she'd resorted to expertly covering up with makeup. Tonight, her eyes glittered with scarlet shadow and she'd made sure to put her nostril and navel piercings back in, to give the big city girl a little bit of exotic flair. But her eyes lacked the glitter of her makeup and studs, and they kept scanning the crowd for a familiar shock of black hair - or at least a telltale shade of violet.
"Nicole Cognoscenti. Considered by many to be a leader among her peers, with a discerning eye and a lightness on her feet. It is my utmost pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Cordelia Whittaker, and I am to join this team. It would be my greatest honour that you afford me a dance."
The fifth girl they had been seated with broke Nicole from her reverie, and she felt her heart leap like a panicked gazelle for a moment. She looked around for someone else who the elegant-looking cadet may have meant to refer to, and found only the curious stares of her team in response. Did one of you girls tell her I was leader? No, no, Vanna's our leader, right Vanna? But when her eyes traced the gorgeous bone structure of their illustrious Duodecim teammate, Nicole quietly blanched as she realized that Vanna had no intention of throwing her the lifesaver.
"Teaaaam leader," she repeated. "Yeah, that's me?"
"Wait, are you Astrelle's replacement?"
Nicole's fingers closed tightly around her skirt as Dana and Penny got up to leave. She had half a mind to go with them at first, to seek solace in their boundless optimism and exasperation respectively, but as she surveyed the boys they'd scoped out, none of them really...struck Nicole as her type of guy. There were no brooding golden eyes, no full lips with haughty, arrogant smirks, not even a shade of skin darker than a barbecue potato chip, let alone a rich mocha. No fists worth bumping there.
She smiled at their new teammate and stood up.
"Yeah," she agreed amiably, taking her hand and lacing their fingers. "Dance my socks off, babe."</s> |
<|description|>Nicole Cognoscenti
The Mundane
Age: 17
Sanctum City: Hasta
Description: Nicole is a girl of average height, a slender build, and irrepressible good cheer to cram inside it. Blue-eyed and always grinning, her sharp features are framed by scarlet hair, cut fashionably to the bottom of her neck with bangs that occasionally fall into her eyes.
Hasta is one of the world's most fashionable Sanctum Cities, with all but its poorest denizens dressed beautifully in casual, flowing fashions and bright colors. Nicole is no exception, although she does her best to dress fashionably casual. Whether oversized hoodies or cropped tops, tight jeans or her school uniform's skirt, one of her only sartorial mainstays is the peach colored tassel scarf she's almost always thrown haphazardly around her neck. Sometimes she'll top her head in a cute little beret.
Personality: A laid-back and cheerful girl who always tries her best at everything. Nicole may not be the most zealous fighter or the most charismatic presence, but she's a stabilizing force among what may otherwise be a chaotic ensemble of students. She exudes a quiet calm about most things, a playful energy often expelled through practical jokes, and a willingness to laugh at herself and others. She's grown up into a fairly privileged life and tries to keep that knowledge in the back of her mind, so it allows her some measure of empathy for other girls who may not have had it as easy as she did. It makes her a solid, unifying presence among friend groups and just a generally good time to be around.
Though she plays it close to the chest, Nicole is a deeply idealistic, romantic girl, with notions of true love and eternal good vibes that she tries not to espouse too often. She has a headful of dreams about some kind of nebulous "better life," although what that life would be like and how it would be an improvement over her own free-flowing existence is something she hasn't quite figured out.
Background: Nicole was born among the upper middle class of the beautiful, fashionable, (sort of) sunny Sanctum City of Hasta. One of the cultural capitals of the world, her childhood was cosmopolitan and largely peaceful, with a large pool of friends across all walks of life. Her parents did what they could to shelter her through much of her childhood, but they were politically active people, often taking up the causes of the downtrodden and unfortunate who were unable to share in Hasta's joys. Eventually, as she grew older, Nicole came to share their passion for altruism.
For a time, like most girls, she dreamed that she was a secret princess - some long-lost member of a Duodecim family, someone who could achieve great heights and make a difference in a scary world. Eventually, she had given up on that dream and resolved to make change in meaningful, realistic ways somehow. It was realizing her magical potential at the age of thirteen that helped give her a sense of wonder again, made her dream of stopping Voids and serving as a paragon for all the world's helpless - someone with the power to make people listen.
Having decided her dream was worth pursuing once again, in a decidedly more fantastical direction this time, Nicole applied to Nova Lux Academy with stars in her eyes, and was overjoyed to be accepted.
---
The Magic
Armgaus Name: Twinkling Scarlet Emerald
Gladius:
Vedfolnir
A blued steel sabre balanced to Nicole's hand, with a small, polished chunk of red beryl at the hilt. Its size belies the potential reach of the blade, as combined with her Elementum Nicole's slashes can seem to extend three times longer than the length of the blade would suggest.
Parma: Nicole's eyes and hair glow a brighter orange, her skin begins to twinkle slightly, and she wears an all-white ensemble of her normal beret, a midriff baring top and shorts, with thigh high boots and a holster.
Elementum: Wind
Elementum Abilities: In keeping with her elementum and her own breezy personality, Nicole has a great degree of agility and levity, often joking that she can dodge any attack thrown at her as long as she's not feeling lazy. It may not be an entirely empty boast; though not a particular powerhouse, her agility makes her a capable duelist with her sabre. She can also use her ability to make great leaps, bordering on sustained flight if she can keep her concentration - although doing so obviously limits her effectiveness in combat.</s>
<|message|>Penny Grenoble
---
"Hopefully the next exercise won't try to kill us like the real thing," Penny mutters under breath. She takes a deep breath as she approaches them.
"Ahem," she clears her throat. "Hi, uh... anyone... care to dance...?"
"Ow sh-" Penny starts when Dima steps on her foot again, before she bites her tongue, trying to keep from swearing at a formal event. "Sorry, I have no idea how to waltz-"
She pulls back awkwardly when she accidentally steps on his foot yet again.
"Ah cr- uh, sorry about that..." she mutters. She almost misses his question.
"What? Oh, er, sure, you're... you're free to ask," she begins. "Just... try not to ask personal questions 'kay?
"In the shows? Sorry about that, I'm still kinda new. Been a couple months 'round here, so haven't been on any missions yet.
"Though what kind of shows do you watch?" she asks curiously. "Ah, actually, forget I even brought it up...
"Powers? Well, pretty much lightning-based. Haven't mastered the 'shoot lightning' bit yet, but I can charge my attacks with lightning for some real damage. I can also charge my own body with it, don't ask how that works. It works great at parties though; I can light lamps with my fingers and do the joybuzzer trick without needing a joybuzzer!"</s>
<|message|>Dana Noel
---
Dana frowned when she heard the annoyance in Penny's voice. "Hey, I was only messin' around!" the Norban protested. "I mean, you are really fun to tease, but I didn't wanna make ya feel uncomfortable or anything, honest! I just thought that ya might have a bit more fun if ya opened up a little and got to know some of the other people here. And let's face it," she added with a grin. "You're kinda a celebrity, so I'm sure they'll wanna get to know you!"
Soon enough, the pair had reached the trio of young men. Incidentally, and much to Dana's amusement, the officer cadets seemed just as nervous as Penny, but after introductions had been made, the tallest of their number managed to muster up the courage to ask Penny for a dance. Dana, meanwhile, received an invitation from a cadet who, although slightly shorter, was far more massive. Noah, the cadet in question, presented a stark contrast to the rather diminutive Dana, and the pair made quite the incongruous sight as they moved about the dance floor. Thankfully, both seemed to have enough dancing ability to keep things from becoming too awkward.
"My parents made me learn how to dance a little," Noah explained. "But it's been a while."
"That's cool," Dana observed. "And you're doing great! I recently got some lessons from my teammate, Vanna," she added. "So hopefully I shouldn't mess up too badly," the cheerful Norban giggled.
Noah went on to say that he, too, hailed from Norba, which made Dana's smile grow even wider. "Wow, really? That's awesome! And yeah, it's kinda crazy to think how far away from home we are," she added. "But I don't really mind it all that much. I mean, being chosen as an Ars Magi and gettin' to come to Nova Lux is like somethin' right outta my favorite stories and shows, a real adventure! How about you?" she asked her muscular partner. "Have ya been enjoyin' your time here so far?"</s>
<|message|>Penny Grenoble
---
"So, Dima," Penny continues, trying not so much dance as wobble around in one place. "Where're you from? What's your home like, and do you miss it? What do they teach you at the Academy, and do you like it there?
"Going back to what you said about being an Ars Magi... I'd be lying if the shows didn't help me make up my mind. So far, it's been a bit routine, but there have been... interesting tests. Being an Ars Magi can be pretty exhilarating, at least to me. It's like... I dunno, I feel like I can just cut loose, do things nobody else can, really take it to the limit. The funny thing is, I'm not even an adrenaline junkie, or at least I wasn't before I got here. I just... wanted to help protect the people and things I care for..."</s>
| <|message|>Nicole Cognoscenti
Nicole was a little flummoxed by Cordelia's dancing at first. She'd always been fantastic on her feet, sure, but her expertise in that area came from years of floundering in mosh pits or bouncing up and down, working up a sweat beneath the disorienting strobes of Hasta's club scene. They were different beasts than something as elegant as this waltz, and girls like their new teammate weren't usually the kind of guys or girls Nicole was pressed up against in the writhing throngs of partiers at home. The social aspects of this whole affair - helping all the girls look their fashionable, neomilitaristic best, helping them with what to say to mingle, maybe some winks at the fellas and some compliments for the girls - she could nail. But like at a club, there was always the anxiety that she could roll an ankle and completely eat shit while trying to look sophisticated.
Cordelia's whispering might have gone a long way in that regard, but she felt the noble-born girl taking the lead in their dance and decided to cede control to her for the first phase of their dance. Her words made Nicole think of Astrelle again with a twinge - it was hard to believe that her roommate had disappeared in the night the way she had, or been reassigned away from them. Had her family pulled some strings at her own insistence to get her pulled out? Was that even possible at this point? Had she struck someone a little too closely for comfort with her conspiratorial mindset?
"But that won't happen with me. I'm here to stay. Please count on me."
"Ha." The storm cloud over Nicole's head broke, and the redhead grinned impishly at the new girl's oath of loyalty. "Alright, roomie. I've got your back, you got mine. Score."
The waltz brought them closer together; she felt the gems inset in their navels touch like the tines of forks, sending a tingle through her body that sent her teeth burrowing into her lip.
"Would you like to try taking the lead, darling?"
Nicole laughed aloud and decided to give the second phase of their dance a whirl; thankfully, the song was a bit livelier, and as with many casual applications Nicole found herself more graceful and fearless when performing precise movements. It was as though she was now permanently in her element, fleet-footed and incapable of falling. It felt fantastic. After a while, even waltzing did too. She was about to ask Cordelia if she was into a drink when someone tapped her new teammate on the shoulder and offered to take her - Nicole Cognoscenti, perennially friendzoned just a month ago - off Cordelia's hands. She looked the girl offering to trade out Cordelia's place in their waltz - exotic-looking, with eyes that twinkled and hair that drank in the light around them. Nicole looked over to her own partner and felt her heart lurch slightly at his appearance - golden-skinned, amber-eyed, serious and surly, so like her own childhood best friend she had seen off with a knuckle touch. For a second she was tempted to run over to him and double-check it wasn't him in disguise, trying to fuck with her a little; she wanted to quiz him about weapons, music, or mocking passers-by based on their appearance, all favorite pastimes of his. She remembered the last time she had seen him, in the soft shadows, hazy lights, and pouring rain at the top of the White Tower. Jericho's hair had been plastered over his face, the color of dark chocolate with midnight streaks, and a single streak of crimson that he so carefully and regularly dyed. He chewed on the soaking-wet ends as he wished her goodbye.
She searched this cadet's hair; there was not a single trace of red. She felt bad for sizing him up like a replacement puppy. He was handsome, incredibly so, but he wasn't quite material for bumping fists in the courtyard.
She giggled, both out of amusement that she was being so heavily courted and from imagining how her torch song would be reacting to her attitude right now.
Goddamn it, Nicole. All the girls in the world who are capable of saving it, and the gods pick the one that thinks every boy from Osca looks alike. You're a danger to yourself and humanity in this shape. If I could go back in time ten years I would throw you from the monkey bars and save us all.
Ohhhh, yeah, she could hear him loud as day. That probably just proved her subconscious point - which meant it was worth taking under advisory. She grinned at the girl so gallantly offering to take her off Cordelia's hands, and outstretched her own to the almond-eyed cadet.
"I'd love to, babe," she said amiably, with a similar twinkle to her own partner's in her eye. "Nicole Cognoscenti - Hasta Vice."</s> |
<|description|>Nicole Cognoscenti
The Mundane
Age: 17
Sanctum City: Hasta
Description: Nicole is a girl of average height, a slender build, and irrepressible good cheer to cram inside it. Blue-eyed and always grinning, her sharp features are framed by scarlet hair, cut fashionably to the bottom of her neck with bangs that occasionally fall into her eyes.
Hasta is one of the world's most fashionable Sanctum Cities, with all but its poorest denizens dressed beautifully in casual, flowing fashions and bright colors. Nicole is no exception, although she does her best to dress fashionably casual. Whether oversized hoodies or cropped tops, tight jeans or her school uniform's skirt, one of her only sartorial mainstays is the peach colored tassel scarf she's almost always thrown haphazardly around her neck. Sometimes she'll top her head in a cute little beret.
Personality: A laid-back and cheerful girl who always tries her best at everything. Nicole may not be the most zealous fighter or the most charismatic presence, but she's a stabilizing force among what may otherwise be a chaotic ensemble of students. She exudes a quiet calm about most things, a playful energy often expelled through practical jokes, and a willingness to laugh at herself and others. She's grown up into a fairly privileged life and tries to keep that knowledge in the back of her mind, so it allows her some measure of empathy for other girls who may not have had it as easy as she did. It makes her a solid, unifying presence among friend groups and just a generally good time to be around.
Though she plays it close to the chest, Nicole is a deeply idealistic, romantic girl, with notions of true love and eternal good vibes that she tries not to espouse too often. She has a headful of dreams about some kind of nebulous "better life," although what that life would be like and how it would be an improvement over her own free-flowing existence is something she hasn't quite figured out.
Background: Nicole was born among the upper middle class of the beautiful, fashionable, (sort of) sunny Sanctum City of Hasta. One of the cultural capitals of the world, her childhood was cosmopolitan and largely peaceful, with a large pool of friends across all walks of life. Her parents did what they could to shelter her through much of her childhood, but they were politically active people, often taking up the causes of the downtrodden and unfortunate who were unable to share in Hasta's joys. Eventually, as she grew older, Nicole came to share their passion for altruism.
For a time, like most girls, she dreamed that she was a secret princess - some long-lost member of a Duodecim family, someone who could achieve great heights and make a difference in a scary world. Eventually, she had given up on that dream and resolved to make change in meaningful, realistic ways somehow. It was realizing her magical potential at the age of thirteen that helped give her a sense of wonder again, made her dream of stopping Voids and serving as a paragon for all the world's helpless - someone with the power to make people listen.
Having decided her dream was worth pursuing once again, in a decidedly more fantastical direction this time, Nicole applied to Nova Lux Academy with stars in her eyes, and was overjoyed to be accepted.
---
The Magic
Armgaus Name: Twinkling Scarlet Emerald
Gladius:
Vedfolnir
A blued steel sabre balanced to Nicole's hand, with a small, polished chunk of red beryl at the hilt. Its size belies the potential reach of the blade, as combined with her Elementum Nicole's slashes can seem to extend three times longer than the length of the blade would suggest.
Parma: Nicole's eyes and hair glow a brighter orange, her skin begins to twinkle slightly, and she wears an all-white ensemble of her normal beret, a midriff baring top and shorts, with thigh high boots and a holster.
Elementum: Wind
Elementum Abilities: In keeping with her elementum and her own breezy personality, Nicole has a great degree of agility and levity, often joking that she can dodge any attack thrown at her as long as she's not feeling lazy. It may not be an entirely empty boast; though not a particular powerhouse, her agility makes her a capable duelist with her sabre. She can also use her ability to make great leaps, bordering on sustained flight if she can keep her concentration - although doing so obviously limits her effectiveness in combat.</s>
<|message|>Dana Noel
---
"She really is!" Dana agreed with an enthusiastic nod when Noah mentioned how good a teacher Vanna must be. "In fact, she's amazing at pretty much everything!" the cheerful Norban added with a grin. "But then, I'd expect nothin' less from a member of the Duodecim!"
Noah then went on to talk about his studies at the Officers Academy, which led to the discussion of training exercises, and, in particular, the recent drama at the testing grounds.
"Nah, it's fine!" Dana reassured her partner with a smile when he worried about getting her in trouble with his line of questioning. "We've been talkin' about it for days, now. And you heard right," she added. "After we finished the last of our tests, there was a big spike in Nox levels, which caused a C-class Void to show up. It was kinda scary," she admitted. "But also pretty cool, since it gave us a chance to work together as a team! Well, most of us, anyway…" she clarified. "For some reason, they decided to hold Vanna back. I guess it probably has something to do with her bein' a noble and all, but what's the point of training to become an Ars Magi if ya can't fight Voids? So, yeah!" she continued, chuckling a bit at getting sidetracked. "We worked together and totally kicked the crap outta that thing! It was really great!"
"What's your training like?" she asked after a moment. "Do ya get to go out into the field, or is it all desk work?"</s>
<|message|>Penny Grenoble
---
As the two continue dancing, Penny looks around, trying to get a feel for the place now. As she looks around, she catches a glimpse of Victoria Glass in the crowd. She's a bit too far off for Penny to discern her expression, not helped by the fact Wings of Justice apparently had one hell of a poker face. Other faces there include a couple of folk Penny vaguely remembers from some newscasts and TV shows.
"Eh, don't worry about it," Penny replies. "In fact, ever since I got here, I think I'm getting better control over it. First time the Elementum manifested, though? I kept getting static shocks and short-circuiting electronics. Not a good thing to have when you like to work with electronics, trust me.
"I'll admit, being an Ars Magi can be... a bit of a rush," she admits. "It feels... different somehow. Some feel drained after using their abilities, I'm one of those who just gets... well, charged up. Almost scary, to be honest.
"Oh, oh no, no need to be sorry," she says. "I'm... well, I'm kind of a huge nerd for Altea myself. I think I remember Valkyrie Wren, though, maybe just the OVA. Even got afair amount of Gunslinger Alexis, but really, Altea's more my cup of tea, so to speak.
"Oh, so you're a neighbor, then," Penny replies cheerfully when he mentions where he's from. "I'm from Siscia, that's why. Yeah, I know what it's like being in a dome, Siscia's got one herself. Probably not as hot as Pola, though it can still be a scorcher in summer.
"Hey, don't put yourself down," she says in encouragment. "Sure, being military isn't as glamorous as the Ars Magi, but you guys do some real work, I know that. And I'm not saying that to cheer you up, by the way; my mom's a Sarge in the Siscia Defense Forces, so I know what you guys do. And I really appreciate it.
"My family's a bit... bigger," she says. "Well, a lot bigger. Mom, Dad, and six siblings. I'm the third oldest. Yeah, it can be a handful at times, but I wouldn't give them up for the world.
"So, Dima," she continues, "how far are you in your studies? Have you decided which branch you want to join yet? Infantry, Armor, Air Support, HQ...?"
She looks out again at the crowd.
"Is it just me, or is that Lucille LeBlanc? I recognize her from one of the news reports we used to see all the time in Siscia. It's... really kind of scary how many important faces there are here."</s>
<|message|>Cordelia Whittaker
Cordelia Whittaker
---
Cordelia noted the boy's finely tuned precision, his form reminded her of her instructor from when she was a child. Always leading to a point, but letting Cordelia perform a flourish in order to make it look as though she had been in charge the entire time. Her hands gracefully spun in his as she twirled outwards into the center of the dance floor. Her eyes flitted to her teammates, all dancing with wolves in their own rights. Cordelia felt the hot breeze of dance floor wind brush through her cerulean locks as she spun back in place, towards the boy.
"That's correct," she affirms as he inquires with a voice at a low static hum. His voice isn't a growl, though it took Cordelia's knowing a man who growled constantly to recognize the minute differences. This voice was just perceptible enough to be heard, but over the live band and the constant chattering and laughter, that was a decision and careful tuning of his own voice. His compliments washed over Cordelia, a foreign feeling as the kind words and concern caught the once maid in surprise. Unlike the low growl of an angered man, Cordelia was not used to such niceties and couldn't perceive the truthfulness to what he was saying. Her hands drifted from his waist to his neck and chin, holding him as if she was to kiss him like a lover. "That's very kind of you to say," she said, gazing into his eyes. "I'm not concerned about, which team I'm placed on." Her face came close to his, as the song began to slow and she embraced him, her hands pulling the back of his head onto her shoulder, holding him there for a moment.
The song picked back up and Cordelia once more let him lead, pulling her into a dip as he looked down at her. "The tales we tell children are often of warning," Cordelia said. Looking into his eyes from her vantage parallel to the ground. "I should hope mine isn't that."</s>
| <|message|>Nicole Cognoscenti
"Me? Psssh. I was almost getting trampled in raves before I could walk. This is the same principle, just more champagne."
Nicole let out an easy laugh, a chiming giggle that lilted with all the grace of her element. She immediately liked her dance partner. Her parents had always been politically-minded, sure, but Nicole had never really put much thought into the workings and lives of the nobility before. Having rubbed elbows with so much of it lately...
It turned out she just had a thing for noble girls. Curious.
Curious!
She looked around for Penny, Dana and Vanna, catching each of their eyes for a second as they engaged and bantered politely with their own dance partners. She wondered if any of them had managed to find the fun in this. For Vanna, galas like these had probably come with the territory that was her whole life, endlessly polite chat that led to no engagement and no connections. From the way she talked, that was probably how Aiya felt about them too.
"That sucks," she sympathized with a playful grin and the same conspiratorial whisper. "You would think those are the moments that make guarding someone easier and make you better at it. Dances, inside jokes...the intimate stuff, right? The things that make you give a crap about life."
Aiya was a master of closing the distance between them and then widening it again - constantly keeping Nicole on her toes, as the distance between them bounced back and forth from hairline fracture to gulf.
"The lights or the boys..." she mused playfully during one of the hairline fracture phases. "Well, in all the movies, they say that the people of Hasta are its real lights, so I guess I've got that covered." She winked. "Palmyra has plenty of neon if you know where to look. It's not the same, but if I work hard enough and crank up the charm, I can turn any place in the world into Hasta. The boys..."
Golden, surly eyes beneath bangs plastered down by the rain - they prowled left to right like tigers, discontent inside of cages. Droplets rolling down his full lips. The nostalgia-filtered snapshots that led to what-ifs, and would probably make her feel alone even in the arms of her final, truest love one day.
When she blinked, it was Aiya's face she saw again - exotic and feline, gorgeous and amused at her own exotic partner. Nicole's own playful grin glinted with the sheepishness of the Best Friend Next Door.
"The boys kinda had a catchphrase for babes like me - Ti voglio bene."</s> |
<|description|>Nicole Cognoscenti
The Mundane
Age: 17
Sanctum City: Hasta
Description: Nicole is a girl of average height, a slender build, and irrepressible good cheer to cram inside it. Blue-eyed and always grinning, her sharp features are framed by scarlet hair, cut fashionably to the bottom of her neck with bangs that occasionally fall into her eyes.
Hasta is one of the world's most fashionable Sanctum Cities, with all but its poorest denizens dressed beautifully in casual, flowing fashions and bright colors. Nicole is no exception, although she does her best to dress fashionably casual. Whether oversized hoodies or cropped tops, tight jeans or her school uniform's skirt, one of her only sartorial mainstays is the peach colored tassel scarf she's almost always thrown haphazardly around her neck. Sometimes she'll top her head in a cute little beret.
Personality: A laid-back and cheerful girl who always tries her best at everything. Nicole may not be the most zealous fighter or the most charismatic presence, but she's a stabilizing force among what may otherwise be a chaotic ensemble of students. She exudes a quiet calm about most things, a playful energy often expelled through practical jokes, and a willingness to laugh at herself and others. She's grown up into a fairly privileged life and tries to keep that knowledge in the back of her mind, so it allows her some measure of empathy for other girls who may not have had it as easy as she did. It makes her a solid, unifying presence among friend groups and just a generally good time to be around.
Though she plays it close to the chest, Nicole is a deeply idealistic, romantic girl, with notions of true love and eternal good vibes that she tries not to espouse too often. She has a headful of dreams about some kind of nebulous "better life," although what that life would be like and how it would be an improvement over her own free-flowing existence is something she hasn't quite figured out.
Background: Nicole was born among the upper middle class of the beautiful, fashionable, (sort of) sunny Sanctum City of Hasta. One of the cultural capitals of the world, her childhood was cosmopolitan and largely peaceful, with a large pool of friends across all walks of life. Her parents did what they could to shelter her through much of her childhood, but they were politically active people, often taking up the causes of the downtrodden and unfortunate who were unable to share in Hasta's joys. Eventually, as she grew older, Nicole came to share their passion for altruism.
For a time, like most girls, she dreamed that she was a secret princess - some long-lost member of a Duodecim family, someone who could achieve great heights and make a difference in a scary world. Eventually, she had given up on that dream and resolved to make change in meaningful, realistic ways somehow. It was realizing her magical potential at the age of thirteen that helped give her a sense of wonder again, made her dream of stopping Voids and serving as a paragon for all the world's helpless - someone with the power to make people listen.
Having decided her dream was worth pursuing once again, in a decidedly more fantastical direction this time, Nicole applied to Nova Lux Academy with stars in her eyes, and was overjoyed to be accepted.
---
The Magic
Armgaus Name: Twinkling Scarlet Emerald
Gladius:
Vedfolnir
A blued steel sabre balanced to Nicole's hand, with a small, polished chunk of red beryl at the hilt. Its size belies the potential reach of the blade, as combined with her Elementum Nicole's slashes can seem to extend three times longer than the length of the blade would suggest.
Parma: Nicole's eyes and hair glow a brighter orange, her skin begins to twinkle slightly, and she wears an all-white ensemble of her normal beret, a midriff baring top and shorts, with thigh high boots and a holster.
Elementum: Wind
Elementum Abilities: In keeping with her elementum and her own breezy personality, Nicole has a great degree of agility and levity, often joking that she can dodge any attack thrown at her as long as she's not feeling lazy. It may not be an entirely empty boast; though not a particular powerhouse, her agility makes her a capable duelist with her sabre. She can also use her ability to make great leaps, bordering on sustained flight if she can keep her concentration - although doing so obviously limits her effectiveness in combat.</s>
<|message|>Penny Grenoble
---
After quickly striking at the mecha, Penny slides back, bracing herself for a second for a last-gasp attack, or worse, reinforcements. When those failed to materialize, she takes a breath of relief and skates back to the others. She finds herself perhaps a bit disappointed that the adrenaline rush had to end early, but she recognizes the need to keep this mission stealthy and avoid confrontations. Even if it was only a practice run.
She follows the others to the destination, keeping an eye out to see if they're being followed. Fortunately, nothing seems to have seen them, so she joins the team in cover. She walks up to Nichole and pats her on the shoulder.
"Hey, Nichole, you know I was just kidding about earlier, right?" she says with a smile. "We still cool?"
When the protein bars are being handed out, Penny catches hers one-handed and rips off the cover. She moves to throw the wrapper on the ground, but then thinks better of it and shoves it into her pocket. No sense in littering, even in an abandoned wasteland. She begins to dig in when Aiya springs the question on her.
"Hmmmnnff?" she grunts in response. "Ah, yfee-"
She catches herself, pauses to chew and swallow the bit in her mouth, and then resumes.
"Eh, I wouldn't call it flying," she responds. "Nichole can fly. I just know a bit of parkour and rollerblading, so I know how to use movement and momentum a bit, and I'm just crazy enough to carry around a rocket on a stick.
"As for the Juno engineers... sorry, but that's how it goes. The knee joint was sort of a gimme; I reasoned that there's only so much you can do to armor up leg joints before it hampers the mech's movement. The comm unit was a necessary target; I didn't know how fast their reaction times were, so I needed to stop it from calling for help. The head, though, that was a lucky guess. I was afraid they'd put the control unit deeper into the chest cavity, where it would have had better protection. I guess I'm lucky I specialize in melee, and that I hit pretty hard.
"Then again, that's why we're having these training exercises, right? To figure out where the weak points are and how to compensate for them in future fights."
Cordelia's response to Aiya surprises Penny just as she's about to resume eating the protein bar.
"Aw come on, don't be so hard on yourself," Penny offers in weak encouragement. "I mean, at least you can dance pretty good. I've never danced a waltz before, so all Dima and I wound up doing is stepping on each other's toes the whole time."</s>
<|message|>Dana Noel
---
Dana exhaled a sigh of relief when no further threats materialized. However, she remained vigilant as their small group entered the parking garage and searched the abandoned structure for potential hostiles. The energetic Ars Magi only allowed herself to relax once they'd ensured the building was clear and settled into position on the top floor. It was actually pretty cool to watch how quickly the officers' gear was unpacked and assembled into quite the comprehensive command post. Once that work was done, it was apparently time for a snack break. "Thanks!" Dana told Holst with one of her trademark grins when the cadet offered her a protein bar. "You guys really did pack everything!"
Opening the wrapper, the bright eyed Norban took a bite out of the bar, while leaving the bottom half still contained in the wrapper. Casting her still-enhanced gaze over the darkened landscape beyond their shelter, Dana saw the brief bursts of illumination that denoted the locations of other teams participating in the exercise. As she continued to eat, she couldn't help but wonder how the others were faring, Noah, in particular. What kind of Ars Magi would he be paired with? The team Priya and Amanda were on? Or perhaps the one to which that towering, green-haired girl she'd seen at the ball belonged? In any event, her musings were soon brought to an abrupt end, when Aiya addressed them, inquiring first of Penny's speed, and then of Dana's marksmanship.
"I ghesh sho," the cheerful Norban replied as she chewed on the last piece of her bar. After gulping it down, she added, "I mean, Guardian Gunslinger Alexis was kinda my hero growin' up, so when I was told I was gonna get to be an Ars Magi, I wanted to be just like her!"
As if to demonstrate, Dana crumpled her wrapper up into a tight ball, before tossing it into the air. In the blink of an eye, she had drawn her gladius and snapped off an incandescent bolt of golden energy. The shot struck the wrapper dead center, instantly vaporizing it. With an impish smile, Dana twirled her pistol around a finger, before placing it back in its holster. However, her confidence was replaced by slight embarrassment a moment later, when Aiya noted how popular she'd been at the ball, which caused a small blush to color the cheerful Ars Magi's cheeks.
"Gosh, I sure hope not!" Dana replied with a nervous chuckle, when Aiya mentioned that her popularity might make some people jealous. "I just enjoy makin' new friends, that's all," she added, holding her hands up in a placating manner. "There nothin' wrong with that, right?" she asked with a hopeful smile, one made all the more charming by her oversized tooth poking out.</s>
| <|message|>Nicole Cognoscenti
Nicole was grateful for the moment to catch her breath. As she plopped down, she felt her knees lock together for a moment and thought back to her school days - kids circled around each other, daring each other to lock their legs together into rigid planks and see who passed out last, playing their stupid kid games. Of course, Nicole was no exception.
But she was totally grown-up now, and way beyond testing something that dumb, so she made sure to unlock them after just four seconds. After she'd made sure she had a bit of the old 'staying conscious' magic. Penny approached her just as she spread and stretched her legs, testing her ankles with little twirls. She grinned coquettishly back at Penny as her bespectacled teammate inquired about their relationship status, and leaned in to give an emphatic smooch to the Siscian girl's freckled cheek.
"Nahhh, we're like this," she confided, locking her index and middle fingers in a tight cross. "Thick as thieves always, Penny, you know that. Great firepower out there."
She leaned in and munched on her own energy bar while she listened to Aiya stoke Dana's fire a little. She had to giggle. Aiya was as relentless a flirt as Nicole herself, but it was brilliant watching Dana completely no-sell it and start going off on another tangent about Guardian Gunslinger Alexis and making friends.
"You tell her, Dana!" crowed Nicole in support of her teammate, when she was between mouthfuls of granola. "Youuuu tell her. Nothin' wrong with it at all. You're doing great, babe."
Cordelia was a little less prepared for Aiya's onslaught, and Nicole felt her mouth twitch in empathy for her roommate. She knew that, despite her best efforts, Cordelia was still adjusting to the idea of replacing Astrelle - a phantom that the new arrival to their team had never even seen before, yet still hung over her as surely as the grey and indigo storm clouds above. Nicole was still grappling with some of the implications of her friend's transfer herself, but she was doing her best to treat the one-time butler with every bit of the encouragement and zest she fronted for the rest of the team, too. Maybe they all needed to go out together. Force her to enjoy town the same way Nicole herself had, and Vanna too.
Her smile widened and she swung around on her perch, lifting up her legs and wrapping them around Cordelia's midsection. Nicole's right leg tucked between her midriff and her tightly drawn legs, wedged underneath her head protectively.
"You girls don't think I'm that jealous now, do you? Think I need to try and keep all the hotness to myself?" she asked the two nobles playfully. "You can dance if you want to, Cordy. All my best friends love to dance. Especially with each other."</s> |
<|description|>Nicole Cognoscenti
The Mundane
Age: 17
Sanctum City: Hasta
Description: Nicole is a girl of average height, a slender build, and irrepressible good cheer to cram inside it. Blue-eyed and always grinning, her sharp features are framed by scarlet hair, cut fashionably to the bottom of her neck with bangs that occasionally fall into her eyes.
Hasta is one of the world's most fashionable Sanctum Cities, with all but its poorest denizens dressed beautifully in casual, flowing fashions and bright colors. Nicole is no exception, although she does her best to dress fashionably casual. Whether oversized hoodies or cropped tops, tight jeans or her school uniform's skirt, one of her only sartorial mainstays is the peach colored tassel scarf she's almost always thrown haphazardly around her neck. Sometimes she'll top her head in a cute little beret.
Personality: A laid-back and cheerful girl who always tries her best at everything. Nicole may not be the most zealous fighter or the most charismatic presence, but she's a stabilizing force among what may otherwise be a chaotic ensemble of students. She exudes a quiet calm about most things, a playful energy often expelled through practical jokes, and a willingness to laugh at herself and others. She's grown up into a fairly privileged life and tries to keep that knowledge in the back of her mind, so it allows her some measure of empathy for other girls who may not have had it as easy as she did. It makes her a solid, unifying presence among friend groups and just a generally good time to be around.
Though she plays it close to the chest, Nicole is a deeply idealistic, romantic girl, with notions of true love and eternal good vibes that she tries not to espouse too often. She has a headful of dreams about some kind of nebulous "better life," although what that life would be like and how it would be an improvement over her own free-flowing existence is something she hasn't quite figured out.
Background: Nicole was born among the upper middle class of the beautiful, fashionable, (sort of) sunny Sanctum City of Hasta. One of the cultural capitals of the world, her childhood was cosmopolitan and largely peaceful, with a large pool of friends across all walks of life. Her parents did what they could to shelter her through much of her childhood, but they were politically active people, often taking up the causes of the downtrodden and unfortunate who were unable to share in Hasta's joys. Eventually, as she grew older, Nicole came to share their passion for altruism.
For a time, like most girls, she dreamed that she was a secret princess - some long-lost member of a Duodecim family, someone who could achieve great heights and make a difference in a scary world. Eventually, she had given up on that dream and resolved to make change in meaningful, realistic ways somehow. It was realizing her magical potential at the age of thirteen that helped give her a sense of wonder again, made her dream of stopping Voids and serving as a paragon for all the world's helpless - someone with the power to make people listen.
Having decided her dream was worth pursuing once again, in a decidedly more fantastical direction this time, Nicole applied to Nova Lux Academy with stars in her eyes, and was overjoyed to be accepted.
---
The Magic
Armgaus Name: Twinkling Scarlet Emerald
Gladius:
Vedfolnir
A blued steel sabre balanced to Nicole's hand, with a small, polished chunk of red beryl at the hilt. Its size belies the potential reach of the blade, as combined with her Elementum Nicole's slashes can seem to extend three times longer than the length of the blade would suggest.
Parma: Nicole's eyes and hair glow a brighter orange, her skin begins to twinkle slightly, and she wears an all-white ensemble of her normal beret, a midriff baring top and shorts, with thigh high boots and a holster.
Elementum: Wind
Elementum Abilities: In keeping with her elementum and her own breezy personality, Nicole has a great degree of agility and levity, often joking that she can dodge any attack thrown at her as long as she's not feeling lazy. It may not be an entirely empty boast; though not a particular powerhouse, her agility makes her a capable duelist with her sabre. She can also use her ability to make great leaps, bordering on sustained flight if she can keep her concentration - although doing so obviously limits her effectiveness in combat.</s>
<|message|>Dana Noel
---
Upon finally catching up to Nicole, Dana had helped Penny calm the panicking redhead down a bit, before agreeing to follow the fashion-conscious Hastan to a local clothing shop. No sooner had they walked through the door, then her team leader had begun searching for the perfect swimsuit with an intensity that was both comical and more than a little concerning… After all, Dana herself was certainly no fashionista and she had never really understood why so many girls were so obsessed with how they looked. The cheerful Norban felt perfectly comfortable with herself just the way she was and didn't see the point in pretending to be something she wasn't just to fit in, or impress a member of the "popular crowd" so much that they'd want to include her in their circle of friends. If people didn't like her for who she was, then they really weren't the sort of people she'd want to be friends with in the first place.
Then there was price tag to consider. Although she had grown up in a fairly wealthy household, Dana had never let her prosperity go to her head. Instead, she had used the resources she'd been blessed with to help those who were less fortunate. Knowing that she had spent a small fortune on a designer dress, handbag, or swimsuit when so many people were struggling just to eat was something the kind-hearted girl could never be okay with. Besides, while her clothing choices might have been cheap, they were comfortable and looked nice, at least in her opinion, and that was the important thing, wasn't it?
Thus, when she boarded the Assurance the following day, Dana was garbed in a simple, bright yellow bikini and jean shorts combo that perfectly mirrored her sunny demeanor. Placing her hands on her hips, the cheerful Norban surveyed the various goings on, a brilliant grin quickly spreading from ear to ear. Although she'd never been to a party quite like this, and especially not one on a luxury yacht, the bundle of excited energy that was Dana Noel knew one thing for certain- this was gonna be fun.
"Wow, Aiya! This is really some boat!" Dana noted when their host welcomed them aboard. "I know ya just wanted to see Nicole again, so thanks for lettin' us tag along!" she added with a playful wink, while putting her arm around Penny. "I'm sure we're gonna have a great time!"
The two hours that followed saw the bubbly Norban bounce from group to group as she took a self-guided tour of the opulent ship. She knew some of the other guests, Cara and Priya, of course, and Noah, too, but the majority of the cadets were new to her, and the ever-friendly Dana wasted no time in getting acquainted. Yet, even between making new friends and making sure Penny wasn't totally freaking out, she'd still managed to find time for a harmless prank. Having retrieved a chocolate bar from the travel bag slung over her shoulder, the mischievous Ars Magi had removed the wrapper and nonchalantly thrown it backwards over the side of the boat and right into the middle of some unsuspecting swimmers. Still, even with all the dancing, games, and overall wild revelry, Dana couldn't help but feel that something was missing, and once she'd realized what it was, she wasted no time in seeking out Aiya to address the matter.
"Hey, Aiya!" the grinning Norban called with a wave as she made her way over. "Where are ya hidin' the water guns?!"</s>
<|message|>Penny Grenoble
---
If Dana was able to go in a simple choice of beachwear, Penny had no such luck. The bespectacled Siscian, not exactly a social butterfly and still getting used to the big-name parties that Ars Magi frequented, chose a one-piece swimsuit that would not have been out of place in the pre-Void time period known as the 1930s. Needless to say, the red-haired fashionista took the choice as a challenge, and dragged Penny (with the help of a few store assistants; the mousy little brunette had a death grip on the wall and had to be pried loose) to try on something "more suitable for the occasion". The result was Penny finding herself in a two-piece she felt would induce either a heart attack or frothing rage in her parents if they ever found out. It was a sea-green bikini with white and gold trimmings, complemented with criss-crossing lacing across the back, but the modestly-minded Penny only felt that if she shows any more skin, she'd be arrested for indecent exposure.
Arriving at the bay, Penny is amazed to see the yacht waiting for them. She thought this would be a small party with a half-dozen people on a boat; instead, it's a fancy mansion on the water with about two-dozen people, with loud music and bright lights everywhere. She cleans her glasses to make sure she's not seeing things.
"I'll say," Penny adds, still stunned by the size of the thing. Initially, she feels very self-conscious about her swimsuit, but then realizes some of the partygoers are wearing things bordering on the outright scandalous. Plus, it makes her realize Nichole was right about the "granny suit" she had initially wanted to bring along. Not that it completely removes her self-conscious feelings about her suit.
Penny had been to quite a few social gatherings since she arrived at Palmyra, what with the socially-conscious Nichole as her guide. However, a mosh pit and rock music club was a place where one could find anonymity and privacy in the teeming masses by sheer volume (unless they were supremely unlucky). A private party on a yacht was a place where anyone could and did stand out by simply being there, and Penny feels very out of place next to nobility and military crème de la crème, and very conscious of her (unwilling) choice of swimwear.
Fortunately, with Dana acting as a personal chaperone helps alleviate her anxiety. Between the Norban's encouragement and endless optimism, Penny finds herself slowly easing into the party, feeling more and more at home. Though Penny does use one of her towels as a cloak or dress to alleviate the worst of her appearance concerns.
Then there was the chocolate bar prank. Penny initially assumes Dana was just indulging her sweet tooth, when the raven-haired Ars Magi just discretely tosses it overboard.
"Wait, Dana, why did you-" Her protests were cut short when she sees where Dana threw it, and Penny has to fight hard to suppress her laughter, biting her lip and quickly following Dana to get away before bursting into laughter.
"Dana, you can be nasty, you know that?" Penny wheezes between gusts of laughter.
"Of course," Penny sighs, though she's smiling in amusement. "Not a party on the water without water guns, huh? I think we should find out if there are any Water Elementum here, get them to join our side in... well, whatever you're planning."</s>
| <|message|>Nicole Cognoscenti
Nicole had always tried her best never to get sucked away in parties.
After all, she wasn't a stranger to them. Hasta was renowned around the world for its freewheeling nightlife, for the garrisons of arcades, dive bars and dance clubs where the only answer for the sound of rolling thunder and the hiss of rain on the street lights was rolling bass and hissing synths. Then, as now, Nicole was a thrall to the vibes at play in her home; she still remembered the first impression of Palmyra as a dim, unwelcoming place bereft of fun and vibes, and though she'd found her share of fun in the city it was still hard to shake off that initial sense of incarcerated dismay.
And then, as now, she'd played a specific role in the group dynamic - the girl who always tried to keep an eye on every friend, keep everyone together, make sure no one was too drunk or not having their share of the good times. It was a way to make sure everyone got home safe, no one got anything funny dropped in anyone's drinks, and no one was tempted away for the night by anyone too untoward...but it was also a way of making sure everyone felt included, and that the night would remain a positive memory for everyone to share. She'd assumed that tonight, Radiant Storm would all be--
-ehheh--
-ahhah--
--in the same boat, in that regard.
But there were signs early on that Penny and Dana viewed this whole shebang in a different light than Nicole did. Both of them resisted her attempts to buy them trendy swimwear with a voraciousness she found admirable as their team leader, but confusing as their friend; in the end, Dana opted for more simple garb that at least fit her personality, while Penny had ceded to Nicole's sense of taste but looked as uncomfortable as Nicole had ever seen her once she actually put the swimsuit on. You would have thought Nicole was sending her to the trenches at the bottom of the ocean with no armor on from the way Penny fought and stared at the swimsuit in disdain. Even now, the two of them seemed content to prank each other and begin dividing up an armory's worth of water guns between each other. Nicole wouldn't fault them for that. She knew enough to know that the two girls wouldn't find much comfort in the embrace of electronic music or by licking salt and lime juice off of a rich girl's hand or midriff.
but Nicole was a simpler girl, made of weaker stuff than water gun wars. And Aiya's eyes were always watching her.
They were even watching her right now, playful amber oculars glinting as Nicole slung her head and neck back to gulp down a quick drink of rum. Her body below the collar continued to move on its own; she ruled the dance pad at the moment on a particularly upbeat, heavy disco-funk beat with plenty of driving synth and the occasional orchestral gong to herald Nicole dropping to the floor or twirling in place. She had put down four competitors in the space of twenty minutes, and was now about to vanquish her fifth, so the richer cadets and blue bloods had slowly begun trying to ply her with alcohol mid-dance routine. As if cerebral impairment had anything to do with slowing down a girl's footwork. That came from the vibes system, not the nervous system. Nervous systems were for nervous people.
And right now, Nicole was dancing on the wind in front of the eyes of the global elite.
"This one goes out--" she whooped between another GONG "--to Dana Noel! Queen of the gunslingers!" She spun on her heels and began dancing backwards, the lights of the dance machine glinting off the gemstone in her navel as she pointed two finger guns in the direction of the girls on the railing - just to show there were no hard feelings in refusing to engage in some of the more risque activities.
"One of you pick the next beat! These rich people want to see me loooose!" she shrieked. "They don't know I caaaaan't!"</s> |
<|description|>Penny Grenoble
The Mundane
Age: 16
Height: 5'3"
Weight: 109 lbs
Hand: Left
Sanctum City: Siscia
Description:
Right: Ars Magi uniform, Left: Civilian clothes.
Penny is a slightly short, slim young girl with long, brown hair tied into a long braid, a heart-shaped face, and inquisitive green eyes hidden behind her glasses. A generous sprinkle of freckles decorates her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. Penny's physique is slender yet toned from years of work and helping out the family in chores and work. She usually has a cheerful, helpful expression on her face unless she is deeply focused on something (like work), in which case, she assumes an expression of concentration and determination, and generally becomes inattentive to the world except what she's currently working on. She generally prefers practical work clothes, though she takes pride in her new school uniform.
Penny is rather strong for her size, able to lug around 90 lbs without slowing down.
Personality:
Penny is a smart, well-meaning girl who tries to be the best she can be in order to help the people around her. Always ready to lend a helping hand and a keen intellect, Penny can come off as a bit of a know-it-all, but doesn't intend to show off, merely help and explain. She is rather passionate about magitech, and will explain at length if allowed. However, she is still a friendly sort, willing to make new friends and acquaintances and will gladly help when asked. She's also a hard worker who believes in putting the effort, and does her best in anything she puts her mind to.
In many ways, being at Nova Lux is a cultural shock to her; while not poor, the grand architecture and spaciousness of the academy is a far cry from the practically claustrophobic neighborhoods she's familiar with, and the idea of luxuries being not rationed is impressive to her. Also, she can come across as a bit of a penny(hah!)-pincher, mostly out of habit as back home, every bit of cash brought to the house was measured against the bills and necessities of nine people living under one roof.
Background:
The third child of seven, Penny comes from a bustling household. Her mother is a sargeant in the Siscia Self Defense Forces, and her father is a local mechanic, granting her a low-income home but a loving family. Her two elder sisters (twins) are couriers in the city, and have taught her how to rollerblade (she's not as good as they are, though) as well as certain parkour skills she's developed further after her approval to Nova Lux, her remaining siblings are not of working age but help around the house. Her oldest brother (a year her junior) does have a peculiar habit of trying to make a living offering his services as a courier, message boy, or open various stalls with varying degrees of success, with big dreams of making it big to rise up in the world. Her remaining siblings are two brothers (twins) and a youngest sister. While the house is cramped and money is often tight, it's a good life with the family not lacking in necessities.
For her part, Penny is a smart, studious girl with an emphasis on practical applications of knowledge, having picked up a flair for machine work from her father from a young age and had wanted to grow up to follow in his path. Penny grew up with precious little free time, between schoolwork and helping her father in the workshop, sometimes having to fix something her siblings broke given her skill as a handyperson. One of the few luxuries she's enjoyed aside from the pleasurable rush of a successful repair, is the TV show Divine Magical Maid Altea, a government-sponsored animated show generally designed to be propaganda but generally a decent show. Growing up watching the show, she had often wished to grow up to be a magical girl, but knew the chances of that were slim, so she focused on her other love; machines and magitech, and intended to grow up to be a Magitech engineer when she grew up. While she generally relied on public access terminals for knowledge and reading, Penny has taken to reading and supplementary self-education with a zeal, generally reading whatever scientific articles on magic and magitech she could. She intended to study up to prove herself at the local university, that she might get in on a scholarship, given her family's limited funds.
Some time after her 13th birthday, however, Penny started having trouble around the workshop. Equipment she'd work on suddenly developed issues with static and feedback, making repairs and work difficult. Anti-static equipment helped, but the problems persisted. Eventually, around her 14th birthday, the problem returned stronger, and she was sent for a medical checkup. What began as a routine checkup soon unveiled magic potential, and she was sent to a military hospital to confirm that yes, she does indeed have magical potential. That changed her life, and she changed her life goals to become an Ars Magi, as that would help open more doors for herself and her family, and more importantly, allow her to help more people with her abilities.
The Magical
Armagus Name: Bright Emerald Spark
Gladius: Groß Eisen
Groß Eisen is a 6'6", 70 lb two-handed power hammer with rocket boosters that can be turned on or off for additional attack power. While a sizable and effective instrument of blunt trauma on its own, Penny can channel her lightning powers into it, granting her the ability to do massive melee damage with lightning-boosted, rocket-propelled slams, or can focus her magic into one big "Meteor Slam" where she smashes Groß Eisen on the ground (or a suitable target) and causes a massive shockwave in a large (10') radius around her. She can also use Groß Eisen's rockets to propel her forwards on the battlefield, giving a couple spins in place to increase her speed before she lets the hammer pull her forwards with its boosted momentum.
Parma: Aside from a change of outfit, Penny's bangs become green, and her eyes become a more brilliant green color, with small lightning sparks visible in them when she's emotional or determined. Her outfit changes into something similar to her favorite show, Divine Magical Maid Altea, with a white/green color scheme, with her glasses becoming more futuristic in their design, more akin to a visor. Her shoes have roller blades on the bottom for additional mobility.
Combat Role: Penny's role in combat is generally that of assault, using her strength, speed, and toughness to mix it up close while swinging Groß Eisen to crush her enemies.
Elementum: Lightning/Electricity
Elementum Abilities: Penny can user her lightning ability for ranged combat, firing arcs of electricity at a target. However, she prefers to use her lightning abilities to power up her own physical abilities and attacks, emphasizing an assault-heavy style. She can either boost her physical strength or durability, and can focus lightning into her attacks to give them a powerful shock effect. Her preferred use of her Elementum abilities is to channel them into Groß Eisen for devastating heavy attacks.</s>
<|message|>Penny Grenoble
Penny feels the airship tremble again. She's never ridden an airship before, so she's not entirely sure if this is normal or not, but the other girls seem to notice it with unease. It makes Penny nervous as a result.
Vanna's explanation answers Penny pretty well, but...
'Somehow, I get the feeling I've been insulted,' she thinks, trying to read Vanna's expression. It's just the tone of the answer, aloof yet somehow condescending. It annoys Penny - but somehow, she shouldn't really be upset. She at least should have read up on the Academy for the two years she's been waiting to get transferred, so she wouldn't look like some clueless hick from the boonies, but it's a bit late for that now. She resolves to study hard once they get there, and prove her worth.
"I'll say you have," Penny answers Vanna in resignation.
Dana's response earns an odd response from Penny. She assumes an expression of mock annoyance, and looks at the cheerful girl.
"Oh really?" she asks in mock challenge. "Mind telling me why you think Gunslinger Alexa is better? I mean, Altea has the more meaningful character arcs, if you ask me.
"Also, how many sisters do you have? I've got three - and three brothers too."</s>
<|message|>Dana Noel
"Yeah, I guess you're right about that," Dana conceded in response to Penny's observation that Altea had better character arcs than her own favorite show. "At least, if you're only talking about the first season," she added with a grin. "Season two took a really deep look at a lot of Alexis's emotional vulnerabilities, especially her until-then unrequited love for her best friend. But that's not really the reason why I love her show," Dana continued. "It's mainly because of all the crazy, hyperkinetic action and cool designs for characters, vehicles, monsters, and all that stuff! Then there's all the comedy too! It's just really fun to watch! I mean, what other show has the main character go up against a biomechanical titan the size of a sanctum city in the first few minutes of the very first episode?!"
It was clear to see that Dana was getting even more excited than usual just thinking about it, but she quickly shifted gears when Penny voiced a new question.
"Oh, uh, sisters? Yeah, I have four," Dana replied. "They're all older than me, though, which is fine, cause they're all really encouraging and supportive. The perfect big sisters!" she added with a giggle. "What are your sisters like?"</s>
<|message|>Penny Grenoble
"See, that's it, isn't it?" Penny says with an air of academic discussion. "Altea's more... well, I suppose there's no better for it without sounding condescending, so let's say 'dark' and 'grounded'. The setting is everyday, she's more relateable as an everyday person, and while it does have more fantasy elements it still has a darker tone to it regarding loss and sacrifice. Alexis is, well, bubbly and energetic, and it takes almost halfway into season two to really start the character development going. I'd say the episode when they bring in Pretty Soldier Glenda, but she's a red herring at first to properly set up the rivalry with Alex..."
She pauses, then turns to face Dana.
"Okay, fine, I watch Gunslinger Alexis whenever I could," she admits, "but I'll take Altea over it anyday. Not saying it's bad, just saying I prefer mine.
"As for my sisters, well, we got the twins Liz'n'Liz - that's Elizabeth and Melissa - as the oldest, older than me by almost two years, I'm the one they had after, and then there's Nessa, she's ten and the youngest daughter, but David's the youngest and he's eight. Liznliz - yeah, we just put the two together most of the time - they're tomboys, and they can be a pain sometimes, but they're pretty cool and helpful most of the times. They're couriers, so they taught me how to rollerblade; they're really good at it. And Nessa's just a daddy's girl and a real sweetheart. I'm the one stuck being the responsible kid in the family most of the time..."</s>
<|message|>Nicole Cognoscenti
---
Yikes. I guess people aren't into goth girls because they're chatty, right?
Nicole let it be for now, half because she was trying to decide whether or not she dug Astrelle's vibes, too, and half because she was currently wondering whether invoking the name of a crashed airship onboard one currently in flight was, itself, a case of bad vibes. She gulped down the nibble of sandwich she was working on - just in case they were really crashing, so she wouldn't have to die with food in her mouth like a slob - and, when the turbulence settled itself, took a bite of another. In the absence of the Wing of Justice, the girls started to talk to themselves about daytime cartoons and their families, in the same breath.
It was interesting hearing everyone's backgrounds and perspectives. They were all so alien to Nicole. The vibe philosopher finally set down her sandwich and chimed in, a little sheepishly.
"I guess I'm the weirdo," she explained. "I was an only child, and uh..." She looked around, especially between Penny and Dana. "I don't really know what you're talking about with Alexis and Glenda or whoever. I'm an Eradicator II: See You in Hell kinda girl."</s>
| <|message|>Penny Grenoble
"Oh, yeah, I know that one," Penny says with a chuckle. "Liznliz watched the whole series, though you ask me, it really went downhill after the fifth. The second, though, that's a classic.
"So Nichole, you're from Hasta right?" she continues, pressing the conversation. "I hear some still call it by its old name, Paris. It's kind of interesting, because most Sanctum Cities generally just go by their official names these days. Is it really the City of Lights? I've seen a few pics on the 'Web whenever the connection gets through, and I'd have to say it's beautiful. I'm surprised you still have a building that's centuries old in the middle of your city, I think it's pretty cool!"</s> |
<|description|>Penny Grenoble
The Mundane
Age: 16
Height: 5'3"
Weight: 109 lbs
Hand: Left
Sanctum City: Siscia
Description:
Right: Ars Magi uniform, Left: Civilian clothes.
Penny is a slightly short, slim young girl with long, brown hair tied into a long braid, a heart-shaped face, and inquisitive green eyes hidden behind her glasses. A generous sprinkle of freckles decorates her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. Penny's physique is slender yet toned from years of work and helping out the family in chores and work. She usually has a cheerful, helpful expression on her face unless she is deeply focused on something (like work), in which case, she assumes an expression of concentration and determination, and generally becomes inattentive to the world except what she's currently working on. She generally prefers practical work clothes, though she takes pride in her new school uniform.
Penny is rather strong for her size, able to lug around 90 lbs without slowing down.
Personality:
Penny is a smart, well-meaning girl who tries to be the best she can be in order to help the people around her. Always ready to lend a helping hand and a keen intellect, Penny can come off as a bit of a know-it-all, but doesn't intend to show off, merely help and explain. She is rather passionate about magitech, and will explain at length if allowed. However, she is still a friendly sort, willing to make new friends and acquaintances and will gladly help when asked. She's also a hard worker who believes in putting the effort, and does her best in anything she puts her mind to.
In many ways, being at Nova Lux is a cultural shock to her; while not poor, the grand architecture and spaciousness of the academy is a far cry from the practically claustrophobic neighborhoods she's familiar with, and the idea of luxuries being not rationed is impressive to her. Also, she can come across as a bit of a penny(hah!)-pincher, mostly out of habit as back home, every bit of cash brought to the house was measured against the bills and necessities of nine people living under one roof.
Background:
The third child of seven, Penny comes from a bustling household. Her mother is a sargeant in the Siscia Self Defense Forces, and her father is a local mechanic, granting her a low-income home but a loving family. Her two elder sisters (twins) are couriers in the city, and have taught her how to rollerblade (she's not as good as they are, though) as well as certain parkour skills she's developed further after her approval to Nova Lux, her remaining siblings are not of working age but help around the house. Her oldest brother (a year her junior) does have a peculiar habit of trying to make a living offering his services as a courier, message boy, or open various stalls with varying degrees of success, with big dreams of making it big to rise up in the world. Her remaining siblings are two brothers (twins) and a youngest sister. While the house is cramped and money is often tight, it's a good life with the family not lacking in necessities.
For her part, Penny is a smart, studious girl with an emphasis on practical applications of knowledge, having picked up a flair for machine work from her father from a young age and had wanted to grow up to follow in his path. Penny grew up with precious little free time, between schoolwork and helping her father in the workshop, sometimes having to fix something her siblings broke given her skill as a handyperson. One of the few luxuries she's enjoyed aside from the pleasurable rush of a successful repair, is the TV show Divine Magical Maid Altea, a government-sponsored animated show generally designed to be propaganda but generally a decent show. Growing up watching the show, she had often wished to grow up to be a magical girl, but knew the chances of that were slim, so she focused on her other love; machines and magitech, and intended to grow up to be a Magitech engineer when she grew up. While she generally relied on public access terminals for knowledge and reading, Penny has taken to reading and supplementary self-education with a zeal, generally reading whatever scientific articles on magic and magitech she could. She intended to study up to prove herself at the local university, that she might get in on a scholarship, given her family's limited funds.
Some time after her 13th birthday, however, Penny started having trouble around the workshop. Equipment she'd work on suddenly developed issues with static and feedback, making repairs and work difficult. Anti-static equipment helped, but the problems persisted. Eventually, around her 14th birthday, the problem returned stronger, and she was sent for a medical checkup. What began as a routine checkup soon unveiled magic potential, and she was sent to a military hospital to confirm that yes, she does indeed have magical potential. That changed her life, and she changed her life goals to become an Ars Magi, as that would help open more doors for herself and her family, and more importantly, allow her to help more people with her abilities.
The Magical
Armagus Name: Bright Emerald Spark
Gladius: Groß Eisen
Groß Eisen is a 6'6", 70 lb two-handed power hammer with rocket boosters that can be turned on or off for additional attack power. While a sizable and effective instrument of blunt trauma on its own, Penny can channel her lightning powers into it, granting her the ability to do massive melee damage with lightning-boosted, rocket-propelled slams, or can focus her magic into one big "Meteor Slam" where she smashes Groß Eisen on the ground (or a suitable target) and causes a massive shockwave in a large (10') radius around her. She can also use Groß Eisen's rockets to propel her forwards on the battlefield, giving a couple spins in place to increase her speed before she lets the hammer pull her forwards with its boosted momentum.
Parma: Aside from a change of outfit, Penny's bangs become green, and her eyes become a more brilliant green color, with small lightning sparks visible in them when she's emotional or determined. Her outfit changes into something similar to her favorite show, Divine Magical Maid Altea, with a white/green color scheme, with her glasses becoming more futuristic in their design, more akin to a visor. Her shoes have roller blades on the bottom for additional mobility.
Combat Role: Penny's role in combat is generally that of assault, using her strength, speed, and toughness to mix it up close while swinging Groß Eisen to crush her enemies.
Elementum: Lightning/Electricity
Elementum Abilities: Penny can user her lightning ability for ranged combat, firing arcs of electricity at a target. However, she prefers to use her lightning abilities to power up her own physical abilities and attacks, emphasizing an assault-heavy style. She can either boost her physical strength or durability, and can focus lightning into her attacks to give them a powerful shock effect. Her preferred use of her Elementum abilities is to channel them into Groß Eisen for devastating heavy attacks.</s>
<|message|>Penny Grenoble
Penny only managed to get some sleep before someone wakes her up again, announcing their arrival at Palmyra. Yawning, she tries to rub her eyes only to wince at the pain in her arm, reminding of the run-in with the Void. She sighs.
'And here I'd hoped it was just a bad dream,' she thinks.
Penny looks out to the city once they descend past the protective barrier, and finds the architecture (even in the low light) rather depressing.
"So there's the answer to 'what happens when you make a barracks into an entire city'," Penny quips. "And here I thought Ciscia's D-Fens Quarter was ugly and blocky."
When it's time for the tests, Penny is compliant despite her tired state, only too glad to get some proper treatment.
"Thanks, doctor," she says once she's had her arm in a cast and shoulder set. She downs one of the painkillers with some water.
At the Academy, though, Penny gives an appreciative whistle.
"Well, at least this place looks good," she says. "Too bad it's too dark to properly appreciate it. Probably look a lot better in the daylight."
Upon being escorted to their room, Penny thanks the escort for helping her carry her bags, and turns to Dana.
"Well, guess you're stuck with me, for however long we're here," she says. "Just a few things I should warn you about; I don't snore... too loudly anyways, though unless you have a snore like an industrial drill, I'm fine with it since my family can be a bit noisy when they sleep - well, okay, LiznLiz sound like someone starting up a racecar. I don't cause a mess, always clean up after myself - being around four younger kids and two lazy older sisters makes me a bit of a neat freak. If I stay up late, it's usually to study, so I'll try to keep it quiet. Also, for the next few weeks you might find me hogging the bath for up to half an hour; we have a shower to share between nine people and someone always uses up the hot water before it's my turn, so I want to enjoy a hot bath for once.
"Anything else you want to know, or do you want to share anything?"</s>
<|message|>Dana Noel
Dana was unsurprisingly taken aback after Victoria revealed that her opponent had indeed been another Ars Magi, or at the very least, something indistinguishable from one. And the Wing of Justice was right, it shouldn't have been possible, and yet…
"Understood, ma'am," Dana found herself saying, echoing Nicole's response to Victoria's instruction to never mention a word of what they had seen. "Loose lips sink ships, after all," she added with a nervous chuckle in a half-hearted attempt to bring some levity to the situation. "Or somethin' like that…"
Although she was as eager as anyone else to learn the true identity of Victoria's mysterious opponent, Dana knew that the present moment was neither the time, nor place to ask further questions. She was also still a bit annoyed by Astrelle's disrespectful attitude, but she figured that issue could be addressed at a later date as well, perhaps when she wasn't fighting to keep her eyes open…
After the Ars Magi had taken her leave, Dana's exhausted body had wasted no time in returning to unconsciousness. She awoke an hour later, when the airship finally arrived in Palmyra. Feeling a bit more refreshed, Dana gathered up her belongings and followed along with the rest of her new friends, first to a military hospital, and then to their dorms at Nova Lux itself.
"Yeah, I guess it's not much to look at," Dana agreed when Penny noted the somewhat ugly aesthetic of the city. "But, when ya think about it, it's really the people inside the buildings that count," she added with a grin.
Upon their arrival at Nova Lux, Dana couldn't help but jump up and punch the air in elation. "All right! We finally made it!" she cheered, before quickly sobering upon catching sight of the glowering visage of the faculty member who was waiting to greet them. "Eh, heh… Sorry about that…" she apologized as she followed the woman inside.
Dana's cheerful exuberance returned, when she learned that she would be sharing a room with Penny. "Awesome! Put 'er there, roomie!" she said, while holding her hand up for a high five. "Or, uh, maybe we should just gently fist bump…" she added, remembering the bespectacled girl's numerous injuries. "And don't worry, there's no one else I'd rather be stuck with! I think we're gonna get along just great!"
Her happy grin spreading from ear to ear, Dana listened as Penny "warned" her about a few things.
"Hey, that's fine!" Dana reassured Penny after the later said she might be taking some extra long baths. "I totally understand! I like my showers nice and refreshingly chilly, so it's no problem if ya use up all the hot water. I don't think I snore too loudly," she added. "At least, not as loudly as an industrial drill! I'm pretty neat myself, but if I don't meet your standards, please don't hesitate to let me know! Oh, and I can sleep through pretty much anything, so don't worry about that! Feel free to crank up your study music as loud as ya like!"
"I'd love to know the kinds of games and music ya like, and all sorts of other stuff, but I'm sure we'll have plenty of time to talk about that later. Right now, we should probably hit the sack," she advised, pointing her thumb at the bed closest to her. "After all, it's gonna be a big day tomorrow!"</s>
| <|message|>Penny Grenoble
"You're hopelessly cheerful, aren't you?" Penny muses. "Eh, as long as they have a decent pizza joint in town, I'm fine with it."
Penny rolls her eyes.
"I'm not crippled, Dana, just wounded," she says, but returns the fist-bump with a smile. "And thanks for the vote of confidence, I'm looking forwards to rooming with you too!"
"You are an eternal optimist, aren't you?" chortles Penny. "Though we're going to have to leave the games and music for later. Right now, I just wanna lay down and sleep like the dead. It's been a long day, it's really late, and I think I've been up most of the way from Ciscia."
She tiredly gets changed into shorts and a tank top, sets her PDA's alarm, then flops onto the lower bunk in a way that wouldn't hurt her arm.
"'Night, Dana," she says. "Sweet dreams..."</s> |
<|description|>Penny Grenoble
The Mundane
Age: 16
Height: 5'3"
Weight: 109 lbs
Hand: Left
Sanctum City: Siscia
Description:
Right: Ars Magi uniform, Left: Civilian clothes.
Penny is a slightly short, slim young girl with long, brown hair tied into a long braid, a heart-shaped face, and inquisitive green eyes hidden behind her glasses. A generous sprinkle of freckles decorates her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. Penny's physique is slender yet toned from years of work and helping out the family in chores and work. She usually has a cheerful, helpful expression on her face unless she is deeply focused on something (like work), in which case, she assumes an expression of concentration and determination, and generally becomes inattentive to the world except what she's currently working on. She generally prefers practical work clothes, though she takes pride in her new school uniform.
Penny is rather strong for her size, able to lug around 90 lbs without slowing down.
Personality:
Penny is a smart, well-meaning girl who tries to be the best she can be in order to help the people around her. Always ready to lend a helping hand and a keen intellect, Penny can come off as a bit of a know-it-all, but doesn't intend to show off, merely help and explain. She is rather passionate about magitech, and will explain at length if allowed. However, she is still a friendly sort, willing to make new friends and acquaintances and will gladly help when asked. She's also a hard worker who believes in putting the effort, and does her best in anything she puts her mind to.
In many ways, being at Nova Lux is a cultural shock to her; while not poor, the grand architecture and spaciousness of the academy is a far cry from the practically claustrophobic neighborhoods she's familiar with, and the idea of luxuries being not rationed is impressive to her. Also, she can come across as a bit of a penny(hah!)-pincher, mostly out of habit as back home, every bit of cash brought to the house was measured against the bills and necessities of nine people living under one roof.
Background:
The third child of seven, Penny comes from a bustling household. Her mother is a sargeant in the Siscia Self Defense Forces, and her father is a local mechanic, granting her a low-income home but a loving family. Her two elder sisters (twins) are couriers in the city, and have taught her how to rollerblade (she's not as good as they are, though) as well as certain parkour skills she's developed further after her approval to Nova Lux, her remaining siblings are not of working age but help around the house. Her oldest brother (a year her junior) does have a peculiar habit of trying to make a living offering his services as a courier, message boy, or open various stalls with varying degrees of success, with big dreams of making it big to rise up in the world. Her remaining siblings are two brothers (twins) and a youngest sister. While the house is cramped and money is often tight, it's a good life with the family not lacking in necessities.
For her part, Penny is a smart, studious girl with an emphasis on practical applications of knowledge, having picked up a flair for machine work from her father from a young age and had wanted to grow up to follow in his path. Penny grew up with precious little free time, between schoolwork and helping her father in the workshop, sometimes having to fix something her siblings broke given her skill as a handyperson. One of the few luxuries she's enjoyed aside from the pleasurable rush of a successful repair, is the TV show Divine Magical Maid Altea, a government-sponsored animated show generally designed to be propaganda but generally a decent show. Growing up watching the show, she had often wished to grow up to be a magical girl, but knew the chances of that were slim, so she focused on her other love; machines and magitech, and intended to grow up to be a Magitech engineer when she grew up. While she generally relied on public access terminals for knowledge and reading, Penny has taken to reading and supplementary self-education with a zeal, generally reading whatever scientific articles on magic and magitech she could. She intended to study up to prove herself at the local university, that she might get in on a scholarship, given her family's limited funds.
Some time after her 13th birthday, however, Penny started having trouble around the workshop. Equipment she'd work on suddenly developed issues with static and feedback, making repairs and work difficult. Anti-static equipment helped, but the problems persisted. Eventually, around her 14th birthday, the problem returned stronger, and she was sent for a medical checkup. What began as a routine checkup soon unveiled magic potential, and she was sent to a military hospital to confirm that yes, she does indeed have magical potential. That changed her life, and she changed her life goals to become an Ars Magi, as that would help open more doors for herself and her family, and more importantly, allow her to help more people with her abilities.
The Magical
Armagus Name: Bright Emerald Spark
Gladius: Groß Eisen
Groß Eisen is a 6'6", 70 lb two-handed power hammer with rocket boosters that can be turned on or off for additional attack power. While a sizable and effective instrument of blunt trauma on its own, Penny can channel her lightning powers into it, granting her the ability to do massive melee damage with lightning-boosted, rocket-propelled slams, or can focus her magic into one big "Meteor Slam" where she smashes Groß Eisen on the ground (or a suitable target) and causes a massive shockwave in a large (10') radius around her. She can also use Groß Eisen's rockets to propel her forwards on the battlefield, giving a couple spins in place to increase her speed before she lets the hammer pull her forwards with its boosted momentum.
Parma: Aside from a change of outfit, Penny's bangs become green, and her eyes become a more brilliant green color, with small lightning sparks visible in them when she's emotional or determined. Her outfit changes into something similar to her favorite show, Divine Magical Maid Altea, with a white/green color scheme, with her glasses becoming more futuristic in their design, more akin to a visor. Her shoes have roller blades on the bottom for additional mobility.
Combat Role: Penny's role in combat is generally that of assault, using her strength, speed, and toughness to mix it up close while swinging Groß Eisen to crush her enemies.
Elementum: Lightning/Electricity
Elementum Abilities: Penny can user her lightning ability for ranged combat, firing arcs of electricity at a target. However, she prefers to use her lightning abilities to power up her own physical abilities and attacks, emphasizing an assault-heavy style. She can either boost her physical strength or durability, and can focus lightning into her attacks to give them a powerful shock effect. Her preferred use of her Elementum abilities is to channel them into Groß Eisen for devastating heavy attacks.</s>
<|message|>Penny Grenoble
---
At Amanda's name, Penny looks up and cocks an eyebrow. At least blondie had guts, which improved her standing in Penny's eyes. She turns back to the conversation at hand.
"So it was just a coincidence that our group was attacked just as they wrapped things up," Penny states. "If these attacks happened at roughly the same time, seems like they snuck in through a gap in the defenses and attacked anyone in range. I hope they get that fixed; Everyone seems to have gotten out okay, but that was close. Or at least, I hope everyone got out okay.
"And don't worry, Cara, you'll get your chance. Just be careful and don't get bushwhacked like I did; not fun, I'll tell ya that much."
In response to Cara's question about food, Penny smirks.
"Weeeelll, don't know about burgers, but I think we spotted a pizza place when we came in last night," she says. "Even in an armored bunker, people gotta eat, and one can't live off MREs alone. Well, you can, but I don't think that'll be very fun."
She turns back to the list of classifications and frowns. Ars Magi are an elite force; to have any more than a dozen in a single op was usually seen as inefficient. And yet for Class A Voids to require many Ars Magi to fight it was chilling.
She sighs. Best not to get too worked up about it right now, especially since today proved almost as taxing as their rough flight yesterday.</s>
<|message|>Dana Noel
---
Dana grinned when she saw Nicole enter. She was glad that the red-head seemed to be mending well, or well enough to lay across the top of a couch at any rate. The Hastian went on to give Dana a playful poke before complementing her performance in the earlier battle.
"Thanks, Nicole," Dana replied, tilting her head back to smile up at her teammate. "And if we're talkin' about giant robots, I'm happy as long as I get to fire the big, shoulder-mounted cannons! We are gonna have shoulder-mounted cannons, right?" she asked in mock seriousness.
Nicole proceeded to inquire about when the other teams were attacked by their own surprise Voids, which garnered an interesting variety of responses. In particular, Priya's team didn't even get to finish all of their tests, which went some way towards disproving Penny's idea that there was a conspiracy at work, at least as far as Dana was concerned. Priya then went on to describe her Gladius, and Dana couldn't help but share her excitement as she listened with rapt interest. At least, until Cara spoke up, mentioning that her team's tests occurred without any unplanned interruptions.
She almost sounds disappointed… Dana thought. Then again, I'd probably feel the same way if we missed out. After all, fighting that thing was pretty awesome! The energetic Norban grinned as she thought of how well they'd worked together to defeat their bonus adversary.
That grin only broadened with the mention of off-campus food.
"I'd love to go get some pizza with you guys!" Dana declared in her typical upbeat tone. "Nothin' against cafeteria food, but ya just can't beat a good pizza, especially when shared with friends!"</s>
<|message|>Nicole Cognoscenti
---
Though her smile remained on her face as she listened politely to Priya and Dana's talk of gladii and swords, more of Nicole's focus was spent on mulling over Priya's account of her team's baptism by fire. Only luck and the grace of a few seconds had spared Penny from the same kind of mid-trial surprise that Amanda had prevented. They'd all been ushered into dark little corners of Palmyra, after all, where they'd been warned of potentially intense Void activity - but what else had there been? Something about diffusion levels, and allowing the manifestation of Voids to begin with. Had those levels been adjusted again during certain group's tests, like theirs or Priya's? Why? Another phase to the test? Some conspiracy, like Penny thought?
Her stomach ached a little as she sat up, languid above her teammate's heads. Her attention fell on Cara, violet eyes tracing down the length of the girl's neck and down to her chest before bouncing back up to her face. Vanna's roommate seemed less than enthused about her own thoroughly average test. She could be living proof of a coincidence or an unwitting member of a control group, as Astrelle had been positing since the minute their airship had been attacked. She might need to talk to both of them and see what they thought. But what good would that do tonight, when the adrenaline still fluttered in each of their bodies and they were celebrating their birth as Ars Magi?
Her gaze turned onto the top of the bespectacled little conspiracy theorist's head, stroking her hair braid thoughtfully for a second before her megawatt smile turned back on.
"We passed a few pizza places, actually," she added. "Well, count me in, but don't expect me to sit by idly and let you guys pick a bad spot. A true Hastan can pick a crappy pizza dive from space if she had to. We should grab Astrelle and Vanna on our way out the door, too."</s>
| <|message|>Penny Grenoble
Penny looks up at Nichole for playing with her braid, but gives a wry smile at the Hastano's reasoning for why she should pick the pizza parlor.
"Oh really?" she teases. "So what other powers does being a Hastano bestow upon one? Aside from superior pizza and fashion sense, and the ability to come up with a catchphrase?"</s> |
<|description|>Penny Grenoble
The Mundane
Age: 16
Height: 5'3"
Weight: 109 lbs
Hand: Left
Sanctum City: Siscia
Description:
Right: Ars Magi uniform, Left: Civilian clothes.
Penny is a slightly short, slim young girl with long, brown hair tied into a long braid, a heart-shaped face, and inquisitive green eyes hidden behind her glasses. A generous sprinkle of freckles decorates her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. Penny's physique is slender yet toned from years of work and helping out the family in chores and work. She usually has a cheerful, helpful expression on her face unless she is deeply focused on something (like work), in which case, she assumes an expression of concentration and determination, and generally becomes inattentive to the world except what she's currently working on. She generally prefers practical work clothes, though she takes pride in her new school uniform.
Penny is rather strong for her size, able to lug around 90 lbs without slowing down.
Personality:
Penny is a smart, well-meaning girl who tries to be the best she can be in order to help the people around her. Always ready to lend a helping hand and a keen intellect, Penny can come off as a bit of a know-it-all, but doesn't intend to show off, merely help and explain. She is rather passionate about magitech, and will explain at length if allowed. However, she is still a friendly sort, willing to make new friends and acquaintances and will gladly help when asked. She's also a hard worker who believes in putting the effort, and does her best in anything she puts her mind to.
In many ways, being at Nova Lux is a cultural shock to her; while not poor, the grand architecture and spaciousness of the academy is a far cry from the practically claustrophobic neighborhoods she's familiar with, and the idea of luxuries being not rationed is impressive to her. Also, she can come across as a bit of a penny(hah!)-pincher, mostly out of habit as back home, every bit of cash brought to the house was measured against the bills and necessities of nine people living under one roof.
Background:
The third child of seven, Penny comes from a bustling household. Her mother is a sargeant in the Siscia Self Defense Forces, and her father is a local mechanic, granting her a low-income home but a loving family. Her two elder sisters (twins) are couriers in the city, and have taught her how to rollerblade (she's not as good as they are, though) as well as certain parkour skills she's developed further after her approval to Nova Lux, her remaining siblings are not of working age but help around the house. Her oldest brother (a year her junior) does have a peculiar habit of trying to make a living offering his services as a courier, message boy, or open various stalls with varying degrees of success, with big dreams of making it big to rise up in the world. Her remaining siblings are two brothers (twins) and a youngest sister. While the house is cramped and money is often tight, it's a good life with the family not lacking in necessities.
For her part, Penny is a smart, studious girl with an emphasis on practical applications of knowledge, having picked up a flair for machine work from her father from a young age and had wanted to grow up to follow in his path. Penny grew up with precious little free time, between schoolwork and helping her father in the workshop, sometimes having to fix something her siblings broke given her skill as a handyperson. One of the few luxuries she's enjoyed aside from the pleasurable rush of a successful repair, is the TV show Divine Magical Maid Altea, a government-sponsored animated show generally designed to be propaganda but generally a decent show. Growing up watching the show, she had often wished to grow up to be a magical girl, but knew the chances of that were slim, so she focused on her other love; machines and magitech, and intended to grow up to be a Magitech engineer when she grew up. While she generally relied on public access terminals for knowledge and reading, Penny has taken to reading and supplementary self-education with a zeal, generally reading whatever scientific articles on magic and magitech she could. She intended to study up to prove herself at the local university, that she might get in on a scholarship, given her family's limited funds.
Some time after her 13th birthday, however, Penny started having trouble around the workshop. Equipment she'd work on suddenly developed issues with static and feedback, making repairs and work difficult. Anti-static equipment helped, but the problems persisted. Eventually, around her 14th birthday, the problem returned stronger, and she was sent for a medical checkup. What began as a routine checkup soon unveiled magic potential, and she was sent to a military hospital to confirm that yes, she does indeed have magical potential. That changed her life, and she changed her life goals to become an Ars Magi, as that would help open more doors for herself and her family, and more importantly, allow her to help more people with her abilities.
The Magical
Armagus Name: Bright Emerald Spark
Gladius: Groß Eisen
Groß Eisen is a 6'6", 70 lb two-handed power hammer with rocket boosters that can be turned on or off for additional attack power. While a sizable and effective instrument of blunt trauma on its own, Penny can channel her lightning powers into it, granting her the ability to do massive melee damage with lightning-boosted, rocket-propelled slams, or can focus her magic into one big "Meteor Slam" where she smashes Groß Eisen on the ground (or a suitable target) and causes a massive shockwave in a large (10') radius around her. She can also use Groß Eisen's rockets to propel her forwards on the battlefield, giving a couple spins in place to increase her speed before she lets the hammer pull her forwards with its boosted momentum.
Parma: Aside from a change of outfit, Penny's bangs become green, and her eyes become a more brilliant green color, with small lightning sparks visible in them when she's emotional or determined. Her outfit changes into something similar to her favorite show, Divine Magical Maid Altea, with a white/green color scheme, with her glasses becoming more futuristic in their design, more akin to a visor. Her shoes have roller blades on the bottom for additional mobility.
Combat Role: Penny's role in combat is generally that of assault, using her strength, speed, and toughness to mix it up close while swinging Groß Eisen to crush her enemies.
Elementum: Lightning/Electricity
Elementum Abilities: Penny can user her lightning ability for ranged combat, firing arcs of electricity at a target. However, she prefers to use her lightning abilities to power up her own physical abilities and attacks, emphasizing an assault-heavy style. She can either boost her physical strength or durability, and can focus lightning into her attacks to give them a powerful shock effect. Her preferred use of her Elementum abilities is to channel them into Groß Eisen for devastating heavy attacks.</s>
<|message|>Penny Grenoble
---
Penny sighs at the boundless optimism of her teammate. This is definitely one of those times it could be a little exhausting. Right now, she could come up with almost a dozen excuses of varying strength so as to ditch the dance and why she's worried she'll screw it up somehow, but she suspects the Norban would just shoot down each one with her usual cheer. She only halfheartedly resists when Dana pulls her to her feet, not wanting to go through this ordeal but eventually giving up on changing her teammate's mind.
As they got up, a white-haired girl came up and said hello, giving Penny some rather formal greetings, before moving on to address Nichole.
"And hello to you too," Penny replies, a little surprised. She studies the newcomer. "Wait, are you Astrelle's replacement?"
Astrelle hadn't been around in the past few days. Dana was worried that Astrelle had been expelled, but in truth the dark-haired girl was probably just transferred to a different dorm and class. Still, the move had been surprising, and the group felt a little empty without her.
She raises an eyebrow in amusement as Cordelia, as the girl introduced herself, asked Nichole for a dance. She looks to see if the Hastian girl accepts.</s>
<|message|>Nicole Cognoscenti
---
If you had given the Laurus team an anonymous poll on which of them would be most excited for the Inaugural Ball, it was likely that all of them would have put Nicole at the summit of their ranked choices - save perhaps Nicole herself, who thought it was pretty goddamn egotistical to list herself at the top of anything like that and listed Dana just to be humble. Still, the Hastan girl had made no secret of her excitement about the upcoming event, and had fussed over the perfect subtle ornaments for Penny and Dana to wear without clashing with their official uniform. It was great to shop with Vanna, too - Nicole had never hurt for money growing up, but that didn't make her family outrageously wealthy, either. Having a daughter of the Duodecim to do brunch with made things like footing the bill for rings or piercings a cinch. Her anticipation had mounted in tandem with Penny's anxiousness at the prospects of a party, with plenty of hot guys and babes to take runs at wooing a fully-fledged Ars Magi.
Then, one night, she had arrived back at their dorm from a jaunt to the city with a pair of gyros for her and Astrelle to split and found the Lennox girl, and every one of her material possessions, gone from the dorm. Nicole may as well have spent every night there alone. Not so much as a black hair in the shower. She had munched on both gyros alone and tried every technique under the sun to try and get some sleep, from quiet songs on her phone to sleeping naked to every idea in between. Nobody she texted, nothing she listened to or touched or tried to think of, lulled her to sleep for more than an hour. The next night was much the same, and the night before that. Had she failed the test somehow after all? Did her parents pull some strings to get her home after her near-brush with death against the Class C? ...Had it been Nicole's fault? Or was it something to do with the questions that her roommate had posed of Nova Lux and the Ars Magi since the day they'd met?
The questions had consumed Nicole's sleep, and they had come to visibly haunt her in both demeanor and with light circles under her eyes that she'd resorted to expertly covering up with makeup. Tonight, her eyes glittered with scarlet shadow and she'd made sure to put her nostril and navel piercings back in, to give the big city girl a little bit of exotic flair. But her eyes lacked the glitter of her makeup and studs, and they kept scanning the crowd for a familiar shock of black hair - or at least a telltale shade of violet.
"Nicole Cognoscenti. Considered by many to be a leader among her peers, with a discerning eye and a lightness on her feet. It is my utmost pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Cordelia Whittaker, and I am to join this team. It would be my greatest honour that you afford me a dance."
The fifth girl they had been seated with broke Nicole from her reverie, and she felt her heart leap like a panicked gazelle for a moment. She looked around for someone else who the elegant-looking cadet may have meant to refer to, and found only the curious stares of her team in response. Did one of you girls tell her I was leader? No, no, Vanna's our leader, right Vanna? But when her eyes traced the gorgeous bone structure of their illustrious Duodecim teammate, Nicole quietly blanched as she realized that Vanna had no intention of throwing her the lifesaver.
"Teaaaam leader," she repeated. "Yeah, that's me?"
"Wait, are you Astrelle's replacement?"
Nicole's fingers closed tightly around her skirt as Dana and Penny got up to leave. She had half a mind to go with them at first, to seek solace in their boundless optimism and exasperation respectively, but as she surveyed the boys they'd scoped out, none of them really...struck Nicole as her type of guy. There were no brooding golden eyes, no full lips with haughty, arrogant smirks, not even a shade of skin darker than a barbecue potato chip, let alone a rich mocha. No fists worth bumping there.
She smiled at their new teammate and stood up.
"Yeah," she agreed amiably, taking her hand and lacing their fingers. "Dance my socks off, babe."</s>
| <|message|>Penny Grenoble
"Guess we better leave those two to their dance then," Penny mutters under her breath.
"And seriously? Boyfriend?" she says, shooting Dana a glare. "I'm already nervous, you want to add to that? Or do you just enjoy teasing me?"
Much as she would have liked to stick to the punch bar and enjoy the party at a distance, but her teammates' insistence (well, mostly Dana's) gets her to the dance floor. She finds herself in the line of girls waiting for a dance, still unsure if she should take the first opportunity to bolt to safety.</s> |
<|description|>Penny Grenoble
The Mundane
Age: 16
Height: 5'3"
Weight: 109 lbs
Hand: Left
Sanctum City: Siscia
Description:
Right: Ars Magi uniform, Left: Civilian clothes.
Penny is a slightly short, slim young girl with long, brown hair tied into a long braid, a heart-shaped face, and inquisitive green eyes hidden behind her glasses. A generous sprinkle of freckles decorates her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. Penny's physique is slender yet toned from years of work and helping out the family in chores and work. She usually has a cheerful, helpful expression on her face unless she is deeply focused on something (like work), in which case, she assumes an expression of concentration and determination, and generally becomes inattentive to the world except what she's currently working on. She generally prefers practical work clothes, though she takes pride in her new school uniform.
Penny is rather strong for her size, able to lug around 90 lbs without slowing down.
Personality:
Penny is a smart, well-meaning girl who tries to be the best she can be in order to help the people around her. Always ready to lend a helping hand and a keen intellect, Penny can come off as a bit of a know-it-all, but doesn't intend to show off, merely help and explain. She is rather passionate about magitech, and will explain at length if allowed. However, she is still a friendly sort, willing to make new friends and acquaintances and will gladly help when asked. She's also a hard worker who believes in putting the effort, and does her best in anything she puts her mind to.
In many ways, being at Nova Lux is a cultural shock to her; while not poor, the grand architecture and spaciousness of the academy is a far cry from the practically claustrophobic neighborhoods she's familiar with, and the idea of luxuries being not rationed is impressive to her. Also, she can come across as a bit of a penny(hah!)-pincher, mostly out of habit as back home, every bit of cash brought to the house was measured against the bills and necessities of nine people living under one roof.
Background:
The third child of seven, Penny comes from a bustling household. Her mother is a sargeant in the Siscia Self Defense Forces, and her father is a local mechanic, granting her a low-income home but a loving family. Her two elder sisters (twins) are couriers in the city, and have taught her how to rollerblade (she's not as good as they are, though) as well as certain parkour skills she's developed further after her approval to Nova Lux, her remaining siblings are not of working age but help around the house. Her oldest brother (a year her junior) does have a peculiar habit of trying to make a living offering his services as a courier, message boy, or open various stalls with varying degrees of success, with big dreams of making it big to rise up in the world. Her remaining siblings are two brothers (twins) and a youngest sister. While the house is cramped and money is often tight, it's a good life with the family not lacking in necessities.
For her part, Penny is a smart, studious girl with an emphasis on practical applications of knowledge, having picked up a flair for machine work from her father from a young age and had wanted to grow up to follow in his path. Penny grew up with precious little free time, between schoolwork and helping her father in the workshop, sometimes having to fix something her siblings broke given her skill as a handyperson. One of the few luxuries she's enjoyed aside from the pleasurable rush of a successful repair, is the TV show Divine Magical Maid Altea, a government-sponsored animated show generally designed to be propaganda but generally a decent show. Growing up watching the show, she had often wished to grow up to be a magical girl, but knew the chances of that were slim, so she focused on her other love; machines and magitech, and intended to grow up to be a Magitech engineer when she grew up. While she generally relied on public access terminals for knowledge and reading, Penny has taken to reading and supplementary self-education with a zeal, generally reading whatever scientific articles on magic and magitech she could. She intended to study up to prove herself at the local university, that she might get in on a scholarship, given her family's limited funds.
Some time after her 13th birthday, however, Penny started having trouble around the workshop. Equipment she'd work on suddenly developed issues with static and feedback, making repairs and work difficult. Anti-static equipment helped, but the problems persisted. Eventually, around her 14th birthday, the problem returned stronger, and she was sent for a medical checkup. What began as a routine checkup soon unveiled magic potential, and she was sent to a military hospital to confirm that yes, she does indeed have magical potential. That changed her life, and she changed her life goals to become an Ars Magi, as that would help open more doors for herself and her family, and more importantly, allow her to help more people with her abilities.
The Magical
Armagus Name: Bright Emerald Spark
Gladius: Groß Eisen
Groß Eisen is a 6'6", 70 lb two-handed power hammer with rocket boosters that can be turned on or off for additional attack power. While a sizable and effective instrument of blunt trauma on its own, Penny can channel her lightning powers into it, granting her the ability to do massive melee damage with lightning-boosted, rocket-propelled slams, or can focus her magic into one big "Meteor Slam" where she smashes Groß Eisen on the ground (or a suitable target) and causes a massive shockwave in a large (10') radius around her. She can also use Groß Eisen's rockets to propel her forwards on the battlefield, giving a couple spins in place to increase her speed before she lets the hammer pull her forwards with its boosted momentum.
Parma: Aside from a change of outfit, Penny's bangs become green, and her eyes become a more brilliant green color, with small lightning sparks visible in them when she's emotional or determined. Her outfit changes into something similar to her favorite show, Divine Magical Maid Altea, with a white/green color scheme, with her glasses becoming more futuristic in their design, more akin to a visor. Her shoes have roller blades on the bottom for additional mobility.
Combat Role: Penny's role in combat is generally that of assault, using her strength, speed, and toughness to mix it up close while swinging Groß Eisen to crush her enemies.
Elementum: Lightning/Electricity
Elementum Abilities: Penny can user her lightning ability for ranged combat, firing arcs of electricity at a target. However, she prefers to use her lightning abilities to power up her own physical abilities and attacks, emphasizing an assault-heavy style. She can either boost her physical strength or durability, and can focus lightning into her attacks to give them a powerful shock effect. Her preferred use of her Elementum abilities is to channel them into Groß Eisen for devastating heavy attacks.</s>
<|message|>Cordelia Whittaker
---
"Cordelia!" she called out to her roommate, voice radiating strength even over the noises of the storm. "Shine for me, babe!"
"Of course, please, allow me."
A fire burned in Cordelia's stomach Blazing heat surging through her blood from her core to her cheeks, fingers and feet. It was that feeling again, Cordelia noted to herself. Cordelia thought back to her home, to her earliest memories. She remembered watching young ladies be taught their lessons, and then mimicking everything she had seen to herself at night. She remembered what it felt like to reflect not only the beauty, but the imperfections as well. Her consciousness expanded, she felt small pin pricks in it each time it found a small shard of glass. With the wind buffeting and the storm ahead soaking the grounds they walked, Cordelia's command over glass had begun. That fire was embers now, a feeling she had to hone in on exactly.
"Let thine light be cast away," her whispered words, licked from her lips by droplets of rain and taken to each shard surrounding them. One by one, each fragment of glass each having served a different use during its previous life begun to float into the air. The light refracting off of broken bottles, mirrors, windows, and finery sparkled in the rain. "Come, allow me to give you new purpose."
Over the course of less than a half a second, Cordelia did many things, all at once. She brought each floating piece of glass to her side, stitching them together like a weaver making a tapestry. A piece of bottle here, a window's shattered shards there. What looked like blades of glass flying towards the group of girls, was in truth, art. Cordelia effortlessly composed the wall of shards in front of them, the bits of light peeking through all shut out by perfectly molding the glass into a wall as sturdily built as if it was made of concrete. Still transparent on the side of Cordelia and reflective on the other.
The wall of stitched together glass, all different shades and shapes fit together like a fully completed puzzle. Cordelia sighed, stepped towards it and passed her hand along the length of it, shifting its hue to meet exactly the colour she needed. "Okay," she sighed, a puff of hot air fogging up the mirror in front of her for a moment. "We need to be quiet, there's only a small amount of magic in the construction of this wall, so I'm unsure if they'll be able to sense it through Nicole's winds." Cordelia looked at the rest of her teammates. "The wall will interpose between us and them."
Cordelia watched through their one-way mirror as the machines began to grow weary. It was a directionless suspicion, but they were suspicious nonetheless. Cordelia's entire body locked rigid in place. Her hand flicked as a bit of the glass from the top of the wall, where it was least needed, began to slowly turn in the robot's direction. Ready to fly towards the machines at a moment's notice, though not unless they were provoked. She looked to her team, waiting for the signal.</s>
<|message|>Nicole Cognoscenti
---
Nicole bared her teeth in a proud grin as Cordelia manipulated the fields of ruined glass to guide in their extraction. Her roommate had made a poorly kept secret of trying to fit into Astrelle's shoes, but clearly she didn't suffer from a lack of ability as an Ars Magi. It wasn't just pride that made the redhead grit her teeth, though; she was doing as much as Cordy was to keep them masked from the drones, and though her adrenaline was doing much to keep the winds at her beck and call, she was beginning to feel the tugs of effort upon the muscles of her limbs and face.
It was enough strain to give any average girl some unsightly, premature wrinkles. She had no idea what the benefits of an Ars Armagus were when it came to the aging process, but Nicole wasn't about to use the core in her tummy as a crutch. Her fate and her skin care were just where she liked them - in her own hands.
Her eyes landed upon the two larger machines that Cordelia and the officer cadets pointed out. As much as she would have liked to completely ghost this extraction, she recognized the two machines and their specifications, at a glance, as the much gossiped about mecha from the gala. If she were a bit fresher, maybe she could have done more to completely mask them - but it was just as likely that, being such cutting-edge prototypes, they would have been found no matter what. That was more likely, given the parameters of the exercise. So she quit beating herself up over the unattainable dream of a "perfect record" and continued delegating.
"Alright, Cordy, I think we've done all we can to trick them from here. Focus on confusion instead of evasion with me, we'll see if we can keep them from targeting us directly. With our firepower we won't even give 'em a shot to react. Penny!" she called out to Team 3's smallest member, giving her the same exhausted, wolfish smile and sticking a thumbs up. "It's time to do what gotcha to the dance, babe. If you can kill them, great. If not, focus on weak points. Let's crack the biggest, most expensive parts we can eyeball wide open and let Dana shoot 'em up, yeah?"
Man, I love this.
Being alive?
No. Something way less obvious than that.
Being an Ars Magi?
No. Something even more egotistical than that.
I feel like such a boss.
Yeahhhh. She loved that.</s>
| <|message|>Penny Grenoble
Penny feels Groß Eisen's hilt in her hands, waiting for the right moment to either sneak by the mecha along with the rest of the group, or to deliver one hell of an opening powerblow. It's nerve-wracking, facing an unknown opponent - one admittedly much bigger than the team combined, and possibly one that can counter their abilities - but it was their job to test its abilities. Perks of being drafted into this war, she guesses.
The anxious silence is cut by Nichole issuing orders with her usual bright energy.
"Penny! It's time to do what gotcha to the dance, babe. If you can kill them, great. If not, focus on weak points. Let's crack the biggest, most expensive parts we can eyeball wide open and let Dana shoot 'em up, yeah?"
This in turn gets her a wolfish grin from the Siscian.
||Music: Spinning, Spinning, Spinning, Spiii!?||
"'Bout time," mutters the brunette through her grin, and fires up her rocket and rollerblades, running around a corner picking up speed, before jumping into the air directly at the first mecha's head, Groß Eisen charging up with lightning as she swings it for a mighty blow.
"KAISERSCHLAGEN!!" she roars as she slams the rocket hammer with the force of an anti-tank missile directly in the robot's head, hopefully taking out the sensor equipment and possibly the control unit as well. Lightning Elementum flows through the strike as well, reaching into the sensitive circuitry within to fry it and take out the damaged mecha. She then leaps into the air, pirouettes with Groß Eisen firing to increase her striking power, then takes a diving strike at the other one and delivers a powerful blow at what she hopes was the comm unit.
"Whoops! That looked important!" she calls out mockingly.
As she rolls down the mecha in her rollerblades, she delivers one final strike to the second mecha's knee joint, trying to throw it off balance and hopefully toppling it into the other one.
"Well, that looks expensive!" she calls out as she slams her mighty rocket hammer into the joint. "Hope ya didn't need it too bad!"</s> |
<|description|>Penny Grenoble
The Mundane
Age: 16
Height: 5'3"
Weight: 109 lbs
Hand: Left
Sanctum City: Siscia
Description:
Right: Ars Magi uniform, Left: Civilian clothes.
Penny is a slightly short, slim young girl with long, brown hair tied into a long braid, a heart-shaped face, and inquisitive green eyes hidden behind her glasses. A generous sprinkle of freckles decorates her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. Penny's physique is slender yet toned from years of work and helping out the family in chores and work. She usually has a cheerful, helpful expression on her face unless she is deeply focused on something (like work), in which case, she assumes an expression of concentration and determination, and generally becomes inattentive to the world except what she's currently working on. She generally prefers practical work clothes, though she takes pride in her new school uniform.
Penny is rather strong for her size, able to lug around 90 lbs without slowing down.
Personality:
Penny is a smart, well-meaning girl who tries to be the best she can be in order to help the people around her. Always ready to lend a helping hand and a keen intellect, Penny can come off as a bit of a know-it-all, but doesn't intend to show off, merely help and explain. She is rather passionate about magitech, and will explain at length if allowed. However, she is still a friendly sort, willing to make new friends and acquaintances and will gladly help when asked. She's also a hard worker who believes in putting the effort, and does her best in anything she puts her mind to.
In many ways, being at Nova Lux is a cultural shock to her; while not poor, the grand architecture and spaciousness of the academy is a far cry from the practically claustrophobic neighborhoods she's familiar with, and the idea of luxuries being not rationed is impressive to her. Also, she can come across as a bit of a penny(hah!)-pincher, mostly out of habit as back home, every bit of cash brought to the house was measured against the bills and necessities of nine people living under one roof.
Background:
The third child of seven, Penny comes from a bustling household. Her mother is a sargeant in the Siscia Self Defense Forces, and her father is a local mechanic, granting her a low-income home but a loving family. Her two elder sisters (twins) are couriers in the city, and have taught her how to rollerblade (she's not as good as they are, though) as well as certain parkour skills she's developed further after her approval to Nova Lux, her remaining siblings are not of working age but help around the house. Her oldest brother (a year her junior) does have a peculiar habit of trying to make a living offering his services as a courier, message boy, or open various stalls with varying degrees of success, with big dreams of making it big to rise up in the world. Her remaining siblings are two brothers (twins) and a youngest sister. While the house is cramped and money is often tight, it's a good life with the family not lacking in necessities.
For her part, Penny is a smart, studious girl with an emphasis on practical applications of knowledge, having picked up a flair for machine work from her father from a young age and had wanted to grow up to follow in his path. Penny grew up with precious little free time, between schoolwork and helping her father in the workshop, sometimes having to fix something her siblings broke given her skill as a handyperson. One of the few luxuries she's enjoyed aside from the pleasurable rush of a successful repair, is the TV show Divine Magical Maid Altea, a government-sponsored animated show generally designed to be propaganda but generally a decent show. Growing up watching the show, she had often wished to grow up to be a magical girl, but knew the chances of that were slim, so she focused on her other love; machines and magitech, and intended to grow up to be a Magitech engineer when she grew up. While she generally relied on public access terminals for knowledge and reading, Penny has taken to reading and supplementary self-education with a zeal, generally reading whatever scientific articles on magic and magitech she could. She intended to study up to prove herself at the local university, that she might get in on a scholarship, given her family's limited funds.
Some time after her 13th birthday, however, Penny started having trouble around the workshop. Equipment she'd work on suddenly developed issues with static and feedback, making repairs and work difficult. Anti-static equipment helped, but the problems persisted. Eventually, around her 14th birthday, the problem returned stronger, and she was sent for a medical checkup. What began as a routine checkup soon unveiled magic potential, and she was sent to a military hospital to confirm that yes, she does indeed have magical potential. That changed her life, and she changed her life goals to become an Ars Magi, as that would help open more doors for herself and her family, and more importantly, allow her to help more people with her abilities.
The Magical
Armagus Name: Bright Emerald Spark
Gladius: Groß Eisen
Groß Eisen is a 6'6", 70 lb two-handed power hammer with rocket boosters that can be turned on or off for additional attack power. While a sizable and effective instrument of blunt trauma on its own, Penny can channel her lightning powers into it, granting her the ability to do massive melee damage with lightning-boosted, rocket-propelled slams, or can focus her magic into one big "Meteor Slam" where she smashes Groß Eisen on the ground (or a suitable target) and causes a massive shockwave in a large (10') radius around her. She can also use Groß Eisen's rockets to propel her forwards on the battlefield, giving a couple spins in place to increase her speed before she lets the hammer pull her forwards with its boosted momentum.
Parma: Aside from a change of outfit, Penny's bangs become green, and her eyes become a more brilliant green color, with small lightning sparks visible in them when she's emotional or determined. Her outfit changes into something similar to her favorite show, Divine Magical Maid Altea, with a white/green color scheme, with her glasses becoming more futuristic in their design, more akin to a visor. Her shoes have roller blades on the bottom for additional mobility.
Combat Role: Penny's role in combat is generally that of assault, using her strength, speed, and toughness to mix it up close while swinging Groß Eisen to crush her enemies.
Elementum: Lightning/Electricity
Elementum Abilities: Penny can user her lightning ability for ranged combat, firing arcs of electricity at a target. However, she prefers to use her lightning abilities to power up her own physical abilities and attacks, emphasizing an assault-heavy style. She can either boost her physical strength or durability, and can focus lightning into her attacks to give them a powerful shock effect. Her preferred use of her Elementum abilities is to channel them into Groß Eisen for devastating heavy attacks.</s>
<|message|>Dana Noel
---
After exchanging an energetic high five with Dana, Noah joined the other officers in taking a moment to confer on their next course of action, ultimately deciding to make use of Cordelia's portal to take up position on the nearby rooftop. Meanwhile, it appeared Amanda was preparing to join the fight against the giant mech and wanted Dana to tag along. "Roger that!" the sunny sharpshooter acknowledged with an eager grin. As the two Ars Magi ran down the rain-soaked street, they saw Nicole send a blast of wind slicing through the metallic titan's already damaged leg. Coupled with a slash from Priya's flaming sword, this caused the towering war machine to topple forward with a mighty crash. "Nice work Nicole!" Dana called out. "You, too, Priya!" However, their robotic foe quickly proved that it was still very much a threat by launching a salvo of missiles, which shot high into the sky, before arcing down to fall upon the officers and Ars Magi below. "Don't worry guys!" Dana reassured her allies. "I got this!"
Summoning an array of glowing stars, the golden gunslinger took aim with Shining Zenith, before unleashing a lance of auric energy at the lead missile, her stars combining their smaller beams on two additional missiles. Once these initial targets were dealt with, they repeated the process on three more. In a matter of seconds, half of the incoming missiles had been taken out, but the rest were now getting dangerously close…
"Uh, guys?" Dana asked nervously. "I think I might need a little help…"</s>
<|message|>Nicole Cognoscenti
---
"Then it's help you'll get, beautiful," sang the wind.
Dana, as always, had done splendid work in thinning out the onslaught of missiles; it seemed to Nicole's eye as though half, maybe less, of the munitions the robot had unleashed in its death throes now remained intact and buzzing. That was more than enough to turn the average city block - and the average cute girl defending it - into cinders and craters. But this testing dump was no average city block - and Nicole and Dana were definitely not the average cuties.
With a wave at the direction of her team's sniper and her trainee cohorts, Nicole buzzed by parallel to the ground team, slowing her roll slightly, so that the intent tracking on the missiles would be tempted towards a similarly aerial target. The shift in their trajectories was barely perceptible, but it was there; enough for Nicole to grin in resigned triumph and began flying to evade again, kicking a little more speed out of her long, outstretched legs.</s>
| <|message|>Penny Grenoble
Penny proceeds to rush as fast as she can, barely outpacing the giant mecha's tracking systems, though she still has enough breathing room to fire off a blast of lightning at the mecha, taking out its weaponry on one side while Blair handled the other. Between them, Penny would say they're doing a good job taking out the giant mech's offensive capabilities.
Of course, the machine then makes the smart move to switch its attentions on the nuisances taking out its weaponry - which unfortunately for Penny, happens to be Penny herself.
"Well, of course it fucking would," Penny grumbles, now pouring on the speed trying to avoid getting vaporized by the sheer firepower thrown her way. "Motherfucking thing has a goddamn vendetta against me!"
She starts veering left, right, up and down, jumping from rooftop to rooftop, and it's barely keeping the beam off her ass. If she isn't focusing on survival right now, she bets she could admire the sheer devastation the thing was inflicting on the ruined cityscape.
"I'd admire its determination," she grunts as she avoids yet another explosion, coasting off the shockwave to gain a bit more speed, "if it wasn't trying to turn me into a grease stain against the concrete!"
Another near-hit causes a massive blast that throws her off one rooftop and onto another, where she manages to regain her balance and tumbles almost skillfully back onto her feet, scraped and scuffed all over, but still in fighting shape. She spits as she wipes the dirt and grit off her face.
Fortunately, she finds reprieve as the machine is toppled through the combined efforts of Nichole and Priya, causing the massive thing to crash against several buildings, knocking a couple over and causing a plume of dust and debris to shoot up into the sky. She'd celebrate, but the thing is down, not out, even as Amanda and the other girls are trying to take it apart.
"On it!" Penny replies on the comm as she races back towards the fallen metal titan. She dodges incoming fire and weaves between the vengeance blasts aimed at her, and then grabs a chunk of flying concrete, vaults over a missile, uses the concrete as a shield from the blast, and uses the shockwave to send her flying upwards. Jumping from one piece of flying debris to another, she ascends skywards, barely avoiding an airburst that nearly sends her hurtling on an uncontrolled trajectory. She quickly regains control, using her rocket blasts to stabilize her spinning. As she regains her focus, she finds herself hundreds of feet into the air, right above the toppled mecha. Now's her chance.
At her command, GroB Eisen fires up its rocket as lightning crackles around it, charging up its power even as it pulls Penny downwards in a reckless dive. As she goes further and further down, coming to earth as a runaway meteorite, she grips her giant hammer tightly as she charges it with power. Soon, she's enveloped in a terrifying display of lightning. She gives a mighty roaring warcry as she comes down as hard as she can at the mecha.
"KAISERSCHLAG!" she cries out. "STURM! UND! DRANG!"
She comes down on the giant warmachine, bringing with her the full wrath of the thunderstorm. Lightning strikes as her hammer hits metal, bright arcs of pure electrical power striking the target in a terrifying technicolor display.</s> |
<|description|>Penny Grenoble
The Mundane
Age: 16
Height: 5'3"
Weight: 109 lbs
Hand: Left
Sanctum City: Siscia
Description:
Right: Ars Magi uniform, Left: Civilian clothes.
Penny is a slightly short, slim young girl with long, brown hair tied into a long braid, a heart-shaped face, and inquisitive green eyes hidden behind her glasses. A generous sprinkle of freckles decorates her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. Penny's physique is slender yet toned from years of work and helping out the family in chores and work. She usually has a cheerful, helpful expression on her face unless she is deeply focused on something (like work), in which case, she assumes an expression of concentration and determination, and generally becomes inattentive to the world except what she's currently working on. She generally prefers practical work clothes, though she takes pride in her new school uniform.
Penny is rather strong for her size, able to lug around 90 lbs without slowing down.
Personality:
Penny is a smart, well-meaning girl who tries to be the best she can be in order to help the people around her. Always ready to lend a helping hand and a keen intellect, Penny can come off as a bit of a know-it-all, but doesn't intend to show off, merely help and explain. She is rather passionate about magitech, and will explain at length if allowed. However, she is still a friendly sort, willing to make new friends and acquaintances and will gladly help when asked. She's also a hard worker who believes in putting the effort, and does her best in anything she puts her mind to.
In many ways, being at Nova Lux is a cultural shock to her; while not poor, the grand architecture and spaciousness of the academy is a far cry from the practically claustrophobic neighborhoods she's familiar with, and the idea of luxuries being not rationed is impressive to her. Also, she can come across as a bit of a penny(hah!)-pincher, mostly out of habit as back home, every bit of cash brought to the house was measured against the bills and necessities of nine people living under one roof.
Background:
The third child of seven, Penny comes from a bustling household. Her mother is a sargeant in the Siscia Self Defense Forces, and her father is a local mechanic, granting her a low-income home but a loving family. Her two elder sisters (twins) are couriers in the city, and have taught her how to rollerblade (she's not as good as they are, though) as well as certain parkour skills she's developed further after her approval to Nova Lux, her remaining siblings are not of working age but help around the house. Her oldest brother (a year her junior) does have a peculiar habit of trying to make a living offering his services as a courier, message boy, or open various stalls with varying degrees of success, with big dreams of making it big to rise up in the world. Her remaining siblings are two brothers (twins) and a youngest sister. While the house is cramped and money is often tight, it's a good life with the family not lacking in necessities.
For her part, Penny is a smart, studious girl with an emphasis on practical applications of knowledge, having picked up a flair for machine work from her father from a young age and had wanted to grow up to follow in his path. Penny grew up with precious little free time, between schoolwork and helping her father in the workshop, sometimes having to fix something her siblings broke given her skill as a handyperson. One of the few luxuries she's enjoyed aside from the pleasurable rush of a successful repair, is the TV show Divine Magical Maid Altea, a government-sponsored animated show generally designed to be propaganda but generally a decent show. Growing up watching the show, she had often wished to grow up to be a magical girl, but knew the chances of that were slim, so she focused on her other love; machines and magitech, and intended to grow up to be a Magitech engineer when she grew up. While she generally relied on public access terminals for knowledge and reading, Penny has taken to reading and supplementary self-education with a zeal, generally reading whatever scientific articles on magic and magitech she could. She intended to study up to prove herself at the local university, that she might get in on a scholarship, given her family's limited funds.
Some time after her 13th birthday, however, Penny started having trouble around the workshop. Equipment she'd work on suddenly developed issues with static and feedback, making repairs and work difficult. Anti-static equipment helped, but the problems persisted. Eventually, around her 14th birthday, the problem returned stronger, and she was sent for a medical checkup. What began as a routine checkup soon unveiled magic potential, and she was sent to a military hospital to confirm that yes, she does indeed have magical potential. That changed her life, and she changed her life goals to become an Ars Magi, as that would help open more doors for herself and her family, and more importantly, allow her to help more people with her abilities.
The Magical
Armagus Name: Bright Emerald Spark
Gladius: Groß Eisen
Groß Eisen is a 6'6", 70 lb two-handed power hammer with rocket boosters that can be turned on or off for additional attack power. While a sizable and effective instrument of blunt trauma on its own, Penny can channel her lightning powers into it, granting her the ability to do massive melee damage with lightning-boosted, rocket-propelled slams, or can focus her magic into one big "Meteor Slam" where she smashes Groß Eisen on the ground (or a suitable target) and causes a massive shockwave in a large (10') radius around her. She can also use Groß Eisen's rockets to propel her forwards on the battlefield, giving a couple spins in place to increase her speed before she lets the hammer pull her forwards with its boosted momentum.
Parma: Aside from a change of outfit, Penny's bangs become green, and her eyes become a more brilliant green color, with small lightning sparks visible in them when she's emotional or determined. Her outfit changes into something similar to her favorite show, Divine Magical Maid Altea, with a white/green color scheme, with her glasses becoming more futuristic in their design, more akin to a visor. Her shoes have roller blades on the bottom for additional mobility.
Combat Role: Penny's role in combat is generally that of assault, using her strength, speed, and toughness to mix it up close while swinging Groß Eisen to crush her enemies.
Elementum: Lightning/Electricity
Elementum Abilities: Penny can user her lightning ability for ranged combat, firing arcs of electricity at a target. However, she prefers to use her lightning abilities to power up her own physical abilities and attacks, emphasizing an assault-heavy style. She can either boost her physical strength or durability, and can focus lightning into her attacks to give them a powerful shock effect. Her preferred use of her Elementum abilities is to channel them into Groß Eisen for devastating heavy attacks.</s>
<|message|>Penny Grenoble
---
Apparently, the second test had left many of the students weary and exhausted. They clearly weren't kidding about being serious on these exams - but then again, being an Ars Magi, the main line of defense against the Void, is no light matter. You either had to be up to snuff or there's no point in having potential if you can't realize it. Penny notes that 'most' of the girls succeeded; she was wondering about those who didn't succeed, and whether they were taking remedial courses to make up for it.
As for Team 2, Penny listens with a sympathetic ear. She could actually relate to Priya's test, given how she was similarly a close-range specialist with some ranged options. Amanda's trial seemed to be more about leading and command ability than actual combat. Blair's trial was new, though Penny finds it oddly amusing to imagine Blair, the aggressive go-getter, being forced into a more passive or reactive role in order to pass.
And then, of course, there's the tests her own teammates faced. Penny figures she could have done pretty well had she been given Dana's test, but it would obviously not have been a good test; Penny's a close combat specialist, so a melee fight wouldn't really be a good test of her shortfalls.
"...and I shit you not, explosive mice! Twice!" Penny says, explaining her own test. "Didn't even get a chance to dodge the second time, just dropped down from the ceiling! Then again, Garnet may have had a point; if I were paying attention, I would have noticed those prayer strips sooner when they started to fall from the ceiling. Still, it's incredibly stressful to get blown up by kamikaze rodents.
"So that's why I tried to toss Aoi's hamster across the yard yesterday," she sighs. "I can understand why she's still mad, but I was still stressed out."
She doesn't mention the bit at the end where Yagami teases her about Altea. The idea is a little too depressing to contemplate right now, and just a little bit ominous.
Then again, we've been to St. Joan's, right? Penny thinks to herself.
The exercise group sounds tempting, and Penny takes Priya up on her offer. She has a few things to work through right now; the test was one, but more recently she got a letter from home about Nessa's condition; the poor girl seems to be stable right now, but currently under watch at the hospital. Penny crumples the paper and buries it in her drawer, not bringing it up to the others; she doesn't want them to worry about her. If nothing else, the exercise offers Penny a chase to work out her fears.
---
The letter from Aiya manages to snap Penny out of her funk.
"Ooh, got something interesting from your girlfriend?" she teases.
"So I take it we're going to see what Aiya's cooking up?" she asks, sincerely this time.</s>
<|message|>Dana Noel
---
Over the next few days following her field test, Nova Lux's common room had almost become Dana's home away from home. Everyone was telling stories about how their exams had gone, with questions, answers, and a particularly unfortunate hamster flying left and right, along with no small amount of boasting and, occasionally, grumbling…. Indeed, it seemed that an unlucky few cadets had actually failed their exams, and as the school's resident living ray of sunshine, Dana found herself working overtime to brighten their spirits with friendly hugs and optimistic words of encouragement. Still, it was the tales of victory that really filled the cheerful Norban with eager excitement…
"Really?! The Amara Volkov?!" Dana exclaimed when Priya had revealed the identity of her instructor, the sunny sharpshooter's golden eyes seeming to gleam even brighter than usual. "That's so freakin' cool! Y'know, Shel and I just watched the episode of Guardian Gunslinger Alexis she cameoed in a few days ago! The part at the end where Alexis and Amara team up to take down that swarm of cyber-bugs has gotta be one of my favorite moments of the entire series! Check it out!" she added, turning to face some of the poor souls who had yet to see the episode in question. "So, Doctor Xylannis unleashes this army of Cybugs to wipe out the military research base on Delta Primus, right? And Alexis and her team jump into action to stop 'em, but they can't take out the queen's control node, 'cause even though Alexis can make the shot, her pistols don't have the range, which is when Amara makes this super dramatic entrance and is all 'Leave that to me'! It was just so freakin' badass! So, like, anyway, she lines up to take the shot," Dana continued, excitedly acting out the scene by holding up an imaginary sniper rifle. "And Alexis is using every trick shot she knows in order to keep the Cybugs from swarming her, and then finally, Amara fires, and the camera follows the shot all the way to the queen's control node, until… BLAM!!! It takes the thing out, causing the mother of all shockwaves to race through the Cybug army and make all their heads explode! Doesn't that sound absolutely AWESOME?!!" she asked, her gleeful visage looking over each of the gathered cadets in turn, most of whom were too stunned to answer.
Or were desperately trying to keep from laughing their heads off…
Once Dana had calmed down from her little "performance", she listened with rapt interest as Penny gave a synopsis of her own exam.
"Wow, Penny," the cheerful Norban said with a giggle. "Your test sounds like somethin' straight outta a horror movie! Y'know, once Halloween rolls around, we should totally get Yagami to set up a haunted house!" she added. "Anyways, at least now I know where your recent hatred for rodents came from!"
---
The end of exams also heralded the start of a two-week break, during which Dana found herself spending much of her time alongside Penny, while attending Priya's exercise group. Vanna's roommate, Cara Kelly, was also present, and Dana wasted no time in getting to know the redhead better, both in and out of combat. As it turned out, her first name was actually Nora, but she preferred to go by her middle name to preserve the "sweet alliteration", something Dana wholeheartedly approved of.
However, it was just as the break period was starting to wind down that the biggest surprise came…
"A party?" Dana asked, as she took a closer look at the text Nicole had received. "On a boat? And we're invited?! Count me in!"</s>
| <|message|>Penny Grenoble
Penny just gave a little sigh at how energetic friend went off into a massive gushing description of the episode. She was right the first time; Dana was a seven year old in a teenager's body. Still, it's nice to listen to her She just gives a soft smile as Dana finishes her story.
Penny makes a face at the idea of Yagami hosting a haunted house.
"Yeeeaaaaaahhhhh.... I don't think that's such a good idea..." she says. "Two reasons.
"One, as I understand it, Yagami is pretty busy, like some other instructors who were brought in. And thank God, because, two, I ran into Instructor Baozhai after my exam, because she wanted to congratulate me on my success. I told her what happened, and joked that Yagami would run a pretty good haunted house. Immediately, Baozhai gives this... thousand yard stare and tells me to never, ever bring it up, especially in front of Yagami. Apparently, she had been in Yagami's year, and Yagami did run a haunted house - once. Except she ran it as a horror movie and traumatized more than a few students, Baozhai included. Nobody got physically hurt, mind, but they never let her run a haunted house again. Personally, I think she's a sadist."</s> |
<|description|>Penny Grenoble
The Mundane
Age: 16
Height: 5'3"
Weight: 109 lbs
Hand: Left
Sanctum City: Siscia
Description:
Right: Ars Magi uniform, Left: Civilian clothes.
Penny is a slightly short, slim young girl with long, brown hair tied into a long braid, a heart-shaped face, and inquisitive green eyes hidden behind her glasses. A generous sprinkle of freckles decorates her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. Penny's physique is slender yet toned from years of work and helping out the family in chores and work. She usually has a cheerful, helpful expression on her face unless she is deeply focused on something (like work), in which case, she assumes an expression of concentration and determination, and generally becomes inattentive to the world except what she's currently working on. She generally prefers practical work clothes, though she takes pride in her new school uniform.
Penny is rather strong for her size, able to lug around 90 lbs without slowing down.
Personality:
Penny is a smart, well-meaning girl who tries to be the best she can be in order to help the people around her. Always ready to lend a helping hand and a keen intellect, Penny can come off as a bit of a know-it-all, but doesn't intend to show off, merely help and explain. She is rather passionate about magitech, and will explain at length if allowed. However, she is still a friendly sort, willing to make new friends and acquaintances and will gladly help when asked. She's also a hard worker who believes in putting the effort, and does her best in anything she puts her mind to.
In many ways, being at Nova Lux is a cultural shock to her; while not poor, the grand architecture and spaciousness of the academy is a far cry from the practically claustrophobic neighborhoods she's familiar with, and the idea of luxuries being not rationed is impressive to her. Also, she can come across as a bit of a penny(hah!)-pincher, mostly out of habit as back home, every bit of cash brought to the house was measured against the bills and necessities of nine people living under one roof.
Background:
The third child of seven, Penny comes from a bustling household. Her mother is a sargeant in the Siscia Self Defense Forces, and her father is a local mechanic, granting her a low-income home but a loving family. Her two elder sisters (twins) are couriers in the city, and have taught her how to rollerblade (she's not as good as they are, though) as well as certain parkour skills she's developed further after her approval to Nova Lux, her remaining siblings are not of working age but help around the house. Her oldest brother (a year her junior) does have a peculiar habit of trying to make a living offering his services as a courier, message boy, or open various stalls with varying degrees of success, with big dreams of making it big to rise up in the world. Her remaining siblings are two brothers (twins) and a youngest sister. While the house is cramped and money is often tight, it's a good life with the family not lacking in necessities.
For her part, Penny is a smart, studious girl with an emphasis on practical applications of knowledge, having picked up a flair for machine work from her father from a young age and had wanted to grow up to follow in his path. Penny grew up with precious little free time, between schoolwork and helping her father in the workshop, sometimes having to fix something her siblings broke given her skill as a handyperson. One of the few luxuries she's enjoyed aside from the pleasurable rush of a successful repair, is the TV show Divine Magical Maid Altea, a government-sponsored animated show generally designed to be propaganda but generally a decent show. Growing up watching the show, she had often wished to grow up to be a magical girl, but knew the chances of that were slim, so she focused on her other love; machines and magitech, and intended to grow up to be a Magitech engineer when she grew up. While she generally relied on public access terminals for knowledge and reading, Penny has taken to reading and supplementary self-education with a zeal, generally reading whatever scientific articles on magic and magitech she could. She intended to study up to prove herself at the local university, that she might get in on a scholarship, given her family's limited funds.
Some time after her 13th birthday, however, Penny started having trouble around the workshop. Equipment she'd work on suddenly developed issues with static and feedback, making repairs and work difficult. Anti-static equipment helped, but the problems persisted. Eventually, around her 14th birthday, the problem returned stronger, and she was sent for a medical checkup. What began as a routine checkup soon unveiled magic potential, and she was sent to a military hospital to confirm that yes, she does indeed have magical potential. That changed her life, and she changed her life goals to become an Ars Magi, as that would help open more doors for herself and her family, and more importantly, allow her to help more people with her abilities.
The Magical
Armagus Name: Bright Emerald Spark
Gladius: Groß Eisen
Groß Eisen is a 6'6", 70 lb two-handed power hammer with rocket boosters that can be turned on or off for additional attack power. While a sizable and effective instrument of blunt trauma on its own, Penny can channel her lightning powers into it, granting her the ability to do massive melee damage with lightning-boosted, rocket-propelled slams, or can focus her magic into one big "Meteor Slam" where she smashes Groß Eisen on the ground (or a suitable target) and causes a massive shockwave in a large (10') radius around her. She can also use Groß Eisen's rockets to propel her forwards on the battlefield, giving a couple spins in place to increase her speed before she lets the hammer pull her forwards with its boosted momentum.
Parma: Aside from a change of outfit, Penny's bangs become green, and her eyes become a more brilliant green color, with small lightning sparks visible in them when she's emotional or determined. Her outfit changes into something similar to her favorite show, Divine Magical Maid Altea, with a white/green color scheme, with her glasses becoming more futuristic in their design, more akin to a visor. Her shoes have roller blades on the bottom for additional mobility.
Combat Role: Penny's role in combat is generally that of assault, using her strength, speed, and toughness to mix it up close while swinging Groß Eisen to crush her enemies.
Elementum: Lightning/Electricity
Elementum Abilities: Penny can user her lightning ability for ranged combat, firing arcs of electricity at a target. However, she prefers to use her lightning abilities to power up her own physical abilities and attacks, emphasizing an assault-heavy style. She can either boost her physical strength or durability, and can focus lightning into her attacks to give them a powerful shock effect. Her preferred use of her Elementum abilities is to channel them into Groß Eisen for devastating heavy attacks.</s>
<|message|>Penny Grenoble
Penny just gave a little sigh at how energetic friend went off into a massive gushing description of the episode. She was right the first time; Dana was a seven year old in a teenager's body. Still, it's nice to listen to her She just gives a soft smile as Dana finishes her story.
Penny makes a face at the idea of Yagami hosting a haunted house.
"Yeeeaaaaaahhhhh.... I don't think that's such a good idea..." she says. "Two reasons.
"One, as I understand it, Yagami is pretty busy, like some other instructors who were brought in. And thank God, because, two, I ran into Instructor Baozhai after my exam, because she wanted to congratulate me on my success. I told her what happened, and joked that Yagami would run a pretty good haunted house. Immediately, Baozhai gives this... thousand yard stare and tells me to never, ever bring it up, especially in front of Yagami. Apparently, she had been in Yagami's year, and Yagami did run a haunted house - once. Except she ran it as a horror movie and traumatized more than a few students, Baozhai included. Nobody got physically hurt, mind, but they never let her run a haunted house again. Personally, I think she's a sadist."</s>
<|message|>Nicole Cognoscenti
---
Ooooh shit a boat...?
The haptic feedback on Nicole's touchscreen was giving Nicole's thumbprint the massage of a lifetime right now. The redhead's eyes were half-lidded, one leg languidly slung over the armrest of a common room sofa; two fingers on her left hand were idly playing with the untied shoelaces of a modern-looking pair of white sneakers, zebra-striped with the stark, bold-fonted words BISEXUAL SPACE PROGRAM horizontally, vertically and diagonally, black scars across the shoes' pale surfaces. Nicole's digits stroked the obsidian laces like locks of hair. Her eyes traced the text chain from Aiya for the twentieth time that morning, and yet the words still felt new to her. Not out of shock that the sensuous Duodecim royalty owned a boat. No.
She was tweakin'. And geekin'. And tweakin'. And geekin'.
She blinked with all the alacrity of a particularly sleepy lizard, and read the texts for the twenty-first time.
...
Ooooh shit, a boat...
Let's rewind. Two weeks prior, Nicole Cognoscenti's vibrations has been knocked askew by a grueling, Machiavellian test of her leadership qualities that had toppled a legendary Ars Magi from the heavens of hero worship and had done as much to solidify Nicole's position as the center of their group of friends as it had to make her question her place among them. In the opening days of their two week break, the Hastan girl had been spaced out and distracted, preoccupied with thoughts of her time at Nova Lux so far and the stresses of encroaching leadership to join in on the binges or breathless stories about her exams. Most of what had been whispered about Nicole's exam had come from hearsay; she said little on the subject personally. But she listened to the stories of some of the others, the feats of strength, speed, and ingenuity, and felt a little twinge of envy at how cool they all sounded. How...normal.
Nicole had always thought of herself as just a normal girl.
Enter the blessed angel Cordelia, butler to the stars, Nicole's current roommate and another potential candidate for the BISEXUAL SPACE PROGRAM. Cordy had intimate knowledge of the faces and attitudes that girls their age adopted when depressed, and had taken it upon herself to go out into some of Palmyra's more adventurous street food vendors or semi-reputable dive bars and seek out a cure for Nicole's ails. Some of the coffees she brought back were tasty and invigorating. Once she'd brought back a pizza from a small chain called Mirror World, whose claim to fame was that the pizza they served was not pizza at all, but cheese-wrapped breadsticks stuffed with sauce and toppings, which triggered Nicole's fight-or-flight instinct and for a time brought her back to her old self. But nothing quite touched the sketchy edibles that poor, faithful Cordy had brought back the other night from one of the nightclubs she'd seen Nicole return from with pamphlets. No doubt her old, wealthy patrons had partaken frequently, and Nicole wasn't about to act like a total saint herself. But if the victory of life was knowing oneself, Nicole liked to think she had won before she even left her teenage years - and one thing she knew about herself is that she did not play off being high super well. But she didn't want to be rude, and to be honest, they were kind of fun. Even when she had finally cajoled Cordy into taking one herself earlier that morning, and hadn't...seen her...since...
Hmmm. Uh oh! ...Uh oh.
Thankfully, the other girls didn't know her as well as she knew herself. So they probably thought she was still just tired. Yeaaaaaah.
"Mm? Oh. Yeaaaaaah." Nicole lifted her chin up and murmured absently at Penny and Dana, though it could have just as easily been a verbal acknowledgement of their stories as it was a response to Penny's questions. "Hey, did either of you two actually pack a swimsuit? And I mean like...a swimsuit. We gotta impress here, girls. I saw you two at the gala, I'm not the only one with something to lose on this love boat. So if you're not sure if what you brought is gonna be cute enough to be hit on, you gotta let me know right now while we have time to fix it."
...
"I'm not gonna look cute enough to be hit on. Oh God. God, I gotta go." Nicole moved her thumb away from the touchscreen, gasped a little at the sudden halt to the haptic sensation of her phone, and then moved it back. She eased herself to her feet and exhaled deeply, before realization struck her that oh God, she had to be careful doing that, or she may tear the common room apart with a hurricane gale. "I gotta go now."</s>
<|message|>Penny Grenoble
---
"Wait, what?" is Penny's only response to being told to get a swimsuit. It takes her a second to realize her team leader is actually being serious about it.
"Wait, what do you mean get a swimsuit?! Is it swimsuit-only?!" Penny asks in confusion. "Do I look like the sort to pack a swimsuit? Or even wear a swimsuit?"
Penny's inquiries go unanswered as the Hastan girl blitzes so quickly out of the room she generates a gale even without her Elementum.
"And where would I even get a swimsuit at this time?!" Penny calls out, even though Nichole has clearly gone out of earshot.</s>
<|message|>Dana Noel
---
Dana listened as Penny explained why her haunted house suggestion probably wasn't the best idea, her eyes growing wider as the bespectacled girl went on.
"Wow…" a stunned Dana said once her roommate had finished. "That must have really been somethin', huh? I mean, it totally sucks that people actually got traumatized and all," she added with a frown, before her smile returned with full force. "But now I almost wanna see it even more, y'know?!"
---
"Swimsuit?" Dana echoed in slight confusion when Nicole inquired if she and Penny had packed swimwear. "Uh, yeah, I've got my usual one," she added. "But I don't really know how cute it is…" After all, Dana had never really been one for fashion, instead, simply wearing what felt comfortable. However, further discussion on the subject would have to wait, as Nicole proceeded to have something of a minor freak out before bolting out the door, leaving a not-so-small gust of wind in her wake.
"Uh, do ya think we should go after her?" Dana asked her roommate. "She looked kinda upset…"</s>
| <|message|>Penny Grenoble
Penny looks at her roommate in disbelief before giving a sigh.
"Your funeral, Dana," she replies. "Don't say I didn't warn you, though..."
"I don't think 'upset' seems the right word here," Penny comments. "More like 'excited', somehow.
"But yeah, we probably should check on her...."</s> |
<|description|>Astrelle Lennox
Astrelle Lennox
---
---
The Mundane
Age: 17
Sanctum City: Valentia
Description
Astrelle's appearance is striking to some, with dark, raven hair and wine-red lips that contrast notably from her pale complexion. Wispy bangs lightly layer over her forehead with some strands extending to her cheeks and chin to frame her face, creating a soft shadow around her features. These characteristics, in addition to Astrelle's preference to dress in all black, give her presence an ominous mood.
Astrelle is lean, standing at an average 5'6" and around 120 pounds. She doesn't have a very muscular physique, having had no need to run around or work much growing up. Astrelle's confidence is visible in the way she walks and carries herself—her posture is almost always proper, and her lilac gaze is unwavering.
Personality
Astrelle is often seen with a slight smile on her face, a cold grin that doesn't quite reach her eyes. Those close to her know this subtle expression to be a mask of sorts, or defensive wall Astrelle adorns to hide her true thoughts and feelings. On the surface, she appears amicable and friendly, offering everyone the same listless grin. She can be carefree, playful, even, in the way that she constantly seeks new methods of entertaining herself. She likes to keep people that she finds interesting by her side and fills her days with pointless activities to stave off boredom.
Underneath the jovial demeanor, Astrelle is more apathetic than many would expect. While she can be genuinely caring to those around her, she believes that the reason she bothers keeping such pretenses is to disguise her darker machinations. Astrelle is self-centered, and misleading others believe she is kind works to her advantage. She usually has no qualms taking actions for her personal gain even if it disadvantages someone else, because she matters the most to herself. This rather extreme ideology formed when Astrelle realized she was never going to be anyone else's priority, and so decided she would be the one to look after herself.
In relationships, Astrelle tries to take a calculated approach and views them as transactional dealings. What can she gain, and what are her benefits? There is a part of her that still desires to be needed, to be important to someone, which has manifested in Astrelle's promiscuous and flirtatious tendencies. Her pride would never allow herself to admit this, but despite the methodical way she evaluates her friendships, she truly doesn't like being alone.
Background
Astrelle was born with a proverbial silver spoon in her mouth. She was the only daughter of the Lennox family, who were close assistants of the Venus Duodecim family that managed the city of Valentia, where she was born and grew up. The Lennoxes served the Duodecim clan in various capacities, from important political work to mundane tasks like caring for their homes. In the past, there have been certain cases where especially capable individuals would be married into the family as well. Needless to say, the close position of Astrelle's family to the Duodecim's power allowed her many luxuries in life, despite the havoc that Voids wreaked on the world.
Astrelle's parents were strict and austere in their approach to work and parenting. Even though Astrelle rarely saw them growing up, they expected nothing less than perfection from their offspring and were frugal with affection and praise. Astrelle and her three brothers were expected to continue the same line of work as their father and were thus tutored heavily from a young age. Corporal punishment was not out of the question, or rather, given generously, if the children did not quietly obey their demands.
As the years passed, Astrelle became less compliant with her lifestyle. She had no attachment to her cold home that felt more like a hostile institution, with strangers that walked about constantly, guards to keep the children in check, and tutors that did little more than echo her parents' values at her. Astrelle's first acts of rebellion were subtle. If she could not obtain the affection of her family members, she would fill the emptiness in her heart with material goods. She spent lavishly, adorning herself with expensive fabrics and jewels, and purchasing various trinkets and playthings on whims. Of course, Astrelle was punished for these actions, but she would rather have held on to sanity if she were going to be punished anyway.
As a teenager, Astrelle's disobedience only grew. Since her parents weren't home much, she exercised her authority and found a hobby in ordering the maids to do pointless tasks, punishing them herself when they refused. She openly skipped lessons to explore the city with friends, or smuggled them into her room for her own amusement. Eventually, no one batted an eye anymore at the rotation of men and women that would tiptoe out the door in the middle of the night or at the break of dawn.
All of this was reported to Astrelle's parents, of course. The consequences were varied, but they could never completely stop Astrelle's behaviour. They had lost hope for her contributing anything worthwhile to the family's legacy, that is, until they discovered her affinity for magic. Her parents were ecstatic with the arrangement—her problematic behaviour would no longer be their concern, and Astrelle would become a noble Ars Magi that defended humanity against the monstrosities outside their walls.
Astrelle hated how willing they were to throw their only daughter on the battlefield, sacrificed her like a chess piece for something as ridiculous as the family's reputation. She decided that she would take advantage of the cards she was dealt. At least at Nova Lux, she had value.
---
The Magical
Armgaus Name: Exalted Lavender Azurite
Gladius
Astrelle wields a large scythe named 'Oblivion' that is as dark as the element she controls. The weapon itself towers over her 5'6" frame and is easily handled by Astrelle despite its large size. Tendrils of shadow emanate from its blade as it's swung.
Parma
In her transformed state, Astrelle looks rather similar to her ordinary appearance. She dons a stylized combat uniform, and the color of her lavender eyes is more intense.
Elementum: Darkness
Elementum Abilities
Shadow warping and stealth. Astrelle can travel within shadows, and jump from one to another within a certain distance. She can completely immerse herself within a shadow, becoming invisible and intangible to the outside world. She can blanket small spaces in darkness and can generally see very well in the dark. Her stealth and warping abilities make her perfect for sneak attacks and scouting.</s>
<|message|>Dana Noel
"Oh, uh, for about a year, I guess," Dana replied to Victoria's question. "It's really not all that amazing, though," she added with a sheepish grin, feeling a little embarrassed by Penny's astonishment at her abilities. "I mean, I haven't exactly 'mastered' anything yet. I can only patch up minor injuries and stuff. So, yeah," she finished with a nervous giggle. "Nothin' really special…"
"But those lighting powers of yours are pretty sweet!" she told Penny, hoping to take the focus off of herself for a bit. "And don't worry! I'm sure once you get your Ars Armgaus and learn to better control your abilities, you'll be able to do all kinds of cool stuff!"</s>
<|message|>Penny Grenoble
"That's great!" Penny says to Dana. "You already seem to have pretty good control of it, you'll probably be a natural Ars Magi. All I know is how to turn it on and off, though I will admit it's an easy way to entertain my younger brothers and sisters by holding a lamp in my fingers and lighting it."
She turns to ask Victoria.
"I haven't really read up on the numbers, but... how many students enroll at the academy every year? And how many students overall are there?"</s>
<|message|>Nicole Cognoscenti
---
Nicole watched the other four girls introduce themselves, each of them getting a big smile and a cocked head to denote varying interest levels. Penny and Dana seemed like sweet girls, a pair of chatterboxes that reminded her of the kids in her neighborhood back in Hasta. Children had always sensed something about Nicole that she herself was ignorant of, and had tagged along with her in the hopes that she would invent an adventure for them to go on. When she was twelve or thirteen, it used to bother her more. After she discovered her magical potential, though, she found it more exciting. Children were super-spreaders when it came to adventure and fun, and Nicole had found herself easily infected by their zeal. Penny and Dana seemed like two such fun-loving girls, and Nicole was sure they would be friends in no time.
On the other hand, she definitely wouldn't need Victoria Glass' help to point out the nobles. They were both gorgeous, and completely at odds - light and dark, both seeming to want nothing to do with the other. Vanna's lineage would be familiar to almost anyone alive. She had never seen a member of the Duodecim this close before, and Nicole would be insane not to be a little bit starstruck. But Vanna seemed down-to-earth enough for a member of one of the planet's most celebrated, powerful families. Maybe it was a 'second daughter, not an immediate heiress' kinda thing. Secure the bag and forge your own path, that sounded good.
The other girl, Astrelle, was the only one who hadn't called out where she hailed from, but if Victoria's words to her hadn't clued Nicole in the Lennox daughter's accent definitely would. Her eyes brightened when she realized there was a girl who was (in a global sense, anyway) just down the road from her onboard. It would be nice to have someone else who had some idea of things she was talking about, if she ever talked about home. She waved her fingers at the other Venusian, with her cheek still balanced on her knee, and shot her a big, friendly grin.
"Hey," she said good-naturedly, lifting her cheek up to balance her chin on her crooked knee again. She wrapped both hands around her right ankle after she was done with her greeting wave, rocking back and forth slightly. "I know who you are - well, like, your family, at least. How often do you make it over to Hasta?"</s>
| <|message|>Astrelle Lennox
The following introductions caught Astrelle by surprise. An energetic girl with shining, golden eyes promptly used magic to ease the pain of Penny's unfortunate head injury. For a brief moment, Astrelle wondered if her reason for doing so was to boast her talent, but her suspicions were quickly eliminated. The girl, introducing herself as Dana, had a lively and bright disposition—an eerily perfect match for her Light Elementum. Her existence seemed positioned as the the polar opposite of Astrelle, in both behaviour and magic. Even in this minor interaction, Astrelle noticed how different they were in the way Dana shone with enthusiasm when she spoke, and the sympathy she carried when she tended to an injured stranger. It was slightly unsettling—if elemental affinity could be dictated by the type of person you were, did it mean they were truly opposites? She wondered what kind of fulfilling life Dana must have lived to be so…well, bright.
Penny replied to Dana's show of magic with her own demonstration, generating small sparks between her fingers. Astrelle raised a single eyebrow at the curious sight, but promptly returned her gaze to her cup of tea. She giggled softly to herself, thinking about whether or not the electric girl would short circuit if she were splashed with water, but the thought quickly dissipated; it was just a dumb joke. The two girls were rather chatty, and Astrelle paid their banter no mind.
The last introduction was most surprising. Vanna hailed from royalty, and given the level of decorum and poise she had exercised so far, there was no reason to doubt her declaration. Astrelle almost laughed at the ill-fated coincidence. She thought she may escape the burden of high society by coming to Nova Lux, but it appeared to have followed her instead. There was little she knew about the Diana clan, but they had a reputation for being righteous and principled even among the Duodecim families. Astrelle felt that the honorable Diana girl may want little to do with the black sheep of the Venus retainers, if she heard the unpleasant rumours of her character.
Victoria Glass made a comment on their backgrounds as well. Though Astrelle disliked mentions of her family, her statement was objective and succinct. It only bothered her that the label of her family name invited unwarranted opinions and expectations, which were extended to her. The Lennoxes presented themselves as highly capable and loyal retainers, and people expected Astrelle to fit the same mold. She, however, craved a unique, individual identity.
"Oh?" Astrelle's eyes drifted over to Nicole, who mentioned being familiar with her family. It annoyed her that she brought up the bothersome topic again, but Astrelle made a conscious effort to keep a smile on her face. She wondered how much she knew about her family—through all the lectures and punishments given to Astrelle, her family constantly emphasized the importance of their image. If they truly were so concerned about public opinion, her parents may have avoided talking about her to others. However, there was only so much even the Lennoxes could control.
"I used to go to Hasta more often in my childhood. Once or twice a year maybe? I stopped going a few years ago and haven't been since…" Astrelle's voice trailed off slightly towards the end, remembering why she stopped going. She chuckled as she swatted the thoughts away. "I had a rather enthusiastic shopping spree the last time I was there. Have you been to Valentia?"</s> |
<|description|>Astrelle Lennox
Astrelle Lennox
---
---
The Mundane
Age: 17
Sanctum City: Valentia
Description
Astrelle's appearance is striking to some, with dark, raven hair and wine-red lips that contrast notably from her pale complexion. Wispy bangs lightly layer over her forehead with some strands extending to her cheeks and chin to frame her face, creating a soft shadow around her features. These characteristics, in addition to Astrelle's preference to dress in all black, give her presence an ominous mood.
Astrelle is lean, standing at an average 5'6" and around 120 pounds. She doesn't have a very muscular physique, having had no need to run around or work much growing up. Astrelle's confidence is visible in the way she walks and carries herself—her posture is almost always proper, and her lilac gaze is unwavering.
Personality
Astrelle is often seen with a slight smile on her face, a cold grin that doesn't quite reach her eyes. Those close to her know this subtle expression to be a mask of sorts, or defensive wall Astrelle adorns to hide her true thoughts and feelings. On the surface, she appears amicable and friendly, offering everyone the same listless grin. She can be carefree, playful, even, in the way that she constantly seeks new methods of entertaining herself. She likes to keep people that she finds interesting by her side and fills her days with pointless activities to stave off boredom.
Underneath the jovial demeanor, Astrelle is more apathetic than many would expect. While she can be genuinely caring to those around her, she believes that the reason she bothers keeping such pretenses is to disguise her darker machinations. Astrelle is self-centered, and misleading others believe she is kind works to her advantage. She usually has no qualms taking actions for her personal gain even if it disadvantages someone else, because she matters the most to herself. This rather extreme ideology formed when Astrelle realized she was never going to be anyone else's priority, and so decided she would be the one to look after herself.
In relationships, Astrelle tries to take a calculated approach and views them as transactional dealings. What can she gain, and what are her benefits? There is a part of her that still desires to be needed, to be important to someone, which has manifested in Astrelle's promiscuous and flirtatious tendencies. Her pride would never allow herself to admit this, but despite the methodical way she evaluates her friendships, she truly doesn't like being alone.
Background
Astrelle was born with a proverbial silver spoon in her mouth. She was the only daughter of the Lennox family, who were close assistants of the Venus Duodecim family that managed the city of Valentia, where she was born and grew up. The Lennoxes served the Duodecim clan in various capacities, from important political work to mundane tasks like caring for their homes. In the past, there have been certain cases where especially capable individuals would be married into the family as well. Needless to say, the close position of Astrelle's family to the Duodecim's power allowed her many luxuries in life, despite the havoc that Voids wreaked on the world.
Astrelle's parents were strict and austere in their approach to work and parenting. Even though Astrelle rarely saw them growing up, they expected nothing less than perfection from their offspring and were frugal with affection and praise. Astrelle and her three brothers were expected to continue the same line of work as their father and were thus tutored heavily from a young age. Corporal punishment was not out of the question, or rather, given generously, if the children did not quietly obey their demands.
As the years passed, Astrelle became less compliant with her lifestyle. She had no attachment to her cold home that felt more like a hostile institution, with strangers that walked about constantly, guards to keep the children in check, and tutors that did little more than echo her parents' values at her. Astrelle's first acts of rebellion were subtle. If she could not obtain the affection of her family members, she would fill the emptiness in her heart with material goods. She spent lavishly, adorning herself with expensive fabrics and jewels, and purchasing various trinkets and playthings on whims. Of course, Astrelle was punished for these actions, but she would rather have held on to sanity if she were going to be punished anyway.
As a teenager, Astrelle's disobedience only grew. Since her parents weren't home much, she exercised her authority and found a hobby in ordering the maids to do pointless tasks, punishing them herself when they refused. She openly skipped lessons to explore the city with friends, or smuggled them into her room for her own amusement. Eventually, no one batted an eye anymore at the rotation of men and women that would tiptoe out the door in the middle of the night or at the break of dawn.
All of this was reported to Astrelle's parents, of course. The consequences were varied, but they could never completely stop Astrelle's behaviour. They had lost hope for her contributing anything worthwhile to the family's legacy, that is, until they discovered her affinity for magic. Her parents were ecstatic with the arrangement—her problematic behaviour would no longer be their concern, and Astrelle would become a noble Ars Magi that defended humanity against the monstrosities outside their walls.
Astrelle hated how willing they were to throw their only daughter on the battlefield, sacrificed her like a chess piece for something as ridiculous as the family's reputation. She decided that she would take advantage of the cards she was dealt. At least at Nova Lux, she had value.
---
The Magical
Armgaus Name: Exalted Lavender Azurite
Gladius
Astrelle wields a large scythe named 'Oblivion' that is as dark as the element she controls. The weapon itself towers over her 5'6" frame and is easily handled by Astrelle despite its large size. Tendrils of shadow emanate from its blade as it's swung.
Parma
In her transformed state, Astrelle looks rather similar to her ordinary appearance. She dons a stylized combat uniform, and the color of her lavender eyes is more intense.
Elementum: Darkness
Elementum Abilities
Shadow warping and stealth. Astrelle can travel within shadows, and jump from one to another within a certain distance. She can completely immerse herself within a shadow, becoming invisible and intangible to the outside world. She can blanket small spaces in darkness and can generally see very well in the dark. Her stealth and warping abilities make her perfect for sneak attacks and scouting.</s>
<|message|>Dana Noel
"Wow! Quite the bumpy ride we're havin', huh?" Dana asked with a giggle as she tightly grasped her cup. She was perhaps a little nervous, but she had confidence that their vessel's sturdy construction would safely see them through to their destination.
Victoria swiftly departed as soon as the shaking subsided, leaving the five of them on their own. Penny was the first to break the short silence that followed, asking about their thoughts on becoming Ars Magi.
"I'm really lookin' forward to it!" Dana announced with a big grin. "I think it's gonna be really exciting and fun! And the best part is, once we've graduated, we'll be able to help so many people with our new powers!"
Her grin broadened when Penny mentioned Divine Magical Maid Altea.
"So you like Altea, too, huh? My sisters were big fans of that show," she explained, "so I ended up seein' a lot of episodes with them, but I kinda preferred Beautiful Guardian Gunslinger Alexis myself."</s>
<|message|>Diana Khay "V" Vanna
---
Tired.
As the Ars Magi before them resumed her role as host, the young Lady of Diana found that all too familiar feeling gnawing at the back of her mind. She dare not let it show of course; her grace at the table did not slack for even a moment. Strength, a Diana was always a model of strength. But truthfully Vanna found it difficult to maintain focus on the diatribe before her: what use did she have for boutiques?
The Officer Academy? She knew it all too well. Her sister's letter had at times read more like a guide book than a congratulatory correspondence. One of many such guide books gifted by her siblings. Between yesterday's training and this morning's send off, Vanna had yet to receive even a moment to herself. A part of her yearned to retreat to her room and finally get some overdue rest.
But that would be unbecoming.
Thus the young girl remained politefully seated, sipping on her tea and refusing to allow a single vestige of exhaustion show on her features. She merely watched as the other girls split into two groups, one bonding over heritage and the other over temperament. Her position as the sole member of the outgroup was expected. It didn't bother her either, she had never been one to bond with others over such superficial traits. She would find out soon enough if any of the other girls would help sharpen her abilities in defense of Potentia.
Besides engaging in further conversation just sounded like a recipe for increasing her own fatigue.
Shortly afterwards a tremor called away their host and Vanna found herself in a room without a single object or being worth studying. Her mind instead swayed towards wondering what the cause of their unexpected turbulence might be. Only bureaucracy or necessity could require the presence of an Ars Magi of Victoria Glass' standing. The young lady hoped it was only the former but she remained prepared for the latter.
She wouldn't deign any interferences on her path.
There was one other void left by their host's abrupt departure: a query from the clumsy one of the Lightning Elementum. Vanna had anticipated that even without their host someone else might answer her questions. A foolish desire. The other girl's ponderings had only been met with silence followed by more pointless topics. How did she feel about being chosen? What nonsense, that was merely the beginning, the expected, there was still so much work ahead of her.
But the state of her peers would reflect her own.
IF she was to create an environment most conducive to her own growth her fellow students required at least a basic education. In absence of their host it was only proper that she fulfil her duties as a Diana. To that end Vanna politely waited for Dana to finish explaining her prefered form of televised media, a pastime wholly unfamiliar to the young lady, before joining the table's conversation.
"To answer your earlier query Miss. Grenoble," began her detached exposition, "Fifty is a reasonably standard number. Numerous studies have shown just how difficult it is for the human body to naturally process Nox and use it in magicraft. Truthfully the mutations behind this process are still fairly unknown and when you consider that a few potential candidates are likely to slip the academy's notice or just not exhibit satisfactory control over Nox... well fifty students is what you're left with."
"As for your query about magic boys," Vanna paused for a moment, as if searching for a way to best deliver the information, "all that we know so far is that only females have shown an affinity for processing Nox. Thus the duty of Ars Magi falls on our shoulders and ours alone."
Her youngest brother was still gutted by that particular revelation.
"I hope I've properly addressed your questions in absence of our host." And with that, Vanna returned to sipping her team, her face never having betrayed a single hint of her reasons for educating the other girl. Yet it honestly amazed her that her peers hadn't even taken a few moments to partake in basic reading about Ars Magi. Such self study was the basics of a proper education but alas this too was typical.
She was sadly well accustomed to her peers refusing to put in the work to better themselves.
And then they'll look at her and claim the difference was talent.
Senseless.
Shameful.</s>
| <|message|>Astrelle Lennox
Nicole's mention of the Castor incident rang some bells in Astrelle's memory. It had been all over the news at the time, but that was as far as her involvement with the issue extended to. Her eldest brother attended the benefit as the representative of the Lennox clan. Astrelle avoided addressing the incident in her reply, having no attachment to it, and instead found interest in Nicole's mention of arcades and clubs.
"Interesting. We may have crossed paths at one of those venues. I've been to several in Valentia before." Astrelle often skipped on lessons and responsibilities to explore the metropolis and its many activities. On a few occasions, mostly when Astrelle was younger, she and her friends went to arcades to let out some steam. She fondly recalled the feeling of excitement generated from the flashing lights and signs, and the eccentric sound effects and music that blared from the numerous machines. They were an effective distraction from her daily life, but as she got later in her teens she lost passion for playing games.
Another tremor reverberated through the aircraft, forcefully shaking the table and the articles on top. Astrelle quickly lifted her tea cup and firmly secured the saucer over it, acting as a lid to prevent the contents from spilling. In that moment, Astrelle's mind circled back to the aforementioned Castor incident, and she felt a cold shiver run down her spine. The unsettling feeling of impending doom was merely momentary, and faded as the aircraft returned to a stable state.
Victoria Glass excused herself from the table, appearing as though something urgent had been communicated to her through the earpiece hidden behind strands of silver hair. Something seemed off, but Astrelle figured that worrying about it would be unproductive.
Now unsupervised, Penny took the chance to address all the girls in the group. Astrelle found the topics and queries she brought up rather boorish—their opinions about being Ars Magi seemed generally naive from Astrelle's perspective, probably helped by their interest in sugar-coated magical girl television shows. She entertained the idea of sharing her nihilistic viewpoint on it to see how'd they react, but decided against it. It seemed like a good idea to avoid dampening the mood with her pessimism.
"As expected, Vanna," Astrelle commented, after Vanna's comprehensive explanation on Ars Magi. Her pedigree and education were undeniable, from her mannerisms to her diction. Astrelle smiled sweetly, "Your diligence and readiness for this noble duty are admirable. I'm sure we can all learn a thing or two from you."
Meaningless praise. Astrelle was sure Vanna would see through the hollow comment, if she had been similarly overwhelmed with pointless flattery growing up. It seemed like a likely scenario for a Duodecim princess. There was no real intention of Astrelle's false praise, other than the fact it became second nature to her when interacting with the Venus clan, and by extension, other royalty. She had been taught strictly to pay close attention to her manners and etiquette throughout childhood. It made her feel a bit uneasy, however, when she realized how deep the roots of her parent's teachings dug into her being.
At that point, Astrelle noticed that her teacup was empty, from taking so many frequent sips while listening to their blabbering. She reached for the teapot and poured herself another serving.</s> |
<|description|>Astrelle Lennox
Astrelle Lennox
---
---
The Mundane
Age: 17
Sanctum City: Valentia
Description
Astrelle's appearance is striking to some, with dark, raven hair and wine-red lips that contrast notably from her pale complexion. Wispy bangs lightly layer over her forehead with some strands extending to her cheeks and chin to frame her face, creating a soft shadow around her features. These characteristics, in addition to Astrelle's preference to dress in all black, give her presence an ominous mood.
Astrelle is lean, standing at an average 5'6" and around 120 pounds. She doesn't have a very muscular physique, having had no need to run around or work much growing up. Astrelle's confidence is visible in the way she walks and carries herself—her posture is almost always proper, and her lilac gaze is unwavering.
Personality
Astrelle is often seen with a slight smile on her face, a cold grin that doesn't quite reach her eyes. Those close to her know this subtle expression to be a mask of sorts, or defensive wall Astrelle adorns to hide her true thoughts and feelings. On the surface, she appears amicable and friendly, offering everyone the same listless grin. She can be carefree, playful, even, in the way that she constantly seeks new methods of entertaining herself. She likes to keep people that she finds interesting by her side and fills her days with pointless activities to stave off boredom.
Underneath the jovial demeanor, Astrelle is more apathetic than many would expect. While she can be genuinely caring to those around her, she believes that the reason she bothers keeping such pretenses is to disguise her darker machinations. Astrelle is self-centered, and misleading others believe she is kind works to her advantage. She usually has no qualms taking actions for her personal gain even if it disadvantages someone else, because she matters the most to herself. This rather extreme ideology formed when Astrelle realized she was never going to be anyone else's priority, and so decided she would be the one to look after herself.
In relationships, Astrelle tries to take a calculated approach and views them as transactional dealings. What can she gain, and what are her benefits? There is a part of her that still desires to be needed, to be important to someone, which has manifested in Astrelle's promiscuous and flirtatious tendencies. Her pride would never allow herself to admit this, but despite the methodical way she evaluates her friendships, she truly doesn't like being alone.
Background
Astrelle was born with a proverbial silver spoon in her mouth. She was the only daughter of the Lennox family, who were close assistants of the Venus Duodecim family that managed the city of Valentia, where she was born and grew up. The Lennoxes served the Duodecim clan in various capacities, from important political work to mundane tasks like caring for their homes. In the past, there have been certain cases where especially capable individuals would be married into the family as well. Needless to say, the close position of Astrelle's family to the Duodecim's power allowed her many luxuries in life, despite the havoc that Voids wreaked on the world.
Astrelle's parents were strict and austere in their approach to work and parenting. Even though Astrelle rarely saw them growing up, they expected nothing less than perfection from their offspring and were frugal with affection and praise. Astrelle and her three brothers were expected to continue the same line of work as their father and were thus tutored heavily from a young age. Corporal punishment was not out of the question, or rather, given generously, if the children did not quietly obey their demands.
As the years passed, Astrelle became less compliant with her lifestyle. She had no attachment to her cold home that felt more like a hostile institution, with strangers that walked about constantly, guards to keep the children in check, and tutors that did little more than echo her parents' values at her. Astrelle's first acts of rebellion were subtle. If she could not obtain the affection of her family members, she would fill the emptiness in her heart with material goods. She spent lavishly, adorning herself with expensive fabrics and jewels, and purchasing various trinkets and playthings on whims. Of course, Astrelle was punished for these actions, but she would rather have held on to sanity if she were going to be punished anyway.
As a teenager, Astrelle's disobedience only grew. Since her parents weren't home much, she exercised her authority and found a hobby in ordering the maids to do pointless tasks, punishing them herself when they refused. She openly skipped lessons to explore the city with friends, or smuggled them into her room for her own amusement. Eventually, no one batted an eye anymore at the rotation of men and women that would tiptoe out the door in the middle of the night or at the break of dawn.
All of this was reported to Astrelle's parents, of course. The consequences were varied, but they could never completely stop Astrelle's behaviour. They had lost hope for her contributing anything worthwhile to the family's legacy, that is, until they discovered her affinity for magic. Her parents were ecstatic with the arrangement—her problematic behaviour would no longer be their concern, and Astrelle would become a noble Ars Magi that defended humanity against the monstrosities outside their walls.
Astrelle hated how willing they were to throw their only daughter on the battlefield, sacrificed her like a chess piece for something as ridiculous as the family's reputation. She decided that she would take advantage of the cards she was dealt. At least at Nova Lux, she had value.
---
The Magical
Armgaus Name: Exalted Lavender Azurite
Gladius
Astrelle wields a large scythe named 'Oblivion' that is as dark as the element she controls. The weapon itself towers over her 5'6" frame and is easily handled by Astrelle despite its large size. Tendrils of shadow emanate from its blade as it's swung.
Parma
In her transformed state, Astrelle looks rather similar to her ordinary appearance. She dons a stylized combat uniform, and the color of her lavender eyes is more intense.
Elementum: Darkness
Elementum Abilities
Shadow warping and stealth. Astrelle can travel within shadows, and jump from one to another within a certain distance. She can completely immerse herself within a shadow, becoming invisible and intangible to the outside world. She can blanket small spaces in darkness and can generally see very well in the dark. Her stealth and warping abilities make her perfect for sneak attacks and scouting.</s>
<|message|>Penny Grenoble
"Shit," Penny hisses, any sense of propriety going out the window when the monsters attacked. Half of her is of a mind to run and grab the gun, but she realizes she'd have little skill actually using it; she might even be more of a danger to everyone present than the Void. She also realizes she can't stand there, gawping. The other half is terrified; she's read horrors stories about Void, but never actually seen one up close - now she's practically within reach of a living nightmare creature. It's almost all she can do to keep calm.
It takes her a moment before she realizes she's running right at the Void.
"Hey asshole!" she cries out to the Void, hand clenched tightly into a fist as she fills it as best as she can with with a surge of electrical elementum. "HEADS UP!"
Performing a running jump, she gives a war cry as she slams her fist into the Void as hard as she can, amplifying its power with lightning.
'Welp, it was nice while it lasted,' she thinks. 'Doubt it'll do more than piss it off, but worth a shot...'</s>
<|message|>Dana Noel
Continuing to provide illumination, Dana cautiously led her fellow candidates into the darkened corridor. They had barely left the cabin, when they were approached by a pair of soldiers. One of the soldiers began to inform them that there had been an emergency (no kidding…), before he was suddenly yanked back into the darkness by some unseen force. Not wasting a moment, his companion whirled around and opened fire on the unknown attacker, the glowing discharge of his magitech rifle revealing the identity of their enemy.
"Holy crap…!" Dana gasped as she beheld the void's terrifying appearance, as well as the following horrific sight of it impaling the second solider and pinning him to the wall.
With a roar of outrage, Penny charged the creature, a crackling orb of lighting clenched in her fist. The strike staggered the monster enough for it to release its hold on the soldier, giving Dana the opportunity she needed.
"Hang in there, pal!" Dana called to the wounded soldier as she rushed over to kneel down beside him. "I'll get ya all patched up, so don't worry!" she added, flashing him reassuring smile.
Even with the increased quantity of Nox providing additional power, Dana wasn't sure exactly how much healing she could perform, but she knew that keeping a positive outlook was crucial in situations like these. As she set about her work, she only hoped that her new friends could finish what Penny started and take care of their monstrous foe for good.</s>
| <|message|>Astrelle Lennox
The girls slowly made their way through the corridors. Dana, with her light, stayed at the front of the group. Gunfire sounded from a distance and rang throughout the airship, and dread twisted in Astrelle's gut. Someone, people, were fighting something, and as much as she didn't want to believe it, she had an idea of what it was. Her hands were clenched tightly in fists as they proceeded through the eerie passage, with only the sounds of their footsteps and distant warfare as company.
Astrelle spotted the figures in the darkness slightly sooner than the others, with her eyes that pierced through the shadows. She let out an audible, sharp gasp and reactively covered her mouth with her hands, as if it were a mistake to make a sound. The sinister aura of the humanoid being sent a surge of panic through her body, and she found it hard to control her trembling. Fear froze her, and Astrelle could only watch helplessly as a soldier was impaled with the creature's claws. She regretted, in that moment, the clarity of her vision; she could see the glisten of the victim's blood still trailing off the monster's appendages.
Astrelle watched in disbelief as Penny charged at the Void, seemingly unfazed by the sight of the monster quite literally pinning a full grown man onto a wall with little effort. Her willingness to fight was interpreted more like an idiotic death wish in Astrelle's perspective. Regardless, it worked out better for her that Penny was on the offense; Astrelle's abilities were not suited for attacking, and if someone had to be sacrificed for the others to survive, she was satisfied as long as it wasn't herself. The way Astrelle saw it, Penny seemed more than willing to risk her own life.
Something in Astrelle snapped and dispelled her fear. She had connected the right dots or found some rationalization that allowed her to come to terms with reality, and couldn't help but laugh. The scene before her only affirmed her pessimistic expectations of being an Ars Magi. Her predictions were merely accurate. Her boisterous laughter filled the small hallway.
"I'm so excited to be an Ars Magi," Astrelle mimicked sarcastically, recounting the girls' statements from the tea party. The thought of imminent death overruled any desire to stay polite to the others. An eerie grin stretched across her face, "Wouldn't it be so fun to be impaled by a Void like the poor guard?"
Perhaps now, their naiveté would be replaced by caution. She didn't care about how wonderful the government tried to sell it on TV, or how honorable the station was in society—she just didn't want to die. Unlike the others, she never asked to be an Ars Magi and never wanted to be one. She wanted to go back to her life of luxury—even becoming a dog to the Venus clan seemed like a better idea than this.
In reaction to Penny's attack, the menacing creature released the injured soldier from its grasp. Dana was quick to act, rushing to the injured man and performing healing magic. The monster looked distracted now, but it was only a matter of time before it turned its attention to its assailant. Astrelle kept silent and maneuvered to the back of the group, giving no heed to how self-serving the action appeared. She could feel her power building amidst the shrouds of Nox, but even then, her abilities to sink into shadows and generate darkness were not skills that dealt damage. The most she could do is evade the monster's attacks, but that would only help herself. There was the possibility that her high evasion would be useful if Astrelle acted as bait, but there was absolutely no way she would suggest herself for that position.
"Unfortunately, my abilities aren't suited for fighting," Astrelle smiled, finally regaining some sense of calm. She gestured to the darkness of the corridor behind them. "The most I can do is act as a guard dog for your backs, or I can go and try to find Victoria."</s> |
<|description|>Astrelle Lennox
Astrelle Lennox
---
---
The Mundane
Age: 17
Sanctum City: Valentia
Description
Astrelle's appearance is striking to some, with dark, raven hair and wine-red lips that contrast notably from her pale complexion. Wispy bangs lightly layer over her forehead with some strands extending to her cheeks and chin to frame her face, creating a soft shadow around her features. These characteristics, in addition to Astrelle's preference to dress in all black, give her presence an ominous mood.
Astrelle is lean, standing at an average 5'6" and around 120 pounds. She doesn't have a very muscular physique, having had no need to run around or work much growing up. Astrelle's confidence is visible in the way she walks and carries herself—her posture is almost always proper, and her lilac gaze is unwavering.
Personality
Astrelle is often seen with a slight smile on her face, a cold grin that doesn't quite reach her eyes. Those close to her know this subtle expression to be a mask of sorts, or defensive wall Astrelle adorns to hide her true thoughts and feelings. On the surface, she appears amicable and friendly, offering everyone the same listless grin. She can be carefree, playful, even, in the way that she constantly seeks new methods of entertaining herself. She likes to keep people that she finds interesting by her side and fills her days with pointless activities to stave off boredom.
Underneath the jovial demeanor, Astrelle is more apathetic than many would expect. While she can be genuinely caring to those around her, she believes that the reason she bothers keeping such pretenses is to disguise her darker machinations. Astrelle is self-centered, and misleading others believe she is kind works to her advantage. She usually has no qualms taking actions for her personal gain even if it disadvantages someone else, because she matters the most to herself. This rather extreme ideology formed when Astrelle realized she was never going to be anyone else's priority, and so decided she would be the one to look after herself.
In relationships, Astrelle tries to take a calculated approach and views them as transactional dealings. What can she gain, and what are her benefits? There is a part of her that still desires to be needed, to be important to someone, which has manifested in Astrelle's promiscuous and flirtatious tendencies. Her pride would never allow herself to admit this, but despite the methodical way she evaluates her friendships, she truly doesn't like being alone.
Background
Astrelle was born with a proverbial silver spoon in her mouth. She was the only daughter of the Lennox family, who were close assistants of the Venus Duodecim family that managed the city of Valentia, where she was born and grew up. The Lennoxes served the Duodecim clan in various capacities, from important political work to mundane tasks like caring for their homes. In the past, there have been certain cases where especially capable individuals would be married into the family as well. Needless to say, the close position of Astrelle's family to the Duodecim's power allowed her many luxuries in life, despite the havoc that Voids wreaked on the world.
Astrelle's parents were strict and austere in their approach to work and parenting. Even though Astrelle rarely saw them growing up, they expected nothing less than perfection from their offspring and were frugal with affection and praise. Astrelle and her three brothers were expected to continue the same line of work as their father and were thus tutored heavily from a young age. Corporal punishment was not out of the question, or rather, given generously, if the children did not quietly obey their demands.
As the years passed, Astrelle became less compliant with her lifestyle. She had no attachment to her cold home that felt more like a hostile institution, with strangers that walked about constantly, guards to keep the children in check, and tutors that did little more than echo her parents' values at her. Astrelle's first acts of rebellion were subtle. If she could not obtain the affection of her family members, she would fill the emptiness in her heart with material goods. She spent lavishly, adorning herself with expensive fabrics and jewels, and purchasing various trinkets and playthings on whims. Of course, Astrelle was punished for these actions, but she would rather have held on to sanity if she were going to be punished anyway.
As a teenager, Astrelle's disobedience only grew. Since her parents weren't home much, she exercised her authority and found a hobby in ordering the maids to do pointless tasks, punishing them herself when they refused. She openly skipped lessons to explore the city with friends, or smuggled them into her room for her own amusement. Eventually, no one batted an eye anymore at the rotation of men and women that would tiptoe out the door in the middle of the night or at the break of dawn.
All of this was reported to Astrelle's parents, of course. The consequences were varied, but they could never completely stop Astrelle's behaviour. They had lost hope for her contributing anything worthwhile to the family's legacy, that is, until they discovered her affinity for magic. Her parents were ecstatic with the arrangement—her problematic behaviour would no longer be their concern, and Astrelle would become a noble Ars Magi that defended humanity against the monstrosities outside their walls.
Astrelle hated how willing they were to throw their only daughter on the battlefield, sacrificed her like a chess piece for something as ridiculous as the family's reputation. She decided that she would take advantage of the cards she was dealt. At least at Nova Lux, she had value.
---
The Magical
Armgaus Name: Exalted Lavender Azurite
Gladius
Astrelle wields a large scythe named 'Oblivion' that is as dark as the element she controls. The weapon itself towers over her 5'6" frame and is easily handled by Astrelle despite its large size. Tendrils of shadow emanate from its blade as it's swung.
Parma
In her transformed state, Astrelle looks rather similar to her ordinary appearance. She dons a stylized combat uniform, and the color of her lavender eyes is more intense.
Elementum: Darkness
Elementum Abilities
Shadow warping and stealth. Astrelle can travel within shadows, and jump from one to another within a certain distance. She can completely immerse herself within a shadow, becoming invisible and intangible to the outside world. She can blanket small spaces in darkness and can generally see very well in the dark. Her stealth and warping abilities make her perfect for sneak attacks and scouting.</s>
<|message|>Nicole Cognoscenti
---
Nicole cringed at the sight and sound of Penny being slammed against the wall. Instinctively she lurched forward to help, especially after the noise of pain Penny made when that awful thing grabbed her arm and torqued it as easily as one of them would twist the cap on a bottle. It didn't matter that she knew about as much about bare knuckle boxing or martial arts as your average toddler - most of the girls had hit it off on the spot, and the pain of one felt like an assault on all of them. Well, maybe not Astrelle, but some people were just works in progress, right? How many times did she hear one of her girlfriends use the I can fix her? line about a guy?
Usually it sounded pathetic when one of them said it, but y'know, shelve that right now, Nicole, things to do, Voids to exorcise.
Instead, Nicole responded to Dana's distress, scooping up the wounded soldier as best she could to take some weight off Dana. Here, I got him. Good job with the first aid, babe. You're doing great." She smiled at the Norban girl reassuringly and scooted closer to the wounded man. Hefting him upright seemed easier with two of them than one; she could see Dana's unsteady trembling starting to ease, but it also had the added effect of taking another girl, untrained as Nicole was, out of the fight. Vanna would need to step in fast if one of them was going to help Penny.
"We have to get him around this thing," she urged Dana. "Vanna's helping Penny and making an opening for us - you're doing great, babe!" The arm she had braced the soldier with stiffened slightly, and she made a little finger gun that fired appreciatively at the Duodecim girl, along with her best supportive, beaming smile. "When she does, I'm gonna take most of his weight and make a jump for it. I think I can get across. You can either run across, or I can make another jump over for you--or maybe Astrelle can help, since someone's gonna have to keep this guy standing."</s>
<|message|>Diana Khay "V" Vanna
---
Breath...
She had to steady herself in the darkness...
Penny's charge at the beast had been unexpected. The other girl had taken off before Vanna had an opportunity to put a single word in edgewise. True to her Elementum the decision had been lightning fast. Honestly the lady of Diana felt a tad ashamed at not being ready to follow Penny's lead but none of her training had quite yet prepared her to quickly work with others. On the contrary her training begged her to stay patient and wait for the opening. Wait to slay the beast.
But nonetheless she couldn't help but feel guilt?
Watching Penny slam against the wall, hearing the sickening crack of her no doubt dislodged shoulder, only heightened Vanna's feelings of failure. It was her job to protect the others and it didn't take an expert to glance at the room and assign her a failing grade. The other girls were at a loss. No one seemed to have an answer for the situation.
Breath...
Let it all fade away.
Focus...
She could do this.
As her free hand reached down Vanna barely registered Dana's cries or Nicole's calls. The dark room may as well just contain her and the Void. She would clear a path. And it started with a single step.
Literally.
Well that's if one considered a flying shoe to be considered stepping.
Vanna knew she needed to get the beast's attention and with limited options what better speeding projectile to use than her own shoe. Everything the Void beast had shown indicated it was one of the lower class monsters and that meant it behaved more like an animal than a man. It acted on impulse, not reason, and that was Vanna's opportunity. This was how she'd buy the opening for the others to escape past the beast.
She'd figure out her own escape later.
As her makeshift projectile found its mark Vanna had but one word for the creature:
"Come!" She called out, voice filled with steely determination.
It was not a boast, not a challenge or even a cry to arms.
It was an order.
The beast would obey.
And now, Aether flowing through her body, she'd be ready for the retaliation. She had been fortunate enough to glimpse the core during Penny's ill-fated attack, and she'd make sure that attack wasn't in vain. The plan was simple: if she saw the opportunity to dodge and riposte with her makeshift blade at the Void's core, she would strike without hesitation. But her priority was dodging the first attack. She'd only go for the counter attack if she was certain her chair leg could strike true. The Aether in her body had pooling for quite a while; the strength, the speed, would give her a way to prevail. But dodge or strike she hoped that the distraction would at least buy the others the moment they needed to escape.
What was the saying?
Do or die.</s>
| <|message|>Astrelle Lennox
Astrelle's eyebrow twitched when she heard Nicole address her as 'babe', a moniker far too lax for her liking. Under normal circumstances, Astrelle might have briefly scolded her for the careless remark, but there were more pressing matters at hand.
Vanna's plan, as expected, was rational and well thought out despite the strenuous situation. It annoyed Astrelle that she couldn't help but admire her fortitude as she actively fought against calamity, while Astrelle was a passive participant in it. Even so, there were parts of her instructions that she didn't agree with, namely having Nicole and Dana follow her through the dark corridor. Alone, she could silently traverse the halls without alerting any monsters. As ragged breath and sickly black ooze secreted from the injured guard's wounds, Astrelle was hard pressed to think of the pitiful man as more than mere dead weight. There was no guarantee that the others would not invite unnecessary risk to her own safety.
Before Astrelle could protest, the monster turned its rage on Penny. The hum of electricity around her fists did little to conceal the cracking of her bones as the Void took hold of it, and tossed her away with trifling ease. Astrelle's eyes went wide as she witnessed the assault, taking further steps back from the beast even though she was already positioned behind everyone else. Her own powerlessness to act or subdue the creature was painful, in a way. Pathetic, she thought, finally criticizing her own inadequacy.
As Nicole helped Dana to support the weight of the injured man, Astrelle considered the option of leading them past the Void to the control room. She put some thought into the course of action, and still could not reason, in her perspective, why it would be a good idea.
"No. The injured man should stay put. There is no reason to believe that we would not encounter another Void towards the control room, and the more we move him, the more likely it seems that he will perish to his wounds."
Astrelle's cold gaze and calculated tone juxtaposed the supposed concern she showed in her words for the man's life.
"I may be the only one here who can avoid a fight if there are more Voids up ahead. I can find and get to the control room faster on my own than if we were to lug that dead weight along with us as a guide."
As Vanna steeled herself to face the humanoid creature, Astrelle used the monster's moment of distraction as an opportunity to pass it. She took a single step forward, yet as her foot lowered to the ground, it did not make contact with the tangible flooring of the airship. Instead, it seemed as though Astrelle was falling into her stride, and sinking into the floors of the shadowy corridor as if it were a viscous pool.
In brief moments, Astrelle's concealed form slipped through the shadows and emerged on the other end of the Void, her silhouette illuminated by the distant light of Dana's magic. Though the monster now stood between her and the rest of the girls, Astrelle felt safer on her own with a means of escape. She smiled silently and waved back at the rest of the girls. Rather than wait to see if anyone would follow, Astrelle willingly sprinted down the lightless passage.</s> |
<|description|>Astrelle Lennox
Astrelle Lennox
---
---
The Mundane
Age: 17
Sanctum City: Valentia
Description
Astrelle's appearance is striking to some, with dark, raven hair and wine-red lips that contrast notably from her pale complexion. Wispy bangs lightly layer over her forehead with some strands extending to her cheeks and chin to frame her face, creating a soft shadow around her features. These characteristics, in addition to Astrelle's preference to dress in all black, give her presence an ominous mood.
Astrelle is lean, standing at an average 5'6" and around 120 pounds. She doesn't have a very muscular physique, having had no need to run around or work much growing up. Astrelle's confidence is visible in the way she walks and carries herself—her posture is almost always proper, and her lilac gaze is unwavering.
Personality
Astrelle is often seen with a slight smile on her face, a cold grin that doesn't quite reach her eyes. Those close to her know this subtle expression to be a mask of sorts, or defensive wall Astrelle adorns to hide her true thoughts and feelings. On the surface, she appears amicable and friendly, offering everyone the same listless grin. She can be carefree, playful, even, in the way that she constantly seeks new methods of entertaining herself. She likes to keep people that she finds interesting by her side and fills her days with pointless activities to stave off boredom.
Underneath the jovial demeanor, Astrelle is more apathetic than many would expect. While she can be genuinely caring to those around her, she believes that the reason she bothers keeping such pretenses is to disguise her darker machinations. Astrelle is self-centered, and misleading others believe she is kind works to her advantage. She usually has no qualms taking actions for her personal gain even if it disadvantages someone else, because she matters the most to herself. This rather extreme ideology formed when Astrelle realized she was never going to be anyone else's priority, and so decided she would be the one to look after herself.
In relationships, Astrelle tries to take a calculated approach and views them as transactional dealings. What can she gain, and what are her benefits? There is a part of her that still desires to be needed, to be important to someone, which has manifested in Astrelle's promiscuous and flirtatious tendencies. Her pride would never allow herself to admit this, but despite the methodical way she evaluates her friendships, she truly doesn't like being alone.
Background
Astrelle was born with a proverbial silver spoon in her mouth. She was the only daughter of the Lennox family, who were close assistants of the Venus Duodecim family that managed the city of Valentia, where she was born and grew up. The Lennoxes served the Duodecim clan in various capacities, from important political work to mundane tasks like caring for their homes. In the past, there have been certain cases where especially capable individuals would be married into the family as well. Needless to say, the close position of Astrelle's family to the Duodecim's power allowed her many luxuries in life, despite the havoc that Voids wreaked on the world.
Astrelle's parents were strict and austere in their approach to work and parenting. Even though Astrelle rarely saw them growing up, they expected nothing less than perfection from their offspring and were frugal with affection and praise. Astrelle and her three brothers were expected to continue the same line of work as their father and were thus tutored heavily from a young age. Corporal punishment was not out of the question, or rather, given generously, if the children did not quietly obey their demands.
As the years passed, Astrelle became less compliant with her lifestyle. She had no attachment to her cold home that felt more like a hostile institution, with strangers that walked about constantly, guards to keep the children in check, and tutors that did little more than echo her parents' values at her. Astrelle's first acts of rebellion were subtle. If she could not obtain the affection of her family members, she would fill the emptiness in her heart with material goods. She spent lavishly, adorning herself with expensive fabrics and jewels, and purchasing various trinkets and playthings on whims. Of course, Astrelle was punished for these actions, but she would rather have held on to sanity if she were going to be punished anyway.
As a teenager, Astrelle's disobedience only grew. Since her parents weren't home much, she exercised her authority and found a hobby in ordering the maids to do pointless tasks, punishing them herself when they refused. She openly skipped lessons to explore the city with friends, or smuggled them into her room for her own amusement. Eventually, no one batted an eye anymore at the rotation of men and women that would tiptoe out the door in the middle of the night or at the break of dawn.
All of this was reported to Astrelle's parents, of course. The consequences were varied, but they could never completely stop Astrelle's behaviour. They had lost hope for her contributing anything worthwhile to the family's legacy, that is, until they discovered her affinity for magic. Her parents were ecstatic with the arrangement—her problematic behaviour would no longer be their concern, and Astrelle would become a noble Ars Magi that defended humanity against the monstrosities outside their walls.
Astrelle hated how willing they were to throw their only daughter on the battlefield, sacrificed her like a chess piece for something as ridiculous as the family's reputation. She decided that she would take advantage of the cards she was dealt. At least at Nova Lux, she had value.
---
The Magical
Armgaus Name: Exalted Lavender Azurite
Gladius
Astrelle wields a large scythe named 'Oblivion' that is as dark as the element she controls. The weapon itself towers over her 5'6" frame and is easily handled by Astrelle despite its large size. Tendrils of shadow emanate from its blade as it's swung.
Parma
In her transformed state, Astrelle looks rather similar to her ordinary appearance. She dons a stylized combat uniform, and the color of her lavender eyes is more intense.
Elementum: Darkness
Elementum Abilities
Shadow warping and stealth. Astrelle can travel within shadows, and jump from one to another within a certain distance. She can completely immerse herself within a shadow, becoming invisible and intangible to the outside world. She can blanket small spaces in darkness and can generally see very well in the dark. Her stealth and warping abilities make her perfect for sneak attacks and scouting.</s>
<|message|>Penny Grenoble
Penny draws in careful, measure breaths, trying not to move her mangled arm too much, trying to wait for what would be a good opening. Astrelle surprises her by literally disappearing into the ground and turning into a shadowy figure, slipping past the Void and managing to reach the other side of the corridor. She'd heard of shadow-based Elementum, but never quite imagined how it would look. Just another reason why this day is so educational.
'Now to survive the next few minutes,' she thinks, turning back to the beast raising its claw to attack. She wonders if she can dodge the strike in time.
Fortunately, Vanna gets its attention via thrown shoe - and soon follows it up with a deadly impaling strike, despite getting a little cut up in the process. It strikes true, apparently hurting the thing, though not mortally. Penny has to stifle a cry of triumph to not draw the thing's attention again, but she can't help the wide grin forming on her face. The thing is clearly badly hurt. She can make a break for it - or she can help take it down for good. She struggles back onto her feet, taking careful breaths to keep herself focused and conscious.
"So what's the plan, Vanna?" she asks. "I say we finish this thing off, but if you think we can make a break for it, I'm with ya. I think I got one last charge for this ugly fucker, so just say the word."</s>
<|message|>Dana Noel
Dana returned Nicole's smile as the redhead stepped over to help her carry the wounded soldier. "Gotcha," she confirmed with a nod after Nicole explained her plan. "And don't worry about me," she added. "I'll be right behind ya!"
Although passing by the Void was certainly dangerous, it was also the best chance they had to get the soldier somewhere his wounds could be tended to, and that was the important thing. Or maybe not, if Astrelle's opinion was anything to go by… Dana was unable to hide her shock when the other girl so casually suggested they leave the wounded man behind. That was simply unacceptable. There was simply no way that Dana would ever abandon someone in need, and, in her opinion, it was a horrible attitude for any Ars Magi candidate to have. She was about to tell Astrelle as much, when the other girl suddenly dissolved into the shadows.
Fine, if that's how she's gonna be…
"Okay, Nicole! Ready when you are!"
Not wasting another moment, the redhead leapt past the Void, while carrying the soldier with her. Dana was right behind her, once again taking her place on the opposite side of the wounded man the moment they had returned to the corridor floor. With that accomplished, they proceeded on their way to the control room. Even with the added burden of the wounded soldier, they still managed to arrive at their destination shortly after Astrelle. It should be noted that before departing, Dana had conjured a second, smaller sphere of light for Penny and Vanna to make use of. It wouldn't last long without Dana around to maintain it, but it would hopefully provide enough illumination for the two girls to finish off the Void.
Upon arriving at the control room, they were greeted by a rather chaotic scene, with soldiers and crewmembers rushing to and fro. A flash of light drew Dana's attention to the forward view port, through which she could vaguely make out the forms of two figures dueling in the darkness.
"Woah…" Dana whispered as she observed the combat with a look of awe. "That looks like Miss Victoria, but… who's she fighting?"
The answer to that question would have to wait, as they were soon approached by some crewmen, who took the wounded soldier off their hands, while demanding to know where Penny and Vanna were.
"T-They stayed behind to keep the Void distracted so we could escape," Dana explained, somewhat taken aback by the crewman's intensity. "They should be here shortly."
I hope…</s>
| <|message|>Astrelle Lennox
What hope Astrelle had for some salvation was quickly diminished when she arrived to the control room. Soldiers were injured and strewn about the premises, and no Ars Magi, capable of dispelling the threat, was to be seen in the room at all. What chance of survival did the girls have against the Void without help? Astrelle thought back to Penny's broken arm, which happened with such little effort on the Void's part that she shook at the thought of what the monster could do with more time. Vanna was capable, but Astrelle couldn't find it in her to believe that she could win against something so inhumanly strong.
Outside the large window of the control room, dancing flashes of light caught her eye. It became clear to her after a brief moment that the lights were sparks of colliding weaponry, metals, and magic; there were two figures in the cloudy darkness that traded blows. Astrelle's feet carried her to the window reflexively, and she pressed her hand against the cold glass. She was sure of it—Victoria Glass was out there, fighting a masked assailant who was undoubtedly another Ars Magi. Confusion clouded her mind. Weren't Ars Magi all on the same side?
Dana and Nicole's arrival startled Astrelle out of her thoughts. It appeared as though they were able to make it past the Void after all, despite their luggage. Astrelle had to give them credit for that much, since she believed that the endeavour would've ended with their deaths. Dana noticed the fighting on the decks of the ship as well, though seemed more concerned with the injured soldier she had so valiantly hauled over to the control room.
"What is Victoria doing?" There was a slight tremor in Astrelle's voice, despite the effort to keep her speech calm. She looked away from the window and towards the two girls. "She's—It looks like she's fighting another Ars Magi. That's absurd. Who's going to help Penny and Vanna?"
A dangerous thought flashed across her mind. Was it possible that what the public knew about the monsters outside the wall, and Ars Magi, their defenders, were no more than lies or disguised truths? Why were there Ars Magic fighting one of their own in the first place? There was certainly something the governing powers were hiding. She couldn't rationalize the sight of two feuding Ars Magi any other way.</s> |
<|description|>Astrelle Lennox
Astrelle Lennox
---
---
The Mundane
Age: 17
Sanctum City: Valentia
Description
Astrelle's appearance is striking to some, with dark, raven hair and wine-red lips that contrast notably from her pale complexion. Wispy bangs lightly layer over her forehead with some strands extending to her cheeks and chin to frame her face, creating a soft shadow around her features. These characteristics, in addition to Astrelle's preference to dress in all black, give her presence an ominous mood.
Astrelle is lean, standing at an average 5'6" and around 120 pounds. She doesn't have a very muscular physique, having had no need to run around or work much growing up. Astrelle's confidence is visible in the way she walks and carries herself—her posture is almost always proper, and her lilac gaze is unwavering.
Personality
Astrelle is often seen with a slight smile on her face, a cold grin that doesn't quite reach her eyes. Those close to her know this subtle expression to be a mask of sorts, or defensive wall Astrelle adorns to hide her true thoughts and feelings. On the surface, she appears amicable and friendly, offering everyone the same listless grin. She can be carefree, playful, even, in the way that she constantly seeks new methods of entertaining herself. She likes to keep people that she finds interesting by her side and fills her days with pointless activities to stave off boredom.
Underneath the jovial demeanor, Astrelle is more apathetic than many would expect. While she can be genuinely caring to those around her, she believes that the reason she bothers keeping such pretenses is to disguise her darker machinations. Astrelle is self-centered, and misleading others believe she is kind works to her advantage. She usually has no qualms taking actions for her personal gain even if it disadvantages someone else, because she matters the most to herself. This rather extreme ideology formed when Astrelle realized she was never going to be anyone else's priority, and so decided she would be the one to look after herself.
In relationships, Astrelle tries to take a calculated approach and views them as transactional dealings. What can she gain, and what are her benefits? There is a part of her that still desires to be needed, to be important to someone, which has manifested in Astrelle's promiscuous and flirtatious tendencies. Her pride would never allow herself to admit this, but despite the methodical way she evaluates her friendships, she truly doesn't like being alone.
Background
Astrelle was born with a proverbial silver spoon in her mouth. She was the only daughter of the Lennox family, who were close assistants of the Venus Duodecim family that managed the city of Valentia, where she was born and grew up. The Lennoxes served the Duodecim clan in various capacities, from important political work to mundane tasks like caring for their homes. In the past, there have been certain cases where especially capable individuals would be married into the family as well. Needless to say, the close position of Astrelle's family to the Duodecim's power allowed her many luxuries in life, despite the havoc that Voids wreaked on the world.
Astrelle's parents were strict and austere in their approach to work and parenting. Even though Astrelle rarely saw them growing up, they expected nothing less than perfection from their offspring and were frugal with affection and praise. Astrelle and her three brothers were expected to continue the same line of work as their father and were thus tutored heavily from a young age. Corporal punishment was not out of the question, or rather, given generously, if the children did not quietly obey their demands.
As the years passed, Astrelle became less compliant with her lifestyle. She had no attachment to her cold home that felt more like a hostile institution, with strangers that walked about constantly, guards to keep the children in check, and tutors that did little more than echo her parents' values at her. Astrelle's first acts of rebellion were subtle. If she could not obtain the affection of her family members, she would fill the emptiness in her heart with material goods. She spent lavishly, adorning herself with expensive fabrics and jewels, and purchasing various trinkets and playthings on whims. Of course, Astrelle was punished for these actions, but she would rather have held on to sanity if she were going to be punished anyway.
As a teenager, Astrelle's disobedience only grew. Since her parents weren't home much, she exercised her authority and found a hobby in ordering the maids to do pointless tasks, punishing them herself when they refused. She openly skipped lessons to explore the city with friends, or smuggled them into her room for her own amusement. Eventually, no one batted an eye anymore at the rotation of men and women that would tiptoe out the door in the middle of the night or at the break of dawn.
All of this was reported to Astrelle's parents, of course. The consequences were varied, but they could never completely stop Astrelle's behaviour. They had lost hope for her contributing anything worthwhile to the family's legacy, that is, until they discovered her affinity for magic. Her parents were ecstatic with the arrangement—her problematic behaviour would no longer be their concern, and Astrelle would become a noble Ars Magi that defended humanity against the monstrosities outside their walls.
Astrelle hated how willing they were to throw their only daughter on the battlefield, sacrificed her like a chess piece for something as ridiculous as the family's reputation. She decided that she would take advantage of the cards she was dealt. At least at Nova Lux, she had value.
---
The Magical
Armgaus Name: Exalted Lavender Azurite
Gladius
Astrelle wields a large scythe named 'Oblivion' that is as dark as the element she controls. The weapon itself towers over her 5'6" frame and is easily handled by Astrelle despite its large size. Tendrils of shadow emanate from its blade as it's swung.
Parma
In her transformed state, Astrelle looks rather similar to her ordinary appearance. She dons a stylized combat uniform, and the color of her lavender eyes is more intense.
Elementum: Darkness
Elementum Abilities
Shadow warping and stealth. Astrelle can travel within shadows, and jump from one to another within a certain distance. She can completely immerse herself within a shadow, becoming invisible and intangible to the outside world. She can blanket small spaces in darkness and can generally see very well in the dark. Her stealth and warping abilities make her perfect for sneak attacks and scouting.</s>
<|message|>Penny Grenoble
"You're hopelessly cheerful, aren't you?" Penny muses. "Eh, as long as they have a decent pizza joint in town, I'm fine with it."
Penny rolls her eyes.
"I'm not crippled, Dana, just wounded," she says, but returns the fist-bump with a smile. "And thanks for the vote of confidence, I'm looking forwards to rooming with you too!"
"You are an eternal optimist, aren't you?" chortles Penny. "Though we're going to have to leave the games and music for later. Right now, I just wanna lay down and sleep like the dead. It's been a long day, it's really late, and I think I've been up most of the way from Ciscia."
She tiredly gets changed into shorts and a tank top, sets her PDA's alarm, then flops onto the lower bunk in a way that wouldn't hurt her arm.
"'Night, Dana," she says. "Sweet dreams..."</s>
<|message|>Nicole Cognoscenti
---
She supposed what she admired most about her parents, their boundless activism, was that they seemed to find the beauty in everything - every day, every cause, every person. There was something to love about yourself, and those around you, but sometimes it took work to find it. It was easy to draw a path from that philosophy to her good nature and the laid-back way she treated her peers. But Palmyra was a homely city by nature. The buildings were mere cubes stacked upon cubes, with artless neon and xenon for splashes of color, like trying to disguise stale bread with cake frosting. Hasta was cosmopolitan as Sanctum Cities went, so she recognized one sign in three, likely more than most of the other girls present.
But the signs she read only discouraged her further. Grocery. Cab depot. Grocery. Accountant. School. Hospital. Library. Hospital. Restaurant! ...Accountant.
Obviously, there was plenty of representation for the world's one true universal church - the pizza joint. She even saw a few cafes, such as they were. But they were wedged in between other structures (which was all they were) and lacked patios, let alone rooftop views. She could count the number that were actually on a street corner on one hand. But pan pizza and cappuccinos were for binging with her study group, not a replacement for nightlife. She looked for telltale signs of arcades or little hole in the wall bars, the kinds of places that she had grown up sneaking into with friends, but nothing jumped out. The city was a den of brutalism; the rare peeks she got of its inner workings were cold and lifeless. Even Astrelle - who was doing her best to make the other girls think she lived up to those descriptors - must have been miserable, she mused. This was a far cry from what she remembered of Valentia too.
So it was that Nicole, whose humor and vibe had seemed indefatigable even at their emotional nadir during the attack, spent most of their first ride through Palmyra in contemplative, almost sullen silence.
"So there's the answer to 'what happens when you make a barracks into an entire city. And here I thought Ciscia's D-Fens Quarter was ugly and blocky."
"Yeah, I guess it's not much to look at. But, when ya think about it, it's really the people inside the buildings that count."
Nicole mustered a half smile at the sentiment - and at the image of her mom spoiling Dana the way she'd spoiled all her other friends - but the most she could muster was a quiet "Yeah..."
"You're hopelessly cheerful, aren't you?" Penny was saying to Dana. "Eh, as long as they have a decent pizza joint in town, I'm fine with it."
"I've seen a few so far," Nicole assured her, but after that she remained withdrawn from the conversation.
The checkup cheered her up a bit. She was polite to the technicians, and they were polite back; soon, she was able to make a couple joke during her blood draw. By the time she was undergoing her examination the ennui had faded to the point where she was even able to hit on her doctor, who deflected her with a smile and professional grace. It was probably for the best. It would never work. She was in her late twenties, and a doctor for the military - clearly, a woman in such a lax, carefree position would never be able to handle Nicole's skill on the Dance Til Sunrise pad at the arcade, or withstand her high-intensity erotic brofists.
She smiled and thought of home, and of all the times her Prince Charming's eyes of molten gold had rolled into their sockets at her antics. She swore, leaving the hospital, that she would keep making the best of all this. The other girls would probably need her help to do the same.
Her new attitude, same as the old attitude, was on full display when they finally arrived at their dorms. She was going to be living with Astrelle, a realization she had audibly laughed at when the arrangements were made. Odds were she'd be covered with a pillow and hacked to death while sleeping in a few months, but in the meantime, Nicole was going to make the most of it. As soon as they stepped through the portal and into their own home, she was breezing through the place with the same effervescence she had glided up and down their beleaguered vessel with. The bed was a little small, but about what she would have expected from any university. The kitchenette was much more her speed, and she quickly began inspecting the cabinets to see what kind of dinnerware was available to them, testing burners on the stove, the ice maker in the fridge, all the usual things. Not that she expected Nova Lux to leave anything lacking, but...
...well, after her first glimpses of Palmyra, she'd totally almost expected shit to be lacking.
"Nooo shit," she exclaimed playfully once she had stepped out of their bathroom. Her grin was so wide it had almost caused her nose to wrinkle. "It's a real shower. With glass and everything. I was starting to think we'd get, like, a prison shower or something."</s>
| <|message|>Astrelle Lennox
The remainder of the airship ride passed by in a blur. Since Victoria left, Astrelle stayed silent; most of the girls were asleep anyway. The crash that followed the waves of adrenaline and fear had finally caught up to Astrelle, and she had no more energy for protests or snarky remarks. She didn't even complain as medical staff poked and prodded her body for testing, a procedure she found completely demeaning. The exhaustion also gave Astrelle some time for self-reflection, though having so much time to think was rather unpleasant. A feeling of regret lingered in the aftermath of the battle. She couldn't avoid fixating on her disgraceful display of emotion when she had practiced composure so diligently for years. She resolved that it would never happen again.
The walk to the girls' dorms was somber at best. The darkness concealed much of the surrounding landscape of the new home, and Astrelle had no desire to use her abilities to witness it. The dreary atmosphere spoke loudly enough for what Palmyra might've looked like. Her eyes focused ahead instead, at the back of the faculty member that led them through the campus, or on the damp cobblestone they walked on.
The faculty member's tour and explanations were curt, which Astrelle appreciated at so late an hour. She was less than pleased to learn that she'd be sharing a room with someone, but given that it was mandatory, Nicole seemed more tolerable than the others. Unfortunately, bringing dates back home was not a possibility with this arrangement. The room was more spacious than Astrelle expected—she expected something akin to a small closet—equipped with a kitchenette and bathroom too, though it looked like spending was frugal on the furniture itself. Everything was, of course, painted in patriotic blues and golds, a color combo that Astrelle was surely going to tire of quickly.
In her exhaustion, Astrelle wasted no effort in throwing her bags on a side of the room she chose haphazardly, and fell into the springy mattress—she thought softness would cushion her fall, but her back hit the cushion more roughly than she imagined. Unlike Astrelle, Nicole had been examining the amenities and her comment about the showers almost made her laugh.
A weak half-smile tugged slightly at Astrelle's lips. "It better have hot water too. Do you want to find out first or should I?"</s> |
<|description|>Astrelle Lennox
Astrelle Lennox
---
---
The Mundane
Age: 17
Sanctum City: Valentia
Description
Astrelle's appearance is striking to some, with dark, raven hair and wine-red lips that contrast notably from her pale complexion. Wispy bangs lightly layer over her forehead with some strands extending to her cheeks and chin to frame her face, creating a soft shadow around her features. These characteristics, in addition to Astrelle's preference to dress in all black, give her presence an ominous mood.
Astrelle is lean, standing at an average 5'6" and around 120 pounds. She doesn't have a very muscular physique, having had no need to run around or work much growing up. Astrelle's confidence is visible in the way she walks and carries herself—her posture is almost always proper, and her lilac gaze is unwavering.
Personality
Astrelle is often seen with a slight smile on her face, a cold grin that doesn't quite reach her eyes. Those close to her know this subtle expression to be a mask of sorts, or defensive wall Astrelle adorns to hide her true thoughts and feelings. On the surface, she appears amicable and friendly, offering everyone the same listless grin. She can be carefree, playful, even, in the way that she constantly seeks new methods of entertaining herself. She likes to keep people that she finds interesting by her side and fills her days with pointless activities to stave off boredom.
Underneath the jovial demeanor, Astrelle is more apathetic than many would expect. While she can be genuinely caring to those around her, she believes that the reason she bothers keeping such pretenses is to disguise her darker machinations. Astrelle is self-centered, and misleading others believe she is kind works to her advantage. She usually has no qualms taking actions for her personal gain even if it disadvantages someone else, because she matters the most to herself. This rather extreme ideology formed when Astrelle realized she was never going to be anyone else's priority, and so decided she would be the one to look after herself.
In relationships, Astrelle tries to take a calculated approach and views them as transactional dealings. What can she gain, and what are her benefits? There is a part of her that still desires to be needed, to be important to someone, which has manifested in Astrelle's promiscuous and flirtatious tendencies. Her pride would never allow herself to admit this, but despite the methodical way she evaluates her friendships, she truly doesn't like being alone.
Background
Astrelle was born with a proverbial silver spoon in her mouth. She was the only daughter of the Lennox family, who were close assistants of the Venus Duodecim family that managed the city of Valentia, where she was born and grew up. The Lennoxes served the Duodecim clan in various capacities, from important political work to mundane tasks like caring for their homes. In the past, there have been certain cases where especially capable individuals would be married into the family as well. Needless to say, the close position of Astrelle's family to the Duodecim's power allowed her many luxuries in life, despite the havoc that Voids wreaked on the world.
Astrelle's parents were strict and austere in their approach to work and parenting. Even though Astrelle rarely saw them growing up, they expected nothing less than perfection from their offspring and were frugal with affection and praise. Astrelle and her three brothers were expected to continue the same line of work as their father and were thus tutored heavily from a young age. Corporal punishment was not out of the question, or rather, given generously, if the children did not quietly obey their demands.
As the years passed, Astrelle became less compliant with her lifestyle. She had no attachment to her cold home that felt more like a hostile institution, with strangers that walked about constantly, guards to keep the children in check, and tutors that did little more than echo her parents' values at her. Astrelle's first acts of rebellion were subtle. If she could not obtain the affection of her family members, she would fill the emptiness in her heart with material goods. She spent lavishly, adorning herself with expensive fabrics and jewels, and purchasing various trinkets and playthings on whims. Of course, Astrelle was punished for these actions, but she would rather have held on to sanity if she were going to be punished anyway.
As a teenager, Astrelle's disobedience only grew. Since her parents weren't home much, she exercised her authority and found a hobby in ordering the maids to do pointless tasks, punishing them herself when they refused. She openly skipped lessons to explore the city with friends, or smuggled them into her room for her own amusement. Eventually, no one batted an eye anymore at the rotation of men and women that would tiptoe out the door in the middle of the night or at the break of dawn.
All of this was reported to Astrelle's parents, of course. The consequences were varied, but they could never completely stop Astrelle's behaviour. They had lost hope for her contributing anything worthwhile to the family's legacy, that is, until they discovered her affinity for magic. Her parents were ecstatic with the arrangement—her problematic behaviour would no longer be their concern, and Astrelle would become a noble Ars Magi that defended humanity against the monstrosities outside their walls.
Astrelle hated how willing they were to throw their only daughter on the battlefield, sacrificed her like a chess piece for something as ridiculous as the family's reputation. She decided that she would take advantage of the cards she was dealt. At least at Nova Lux, she had value.
---
The Magical
Armgaus Name: Exalted Lavender Azurite
Gladius
Astrelle wields a large scythe named 'Oblivion' that is as dark as the element she controls. The weapon itself towers over her 5'6" frame and is easily handled by Astrelle despite its large size. Tendrils of shadow emanate from its blade as it's swung.
Parma
In her transformed state, Astrelle looks rather similar to her ordinary appearance. She dons a stylized combat uniform, and the color of her lavender eyes is more intense.
Elementum: Darkness
Elementum Abilities
Shadow warping and stealth. Astrelle can travel within shadows, and jump from one to another within a certain distance. She can completely immerse herself within a shadow, becoming invisible and intangible to the outside world. She can blanket small spaces in darkness and can generally see very well in the dark. Her stealth and warping abilities make her perfect for sneak attacks and scouting.</s>
<|message|>Dana Noel
Dana watched with gleeful excitement as each of her friends faced the Voids in turn. She thought it was awesome how their unique personalities influenced their fighting styles, and she couldn't help but imagine how cool it would be if they could all team up to face an opponent together. Their hypothetical foe wouldn't stand a chance, and she giggled at the mental image of the five of them standing triumphant atop the corpse of an enormous Void. But wait… Voids didn't leave corpses, did they? Well, that was slightly disappointing… Even now, Penny was proving that fact as she finished pounding her opponents into paste.
"Woo hoo! Go Penny!" Dana cheered. She was a little disappointed the tests were finished, but she also couldn't wait to see what was next.
As it turned out, the next item on the agenda would have to be postponed as, without warning, a spindly limb whipped out of an alley and smashed Penny through a building.
"Penny!" Dana cried in alarm, her eyes going wide at the sight.
Thankfully, her bespectacled friend quickly managed to fend off the surprise attack, which revealed itself to have originated from a Void that was significantly more menacing looking than anything they had faced before.
"Guys, some backup would be really nice right now," Penny called over the comm.
The officer in charge proceeded to order them to provide just that, but Dana was already in motion before they had even started speaking. Her friend was in danger, and she didn't need an order to rush to Penny's aid.
"Hang in there, Penny!" Dana told the bespectacled Are Magi. "We're on our way!"
Transforming in a flash, Dana sprinted onto the battlefield. "Hey, ugly!" she called out. "Eat this!" Drawing her gladius, the energetic Ars Magi took careful aim and fired a beam at the Void's torso. She didn't expect the attack to have anywhere near the kind of effect it had on the monster's lesser brethren, but hopefully it would at least serve to soften the creature up enough for the rest of her friends to finish it off.</s>
<|message|>Nicole Cognoscenti
---
She was proud of all her teammates. When the side was retired and she returned to her perch above the testing area, Nicole gave Astrelle a comforting wink on the other girl's way out to face her demons. She gave another to Penny, along with a friendly knuckle touch. For Astrelle's test, the Hastan watched with both her arms around her two younger teammates, eagerly taking in her roommate's performance. She had taken a quick lick, like Nicole had, but overall she acquitted herself well. Afterwards, she had taken a minute to recuperate on the ground; Nicole's mouth twitched sympathetically, remembering how laid up the both of them had been over the last few days.
Penny's turn came next, along with some encouraging cheers from both Dana, who already seemed inseparable with the glasses-wearing girl, and a single whoop-whoop! from Nicole herself. Penny kicked as much ass as any of them; as flustered as she had been at their luncheon days before, there was no denying she had the heart of a scrapper, and she proved it by brandishing her enormous fucking hammer, oh man that's cool until victory fell at her defeat. Cheers broke out again from the tower.
Then it all went wrong.
The air around Penny began to crackle again, along with a brutal impact that struck the bespectacled girl from nowhere for the second time since Nicole had known her. If they had still been the powerless girls on the Laurus, she might have been crippled by the surprise attack. Now she was an Ars Magi - they all were. And she was more than capable of surprising back.
With some help, of course.
The wind is on my back. May my sword cut like my smile.
"Vi faccio vedere come lotte un Hastano!"
Her second transformation felt as good as the first. Nicole vaulted over the lip of the tower and laughed aloud, raucously, as the wind rushed around her and whipped her hair back in a scarlet frenzy. In the four seconds it took her to freefall, her thoughts turned over in her head:
Catchphrase, that one was a must. Hot guys and gals will eat that kind of crap up.
Her feet hit the ground, as lightly as if she'd stepped out of bed. Her gladius formed in her hand; she sprung forward, using Dana's beam for cover.
"Dana, keep using those! Chase it towards one of us!" she called out, laughing airily as she twirled towards danger. Nevertheless, her words had adopted an iron tone; she had gotten to see both of her friends in action, knew their mettle, and knew how to encourage them to be the magical girls they'd always dreamt of. "Penny, don't stray from its right! The left is mine!"
And it was; she nimbly dodged a spindly arm, having learned quickly from her first time at the wrong end of a Void's swing. Content with her gameplan and feeling her confidence swell after such an effortless dodge, Nicole kicked herself off the ground as though her legs were springs. Her sword swung in the direction of what almost passed for a neck, the size of the sword belying the shape of buffeting winds that formed its true blade.</s>
| <|message|>Astrelle Lennox
Penny's bout with the Voids went as smoothly as the other girls' turns; with time, each of her opponents were equally melted into black goo. However, the loud thud of Penny's body smashing against a wall snapped Astrelle out of her momentary calm while she was observing from the battleground's perch. She hardly had time to notice a much more menacing Void take form in the arena, and before long, the many staff on duty had already begun shouting orders like they had done on the airship days ago.
Astrelle could feel the warmth and color drain from her face as her eyes laid upon the beastly monster that inched closer to her fellow Ars Magi. She gritted her teeth and clenched her hands so tightly her nails left imprints on her palms. Despite her frustration of being pulled back to fight once again, she didn't hesitate to transform a second time. It would be her best chance of survival anyway. The wisps of shadows enveloped her body, and appeared to pull her into the shadows with how eagerly Astrelle activated her ability to hide within them.
For the next little while, she observed the actions of her colleagues—they had a pattern of being quick on their feet, as expected. Penny made a swift recovery and subsequent counterattack despite having been catapulted by the Void's swing, and was quickly followed by Dana. Nicole's entrance was as flashy as ever, but it seemed to do the trick of catching the Void's attention, which was all Astrelle needed. As Nicole swung at the neck of the monster, Astrelle seized the opportunity to jump from the Void's own shadow and slashed her scythe at its torso.</s> |
<|description|>Dana Noel
The Mundane
Age: 16
Sanctum City: Norba, the southern-most of the two Jupiter cities.
Description:
In her normal, untransformed state, Dana has medium length black hair and bright, golden eyes. She usually likes to wear oversized t-shirts and shorts. She also has a single, oversized tooth, which often protrudes from her mouth like a small fang.
Personality: Dana is a bright and cheery girl with a bubbly and fun-loving disposition. She hates to see people who are sad, and always does her best to cheer them up (she can be quite persistent in this regard). She loves hanging out with friends, making new ones, and generally just enjoying life. Incredibly optimistic, she has every confidence that humanity has a bright future ahead of it, and she will do everything she can to make that future a reality. Dana can also be somewhat playful and mischievous, but never in a mean-spirited way, and if she realizes she's upsetting someone, she'll immediately stop and apologize.
Background: Dana was lucky. She grew up in a loving, prosperous family, with plenty of siblings and friends. Unlike some, who would allow such blessings to blind them to the pain and misery afflicting so many in the world, Dana's perception of their plight only grew more acute. From an early age, she vowed to do her best to help anyone in need. She had been blessed for a reason, and she was certain that reason was to care for those who weren't as fortunate as her. The poor, the suffering, the lonely, the vulnerable, she wanted to be there for all of them, to make their lives better in any way she could.
With her parents' full support, she began volunteering at shelters and soup kitchens, as well as going on relief missions to the poorest districts of her city. It was during this time that she discovered her affinity for magic, and the Light Elementum, in particular, which she used to great effect in lifting the spirits of the downtrodden. Upon receiving an invitation to the prestigious Nova Lux Academy, Dana was overjoyed at the thought of gaining the power to help even more people, and the opportunity to make some new friends along the way was just icing on the cake.
The Magical
Armgaus Name: Shining Golden Sapphire
Gladius: Shining Zenith, a gleaming silver energy pistol.
Parma:
When transformed, Dana wears a somewhat cowboy-style outfit, with the unusual additions of a cape and a witch's hat. Her entire outfit has a very cheerful color palette, which perfectly reflects her disposition.
Elementum: Light
Elementum Abilities: Dana can fire piercing beams of light and can also create blinding flares or small motes of illumination. These can be employed not only to banish enemies and darkness, but illusions as well. By focusing her powers upon herself, she can obtain enhanced perception and awareness for a short time. With some concentration, Dana can even condense the light she manifests into a protective shield for herself, or a nearby ally. In addition, she possesses some moderate healing and purification abilities. This healing is not limited to the physical, as she can also mend emotional wounds and lift people's spirits when they are filled with doubt or despair.</s>
<|message|>Penny Grenoble
'Just fifty?' Penny thinks. 'That's... that's pretty low. Fifty to a hundred out of a few hundred million. Or over a hundred million, if you're counting girls only; there never seems to be magic boys around, at least not officially.'
With Victoria busy with something, she turns to her new friends.
"So... how does everyone feel about being chosen to hopefully become an Ars Magi?" she asks. "Me, I'm getting nervous all over - but also excited. It's... well, I'm a big nerd who grew up watching Divine Magical Maid Altea, so that might have been a factor. Anyone else watched that?"</s>
<|message|>Dana Noel
"Wow! Quite the bumpy ride we're havin', huh?" Dana asked with a giggle as she tightly grasped her cup. She was perhaps a little nervous, but she had confidence that their vessel's sturdy construction would safely see them through to their destination.
Victoria swiftly departed as soon as the shaking subsided, leaving the five of them on their own. Penny was the first to break the short silence that followed, asking about their thoughts on becoming Ars Magi.
"I'm really lookin' forward to it!" Dana announced with a big grin. "I think it's gonna be really exciting and fun! And the best part is, once we've graduated, we'll be able to help so many people with our new powers!"
Her grin broadened when Penny mentioned Divine Magical Maid Altea.
"So you like Altea, too, huh? My sisters were big fans of that show," she explained, "so I ended up seein' a lot of episodes with them, but I kinda preferred Beautiful Guardian Gunslinger Alexis myself."</s>
<|message|>Diana Khay "V" Vanna
---
Tired.
As the Ars Magi before them resumed her role as host, the young Lady of Diana found that all too familiar feeling gnawing at the back of her mind. She dare not let it show of course; her grace at the table did not slack for even a moment. Strength, a Diana was always a model of strength. But truthfully Vanna found it difficult to maintain focus on the diatribe before her: what use did she have for boutiques?
The Officer Academy? She knew it all too well. Her sister's letter had at times read more like a guide book than a congratulatory correspondence. One of many such guide books gifted by her siblings. Between yesterday's training and this morning's send off, Vanna had yet to receive even a moment to herself. A part of her yearned to retreat to her room and finally get some overdue rest.
But that would be unbecoming.
Thus the young girl remained politefully seated, sipping on her tea and refusing to allow a single vestige of exhaustion show on her features. She merely watched as the other girls split into two groups, one bonding over heritage and the other over temperament. Her position as the sole member of the outgroup was expected. It didn't bother her either, she had never been one to bond with others over such superficial traits. She would find out soon enough if any of the other girls would help sharpen her abilities in defense of Potentia.
Besides engaging in further conversation just sounded like a recipe for increasing her own fatigue.
Shortly afterwards a tremor called away their host and Vanna found herself in a room without a single object or being worth studying. Her mind instead swayed towards wondering what the cause of their unexpected turbulence might be. Only bureaucracy or necessity could require the presence of an Ars Magi of Victoria Glass' standing. The young lady hoped it was only the former but she remained prepared for the latter.
She wouldn't deign any interferences on her path.
There was one other void left by their host's abrupt departure: a query from the clumsy one of the Lightning Elementum. Vanna had anticipated that even without their host someone else might answer her questions. A foolish desire. The other girl's ponderings had only been met with silence followed by more pointless topics. How did she feel about being chosen? What nonsense, that was merely the beginning, the expected, there was still so much work ahead of her.
But the state of her peers would reflect her own.
IF she was to create an environment most conducive to her own growth her fellow students required at least a basic education. In absence of their host it was only proper that she fulfil her duties as a Diana. To that end Vanna politely waited for Dana to finish explaining her prefered form of televised media, a pastime wholly unfamiliar to the young lady, before joining the table's conversation.
"To answer your earlier query Miss. Grenoble," began her detached exposition, "Fifty is a reasonably standard number. Numerous studies have shown just how difficult it is for the human body to naturally process Nox and use it in magicraft. Truthfully the mutations behind this process are still fairly unknown and when you consider that a few potential candidates are likely to slip the academy's notice or just not exhibit satisfactory control over Nox... well fifty students is what you're left with."
"As for your query about magic boys," Vanna paused for a moment, as if searching for a way to best deliver the information, "all that we know so far is that only females have shown an affinity for processing Nox. Thus the duty of Ars Magi falls on our shoulders and ours alone."
Her youngest brother was still gutted by that particular revelation.
"I hope I've properly addressed your questions in absence of our host." And with that, Vanna returned to sipping her team, her face never having betrayed a single hint of her reasons for educating the other girl. Yet it honestly amazed her that her peers hadn't even taken a few moments to partake in basic reading about Ars Magi. Such self study was the basics of a proper education but alas this too was typical.
She was sadly well accustomed to her peers refusing to put in the work to better themselves.
And then they'll look at her and claim the difference was talent.
Senseless.
Shameful.</s>
<|message|>Astrelle Lennox
---
Nicole's mention of the Castor incident rang some bells in Astrelle's memory. It had been all over the news at the time, but that was as far as her involvement with the issue extended to. Her eldest brother attended the benefit as the representative of the Lennox clan. Astrelle avoided addressing the incident in her reply, having no attachment to it, and instead found interest in Nicole's mention of arcades and clubs.
"Interesting. We may have crossed paths at one of those venues. I've been to several in Valentia before." Astrelle often skipped on lessons and responsibilities to explore the metropolis and its many activities. On a few occasions, mostly when Astrelle was younger, she and her friends went to arcades to let out some steam. She fondly recalled the feeling of excitement generated from the flashing lights and signs, and the eccentric sound effects and music that blared from the numerous machines. They were an effective distraction from her daily life, but as she got later in her teens she lost passion for playing games.
Another tremor reverberated through the aircraft, forcefully shaking the table and the articles on top. Astrelle quickly lifted her tea cup and firmly secured the saucer over it, acting as a lid to prevent the contents from spilling. In that moment, Astrelle's mind circled back to the aforementioned Castor incident, and she felt a cold shiver run down her spine. The unsettling feeling of impending doom was merely momentary, and faded as the aircraft returned to a stable state.
Victoria Glass excused herself from the table, appearing as though something urgent had been communicated to her through the earpiece hidden behind strands of silver hair. Something seemed off, but Astrelle figured that worrying about it would be unproductive.
Now unsupervised, Penny took the chance to address all the girls in the group. Astrelle found the topics and queries she brought up rather boorish—their opinions about being Ars Magi seemed generally naive from Astrelle's perspective, probably helped by their interest in sugar-coated magical girl television shows. She entertained the idea of sharing her nihilistic viewpoint on it to see how'd they react, but decided against it. It seemed like a good idea to avoid dampening the mood with her pessimism.
"As expected, Vanna," Astrelle commented, after Vanna's comprehensive explanation on Ars Magi. Her pedigree and education were undeniable, from her mannerisms to her diction. Astrelle smiled sweetly, "Your diligence and readiness for this noble duty are admirable. I'm sure we can all learn a thing or two from you."
Meaningless praise. Astrelle was sure Vanna would see through the hollow comment, if she had been similarly overwhelmed with pointless flattery growing up. It seemed like a likely scenario for a Duodecim princess. There was no real intention of Astrelle's false praise, other than the fact it became second nature to her when interacting with the Venus clan, and by extension, other royalty. She had been taught strictly to pay close attention to her manners and etiquette throughout childhood. It made her feel a bit uneasy, however, when she realized how deep the roots of her parent's teachings dug into her being.
At that point, Astrelle noticed that her teacup was empty, from taking so many frequent sips while listening to their blabbering. She reached for the teapot and poured herself another serving.</s>
<|message|>Penny Grenoble
Penny feels the airship tremble again. She's never ridden an airship before, so she's not entirely sure if this is normal or not, but the other girls seem to notice it with unease. It makes Penny nervous as a result.
Vanna's explanation answers Penny pretty well, but...
'Somehow, I get the feeling I've been insulted,' she thinks, trying to read Vanna's expression. It's just the tone of the answer, aloof yet somehow condescending. It annoys Penny - but somehow, she shouldn't really be upset. She at least should have read up on the Academy for the two years she's been waiting to get transferred, so she wouldn't look like some clueless hick from the boonies, but it's a bit late for that now. She resolves to study hard once they get there, and prove her worth.
"I'll say you have," Penny answers Vanna in resignation.
Dana's response earns an odd response from Penny. She assumes an expression of mock annoyance, and looks at the cheerful girl.
"Oh really?" she asks in mock challenge. "Mind telling me why you think Gunslinger Alexa is better? I mean, Altea has the more meaningful character arcs, if you ask me.
"Also, how many sisters do you have? I've got three - and three brothers too."</s>
| <|message|>Dana Noel
"Yeah, I guess you're right about that," Dana conceded in response to Penny's observation that Altea had better character arcs than her own favorite show. "At least, if you're only talking about the first season," she added with a grin. "Season two took a really deep look at a lot of Alexis's emotional vulnerabilities, especially her until-then unrequited love for her best friend. But that's not really the reason why I love her show," Dana continued. "It's mainly because of all the crazy, hyperkinetic action and cool designs for characters, vehicles, monsters, and all that stuff! Then there's all the comedy too! It's just really fun to watch! I mean, what other show has the main character go up against a biomechanical titan the size of a sanctum city in the first few minutes of the very first episode?!"
It was clear to see that Dana was getting even more excited than usual just thinking about it, but she quickly shifted gears when Penny voiced a new question.
"Oh, uh, sisters? Yeah, I have four," Dana replied. "They're all older than me, though, which is fine, cause they're all really encouraging and supportive. The perfect big sisters!" she added with a giggle. "What are your sisters like?"</s> |
<|description|>Dana Noel
The Mundane
Age: 16
Sanctum City: Norba, the southern-most of the two Jupiter cities.
Description:
In her normal, untransformed state, Dana has medium length black hair and bright, golden eyes. She usually likes to wear oversized t-shirts and shorts. She also has a single, oversized tooth, which often protrudes from her mouth like a small fang.
Personality: Dana is a bright and cheery girl with a bubbly and fun-loving disposition. She hates to see people who are sad, and always does her best to cheer them up (she can be quite persistent in this regard). She loves hanging out with friends, making new ones, and generally just enjoying life. Incredibly optimistic, she has every confidence that humanity has a bright future ahead of it, and she will do everything she can to make that future a reality. Dana can also be somewhat playful and mischievous, but never in a mean-spirited way, and if she realizes she's upsetting someone, she'll immediately stop and apologize.
Background: Dana was lucky. She grew up in a loving, prosperous family, with plenty of siblings and friends. Unlike some, who would allow such blessings to blind them to the pain and misery afflicting so many in the world, Dana's perception of their plight only grew more acute. From an early age, she vowed to do her best to help anyone in need. She had been blessed for a reason, and she was certain that reason was to care for those who weren't as fortunate as her. The poor, the suffering, the lonely, the vulnerable, she wanted to be there for all of them, to make their lives better in any way she could.
With her parents' full support, she began volunteering at shelters and soup kitchens, as well as going on relief missions to the poorest districts of her city. It was during this time that she discovered her affinity for magic, and the Light Elementum, in particular, which she used to great effect in lifting the spirits of the downtrodden. Upon receiving an invitation to the prestigious Nova Lux Academy, Dana was overjoyed at the thought of gaining the power to help even more people, and the opportunity to make some new friends along the way was just icing on the cake.
The Magical
Armgaus Name: Shining Golden Sapphire
Gladius: Shining Zenith, a gleaming silver energy pistol.
Parma:
When transformed, Dana wears a somewhat cowboy-style outfit, with the unusual additions of a cape and a witch's hat. Her entire outfit has a very cheerful color palette, which perfectly reflects her disposition.
Elementum: Light
Elementum Abilities: Dana can fire piercing beams of light and can also create blinding flares or small motes of illumination. These can be employed not only to banish enemies and darkness, but illusions as well. By focusing her powers upon herself, she can obtain enhanced perception and awareness for a short time. With some concentration, Dana can even condense the light she manifests into a protective shield for herself, or a nearby ally. In addition, she possesses some moderate healing and purification abilities. This healing is not limited to the physical, as she can also mend emotional wounds and lift people's spirits when they are filled with doubt or despair.</s>
<|message|>Penny Grenoble
The arrival of the cavalry was a welcome sight to Penny, who's just barely avoiding the thing's rapid onslaught thanks to her speed.
"Just in time, girls!" she calls out. "Now let's turn the tables on this freak!
"Hey cocksucker! Over here!" she calls out to the Void, assaulting its right flank viciously with her hammer as per Nichole's instructions. However, the thing's speedy limbs makes it hard to score a direct hit on the body, and while she does manage to land a glancing blow on the twisting limb, it quickly retracts out of her reach and becomes... wings?
"What the-" she says, looking up as the thing takes flight. Apparently it can tell when a fight's turning against it - and it's taking Astrelle with her!
"Oh you fucking miserable, cocktease, chickenshit monster, come the fuck back down here and fight like a man!" she calls out after it. "And put her down, asshole! Didn't your momma ever teach you manners around a lady!?"
That's when the thing starts dropping fanged worms from above at them.
"Oh, fantastic," she grumbles. "It's got ugly friends too. Girls, watch my back and don't get surrounded! We don't want to take any more risks as it is!"
She then proceeds to pummel the attacking waves of void-snakes, using large, powerful sweeps of her electrified hammer to smash six of seven of the things at a time, followed by a powerful thunderstrike that squishes a dozen and knocks many more back - away from her and her companions to give them breathing room.
She then aims her hammer at the flying Void, trying to bring it down with a lightning bolt the way Dana managed to deliver several sharp blasts of light. To her chagrin, the lightning comes out in a wild, untamed arc, twisting and sparking wildly, missing the monster (and fortunately Astrelle) before taking it out on an unfortunate street lamp, felling it in sparking ruins.
"SHIT!" she cries out. "So much for aiming..."
"Girls, much as this is fun, I think we need to find a way to catch that thing before it flies off with Lennox," she calls out. "I'm guessing we can all jump real high with our new abilities, but I'm talking about if anyone thinks they can just up and fly, that would really be useful right now. We can try to hit the monster from this range, but don't hit Astrelle!"</s>
<|message|>Nicole Cognoscenti
---
There was a valuable lesson at the heart of all the chaos and bullshit here: from today until their deaths, there would never be such a thing as a sure bet for an Ars Magi. But it was a lesson Nicole really hoped they would get to around day...thirty. Ten. At least day two. No learning quite like accelerated learning!
"Girls, much as this is fun, I think we need to find a way to catch that thing before it flies off with Lennox. I'm guessing we can all jump real high with our new abilities, but I'm talking about if anyone thinks they can just up and fly, that would really be useful right now. We can try to hit the monster from this range, but don't hit Astrelle!"
"I couldn't if I tried," Nicole jested, eyeing the serpents tepidly. Truth be told, as jarring as it was to see the Void take flight - especially with her erstwhile roommate - and as much as it would have terrified her even days ago, right now, she found anything in the sky preferable to dealing with the serpents it had begat. In the skies, she felt at home. "Penny, you two keep on top of things down here. Dana -" she winked " - you're doing great, babe. Keep out of range and--"
One of the Void-spawn had lunged, and Nicole's swipe with her sabre punished it for the attempt. The winds that sheathed the blade cleaved the monster back into the pools of ink it crawled from.
"--and just keep blasting. Gotta fly. I'll be back with her!"
She made a break for it, springing off the ground and lightly tapping the stump that now topped the remains of the light Penny had obliterated. She shoved off the twisted, bifurcated metal pole and did her best to soar.
Truthfully, 'felt natural to her' didn't even come close to the sensations. While it was true that all the Ars Magi likely had some degree of agility beyond what they had ever imagined, in her soul Nicole could feel that her case was different. When anything else in the world jumped, be it man, beast, or magical girl, it came down. But not Nicole. She descended on her own terms.
She could see the Void, a cruel distortion of a raven's shape, with Astrelle fighting valiantly in its clutches. She could imagine the cynical thoughts about death and abandonment racing through her roommate's head at the moment. Thoughts of how they had all been tricked into this somehow, led astray by parents or society, how fighting for something as nebulous was saving the world was a dream for the stupid or the catatonic. Honestly, some of them might even have been warranted. But that wouldn't make those anxieties any less fun to prove wrong.
Nicole felt grateful for Palmyra's urban sprawl for the first time; though utilitarian, that also meant it was consistent, and she had no shortage of fire escapes to leap from in order to continue gaining momentum as she built up to sustained flight. With a sweep of her sword she summoned a current to beat against the wings of the Void; they had transfigured in a hurry, and they looked sickly and ill-made. Even a novice Ars Magi like her, she reasoned, would have enough juice in her to prevent such a pitiful creature from escaping. From there, it was a matter of cutting Astrelle down. Her scythe was absolutely not the weapon of choice for dealing with captivity like this, but even Nicole's sword required a precision cut - and a leap of faith on both their parts.
"Trust me!" Nicole yelled, grinning with all the optimism and grace she had in her, trying to make herself heard to her fellow Ars Magi over the winds. She swung the sword again, trying to cleave off the sickly, thin-looking talons that clutched Astrelle. So I can't be the Ars Magi that saves the world. Fuck it.
Expensive boots stamped on a cigarette long extinguished, balanced on the pitted metal of a balcony long abandoned. With a mighty, selfless heave, they abandoned their perch - and Nicole Cognoscenti flew.
I can just be the one that saves the girl.</s>
| <|message|>Dana Noel
Dana's smile widened when she saw that her Gladius's beam had blown a hole clean through the Void's chest. As she suspected, it wasn't enough to slay the creature outright but it had certainly wounded it, and that was as good a starting point as any. Indeed, no sooner had Dana snapped off her shot, then Nicole darted past, instructing her to keep the monster pinned down, while she and Penny engaged it in melee.
"You got it, Nicole!" Dana acknowledged, while giving the redhead a cheerful grin and a thumbs up.
Reaching her hand out, she once again conjured five small stars from each of her splayed fingers.
"Okay little guys!" she instructed as the stars zipped off to surround the nearby combat. "Do your stuff!"
After taking up position, the five glowing luminaries unleashed a torrent of incandescent star bolts. The attacks were fairly low-powered, but they served to restrict the Void's movement, preventing the creature from escaping, or dodging the attacks of the other Ars Magi. At least, that was what Dana had intended…
As it transpired, the Void was far more durable, and far more maneuverable than Dana had expected. Contorting and warping its form with inhuman agility, the creature dodged the blows of Astrelle, Penny, and Nicole, before growing a pair of wings and taking to the sky.
It can fly?! Dana thought incredulously. A moment later, she gave a sharp gasp as an even more horrifying event took place. Oh, crap! It's got Astrelle!
Unfortunately, even worse was to follow. As the creature ascended, viscus globs of Void-flesh rained down from its sinister form. By the time they reached the ground, the dark droplets had morphed into toothy serpents, and Dana couldn't help but recoil at the sight of the disturbing creatures.
"Yikes… Those don't look friendly…"
With a quick mental command, she instructed her floating stars to fire upon the dark serpents, blasting any that got close to her or her friends. Any that hadn't already been smashed into paste by Penny's rocket hammer, that is.
"Nice work, Penny!" Dana called to her roommate. "I gotta say, you're really rockin' that outfit! And that hammer of yours is AWESOME!" she added as tiny stars seemed to fill her eyes.
Dana's admiration only grew a moment later, when Penny pointed the hammer in question at the flying Void and, doing her best Thor impression, fired a crackling arc of lightning at the creature. However, while the attack certainly packed a punch, it was a bit lacking where accuracy was concerned. Missing its target by a country mile, the chain lightning struck a nearby lamp post and promptly blasted it to sparking bits.
"Oh, uh… T-That was still pretty cool, Penny!" Dana told the bespectacled Ars Magi, in what she hoped was an encouraging tone. "I'm sure you'll get better with a little practice!"
Despite her upbeat demeanor, the energetic Ars Magi was still acutely aware of the seriousness of the situation. Astrelle was very much in danger, and Dana knew that rescuing her needed to be their top priority. Penny had apparently reached the same conclusion, and she inquired if either Dana or Nicole had the ability to fly up and engage the monstrosity on its own level. Before Dana could say anything, the red-haired Ars Magi sprung into action. In an impressive display of graceful acrobatics, she propelled herself into the sky and slashed at the Void with her blade, clearly aiming to slice off the talons restraining Astrelle.
"All right! Go for it Nicole!" Dana cheered.
The energetic Ars Magi was so captivated by the display that she almost didn't notice the Void-serpent as it darted out of a nearby shadow with frightening swiftness and aimed for her throat.
Almost.
Whirling to face it, she drew her Gladius in one quick motion and fired a blinding lance of luminous energy through the length of the vile creature's body. Immediately, it dissolved into dark smoke, before even that, too, dispersed into nothingness.
"Penny's hammer might be a bit more badass, but you're pretty cool yourself, little guy!" Dana told her Gladius, while twirling the weapon around her finger and giving it a bright smile. "I gotta think up a really sweet soundin' name for ya…" she added thoughtfully. "I just gotta find the right inspiration…"
Despite her current lack of ideas on that front, Dana was certain that the still-raging battle would provide precisely the insight she was looking for.</s> |
<|description|>Dana Noel
The Mundane
Age: 16
Sanctum City: Norba, the southern-most of the two Jupiter cities.
Description:
In her normal, untransformed state, Dana has medium length black hair and bright, golden eyes. She usually likes to wear oversized t-shirts and shorts. She also has a single, oversized tooth, which often protrudes from her mouth like a small fang.
Personality: Dana is a bright and cheery girl with a bubbly and fun-loving disposition. She hates to see people who are sad, and always does her best to cheer them up (she can be quite persistent in this regard). She loves hanging out with friends, making new ones, and generally just enjoying life. Incredibly optimistic, she has every confidence that humanity has a bright future ahead of it, and she will do everything she can to make that future a reality. Dana can also be somewhat playful and mischievous, but never in a mean-spirited way, and if she realizes she's upsetting someone, she'll immediately stop and apologize.
Background: Dana was lucky. She grew up in a loving, prosperous family, with plenty of siblings and friends. Unlike some, who would allow such blessings to blind them to the pain and misery afflicting so many in the world, Dana's perception of their plight only grew more acute. From an early age, she vowed to do her best to help anyone in need. She had been blessed for a reason, and she was certain that reason was to care for those who weren't as fortunate as her. The poor, the suffering, the lonely, the vulnerable, she wanted to be there for all of them, to make their lives better in any way she could.
With her parents' full support, she began volunteering at shelters and soup kitchens, as well as going on relief missions to the poorest districts of her city. It was during this time that she discovered her affinity for magic, and the Light Elementum, in particular, which she used to great effect in lifting the spirits of the downtrodden. Upon receiving an invitation to the prestigious Nova Lux Academy, Dana was overjoyed at the thought of gaining the power to help even more people, and the opportunity to make some new friends along the way was just icing on the cake.
The Magical
Armgaus Name: Shining Golden Sapphire
Gladius: Shining Zenith, a gleaming silver energy pistol.
Parma:
When transformed, Dana wears a somewhat cowboy-style outfit, with the unusual additions of a cape and a witch's hat. Her entire outfit has a very cheerful color palette, which perfectly reflects her disposition.
Elementum: Light
Elementum Abilities: Dana can fire piercing beams of light and can also create blinding flares or small motes of illumination. These can be employed not only to banish enemies and darkness, but illusions as well. By focusing her powers upon herself, she can obtain enhanced perception and awareness for a short time. With some concentration, Dana can even condense the light she manifests into a protective shield for herself, or a nearby ally. In addition, she possesses some moderate healing and purification abilities. This healing is not limited to the physical, as she can also mend emotional wounds and lift people's spirits when they are filled with doubt or despair.</s>
<|message|>Cordelia Whittaker
---
"Cordelia!" she called out to her roommate, voice radiating strength even over the noises of the storm. "Shine for me, babe!"
"Of course, please, allow me."
A fire burned in Cordelia's stomach Blazing heat surging through her blood from her core to her cheeks, fingers and feet. It was that feeling again, Cordelia noted to herself. Cordelia thought back to her home, to her earliest memories. She remembered watching young ladies be taught their lessons, and then mimicking everything she had seen to herself at night. She remembered what it felt like to reflect not only the beauty, but the imperfections as well. Her consciousness expanded, she felt small pin pricks in it each time it found a small shard of glass. With the wind buffeting and the storm ahead soaking the grounds they walked, Cordelia's command over glass had begun. That fire was embers now, a feeling she had to hone in on exactly.
"Let thine light be cast away," her whispered words, licked from her lips by droplets of rain and taken to each shard surrounding them. One by one, each fragment of glass each having served a different use during its previous life begun to float into the air. The light refracting off of broken bottles, mirrors, windows, and finery sparkled in the rain. "Come, allow me to give you new purpose."
Over the course of less than a half a second, Cordelia did many things, all at once. She brought each floating piece of glass to her side, stitching them together like a weaver making a tapestry. A piece of bottle here, a window's shattered shards there. What looked like blades of glass flying towards the group of girls, was in truth, art. Cordelia effortlessly composed the wall of shards in front of them, the bits of light peeking through all shut out by perfectly molding the glass into a wall as sturdily built as if it was made of concrete. Still transparent on the side of Cordelia and reflective on the other.
The wall of stitched together glass, all different shades and shapes fit together like a fully completed puzzle. Cordelia sighed, stepped towards it and passed her hand along the length of it, shifting its hue to meet exactly the colour she needed. "Okay," she sighed, a puff of hot air fogging up the mirror in front of her for a moment. "We need to be quiet, there's only a small amount of magic in the construction of this wall, so I'm unsure if they'll be able to sense it through Nicole's winds." Cordelia looked at the rest of her teammates. "The wall will interpose between us and them."
Cordelia watched through their one-way mirror as the machines began to grow weary. It was a directionless suspicion, but they were suspicious nonetheless. Cordelia's entire body locked rigid in place. Her hand flicked as a bit of the glass from the top of the wall, where it was least needed, began to slowly turn in the robot's direction. Ready to fly towards the machines at a moment's notice, though not unless they were provoked. She looked to her team, waiting for the signal.</s>
<|message|>Nicole Cognoscenti
---
Nicole bared her teeth in a proud grin as Cordelia manipulated the fields of ruined glass to guide in their extraction. Her roommate had made a poorly kept secret of trying to fit into Astrelle's shoes, but clearly she didn't suffer from a lack of ability as an Ars Magi. It wasn't just pride that made the redhead grit her teeth, though; she was doing as much as Cordy was to keep them masked from the drones, and though her adrenaline was doing much to keep the winds at her beck and call, she was beginning to feel the tugs of effort upon the muscles of her limbs and face.
It was enough strain to give any average girl some unsightly, premature wrinkles. She had no idea what the benefits of an Ars Armagus were when it came to the aging process, but Nicole wasn't about to use the core in her tummy as a crutch. Her fate and her skin care were just where she liked them - in her own hands.
Her eyes landed upon the two larger machines that Cordelia and the officer cadets pointed out. As much as she would have liked to completely ghost this extraction, she recognized the two machines and their specifications, at a glance, as the much gossiped about mecha from the gala. If she were a bit fresher, maybe she could have done more to completely mask them - but it was just as likely that, being such cutting-edge prototypes, they would have been found no matter what. That was more likely, given the parameters of the exercise. So she quit beating herself up over the unattainable dream of a "perfect record" and continued delegating.
"Alright, Cordy, I think we've done all we can to trick them from here. Focus on confusion instead of evasion with me, we'll see if we can keep them from targeting us directly. With our firepower we won't even give 'em a shot to react. Penny!" she called out to Team 3's smallest member, giving her the same exhausted, wolfish smile and sticking a thumbs up. "It's time to do what gotcha to the dance, babe. If you can kill them, great. If not, focus on weak points. Let's crack the biggest, most expensive parts we can eyeball wide open and let Dana shoot 'em up, yeah?"
Man, I love this.
Being alive?
No. Something way less obvious than that.
Being an Ars Magi?
No. Something even more egotistical than that.
I feel like such a boss.
Yeahhhh. She loved that.</s>
<|message|>Penny Grenoble
---
Penny feels Groß Eisen's hilt in her hands, waiting for the right moment to either sneak by the mecha along with the rest of the group, or to deliver one hell of an opening powerblow. It's nerve-wracking, facing an unknown opponent - one admittedly much bigger than the team combined, and possibly one that can counter their abilities - but it was their job to test its abilities. Perks of being drafted into this war, she guesses.
The anxious silence is cut by Nichole issuing orders with her usual bright energy.
"Penny! It's time to do what gotcha to the dance, babe. If you can kill them, great. If not, focus on weak points. Let's crack the biggest, most expensive parts we can eyeball wide open and let Dana shoot 'em up, yeah?"
This in turn gets her a wolfish grin from the Siscian.
||Music: Spinning, Spinning, Spinning, Spiii!?||
"'Bout time," mutters the brunette through her grin, and fires up her rocket and rollerblades, running around a corner picking up speed, before jumping into the air directly at the first mecha's head, Groß Eisen charging up with lightning as she swings it for a mighty blow.
"KAISERSCHLAGEN!!" she roars as she slams the rocket hammer with the force of an anti-tank missile directly in the robot's head, hopefully taking out the sensor equipment and possibly the control unit as well. Lightning Elementum flows through the strike as well, reaching into the sensitive circuitry within to fry it and take out the damaged mecha. She then leaps into the air, pirouettes with Groß Eisen firing to increase her striking power, then takes a diving strike at the other one and delivers a powerful blow at what she hopes was the comm unit.
"Whoops! That looked important!" she calls out mockingly.
As she rolls down the mecha in her rollerblades, she delivers one final strike to the second mecha's knee joint, trying to throw it off balance and hopefully toppling it into the other one.
"Well, that looks expensive!" she calls out as she slams her mighty rocket hammer into the joint. "Hope ya didn't need it too bad!"</s>
| <|message|>Dana Noel
Dana listened intently as Garnier informed them of the drones' various armaments. "I'll keep that in mind!" she noted with a giggle when the cadet advised them to avoid getting stepped on. Cordelia proceeded to follow up on Penny's plan by suggesting that, in the event they came under attack, the "least effective" member of the team should remain behind to keep the drones occupied, while the rest continued on to the objective. Nicole then followed that up by volunteering herself for that role, should the need arise. This caused the usually upbeat Dana to frown slightly. The thought of "sacrificing" one of their own didn't particularly sit well with her, especially when the "sacrifice" in question was their unofficial leader. She was about to say as much, when the ever-astute Vanna spoke up, offering some much needed words of wisdom. The young noble went on to address Dana personally, advising her to remain focused on the closest threat at all times. "Roger that!" the energetic Ars Magi confirmed with a nod, while giving her refined teammate a confident grin. Holst then stepped up beside Dana and offered her services as a spotter. "Thanks!" the cheerful Norban replied with a big grin. "My elementum can really improve my vision, but two sets of eyes are always better than one!" she added, her brilliant smile seeming to shine all the brighter as lightning split the sky overhead.
While the current weather conditions might have been viewed as unpleasant by most people, Dana Noel wasn't most people. The buffeting wind and torrential rain only served to amp up her already irrepressible enthusiasm to maximum power. Focusing that power within her small body, Dana's eyes seemed to glow as her vision was enhanced tenfold. Imbued with the power of her elementum, her awareness expanded to take note of every aspect of the battlefield before them, every piece of rubble, every drop of rain. Thus, she was the first to notice when Nicole employed her own elementum to redirect that rain towards where the drones lay in wait, hopefully befouling the machines' optics enough to conceal their presence. And if that wasn't sufficient, Cordelia was quick to provide her own contribution, in the form of a swiftly constructed mirror. Moving with a balance of speed and caution, the small team of officers and Ars Magi made their way down the rubble strewn street. Dana herself stuck close to the officers and joined Holst in keeping a sharp eye out for any unpleasant surprises. It took them nearly half an hour, but eventually, they had made it within sight of their destination, while remaining completely undetected. Unfortunately, that was about to change, as a pair of drones appeared to block their path.
As the imposing machines drew nearer, Garnier suggested that if the pair was taken out fast enough, they might not even have time to signal the others. Not wasting a moment, Nicole was quick to issue orders, which basically boiled down to "have Penny smash the crap out of them". An instant later, Team 3's pint-sized powerhouse proceeded to do just that. In short order, the two machines had been reduced to piles of sparking scrap, curtesy of Penny's rocket hammer, and a few supporting shots from Dana's own gladius to finish them off. The only question now was, had their little "demolition derby" attracted the attention of the other drones in the area? With that thought at the forefront of her mind, Dana's piercing gaze swiftly scanned the surrounding area, the energetic Norban on high alert for any sign of approaching danger.</s> |
<|description|>Dana Noel
The Mundane
Age: 16
Sanctum City: Norba, the southern-most of the two Jupiter cities.
Description:
In her normal, untransformed state, Dana has medium length black hair and bright, golden eyes. She usually likes to wear oversized t-shirts and shorts. She also has a single, oversized tooth, which often protrudes from her mouth like a small fang.
Personality: Dana is a bright and cheery girl with a bubbly and fun-loving disposition. She hates to see people who are sad, and always does her best to cheer them up (she can be quite persistent in this regard). She loves hanging out with friends, making new ones, and generally just enjoying life. Incredibly optimistic, she has every confidence that humanity has a bright future ahead of it, and she will do everything she can to make that future a reality. Dana can also be somewhat playful and mischievous, but never in a mean-spirited way, and if she realizes she's upsetting someone, she'll immediately stop and apologize.
Background: Dana was lucky. She grew up in a loving, prosperous family, with plenty of siblings and friends. Unlike some, who would allow such blessings to blind them to the pain and misery afflicting so many in the world, Dana's perception of their plight only grew more acute. From an early age, she vowed to do her best to help anyone in need. She had been blessed for a reason, and she was certain that reason was to care for those who weren't as fortunate as her. The poor, the suffering, the lonely, the vulnerable, she wanted to be there for all of them, to make their lives better in any way she could.
With her parents' full support, she began volunteering at shelters and soup kitchens, as well as going on relief missions to the poorest districts of her city. It was during this time that she discovered her affinity for magic, and the Light Elementum, in particular, which she used to great effect in lifting the spirits of the downtrodden. Upon receiving an invitation to the prestigious Nova Lux Academy, Dana was overjoyed at the thought of gaining the power to help even more people, and the opportunity to make some new friends along the way was just icing on the cake.
The Magical
Armgaus Name: Shining Golden Sapphire
Gladius: Shining Zenith, a gleaming silver energy pistol.
Parma:
When transformed, Dana wears a somewhat cowboy-style outfit, with the unusual additions of a cape and a witch's hat. Her entire outfit has a very cheerful color palette, which perfectly reflects her disposition.
Elementum: Light
Elementum Abilities: Dana can fire piercing beams of light and can also create blinding flares or small motes of illumination. These can be employed not only to banish enemies and darkness, but illusions as well. By focusing her powers upon herself, she can obtain enhanced perception and awareness for a short time. With some concentration, Dana can even condense the light she manifests into a protective shield for herself, or a nearby ally. In addition, she possesses some moderate healing and purification abilities. This healing is not limited to the physical, as she can also mend emotional wounds and lift people's spirits when they are filled with doubt or despair.</s>
<|message|>Cordelia Whittaker
---
Cordelia watched as Penny did as Penny always did under pressure. She skillfully used her hammer like a chisel, picking apart their enemies with a tactical precision only available to an upper echelon of combatant. Just like that, they were met with silence. The pitter of the rain, the winds now calming somewhat. Cordelia felt the rain trace silhouettes around her face, as they all stood in suspended animation, waiting to hear an onslaught approaching.
But, they didn't. In fact, they didn't hear much of anything. The best-case scenario.
Lucky us.
The Ars Magi quickly top to the top floor of the building Aiya had pointed out to them. Before long, all that was left to focus on, was watching and waiting. Cordelia found herself distracted from looking for Nox, or machines alike. Rather, her eyes wandered out towards the lives of those past, what they had built, and what little remained of it all. Cordelia could feel the fragility of the world she stood to protect when she looked out at what once had been.
The way the rain brought down sheets of moisture atop it, as if trying to slowly, over the course of decades and centuries, slowly push man's creation back into the planet. It was something to behold. Some kind of spectacle, even though it looked like nothing was happening. Cordelia chewed on her protein bar, shew as no snob for food and didn't often eat for pleasure's sake so she found it passably flavourful.
She looked around, at the others Ars Magi. Those of their respective elementum's, aether, wind, lightning, and light. She looked at them, trying to find the elementum within, trying to see it. Cordelia faltered, though, when the group began to speak.
It was Aiya, her words to each of the Ars Magi that pulled Cordelia from her stupor. Cordelia's cheeks flamed as she was complimented and lightly, loosely propositioned for another dance. She glanced away, into a bit of glass, searching for her voice to respond. "That's very kind of him," she whispered sweetly into her knees. She pulled them closer, wrapping her arms around them and squeezing tight. "I'd be honoured to afford you whatever kindness I afforded him."
It was odd, being a soldier. Cordelia was having trouble keeping her mind off of that thought as of late. Her mind couldn't resist the pull of considering the bigger picture of what exactly was happening in her life, and how radically different it all was now. She looked into the mirror she had made, shattered and fractured, her reflection still stared resolutely back at her. "I remember," Cordelia began, testing her voice. "A time when nobody would ever consider me an adequate dance partner, let alone requesting another." Her eyes were locked on Penny's shoes. Not for a particular reason, but simply to avoid looking anywhere else.
"It feels nice," Cordelia looked upwards, letting the rain run down her face as she scanned the grey clouds for something. "To speak, and not just be spoken to. To act, rather than be directed. I've never had this much freedom before." Her smiled returned, looking rather chipper, almost as she hugged her chin in tighter towards her kness. "m'not used to it yet," she muttered.</s>
<|message|>Penny Grenoble
---
After quickly striking at the mecha, Penny slides back, bracing herself for a second for a last-gasp attack, or worse, reinforcements. When those failed to materialize, she takes a breath of relief and skates back to the others. She finds herself perhaps a bit disappointed that the adrenaline rush had to end early, but she recognizes the need to keep this mission stealthy and avoid confrontations. Even if it was only a practice run.
She follows the others to the destination, keeping an eye out to see if they're being followed. Fortunately, nothing seems to have seen them, so she joins the team in cover. She walks up to Nichole and pats her on the shoulder.
"Hey, Nichole, you know I was just kidding about earlier, right?" she says with a smile. "We still cool?"
When the protein bars are being handed out, Penny catches hers one-handed and rips off the cover. She moves to throw the wrapper on the ground, but then thinks better of it and shoves it into her pocket. No sense in littering, even in an abandoned wasteland. She begins to dig in when Aiya springs the question on her.
"Hmmmnnff?" she grunts in response. "Ah, yfee-"
She catches herself, pauses to chew and swallow the bit in her mouth, and then resumes.
"Eh, I wouldn't call it flying," she responds. "Nichole can fly. I just know a bit of parkour and rollerblading, so I know how to use movement and momentum a bit, and I'm just crazy enough to carry around a rocket on a stick.
"As for the Juno engineers... sorry, but that's how it goes. The knee joint was sort of a gimme; I reasoned that there's only so much you can do to armor up leg joints before it hampers the mech's movement. The comm unit was a necessary target; I didn't know how fast their reaction times were, so I needed to stop it from calling for help. The head, though, that was a lucky guess. I was afraid they'd put the control unit deeper into the chest cavity, where it would have had better protection. I guess I'm lucky I specialize in melee, and that I hit pretty hard.
"Then again, that's why we're having these training exercises, right? To figure out where the weak points are and how to compensate for them in future fights."
Cordelia's response to Aiya surprises Penny just as she's about to resume eating the protein bar.
"Aw come on, don't be so hard on yourself," Penny offers in weak encouragement. "I mean, at least you can dance pretty good. I've never danced a waltz before, so all Dima and I wound up doing is stepping on each other's toes the whole time."</s>
| <|message|>Dana Noel
Dana exhaled a sigh of relief when no further threats materialized. However, she remained vigilant as their small group entered the parking garage and searched the abandoned structure for potential hostiles. The energetic Ars Magi only allowed herself to relax once they'd ensured the building was clear and settled into position on the top floor. It was actually pretty cool to watch how quickly the officers' gear was unpacked and assembled into quite the comprehensive command post. Once that work was done, it was apparently time for a snack break. "Thanks!" Dana told Holst with one of her trademark grins when the cadet offered her a protein bar. "You guys really did pack everything!"
Opening the wrapper, the bright eyed Norban took a bite out of the bar, while leaving the bottom half still contained in the wrapper. Casting her still-enhanced gaze over the darkened landscape beyond their shelter, Dana saw the brief bursts of illumination that denoted the locations of other teams participating in the exercise. As she continued to eat, she couldn't help but wonder how the others were faring, Noah, in particular. What kind of Ars Magi would he be paired with? The team Priya and Amanda were on? Or perhaps the one to which that towering, green-haired girl she'd seen at the ball belonged? In any event, her musings were soon brought to an abrupt end, when Aiya addressed them, inquiring first of Penny's speed, and then of Dana's marksmanship.
"I ghesh sho," the cheerful Norban replied as she chewed on the last piece of her bar. After gulping it down, she added, "I mean, Guardian Gunslinger Alexis was kinda my hero growin' up, so when I was told I was gonna get to be an Ars Magi, I wanted to be just like her!"
As if to demonstrate, Dana crumpled her wrapper up into a tight ball, before tossing it into the air. In the blink of an eye, she had drawn her gladius and snapped off an incandescent bolt of golden energy. The shot struck the wrapper dead center, instantly vaporizing it. With an impish smile, Dana twirled her pistol around a finger, before placing it back in its holster. However, her confidence was replaced by slight embarrassment a moment later, when Aiya noted how popular she'd been at the ball, which caused a small blush to color the cheerful Ars Magi's cheeks.
"Gosh, I sure hope not!" Dana replied with a nervous chuckle, when Aiya mentioned that her popularity might make some people jealous. "I just enjoy makin' new friends, that's all," she added, holding her hands up in a placating manner. "There nothin' wrong with that, right?" she asked with a hopeful smile, one made all the more charming by her oversized tooth poking out.</s> |
<|description|>Dana Noel
The Mundane
Age: 16
Sanctum City: Norba, the southern-most of the two Jupiter cities.
Description:
In her normal, untransformed state, Dana has medium length black hair and bright, golden eyes. She usually likes to wear oversized t-shirts and shorts. She also has a single, oversized tooth, which often protrudes from her mouth like a small fang.
Personality: Dana is a bright and cheery girl with a bubbly and fun-loving disposition. She hates to see people who are sad, and always does her best to cheer them up (she can be quite persistent in this regard). She loves hanging out with friends, making new ones, and generally just enjoying life. Incredibly optimistic, she has every confidence that humanity has a bright future ahead of it, and she will do everything she can to make that future a reality. Dana can also be somewhat playful and mischievous, but never in a mean-spirited way, and if she realizes she's upsetting someone, she'll immediately stop and apologize.
Background: Dana was lucky. She grew up in a loving, prosperous family, with plenty of siblings and friends. Unlike some, who would allow such blessings to blind them to the pain and misery afflicting so many in the world, Dana's perception of their plight only grew more acute. From an early age, she vowed to do her best to help anyone in need. She had been blessed for a reason, and she was certain that reason was to care for those who weren't as fortunate as her. The poor, the suffering, the lonely, the vulnerable, she wanted to be there for all of them, to make their lives better in any way she could.
With her parents' full support, she began volunteering at shelters and soup kitchens, as well as going on relief missions to the poorest districts of her city. It was during this time that she discovered her affinity for magic, and the Light Elementum, in particular, which she used to great effect in lifting the spirits of the downtrodden. Upon receiving an invitation to the prestigious Nova Lux Academy, Dana was overjoyed at the thought of gaining the power to help even more people, and the opportunity to make some new friends along the way was just icing on the cake.
The Magical
Armgaus Name: Shining Golden Sapphire
Gladius: Shining Zenith, a gleaming silver energy pistol.
Parma:
When transformed, Dana wears a somewhat cowboy-style outfit, with the unusual additions of a cape and a witch's hat. Her entire outfit has a very cheerful color palette, which perfectly reflects her disposition.
Elementum: Light
Elementum Abilities: Dana can fire piercing beams of light and can also create blinding flares or small motes of illumination. These can be employed not only to banish enemies and darkness, but illusions as well. By focusing her powers upon herself, she can obtain enhanced perception and awareness for a short time. With some concentration, Dana can even condense the light she manifests into a protective shield for herself, or a nearby ally. In addition, she possesses some moderate healing and purification abilities. This healing is not limited to the physical, as she can also mend emotional wounds and lift people's spirits when they are filled with doubt or despair.</s>
<|message|>Dana Noel
---
Over the next few days following her field test, Nova Lux's common room had almost become Dana's home away from home. Everyone was telling stories about how their exams had gone, with questions, answers, and a particularly unfortunate hamster flying left and right, along with no small amount of boasting and, occasionally, grumbling…. Indeed, it seemed that an unlucky few cadets had actually failed their exams, and as the school's resident living ray of sunshine, Dana found herself working overtime to brighten their spirits with friendly hugs and optimistic words of encouragement. Still, it was the tales of victory that really filled the cheerful Norban with eager excitement…
"Really?! The Amara Volkov?!" Dana exclaimed when Priya had revealed the identity of her instructor, the sunny sharpshooter's golden eyes seeming to gleam even brighter than usual. "That's so freakin' cool! Y'know, Shel and I just watched the episode of Guardian Gunslinger Alexis she cameoed in a few days ago! The part at the end where Alexis and Amara team up to take down that swarm of cyber-bugs has gotta be one of my favorite moments of the entire series! Check it out!" she added, turning to face some of the poor souls who had yet to see the episode in question. "So, Doctor Xylannis unleashes this army of Cybugs to wipe out the military research base on Delta Primus, right? And Alexis and her team jump into action to stop 'em, but they can't take out the queen's control node, 'cause even though Alexis can make the shot, her pistols don't have the range, which is when Amara makes this super dramatic entrance and is all 'Leave that to me'! It was just so freakin' badass! So, like, anyway, she lines up to take the shot," Dana continued, excitedly acting out the scene by holding up an imaginary sniper rifle. "And Alexis is using every trick shot she knows in order to keep the Cybugs from swarming her, and then finally, Amara fires, and the camera follows the shot all the way to the queen's control node, until… BLAM!!! It takes the thing out, causing the mother of all shockwaves to race through the Cybug army and make all their heads explode! Doesn't that sound absolutely AWESOME?!!" she asked, her gleeful visage looking over each of the gathered cadets in turn, most of whom were too stunned to answer.
Or were desperately trying to keep from laughing their heads off…
Once Dana had calmed down from her little "performance", she listened with rapt interest as Penny gave a synopsis of her own exam.
"Wow, Penny," the cheerful Norban said with a giggle. "Your test sounds like somethin' straight outta a horror movie! Y'know, once Halloween rolls around, we should totally get Yagami to set up a haunted house!" she added. "Anyways, at least now I know where your recent hatred for rodents came from!"
---
The end of exams also heralded the start of a two-week break, during which Dana found herself spending much of her time alongside Penny, while attending Priya's exercise group. Vanna's roommate, Cara Kelly, was also present, and Dana wasted no time in getting to know the redhead better, both in and out of combat. As it turned out, her first name was actually Nora, but she preferred to go by her middle name to preserve the "sweet alliteration", something Dana wholeheartedly approved of.
However, it was just as the break period was starting to wind down that the biggest surprise came…
"A party?" Dana asked, as she took a closer look at the text Nicole had received. "On a boat? And we're invited?! Count me in!"</s>
<|message|>Penny Grenoble
Penny just gave a little sigh at how energetic friend went off into a massive gushing description of the episode. She was right the first time; Dana was a seven year old in a teenager's body. Still, it's nice to listen to her She just gives a soft smile as Dana finishes her story.
Penny makes a face at the idea of Yagami hosting a haunted house.
"Yeeeaaaaaahhhhh.... I don't think that's such a good idea..." she says. "Two reasons.
"One, as I understand it, Yagami is pretty busy, like some other instructors who were brought in. And thank God, because, two, I ran into Instructor Baozhai after my exam, because she wanted to congratulate me on my success. I told her what happened, and joked that Yagami would run a pretty good haunted house. Immediately, Baozhai gives this... thousand yard stare and tells me to never, ever bring it up, especially in front of Yagami. Apparently, she had been in Yagami's year, and Yagami did run a haunted house - once. Except she ran it as a horror movie and traumatized more than a few students, Baozhai included. Nobody got physically hurt, mind, but they never let her run a haunted house again. Personally, I think she's a sadist."</s>
<|message|>Nicole Cognoscenti
---
Ooooh shit a boat...?
The haptic feedback on Nicole's touchscreen was giving Nicole's thumbprint the massage of a lifetime right now. The redhead's eyes were half-lidded, one leg languidly slung over the armrest of a common room sofa; two fingers on her left hand were idly playing with the untied shoelaces of a modern-looking pair of white sneakers, zebra-striped with the stark, bold-fonted words BISEXUAL SPACE PROGRAM horizontally, vertically and diagonally, black scars across the shoes' pale surfaces. Nicole's digits stroked the obsidian laces like locks of hair. Her eyes traced the text chain from Aiya for the twentieth time that morning, and yet the words still felt new to her. Not out of shock that the sensuous Duodecim royalty owned a boat. No.
She was tweakin'. And geekin'. And tweakin'. And geekin'.
She blinked with all the alacrity of a particularly sleepy lizard, and read the texts for the twenty-first time.
...
Ooooh shit, a boat...
Let's rewind. Two weeks prior, Nicole Cognoscenti's vibrations has been knocked askew by a grueling, Machiavellian test of her leadership qualities that had toppled a legendary Ars Magi from the heavens of hero worship and had done as much to solidify Nicole's position as the center of their group of friends as it had to make her question her place among them. In the opening days of their two week break, the Hastan girl had been spaced out and distracted, preoccupied with thoughts of her time at Nova Lux so far and the stresses of encroaching leadership to join in on the binges or breathless stories about her exams. Most of what had been whispered about Nicole's exam had come from hearsay; she said little on the subject personally. But she listened to the stories of some of the others, the feats of strength, speed, and ingenuity, and felt a little twinge of envy at how cool they all sounded. How...normal.
Nicole had always thought of herself as just a normal girl.
Enter the blessed angel Cordelia, butler to the stars, Nicole's current roommate and another potential candidate for the BISEXUAL SPACE PROGRAM. Cordy had intimate knowledge of the faces and attitudes that girls their age adopted when depressed, and had taken it upon herself to go out into some of Palmyra's more adventurous street food vendors or semi-reputable dive bars and seek out a cure for Nicole's ails. Some of the coffees she brought back were tasty and invigorating. Once she'd brought back a pizza from a small chain called Mirror World, whose claim to fame was that the pizza they served was not pizza at all, but cheese-wrapped breadsticks stuffed with sauce and toppings, which triggered Nicole's fight-or-flight instinct and for a time brought her back to her old self. But nothing quite touched the sketchy edibles that poor, faithful Cordy had brought back the other night from one of the nightclubs she'd seen Nicole return from with pamphlets. No doubt her old, wealthy patrons had partaken frequently, and Nicole wasn't about to act like a total saint herself. But if the victory of life was knowing oneself, Nicole liked to think she had won before she even left her teenage years - and one thing she knew about herself is that she did not play off being high super well. But she didn't want to be rude, and to be honest, they were kind of fun. Even when she had finally cajoled Cordy into taking one herself earlier that morning, and hadn't...seen her...since...
Hmmm. Uh oh! ...Uh oh.
Thankfully, the other girls didn't know her as well as she knew herself. So they probably thought she was still just tired. Yeaaaaaah.
"Mm? Oh. Yeaaaaaah." Nicole lifted her chin up and murmured absently at Penny and Dana, though it could have just as easily been a verbal acknowledgement of their stories as it was a response to Penny's questions. "Hey, did either of you two actually pack a swimsuit? And I mean like...a swimsuit. We gotta impress here, girls. I saw you two at the gala, I'm not the only one with something to lose on this love boat. So if you're not sure if what you brought is gonna be cute enough to be hit on, you gotta let me know right now while we have time to fix it."
...
"I'm not gonna look cute enough to be hit on. Oh God. God, I gotta go." Nicole moved her thumb away from the touchscreen, gasped a little at the sudden halt to the haptic sensation of her phone, and then moved it back. She eased herself to her feet and exhaled deeply, before realization struck her that oh God, she had to be careful doing that, or she may tear the common room apart with a hurricane gale. "I gotta go now."</s>
<|message|>Penny Grenoble
---
"Wait, what?" is Penny's only response to being told to get a swimsuit. It takes her a second to realize her team leader is actually being serious about it.
"Wait, what do you mean get a swimsuit?! Is it swimsuit-only?!" Penny asks in confusion. "Do I look like the sort to pack a swimsuit? Or even wear a swimsuit?"
Penny's inquiries go unanswered as the Hastan girl blitzes so quickly out of the room she generates a gale even without her Elementum.
"And where would I even get a swimsuit at this time?!" Penny calls out, even though Nichole has clearly gone out of earshot.</s>
| <|message|>Dana Noel
Dana listened as Penny explained why her haunted house suggestion probably wasn't the best idea, her eyes growing wider as the bespectacled girl went on.
"Wow…" a stunned Dana said once her roommate had finished. "That must have really been somethin', huh? I mean, it totally sucks that people actually got traumatized and all," she added with a frown, before her smile returned with full force. "But now I almost wanna see it even more, y'know?!"
---
"Swimsuit?" Dana echoed in slight confusion when Nicole inquired if she and Penny had packed swimwear. "Uh, yeah, I've got my usual one," she added. "But I don't really know how cute it is…" After all, Dana had never really been one for fashion, instead, simply wearing what felt comfortable. However, further discussion on the subject would have to wait, as Nicole proceeded to have something of a minor freak out before bolting out the door, leaving a not-so-small gust of wind in her wake.
"Uh, do ya think we should go after her?" Dana asked her roommate. "She looked kinda upset…"</s> |
<|description|>Cordelia Whittaker
The Mundane
Age: 18.
Sanctum City: Lucentum, The center-most city of Juno
Description: Cordelia is a girl of fair complexion with long light blue hair and discerning green eyes. She walks with a trained eloquence only those who have been formally taught etiquette can accomplish and carries herself with a humble confidence. Her fairly muscular figure strikes an impressive silhouette, though her footfalls are those of a trained dancer.
Cordelia's time as a butler has left her fashion sense severely underdeveloped. Cordelia's strongest attempt at casual-wear still revolves around a black suit and skirt with a white dress shirt underneath. While she has attempted to make foray's into more typical streetwear, she hasn't really figured it out just yet.
Personality: Through Cordelia's time as a butler, she was not paid for personality. However the few quirks she has established were not meeting eye contact, finishing a job once it was begun, and to always tastefully laugh when told a joke. Three hearty chuckles were typically sufficient.
She was trained in etiquette, and how to hold a conversation properly and is in no ways shy. Rather, she does not commonly offer opinion unless it is asked for her, and still has a bad habit of offering her services to those who are uniformly equal to or below her station. That being said, should you manage to eek an opinion from the girl she'd tell you that she was always fond of music. Simple pieces involving a single player presenting their skill, typically, nothing too gauche.
Cordelia is still in the process of understanding herself, for much of her life shew was told that the others around her were of far more importance than herself. Not necessarily in a way that felt demeaning, but it would not serve her well to be considering how she felt while trying to clean, cook, nor speak with one of her masters.
In a battle, Cordelia is as exacting as she must be. She will deliver swift punishment to any Nox, without hesitation. She is quite an adept team player, and understands the importance of camaraderie. While she many never be one to begin revelry, she certainly won't end it.
Background: Coredlia's tale was one of many initially. Orphaned at a young indeterminate age, she was taken in by a family with a legacy in order to serve, and survive. She had the good fortune of finding gainful employment as a butler. There she worked during the days and studied during the nights, taught by other butlers before her, she learned grace and decorum in servitude. She excelled in her academic and historical tutelage, quickly surpassing her pittance of an instructor and teaching herself through the books she was given access to.
Cordelia's responsibilities were primarily taking care of her younger masters, keeping the company, aiding with their hobbies and the like. She was responsible for keeping them safe as well, and while it was not a dangerous life they lead, she was prepared for anything. She was taught fundamentals of martial arts that had been passed down for years from before the world had turned to ruin, or so she was told. She was taught how to disarm an unruly guest of a weapon, and she was taught how to handle them. Cordelia would've been an asset for years to come had she not tested magically positive.
She wasn't really supposed to be tested in the first place. She was discovered to have circumvented testing due to her status as an orphan, and while the family was initially hesitant to allow it, it was made clear that decision was not theirs. Once discovered that she was positive, Cordelia was spirited away and taken to become an Ars Magi.
The Magical
Armgaus Name: Stark Stygian Diamond
Gladius: Pridwen is a massive greatsword nearly as large as Cordelia herself. Its front of entirely stained glass through which Cordelia can utilize her abilites and shield herself and others. She can always displace objects by translocating them through her blade. In this way, she can cut through almost anything, from fire, to concrete.
Parma:
When transformed, Cordelia eyes shift from their usual pale verdant to a yellowish glow while her hair lightens somewhat. Her outfit is a white and blue ensemble with long billowing sleeves and crystalline adornments scattered around the outfit.
Elementum: Glass
Elementum Abilities: Cordelia can create a shattered glass mirror in any space around her. Outside of her abilities it feels and looks like a glass mirror although there is no frame around it and it perfectly reflects its surroundings. Cordelia can utilize this glass or any other in order to absorb a blow and redirect it from any other fractal or reflection. All glass around her is essentially a portal form which she can redirect anything, including her teammates, herself or an incoming assault.
Cordelia may also manipulate glass in order to serve a purpose, for example, creating wings made of broken glass in order to fly. Or turning broken glass into steps for her or another to walk on.
Cordelia's fighting style attempts to exert complete control over the battlefield, though her capabilities are obviously limited by the amount of glass in the area. In a city-scape with buildings and shattered glass everywhere, Cordelia is at her strongest. But in a forest, field or any other natural area she is limited to her blade and her shattered glass mirror she can create.</s>
<|message|>Penny Grenoble
---
"So, Dima," Penny continues, trying not so much dance as wobble around in one place. "Where're you from? What's your home like, and do you miss it? What do they teach you at the Academy, and do you like it there?
"Going back to what you said about being an Ars Magi... I'd be lying if the shows didn't help me make up my mind. So far, it's been a bit routine, but there have been... interesting tests. Being an Ars Magi can be pretty exhilarating, at least to me. It's like... I dunno, I feel like I can just cut loose, do things nobody else can, really take it to the limit. The funny thing is, I'm not even an adrenaline junkie, or at least I wasn't before I got here. I just... wanted to help protect the people and things I care for..."</s>
<|message|>Nicole Cognoscenti
---
Nicole was a little flummoxed by Cordelia's dancing at first. She'd always been fantastic on her feet, sure, but her expertise in that area came from years of floundering in mosh pits or bouncing up and down, working up a sweat beneath the disorienting strobes of Hasta's club scene. They were different beasts than something as elegant as this waltz, and girls like their new teammate weren't usually the kind of guys or girls Nicole was pressed up against in the writhing throngs of partiers at home. The social aspects of this whole affair - helping all the girls look their fashionable, neomilitaristic best, helping them with what to say to mingle, maybe some winks at the fellas and some compliments for the girls - she could nail. But like at a club, there was always the anxiety that she could roll an ankle and completely eat shit while trying to look sophisticated.
Cordelia's whispering might have gone a long way in that regard, but she felt the noble-born girl taking the lead in their dance and decided to cede control to her for the first phase of their dance. Her words made Nicole think of Astrelle again with a twinge - it was hard to believe that her roommate had disappeared in the night the way she had, or been reassigned away from them. Had her family pulled some strings at her own insistence to get her pulled out? Was that even possible at this point? Had she struck someone a little too closely for comfort with her conspiratorial mindset?
"But that won't happen with me. I'm here to stay. Please count on me."
"Ha." The storm cloud over Nicole's head broke, and the redhead grinned impishly at the new girl's oath of loyalty. "Alright, roomie. I've got your back, you got mine. Score."
The waltz brought them closer together; she felt the gems inset in their navels touch like the tines of forks, sending a tingle through her body that sent her teeth burrowing into her lip.
"Would you like to try taking the lead, darling?"
Nicole laughed aloud and decided to give the second phase of their dance a whirl; thankfully, the song was a bit livelier, and as with many casual applications Nicole found herself more graceful and fearless when performing precise movements. It was as though she was now permanently in her element, fleet-footed and incapable of falling. It felt fantastic. After a while, even waltzing did too. She was about to ask Cordelia if she was into a drink when someone tapped her new teammate on the shoulder and offered to take her - Nicole Cognoscenti, perennially friendzoned just a month ago - off Cordelia's hands. She looked the girl offering to trade out Cordelia's place in their waltz - exotic-looking, with eyes that twinkled and hair that drank in the light around them. Nicole looked over to her own partner and felt her heart lurch slightly at his appearance - golden-skinned, amber-eyed, serious and surly, so like her own childhood best friend she had seen off with a knuckle touch. For a second she was tempted to run over to him and double-check it wasn't him in disguise, trying to fuck with her a little; she wanted to quiz him about weapons, music, or mocking passers-by based on their appearance, all favorite pastimes of his. She remembered the last time she had seen him, in the soft shadows, hazy lights, and pouring rain at the top of the White Tower. Jericho's hair had been plastered over his face, the color of dark chocolate with midnight streaks, and a single streak of crimson that he so carefully and regularly dyed. He chewed on the soaking-wet ends as he wished her goodbye.
She searched this cadet's hair; there was not a single trace of red. She felt bad for sizing him up like a replacement puppy. He was handsome, incredibly so, but he wasn't quite material for bumping fists in the courtyard.
She giggled, both out of amusement that she was being so heavily courted and from imagining how her torch song would be reacting to her attitude right now.
Goddamn it, Nicole. All the girls in the world who are capable of saving it, and the gods pick the one that thinks every boy from Osca looks alike. You're a danger to yourself and humanity in this shape. If I could go back in time ten years I would throw you from the monkey bars and save us all.
Ohhhh, yeah, she could hear him loud as day. That probably just proved her subconscious point - which meant it was worth taking under advisory. She grinned at the girl so gallantly offering to take her off Cordelia's hands, and outstretched her own to the almond-eyed cadet.
"I'd love to, babe," she said amiably, with a similar twinkle to her own partner's in her eye. "Nicole Cognoscenti - Hasta Vice."</s>
| <|message|>Cordelia Whittaker
As Nicole led Cordelia through a jauntier passage, the azure haired girl lost herself for a moment in their dance. He teeth raked the inside of her bottom lip as her new roommate effortlessly glided along the dance floor. The act made Cordelia yearn to discover how Nicole moved on the battlefield as well. They neared towards the end of the song, both panting, holding a pose as the band performed their final resounding notes and those who were not dancing clapped for the band and the dancers left on the floor. Cordelia's chest heaved as an innocuous smile hung on her lips, her eyes never leaving Nicole's.
It may've been something of an over-the-top gesture. But Cordelia had learned early to take pride in every action she performed. Whether it was how she dressed herself in the morning, or dancing in front of a crowd. You had your pride, she had been told once, or you had nothing. Before long, however two new figures made their presences known.
Hairs raised on the nape of Cordelia's neck as she felt a light touch trickle up her shoulder. The girl was taller than Cordelia, with eyes like almonds and a flowing black river of hair that ended pointedly near her upper back. She clearly spoke to Cordelia, but a buzzing sensation left from Nicole's and this girl's touch filled her senses to the brim, keeping the words from her. Cordelia looked down at his hand he held out, as if he was offering pomegranate seeds. Cordelia looked back at Nicole, who seemed to be gracefully accepting the offer of a long-haired, scarred boy opposite Cordelia's would-be dance partner. His dark eyes weren't dissimilar from the girl's, in fact, they could've been twins save for a few key differences.
Nicole dexterously spun around Coredelia, taking the hand of the girl before Cordelia could, but neither party seemed to mind much at all. The olive-skinned gentleman held his hand out to her all the same.
Cordelia nodded chastely and took the boy's hand gingerly in her own. Her demure attitude, however, belied her current thought process. The hair on her neck stayed raised, something felt odd about this. She wasn't sure what, they certainly appeared to be human and not some voidsent abomination. Cordelia thought back to a hunting lesson she was partial to once morning at the estate at which she had been raised and worked her entire life. Would you prefer to hunt a tiger, or a wolf? Of course, each of the student's provided educated answers as to why a wolf was the safer prey, a much lighter beast who relied on a pack to successfully hunt for itself. The instructor had nodded sagely, before explaining that each student was right in a classroom, but wrong in the field of a hunt. A tiger, as powerful as it was, could be backed into a corner, he explained. It fought alone, so it died alone. But to hunt a wolf was to constantly second guess yourself, wondering if others were behind you.
"Are you okay?" the boy asked Cordelia. The ars magi stifled her visage's desire to contort in surprise and instead forced a curt smile.
"I'm excellent," she responded. She let herself be pulled into her partner's embrace, tightening the distance between the both of them and allowing her hands to find his upperback, subtly feeling for a weapon the boy may've hidden on him. "Please, lead the way."</s> |
<|description|>Cordelia Whittaker
The Mundane
Age: 18.
Sanctum City: Lucentum, The center-most city of Juno
Description: Cordelia is a girl of fair complexion with long light blue hair and discerning green eyes. She walks with a trained eloquence only those who have been formally taught etiquette can accomplish and carries herself with a humble confidence. Her fairly muscular figure strikes an impressive silhouette, though her footfalls are those of a trained dancer.
Cordelia's time as a butler has left her fashion sense severely underdeveloped. Cordelia's strongest attempt at casual-wear still revolves around a black suit and skirt with a white dress shirt underneath. While she has attempted to make foray's into more typical streetwear, she hasn't really figured it out just yet.
Personality: Through Cordelia's time as a butler, she was not paid for personality. However the few quirks she has established were not meeting eye contact, finishing a job once it was begun, and to always tastefully laugh when told a joke. Three hearty chuckles were typically sufficient.
She was trained in etiquette, and how to hold a conversation properly and is in no ways shy. Rather, she does not commonly offer opinion unless it is asked for her, and still has a bad habit of offering her services to those who are uniformly equal to or below her station. That being said, should you manage to eek an opinion from the girl she'd tell you that she was always fond of music. Simple pieces involving a single player presenting their skill, typically, nothing too gauche.
Cordelia is still in the process of understanding herself, for much of her life shew was told that the others around her were of far more importance than herself. Not necessarily in a way that felt demeaning, but it would not serve her well to be considering how she felt while trying to clean, cook, nor speak with one of her masters.
In a battle, Cordelia is as exacting as she must be. She will deliver swift punishment to any Nox, without hesitation. She is quite an adept team player, and understands the importance of camaraderie. While she many never be one to begin revelry, she certainly won't end it.
Background: Coredlia's tale was one of many initially. Orphaned at a young indeterminate age, she was taken in by a family with a legacy in order to serve, and survive. She had the good fortune of finding gainful employment as a butler. There she worked during the days and studied during the nights, taught by other butlers before her, she learned grace and decorum in servitude. She excelled in her academic and historical tutelage, quickly surpassing her pittance of an instructor and teaching herself through the books she was given access to.
Cordelia's responsibilities were primarily taking care of her younger masters, keeping the company, aiding with their hobbies and the like. She was responsible for keeping them safe as well, and while it was not a dangerous life they lead, she was prepared for anything. She was taught fundamentals of martial arts that had been passed down for years from before the world had turned to ruin, or so she was told. She was taught how to disarm an unruly guest of a weapon, and she was taught how to handle them. Cordelia would've been an asset for years to come had she not tested magically positive.
She wasn't really supposed to be tested in the first place. She was discovered to have circumvented testing due to her status as an orphan, and while the family was initially hesitant to allow it, it was made clear that decision was not theirs. Once discovered that she was positive, Cordelia was spirited away and taken to become an Ars Magi.
The Magical
Armgaus Name: Stark Stygian Diamond
Gladius: Pridwen is a massive greatsword nearly as large as Cordelia herself. Its front of entirely stained glass through which Cordelia can utilize her abilites and shield herself and others. She can always displace objects by translocating them through her blade. In this way, she can cut through almost anything, from fire, to concrete.
Parma:
When transformed, Cordelia eyes shift from their usual pale verdant to a yellowish glow while her hair lightens somewhat. Her outfit is a white and blue ensemble with long billowing sleeves and crystalline adornments scattered around the outfit.
Elementum: Glass
Elementum Abilities: Cordelia can create a shattered glass mirror in any space around her. Outside of her abilities it feels and looks like a glass mirror although there is no frame around it and it perfectly reflects its surroundings. Cordelia can utilize this glass or any other in order to absorb a blow and redirect it from any other fractal or reflection. All glass around her is essentially a portal form which she can redirect anything, including her teammates, herself or an incoming assault.
Cordelia may also manipulate glass in order to serve a purpose, for example, creating wings made of broken glass in order to fly. Or turning broken glass into steps for her or another to walk on.
Cordelia's fighting style attempts to exert complete control over the battlefield, though her capabilities are obviously limited by the amount of glass in the area. In a city-scape with buildings and shattered glass everywhere, Cordelia is at her strongest. But in a forest, field or any other natural area she is limited to her blade and her shattered glass mirror she can create.</s>
<|message|>Dana Noel
---
"She really is!" Dana agreed with an enthusiastic nod when Noah mentioned how good a teacher Vanna must be. "In fact, she's amazing at pretty much everything!" the cheerful Norban added with a grin. "But then, I'd expect nothin' less from a member of the Duodecim!"
Noah then went on to talk about his studies at the Officers Academy, which led to the discussion of training exercises, and, in particular, the recent drama at the testing grounds.
"Nah, it's fine!" Dana reassured her partner with a smile when he worried about getting her in trouble with his line of questioning. "We've been talkin' about it for days, now. And you heard right," she added. "After we finished the last of our tests, there was a big spike in Nox levels, which caused a C-class Void to show up. It was kinda scary," she admitted. "But also pretty cool, since it gave us a chance to work together as a team! Well, most of us, anyway…" she clarified. "For some reason, they decided to hold Vanna back. I guess it probably has something to do with her bein' a noble and all, but what's the point of training to become an Ars Magi if ya can't fight Voids? So, yeah!" she continued, chuckling a bit at getting sidetracked. "We worked together and totally kicked the crap outta that thing! It was really great!"
"What's your training like?" she asked after a moment. "Do ya get to go out into the field, or is it all desk work?"</s>
<|message|>Penny Grenoble
---
As the two continue dancing, Penny looks around, trying to get a feel for the place now. As she looks around, she catches a glimpse of Victoria Glass in the crowd. She's a bit too far off for Penny to discern her expression, not helped by the fact Wings of Justice apparently had one hell of a poker face. Other faces there include a couple of folk Penny vaguely remembers from some newscasts and TV shows.
"Eh, don't worry about it," Penny replies. "In fact, ever since I got here, I think I'm getting better control over it. First time the Elementum manifested, though? I kept getting static shocks and short-circuiting electronics. Not a good thing to have when you like to work with electronics, trust me.
"I'll admit, being an Ars Magi can be... a bit of a rush," she admits. "It feels... different somehow. Some feel drained after using their abilities, I'm one of those who just gets... well, charged up. Almost scary, to be honest.
"Oh, oh no, no need to be sorry," she says. "I'm... well, I'm kind of a huge nerd for Altea myself. I think I remember Valkyrie Wren, though, maybe just the OVA. Even got afair amount of Gunslinger Alexis, but really, Altea's more my cup of tea, so to speak.
"Oh, so you're a neighbor, then," Penny replies cheerfully when he mentions where he's from. "I'm from Siscia, that's why. Yeah, I know what it's like being in a dome, Siscia's got one herself. Probably not as hot as Pola, though it can still be a scorcher in summer.
"Hey, don't put yourself down," she says in encouragment. "Sure, being military isn't as glamorous as the Ars Magi, but you guys do some real work, I know that. And I'm not saying that to cheer you up, by the way; my mom's a Sarge in the Siscia Defense Forces, so I know what you guys do. And I really appreciate it.
"My family's a bit... bigger," she says. "Well, a lot bigger. Mom, Dad, and six siblings. I'm the third oldest. Yeah, it can be a handful at times, but I wouldn't give them up for the world.
"So, Dima," she continues, "how far are you in your studies? Have you decided which branch you want to join yet? Infantry, Armor, Air Support, HQ...?"
She looks out again at the crowd.
"Is it just me, or is that Lucille LeBlanc? I recognize her from one of the news reports we used to see all the time in Siscia. It's... really kind of scary how many important faces there are here."</s>
| <|message|>Cordelia Whittaker
Cordelia noted the boy's finely tuned precision, his form reminded her of her instructor from when she was a child. Always leading to a point, but letting Cordelia perform a flourish in order to make it look as though she had been in charge the entire time. Her hands gracefully spun in his as she twirled outwards into the center of the dance floor. Her eyes flitted to her teammates, all dancing with wolves in their own rights. Cordelia felt the hot breeze of dance floor wind brush through her cerulean locks as she spun back in place, towards the boy.
"That's correct," she affirms as he inquires with a voice at a low static hum. His voice isn't a growl, though it took Cordelia's knowing a man who growled constantly to recognize the minute differences. This voice was just perceptible enough to be heard, but over the live band and the constant chattering and laughter, that was a decision and careful tuning of his own voice. His compliments washed over Cordelia, a foreign feeling as the kind words and concern caught the once maid in surprise. Unlike the low growl of an angered man, Cordelia was not used to such niceties and couldn't perceive the truthfulness to what he was saying. Her hands drifted from his waist to his neck and chin, holding him as if she was to kiss him like a lover. "That's very kind of you to say," she said, gazing into his eyes. "I'm not concerned about, which team I'm placed on." Her face came close to his, as the song began to slow and she embraced him, her hands pulling the back of his head onto her shoulder, holding him there for a moment.
The song picked back up and Cordelia once more let him lead, pulling her into a dip as he looked down at her. "The tales we tell children are often of warning," Cordelia said. Looking into his eyes from her vantage parallel to the ground. "I should hope mine isn't that."</s> |
<|description|>Cordelia Whittaker
The Mundane
Age: 18.
Sanctum City: Lucentum, The center-most city of Juno
Description: Cordelia is a girl of fair complexion with long light blue hair and discerning green eyes. She walks with a trained eloquence only those who have been formally taught etiquette can accomplish and carries herself with a humble confidence. Her fairly muscular figure strikes an impressive silhouette, though her footfalls are those of a trained dancer.
Cordelia's time as a butler has left her fashion sense severely underdeveloped. Cordelia's strongest attempt at casual-wear still revolves around a black suit and skirt with a white dress shirt underneath. While she has attempted to make foray's into more typical streetwear, she hasn't really figured it out just yet.
Personality: Through Cordelia's time as a butler, she was not paid for personality. However the few quirks she has established were not meeting eye contact, finishing a job once it was begun, and to always tastefully laugh when told a joke. Three hearty chuckles were typically sufficient.
She was trained in etiquette, and how to hold a conversation properly and is in no ways shy. Rather, she does not commonly offer opinion unless it is asked for her, and still has a bad habit of offering her services to those who are uniformly equal to or below her station. That being said, should you manage to eek an opinion from the girl she'd tell you that she was always fond of music. Simple pieces involving a single player presenting their skill, typically, nothing too gauche.
Cordelia is still in the process of understanding herself, for much of her life shew was told that the others around her were of far more importance than herself. Not necessarily in a way that felt demeaning, but it would not serve her well to be considering how she felt while trying to clean, cook, nor speak with one of her masters.
In a battle, Cordelia is as exacting as she must be. She will deliver swift punishment to any Nox, without hesitation. She is quite an adept team player, and understands the importance of camaraderie. While she many never be one to begin revelry, she certainly won't end it.
Background: Coredlia's tale was one of many initially. Orphaned at a young indeterminate age, she was taken in by a family with a legacy in order to serve, and survive. She had the good fortune of finding gainful employment as a butler. There she worked during the days and studied during the nights, taught by other butlers before her, she learned grace and decorum in servitude. She excelled in her academic and historical tutelage, quickly surpassing her pittance of an instructor and teaching herself through the books she was given access to.
Cordelia's responsibilities were primarily taking care of her younger masters, keeping the company, aiding with their hobbies and the like. She was responsible for keeping them safe as well, and while it was not a dangerous life they lead, she was prepared for anything. She was taught fundamentals of martial arts that had been passed down for years from before the world had turned to ruin, or so she was told. She was taught how to disarm an unruly guest of a weapon, and she was taught how to handle them. Cordelia would've been an asset for years to come had she not tested magically positive.
She wasn't really supposed to be tested in the first place. She was discovered to have circumvented testing due to her status as an orphan, and while the family was initially hesitant to allow it, it was made clear that decision was not theirs. Once discovered that she was positive, Cordelia was spirited away and taken to become an Ars Magi.
The Magical
Armgaus Name: Stark Stygian Diamond
Gladius: Pridwen is a massive greatsword nearly as large as Cordelia herself. Its front of entirely stained glass through which Cordelia can utilize her abilites and shield herself and others. She can always displace objects by translocating them through her blade. In this way, she can cut through almost anything, from fire, to concrete.
Parma:
When transformed, Cordelia eyes shift from their usual pale verdant to a yellowish glow while her hair lightens somewhat. Her outfit is a white and blue ensemble with long billowing sleeves and crystalline adornments scattered around the outfit.
Elementum: Glass
Elementum Abilities: Cordelia can create a shattered glass mirror in any space around her. Outside of her abilities it feels and looks like a glass mirror although there is no frame around it and it perfectly reflects its surroundings. Cordelia can utilize this glass or any other in order to absorb a blow and redirect it from any other fractal or reflection. All glass around her is essentially a portal form which she can redirect anything, including her teammates, herself or an incoming assault.
Cordelia may also manipulate glass in order to serve a purpose, for example, creating wings made of broken glass in order to fly. Or turning broken glass into steps for her or another to walk on.
Cordelia's fighting style attempts to exert complete control over the battlefield, though her capabilities are obviously limited by the amount of glass in the area. In a city-scape with buildings and shattered glass everywhere, Cordelia is at her strongest. But in a forest, field or any other natural area she is limited to her blade and her shattered glass mirror she can create.</s>
<|message|>Dana Noel
---
Dana exhaled a sigh of relief when no further threats materialized. However, she remained vigilant as their small group entered the parking garage and searched the abandoned structure for potential hostiles. The energetic Ars Magi only allowed herself to relax once they'd ensured the building was clear and settled into position on the top floor. It was actually pretty cool to watch how quickly the officers' gear was unpacked and assembled into quite the comprehensive command post. Once that work was done, it was apparently time for a snack break. "Thanks!" Dana told Holst with one of her trademark grins when the cadet offered her a protein bar. "You guys really did pack everything!"
Opening the wrapper, the bright eyed Norban took a bite out of the bar, while leaving the bottom half still contained in the wrapper. Casting her still-enhanced gaze over the darkened landscape beyond their shelter, Dana saw the brief bursts of illumination that denoted the locations of other teams participating in the exercise. As she continued to eat, she couldn't help but wonder how the others were faring, Noah, in particular. What kind of Ars Magi would he be paired with? The team Priya and Amanda were on? Or perhaps the one to which that towering, green-haired girl she'd seen at the ball belonged? In any event, her musings were soon brought to an abrupt end, when Aiya addressed them, inquiring first of Penny's speed, and then of Dana's marksmanship.
"I ghesh sho," the cheerful Norban replied as she chewed on the last piece of her bar. After gulping it down, she added, "I mean, Guardian Gunslinger Alexis was kinda my hero growin' up, so when I was told I was gonna get to be an Ars Magi, I wanted to be just like her!"
As if to demonstrate, Dana crumpled her wrapper up into a tight ball, before tossing it into the air. In the blink of an eye, she had drawn her gladius and snapped off an incandescent bolt of golden energy. The shot struck the wrapper dead center, instantly vaporizing it. With an impish smile, Dana twirled her pistol around a finger, before placing it back in its holster. However, her confidence was replaced by slight embarrassment a moment later, when Aiya noted how popular she'd been at the ball, which caused a small blush to color the cheerful Ars Magi's cheeks.
"Gosh, I sure hope not!" Dana replied with a nervous chuckle, when Aiya mentioned that her popularity might make some people jealous. "I just enjoy makin' new friends, that's all," she added, holding her hands up in a placating manner. "There nothin' wrong with that, right?" she asked with a hopeful smile, one made all the more charming by her oversized tooth poking out.</s>
<|message|>Nicole Cognoscenti
---
Nicole was grateful for the moment to catch her breath. As she plopped down, she felt her knees lock together for a moment and thought back to her school days - kids circled around each other, daring each other to lock their legs together into rigid planks and see who passed out last, playing their stupid kid games. Of course, Nicole was no exception.
But she was totally grown-up now, and way beyond testing something that dumb, so she made sure to unlock them after just four seconds. After she'd made sure she had a bit of the old 'staying conscious' magic. Penny approached her just as she spread and stretched her legs, testing her ankles with little twirls. She grinned coquettishly back at Penny as her bespectacled teammate inquired about their relationship status, and leaned in to give an emphatic smooch to the Siscian girl's freckled cheek.
"Nahhh, we're like this," she confided, locking her index and middle fingers in a tight cross. "Thick as thieves always, Penny, you know that. Great firepower out there."
She leaned in and munched on her own energy bar while she listened to Aiya stoke Dana's fire a little. She had to giggle. Aiya was as relentless a flirt as Nicole herself, but it was brilliant watching Dana completely no-sell it and start going off on another tangent about Guardian Gunslinger Alexis and making friends.
"You tell her, Dana!" crowed Nicole in support of her teammate, when she was between mouthfuls of granola. "Youuuu tell her. Nothin' wrong with it at all. You're doing great, babe."
Cordelia was a little less prepared for Aiya's onslaught, and Nicole felt her mouth twitch in empathy for her roommate. She knew that, despite her best efforts, Cordelia was still adjusting to the idea of replacing Astrelle - a phantom that the new arrival to their team had never even seen before, yet still hung over her as surely as the grey and indigo storm clouds above. Nicole was still grappling with some of the implications of her friend's transfer herself, but she was doing her best to treat the one-time butler with every bit of the encouragement and zest she fronted for the rest of the team, too. Maybe they all needed to go out together. Force her to enjoy town the same way Nicole herself had, and Vanna too.
Her smile widened and she swung around on her perch, lifting up her legs and wrapping them around Cordelia's midsection. Nicole's right leg tucked between her midriff and her tightly drawn legs, wedged underneath her head protectively.
"You girls don't think I'm that jealous now, do you? Think I need to try and keep all the hotness to myself?" she asked the two nobles playfully. "You can dance if you want to, Cordy. All my best friends love to dance. Especially with each other."</s>
| <|message|>Cordelia Whittaker
Cordelia's wistful glance out to the world, to the night sky, was interrupted by Penny's careful reassurance. The steadiness of the girl came through in not the way she spoke, but what she chose to say. "Aw come on, don't be so hard on yourself, I mean, at least you can dance pretty good. I've never danced a waltz before, so all Dima and I wound up doing is stepping on each other's toes the whole time."
Cordelia's rose lips parted in something halfway to a smile, and she tried to answer before Nicole caught her in the friendliest leglock anyone would ever receive. One leg wrapping around her midriff, Cordelia felt herself get wrapped into the embrace. Nicole's voice came twice, once with the rain, gently coaxing the previous expression plaguing Cordelia's porcelain features out. Replacing it with something lighter. The second, a gentle hum through her legs into Cordelia's body, a thrum akin to a chortle in the pit of one's stomach. "You girls don't think I'm that jealous now, do you? Think I need to try and keep all the hotness to myself? They had pushed their teammate's back against the wall, with no other choice, a small giggle escaped her lips. "You can dance if you want to, Cordy. All my best friends love to dance. Especially with each other."
Cordelia's voice faltered while she spoke in a way that was informative to how unused to speaking while laughing the young Ars Magi was. "I can imagine you and your bevy of men, women, probably even the nox would line up for a dance with you!" she managed between quick breaths. Her face carried forward, its smile and lightness this time. "Thank you," she wrapped her arms around the leg pressed against her midriff. "I'll be easier on myself, I promise."
Cordelia watched as Dana responded to Aiya's question, innocence incarnated on full display for all to see. It made her grin just that bit wider, and she laughed with the group at the name dropping of one Guardian Gunslinger Alexis. For a moment, Cordelia didn't feel as though they were on a mission. It felt almost as if they were simply hanging out together. She relished in this. This moment of serenity admist the rain, and the ruins. Cordelia felt for the first time in a while that she was getting used to it. That she wasn't in combat. This conversation wasn't life or death. It was just a bit of fun.
She turned to Aiya, resolutely. "Whenever you want to dance, just let me know." Her words were confident this time. "If you think you can handle me," she added, trying to wink but only managing a slightly delayed blink.</s> |
<|description|>Cordelia Whittaker
The Mundane
Age: 18.
Sanctum City: Lucentum, The center-most city of Juno
Description: Cordelia is a girl of fair complexion with long light blue hair and discerning green eyes. She walks with a trained eloquence only those who have been formally taught etiquette can accomplish and carries herself with a humble confidence. Her fairly muscular figure strikes an impressive silhouette, though her footfalls are those of a trained dancer.
Cordelia's time as a butler has left her fashion sense severely underdeveloped. Cordelia's strongest attempt at casual-wear still revolves around a black suit and skirt with a white dress shirt underneath. While she has attempted to make foray's into more typical streetwear, she hasn't really figured it out just yet.
Personality: Through Cordelia's time as a butler, she was not paid for personality. However the few quirks she has established were not meeting eye contact, finishing a job once it was begun, and to always tastefully laugh when told a joke. Three hearty chuckles were typically sufficient.
She was trained in etiquette, and how to hold a conversation properly and is in no ways shy. Rather, she does not commonly offer opinion unless it is asked for her, and still has a bad habit of offering her services to those who are uniformly equal to or below her station. That being said, should you manage to eek an opinion from the girl she'd tell you that she was always fond of music. Simple pieces involving a single player presenting their skill, typically, nothing too gauche.
Cordelia is still in the process of understanding herself, for much of her life shew was told that the others around her were of far more importance than herself. Not necessarily in a way that felt demeaning, but it would not serve her well to be considering how she felt while trying to clean, cook, nor speak with one of her masters.
In a battle, Cordelia is as exacting as she must be. She will deliver swift punishment to any Nox, without hesitation. She is quite an adept team player, and understands the importance of camaraderie. While she many never be one to begin revelry, she certainly won't end it.
Background: Coredlia's tale was one of many initially. Orphaned at a young indeterminate age, she was taken in by a family with a legacy in order to serve, and survive. She had the good fortune of finding gainful employment as a butler. There she worked during the days and studied during the nights, taught by other butlers before her, she learned grace and decorum in servitude. She excelled in her academic and historical tutelage, quickly surpassing her pittance of an instructor and teaching herself through the books she was given access to.
Cordelia's responsibilities were primarily taking care of her younger masters, keeping the company, aiding with their hobbies and the like. She was responsible for keeping them safe as well, and while it was not a dangerous life they lead, she was prepared for anything. She was taught fundamentals of martial arts that had been passed down for years from before the world had turned to ruin, or so she was told. She was taught how to disarm an unruly guest of a weapon, and she was taught how to handle them. Cordelia would've been an asset for years to come had she not tested magically positive.
She wasn't really supposed to be tested in the first place. She was discovered to have circumvented testing due to her status as an orphan, and while the family was initially hesitant to allow it, it was made clear that decision was not theirs. Once discovered that she was positive, Cordelia was spirited away and taken to become an Ars Magi.
The Magical
Armgaus Name: Stark Stygian Diamond
Gladius: Pridwen is a massive greatsword nearly as large as Cordelia herself. Its front of entirely stained glass through which Cordelia can utilize her abilites and shield herself and others. She can always displace objects by translocating them through her blade. In this way, she can cut through almost anything, from fire, to concrete.
Parma:
When transformed, Cordelia eyes shift from their usual pale verdant to a yellowish glow while her hair lightens somewhat. Her outfit is a white and blue ensemble with long billowing sleeves and crystalline adornments scattered around the outfit.
Elementum: Glass
Elementum Abilities: Cordelia can create a shattered glass mirror in any space around her. Outside of her abilities it feels and looks like a glass mirror although there is no frame around it and it perfectly reflects its surroundings. Cordelia can utilize this glass or any other in order to absorb a blow and redirect it from any other fractal or reflection. All glass around her is essentially a portal form which she can redirect anything, including her teammates, herself or an incoming assault.
Cordelia may also manipulate glass in order to serve a purpose, for example, creating wings made of broken glass in order to fly. Or turning broken glass into steps for her or another to walk on.
Cordelia's fighting style attempts to exert complete control over the battlefield, though her capabilities are obviously limited by the amount of glass in the area. In a city-scape with buildings and shattered glass everywhere, Cordelia is at her strongest. But in a forest, field or any other natural area she is limited to her blade and her shattered glass mirror she can create.</s>
<|message|>Dana Noel
---
After exchanging an energetic high five with Dana, Noah joined the other officers in taking a moment to confer on their next course of action, ultimately deciding to make use of Cordelia's portal to take up position on the nearby rooftop. Meanwhile, it appeared Amanda was preparing to join the fight against the giant mech and wanted Dana to tag along. "Roger that!" the sunny sharpshooter acknowledged with an eager grin. As the two Ars Magi ran down the rain-soaked street, they saw Nicole send a blast of wind slicing through the metallic titan's already damaged leg. Coupled with a slash from Priya's flaming sword, this caused the towering war machine to topple forward with a mighty crash. "Nice work Nicole!" Dana called out. "You, too, Priya!" However, their robotic foe quickly proved that it was still very much a threat by launching a salvo of missiles, which shot high into the sky, before arcing down to fall upon the officers and Ars Magi below. "Don't worry guys!" Dana reassured her allies. "I got this!"
Summoning an array of glowing stars, the golden gunslinger took aim with Shining Zenith, before unleashing a lance of auric energy at the lead missile, her stars combining their smaller beams on two additional missiles. Once these initial targets were dealt with, they repeated the process on three more. In a matter of seconds, half of the incoming missiles had been taken out, but the rest were now getting dangerously close…
"Uh, guys?" Dana asked nervously. "I think I might need a little help…"</s>
<|message|>Nicole Cognoscenti
---
"Then it's help you'll get, beautiful," sang the wind.
Dana, as always, had done splendid work in thinning out the onslaught of missiles; it seemed to Nicole's eye as though half, maybe less, of the munitions the robot had unleashed in its death throes now remained intact and buzzing. That was more than enough to turn the average city block - and the average cute girl defending it - into cinders and craters. But this testing dump was no average city block - and Nicole and Dana were definitely not the average cuties.
With a wave at the direction of her team's sniper and her trainee cohorts, Nicole buzzed by parallel to the ground team, slowing her roll slightly, so that the intent tracking on the missiles would be tempted towards a similarly aerial target. The shift in their trajectories was barely perceptible, but it was there; enough for Nicole to grin in resigned triumph and began flying to evade again, kicking a little more speed out of her long, outstretched legs.</s>
<|message|>Penny Grenoble
---
Penny proceeds to rush as fast as she can, barely outpacing the giant mecha's tracking systems, though she still has enough breathing room to fire off a blast of lightning at the mecha, taking out its weaponry on one side while Blair handled the other. Between them, Penny would say they're doing a good job taking out the giant mech's offensive capabilities.
Of course, the machine then makes the smart move to switch its attentions on the nuisances taking out its weaponry - which unfortunately for Penny, happens to be Penny herself.
"Well, of course it fucking would," Penny grumbles, now pouring on the speed trying to avoid getting vaporized by the sheer firepower thrown her way. "Motherfucking thing has a goddamn vendetta against me!"
She starts veering left, right, up and down, jumping from rooftop to rooftop, and it's barely keeping the beam off her ass. If she isn't focusing on survival right now, she bets she could admire the sheer devastation the thing was inflicting on the ruined cityscape.
"I'd admire its determination," she grunts as she avoids yet another explosion, coasting off the shockwave to gain a bit more speed, "if it wasn't trying to turn me into a grease stain against the concrete!"
Another near-hit causes a massive blast that throws her off one rooftop and onto another, where she manages to regain her balance and tumbles almost skillfully back onto her feet, scraped and scuffed all over, but still in fighting shape. She spits as she wipes the dirt and grit off her face.
Fortunately, she finds reprieve as the machine is toppled through the combined efforts of Nichole and Priya, causing the massive thing to crash against several buildings, knocking a couple over and causing a plume of dust and debris to shoot up into the sky. She'd celebrate, but the thing is down, not out, even as Amanda and the other girls are trying to take it apart.
"On it!" Penny replies on the comm as she races back towards the fallen metal titan. She dodges incoming fire and weaves between the vengeance blasts aimed at her, and then grabs a chunk of flying concrete, vaults over a missile, uses the concrete as a shield from the blast, and uses the shockwave to send her flying upwards. Jumping from one piece of flying debris to another, she ascends skywards, barely avoiding an airburst that nearly sends her hurtling on an uncontrolled trajectory. She quickly regains control, using her rocket blasts to stabilize her spinning. As she regains her focus, she finds herself hundreds of feet into the air, right above the toppled mecha. Now's her chance.
At her command, GroB Eisen fires up its rocket as lightning crackles around it, charging up its power even as it pulls Penny downwards in a reckless dive. As she goes further and further down, coming to earth as a runaway meteorite, she grips her giant hammer tightly as she charges it with power. Soon, she's enveloped in a terrifying display of lightning. She gives a mighty roaring warcry as she comes down as hard as she can at the mecha.
"KAISERSCHLAG!" she cries out. "STURM! UND! DRANG!"
She comes down on the giant warmachine, bringing with her the full wrath of the thunderstorm. Lightning strikes as her hammer hits metal, bright arcs of pure electrical power striking the target in a terrifying technicolor display.</s>
| <|message|>Cordelia Whittaker
Cordelia panted, releasing her portals for a moment and shoving her greatsword into the dirt beneath her to give her something to lean on. Providing fast transportation to so many different areas at once had left her gasping for air, her chest rising and falling on its own as her body desperately tried to catch up to the wear that she had already inflicted on it. She watched as the machine, on its last legs of strength, released an entire silo of missiles. Each one spiraling off to its own target and trajectory, some amining for rooftop agents, some for the ground teams, and others for the other Ars Magi currently in conflict with it.
Cordelia tried to rip open a portal around some of the missiles, but lost her footing, her legs buckling and taking her to the ground. Still panting, she couldn't speak over the comms. She thought back to her training, not just here, but before becoming an Ars Magi.
"In a moment of crisis, allow yourself three seconds. Breathe, eliminate all doubt, and then act. That is all you can do."
The words rung clearly through her mind. Cordelia's hands dropped the greatsword, grabbing a handful of Earth as she breathed, and watched her teammates. Nicole buzzed by the ground team, snagging the missiles attention that were headed in that direction, picking up speed and hurtling forward faster into the air.
One…
Dana unleashed a volley of cosmic rays, puncturing multiple missiles with each shot, and sending off a series of fireworks through the sky releasing bursts of water from the downpour hurtling in all directions. She waved back at Nicole as the two passed by one another for the briefest of moments before readying her weapon once more.
Two...
Like a bolt of lightning herself, Penny shot down from the heavens, tumbling back towards the downed machine. Inept and currently unable to move, a brilliant sound of thunder erupted passed Cordelia before a secondary shockwave of lightning lanced upwards from the impact in which she hit the machine. Penny's war cry mixed with the sound of her attack jolted Cordelia back to her feet.
Three!
Cordelia understood which problems had remained to be solved. Nicole was stuck in a cramped space, outrunning missiles with no where safe to blow them up. Cordelia could provide that.
Greatsword in hand once more she placed her spare hand on her communication device. "Nicole, veer upwards we have to make sure the missiles explode far enough away from you and the others. I'll give you an exit." Cordelia herself conjured forth her shattered glass mirror above Nicole creating a dry spot in the heavy downpour above her as she peered down at Penny, the mech, Nicole and the Missiles. It was a lot to deal with at once. Before Cordelia's doubt could creep into her mind, her feet had already done the hardest part. At once she went from charging forward, to plummeting down towards the Earth. Greatsword in one hand other arm outstretched to slow her fall somewhat, she looked down as Nicole began to look up, having reacted to her roommate's latest communication.
Cordelia shot downwards and sent a bit of a nervous grin to Nicole as the two girls crossed paths in the sky. Cordelia reached out as she passed Nicole, offering a clumsy "hey!" on the way down, and snagging one of the missiles and pulling it with her as her descent continued. The missile's jets struggled against her, but luckily her own strength was bolstered tenfold by the sheer speed and gravity of her descent. She felt her muscles tense as she wound up, pulling the missile behind her like she was winding up for a pitch, and then threw it back down at its origin point. The shoulder of the mech, far enough away from Penny, but close enough to some hopefully important bits to create a problem.
Cordelia didn't have time to take in her hard work, however, as the Ars Magi closed her eyes, felt her Elementum begin to flow through her as she created a slide of glass, that while cushioning her fall, ricocheted her outwards into the street as she collided with vehicle and concrete alike.</s> |
<|description|>Finbarr Callaghan
Age: 17 (appears as 30 when under the effects of Shapeshifting)
Physical Description:
Finbarr is 5'8" tall and weighs 65 kilograms. Overall, he has a modest form.
When using shapeshifting to alter his human appearance, he becomes 6'1", but he still weighs the same.
Important items:
- Armor: Standard issue body armor.
- Twin energy swords: Two plasma blades that can be turned on and off. Light and easy to carry around, if not having a strange balance of weigh when wielded.
- Pictures of family and friends. Believe it or not, he has a Rau've friend.
- A diary containing all of his experiences.
- Credits: A few thousand worth of money given by the Rau've, in addition to 20 million galactic credits derived from Ashton and Flame's playing of the stock market.
- Plasma pistol: Definitely only for self defense.
Short Bio:
Finbarr Callaghan was born to a middle income family in an underground city in the Saturnian Moon of Titan. As an only child, he was extremely cherished by his parents, and because of his loving upbringing in a rather friendly environment, Finbarr would grow up to have a heart of utter compassion and a positive outlook in life. And, to be fair, he truly was blessed in the lottery of destiny; he had a family that was quite well off, he attended a private school that was built into a space station orbiting the moon, had true friendship, and did not have any bad experiences early on in life. As such, he would see the universe as a place of opportunity, a realm where there is always a silver lining if one knows where to look. One might say that he is detached from reality, but no one can deny that this kind of thinking is the reason why he was good at what he does. Friends looked to Finbarr for comfort, and he spent quite an amount of his allowance when giving to beggars. All was well, life was good. Finbarr dreamt of going to theater art, and eventually become an actor. After all, his cousin, Connor, was also one, and was already starring in a few movies.
Those dreams would end up becoming wishful thinking, however. Finbarr was kidnapped by unseen agents on his way back home before his fifteenth birthday, and was injected with Kaisoken dust, giving him magical powers. The Ascendancy said that all of this was for betterment of humanity, even as he and his fellow youngsters were forced into a grueling program. Despite everything, however, the temptation to lose his humanity in the depths of horror and torture was ignored. He would help squad mates that hurt themselves, even if it meant a scolding from the higher ups. He would then be forced to fight, and even then, it took a lot of "convincing" with Mind Magic to get him to actually kill anything. It took a while for him to finally accept that he had no choice, and did the missions anyway, even with a heavy heart.
The battle of Proxima Centauri would be his last deployment. He was amongst the first to be captured, jumping out of a breach portal only to be immediately grappled by a Rau've soldier.
When he came to be, he looked around to see the friends that he had made in the camps in prison as well. At first, he expected to be abused yet again, but the Rau've were unexpectedly compassionate... just like himself. It would be reported that all he did was cry tears of relief as soon as the Rau've showed them kindness rather than wrath.
Now that he had been released, Finbarr had found his former dreams an impossibility, to return to his beloved mother and father a paradox. To this end, despite whatever his conscience may say, he will avenge himself, and every other child whose future had been ripped away from them by the Ascendancy.
Spell List:
Breach Portal (Timespace): Finbarr is able to open either two small portals (large enough for someone to put their hand inside), or one person sized portal at any given time. These portals can either lead to visible locations within 100 meters, or to a place that Finbarr is very familiar with. The exception to these principles is that if Finbarr detects that someone he is 'connected' to is in danger via Retrocognition, he will be able to project a breach to their location, even if he is not familiar with it.
Energy Blast (World): Finbarr is capable of projecting beams of energy from his hands, which are powerful enough to hit with the strength of a heavy laser.
Spacetime Lockdown (Timespace): Encapsulates up an entity in a cuttable dimensional pocket space via a beam of energy for 5 seconds. While inside, captured entities are unable to interact with the rest of the universe and vice versa.
Retrocognition (Timespace): Finbarr has a chance of being able to sense when someone he is connected to is in mortal danger. This connection refers to friendship, romance, or familial ties.
Shapeshifting (Change): Finbarr is able to turn to any kind of animal, though this requires practice for each type. Currently, he can be a cat, a lizard, and rat. In addition, he is also able to alter his human appearance to a limited degree. Usually, he uses shapeshifting to hide his true age.
Chronoshift (Timespace): Finbarr is able to shift back into any point he was in within the 10 seconds before casting, reversing injuries that were sustained prior to Chronoshift being used while retaining all memory of what has transpired. Chronoshift is usable in between cooldowns of 2 minutes each.
Character Traits:
Master Swordsman: Finbarr was trained as a master duelist, taking advantage of his small, nimble frame and Timespace Magic to be one of the most dangerous sword wielders amongst the Star Marines. While most individuals that still dare use melee weapons in such an advanced age would be gunned down long before they got close to their targets, Finbarr would not, what with his ability to cross engagement distances in the blink of an eye. As such, he is excellent when dueling with singular foes, though even he has limits, namely the fact that once he portals to a location, his exit point could be intercepted. In addition, he cannot endure damage as much as the likes of Tarak or Narvia; Finbarr is more well suited for settling fights quickly.
Deceptive Acting: For Finbarr, speaking lies are as easy as breathing, and pretending to be someone else is, apparently, part of his baggage. Long skilled in theatrics, he couples this with his Shapeshifting Magic, making him a good pick for infiltrations and undercover missions. Not even lie detection machines could find fault in him; telepathic magic would be required to sniff out his true intentions.</s>
<|message|>Avelyn Vernal
Things died down just as fast as they started to move. The plan was sound, and it worked like a charm, and now they were being showered with rewards and discounts, something that made Avelyn stir uneasily. Her poverty-induced greed was one thing, and a strong one, but this just seemed too easy, too good. And things that were too good were usually a trap. And the last one she walked into ended with spacing and capture. She shook her head to get that memory out, still too early to try and stanch that particular wound. Anyway, at least it looked like they'd have better transport to the ship itself once the low-squat APC returned, and if a day didn't require gunfire and medical assistance, it was a good day in her book.
Since they were picking themselves up, she leaned over the table and gently shook Iris awake. "Rise and shine, sleeping beauty. Sandman put you under and made off with all your candy." She whispered, figuring that ought to do it and excused herself to see what the gun shop had in store, specifically looking for field apparel. She had a hunch the road they'd chosen had quite a few scrapes in store for them, and getting her only attire soaked with blood and full of holes sounded about as smart as it sounded appealing. While she was at it, a dozen or so spare inserts for her armor would be nice, but she expected that would bite into her current private funds something fierce and leave her with just enough to grab a meal. One meal.</s>
<|message|>Natasha Zhang
Ashton and Flame
"So 'The Dragon' is your godfather," Ashton said to Narvia. "I can see why you speak fondly of him. And yeah, I think you and Ariel should sync your Omni-tools - That ought to shorten the decoding time..."
As for the weapons merchant, the young man ordered, "Ah, do you have those organic Rau've knives which ooze poison in contact with blood and have to be watered?" They did, and Ashton paid the required credits with a quick, "Thank you!" before being interrupted by Flame.
"Ashton," the other youth was trying to be practical, "We need proper helmets, or at least earplugs - The ones we have are getting old. And we also need better armor than our ballistics vests - Perhaps a Steelweave suit with trauma plates underneath? Power Armor will obstruct our mobility, after all."
Ashton nodded, getting into the spirit of things, and ordered those goods as well, before saying to Flame, "We'll also need grenades - EMP, fragmentation, inciendary, cryo, the works. And what about a Rocket Launcher for Tarak?"
Flame gave another nod and said, "Done," before turning to Nero and saying, "If you want maximum cutting power, I recommend getting a hybrid metal-plasma knife with a heat-resistant blade which can be covered in plasma. But just in case we need to fight robots, electrified knives would also do."
Either way, once the purchases were done, they'd arrive at Natasha's ship, the Xuanzang.
Natasha Zhang
Natasha had made sure the ship was as clean as possible once the Star Marines - The new additions to the crew - finally reached it. This was easier said than done as Moonstrike had installed plenty of redundant self-cleaning systems inside the ship, including a small battalion of robotic 'roombas' which constantly went to the hard-to-reach places to scrub off dirt and such. Either way, the ship was presentable, and the Captain prodded herself on that. And now, to introduce herself - Presumably all the kids had come through the airlock?
The 'Light Frieghter' (though of course, it was tougher than that) had a meeting room for the crew to gather together and plan operations, whether legitimate or criminal. Natasha led the Star Marines to this meeting room, which contained holographic projectors which were more advanced than a commercial ship should have, then spoke to introduce herself and Abbadon, who seemed to be the only crewmembers present - The two others still have not arrived.
"Greetings," she said in a clear, friendly, but still firm voice. "My name is Natasha Zhang, former Captain of a Corvette during the Battle of Proxima, dishonorably discharged, and now a Moonstrike Operative - We seek vengance against the Ascendancy which threw us away." She then gestured to Abbadon, "And this is Abbadon Kinslayer, the first 'Limbed Kaisoken' but as you saw earlier today, not the last. He seeks to force his kind to adapt or die."
She then smiled and said to the 'Star Marines', "So, what are your names, all of you?"
Bee@Th3King0fChaos@The Man Emperor@Landaus Five-One@FalloutJack@Conscripts@dragonpiece@Starlance@supertinyking@samakama</s>
| <|message|>Finbarr Callaghan
Finbarr Callaghan | The Spacetime Breacher
It wasn't long after the whole near altercation with the damned Restarters that their merry troupe had been ushered into the vessel that had been waiting for them all this time. For all intents and purposes, it would serve as their mobile base of operations in their campaign of vengeance against the Ascendancy of Man, that corrupt institution that must be brought down to the ashes of history. It wasn't an all too special ship; it was officially a light freighter, though it was obviously more than just some tug boat cargo ship plowing the void. No. It will be the instrument of revenge!...
"Pfffft... limbed Kaisoken... ahahahaha... feck... Why am I laughing... ah, bloody hell."
Taking a brief second from snickering at sight of the second Kaisoken with limbs that he had seen during his entire life, Finbarr straightened himself as he introduced himself. "The name of this git standing in front of ye is Finbarr. Finbarr Callaghan. I be specializing in Timespace magic, especially them portals. I'm from Titan's undercity, and I love getting into them little vents."</s> |
<|description|>Finbarr Callaghan
Age: 17 (appears as 30 when under the effects of Shapeshifting)
Physical Description:
Finbarr is 5'8" tall and weighs 65 kilograms. Overall, he has a modest form.
When using shapeshifting to alter his human appearance, he becomes 6'1", but he still weighs the same.
Important items:
- Armor: Standard issue body armor.
- Twin energy swords: Two plasma blades that can be turned on and off. Light and easy to carry around, if not having a strange balance of weigh when wielded.
- Pictures of family and friends. Believe it or not, he has a Rau've friend.
- A diary containing all of his experiences.
- Credits: A few thousand worth of money given by the Rau've, in addition to 20 million galactic credits derived from Ashton and Flame's playing of the stock market.
- Plasma pistol: Definitely only for self defense.
Short Bio:
Finbarr Callaghan was born to a middle income family in an underground city in the Saturnian Moon of Titan. As an only child, he was extremely cherished by his parents, and because of his loving upbringing in a rather friendly environment, Finbarr would grow up to have a heart of utter compassion and a positive outlook in life. And, to be fair, he truly was blessed in the lottery of destiny; he had a family that was quite well off, he attended a private school that was built into a space station orbiting the moon, had true friendship, and did not have any bad experiences early on in life. As such, he would see the universe as a place of opportunity, a realm where there is always a silver lining if one knows where to look. One might say that he is detached from reality, but no one can deny that this kind of thinking is the reason why he was good at what he does. Friends looked to Finbarr for comfort, and he spent quite an amount of his allowance when giving to beggars. All was well, life was good. Finbarr dreamt of going to theater art, and eventually become an actor. After all, his cousin, Connor, was also one, and was already starring in a few movies.
Those dreams would end up becoming wishful thinking, however. Finbarr was kidnapped by unseen agents on his way back home before his fifteenth birthday, and was injected with Kaisoken dust, giving him magical powers. The Ascendancy said that all of this was for betterment of humanity, even as he and his fellow youngsters were forced into a grueling program. Despite everything, however, the temptation to lose his humanity in the depths of horror and torture was ignored. He would help squad mates that hurt themselves, even if it meant a scolding from the higher ups. He would then be forced to fight, and even then, it took a lot of "convincing" with Mind Magic to get him to actually kill anything. It took a while for him to finally accept that he had no choice, and did the missions anyway, even with a heavy heart.
The battle of Proxima Centauri would be his last deployment. He was amongst the first to be captured, jumping out of a breach portal only to be immediately grappled by a Rau've soldier.
When he came to be, he looked around to see the friends that he had made in the camps in prison as well. At first, he expected to be abused yet again, but the Rau've were unexpectedly compassionate... just like himself. It would be reported that all he did was cry tears of relief as soon as the Rau've showed them kindness rather than wrath.
Now that he had been released, Finbarr had found his former dreams an impossibility, to return to his beloved mother and father a paradox. To this end, despite whatever his conscience may say, he will avenge himself, and every other child whose future had been ripped away from them by the Ascendancy.
Spell List:
Breach Portal (Timespace): Finbarr is able to open either two small portals (large enough for someone to put their hand inside), or one person sized portal at any given time. These portals can either lead to visible locations within 100 meters, or to a place that Finbarr is very familiar with. The exception to these principles is that if Finbarr detects that someone he is 'connected' to is in danger via Retrocognition, he will be able to project a breach to their location, even if he is not familiar with it.
Energy Blast (World): Finbarr is capable of projecting beams of energy from his hands, which are powerful enough to hit with the strength of a heavy laser.
Spacetime Lockdown (Timespace): Encapsulates up an entity in a cuttable dimensional pocket space via a beam of energy for 5 seconds. While inside, captured entities are unable to interact with the rest of the universe and vice versa.
Retrocognition (Timespace): Finbarr has a chance of being able to sense when someone he is connected to is in mortal danger. This connection refers to friendship, romance, or familial ties.
Shapeshifting (Change): Finbarr is able to turn to any kind of animal, though this requires practice for each type. Currently, he can be a cat, a lizard, and rat. In addition, he is also able to alter his human appearance to a limited degree. Usually, he uses shapeshifting to hide his true age.
Chronoshift (Timespace): Finbarr is able to shift back into any point he was in within the 10 seconds before casting, reversing injuries that were sustained prior to Chronoshift being used while retaining all memory of what has transpired. Chronoshift is usable in between cooldowns of 2 minutes each.
Character Traits:
Master Swordsman: Finbarr was trained as a master duelist, taking advantage of his small, nimble frame and Timespace Magic to be one of the most dangerous sword wielders amongst the Star Marines. While most individuals that still dare use melee weapons in such an advanced age would be gunned down long before they got close to their targets, Finbarr would not, what with his ability to cross engagement distances in the blink of an eye. As such, he is excellent when dueling with singular foes, though even he has limits, namely the fact that once he portals to a location, his exit point could be intercepted. In addition, he cannot endure damage as much as the likes of Tarak or Narvia; Finbarr is more well suited for settling fights quickly.
Deceptive Acting: For Finbarr, speaking lies are as easy as breathing, and pretending to be someone else is, apparently, part of his baggage. Long skilled in theatrics, he couples this with his Shapeshifting Magic, making him a good pick for infiltrations and undercover missions. Not even lie detection machines could find fault in him; telepathic magic would be required to sniff out his true intentions.</s>
<|message|>Miron Zen
MIRON - PRESENT
The noises of the cell itself hardly drowned out the now pacing Miron, it was obvious he was impatient, but he'd only have one shot at this, literally. He had less than a minute before the barrier change over, and recycling, so it was almost time to get ready, he had to make it believable short out the sensors, and generators in one shot, just below the barriers.
"C'mon, c'mon!" Waiting patiently was always something he lacked, despite his usually positive nature. In the palm of his hand he clutched a morphing ball of glowing matter, like a liquid but not quite a liquid, and just as the cycle happened in the split second of time, he let go of it, raising his arms up to protect himself against the blast, but not much would happen other than knocking him back a few feet. He looked up with a slight bit of hope. "Yes! Quickly covering his mouth, he proceeded to the now unprotected door, and peeked through it, not seeing anyone just yet, he began to cut through the door, using the Axion beam as a laser cutter, it wouldn't heat the metal, but it punctured through it like a pencil through paper. The sustained usage though would be draining. He stepped through the hole, silently placing the heavy circle he cut through back in place and then bolting for anything he could find that would be useful. He would warp himself around the pairs of patrolling guards, into corners where no one would see him, but it could only last so long.</s>
<|message|>Alan Mortigal
Circle of Hell - Holding Cells Block B
Alan's eyes were steeled the moment he confirmed Finnbar was still on their side. He stayed silent until the folks he didn't know that were with him took the elevator upwards. As soon as he confirmed they were out of sight, he immediately jumped towards his cells bars to get as close to the other side - and to his friend - as possible, before whispering.
"Any chance you can make some mini-portal or something to get this damn thing off?" Alan simply asked.
---
Maria stared into the eyes of the doctor and found something fascinating within them: Relativity, familiarity, like looking into a mirror, fogged and blurred; he saw himself in her, and she sees something back. It was a curious thing for her, as she tilted her head, what must this person have had happened to him to make her eyes so similar to her own?
An exploration for another day, but perhaps it was because of this that when the Doctor mentioned that he was a friend, she didn't need her telepathy active to know that he was telling no lie. ...The fact that he unlocked her cell helped with that opinion as well though. Furthermore, the name Millard was someone Joey talked about during the trip that led them here.
As soon as the door opened, she walked out and pointed downwards with her finger, as if indicating the answer being below them.
"...Two allies. One floor below us lies Alan, a fellow Star Marine...By the voices I'm hearing, it seems Finnbar is already down there with him. Fortunate: He can make them an escape route out of those cells, for him, and for Joseph Albion below them." She told Millard as she looked out the balcony of her floor towards the whole of Cell Block B, watching for potential guards doing patrols on the lower floors.
While her voice was befitting her ten-year-old appearance, it was a cold and distant tone to her every word, there was no relief to see an ally rescuing her, no distress for either of her captive allies, and she spoke of Finnbar as if he was a conveniance and nothing more. It was like she was a doll or a machine, emotionless and seemingly without a soul. Most would find it unnerving, maybe even see this as not being her, maybe she's brainwashed? Perhaps a clone or an android with her appearance disguised as her? But for the Star Marines, this isn't new, she's been like this ever since they met her. They knew she's as human, and just as capable of feeling as the rest of them, but her lack of emotional conveyance was something she could not help.
"Do you have a key for this collar?" The little girl asked, her eyes on that neutral face staring towards Millard, down to her soul.
Man Emperor @Th3King0fChaos</s>
| <|message|>Finbarr Callaghan
Finbarr smirked as Alan asked if he could use a portal of some kind to remove the magic dampening collar that was stopping Alan from simply melting the bars with his own magical abilities. Poor Alan. "Huh, don't be ridiculous.", Finbarr replied, pulling out the unignited hilt of one of his plasma blades out of his black cloak, winking at Alan as he went. "A portal won't cut through that... but this will."
The Timespace magician glanced at the black and gold hilt of his weapon. It had been a while since he had a good look at it; there were writings emblazed on the surface, and the symbol of the Celtic Cross right at the center. On a vertical pattern were these words, "Is é an bua atá againn"... meaning "Vengeance will be ours" in old Irish Gaelic. He was taught the ancient tongue by his parents back in Titan...
Finbarr brushed those memories aside, and smiled back at Alan. "Don't worry, friend. It will all be alright... remember this bad boy?", Finbarr asked, waving the hilt at him, though he did so with his back facing the camera that he spotted in the corner of the cellblock.
Finbarr then leaned closer to the cell, whispering, "Just gotta wait for the cyber lady to confirm that she has the thing we needed, then I'm busting you out. Okay?"
...
Once he had confirmation that Laurey had the Realist and their mission accomplished, Finbarr would ignite the blade, and with one swift motion, slash the bars unto two sets of halves. In that moment, he would also return to his regular appearance; a 5'8", black haired boy with a thing for black clothing. "Here." Finbarr adjusted the length of the blade to that of a knife. "Stand still, I'm taking the bloody thing off!"</s> |
<|description|>Laurey Karlin
Age: 27
Physical Description:
Perhaps the most striking thing about Laurey are her eyes, neon diamonds with their own inner light; the same inner light that leaks through slender screens of her cyberware in pulses. Whilst not unattractive, she cultures a neo-punk look, complete with shaggy mohawk, piercings, and tattoos in some questionable places. What comes with this is a lack of hygiene; her clothes are old and worn and reek of the same blend of ripe sweat and soy-curry mix.
Important items:
Crystal Necklace: A shard of translucent crystal, about as long as her thumb, set into a silver cord. It catches the light in its many faces and throws out rainbows. The crystal never seems to warm, yet the feel of it against her skin is comfort enough to sleep. Sometimes. One day it just started; a pure chime inside her head whenever magic was used in her vicinity. Of course, at first Laurey just assumed this was another artefact of whatever they did to her head. She figured it out fast: it was her necklace reacting to magic nearby.
Flimsy ID of someone who doesn't exist: The picture isn't even of Laurey. Why she keeps it isn't immediately obvious, but if a lab was to analyse it, they may find traces of Bliss residue along one edge. It helps keep the lights in check.
Short Bio:
L: "Why did I ask to be taken prisoner? Gee, I don't know, you must be a smart guy, why do you think?"
~: "I can speculate, but I want to hear it from you, Laurey."
L: "Maybe it starts with saving my skin. Maybe it goes I don't want to go back. Maybe I don't like it there. In fact, maybe I hate it."
~: "And if you hate it so much, why only leave now?"
She snorts at this, her face twisting in derision before she seems to grow bored suddenly and leans back into her chair.
L: "Ain't got much choice. This might have been the only chance I'd ever get to get out. It's worth risking pirates for that."
~: "What makes it so bad?"
She shrugs at this. I wait, but she isn't forthcoming.
~: "Why didn't you have the chance to escape before? I was told you were crew, not a prisoner of the vessel?"
L: "I was both, in some ways, innit. Crew and captive of the Ascendancy. Not normal military, no no. They keep a close leash on us, give us the illusion of freedom but really we're whipped dogs. All hush hush. Whoever had those goons attack can't much like the Ascendancy; there were some good minds there with me. I watched them die."
She sniffs.
L: "Pretty gross really."
~: "It was an intellectual transport?"
L: "I guess you could call it that. We were being moved to another station. To work on the Shadow Weave project. But I'm not supposed to tell anyone that. Classified."
She winks.
~: "Right, and you've worked on other projects before?"
L: "No! That's how they move all newbies about. What do you think? Yeah, cybersecurity, robotics, engineering, anything with numbers and puzzles, ever since they minced me through that special division of their Grand Military Academy. Gave me my own little disco."
She taps the chrome and neon on the side of her head.
L: "It's nothing compared to the light show in my head."
She lowers her hand and fixes me with a stare that I can't quite explain. It gave me shivers.
L: "Look, can I go now? I need… I need some alone time."
She begins to scratch her arms as she says this, and then catches herself. I press forward.
~: "And that's why you wanted to escape? Because you never chose to be there? To be what you are?"
At this her eyes seemed to glaze over, bright though they were, and I could tell she was a million miles away, back into her memories. I gave her time but nothing.
~: "Is that why you kept asking after Moonstrike?"
When she speaks next, her tone is flat and she never meets my eye.
L: "I've always loved shiny things, my mum called me 'her little magpie'. Even since I was a mite. Then I found a shiny thing better than all the rest. It loved me, you know?"
~: "Okay -"
Before I can say another word, her eyes snap up to meet mine.
L: "I've always found intelligence attractive."
I decided to abandon that line with her. Clearly there's something there. Perhaps you can hash it out with her? If she lives long enough.
~: "Okay, okay. Laurey, I'm going to be frank with you now. I need to know if you hate the Ascendancy."
L: "Yes."
~: "Enough to risk your life, or some worse fate, to strike out against them."
L: "Yes."
~: "Then I'm going to send you on your way to someone who can help you with that. Does that sound good?"
L: "Yes."
So there you have her, a little broken, but aren't we all? That was my latest conversation with her. I have sent the files of our other conversations, and the reports of those who took her captive. Natasha, she's bright, really bright, and her gear… it's not like anything I've seen, and I'm no expert, but that stuff would be expensive. To put it in a keep so much of her cognitive functioning intact? I could retire on whatever they'd paid a surgeon that could do that. She's too hot for our team Natasha, we can't risk somebody coming to reclaim her, so I'm sending her to you.
Consider my debt repaid in full.
Exceptional Skill List:
Cybernetics, Neural Augmentation (Exceptional Reactions, Exceptional Learning): Installed by the military after a period of mental and chemical conditioning so that Laurey might better serve the Talos division. The bulk is localised in her grey matter and skull but stretches throughout her nervous system and to key glands. Via electrical, physical, and biological means, it endows enhanced neuroplasticity and neuronal transmission speed, allowing her to learn, process information and react faster. However, these alterations make Laurey more vulnerable to sensory overload and increase her basal metabolic rate, not to mention there have been reports of certain psychological effects from such alterations. The studies in this area are yet inconclusive.
Cybernetics, System Interfacing and Data Plane Projection (Exceptional Systems Engineering, Exceptional Robotics, Exceptional Hacking): Another hypocritical atrocity conducted in secret under certain factions of the Ascendancy. Cerebral connection ports in her skull allow Laurey to connect to Ascendancy technology directly. Paired with the Neural Augmentations, this allows Laurey to process the information rapidly and form visualisations and abstractions of computer systems, allowing intuitive manipulation. In addition, the index finger on her right hand is bionic and can open up to form a port that can interact with a wider array of technology, but is slower due to the distance from the brain.
Naturally Gifted, Unnaturally Trained (Exceptional Intelligence, Exceptional Robotics, Exceptional Engineering): Selected for her intellect and creative flare in engineering, the training Laurey received made her an expert in robotics at the bleeding edge and gave her a compliment of skills that any contemporary engineer would need, ship, base or planet-bound. She has the most experience with starships and infantry weapons.
Bonus Skills
Creative and Curious (Exceptional Tinkerer x2, Exceptional Engineering, Exceptional Robotics): A habit that developed from the need to sate an overactive mind with focussed curiosity. Taking things apart and putting them back together… just not necessarily how they were originally, it's what brings Laurey joy. Her scientific method and drive for answers means she yields reproducible results, even if it's only how she broke it.
Total:
Exceptional Reactions
Exceptional Learning
Exceptional Robotics x3
Exceptional Hacking
Exceptional Systems Engineering
Exceptional Intelligence
Exceptional Engineering x2
Exceptional Tinkerer x2</s>
<|message|>Nero Kayakos
NERO KAYAKOS
While on the bridge, Nero heard the girl with the implants complain that they were getting in way over their head. He crossed his arms and shook his head in disgust at this.
"Jesus fuck, we're picking a side, not going at it alone. You act like there won't be anyone watching our backs or something."
Yeah, of course there was some measure of risk here, but like nothing worse than any other stand-up fight. You pick a side in battle and the side you don't shoot at goes 'Oh hey, they must be on out side!', and they don't shoot you. They weren't taking on the entire frigging fleet, just the ships were nearby. Geez, for a freedom fighter, this girl didn't seem too keen on doing any of that fighting thing. Anyway, we all know that this wasn't strictly necessary, but if we all played strictly by the rules, there wouldn't be child soldiers to begin with, so that book was thrown out a long time ago. We're not gonna dwell on this, though, and certainly Nero wasn't, as he was given the go to go and charge up the guns.
It was a good thing he'd been wandering around the ship instead of just chilling about, because he knew now the best routes to all the parts of the ship to get the job done. Namely, he'd be dropping in on the ship's main turrets to give them a boost. He had to do 'em one cannon at a time, but every burst fired from said cannons would be coated in shadow energy that would make it deadlier to some degree. Ash and/or Flame would hear him going "One day, it's just gonna be 'Thy cannons be pumped!', and then I'm done. 'Till then..." before heading off to find Fin and company again for the boarding party. It was difficult to judge how long the spell would last. Nero always judged it as 'a while' because it had like a non-specific time duration that might've been unfluenced by how active you were. Like, it wouldn't shrink down to nothing if you were constantly blasting, but there was a little less time than when you were static and waiting for a target. He never really wanted to think about it much, anyway, since he usually casted the Shadow Charge just before a fight, anyway, so it did what needed to be done. He got back to the bridge to explain that it was a done deal - not realizing that normal comms had been restored - when someone decided to contact them just to call 'em a bunch of idiots.
"Someone give that bitch a big ole' steaming cup of shut the hell up!"
He couldn't wait to get on board an make some human shits do the dance of death. The Rau've had been more durable than human beings, back in the war, seein' as how they were plant-based. They DID ram into his brain that vegetable matter was a bit harder to puncture and stuff than human tissue, back in training. People, though... Oh, people were frigging fragile, at times. Prosthetic girl was worried about the fight, but hoo boy... Some of this shit was going to be a cakewalk. Some of it. The rest? It was gonna be FUN.</s>
<|message|>Finbarr Callaghan
Finbarr Callaghan | The Spacetime Breacher
Despite their attempts to hail themselves as a neutral vessel, it seems that the other ship had completely ignored their petitions. Truly, these were the Butchers that Narvia despised so much; capricious ex-soldiers with an insatiable thirst for death and destruction. It was a good thing that the one that commanded them before into battle was dead, but the audacity of a Heavy Cruiser to fire upon a lightly armed Light Freighter that with "absolutely clear intentions of neutrality" was truly astounding!
"Welp." Finbarr grunted as the weapons of the Heavy Cruiser impacted upon their shielding. "Looks like I will have to do this sooner than later, then." He then drew one of his plasma blades, intending to ignite it once they had crossed into the other side of the portal that he was going to create in a few moments. The members of the boarding party were all there; Nero, Tarak, Narvia, and Abaddon, along with his good self. He would perhaps be one of the most integral members of the boarding party, as he was their way in and alsot the way out. By this time, he was already familiar enough with the Xiang... Xuang... whatever to be able to safely portal back into it without looking into its window.
"Alright, who here is going into a portal for the first time?" Finbarr asked as he peered over to see in the windows of the enemy ship. There were some answers, some of which would be rather concerning. "Yeah, it doesn't matter now. As long as no one throws up."
Taking a hard look into the windows, Finbarr then spoke lowly as he summoned his Breach Portal spell. "Et ponte et aperire..."
A burst of blue energy, shaped like flowing water and magic mixed together, came out of his left hand, which rapidly coalesced into a breach. He would be the last to come through, as he needs to maintain it in order for the others to go through. The other side would be visible on the bridge of the enemy ship; the route is sure. "Hop in, and make sure you don't throw up."</s>
| <|message|>Laurey Karlin
Laurey KarlinThere was a great chasm of silence as Laurey stared at the 'captain', save for that chiming in her head from so much magic. For the corporeal plane it passed in less than a second, but for Laurey it stretched like spacetime around a blackhole. It wasn't that Natasha had spotted a weakness to exploit, something only visible to a veteran and not a green engineer, a faint hope Laurey had held onto, no… it was that they needed a release? Were the kids that unstable that their counselor wouldn't be enough. They needed regular suicide-runs too? Their ship was breaking a military blockade, one of Grand Admiral Kherol, he of Proxima infamy. What were they hoping, that he'd let a rogue combatant off with a kiss on the cheek and a number to call? They needed to scram. What the fucking fuck were they -
The world turned diaphanous, and Laurey forced herself to stay, biting down on her tongue. Copper pangs and strawberry pain. The kids were forming up, ready to go. The one called Nero lusted for combat like a rutting buck. It didn't seem like a battle she would win, and dissent now would only throw more trouble into a sticky situation.
Yet Laurey questioned her place.
"As you wish, 'captain'."
The ship shook and Laurey cursed. She was at the comms console and inspecting the screens for a report. The shields seemed to have held, but they were hot.
With comms online she piped a message to the boarding party: Omnitools on streaming/record for combat analysis.
As the breach came into existence Laurey observed that her legs were shaking. There was a lump in her throat and a growing pressure in her chest and it was really happening. Fuck fuck fuck. The word tumbled over infinitely in her mind as she rushed from the bridge. Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck. She almost made it to her bathroom before she threw up.</s> |
<|description|>Laurey Karlin
Age: 27
Physical Description:
Perhaps the most striking thing about Laurey are her eyes, neon diamonds with their own inner light; the same inner light that leaks through slender screens of her cyberware in pulses. Whilst not unattractive, she cultures a neo-punk look, complete with shaggy mohawk, piercings, and tattoos in some questionable places. What comes with this is a lack of hygiene; her clothes are old and worn and reek of the same blend of ripe sweat and soy-curry mix.
Important items:
Crystal Necklace: A shard of translucent crystal, about as long as her thumb, set into a silver cord. It catches the light in its many faces and throws out rainbows. The crystal never seems to warm, yet the feel of it against her skin is comfort enough to sleep. Sometimes. One day it just started; a pure chime inside her head whenever magic was used in her vicinity. Of course, at first Laurey just assumed this was another artefact of whatever they did to her head. She figured it out fast: it was her necklace reacting to magic nearby.
Flimsy ID of someone who doesn't exist: The picture isn't even of Laurey. Why she keeps it isn't immediately obvious, but if a lab was to analyse it, they may find traces of Bliss residue along one edge. It helps keep the lights in check.
Short Bio:
L: "Why did I ask to be taken prisoner? Gee, I don't know, you must be a smart guy, why do you think?"
~: "I can speculate, but I want to hear it from you, Laurey."
L: "Maybe it starts with saving my skin. Maybe it goes I don't want to go back. Maybe I don't like it there. In fact, maybe I hate it."
~: "And if you hate it so much, why only leave now?"
She snorts at this, her face twisting in derision before she seems to grow bored suddenly and leans back into her chair.
L: "Ain't got much choice. This might have been the only chance I'd ever get to get out. It's worth risking pirates for that."
~: "What makes it so bad?"
She shrugs at this. I wait, but she isn't forthcoming.
~: "Why didn't you have the chance to escape before? I was told you were crew, not a prisoner of the vessel?"
L: "I was both, in some ways, innit. Crew and captive of the Ascendancy. Not normal military, no no. They keep a close leash on us, give us the illusion of freedom but really we're whipped dogs. All hush hush. Whoever had those goons attack can't much like the Ascendancy; there were some good minds there with me. I watched them die."
She sniffs.
L: "Pretty gross really."
~: "It was an intellectual transport?"
L: "I guess you could call it that. We were being moved to another station. To work on the Shadow Weave project. But I'm not supposed to tell anyone that. Classified."
She winks.
~: "Right, and you've worked on other projects before?"
L: "No! That's how they move all newbies about. What do you think? Yeah, cybersecurity, robotics, engineering, anything with numbers and puzzles, ever since they minced me through that special division of their Grand Military Academy. Gave me my own little disco."
She taps the chrome and neon on the side of her head.
L: "It's nothing compared to the light show in my head."
She lowers her hand and fixes me with a stare that I can't quite explain. It gave me shivers.
L: "Look, can I go now? I need… I need some alone time."
She begins to scratch her arms as she says this, and then catches herself. I press forward.
~: "And that's why you wanted to escape? Because you never chose to be there? To be what you are?"
At this her eyes seemed to glaze over, bright though they were, and I could tell she was a million miles away, back into her memories. I gave her time but nothing.
~: "Is that why you kept asking after Moonstrike?"
When she speaks next, her tone is flat and she never meets my eye.
L: "I've always loved shiny things, my mum called me 'her little magpie'. Even since I was a mite. Then I found a shiny thing better than all the rest. It loved me, you know?"
~: "Okay -"
Before I can say another word, her eyes snap up to meet mine.
L: "I've always found intelligence attractive."
I decided to abandon that line with her. Clearly there's something there. Perhaps you can hash it out with her? If she lives long enough.
~: "Okay, okay. Laurey, I'm going to be frank with you now. I need to know if you hate the Ascendancy."
L: "Yes."
~: "Enough to risk your life, or some worse fate, to strike out against them."
L: "Yes."
~: "Then I'm going to send you on your way to someone who can help you with that. Does that sound good?"
L: "Yes."
So there you have her, a little broken, but aren't we all? That was my latest conversation with her. I have sent the files of our other conversations, and the reports of those who took her captive. Natasha, she's bright, really bright, and her gear… it's not like anything I've seen, and I'm no expert, but that stuff would be expensive. To put it in a keep so much of her cognitive functioning intact? I could retire on whatever they'd paid a surgeon that could do that. She's too hot for our team Natasha, we can't risk somebody coming to reclaim her, so I'm sending her to you.
Consider my debt repaid in full.
Exceptional Skill List:
Cybernetics, Neural Augmentation (Exceptional Reactions, Exceptional Learning): Installed by the military after a period of mental and chemical conditioning so that Laurey might better serve the Talos division. The bulk is localised in her grey matter and skull but stretches throughout her nervous system and to key glands. Via electrical, physical, and biological means, it endows enhanced neuroplasticity and neuronal transmission speed, allowing her to learn, process information and react faster. However, these alterations make Laurey more vulnerable to sensory overload and increase her basal metabolic rate, not to mention there have been reports of certain psychological effects from such alterations. The studies in this area are yet inconclusive.
Cybernetics, System Interfacing and Data Plane Projection (Exceptional Systems Engineering, Exceptional Robotics, Exceptional Hacking): Another hypocritical atrocity conducted in secret under certain factions of the Ascendancy. Cerebral connection ports in her skull allow Laurey to connect to Ascendancy technology directly. Paired with the Neural Augmentations, this allows Laurey to process the information rapidly and form visualisations and abstractions of computer systems, allowing intuitive manipulation. In addition, the index finger on her right hand is bionic and can open up to form a port that can interact with a wider array of technology, but is slower due to the distance from the brain.
Naturally Gifted, Unnaturally Trained (Exceptional Intelligence, Exceptional Robotics, Exceptional Engineering): Selected for her intellect and creative flare in engineering, the training Laurey received made her an expert in robotics at the bleeding edge and gave her a compliment of skills that any contemporary engineer would need, ship, base or planet-bound. She has the most experience with starships and infantry weapons.
Bonus Skills
Creative and Curious (Exceptional Tinkerer x2, Exceptional Engineering, Exceptional Robotics): A habit that developed from the need to sate an overactive mind with focussed curiosity. Taking things apart and putting them back together… just not necessarily how they were originally, it's what brings Laurey joy. Her scientific method and drive for answers means she yields reproducible results, even if it's only how she broke it.
Total:
Exceptional Reactions
Exceptional Learning
Exceptional Robotics x3
Exceptional Hacking
Exceptional Systems Engineering
Exceptional Intelligence
Exceptional Engineering x2
Exceptional Tinkerer x2</s>
<|message|>Alan Mortigal
Circle of Hell - Holding Cells Block B
Alan's eyes were steeled the moment he confirmed Finnbar was still on their side. He stayed silent until the folks he didn't know that were with him took the elevator upwards. As soon as he confirmed they were out of sight, he immediately jumped towards his cells bars to get as close to the other side - and to his friend - as possible, before whispering.
"Any chance you can make some mini-portal or something to get this damn thing off?" Alan simply asked.
---
Maria stared into the eyes of the doctor and found something fascinating within them: Relativity, familiarity, like looking into a mirror, fogged and blurred; he saw himself in her, and she sees something back. It was a curious thing for her, as she tilted her head, what must this person have had happened to him to make her eyes so similar to her own?
An exploration for another day, but perhaps it was because of this that when the Doctor mentioned that he was a friend, she didn't need her telepathy active to know that he was telling no lie. ...The fact that he unlocked her cell helped with that opinion as well though. Furthermore, the name Millard was someone Joey talked about during the trip that led them here.
As soon as the door opened, she walked out and pointed downwards with her finger, as if indicating the answer being below them.
"...Two allies. One floor below us lies Alan, a fellow Star Marine...By the voices I'm hearing, it seems Finnbar is already down there with him. Fortunate: He can make them an escape route out of those cells, for him, and for Joseph Albion below them." She told Millard as she looked out the balcony of her floor towards the whole of Cell Block B, watching for potential guards doing patrols on the lower floors.
While her voice was befitting her ten-year-old appearance, it was a cold and distant tone to her every word, there was no relief to see an ally rescuing her, no distress for either of her captive allies, and she spoke of Finnbar as if he was a conveniance and nothing more. It was like she was a doll or a machine, emotionless and seemingly without a soul. Most would find it unnerving, maybe even see this as not being her, maybe she's brainwashed? Perhaps a clone or an android with her appearance disguised as her? But for the Star Marines, this isn't new, she's been like this ever since they met her. They knew she's as human, and just as capable of feeling as the rest of them, but her lack of emotional conveyance was something she could not help.
"Do you have a key for this collar?" The little girl asked, her eyes on that neutral face staring towards Millard, down to her soul.
Man Emperor @Th3King0fChaos</s>
<|message|>Finbarr Callaghan
---
Finbarr Callaghan
---
Finbarr smirked as Alan asked if he could use a portal of some kind to remove the magic dampening collar that was stopping Alan from simply melting the bars with his own magical abilities. Poor Alan. "Huh, don't be ridiculous.", Finbarr replied, pulling out the unignited hilt of one of his plasma blades out of his black cloak, winking at Alan as he went. "A portal won't cut through that... but this will."
The Timespace magician glanced at the black and gold hilt of his weapon. It had been a while since he had a good look at it; there were writings emblazed on the surface, and the symbol of the Celtic Cross right at the center. On a vertical pattern were these words, "Is é an bua atá againn"... meaning "Vengeance will be ours" in old Irish Gaelic. He was taught the ancient tongue by his parents back in Titan...
Finbarr brushed those memories aside, and smiled back at Alan. "Don't worry, friend. It will all be alright... remember this bad boy?", Finbarr asked, waving the hilt at him, though he did so with his back facing the camera that he spotted in the corner of the cellblock.
Finbarr then leaned closer to the cell, whispering, "Just gotta wait for the cyber lady to confirm that she has the thing we needed, then I'm busting you out. Okay?"
...
Once he had confirmation that Laurey had the Realist and their mission accomplished, Finbarr would ignite the blade, and with one swift motion, slash the bars unto two sets of halves. In that moment, he would also return to his regular appearance; a 5'8", black haired boy with a thing for black clothing. "Here." Finbarr adjusted the length of the blade to that of a knife. "Stand still, I'm taking the bloody thing off!"</s>
| <|message|>Laurey Karlin
Laurey KarlinThe door to Realist's Cell ground open to the whir of powerful motors.
Inside was lit only by the electric fire thrown from the cell terminals, harsh and blue. A frame of black metal and thick arteries of wire, red as blood, bathed in the light. With the hue and angular nature of the AI core, it wouldn't have been too much of a stretch to imagine it as a chunk of ice in Judecca, crushing a sinner inside. Certainly the silence helped.
Laurey let out the breath she didn't realise she'd been holding.
"It's something, isn't it?" Laurey jumped as Jan spoke from beside her, but nodded. Her cold sweats and the deep craving inside her seemed so far away in its presence.
Crossing to the consoles, Laurey near tiptoed, trying to break the silence as little as possible (it seemed safer that way).
"I'll need some privacy when I worked," she said as she came to the eye-watering screens.
"Can't do, I'm afraid. Security issues and all that."
"Of course," she nodded, then drew a deep breath. In some ways what she was about to do was akin to undressing in front of Jan; it laid a part of her bare, part she wanted to keep away from others.
Her finger blossomed and the facets found their places.
"Be quiet then."
The world fell away into the cold light of tumbling stars.
It was also on J-Heim Beta that Laurey had plunged into an ice lake. Supposedly the adrenaline rush it brought on had health benefits, but it only froze Laurey and made her sniffle for a week afterwards. What she remembered from that experience, what was burned into her primate brain, was the way the cold had driven all the air from her lungs, like she was at once falling and had been struck by an ice-wrapped truck.
Now she felt it again. Now it was worse, not just an icy pool but an ocean, her mind drowning, and the red eye of the leviathan fell upon her.</s> |
<|description|>Nirrti
Age: 8 Years Since Construction
Weight: 1200 lbs (without equipment)
Physical Description: Nirrti is a 10 foot tall combat mech, designed for heavy infantry combat. The chassis of the bipedal mech is clad entirely in armor, the head affixed to the neck, with no moving parts, and serving as a sensor hub for situational awareness, with an antenna sticking above the left side of the head for networked communications.
---
Weapons: Nirrti's weapon loadout is not fixed, being able to utilize most handheld weaponry, including heavy weapons such as HMGs with ease. She, however, utilizes an assault rifle if no one equips her with any weapons. In case of lack of weaponry, she can also use her chassis for combat, capable of bending and ripping away metals and some kinds of armor.
Character Traits:
AI Awareness: Being an AI, Nirrti can respond to something new faster than humans can.
Machine Strength: While not as strong as industrial grade equipment, Nirrti is capable of impressive physical feats.
Connectivity Suite: Thanks to Nirrti's antenna, she can interface with networked machines on a wireless network or various other things, so long as the system isn't too hardened. This poses some risk to vulnerability from cyber warfare suites when connected, however.
---
Short Bio: Constructed by a now defunct PMC by the name of Wetware Defenses, the ownership of Nirrti has been passed by many hands, usually bloody hands. Being tasked to do things she was never designed to, and reprogrammed by many hands, her personality isn't exactly the most stable thing. Her current programming serves as a form of Battle AI, representing a supposedly living being of choice in personality, and surpassing them in skill. Considering her current personality isn't steady, it's safe to assume that she is now based around a concept rather than a person.
Originally developed to serve Wetware, her combat capabilities lead to many pirate gangs sending her to assassinate targets, with shifting hands, she attacked targets on all sides. Recently, though, Nirrti has developed her own "free will", capable of rejecting orders, she wandered through many junk yards and salvage stations to find an honorable group she could serve.
Through her travels she has been assaulted by her former owners, who sought to retrieve her for their own usage once more. She didn't hesitate to eradicate them when she found the opportunity to. Having discovered Moonstrike's existence, Nirrti had asked to join, amazingly, the probably insane AI had made the mark and got in. However, Nirrti ended up being transferred to Natasha's team, only time will tell how she'll react to these people. Boarding a ship awaiting transfer, she had entered an idle state, waiting a bit too long to wake up.
Theme Song:</s>
<|message|>Nirrti
Nirrti
---
Nirrti's reactor spins to life, as the machine takes in it's surroundings, inside of the shuttle of that Doruva person. She doesn't care whether you're human or not, she only cares about which side you're on. She references her time to timekeeping servers, she's a little late to wake up. Her internal systems soon spin to life, motor control is fine, personality database? As good as it'll ever be. Her metal hands bring her up to a low crouch, as the ten foot tall monstrosity crouch walks through the airlock into the destination ship, her equipment on her back.
Mission parameters... Link up with Natasha Zhang's ship, await further instructions. The objective has already been reached, just more waiting. She runs through her databases while shuffling towards an area of the ship she can actually stand in, preparing a combat capability dossier for Natasha Zhang, alongside several other useful data points.
Finding the cafeteria, the machine walks to a corner with thudding footsteps, ignoring any looks given to the dark gray and black war machine. She was designed for conflict, and shows it. Setting down her repair kit and weapon box, the machine stretches up to her maximum height, towering over the beings of flesh on this ship. A soft, echoy chuckle eminates from her vocal systems, revelling in the thought of how glad these living creatures should be to have her on their side. Not even bothering to try and connect to the ship's networking, the movement from Nirrti ceases, standing as still as a statue, albeit an incredibly violent statue. Her sensors examine the cafeteria in the meantime, waiting for her new commanding officer to appear.</s>
<|message|>Ki'Tlex, Queen Anne's Revenge and Kottle.
Ki'Tlex and Queen Anne's Revenge
---
Part of Ki'Tlex wondered if they should perform the rite of Social Death and simply move on. They had spent a good deal of time in their current identity, centuries of searching for wealth in the deserts of Kel and the holds of blasted open spaceships. They had traveled far and experienced much, outlived plenty of friends and enemies and had now reached a point where they could move on to a new life without feeling as if they were missing out. In recent years they had taken a mild interest in acting, toying with the thought of making their name upon the stage or the screen. Ki could already imagine it, a hardscrabble start as a desperate actor before finding some big break then a series of tabloid worthy scandals. Cliché perhaps but it sounded fun!
"Kiiiiiii! You can't go yet, I'd miss you!"
Queen Anne cut into their thoughts with their own, the message as grating as a klaxon call. Curiously even the AI's telepathic speech sounded as if it was being blared at maximum volume with a tone designed to make the enemy shrivel in fear.
"I'm not leaving you little droid, nor am I leaving Kottle. They were simply idle musings."
Saying goodbye to Queen Anne would be cruel considering the nature of their linked minds. Dumping Kottle off at an orphanage or something would be much simpler but didn't sit well with their pride. The infant's parents had called in the favor they had with their dying breaths so Ki was stuck with the little bastard until they could fend for themselves.
"Hmmm..."
The noise slipped through their shared mindspace but whatever came after Ki couldn't catch, the robot closing off their side so that the barely coherent mess of thought wouldn't leak through. Ki 'knocked', pilot curious as to what their mech would want to hide. "Queen Anne? Did you wish to say something?"
"What? Oh no, I'm fine."
Ki'Tlex wanted to pry more, formulating their own storm of consciousness into concrete language before losing the train of thought as the dusty-skinned goblin on their back screamed directly into their ear.
"Oh no! Something's wrong with Kottle!"
Many somethings were in fact wrong with the little shit but sadly none that could be fixed by anything but the passing of time. Every time this happened Queen Anne got all worked up in concern but Kottle's cries were mostly made because the baby couldn comprehend existing in silence. One of the arms folded behind Ki's back reached into their bag to deftly unscrew the little mason jar they had readied for just such an occasion.
The smell of cooking grease filled the air as Ki brought out the leftover fat from the previous night's meal, slathering it over a pair of fingers and putting them in the baby's reach. Kottle took it from there, a mouth full of sharp teeth closing around the digits to gnaw at the treat. Ki was down to three hands for the moment and would probably have bite marks by the end of the feeding but at least the brat had shut up.
What a strange trio they made strolling onboard! A twelve foot tall robot and a hooded figure with a baby carried in a basket on their back, looking like they belonged in the setup for a joke as opposed to being onboard a ship full of would-be freedom fighters. The two adults were at least armed with a giant shotgun and a rifle (not mention the weapons concealed under their robes) respectively but they were still certainly an odd grouping.
They needed to find the captain or a first mate or some sort of authority but didn't know where to begin. They walked without purpose while Queen Anne followed behind, ending up in the cafeteria only by happenstance.
A good enough place to wait. If Zhang didn't show up then they'd just bother one of the crew in order to report in.
There was another robot there as well, smaller than Queen Anne and with a less humanoid appearance but still with the general shape. Ki'Tlex paid it little mind while Queen Anne waved, no doubt feeling some kinship with the thing she had never met due to their shared state of existence.
She was adorably stupid like that.</s>
<|message|>Natasha Zhang
Natasha Zhang
Dangit, she made a bad impression, and now the Captain didn't know how to respond due to her new awareness as to how her passive-aggression had been, well, passive-aggression. At the sight of the Small Mech making its way towards the cafeteria, Natasha's eyes bulged a little, but she tried to cover up her surprise and said, "Is that Mech sapient or something, or just very well-programed? Said Mech also reminded me that we should be making our way to the cafeteria so that we can give Lord Doruva of House Aoshen his 'all you can eat'..."
Nevertheless, she paused so that the ambassador whom she had passively-aggressively insulted can speak for herself - Natasha was interested in how she could assert herself while remaining polite. Not as interested as she was in the Small Mech, which she could have sworn was chuckling, but she can have Laurey look into it once they all meet and she gets herself used to MREs again. Either way, once the ambassador said her piece, Natasha Zhang led the way to the cafeteria, where another unknown alien from that 'Immortal' species and her baby were already eating.
Waving hi to this 'Immortal', Natasha said, "Greetings, I'm the Captain of the Ship, Natasha Zhang. What might your name be, and I presume you're here to join our fight against the Ascendancy?"
Ashton and Flame
Well... That went as well as expected, which was not very well at all. Flame and Ashton were realistic enough (okay, that was more Flame) to know that 'removing the band-aid' was necessary, but that didn't mean they had to like it though it had to be done. Or did it? The two had been so sure of their intelligence that they didn't actually think their actions through, and now they were suffering the consequences. So after lingering a few seconds longer to hear what their diplomat had to say, they went to the cafeteria where they got themselves used to MREs again.
Kherol had no problem eating these, Ashton thought. Neither should I.
I and Ashton might have been too arrogant and rash, Flame said. Scratch that, we were. No thinking about consequences, believing that our talents alone were enough. He took a bite out of an MRE. Somehow, failing makes MREs taste even blander...
He then looked at Natasha, then at Laurey, Avelyn, and perhaps Joey if he was there, and said, "We should begin pursuit of the pirates who took our - I mean Moonstrike's - cash as soon as possible. Who knows what they can do with it..."
Bee@Th3King0fChaos@The Man Emperor@Landaus Five-One@FalloutJack@Conscripts@dragonpiece@Starlance@jdh97@Vietmyke@Sylvan@Kafka Komedy@Smike</s>
| <|message|>Nirrti
Those attentive enough would hear subtle clicking and whirring from the machine, despite it's almost statue-like behavior. It waits some time for the Immortal to respond, though Nirrti doesn't know it's called such. Satisfied, the robot takes a thudding step forward, an echoy doomlike feminine voice ringing out from the machine. It doesn't just grab someone's attention, it demands it. "You have been logged as my commanding officer, Captain Natasha Zhang." With a quick movement of the arm, a salute is offered to her. "I am Battle AI Nirrti. I command this Heavy Mechanized Infantry unit, which was originally constructed by Wetware Defenses. Despite that," the machine drops the salute, the almost claw like fingers clasping into a fist and opening again. "I am a completely independent machine, free from control."
The AI takes a moment to process it's surroundings, taking in reactions from Natasha Zhang and the surrounding crew. "Your word is my command, Captain. I will fight by your side, and I will defend you and this crew with my life, that is my purpose." Nirrti's torso twists to face Ashton and Flame, though it would be unclear who she was looking at, the barren light-less surface of the machine making it seem that much more lifeless. "This group was recently robbed? An unfortunate encounter, it puts a hamper to my plans and my combat effectiveness rating. I hope to see a rectification to this problem." The twelve hundred pound machine takes a step back, torso returning straight forward. "I will remain here unless anyone needs me. Additionally, I would appreciate authentication into this vessel's internal network."
With the machine's statements concluded, it returns to cosplaying as a statue, though quite active under the hood. If Queen Anne was still paying attention to Nirrti, her own sensor suite would probably pick up on Nirrti's, and it seems that the machine is taking quite an interest in Anne. Silently logging the appearance of the other machine, and just from visuals alone she begins to estimate the movement capabilities of Queen Anne.
Nirrti quickly thinks over the actions of Anne. It at least has some form of VI, why else would it wave at her? She hopes it is not the case, VI are a shocking misrepresentation of what AI are capable of. She'll have to keep an eye on this other machine. Her cameras focus on the individuals Anne seems to be protecting... A curious decision, why not use a powerful machine to make up for the weakness of living bone! Even though this is not the case, Nirrti knows no better, but at least they made their way to "actually knows what they're doing" in Nirrti's mind, even if the group are unaware of it.</s> |
<|description|>The Guild of Renta-Experts
Guild of Renta-Experts: Info
General Info:
Type: Jack-of-All-Trades Rental Service, Mercenary Contractor, Adventurers' Guild, etc.
Region: All over the place
Description:
The G.O.R.E is the titual faction of this story. They're an organization that employs an all female workforce, taking on virtually any job that applicants and employers may submit them - aside form blatantly illegal or ones that're too questionable and/or could be relegated to your local brothel. The guild accepts 'quests' or jobs from clients, who submit a form and an upfront payment at any G.O.R.E Hall, and the Guild then posts this request on their Quest Board, which their members can then browse and pick the jobs they're best suited for. Once a guild member finishes a job, they return to the nearest G.O.R.E Hall and report their success, after which they're paid the appropriate reward (minus a percentage taken by the Guild, of course).
The Guild employs two types of workers, the first being the administrative and business-managing types who stay at the guild halls all day and do all the paperwork and such. The other, are the Renta-Experts, who accept quests and job-requests and then set out to solve them. To join the guild you only need to fullfil two conditions, the first is that you're a lady, the second that you're at least 15 years of age. Other then that, there are no criteria! ... Of course, the Guild takes no responsability for Renta-Experts taking on jobs and quest that they're not suited to, and cannot be held responsabie for loss of property, pride and/or life as a result.
The Guild has managed to get authorization to operate pretty much everywhere in the world, and has at least one Guild Hall set up in every reasonably sized town, with smaller halls popping up in even small, rural villages. The Guild can accomdate its Renta-Epeerts by preparing carriages or mounts for long travels, supply meals (at a discount price) or provide tips and information about local craftsmen and/or other services in the area that the quest is located. The Guild does however NOT supply free equipment, room and board, free meals or medical benefits. Also, only those employed in management have a steady monthly salary, Renta-Experts only get paid for completing tasks. No worky, no money.
Everey Guild Hall has at least one receptionist, a secretary, a treasuer and a Hall Mistress. Larger halls may have additional duplicates of these positions, or extra staff like custodians and couriers/gophers. As a largely zero-hierarchy enterprise, there are no real ranks or authoritorial positions within the guild, apart form the Hall Mistresses, who oversee and manage their respective hall's day-to-day workings. Hall Mistresses are usually Renta-Experts who've retired from active duty, or have good managekment and leadership abilities, but lack any other real talents. As such, there's really no right or wrong way to interact, but its typically considered good manners to be polite and respectful to those who've worked with the guild longer than yourself. It's also considered bad form to chew out the receptionist when you don't get paid for flunking a mission.
The guild's logo is a fully yeellow background, with a black silhouette of a nine-headed hydra standing on top of a black sphere... Which is supposed to represent the world. The idea is that the Guild can reach anywhere, and they can always regrow their 'heads' even if they get cut off. A lot of members have displayed a desire to have a more affable and cute logo... The founder, however, has yet to yield on this topic, because, as she said in her own words; "But it's so cool!".
Backstory:
The origin of G.O.R.E is a mystery. The only thing that's for sure is that quite some time ago, the mysterious and engimatic founder decided to create the Guild, for reasons and purposes that only she knows. Most members don't care, as long as they get paid.
Important Notes:
Members:
Name: Nimerescha "Nim" Bavaloure
Age: Secret! (But older than all the other girls...)
Gender: Female
Species: Witch
Role: Hall Mistress
Location: Litroot G.O.R.E Hall
Faction: Litroot-branch of G.O.R.E
Disposition: Eternally Moody
Personality:
Nim is a tiny lady, with a big presence. Although her voice, eyes and general experssion exude and air of apathy and complete lack of interest in virtually anything around her, she can somehow still manage to be both commanding and outright frightening when need be. Although typically a solitary person who spends most of her time inside her own office at the Litroot Guild Hall, she does poke her head out once in a while and check up on the girls under her care. As a Hall Mistress, she's vot a very simple protcol and creed; Do as I say and we'll get along. Most sane people follow this simple rule without fail.
While she seems to be uncaring and uninvested in most everything, Nim is actually both perceptive, empathic and incredibly intelligent, not to mention wise and capable. Having lived a long life, she sits on a plethora of accumulated knowledge, life-experience and understanding of the world and its people. While some dismiss her as cold and uncaring, this little witch simply chooses to show concern in her own, limited way, and those who cannot pick up her subtlety are free to think what they want, according to Nim herself. She's tough but fair, moody but genuine, reclusive but diligent. She could likely work at a larger, more important guild hall, if she so desired.
Background:
Nim originally hails from the outskirt regions of Aulder, having grown up in a small witch-community. She states that her childhood and youth wasn't anything special, and she didn't actually join G.O.R.E until she was a "legal adult", whatever that means for witches and warlocks. According to her, she was nothing special - her family was neither poor nor rich, she didn't go to a prestigeous academy, but she did receive an education. Some rumors say she was a prodigy back in her aventuring days, but Nim assures anyone who hears this that those are baseless rumors and exaggerations.
Voice Color Code:
fdc68a
Name: Karin Mofumofu
Age: 20+ (It's a secret)
Gender: Female
Species: Tanuki, Raccoon-Dog Spirit
Role: Receptionist
Location: Litroot G.O.R.E Hall
Faction: Litroot-branch of G.OR.E
Disposition: Mildly annoyed
Personality:
Karin is a mature, calm and patient woman, with a very professional behavior. She's polite and friendly, to both clients and fellow guild-members, as well as respctful and accepting of others' and their personal quirks. However, despite looking very seasoned and put-together, karin is actually a bit of a slob when it comes to organization and efficiency. Often-times, she just shoves paperwork and important items haphazardly into her workspace, having to rummage and search around for them later once they're needed. She's also a bit lazy, having actually requested to be transfered to a remote, out-of-the-way guild hall, so as to not have to do a lot of actual, administrative work. Luckily for her, only her superiors and the hall mistress at Litroot actually know the truth about her, whereas the Renta-Experts at the guild hall have the utmost respect for her (seemingly) composed and hard-working visage.
She isn't a saint though, and has been known to both scold and harshly reprimand Renta-Experts who've failed or fudged up their jobs... Mostly because the clients come and complain to her, which means more work for her. She's also a bit touchy about her age, not revealing it to anyone, and being somewhat defensive when it comes to the topic of getting a man or getting married or starting a family... She's also terrible at holding her liquor and gets drunk very easily... And gets quite mouthy when drunk. Still, she does put effort into her appearance and manners when on the job.
Background:
Karin hails from the far east originally, belonging to a house of wealthy merchants. She received education in both domestic and foreign languages, economics and was groomed to be a prim and proper lady. The reasons why she left her home and travelled so far are currently unknown.
Voice Color Code: 00a99d</s>
<|message|>The Guild of Renta-Experts
"Good, I do so like obedient children." The Hall Mistress aid, before apparently feeling like all that needed to be said and done had been said and done. Turning on her tiny heels, she slowly made her way back into the murky dim dark of her office, closing the door behind her without actually even touching it... Was it automated? Magic? The wind? Who could say.
Having managed to fish out a decently sized bucket, with a few rough cloth rags in it, Brandy finally stood back up straight - no longer exposing both rump, tail and underwear to anyone (un)fortunate enough to walk in and see her from behind. She did so at a most opportune time, as the frantic werewolf had just rushed over and joined her side. The tanned goat-girl gave the alchemist a good once-over, examening her from ear-tip to tail-tip, before saying something.
"So, uhm, you know where the well is? I just rolled into town today, so i don't really know my way around yet. Went straight here to get signed up, y'know." She stated rather unabashedly. "Oh, name's Brandy. Nice to meet'cha, girlfriend. That potion-thingy you made me swallow sure was somehtin'." She added, before smiling and beginnijng to walk on over to the front door, fully intent on having the puppy follow and show her the way to the local water-drawing pit.</s>
<|message|>Alice Keller
"I'm Alice," the werewolf said, following quickly after Brandy. "The watering hole is just this way, down the street...aaaand we're here!" the werewolf would say as she guided Brandy down the very short path to the well, lowering the bucket on a rope, and gathering just enough water for some good 'ol fashioned elbow-grease work. "Also, I'm glad you think the potion was tasty. I tried all kinds of flavors, like bone marrow, cucumber, and even cheese, but for some reason the only one that really works is the Berry Tea taste my mom used to make. The tea, I mean. Not the potion," Alice over-explained.
"Soooo...why do you want to be an adventurer Brandy? Got a motivating backstory? I've been told a lot of adventurers have 'sob stories' just like mine according to Ms. Bavaloure, so I just kinda figure that most have some sort of novel-worthy motivation. Like, maybe a boyfriend got stolen, maybe a dragon ate your dog...stuff like that," Alice said, tail swishing as she talked and walked, heading back to the guild hall with bucket in hand, and eager to clean. So eager in fact that Brandy would notice the wolf girl was doing a majority of the work without even being asked to just on account of how fast she was moving.</s>
| <|message|>The Guild of Renta-Experts
After getting an earful of details about the various flavors of the potions, and it finally culmniating with an overly explanatory explanation of tea, where it was from and the potion's flavor, Bradny could do little else but snicker. This wolf-girl was all over the place and seemed so excited. She was just the kind of person that the little satyress had been hoping to run into. Sure, she loved her calm and docile family with all her heart, but they were just so... Stiff, and boring, at times. After having been led to the well, drawn some water and returned to the scene-of-the-crime, Brandy listened further as the pooch asked about her reasons for joining the Guild, while sitting mostly back, one leg crossed over the other, and watching the werewolf go to town on cleaning-duty.
"Weeeeell, it's nothing sappy or super-cheesy like avenging my murdered lover or being a run-a-way princess seeking to prove herself. Though I 'spose you could be forgiven for thinking that." She gave herself a once-over before going on. "In my case, I just wanted to see more of the world, and not spend my entire life plowing fields and being peeped on in the bath by my older brother." She stated, not realizing that what she'd just said may have caused some people to raise an eyebrow at the way it was worded."Don't get me wrong, I love the farm I grew up on and everything, it was really peaceful and nice, but it was sooooooo boriiiiiiiiing... Just chores, chores and more chores... Do this, do that, don't do that, don't do this, stop wearing that, stop leading the neighbour's son on, stop leading the neighbour's younger son on, yadda-yadda. Y'know? That kinda stuff. I just wanted to be able to go places, see people, try stuff out that didn't involve a hoe or seed. " She elaborated, while leaning back on a bench and putting both arms behind her head, staring with a daydreamy-kind-of-face into the ceiling for a bit.
Eventually though, she got off her fetching rump and, towards the end of it all, lent a hand with the cleaning. Between the two girls' efforts, the bloodstains were mostly removed and the reception retuyrned to a ... Presentable... state of existence. The rags were a bit discolored now and the water in their bucket looked less than sanitary, but the job had been dine and it had been ... Passably well! Huzzah!
"Well, that takes care of that. SO like, what do you do now? That tiny chick said something about there being stuff on a board...? I saw you run over to that slab o' wall over there, the one with the little paper-strips on it. That where ya pick up work here?" The satyr asked, tilting her head while pointing daintily at the quest billboard over by the front door. "So, how do you get started? Just pick something and do what the note tells ya?" She asked in addition.
Of course, there was a bit more beaurocracy involved than that. Having already finished a task herself, Alice would know the proper procedure of bringing the quest one wished to do up and over to the reception, having the receptionist verify who and how many were taking on the job and finally recording all the details in a registry, before one could finally set off on their quest. Of course, with Karin currently out an d missing, the only thing one could do with the billboard right now was give it a good stare-down and choose between the modestly meagre selection of available jobs...
... Whcih mostly invovled things like 'Clean my chimney', 'Go to the mill and get flour for our bakery', 'Walk my dog', 'Take this letter to Nutbrook' and, of course; 'Kill that infernal horned rabbit that keeps eating my vegetable patch'. So many glorious options to choose from! ... Naturally, Brandy couldn't read any of them, since her parents only taught her how tor ead and write in old minotaur script, which was only used in a very limited region of the world nowadaysw...</s> |
<|description|>Alice Keller
Age: 19
Gender: Female
Species: Lycanthrope (Werewolf)
Height:5'8"
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Yellow
Personality: Much like many werewolves, Alice is a very hyperactive and energetic individual that is borderline obsessed with her craft of alchemy. She is the type to excitedly show off a new potion she's made, or explain sciences that nobody really understands without realizing she sounds crazy. She's more than a bit eccentric, often asking for people to test her potions and brews, but she always mean well. When she's faced with losing something she likes being taken away from her though, Alice becomes very irritable and grouchy, not wanting to give up anything she owns. As such, her travelling pack is filled to the brim with junk that only she knows the purpose of. She isn't the type to hold grudges, and will often try and help those who have wronged her, doing what her father said as "Being the bigger dog giving a bone."
Likes: Alcohol, sunny days, the smell of cooked meat, partying, camping, and gnawing on monster bones.
Dislikes: Loud noises, slimes, full moons, mice.
Hobbies: Brewing, alchemy, making friends, digging.
Background: It isn't often that a member of a lower-class household receives the chance to enter into the Alchemist's guild. Born the daughter of a family of mines in her home-village in Gromril's territory, Alice was destined to do as her family had done for generations: toil in the mines and probably die from a cave-in like good 'ol grandpapa Morgan, if not for the girl's curious fascination with plants and herbs that would have her attempting to pursue a career in being first a pharmacist, then an alchemist. The reason? Her sickly mother was often bed-ridden, meaning her dad needed to work twice as hard to support them in their little home. They often couldn't afford much medicine, so Alice, naive as she was, started poking around the snowy wilderness to find herbs to boil for tea. It tasted awful and didn't really help much, but her mother's smile was what drove her to want to help people as a job.
Admittance to the Alchemist's guild is barred by a strict entrance examination and a large cover fee, most of which Alice saved up for entirely on her own by working three different jobs, 7 days a week while studying from a dusty old tome: "Alchemical Studies for the Novice". It was an arduous process just to get in, but her family was happy that she found a path in life that didn't involve digging up rocks for the rest of her life. On especially hard nights, her father would drink and try and raise his daughter's spirits, joking that once she learned how to brew potions, she should learn to brew beer and open up a family brewery.
Before the girl could fully graduate from her guild apprenticeship, her mother passed away from her perpetual sickness. Wanting nothing more than the impossible, Alice would graduate and seek to innovate in alchemical medicine, wanting to make sure that the sickness that struck her mother down would never hurt anyone again. She left a large portion of her grant money at home and joined G.O.R.E. as soon as she graduated, departing from her home with a promise to her father; She'd invent the best medicine, and make him the best beer he'd ever had when she made it big. When asked why she wanted to join, Alice simply stated: "A place that exists to help people is where I want to be. I can't help everyone if I'm stuck in one place!" She has only been with G.O.R.E. for about a week now, and her most dangerous work consisted of rescuing a cat from a tree.
...Now, she just has to survive being an alchemist with almost no combat experience, and test out her brews and medicines until they're perfect. Easier said than done, but since when were dreams ever easy?
Dream/Goal: Creation of a catch-all panacea for any disease, to re-create the divine drink of the gods, Ambrosia, and to potentially find a dinosaur skeleton to eat. ...Girl's gotta have goals.
~ Parameters & Stuff ~
Racial Abilities:
* Darkvision: Can see just as well in the dark as in brightly lit places.
* Bloody Moon: In times of a full moon, a lycanthrope's full might is revealed at the cost of their sanity and intelligence for the night that follows. Raises physical stats greatly while decreasing mental stats to nearly 0.
* Unholy Blood: Her lycanthropic heritage means that silver is poisonous against her, with the trade-off being that she can continually heal herself over time against most non-silver-inflicted injuries.
Statistics:
* STR: 37 (95)
* DEX: 45 (90)
* VIT: 57 (100)
* MND: 91 (20)
* INT: 83 (5)
* LCK: 76 (???)
Spells & Specials:
* Alchemix: With a bonafide degree from the Alchemist's guild, Alice is legally (and sometimes very illegally) capable of alchemizing substances. This can range from healing potions, bombs, poisons, and even stuff that she's not legally allowed to tell people. All she needs are ingredients and time, and Alice can make just about any kind of potion.
* Lycanthropic Fighting: While she doesn't like the prospect of fighting unarmed, Alice's claws are exceptionally sharp, making her a dangerous melee combatant...or at least she would be if her form of fighting wasn't flailing her arms to try and claw people. She's better off using her potions to fight.
* Sniffer Sleuth: Regardless of how human she appears, Alice is a werewolf. As such she inherits the sense of smell of a wolf, allowing her to track down virtually anyone or anything within a few miles of a scent, so long as they don't mask it intentionally. This makes finding ingredients very easy.
* Legendary Awoo: Doggos are loud. Alice is capable of letting out a high-pitched howl that, though non-magical, is loud enough to cause creatures with sensitive hearing to flinch.
Equipment:
* Alchemist's Gauntlets: A set of gauntlets designed to handle hot and hazardous materials, looking much like a set of oven mitts. But alchemy-y.
* Knick-Knack-Sack: A backpack mounted constantly on Alice's back that is roughly the size of half of her body. And then some. Its as wide as she is tall, and is stuffed full of knick knacks and ingredients that she insists are vital to her alchemy. Someday, she wants to get a bag of holding instead.
* Clothen Bedroll: A simple linen bedroll that's easy to roll up, and even easier to fall asleep on.
* Papa's Brush: A thick-bristled brush that has seen much use over the years. Alice's father used to brush her hair and tail with it, and she's never once used a different brush. ...Kinda telling, given how much of a mess her hair can be.
* Glass Bottles x20: Glass bottles of various sizes, all perfect for fitting a potion for one person.
* Mug x2: Wooden tankards that look just downright lonely without some ale poured in them.
* "Research Grant" pouch: A sack that SHOULD be filled with grant money to fund alchemical research, but is currently flat and empty.
* Ultra-Deluxe Bone: A nearly unbreakable bone that Alice carries in her sack. Great for gnawin', or bashin'. Touch at your own peril.
* Sling: A simple leather sling. Useful for making potions and bombs become mobile.
* Empty Sack: A big burlap sack. Perfect for holding things.
* Canned Rations: Simple canned beef and carrots. Good for a hearty meal. Can-opener included on her fingers.
* Mother's Pendant: A momento of Alice's mother, who passed away before seeing her daughter graduate. Alice's most prized possession. Alice has enchanted the metal to stay clean, meaning it can never rust.
* Mortar and Pestle: Partners in crime! Good for smashing up ingredients into fine powder or liquid.
* Brewery Pipe: An intricate alchemical device that is the method by which Alice makes many of her alchemical items.
* Encyclopedia Botanica/Animalia/Allthingsia: A big book that is made by Alice, bound in simple leather. It is a working list of every ingredient she has come across.
* Flashpowder Bombs x2: Simple bombs that explode when they shatter on the ground. Does a light amount of damage, but makes a huge noise.
* Potions of Restoration x4: Effectively, healing potions but if they had the added benefit of curing non-magical diseases.
* Swiftthorn Poison: A dangerous poison that, when it enters the user's body, gives them an acute heightening of their pain receptors, making it feel like even walking is painful. Made from the Swiftthorn Vine, known for its territorial nature.
* Thundercracker: A bomb that Alice says is only for "emergencies". She has said it may have enough power to break a boulder into pebbles, but only carries one for safety purposes.
* Holy Water x3: Vials of water blessed with various holy-aligned herbs. Despite being holy, its basically water with a specific oil from the leaves mixed in. Effective at repelling the undead.</s>
<|message|>Alice Keller
"That was a restoration potion! I only let you have a little, but it was plenty to help up that cut," the werewolf girl said in response to the satyr's enthusiasm to being healed. She'd simply nod at the receptionist not needing anything to clean up the goat blood everywhere on her suit. She had no place in the conversation as the hall's leader emerged, the werewolf giving the most military-proper salute and posture ever, holding it for as long as necessary.
Up until she was addressed, Alice was holding her breathe, used to the strict hierarchy of the Alchemist's guild. At the suggestion of the billboard, she jumped over. Literally. She jumped like, ten feet vertically and hurriedly looked over the requests. Before she could even find one though the hall leader's eyes felt like they were boring into the back of her skull, causing her to turn around and shakily look her in the eyes. "MA'AM YES MA'AM PLEASE DON'T KILL ME MA'AM!" she said before rushing past the leader so fast that it might have made her hat spin as she got to work cleaning up, all the while making the saddest puppy noises like, ever. Spooky dead eyes scared her. Eyes weren't supposed to be like that! Not even fish-eyes!</s>
<|message|>The Guild of Renta-Experts
"Good, I do so like obedient children." The Hall Mistress aid, before apparently feeling like all that needed to be said and done had been said and done. Turning on her tiny heels, she slowly made her way back into the murky dim dark of her office, closing the door behind her without actually even touching it... Was it automated? Magic? The wind? Who could say.
Having managed to fish out a decently sized bucket, with a few rough cloth rags in it, Brandy finally stood back up straight - no longer exposing both rump, tail and underwear to anyone (un)fortunate enough to walk in and see her from behind. She did so at a most opportune time, as the frantic werewolf had just rushed over and joined her side. The tanned goat-girl gave the alchemist a good once-over, examening her from ear-tip to tail-tip, before saying something.
"So, uhm, you know where the well is? I just rolled into town today, so i don't really know my way around yet. Went straight here to get signed up, y'know." She stated rather unabashedly. "Oh, name's Brandy. Nice to meet'cha, girlfriend. That potion-thingy you made me swallow sure was somehtin'." She added, before smiling and beginnijng to walk on over to the front door, fully intent on having the puppy follow and show her the way to the local water-drawing pit.</s>
| <|message|>Alice Keller
"I'm Alice," the werewolf said, following quickly after Brandy. "The watering hole is just this way, down the street...aaaand we're here!" the werewolf would say as she guided Brandy down the very short path to the well, lowering the bucket on a rope, and gathering just enough water for some good 'ol fashioned elbow-grease work. "Also, I'm glad you think the potion was tasty. I tried all kinds of flavors, like bone marrow, cucumber, and even cheese, but for some reason the only one that really works is the Berry Tea taste my mom used to make. The tea, I mean. Not the potion," Alice over-explained.
"Soooo...why do you want to be an adventurer Brandy? Got a motivating backstory? I've been told a lot of adventurers have 'sob stories' just like mine according to Ms. Bavaloure, so I just kinda figure that most have some sort of novel-worthy motivation. Like, maybe a boyfriend got stolen, maybe a dragon ate your dog...stuff like that," Alice said, tail swishing as she talked and walked, heading back to the guild hall with bucket in hand, and eager to clean. So eager in fact that Brandy would notice the wolf girl was doing a majority of the work without even being asked to just on account of how fast she was moving.</s> |
<|description|>Alice Keller
Age: 19
Gender: Female
Species: Lycanthrope (Werewolf)
Height:5'8"
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Yellow
Personality: Much like many werewolves, Alice is a very hyperactive and energetic individual that is borderline obsessed with her craft of alchemy. She is the type to excitedly show off a new potion she's made, or explain sciences that nobody really understands without realizing she sounds crazy. She's more than a bit eccentric, often asking for people to test her potions and brews, but she always mean well. When she's faced with losing something she likes being taken away from her though, Alice becomes very irritable and grouchy, not wanting to give up anything she owns. As such, her travelling pack is filled to the brim with junk that only she knows the purpose of. She isn't the type to hold grudges, and will often try and help those who have wronged her, doing what her father said as "Being the bigger dog giving a bone."
Likes: Alcohol, sunny days, the smell of cooked meat, partying, camping, and gnawing on monster bones.
Dislikes: Loud noises, slimes, full moons, mice.
Hobbies: Brewing, alchemy, making friends, digging.
Background: It isn't often that a member of a lower-class household receives the chance to enter into the Alchemist's guild. Born the daughter of a family of mines in her home-village in Gromril's territory, Alice was destined to do as her family had done for generations: toil in the mines and probably die from a cave-in like good 'ol grandpapa Morgan, if not for the girl's curious fascination with plants and herbs that would have her attempting to pursue a career in being first a pharmacist, then an alchemist. The reason? Her sickly mother was often bed-ridden, meaning her dad needed to work twice as hard to support them in their little home. They often couldn't afford much medicine, so Alice, naive as she was, started poking around the snowy wilderness to find herbs to boil for tea. It tasted awful and didn't really help much, but her mother's smile was what drove her to want to help people as a job.
Admittance to the Alchemist's guild is barred by a strict entrance examination and a large cover fee, most of which Alice saved up for entirely on her own by working three different jobs, 7 days a week while studying from a dusty old tome: "Alchemical Studies for the Novice". It was an arduous process just to get in, but her family was happy that she found a path in life that didn't involve digging up rocks for the rest of her life. On especially hard nights, her father would drink and try and raise his daughter's spirits, joking that once she learned how to brew potions, she should learn to brew beer and open up a family brewery.
Before the girl could fully graduate from her guild apprenticeship, her mother passed away from her perpetual sickness. Wanting nothing more than the impossible, Alice would graduate and seek to innovate in alchemical medicine, wanting to make sure that the sickness that struck her mother down would never hurt anyone again. She left a large portion of her grant money at home and joined G.O.R.E. as soon as she graduated, departing from her home with a promise to her father; She'd invent the best medicine, and make him the best beer he'd ever had when she made it big. When asked why she wanted to join, Alice simply stated: "A place that exists to help people is where I want to be. I can't help everyone if I'm stuck in one place!" She has only been with G.O.R.E. for about a week now, and her most dangerous work consisted of rescuing a cat from a tree.
...Now, she just has to survive being an alchemist with almost no combat experience, and test out her brews and medicines until they're perfect. Easier said than done, but since when were dreams ever easy?
Dream/Goal: Creation of a catch-all panacea for any disease, to re-create the divine drink of the gods, Ambrosia, and to potentially find a dinosaur skeleton to eat. ...Girl's gotta have goals.
~ Parameters & Stuff ~
Racial Abilities:
* Darkvision: Can see just as well in the dark as in brightly lit places.
* Bloody Moon: In times of a full moon, a lycanthrope's full might is revealed at the cost of their sanity and intelligence for the night that follows. Raises physical stats greatly while decreasing mental stats to nearly 0.
* Unholy Blood: Her lycanthropic heritage means that silver is poisonous against her, with the trade-off being that she can continually heal herself over time against most non-silver-inflicted injuries.
Statistics:
* STR: 37 (95)
* DEX: 45 (90)
* VIT: 57 (100)
* MND: 91 (20)
* INT: 83 (5)
* LCK: 76 (???)
Spells & Specials:
* Alchemix: With a bonafide degree from the Alchemist's guild, Alice is legally (and sometimes very illegally) capable of alchemizing substances. This can range from healing potions, bombs, poisons, and even stuff that she's not legally allowed to tell people. All she needs are ingredients and time, and Alice can make just about any kind of potion.
* Lycanthropic Fighting: While she doesn't like the prospect of fighting unarmed, Alice's claws are exceptionally sharp, making her a dangerous melee combatant...or at least she would be if her form of fighting wasn't flailing her arms to try and claw people. She's better off using her potions to fight.
* Sniffer Sleuth: Regardless of how human she appears, Alice is a werewolf. As such she inherits the sense of smell of a wolf, allowing her to track down virtually anyone or anything within a few miles of a scent, so long as they don't mask it intentionally. This makes finding ingredients very easy.
* Legendary Awoo: Doggos are loud. Alice is capable of letting out a high-pitched howl that, though non-magical, is loud enough to cause creatures with sensitive hearing to flinch.
Equipment:
* Alchemist's Gauntlets: A set of gauntlets designed to handle hot and hazardous materials, looking much like a set of oven mitts. But alchemy-y.
* Knick-Knack-Sack: A backpack mounted constantly on Alice's back that is roughly the size of half of her body. And then some. Its as wide as she is tall, and is stuffed full of knick knacks and ingredients that she insists are vital to her alchemy. Someday, she wants to get a bag of holding instead.
* Clothen Bedroll: A simple linen bedroll that's easy to roll up, and even easier to fall asleep on.
* Papa's Brush: A thick-bristled brush that has seen much use over the years. Alice's father used to brush her hair and tail with it, and she's never once used a different brush. ...Kinda telling, given how much of a mess her hair can be.
* Glass Bottles x20: Glass bottles of various sizes, all perfect for fitting a potion for one person.
* Mug x2: Wooden tankards that look just downright lonely without some ale poured in them.
* "Research Grant" pouch: A sack that SHOULD be filled with grant money to fund alchemical research, but is currently flat and empty.
* Ultra-Deluxe Bone: A nearly unbreakable bone that Alice carries in her sack. Great for gnawin', or bashin'. Touch at your own peril.
* Sling: A simple leather sling. Useful for making potions and bombs become mobile.
* Empty Sack: A big burlap sack. Perfect for holding things.
* Canned Rations: Simple canned beef and carrots. Good for a hearty meal. Can-opener included on her fingers.
* Mother's Pendant: A momento of Alice's mother, who passed away before seeing her daughter graduate. Alice's most prized possession. Alice has enchanted the metal to stay clean, meaning it can never rust.
* Mortar and Pestle: Partners in crime! Good for smashing up ingredients into fine powder or liquid.
* Brewery Pipe: An intricate alchemical device that is the method by which Alice makes many of her alchemical items.
* Encyclopedia Botanica/Animalia/Allthingsia: A big book that is made by Alice, bound in simple leather. It is a working list of every ingredient she has come across.
* Flashpowder Bombs x2: Simple bombs that explode when they shatter on the ground. Does a light amount of damage, but makes a huge noise.
* Potions of Restoration x4: Effectively, healing potions but if they had the added benefit of curing non-magical diseases.
* Swiftthorn Poison: A dangerous poison that, when it enters the user's body, gives them an acute heightening of their pain receptors, making it feel like even walking is painful. Made from the Swiftthorn Vine, known for its territorial nature.
* Thundercracker: A bomb that Alice says is only for "emergencies". She has said it may have enough power to break a boulder into pebbles, but only carries one for safety purposes.
* Holy Water x3: Vials of water blessed with various holy-aligned herbs. Despite being holy, its basically water with a specific oil from the leaves mixed in. Effective at repelling the undead.</s>
<|message|>Alice Keller
Alice didn't even have time to object and say that she'd help for free before Brandy went ahead and signed her on for the quest to split the miniscule pay for walking a dog. She just hoped they'd have time for a second job, otherwise she may wind up having to bunk with the spunky Satyr, a prospect that didn't necessarily sound bad. At least until she started realizing that Brandy may have the IQ of a peanut. Or...maybe a chestnut, given how busty she was? Alice didn't know. All she did know was that this girl really, really, really liked randomly investigating things. She was just kinda dragged along at Brandy's pace, all the while wondering if this arm-locking thing was something that friends did. Suddenly, her tail wagged.
WERE THEY FRIENDS!?
With the thought of making her first real friend on her mind, Alice resolved herself to be as useful as possible, even willing to ignore getting hit with a broom by a housewife for Brandy's peeking. With Brandy latched on, Alice quickly cleared her throat and said: "Miss Elma Elmwood is a woman with reddish hair and glasses. I've never spoken to her personally or seen her dog, but she seems like a quiet type of person. When we go talk to her, maybe I should do the talking. A-And uh, no problem! I like helping!" Alice said, tail going ballistic. Friendship was weird!</s>
<|message|>The Guild of Renta-Experts
"Hm? Whyssat? There somethin' wrong with the way I talk?" Brandy asked, raising an eyebrow and cocking her head sideways inquisitvely. It didn't seem she was offended by the remark, more just curious about why. Her attention was soon diverted away though, as her head turned to look behind the pair, and she spotted Alice's wagging tail. A merry laguh leapt out of her mouth and she squeeze Alice's arm tighter to herself. "Maa-haa-haa~ That's 'totes adorbs!"
It didn't take too long to navigate through the outer parts of the town. Soon enough, the girls found themselves walking up a neat and tidy small brick-laiden walkway, leading up to one of the larger, and rarer, two-storey buildings in the village. Unlike many of the other structures around, this one actually sported both a tiled roof and proper glass windows. In fact, the whole place looked a bit too swanky to be part of this rural hamlet, but here it was nontheless.
There was a low fence surrounding the home, clearly sectioning off the property as to ward of unwanted trespassers, or those careless enough to trample onto someone else's yard. Several small bushes and carefully arranged flowerbeds adorned the property, along with a small, private well and a ceramic bird-bath. There was no gate to bar entry though, so getting up to the front door was hassle-free. Once they were a few feet away, Brandy let go off Alice's arm and bounded up to the door, easily ascending the small wooden staircase infront of it and then, with an unceremoniously loud series of bangs, pounded on the door with her fist.
"Hey! Elm-lady! We're here to walk yer pupper!" The satyress half-shouted.
It didn't take too long before the door opened slowly, and a rather wrinkled, rather glasses-sporting and rather annoyed-looking older madame stepped out of it. Matte, reddish-brown hair and a scowl that looked like it'd been permanently carved into her face, she wore a simple, but nontheless decently fashionable, dress in a maroon color. She eyed the two girls. First the busty, half-naked satyr who was swaying back and forth on her hooved feet, then at the werewolf. She didn't say anything for a bit. A rather long bit actually.
Then she went back inside.
And closed the door.
...
...
...
"Uhm... Did she go back in to get her dog or what?" Brandy asked, looking quite cluelessly at Alice.</s>
| <|message|>Alice Keller
Well, that was odd. Alice wasn't sure why the lady Elmwood would shut her door so readily...buuut maybe it was because Brandy lacked tact. And modesty. And clothes. And brains. Either way, Alice would gingerly tap on Brandy's shoulder. "Let's wait a few minutes. Maybe she's just making sure we'd have everything we'd need to take care of the dog on its walk. Also, she was really particular about what the dog's allowed to do, so...maybe she just wants to make sure we're not slackers that'll run off as soon as we're kept waiting."
In truth, Alice kind of suspected that the woman wasn't answering the door unless they knocked again. ...Buuut, being proved wrong was always nice.</s> |
<|description|>Alice Keller
Age: 19
Gender: Female
Species: Lycanthrope (Werewolf)
Height:5'8"
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Yellow
Personality: Much like many werewolves, Alice is a very hyperactive and energetic individual that is borderline obsessed with her craft of alchemy. She is the type to excitedly show off a new potion she's made, or explain sciences that nobody really understands without realizing she sounds crazy. She's more than a bit eccentric, often asking for people to test her potions and brews, but she always mean well. When she's faced with losing something she likes being taken away from her though, Alice becomes very irritable and grouchy, not wanting to give up anything she owns. As such, her travelling pack is filled to the brim with junk that only she knows the purpose of. She isn't the type to hold grudges, and will often try and help those who have wronged her, doing what her father said as "Being the bigger dog giving a bone."
Likes: Alcohol, sunny days, the smell of cooked meat, partying, camping, and gnawing on monster bones.
Dislikes: Loud noises, slimes, full moons, mice.
Hobbies: Brewing, alchemy, making friends, digging.
Background: It isn't often that a member of a lower-class household receives the chance to enter into the Alchemist's guild. Born the daughter of a family of mines in her home-village in Gromril's territory, Alice was destined to do as her family had done for generations: toil in the mines and probably die from a cave-in like good 'ol grandpapa Morgan, if not for the girl's curious fascination with plants and herbs that would have her attempting to pursue a career in being first a pharmacist, then an alchemist. The reason? Her sickly mother was often bed-ridden, meaning her dad needed to work twice as hard to support them in their little home. They often couldn't afford much medicine, so Alice, naive as she was, started poking around the snowy wilderness to find herbs to boil for tea. It tasted awful and didn't really help much, but her mother's smile was what drove her to want to help people as a job.
Admittance to the Alchemist's guild is barred by a strict entrance examination and a large cover fee, most of which Alice saved up for entirely on her own by working three different jobs, 7 days a week while studying from a dusty old tome: "Alchemical Studies for the Novice". It was an arduous process just to get in, but her family was happy that she found a path in life that didn't involve digging up rocks for the rest of her life. On especially hard nights, her father would drink and try and raise his daughter's spirits, joking that once she learned how to brew potions, she should learn to brew beer and open up a family brewery.
Before the girl could fully graduate from her guild apprenticeship, her mother passed away from her perpetual sickness. Wanting nothing more than the impossible, Alice would graduate and seek to innovate in alchemical medicine, wanting to make sure that the sickness that struck her mother down would never hurt anyone again. She left a large portion of her grant money at home and joined G.O.R.E. as soon as she graduated, departing from her home with a promise to her father; She'd invent the best medicine, and make him the best beer he'd ever had when she made it big. When asked why she wanted to join, Alice simply stated: "A place that exists to help people is where I want to be. I can't help everyone if I'm stuck in one place!" She has only been with G.O.R.E. for about a week now, and her most dangerous work consisted of rescuing a cat from a tree.
...Now, she just has to survive being an alchemist with almost no combat experience, and test out her brews and medicines until they're perfect. Easier said than done, but since when were dreams ever easy?
Dream/Goal: Creation of a catch-all panacea for any disease, to re-create the divine drink of the gods, Ambrosia, and to potentially find a dinosaur skeleton to eat. ...Girl's gotta have goals.
~ Parameters & Stuff ~
Racial Abilities:
* Darkvision: Can see just as well in the dark as in brightly lit places.
* Bloody Moon: In times of a full moon, a lycanthrope's full might is revealed at the cost of their sanity and intelligence for the night that follows. Raises physical stats greatly while decreasing mental stats to nearly 0.
* Unholy Blood: Her lycanthropic heritage means that silver is poisonous against her, with the trade-off being that she can continually heal herself over time against most non-silver-inflicted injuries.
Statistics:
* STR: 37 (95)
* DEX: 45 (90)
* VIT: 57 (100)
* MND: 91 (20)
* INT: 83 (5)
* LCK: 76 (???)
Spells & Specials:
* Alchemix: With a bonafide degree from the Alchemist's guild, Alice is legally (and sometimes very illegally) capable of alchemizing substances. This can range from healing potions, bombs, poisons, and even stuff that she's not legally allowed to tell people. All she needs are ingredients and time, and Alice can make just about any kind of potion.
* Lycanthropic Fighting: While she doesn't like the prospect of fighting unarmed, Alice's claws are exceptionally sharp, making her a dangerous melee combatant...or at least she would be if her form of fighting wasn't flailing her arms to try and claw people. She's better off using her potions to fight.
* Sniffer Sleuth: Regardless of how human she appears, Alice is a werewolf. As such she inherits the sense of smell of a wolf, allowing her to track down virtually anyone or anything within a few miles of a scent, so long as they don't mask it intentionally. This makes finding ingredients very easy.
* Legendary Awoo: Doggos are loud. Alice is capable of letting out a high-pitched howl that, though non-magical, is loud enough to cause creatures with sensitive hearing to flinch.
Equipment:
* Alchemist's Gauntlets: A set of gauntlets designed to handle hot and hazardous materials, looking much like a set of oven mitts. But alchemy-y.
* Knick-Knack-Sack: A backpack mounted constantly on Alice's back that is roughly the size of half of her body. And then some. Its as wide as she is tall, and is stuffed full of knick knacks and ingredients that she insists are vital to her alchemy. Someday, she wants to get a bag of holding instead.
* Clothen Bedroll: A simple linen bedroll that's easy to roll up, and even easier to fall asleep on.
* Papa's Brush: A thick-bristled brush that has seen much use over the years. Alice's father used to brush her hair and tail with it, and she's never once used a different brush. ...Kinda telling, given how much of a mess her hair can be.
* Glass Bottles x20: Glass bottles of various sizes, all perfect for fitting a potion for one person.
* Mug x2: Wooden tankards that look just downright lonely without some ale poured in them.
* "Research Grant" pouch: A sack that SHOULD be filled with grant money to fund alchemical research, but is currently flat and empty.
* Ultra-Deluxe Bone: A nearly unbreakable bone that Alice carries in her sack. Great for gnawin', or bashin'. Touch at your own peril.
* Sling: A simple leather sling. Useful for making potions and bombs become mobile.
* Empty Sack: A big burlap sack. Perfect for holding things.
* Canned Rations: Simple canned beef and carrots. Good for a hearty meal. Can-opener included on her fingers.
* Mother's Pendant: A momento of Alice's mother, who passed away before seeing her daughter graduate. Alice's most prized possession. Alice has enchanted the metal to stay clean, meaning it can never rust.
* Mortar and Pestle: Partners in crime! Good for smashing up ingredients into fine powder or liquid.
* Brewery Pipe: An intricate alchemical device that is the method by which Alice makes many of her alchemical items.
* Encyclopedia Botanica/Animalia/Allthingsia: A big book that is made by Alice, bound in simple leather. It is a working list of every ingredient she has come across.
* Flashpowder Bombs x2: Simple bombs that explode when they shatter on the ground. Does a light amount of damage, but makes a huge noise.
* Potions of Restoration x4: Effectively, healing potions but if they had the added benefit of curing non-magical diseases.
* Swiftthorn Poison: A dangerous poison that, when it enters the user's body, gives them an acute heightening of their pain receptors, making it feel like even walking is painful. Made from the Swiftthorn Vine, known for its territorial nature.
* Thundercracker: A bomb that Alice says is only for "emergencies". She has said it may have enough power to break a boulder into pebbles, but only carries one for safety purposes.
* Holy Water x3: Vials of water blessed with various holy-aligned herbs. Despite being holy, its basically water with a specific oil from the leaves mixed in. Effective at repelling the undead.</s>
<|message|>Alice Keller
Alice kept her smile throughout the barrage of the old lady's instructions and sweetly replied with: "We understand Ma'am. Francoise will come back without incident, even if I have to throw myself in harm's way. Though, if you don't want to use a leash, a harness might work better since it will only hold onto his chest. Just a thought for the future-" she said before cutting herself short, eyes narrowing as she sniffed once, smelling the mouse that was approaching. "Brandy! Don't play with mice!" she said, before very sternly staring down the field mouse, arms crossed. She needed to at least set the example that they could handle a small animal like a mouse...and a much larger animal like Brandy. Setting her eyes in an intense gaze, she would stare down the field mouse, raising her tail behind her.
"Don't you worry Ma'am, I'll protect Francoise from anything! Even things more threatening than that mouse. Like children. Or...children-sized mice."</s>
<|message|>The Guild of Renta-Experts
Despite Alice's best attempts at a sale's-pitch, for assuring the old bat about her own and her companion's ability to handle the task at hand, the elderly lady seemed... Unimpressed. When Alice continued to suggest how the old woman should handle her prized pooch though, the werewolf got a very stern and very annoyed glare, the kind that bores a hole right through your soul and it close to having your neck strangled without it actually being physically choked... Apparently the lady Elmswood didn't appreciate others telling her what to do. Or at least not when it came to Francoise.
Unlike the old crone however, when the werewolf-girl gave the small intruder an oppressive aura of imminent carnivore-presence, the little creature squeaked in terror and fled as fast as its tiny little limbs could move it. Brandy, who had been so focused on said rodent, was also taken aback by the dark, looming vibes that her new friend was exuding, and so the goat-girl's ears flopped backwards and her tail hung doown, and she turned her face sideways to look away - while pouting.
"... I wasn't gonna let it get any of the veggies, jeez..." She mumbled, as if she had been scolded by her mom.
Once that whole business was dealt with, Elmswood told Francoise to go with the girls. The dog lazily looked at its owner, let out a discontent snort through its nostrils, then slowly padded over to Alice's side. AAt which point, the old bag shut the door and promptly locked it, with an audible 'click'-sound. As the terrifying harpy had gone back into her nest, Brandy perked back up, and skipped on over to the side of the two dogs. She looked all over, and from virtually every angle - even below - to inspect and get a good look at Francoise, who remained motionless and uninterested in the antics of the satyress.
"Wow, this mutt is like, 'totes blowing us off. First time I've ever seen such a snooty dog." Said satyress said, with a raised, judgemental eyebrow. "You know any place we can go with this guy?" She added and asked, while poking at one of Francoise's poofy-tipped ears.
Of course,t he area around the village was covered in mostly woodlands, and there were numerous small animal trails and paths, not to mention just raw, sparsely forested wilderness to meander about in. There was also the village proper to go and visit, which likely had less mud, muck and dirt that could get on the poodle. There was also the not-too-far-off brook, which was a common favorite place to play for the local kids and fishing-spot for the elderly. There was also the option of just hitting the road and wandering off into the as-of-not-yet-setting sun and see where their feet would take them.</s>
| <|message|>Alice Keller
Once they had the pooch, Alice relaxed a little, but still remained vigilant in how she basically kept herself between the dog and any potential...anything, really. "The village sounds good. The quest did say that we shouldn't let Francoise eat anything or be touched by anyone, so just make sure that nobody tries to...do anything to him, basically. Here's where adventurers are made or broken Brandy! After all, if we can't look after one precious wittle doggy, we can't rise up the ranks in GORE!" The werewolf girl looked excited, tail swishing to and fro as they took started their walk. ...Brandy might have the sneaking suspicion that she liked going for walkies herself, being a werewolf and all.
"Oh yeah, probably goes without saying, but I think Ms. Elmwood wouldn't like us touching Francoise either. Picking him up is a last resort in case of danger. And don't feed him anything. And also tell any kid that comes by that he bites. And also..." Alice seemed very persnickety, but that might also be because she didn't want to deal with Elmwood chewing them out and making them bathe a poodle for an entire evening. Either way, they had a job to do, a pittance of pay to earn, and the smuggest dog in the world to guard. Hop to it!</s> |
<|description|>Alice Keller
Age: 19
Gender: Female
Species: Lycanthrope (Werewolf)
Height:5'8"
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Yellow
Personality: Much like many werewolves, Alice is a very hyperactive and energetic individual that is borderline obsessed with her craft of alchemy. She is the type to excitedly show off a new potion she's made, or explain sciences that nobody really understands without realizing she sounds crazy. She's more than a bit eccentric, often asking for people to test her potions and brews, but she always mean well. When she's faced with losing something she likes being taken away from her though, Alice becomes very irritable and grouchy, not wanting to give up anything she owns. As such, her travelling pack is filled to the brim with junk that only she knows the purpose of. She isn't the type to hold grudges, and will often try and help those who have wronged her, doing what her father said as "Being the bigger dog giving a bone."
Likes: Alcohol, sunny days, the smell of cooked meat, partying, camping, and gnawing on monster bones.
Dislikes: Loud noises, slimes, full moons, mice.
Hobbies: Brewing, alchemy, making friends, digging.
Background: It isn't often that a member of a lower-class household receives the chance to enter into the Alchemist's guild. Born the daughter of a family of mines in her home-village in Gromril's territory, Alice was destined to do as her family had done for generations: toil in the mines and probably die from a cave-in like good 'ol grandpapa Morgan, if not for the girl's curious fascination with plants and herbs that would have her attempting to pursue a career in being first a pharmacist, then an alchemist. The reason? Her sickly mother was often bed-ridden, meaning her dad needed to work twice as hard to support them in their little home. They often couldn't afford much medicine, so Alice, naive as she was, started poking around the snowy wilderness to find herbs to boil for tea. It tasted awful and didn't really help much, but her mother's smile was what drove her to want to help people as a job.
Admittance to the Alchemist's guild is barred by a strict entrance examination and a large cover fee, most of which Alice saved up for entirely on her own by working three different jobs, 7 days a week while studying from a dusty old tome: "Alchemical Studies for the Novice". It was an arduous process just to get in, but her family was happy that she found a path in life that didn't involve digging up rocks for the rest of her life. On especially hard nights, her father would drink and try and raise his daughter's spirits, joking that once she learned how to brew potions, she should learn to brew beer and open up a family brewery.
Before the girl could fully graduate from her guild apprenticeship, her mother passed away from her perpetual sickness. Wanting nothing more than the impossible, Alice would graduate and seek to innovate in alchemical medicine, wanting to make sure that the sickness that struck her mother down would never hurt anyone again. She left a large portion of her grant money at home and joined G.O.R.E. as soon as she graduated, departing from her home with a promise to her father; She'd invent the best medicine, and make him the best beer he'd ever had when she made it big. When asked why she wanted to join, Alice simply stated: "A place that exists to help people is where I want to be. I can't help everyone if I'm stuck in one place!" She has only been with G.O.R.E. for about a week now, and her most dangerous work consisted of rescuing a cat from a tree.
...Now, she just has to survive being an alchemist with almost no combat experience, and test out her brews and medicines until they're perfect. Easier said than done, but since when were dreams ever easy?
Dream/Goal: Creation of a catch-all panacea for any disease, to re-create the divine drink of the gods, Ambrosia, and to potentially find a dinosaur skeleton to eat. ...Girl's gotta have goals.
~ Parameters & Stuff ~
Racial Abilities:
* Darkvision: Can see just as well in the dark as in brightly lit places.
* Bloody Moon: In times of a full moon, a lycanthrope's full might is revealed at the cost of their sanity and intelligence for the night that follows. Raises physical stats greatly while decreasing mental stats to nearly 0.
* Unholy Blood: Her lycanthropic heritage means that silver is poisonous against her, with the trade-off being that she can continually heal herself over time against most non-silver-inflicted injuries.
Statistics:
* STR: 37 (95)
* DEX: 45 (90)
* VIT: 57 (100)
* MND: 91 (20)
* INT: 83 (5)
* LCK: 76 (???)
Spells & Specials:
* Alchemix: With a bonafide degree from the Alchemist's guild, Alice is legally (and sometimes very illegally) capable of alchemizing substances. This can range from healing potions, bombs, poisons, and even stuff that she's not legally allowed to tell people. All she needs are ingredients and time, and Alice can make just about any kind of potion.
* Lycanthropic Fighting: While she doesn't like the prospect of fighting unarmed, Alice's claws are exceptionally sharp, making her a dangerous melee combatant...or at least she would be if her form of fighting wasn't flailing her arms to try and claw people. She's better off using her potions to fight.
* Sniffer Sleuth: Regardless of how human she appears, Alice is a werewolf. As such she inherits the sense of smell of a wolf, allowing her to track down virtually anyone or anything within a few miles of a scent, so long as they don't mask it intentionally. This makes finding ingredients very easy.
* Legendary Awoo: Doggos are loud. Alice is capable of letting out a high-pitched howl that, though non-magical, is loud enough to cause creatures with sensitive hearing to flinch.
Equipment:
* Alchemist's Gauntlets: A set of gauntlets designed to handle hot and hazardous materials, looking much like a set of oven mitts. But alchemy-y.
* Knick-Knack-Sack: A backpack mounted constantly on Alice's back that is roughly the size of half of her body. And then some. Its as wide as she is tall, and is stuffed full of knick knacks and ingredients that she insists are vital to her alchemy. Someday, she wants to get a bag of holding instead.
* Clothen Bedroll: A simple linen bedroll that's easy to roll up, and even easier to fall asleep on.
* Papa's Brush: A thick-bristled brush that has seen much use over the years. Alice's father used to brush her hair and tail with it, and she's never once used a different brush. ...Kinda telling, given how much of a mess her hair can be.
* Glass Bottles x20: Glass bottles of various sizes, all perfect for fitting a potion for one person.
* Mug x2: Wooden tankards that look just downright lonely without some ale poured in them.
* "Research Grant" pouch: A sack that SHOULD be filled with grant money to fund alchemical research, but is currently flat and empty.
* Ultra-Deluxe Bone: A nearly unbreakable bone that Alice carries in her sack. Great for gnawin', or bashin'. Touch at your own peril.
* Sling: A simple leather sling. Useful for making potions and bombs become mobile.
* Empty Sack: A big burlap sack. Perfect for holding things.
* Canned Rations: Simple canned beef and carrots. Good for a hearty meal. Can-opener included on her fingers.
* Mother's Pendant: A momento of Alice's mother, who passed away before seeing her daughter graduate. Alice's most prized possession. Alice has enchanted the metal to stay clean, meaning it can never rust.
* Mortar and Pestle: Partners in crime! Good for smashing up ingredients into fine powder or liquid.
* Brewery Pipe: An intricate alchemical device that is the method by which Alice makes many of her alchemical items.
* Encyclopedia Botanica/Animalia/Allthingsia: A big book that is made by Alice, bound in simple leather. It is a working list of every ingredient she has come across.
* Flashpowder Bombs x2: Simple bombs that explode when they shatter on the ground. Does a light amount of damage, but makes a huge noise.
* Potions of Restoration x4: Effectively, healing potions but if they had the added benefit of curing non-magical diseases.
* Swiftthorn Poison: A dangerous poison that, when it enters the user's body, gives them an acute heightening of their pain receptors, making it feel like even walking is painful. Made from the Swiftthorn Vine, known for its territorial nature.
* Thundercracker: A bomb that Alice says is only for "emergencies". She has said it may have enough power to break a boulder into pebbles, but only carries one for safety purposes.
* Holy Water x3: Vials of water blessed with various holy-aligned herbs. Despite being holy, its basically water with a specific oil from the leaves mixed in. Effective at repelling the undead.</s>
<|message|>Alice Keller
There was a very, very long pause as Alice processed many things. First was that Francoise was suddenly an energetic normal dog. Second was that Francoise was a normal dog and liked rolling in mud, barking, and being a generally agreeable dog. Which was great! EXCEPT FOR THE PART WHERE HIS OWNER WAS A TYRANT AND NOW THEY HAD TO WASH HIM!
Shaking in her boots as she watched him go, Alice turned to Brandy as she ran off, before dropping to all fours and dashing after. "If we don't have him clean before we get back, Ms. Elmwood is going to tan our hide! And maybe not even pay us!" she said, ears drooping as she ran her 50% canine self after the 100% canine, avoiding mud because...gross. Alice wasn't as fast as Brandy was, but she was able to keep the dog in her sights as they followed its tracks along. "Francoise, you are being a very bad dog!" she said, using the forbidden term among canines to try and stop him.</s>
<|message|>The Guild of Renta-Experts
"It'll be fine! It'll be fine~!" Brandy replied to Alice's concern about the possibility of them not getting any payment. Although, judging from the fact that she was laughing while saying it did somewhat suggest that the satyress wasn't perhaps 100% concerned with getting paid in the first place. "We'll catch him, give him a soak and all's goo- Oh! Well... Muds..."
Brandy's later-most words were directed at the fact that Francoise had just taken a turn, run through a narrow alley and passed through the backyard of some of the local dwellings. Why was this bad? Well, some housewives had decided that the weather was nice and thus gone to hang out their laundry in the back... Which Francoise, a very large and very mmuddy poodle, had just decided to run past, at full speed... Brushing against said newly laundered linens... Leaving a grafitti tagging of his presence on most of then. What made this even worse was the fact that many of the laundering housewives were also out back, alongside their now frehsly stained formerly clean clothes, blankets and other textiles... And, they also saw the two girls who were chasing after the culprits.
Needless to ay, it did not take long for angry words to be fired off, followed by enraged shouting and, then to top it all off, some additional chasers - armed with rolling pins - now hurdling after the trio. It appeared that this very simple task had suddenly become unexpectedly complicated, and dangerous, in more ways than one. Brandy, although further ahead of the angered victims of the muddied laundry, was apparently too focused on Francoise to even make much note of their additional, new purusers. That is, until Francoise finally stopped...
... At the market. When he leapt into the stall of the local huntsman, and began chowing down on some of the fine, prime cuts of elk, deer and other wild game that had been put up for sale. Needless to say, the huntsman was as enraged and outraged as the laundry-women, and Brandy waas the first to get an earful when she eventually skidded to a halt infront of the crumpled tables and crates of the meat-stall.
"THE HECK IS THE MEANIN' OF THIS!?" A certain hunter cried out, spit flying from his mouth as froth formed at each edge of said orifice. "[b][i]WHY AIN'T YA KEEPIN' THIS MENACE ON A LEASH!?"/i][/b]
"Maa-ha-ha~ Well, it's not technically our dog, y'see..."
"ThEN WHY IN BLAZES ARE YA CHASIN' IT!?"
"Uhh... Well... We... were kinda.. taking him for... a ... uh.. walk... And he... sort of... Kinda... Maybe... ran off... on his own...?"
"THERE'S NOTHIN' 'SORTA', 'KINDA' OR 'MAYBE' ABOUT THIS! HE'S EATIN' MY MEATS!"
"Maa-ha..... Eatin' your meats... Err, I mean! Down, Francoise! Down! Bad boy! Come here, ya lil' rascal."
Brandy waded into the mess of collapsed furniture and spilled cuts of meat and ... More meat... Leaving poor Alice to catch up and, subsequently, deal with the half-a-dozen-or-so angry housewives, armed with aforementioned rolling pins, that were bringing up the rear. The satyr was now busy trying to wrestle and pull the dog out from his self-appointed smorgasbord buffet.</s>
| <|message|>Alice Keller
While she managed to keep up until the angry housewives, Alice quickly found herself belted by rolling pins, insulted for letting that "mangy mutt" run around, and more than once felt like she'd have to leave town for this. After all, even IF they were getting paid enough to cover the meats, there was no way they could keep Ms. Elmwood from hearing about this. She'd be lucky if they managed to get paid and skipped town but...all this for one dog!? Alice grit her teeth, bearing the pain of enraged housewives before suddenly pulling her extra special bone from her pack, and throwing it at Francoise's feet before he could bolt again. It was a succulent, premium, grand looking bone, the likes of which a fine hound like Francoise could tell was the kind that only top dogs had.
Alice was on the verge of tears, but...she had to prove to this newbie she had adventuring chops! Regardless, Alice would get to explaining that she'd handle washing all of the ruined laundry herself if they'd: "STOP HITTING ME!"</s> |
<|description|>Alice Keller
Age: 19
Gender: Female
Species: Lycanthrope (Werewolf)
Height:5'8"
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Yellow
Personality: Much like many werewolves, Alice is a very hyperactive and energetic individual that is borderline obsessed with her craft of alchemy. She is the type to excitedly show off a new potion she's made, or explain sciences that nobody really understands without realizing she sounds crazy. She's more than a bit eccentric, often asking for people to test her potions and brews, but she always mean well. When she's faced with losing something she likes being taken away from her though, Alice becomes very irritable and grouchy, not wanting to give up anything she owns. As such, her travelling pack is filled to the brim with junk that only she knows the purpose of. She isn't the type to hold grudges, and will often try and help those who have wronged her, doing what her father said as "Being the bigger dog giving a bone."
Likes: Alcohol, sunny days, the smell of cooked meat, partying, camping, and gnawing on monster bones.
Dislikes: Loud noises, slimes, full moons, mice.
Hobbies: Brewing, alchemy, making friends, digging.
Background: It isn't often that a member of a lower-class household receives the chance to enter into the Alchemist's guild. Born the daughter of a family of mines in her home-village in Gromril's territory, Alice was destined to do as her family had done for generations: toil in the mines and probably die from a cave-in like good 'ol grandpapa Morgan, if not for the girl's curious fascination with plants and herbs that would have her attempting to pursue a career in being first a pharmacist, then an alchemist. The reason? Her sickly mother was often bed-ridden, meaning her dad needed to work twice as hard to support them in their little home. They often couldn't afford much medicine, so Alice, naive as she was, started poking around the snowy wilderness to find herbs to boil for tea. It tasted awful and didn't really help much, but her mother's smile was what drove her to want to help people as a job.
Admittance to the Alchemist's guild is barred by a strict entrance examination and a large cover fee, most of which Alice saved up for entirely on her own by working three different jobs, 7 days a week while studying from a dusty old tome: "Alchemical Studies for the Novice". It was an arduous process just to get in, but her family was happy that she found a path in life that didn't involve digging up rocks for the rest of her life. On especially hard nights, her father would drink and try and raise his daughter's spirits, joking that once she learned how to brew potions, she should learn to brew beer and open up a family brewery.
Before the girl could fully graduate from her guild apprenticeship, her mother passed away from her perpetual sickness. Wanting nothing more than the impossible, Alice would graduate and seek to innovate in alchemical medicine, wanting to make sure that the sickness that struck her mother down would never hurt anyone again. She left a large portion of her grant money at home and joined G.O.R.E. as soon as she graduated, departing from her home with a promise to her father; She'd invent the best medicine, and make him the best beer he'd ever had when she made it big. When asked why she wanted to join, Alice simply stated: "A place that exists to help people is where I want to be. I can't help everyone if I'm stuck in one place!" She has only been with G.O.R.E. for about a week now, and her most dangerous work consisted of rescuing a cat from a tree.
...Now, she just has to survive being an alchemist with almost no combat experience, and test out her brews and medicines until they're perfect. Easier said than done, but since when were dreams ever easy?
Dream/Goal: Creation of a catch-all panacea for any disease, to re-create the divine drink of the gods, Ambrosia, and to potentially find a dinosaur skeleton to eat. ...Girl's gotta have goals.
~ Parameters & Stuff ~
Racial Abilities:
* Darkvision: Can see just as well in the dark as in brightly lit places.
* Bloody Moon: In times of a full moon, a lycanthrope's full might is revealed at the cost of their sanity and intelligence for the night that follows. Raises physical stats greatly while decreasing mental stats to nearly 0.
* Unholy Blood: Her lycanthropic heritage means that silver is poisonous against her, with the trade-off being that she can continually heal herself over time against most non-silver-inflicted injuries.
Statistics:
* STR: 37 (95)
* DEX: 45 (90)
* VIT: 57 (100)
* MND: 91 (20)
* INT: 83 (5)
* LCK: 76 (???)
Spells & Specials:
* Alchemix: With a bonafide degree from the Alchemist's guild, Alice is legally (and sometimes very illegally) capable of alchemizing substances. This can range from healing potions, bombs, poisons, and even stuff that she's not legally allowed to tell people. All she needs are ingredients and time, and Alice can make just about any kind of potion.
* Lycanthropic Fighting: While she doesn't like the prospect of fighting unarmed, Alice's claws are exceptionally sharp, making her a dangerous melee combatant...or at least she would be if her form of fighting wasn't flailing her arms to try and claw people. She's better off using her potions to fight.
* Sniffer Sleuth: Regardless of how human she appears, Alice is a werewolf. As such she inherits the sense of smell of a wolf, allowing her to track down virtually anyone or anything within a few miles of a scent, so long as they don't mask it intentionally. This makes finding ingredients very easy.
* Legendary Awoo: Doggos are loud. Alice is capable of letting out a high-pitched howl that, though non-magical, is loud enough to cause creatures with sensitive hearing to flinch.
Equipment:
* Alchemist's Gauntlets: A set of gauntlets designed to handle hot and hazardous materials, looking much like a set of oven mitts. But alchemy-y.
* Knick-Knack-Sack: A backpack mounted constantly on Alice's back that is roughly the size of half of her body. And then some. Its as wide as she is tall, and is stuffed full of knick knacks and ingredients that she insists are vital to her alchemy. Someday, she wants to get a bag of holding instead.
* Clothen Bedroll: A simple linen bedroll that's easy to roll up, and even easier to fall asleep on.
* Papa's Brush: A thick-bristled brush that has seen much use over the years. Alice's father used to brush her hair and tail with it, and she's never once used a different brush. ...Kinda telling, given how much of a mess her hair can be.
* Glass Bottles x20: Glass bottles of various sizes, all perfect for fitting a potion for one person.
* Mug x2: Wooden tankards that look just downright lonely without some ale poured in them.
* "Research Grant" pouch: A sack that SHOULD be filled with grant money to fund alchemical research, but is currently flat and empty.
* Ultra-Deluxe Bone: A nearly unbreakable bone that Alice carries in her sack. Great for gnawin', or bashin'. Touch at your own peril.
* Sling: A simple leather sling. Useful for making potions and bombs become mobile.
* Empty Sack: A big burlap sack. Perfect for holding things.
* Canned Rations: Simple canned beef and carrots. Good for a hearty meal. Can-opener included on her fingers.
* Mother's Pendant: A momento of Alice's mother, who passed away before seeing her daughter graduate. Alice's most prized possession. Alice has enchanted the metal to stay clean, meaning it can never rust.
* Mortar and Pestle: Partners in crime! Good for smashing up ingredients into fine powder or liquid.
* Brewery Pipe: An intricate alchemical device that is the method by which Alice makes many of her alchemical items.
* Encyclopedia Botanica/Animalia/Allthingsia: A big book that is made by Alice, bound in simple leather. It is a working list of every ingredient she has come across.
* Flashpowder Bombs x2: Simple bombs that explode when they shatter on the ground. Does a light amount of damage, but makes a huge noise.
* Potions of Restoration x4: Effectively, healing potions but if they had the added benefit of curing non-magical diseases.
* Swiftthorn Poison: A dangerous poison that, when it enters the user's body, gives them an acute heightening of their pain receptors, making it feel like even walking is painful. Made from the Swiftthorn Vine, known for its territorial nature.
* Thundercracker: A bomb that Alice says is only for "emergencies". She has said it may have enough power to break a boulder into pebbles, but only carries one for safety purposes.
* Holy Water x3: Vials of water blessed with various holy-aligned herbs. Despite being holy, its basically water with a specific oil from the leaves mixed in. Effective at repelling the undead.</s>
<|message|>Alice Keller
With her head left to be unbonked and her body covered in sheets, clothes, and mud, Alice would slowly rise from the pile, tears welling in the corners of her eyes. She was apparently very frustrated, enough so that she was on the verge of crying. "...Why'd this go so wroooooooong!?" she asked, sinking to her knees and gathering the bundle of cloth, getting to work on her alchemical detergent recipe in her head. Plucking a hint of grass from a lawn, a few petals from a nearby blue flower, and carefully sifting through a bit of gravel by the roadside, Alice began pounding them into powder in her mortar until they were a fine mixture of a vaguely teal consistency, and then dunking them into her alchemical brewery pipe.
While that cooked, Alice would tearfully look up at Brandy and say: "I'm sorry that this all went so bad, Brandy...I wanted to help you, but I wound up needing your help way more. I'd have twice as many bumps behind my ears if your mouth wasn't so sharp...or...would it be blunt in this case...a-anyways, I'll take full responsibility for this..." The werewolf would hang her head, no doubt already imagining how mad Nim was going to be at her for failing what, on paper, was the simplest job in weeks. Eyeing the destructive dog that was responsible for all their misfortune, Alice pouted. "Why can't you just be a good dog? Or at least an average dog. Not such a...a..." Alice was about to commit the dog equivalent of the highest grade of insult. One unused unless in direst straits.
And these were some dire straits.
"BAD DOG!?"</s>
<|message|>The Guild of Renta-Experts
Francoise, at the hearing of the most insulting and highest grade of scolding in the doggy-universe, lowered his head and his poofy ears began to droop. A low whine escaped the poodle's mouth and he seemed to be legit upset about having been called a bad dog by his remote cousin. Brandy merely looked on in a indifferent bemusement, beofre having a look down at her own clothes. Apparently something had caused her to do so, and when she saw the state in which her getup was in, a shrill, brief shriek escaped her lips.
"Aiiieee! Awww man!" She started. "This is like, 'totes no good! This is my favorite outfit, and it's all gross and muddy and stuff. Jeeeeeeez~ I knew I shoulda switched to my work overalls, but I wanted to be all fancy and look my best when I went to the guild for the first time, y'know?"
Apparently, Brandy was more concerned with her physical appearance than with what had actualy just transpired, or Alice's apology and comment about taking responsability... Either the satyress didn't hear, or she didn't care. Well, at least it seemed like that at first anyway. After letting out a sigh, she walked on up right infront of Alice, looked athe werewolf square in the eyes and then flicked the other girl's forehead, before putting both hands on her own hips and giving her senior a serious, upset look.
"Al, listen up. You didn't do nothing wrong, and I didn't do nothing wrong either. Frankie's the bad boy here. If you're gonna be all doom'n gloom about stuff that ain't your fault, I'm gonna hafta nibble your ears 'til you get over it, 'kay?" She said - straingely serious... Before smiling happily again. "'Sides, we're friends! So if you wanna apologize for this mutts bad 'tude, then I'll be right there with ya, apologizn' too! ... Not sure why we needa apologize, but if you wanna do it, then I'll do it too. Now let's go!"
She grabbed Alice's wrist suddenly and firmly, with a hint of forcefulness, but not hard or unpleasantly. She also grabbed hold of Francoise's neck-scruff and pulled him along too.
"I think someone said there was a river around these'n parts, yeah? Bet we could get all washed up there! Might help Frankie blow off some more steam too so he won't pull crap like this again before we get him back to that old raisin." Brandy said, laughing as she led the way ... In the completely wrong direction, not having been in town for even a day and not knowing the lay of the land...</s>
| <|message|>Alice Keller
Alice was surprised as her wrist was seized by her companion, and was somewhat surprised as well that Francoise seemed...guilty? Or at least, didn't like being called a Bad Dog. It was a surprising sort of day in general, and Alice had to admit...getting cheered up was a good change from the usual solo sulking. A warm smile spread across the werewolf girl's lips, saying: "No ear nibbling!" before she was dragged off towards the "river".
The "river" that Brandy was looking for would be found after Alice would pap her thighs with her tail and point in the right direction. With their butts now at the river, Alice would get to washing the sheets of the ladies that had beat her up, while also saying: "I can wash your clothes for you later if you want Brandy. This detergent is powerful stuff." Brandy would note that quite literally everything scrubbed by Alice was coming out looking better than it had been before Francoise's trampling, with the werewolf's hands deftly scrubbing sheet after sheet, and undergarment after - okay some of these old ladies were risque with their choices but yes, that did count as an undergarment. Alice would tenderly bathe Francoise, gentle with the dog in spite of his rampage. "I wonder if he acted like that because he never gets to go outside?"</s> |
<|description|>Alice Keller
Age: 19
Gender: Female
Species: Lycanthrope (Werewolf)
Height:5'8"
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Yellow
Personality: Much like many werewolves, Alice is a very hyperactive and energetic individual that is borderline obsessed with her craft of alchemy. She is the type to excitedly show off a new potion she's made, or explain sciences that nobody really understands without realizing she sounds crazy. She's more than a bit eccentric, often asking for people to test her potions and brews, but she always mean well. When she's faced with losing something she likes being taken away from her though, Alice becomes very irritable and grouchy, not wanting to give up anything she owns. As such, her travelling pack is filled to the brim with junk that only she knows the purpose of. She isn't the type to hold grudges, and will often try and help those who have wronged her, doing what her father said as "Being the bigger dog giving a bone."
Likes: Alcohol, sunny days, the smell of cooked meat, partying, camping, and gnawing on monster bones.
Dislikes: Loud noises, slimes, full moons, mice.
Hobbies: Brewing, alchemy, making friends, digging.
Background: It isn't often that a member of a lower-class household receives the chance to enter into the Alchemist's guild. Born the daughter of a family of mines in her home-village in Gromril's territory, Alice was destined to do as her family had done for generations: toil in the mines and probably die from a cave-in like good 'ol grandpapa Morgan, if not for the girl's curious fascination with plants and herbs that would have her attempting to pursue a career in being first a pharmacist, then an alchemist. The reason? Her sickly mother was often bed-ridden, meaning her dad needed to work twice as hard to support them in their little home. They often couldn't afford much medicine, so Alice, naive as she was, started poking around the snowy wilderness to find herbs to boil for tea. It tasted awful and didn't really help much, but her mother's smile was what drove her to want to help people as a job.
Admittance to the Alchemist's guild is barred by a strict entrance examination and a large cover fee, most of which Alice saved up for entirely on her own by working three different jobs, 7 days a week while studying from a dusty old tome: "Alchemical Studies for the Novice". It was an arduous process just to get in, but her family was happy that she found a path in life that didn't involve digging up rocks for the rest of her life. On especially hard nights, her father would drink and try and raise his daughter's spirits, joking that once she learned how to brew potions, she should learn to brew beer and open up a family brewery.
Before the girl could fully graduate from her guild apprenticeship, her mother passed away from her perpetual sickness. Wanting nothing more than the impossible, Alice would graduate and seek to innovate in alchemical medicine, wanting to make sure that the sickness that struck her mother down would never hurt anyone again. She left a large portion of her grant money at home and joined G.O.R.E. as soon as she graduated, departing from her home with a promise to her father; She'd invent the best medicine, and make him the best beer he'd ever had when she made it big. When asked why she wanted to join, Alice simply stated: "A place that exists to help people is where I want to be. I can't help everyone if I'm stuck in one place!" She has only been with G.O.R.E. for about a week now, and her most dangerous work consisted of rescuing a cat from a tree.
...Now, she just has to survive being an alchemist with almost no combat experience, and test out her brews and medicines until they're perfect. Easier said than done, but since when were dreams ever easy?
Dream/Goal: Creation of a catch-all panacea for any disease, to re-create the divine drink of the gods, Ambrosia, and to potentially find a dinosaur skeleton to eat. ...Girl's gotta have goals.
~ Parameters & Stuff ~
Racial Abilities:
* Darkvision: Can see just as well in the dark as in brightly lit places.
* Bloody Moon: In times of a full moon, a lycanthrope's full might is revealed at the cost of their sanity and intelligence for the night that follows. Raises physical stats greatly while decreasing mental stats to nearly 0.
* Unholy Blood: Her lycanthropic heritage means that silver is poisonous against her, with the trade-off being that she can continually heal herself over time against most non-silver-inflicted injuries.
Statistics:
* STR: 37 (95)
* DEX: 45 (90)
* VIT: 57 (100)
* MND: 91 (20)
* INT: 83 (5)
* LCK: 76 (???)
Spells & Specials:
* Alchemix: With a bonafide degree from the Alchemist's guild, Alice is legally (and sometimes very illegally) capable of alchemizing substances. This can range from healing potions, bombs, poisons, and even stuff that she's not legally allowed to tell people. All she needs are ingredients and time, and Alice can make just about any kind of potion.
* Lycanthropic Fighting: While she doesn't like the prospect of fighting unarmed, Alice's claws are exceptionally sharp, making her a dangerous melee combatant...or at least she would be if her form of fighting wasn't flailing her arms to try and claw people. She's better off using her potions to fight.
* Sniffer Sleuth: Regardless of how human she appears, Alice is a werewolf. As such she inherits the sense of smell of a wolf, allowing her to track down virtually anyone or anything within a few miles of a scent, so long as they don't mask it intentionally. This makes finding ingredients very easy.
* Legendary Awoo: Doggos are loud. Alice is capable of letting out a high-pitched howl that, though non-magical, is loud enough to cause creatures with sensitive hearing to flinch.
Equipment:
* Alchemist's Gauntlets: A set of gauntlets designed to handle hot and hazardous materials, looking much like a set of oven mitts. But alchemy-y.
* Knick-Knack-Sack: A backpack mounted constantly on Alice's back that is roughly the size of half of her body. And then some. Its as wide as she is tall, and is stuffed full of knick knacks and ingredients that she insists are vital to her alchemy. Someday, she wants to get a bag of holding instead.
* Clothen Bedroll: A simple linen bedroll that's easy to roll up, and even easier to fall asleep on.
* Papa's Brush: A thick-bristled brush that has seen much use over the years. Alice's father used to brush her hair and tail with it, and she's never once used a different brush. ...Kinda telling, given how much of a mess her hair can be.
* Glass Bottles x20: Glass bottles of various sizes, all perfect for fitting a potion for one person.
* Mug x2: Wooden tankards that look just downright lonely without some ale poured in them.
* "Research Grant" pouch: A sack that SHOULD be filled with grant money to fund alchemical research, but is currently flat and empty.
* Ultra-Deluxe Bone: A nearly unbreakable bone that Alice carries in her sack. Great for gnawin', or bashin'. Touch at your own peril.
* Sling: A simple leather sling. Useful for making potions and bombs become mobile.
* Empty Sack: A big burlap sack. Perfect for holding things.
* Canned Rations: Simple canned beef and carrots. Good for a hearty meal. Can-opener included on her fingers.
* Mother's Pendant: A momento of Alice's mother, who passed away before seeing her daughter graduate. Alice's most prized possession. Alice has enchanted the metal to stay clean, meaning it can never rust.
* Mortar and Pestle: Partners in crime! Good for smashing up ingredients into fine powder or liquid.
* Brewery Pipe: An intricate alchemical device that is the method by which Alice makes many of her alchemical items.
* Encyclopedia Botanica/Animalia/Allthingsia: A big book that is made by Alice, bound in simple leather. It is a working list of every ingredient she has come across.
* Flashpowder Bombs x2: Simple bombs that explode when they shatter on the ground. Does a light amount of damage, but makes a huge noise.
* Potions of Restoration x4: Effectively, healing potions but if they had the added benefit of curing non-magical diseases.
* Swiftthorn Poison: A dangerous poison that, when it enters the user's body, gives them an acute heightening of their pain receptors, making it feel like even walking is painful. Made from the Swiftthorn Vine, known for its territorial nature.
* Thundercracker: A bomb that Alice says is only for "emergencies". She has said it may have enough power to break a boulder into pebbles, but only carries one for safety purposes.
* Holy Water x3: Vials of water blessed with various holy-aligned herbs. Despite being holy, its basically water with a specific oil from the leaves mixed in. Effective at repelling the undead.</s>
<|message|>Alice Keller
Alice listened attentively to Dooch's explanation, and smiled confidently. "I think we can handle this pretty easily. I have a trap in mind that should take care of it without anyone getting hurt," Alice bragged to Brandy, puffing her chest out and wagging her tail. With her statement made, she would begin leading Brandy around to the various field hands. "Most important part of hunting is knowing where you're actually supposed to look. Otherwise we're just wasting our time," she explained.
"Excuse me sir?"
"Excuse me, ma'am?"
"Excuse me, if I could just have a moment of your time?"
Alice would zoom about, taking testimonies from people while also examining the various crops around the poriferae of the farmlands, seeing just how far the rabbit dared venture in before fleeing. Also, she got on all fours and started sniffing tracks, before immediately getting back up. A tinge of red on her cheeks, she cleared her throat and said: "I think I have an idea. Generally."</s>
<|message|>The Guild of Renta-Experts
At Alice's questioning of the farmhands, she'd learn taht the rabbit apparnelty either showed up near the north and west edges of the farm, usually at dawn or dusk. There were isolated incidents where it'd shown up elsewhere and at different, other times of day, but generally the previous testimonies seemed to be the general agreed-upon consensus aamongst the workers.
When Alice got down on all fours and started sniffing about, Brandy couldn't help but raise an eyebrow and let out a stifled, snorting chuckle briefly. It was the first time she saw the otherwise cool, calm and pro-like Alice get down and dirty and looking like she had a good time while doing it. Completely different from the whole Francoise-disaster, where the other girl had looked like she was ready to cry and sink through the earth. This put a smile on the little satyrss' face.
"Sure, sounds good, Al!" Brandy exclaimed, once the alchemist-werewolf relayed that she had figured out(?) where they should be heading. "Although, looking at this farm..." Brandy paused, putting a finger on her chin and scanning the area from left to right with a full semi-circle-swivel of her head. "I'm kinda surprised, y'know? They don't even have proper fences around the fields or nothing. We had some bun-buns come pester us back home too, but we at least had a fence 'round our vegetable patches. Are these guys newbie-farmers? Or ... Maybe they're too poor to afford a fence!? AL! ARE WE EXPLOITING THE POOR!?" Brandy's remark about the farm lacking proper fencing around all of its field was accurate. Her outburst about the place's finanical situation, not so much... Most likely. "A-anyway! Whadda e do now, girflriend? Thems folk said the critter shows up at dusk and dawn, yeah? Wanna hide in a bush 'til it shows its fuzzy face so we can pounce on it?" Brandy asked, her face taking on a strangely - and comically - feline-like expression, and she even balled her hand into a paw and made swatting-motions with it.</s>
| <|message|>Alice Keller
Alice was at least MOSTLY sure that her plan would work. And if not... "The moon's full tonight, so...it'll work out, one way or another."
With that meaningless statement, Alice would address Brandy's fears by saying: "Well, I don't think they're poor. It may just be sharecropping, or something. Also, basically, yes. My plan is to set up a tripwire that will launch one of my bombs, make a noise so loud that it paralyzes it, and then we pounce for the kill. Sound good?"
Alice's plan seemed relatively simple, but...really, it was a rabbit with extra steps. "Plus, if it winds up escaping, I can just chase after it. Us werewolves get crazy strong and fast during full moons. ...Though uh...if that happens...don't take anything I say too personally. Aggression, and all."
With a rough map made of the area where the rabbit-beast came out of the woods at dusk, Alice would get her trap ready, along with a set of earplugs for herself and Brandy. Wouldn't do them much good to stun the beast and then be stunned themselves, after all. Her Flashpowder bomb would be the equivalent of a grenade going off sound-wise, so anything with sensitive ears was liable to get spooked and stunned. That was the idea, at least.</s> |
<|description|>Ayaan
Full name: Ayaan, the Protector of the Forests
Physical Description: Ayaan's height: 7.9 ft Ayaan's weight: 1980 pounds.
Brown, smooth fur slightly covers a lively face. Glowing brown eyes deter enemies and watch over friends.
This is the face of Ayaan, a true spectacle among the rest of the friendly animals. She stands high among others, despite her timid attitude. Perhaps it's a feeling of hospitality or perhaps it's simply her looks, but nobody knows.
Class: Fantastical Beast, Amarog (basically just a giant bear)
Your Place in the World: Ayaan was your average grizzly bear before odd things started to happen. The once beautiful and flourishing trees warped and became dry and brittle, which could be easily knocked down with a simple punch. The grass became very dry so that no amount of water could easily save it. Animals started disappearing quickly, and the forests became uninhabitable and became a death ground for any living being. Thus, many unimaginable creatures began to take form in the forests. Ayaan was very determined to set things back on track. Ayaan came from 'the very hearts of the forest', as described by the townspeople. Ayaan always wanted the forests to be back, and when she discovered the Oracles could help, she decided to help them too.
History: * See Your Place in the World * Ayaan
Abilities: Ayaan has incredibly dull claws but razor teeth. Ayaan's guardians (almost every good animal of the forest) follow her with a sense of loyalty and not even a single one has abandoned her. The guardians usually are very weak but can deal a lot of damage in groups.
Equipment:
RP Notes: Can one of the Oracles go through a forest and meet Ayaan? I had an idea about it the other day. I don't know what else to put her man</s>
<|message|>Ayaan
Tinkertown
Stephanie
Minoc set his tea down and settled into his chair, he took a moment to not speak. There was much to consider, and this young lady would probably not like the answers he gave her. It was an indisputable fact that she had the physical capability to kill everyone in this village and one could stop her, but when does she let herself become violent? She says that she wanted to protect us from the lizard-bears, and it is true that she did, that is good. Would she feel tempted to become violent if she became angry? or upset? Would she blame the people of the village for the truth if Minoc answered her question? This is what Draygon's lieutenants would do; they enjoyed violence and murder as a means of solving all their problems. Maybe he had been dealing with monsters for so long he forgot what good people looked like.
The old archeologist pulled his goggles up to pinch the bridge of his nose, he felt a headache coming on, perhaps from too much tea. He was going to have to decide to trust this young girl not to be a vicious psychopath. Well, he figured, if we cannot trust the Oracles to be better than the monsters we already fight, then spending lifetimes protecting them has been a monumental waste of time.
"Hundreds of years ago there was a great cataclysm," he began, "we don't know much and very little documentation has survived. Your pod was one of the first we ever found, and that was over 150 years ago. It was in a cave located near the base of the mountain and it was surrounded by mecha. Many of the devices turned on and started blinking when the rock they were exposed to sunlight, but most of them were broken. One of the devices that worked contained a journal by someone named Julie Anderson. It was her journal that gave us the secrets upon which our order was established.
Sadly much of the journal was fragmented, but the parts we were able to recover told us about something called the Harbinger, a great weapon in the sky; and how, before everything was destroyed, the ancients created perfect beings to save the world. They hid them in pods and we came to call them Oracles, because they speak to us about the mysteries of the dead. You are one of these, as far as any of us know, but additional details about who you are or the world you came from are lost. It was my dad who moved your pod up into the mountain village because it began to took too long to travel all the way to the bottom to run your diagnostic ritual."
Minoc leaned forward in his chair with his elbows resting on his knees and his palms up. "I'm sorry that I don't have much more to tell you young Stephanie," he said imploringly, "the functional mecha from the original find has been sent to different locations throughout the world, and the data unit containing the journal was sent to Solace for safe keeping." He waited palms up to see how she would respond.
Some more exposition, this time not so happy. Minoc thinks you might be upset. The journal is from your mom, but he doesn't know that, and that lab you were originally put asleep in is now the bottom of the mountain. You get to choose your next path, I'll meet you there.</s>
<|message|>Ayaan
Urgrapth's Lair
Sarah
Urgrapth was moving with animal passion and instinct alone. She had no thought of strategy or cleverness, she moved only to strike, for that is all she knew. When Sarah tipped her blade, shifted her weight, and swung the lightning charged sword Urgrapth's only thought was to move into it. The blade bit deep into the thick, black flesh and for a moment she felt the pain and heat from the bite. The heat grew in intensity until KRAKABOOM!! the sword ignited its lightning power and exploded inside of Urgrapth's abdomen. Black gore was splashed all over Pip, all over Sarah, and all over the walls. The humanoid top half of the spider queen flailed its arms and its mouth opened to scream but there was no air.
The spiderlings, frightened by the lightning bolt and the death of their mother, lost their will to fight and fled into the various holes in the cavern. For a moment, Sarah and Pip were alone in the dark room, covered in black, sticky viscera and breathing hard. A blue light blinked on a panel upon the wall. Pip trotted up to it and was able to reach it by standing on its hind legs; he pressed the button and the cover blocking the top of the mountain and the entrance to the cave opened.
You defeated the Spider Queen! Pip has pushed the button to open the caves, and your next work is to free villagers. Kensu will be joining you soon and can help. Good job and grab a shower, let me know when you're all cleaned up.</s>
<|message|>Ayaan
Jabberwocky's Hideout
Annabelle watched the blind girl walk with her food into one of the back rooms. She walked confidently, like someone who knew all the steps and had traveled them many, many times. Annabelle crept up to the mecha with the map and began to touch the keys. Something beeped, "Oops!" she said.
"Hello? Who's there?" came a voice from the room.
Oh, shoot, she thought, but she smiled like she enjoyed being caught. She pushed more buttons on the mecha device and tried to read the display, the map over her head began to turn, it had pin points showing the location of the hideout, some major cities, and the big castle the wizards think is so impressive. It also had little blips with the names Bandersnatch and Draygon. That's kinda useful, she thought. Absently, Annabelle started whistling.
Annabelle doesn't care that Ruby knows she's there, she's looking at your stuff and playing with your toys.</s>
<|message|>Sarah
Sarah
The final blow leaves Sarah breathless and gasping for air amid the ever-present miasma and the acrid smell of roasted spider-monster, fully aware that she's covered in the gunk, and might have even gotten some of it in her mouth. She feels very sick right now, and retches and coughs in disgust. She slumps back against a wall, relieved that the fight is over and the surviving spiderlings had run for cover, hopefully never to return.
She notices Pip running up to a pedestal with a button on it, and watches with curiosity as he activates... something. Not long after, the miasma begins to recede, allowing Sarah the taste of wondrous fresh air. Soon, the hallucinatory effects would stop, and Sarah is glad for that. She picks up Pip when he gets back to her and she strokes his fur lovingly. She's not sure what happened, but if she is to venture a guess, there might be some old machinery in this cave, and that may be the source of the miasma. She'd need to make sure it's destroyed or disabled so nobody else could use it.
Once she's recovered enough from the miasma and the fight, she gets up, and tries to find a way to help the villagers. She starts with the poor girl the spiderling queen was feasting on, trying to heal her with her powers, and praying she's alright. Once she's sure the girl's recovering, she tries to cut down the villagers from the spiderwebs - while not hurting any of them, of course.
She soon hears steps coming from the cave, so she cautiously pulls out the sword, worried if it's more trouble, but to her relief it's Master Thunderfist coming in.
"Oh, Master Thunderfist," she says with a bow. "I've found the sword - and more importantly, I found where the villagers disappeared to. I hope they're all alright... And Pip was a great help, I couldn't have done it without him..."
She kneels down to stroke Pip's ears, who barks back in gratitude.</s>
<|message|>Jabberwocky
She frowns. "You're not Daddy. Go away. I want you to leave!" Her hands begin glowing a deep red, flowing over her wrists and up her arms, a thick red substance that makes the whole cave start heating up. She runs forward and slaps Annabelle, the magma on her hands searing away at her flesh and muscles.</s>
<|message|>Ayaan
Urgrapth's Home
Sarah
Kensu came trotting in, huffing a little from the exertion. He looked at her and then looked at the surroundings. Pip came over and began licking his hand, earning himself a scratch. "Oh, Master Thunderfist," she says with a bow. "I've found the sword - and more importantly, I found where the villagers disappeared to. I hope they're all alright... And Pip was a great help, I couldn't have done it without him..."
"I see," said Kensu, taken aback. The cave was filled with shiny, metal like threads. When he had come here previously it was empty, open. He felt amazed that it had all changed so quickly since he opened that damn door. The young Oracle was covered in black gore, but she didn't look severely injured. "You could certainly use a dip in the ocean." He said smiling.
"..master... Kensu..." came a weak voice. Kensu looked down and it was the little girl who used to pick flowers and sell them in the village. He ran over to her and kneeled to cradle her head. "..the lady saved us.. she was amazing.. she's one of the special people isn't she master?.." the little girl said softly.
"Yes dear girl," Kensu replied, his heart filled with pride, "yes she is a special one." He smiled reassuringly. He placed her down and let her fall back asleep. Kensu stood up and looked around. He felt a wave of guilt wash over him as he saw all the people strung up, but many of them seemed to be stirring and Sarah had already cut a few down who seemed to be able to stand. "Let's get everyone back to the village, then, well, then we'll talk." He turned to Sarah, "Thank you for what you have done this day, I know the ordeal has been more than extreme, and doubly so for one who just awoke. You are a special person Sarah, more than I think you know. Let us work quickly, there is much to discuss."
Kensu pulled out his own knife and together they began to free as many villagers as possible. When the people seemed to be moving along well enough Kensu fought through the spider webs back into the little room near the back of the cavern, the room he opened that let the spider queen out. "To think all this came from one small decision," he said looking around. There on the floor were a set of steel containers, unopened and marked with a blue tag. They looked, important somehow, so Kensu grabbed them. They were heavy, but they had a strap made for carrying them and so with Kensu's strong arms it was not that difficult.
Together the villagers, the old Master, and our hero made their way to the homes near the beach for a moment of respite, rest, and food.</s>
<|message|>Jabberwocky
Jabber sees a large group of villagers walking down a mountain from a cave, and roars, making the livestock flee, and the people scream, thrown into a panic. He swoops nearby, his talons tearing into the rock, sending debris flying through the air, a small avalanche of rocks and boulders tumbling down towards the village, and his flaming breath sets the buildings alight.</s>
| <|message|>Ayaan
For clarification, this is on Kensu's Island, Jabberwocky has diverted his course and is attacking the Island for fun, as any good villain should do.
SETUP: The tired and battered villagers have just awoke from a cave of nightmares at the hand of a spider queen and her spiderlings. The villagers were saved by Sarah, a young lady with pink hair and a sword that fires lightning bolts. Sarah is accompanied by Pip, a small dog-like creature, and Kensu, a warrior Wizard who has also studied the power of Lightning.
Play fair guys, and focus on the goal of making the other person's roleplay experience the most fun it can be.</s> |
<|description|>Ayaan
Full name: Ayaan, the Protector of the Forests
Physical Description: Ayaan's height: 7.9 ft Ayaan's weight: 1980 pounds.
Brown, smooth fur slightly covers a lively face. Glowing brown eyes deter enemies and watch over friends.
This is the face of Ayaan, a true spectacle among the rest of the friendly animals. She stands high among others, despite her timid attitude. Perhaps it's a feeling of hospitality or perhaps it's simply her looks, but nobody knows.
Class: Fantastical Beast, Amarog (basically just a giant bear)
Your Place in the World: Ayaan was your average grizzly bear before odd things started to happen. The once beautiful and flourishing trees warped and became dry and brittle, which could be easily knocked down with a simple punch. The grass became very dry so that no amount of water could easily save it. Animals started disappearing quickly, and the forests became uninhabitable and became a death ground for any living being. Thus, many unimaginable creatures began to take form in the forests. Ayaan was very determined to set things back on track. Ayaan came from 'the very hearts of the forest', as described by the townspeople. Ayaan always wanted the forests to be back, and when she discovered the Oracles could help, she decided to help them too.
History: * See Your Place in the World * Ayaan
Abilities: Ayaan has incredibly dull claws but razor teeth. Ayaan's guardians (almost every good animal of the forest) follow her with a sense of loyalty and not even a single one has abandoned her. The guardians usually are very weak but can deal a lot of damage in groups.
Equipment:
RP Notes: Can one of the Oracles go through a forest and meet Ayaan? I had an idea about it the other day. I don't know what else to put her man</s>
<|message|>Jabberwocky
Jabberwocky flies inside a storm cloud, and roars, the sound echoing across the town, and his massive shape is illuminated in flashes of lightning. His glowing red eyes flash, and he roars, the air vibrating, sending rain everywhere. He lands, still in his monsterous form, and roars to the sky. "Where is the one who slew the harpy?" He scans the street, eyes glowing with hunger.</s>
<|message|>Ayaan
On the Manta's Back
The Manta Ray flew for the entirety of the day, crossing a desert of ocean that stretched as far as Sarah could see in every direction. They didn't seem to need sleep, food, or rest; they just flew and flew and flew, aiming for their destination like an arrow fired from a long bow. As the sun waned gently into the horizon and Sarah and Pip were nestled comfortably in their saddle a flicker of light blinked into existence in Sarah's periphery, and a small, musical voice began to chime.
"Sarah... Sarah it is me, Asra! I'm so happy to get to talk to you again!" The holographic fairy's voice sounded like its usual, peppy self, but it also contained a trace of strange melancholy. "Umm... how are you?" the fairy asked.
"It's understandable that you'd be wondering why I'm here. Well, I've been present ever since you attached the battery to your thunder sword. You see, the swords are part of a circuit that is formed with your body and together you work as a dynamo for charging the receiver that is built into your brain, which is where the transistor exists that communicates with where I live. Once other Oracles wake up you'll be able to talk to each other through me, and I have other functions as well." The fairy seemed distracted and hesitant.
"I.. I'm sorry about Master Kensu. I know you only just met him but you've already been through so much together; he was a great man. I would've come to you sooner but it didn't seem the right time." She was quiet for a moment, the soft sound of the cold wind blowing filled the silence.
"You should name your sword, It's completely yours now you know? You can call it Thunder Fang or Bolt or, or anything else you can think of, because it's yours you see, and no one else's, and when you own something you can make it into anything you want, isn't that right?"
"Oh, I'm sorry for the strange conversation, I'm... I'm unsure of myself. I haven't felt any other Oracles except for the one in Leaf, and he's dead. It seems like as soon as you wake up you head straight into some dangerous situation and... and how did things get this way? No one could have known that things would be so scary when you, we, woke up."
"Now that you've attached the battery to the sword I'm allowed to access the energy stored in the battery to manifest. That's how the battery's work, they contain charge. Kensu found that he could charge the battery with lightning from Pip and then release that lightning when he needed it, though he really wasn't able to channel his own energy to create lightning himself, no."
Asra seemed to be rambling and it was unclear as to why, but she continued, "I have two very important things I need to tell you, the first is about yourself. The swords exist to help you easily channel your energy into the manifestation of their elemental force, like lightning; however, you don't need the swords. You are capable, through focus and practice, to learn abilities from the materials, animals, and people around you. What you have to develop is a sense of analyzation, which, now that I can pull energy from the battery, I can help you with. Hold the pommel of the sword, where the battery is located, close to something and call on me to scan the element, animal, or person you want to learn from, and I will create a biogenecular diagram. Then, after I have the scan, attach the battery to any metal apparatus, this can be a rod, sword, spear, or other item of your choosing, but it needs to be metal. I can create a circuit channel which, when you push your biogenic energy through it, will form that energy into the desired effect. Pay close attention to how the energy feels as it its effects manifest, because with time and practice you'll be able to channel that energy intuitively without the aid of the apparatus. If you tried, you should already feel the ability to shoot a small spark from your body because of your work with the Lightning Fang, or Electric Talon, or whatever you want to call it." Asra's voice was smiling.
"The Second important thing I need to tell you is that the Castle of Solace is being sieged by a great and powerful monster known as the Bandersnatch. It's not safe to land there, you'll have to be careful. I don't know if the Manta Ray's can fly high enough to avoid him, he's very fast and dangerous, you might all do better to find another way in. If you land north of the Castle there is a river that you can follow to the northern gates. Bandersnatch is focused on the south gates, and so you might be able to slip by him."
"The Third thing I need to tell you, which is silly because I told you that there were only two," she giggled, "is that you can now access me in your peripheral display and ask me questions directly. I have access to a certain database of information and I will provide you with any help I can."
"It is nice to talk to someone again, if you want to talk I am here, but you may need to sleep. You will be in sight of the Castle by the morning."</s>
| <|message|>Ayaan
Jabberwocky's Hideout
Dragon
As Ruby's hand crashed through Annabelle's chest she let out a guttural scream! Then her body began to molt and form into paste as it melted and fell to the ground. After a moment Annabelle's body was nothing but a heap of greyish burnt clay. Ruby pulled her hand back and realized that she was clutching a Gemstone of some sort, if she could see she would notice that it was red and faceted.
"AAAHAHAHHHAAA!!" Came a high, whinnying laugh echoing through the cavern, "Your fun!" Annabelle said, "I like you! Did you know, they call me the Puppet master?" Another harlequin clothed woman stepped from behind a rock, it looked exactly like the one that Ruby had just destroyed, "We could help each other you know, you and me, a couple of young, hot ladies lookin for trouble? Whaddya think?" She smiled and raised her hands in an open gesture.
*******
Tinkertown
The storm had blown in suddenly and without warning. In the intense thunder and lightening Jabberwocky had snuck up on the town in the mountains and was not in their streets. Minoc could see him from his humble apartment.
"Who killed the Harpy?" Jabber screamed form the street, his dagger toothed maw frothing.
"Maybe he'll leave if we tell him?" said Jimmy, one of Minoc's assistants, hopefully.
Minoc gave himself a moment to consider, "No," he finally said, "no I don't think he will that one. Jabberwocky has always been blood thirsty, we're going to have to give him a fight. Tell me, where are the people?" He turned to Jimmy.
Jimmy frowned, "in the house just across the way there. Jabberwocky is between us."
"Oh, dear," said Minoc. He stood up shakily but attempted to look strong, "Well then, let us get to the fight, shall we?" As he turned to look he saw that the others were already armed and ready to go.
They made their ways to their locations, Minoc to the front door and the others along flanking positions. Minoc looked Jabberwocky in the eye and yelled over the storm, "The Harpy met the fate of all those who give violence to the world, a violent death!" and one his word 6 crossbow went off and hurled their payload towards Jabberwocky's scales.</s> |
<|description|>Ayaan
Full name: Ayaan, the Protector of the Forests
Physical Description: Ayaan's height: 7.9 ft Ayaan's weight: 1980 pounds.
Brown, smooth fur slightly covers a lively face. Glowing brown eyes deter enemies and watch over friends.
This is the face of Ayaan, a true spectacle among the rest of the friendly animals. She stands high among others, despite her timid attitude. Perhaps it's a feeling of hospitality or perhaps it's simply her looks, but nobody knows.
Class: Fantastical Beast, Amarog (basically just a giant bear)
Your Place in the World: Ayaan was your average grizzly bear before odd things started to happen. The once beautiful and flourishing trees warped and became dry and brittle, which could be easily knocked down with a simple punch. The grass became very dry so that no amount of water could easily save it. Animals started disappearing quickly, and the forests became uninhabitable and became a death ground for any living being. Thus, many unimaginable creatures began to take form in the forests. Ayaan was very determined to set things back on track. Ayaan came from 'the very hearts of the forest', as described by the townspeople. Ayaan always wanted the forests to be back, and when she discovered the Oracles could help, she decided to help them too.
History: * See Your Place in the World * Ayaan
Abilities: Ayaan has incredibly dull claws but razor teeth. Ayaan's guardians (almost every good animal of the forest) follow her with a sense of loyalty and not even a single one has abandoned her. The guardians usually are very weak but can deal a lot of damage in groups.
Equipment:
RP Notes: Can one of the Oracles go through a forest and meet Ayaan? I had an idea about it the other day. I don't know what else to put her man</s>
<|message|>Ayaan
The King's Presence
Sir Brunch brought before the King the young girl with the pink hair. The King was sitting in one of the large, comfortable chairs in the room facing the doorway. "Your Royal Highness, may I present Lady Sarah, from the Islands of Kensu Thunderfist." King Kovar regarded the girl as she came into his study and kneeled. She was accompanied by a small, blue dog that seemed very happy and very attached to her.
*BOOM!* another fiery volley crashed into the castle wall. Purposefully the fireballs weren't doing a great amount of damage, Bandersnatch seemed to be shooting at stone walls and wasn't aiming at any flammable or populated areas. Most likely the beast was letting them know he had the power to bring death to them and was choosing not to. As long as he was content to be threatening they had time to come up with a plan for how to defeat him.
The girl was definitely the spitting image of painting in the main hall, she had to be one of the Oracles, or she was a brutally effective mimic. "We expected the Rays to arrive from the Islands, but we did not expect them to bring us a visitor. Tell me, who are you?"
"Ah! Forgive me, m- your majesty!" she says hurriedly, giving an equally hurried bow. "M-my name is Sarah, and I'm most honored to meet you! I... I've come from the island where the Wizard Thunderfist lives... or rather... where he lived..."
"You're saying that Master Kensu is dead?" The King's heart raced but he didn't let his face express any emotions, as Royalty he was expected to learn the discipline of controlling his expressions since he was a child. "Please child, be at ease. Sir Brunch!" He commanded, "get us some food, wine, and water for our Guest, we will eat here." Pip let out a soft bark, the King smiled, "and some food and water for the dog." The Knight bowed and left the room.
"Now child, come, sit." The King motioned for Sarah to sit at the desk close to his own chair. "Do not be afraid of me, I may be a King but I am not a tyrant," he smiled warmly, "Please tell me your tale. Where did you come from, and what happened to Master Thunderfist?"
Time to tell your story. This is both a good opportunity to talk about what you think of yourself as well as what you think of the things you've experienced and learned. Don't be afraid to express your doubts and fears, oh, and you can see Bandersnatch out the window, though he appears to have stopped firing upon the castle for the moment.</s>
<|message|>Ayaan
Tinkertown
Dragon
As Minoc led the people to the hatch at the back of the room he found it wasn't budging! For a moment he wasn't sure what to do, there was no escape. He wasn't a fighter, he was a thinker, but now he would have to fight. He looked into the eyes of the people around him, people whom he saw as family though none of there were direct relations. "Be brave good people," he said, trying to be reassuring, "we will lead the beast away." He smiled bravely, knowing that this would be his last trip.
He took a moment to communicate telepathically with Tornel and let him know that he was probably about to die, then he turned to the door way and walked through. As he stepped into the open air he could see Jabberwocky blowing off the net he was stuck in, his scales were riddled with bolts and arrows from the soldiers firing into him, though any wounds appeared to be superficial. Taking his moment he ran across the bridge to the room under where Jabber was stuck and started pulling levers and turning cranks. "You're not going to get our people," he said, "I'll make sure of that," as the room turned on it's axis and broke the bridge connecting it to the civilians.</s>
<|message|>Jabberwocky
He hisses and growls, biting out the weapons, and tossing them aside. He folds his wings in, and folds into himself, his wings turning into a cape, and he draws a long scythe. "I only want the girl. Give me the Oracle, and I'll let you and your people live. Refuse, and you all die."</s>
<|message|>Ayaan
Tinkertown
Dragon
"I don't know what you're talking about, there is no girl. We killed the harpy, report that to your boss!" Minoc yelled as he threw a last lever and the hut they were in broke free from its supports and began plunging down the mountain!
When Minoc designed the buildings of Tinkertown he put in a system to be able to easily move and disassemble some of the structures in case of a fire or landslide. It was originally a safety feature, he never expected that he'd be in one of the buildings as he threw the lever to send it racing to its destruction. He looked into the eyes of Jabberwocky as he felt the building begin to fall, "I'll see you in hell!" He slammed another button and the hurricane shutters of the building closed, sealing the two of them into the falling room.</s>
<|message|>Jabberwocky
He snarls, and jumps over the falling building, sprouting wings, and taking to the sky for a moment, his feet just brushing over the falling building. "You think simple tricks will slay one such as I? I've never lost a target I set my eyes on. I'll hunt it to the ends of the earth!"</s>
<|message|>Stephanie Anderson
Steph was utterly stunned as Tornel locked them inside the chamber and made his accusations.
Servants of Draygon?! What the hell?! I thought this guy was supposed to help us, not imprison us!
"W-Wait!" Peter cried franticly. "We don't serve Draygon! There's been a terrible mistake!"
"Don't waste your breath, Peter," Steph advised. "I doubt he can hear you."
"B-But he has to let us out!" the apprentice protested. "With the castle under attack, he needs our help! Well, your help," he added after a moment. "A-And why does he think we work for Draygon, anyway?! Master Minoc always talked of how wise and powerful Master Tornel was. How could he not know who we really are?!"
"You know how I said I wasn't anything supernatural, just a normal person? Well, I kinda think that applies double to him."
"S-So, what are we going to do?" Peter asked.
"Escape, obviously," Steph replied.
"B-But the door is booby trapped!"
"Somehow, I doubt that will be much of a problem for my nanites," Steph noted with a small grin, before focusing her attention on the package Tornel had so carelessly dismissed. "But first, I'd like to see if my suspicions are right about this thing."
Picking it up from where Peter had dropped it on the floor, Steph held it in her hands for a moment, feeling its weight.
"Huh. I don't see what Tornel was complaining about. I mean, it doesn't feel all that heavy…" she observed, before smiling and shaking her head. "That's right… I keep forgetting that I'm a lot stronger than I used to be…"
Carefully unfastening the wrapping, she allowed it to fall to the ground, revealing what Minoc had tasked her with delivering…</s>
<|message|>Sarah
Sarah
Sarah startles at the sound of the fireball crashing into the walls. She remembers what Asra said about one of Draygon's minions assaulting the castle, and her fair, soft features harden as she glares out the window angrily. She's seen what one of these monsters could do, and she barely beat that one back. Asra was hesitant to let her engage this one, meaning he must be equally dangerous.
It's only the king's calm reaction that calms her down in return. She sighs and turns back to the King.
"How long has this one been assaulting the castle, Your Majesty?" she asks. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
Sarah sits down, and takes a deep breath.
"Well, you see Your Majesty," she begins, "it began with waking up from my capsule in a cave. I... I have no recollections before that, just knowledge implanted during my long sleep, which is why I'm able to talk to people and understand things, but beyond that, I was just... sleeping. All I know was I had to find someone, and not because I had woken up with nobody around..."
She decides to keep Asra to herself for now. She's not entirely sure the King would believe her about a flying fairy that was actually the holosense avatar of an artificial intelligence living in orbital space platforms. She's not entirely sure she believes it herself, despite her own implanted knowledge.
"When I walked to the village... there was nobody there. It was... strange. Eerie. I had to explore some more before I found anyone - Master Kensu Thunderfist. He had been exploring a cave on the island, one shaped like a skull, so he missed my awakening and whatever had happened at the village. He greeted me, told me more about my purpose, and that I had to retrieve a sword from the cave. He had tried to find it, but never could, so it was up to me."
She pauses to take a sip of wine to wet her throat, but flinches at the sharp taste of alcohol, despite the wine's overall sweetness.
"Sorry, is wine supposed to taste like that, Your Majesty?" she asks. "It's sweet, but there's this sharp, strong flavor underneath. I've... I've never had wine before, to be honest. Sorry if I've offended in any way.
"Anyways, as I explored the cave, however, I found out what had happened to the villagers." she says with a shudder at the memory. "Turns out a monstrous spider-queen... thing had settled in the cave, and had had her children use a poison gas to incapacitate the villagers and took them into the cave as... as food. The gas made my journey into the cave more difficult, as it was impairing my progress. If Pip weren't with me... well, I don't know what would have happened. I managed to find the villagers, find the sword and fight the spider-queen. The queen had somehow closed the cave entrance, so her death meant Master Thunderfist could finally help me with getting the villagers out, but then..."
She silent for a bit, trying to gather the strength to continue. She's on the verge of tears, hands clenched tightly into fists.
"T-then a giant, flying monster arrived, and began smashing into the cliffside," she says, her voice trembling. "I... I managed to get most of the v-villagers out, b-but some... some still got crushed under the rocks... I... I couldn't help them, all I could do was try and get the others to safety, get the monster away from...
"I-I managed to draw its attention, intending to throw off its attention, but then I s-saw a hooded man in a cloak. I didn't realize it at first b-but that may have been the monster in disguise. I tried to fight him, but he was too strong... then Master K-Kensu tried to help me b-but... but he..."
She stopped, and started sobbing quietly, tears dripping onto the table.
"I'm s-sorry, M-Master Kensu," she cries softly into her brunch. "I c-couldn't save you..."</s>
| <|message|>Ayaan
In the Gilded Dungeon
When Stephanie took out the sword of stone she felt a pulse of energy vibrate up her spine. The runic symbols on the sword glowed blue as if with electric light. Stephanie turned the sword over in her hand as she examined it.
"OOhhh," Peter let out with wide eyes, "It never did that before?!"
Suddenly something sparked in Stephanie's peripheral vision and Asra appeared with a flutter. "Oh My!" she said in her sweet voice, "Stephanie! I'm so happy to talk to you again! I didn't know what happened! Are you okay?" The fairy fluttered around her vision excitedly. "Wait, scratch that, I don't have much time before I run out of power again. There is another in the castle, her name is Sarah, you must find her! She is with the King, and she will tell you much. You will be the first of those who have awoken to... KZ!JC%... ogeth... BRR^&$ZZT!!" and suddenly the fairy vanished.
"What? What is it?" Peter asked tentively after seeing Stephanie appear to zone out and look off into nothing. "Are you okay Miss?" Steph nodded that she was okay, "Oh good, you looked like you saw a ghost or something for a second and I was worried. Young Mistress, Steph, I don't know if you realized but Master Minoc was able to use this sword to move stone. I.. I don't know how he did it, but maybe you could.." his voice trailed off.</s> |
<|description|>Ayaan
Full name: Ayaan, the Protector of the Forests
Physical Description: Ayaan's height: 7.9 ft Ayaan's weight: 1980 pounds.
Brown, smooth fur slightly covers a lively face. Glowing brown eyes deter enemies and watch over friends.
This is the face of Ayaan, a true spectacle among the rest of the friendly animals. She stands high among others, despite her timid attitude. Perhaps it's a feeling of hospitality or perhaps it's simply her looks, but nobody knows.
Class: Fantastical Beast, Amarog (basically just a giant bear)
Your Place in the World: Ayaan was your average grizzly bear before odd things started to happen. The once beautiful and flourishing trees warped and became dry and brittle, which could be easily knocked down with a simple punch. The grass became very dry so that no amount of water could easily save it. Animals started disappearing quickly, and the forests became uninhabitable and became a death ground for any living being. Thus, many unimaginable creatures began to take form in the forests. Ayaan was very determined to set things back on track. Ayaan came from 'the very hearts of the forest', as described by the townspeople. Ayaan always wanted the forests to be back, and when she discovered the Oracles could help, she decided to help them too.
History: * See Your Place in the World * Ayaan
Abilities: Ayaan has incredibly dull claws but razor teeth. Ayaan's guardians (almost every good animal of the forest) follow her with a sense of loyalty and not even a single one has abandoned her. The guardians usually are very weak but can deal a lot of damage in groups.
Equipment:
RP Notes: Can one of the Oracles go through a forest and meet Ayaan? I had an idea about it the other day. I don't know what else to put her man</s>
<|message|>Jabberwocky
A distant roar shakes the ground, and Jabber rises into the sky, eyes gleaming and hungry. He soars over the ground, the land vanishing beneath his shadow, his claws tearing apart trees and roofs. He opens his massive jaws, and roars so loudly and powerfully that animals drop dead from fright. His hungry eyes glow, and a wave of liquid-like fire bursts from his jaws, setting everything around him alight. He flies over the town hall, and lands on the tallest building, roaring, making the shingles rattle, and glass crack and shatter.</s>
<|message|>Ayaan
Tinkertown
Dragon
| *********************************** | Locke walked out onto the small ledge that was the remnants of the bridge. He beheld the Jabberwocky and was afraid. Bravely he forced himself to step forward and look the beast in the eye. "Your Harpy is dead!" He yelled in his strongest voice, "We killed it. There's nobody else here. You got what you came for, now leave us be!" His heart was beating out of control, he had never been so scared in his life, but even though he was only 14 he was the only one left to tell the dragon beast to go.
|
| --- | --- |</s>
<|message|>Jabberwocky
He laughs, a deep, dark laugh, like a set of billows heating a blazing furnace. "What I came for? Listen to yourself, little boy. I don't care about the harpy. I'm here for the Oracle. Hand her over, or burn." He bares his sharp teeth, and grins at him, eyes glowing in hunger.</s>
<|message|>Ayaan
The Castle of Solace
@shadowsaint007
The King stood up at the explosion, slightly befuddled. His ears hurt from the noise and his eyes hurt from the bright light. "Tornel what are you..." Before he could answer Tornel pushed him to the wall and placed his body between the King and the girl. Sarah healed the dog who got up and stated barking.
"WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU!!" She screamed. For a moment Tornel questioned himself about who she was. Then his mind resolved. Too many strange goings on were happening; the girl in the dungeon, the girl before the king, the monster at the castle walls. The wizard didn't feel in control, and nothing made him angrier then not being in control. He loaded another vial into his gauntlet.
"Stay back Witch! I'll not have you murder out King!" He yelled.
The King had had enough. "You will stop this Tornel!" He commanded regally.
Tornel turned a weary eye back, "Yo... You Highness?"
"This girl is our guest, and under my Protection!" The King was furious, "you will NEVER use such weapons in my presence! I should have you beheaded!"
Tornel looked abashed, his face reddened, "Your Majesty I, I only mean to protect you. She is.."
"She is an Holy Oracle," The King proclaimed.
"a... a holy oracle." Tornel demured.
"Your Majesty," a booming voice announced from the other side of the door leading out. "It is I, Sir Gravy! I have with me two envoys from Tinkertown, apprentices of Master Minoc! They say they carry an urgent message for you!"
Tornel's eyes widened in panic. "Your Highness! These individuals are precisely the reason I had to come to you to warn you about! They are monster's of Draygon, shapeshifters here to fool you. Do not..."
The King slapped the Wizard, *SMACK!* "Do not deign to tell me what I shall and shall not do," he said quietly, "I am your King! and it is I who command you." Tornel took to his knees and bowed his head.
"Forgive me Your Highness," he said, "I live only to serve." and I will dispatch of these wretches when I get the first chance. He thought privately.
"ENTER Knight!" The King yelled, "and come in with the messengers." The attendant, who had made himself scarce since Tornel entered the room, opened the door to reveal Sir Gravy and Stephanie.</s>
<|message|>Stephanie Anderson
"Greetings, your Majesty," Steph said as she entered and bowed before the king. Her eyes hardened as she took note that Tornel was also present, along with a pink-haired girl. Presumably this was the "Sarah" the fairy had mentioned. "My name is Stephanie, and this is Peter," she informed, gesturing to the young apprentice who was currently cowering behind her.
"H-Hello…" the apprentice said meekly, rather overwhelmed by his current situation. First an oracle, then the leader of the wizards, and now the king himself! This was certainly the most remarkable day of his young life, and it was getting to be a bit much for the poor young man.
"We came here at the request of Master Minoc," Steph continued. "He told us that we would be met by the wise wizard Tornel, but when we arrived, Tornel locked us in a chamber and called us servants of Draygon! Minoc even told us to present this weapon to him," she explained, while retrieving the sword from her backpack. "But he carelessly dismissed it without even looking at it! There's one other thing," she added in a more reserved tone. "I'm not an apprentice of Minoc. I'm actually what you people would call an oracle. I'm sorry, Sir Gravy," she told the knight, trying not to laugh as she said his ridiculous name. "I didn't want to lie to you, but we needed to see the king and explain the situation to him."
"Gadzooks!" the paladin exclaimed. "Are you to tell me that I have been in the presence of one of the legendary oracles this entire time?! Truly extraordinary! It was my honor to be of service to you, my lady!" he declared, bowing to her in deference. Then, sobering, he added, "And though I bristle at your deception, I can see that it was for a worthy cause. Thus, it shall be my great pleasure to accept your apology!"
"Thank you," Steph said while treating the paladin to a warm smile. "That really means a lot. Oh, and you don't need to do the whole 'my lady' thing. Just call me Steph."
"Very well, young Steph," Sir Gravy acquiesced. "I shall respect your wish for modesty. And what of you young Peter," the paladin inquired. "Are you also an oracle of legend?"
"N-No, sir," Peter stammered. "I-I'm just an ordinary apprentice. I-In fact, I p-probably shouldn't even be here…"</s>
<|message|>Ayaan
Tinkertown
Dragon
Locke stepped forward, tears in his eyes, "There's no Oracle here!" he cried, "Go AWAY! Haven't you killed enough!?"</s>
<|message|>Sarah
Sarah
When Tornel prepares a second strike, Sarah stiffens, Pip growling in her hands. For a moment, she considers drawing her sword and fighting Tornel, but then she remembers the King is still there, and she doesn't want to endanger him. She's not sure what to do about Tornel wanting to kill her, though, as he seems convinced she's a threat to the King.
However, the King's angry response - and the timely arrival of another knight - seemed to defuse the situation, and forced Tornel onto the back foot. Sarah couldn't help but wince when the King smacked Tornel; even though Tornel was just threatening to kill her, she feels that it wasn't seemly of the king to get physical like that, plus she felt pity for Tornel, whose dignity was damaged by that. Even though he attacked her and Pip.
Pip, however, held no sympathy, growling at Tornel until he leaves, giving an angry little snort when the Wizard had left.
Sarah breathes a sigh of relief when Tornel leaves. She just wishes the whole thing hadn't escalated so badly. Why did he believe she was a servant of Draygon? What had she done wrong?
When the Knight introduces his guests, Sarah waves to them.
"Hello, I'm Sarah, a pleasure to meet you," she says.
To Stephanie, Sarah seems to be a pink-haired girl of 18 years old, a bit tall for her age, and with bright green eyes. She's carrying a small dog, similar to a corgi with shiny bits attached, and they seem a bit scuffed up, as though they've been hit by a small explosion - which she probably heard on her way up. The dog seems in better condition than Sarah.
For Sarah, seeing Stephanie in those clothes... it stirs something deep within her. A memory? More like a glimpse of one, a flash of recognition that fades away almost before it registers. She remembers the tube from her nightmare in the caverns under the influence of the miasma. She remembers vaguely seeing figures outside her tube, in similar designs.
Or is she just imagining things? The memory flashed by too quickly to examine.
"I'm... I'm not sure why he thought we were servants of Draygon," Sarah says with a shrug. Then she notices the dog in her arms start fidgeting. "Uh, Pip, what are you doing...? Pip?!"
Pip jumps out of New Master's arms, and trots over to the newcomers. The Knight he gives a quick sniff, but more out of mild curiosity than anything. The boy with him he gives a bit more interest, circling him once or twice as he sniffs his feet and legs. Clearly an outsider, from a distant village, but any uniqueness to his scent seems to have rubbed off from the third one, a girl.
Sniffing the girl gives more intriguing results. She smells... unique. Somehow it's similar to New Master's scent, but different in a way. He circles the raven-haired girl a few times, sniffing curiously, before looking up at her, tilting his head with a curious whine, then barking cheerfully and panting.
"So sorry about that," Sarah says, walking over to pick up the over-eager dog. "Pip's very excitable, and I've only had him for a short while now..."</s>
<|message|>Jabberwocky
He begins laughing, untill he's howling in laughter. "Have you never heard of the Jabberwocky, child? I live for death, for war. I am the ultimate killing machine." He tilts his head. "You're a brave one. If you can hit me at all, I'll leave. Take a swing at me."</s>
<|message|>Ayaan
Tinkertown
Dragon
Locke looked at the dragon hopelessly, "You're up on that roof! I can't reach you up there!?"</s>
<|message|>Jabberwocky
He laughs, and jumps off the roof. The ground cracked beneath his feet, smattering like glass hit with a boulder. "The first strike is yours, little boy." He bares fangs, sharp and white.</s>
<|message|>Ayaan
Tinkertown
Dragon
Locke stepped forward, tears running down his face. He was only 14 but he knew he was about to die. If only he could touch the monster then the monster promised to leave his family alone and his friends and go away. Locke felt too weak to live the Sword higher than his wast. He forced his muscles to move and he swung the sword towards jabberwocky's taunting face.
"Got you!" Came a tiny voice from behind jabberwocky's leg. A little girl, maybe 5 years old, had been hiding behind Locke's legs And when Jabberwocky landed she slipped around to his giant scaled foot and with a little wooden sword Hit it as hard as her little body could. From the building a woman screamed no.
A voice sounded in jabberwocky's head, "Destroy them all," Draygon said inside of Jabberwocky's head, "and return to me."</s>
<|message|>Jabberwocky
He laughs, long and loud. "Not even dogs send pups to fight. Cowards, all of you." The weapons do nothing, less then nothing. They both shatter, as if smashed with a hammer. "I like you, little ones. You remind me of someone...... leave now, children. You are no threat." He looks at the adults, and walks towards them, hands clasped behind his back. His scythe scraping into the ground, rocks cracking and splitting. "Are there no honerable ones among you?"</s>
| <|message|>Ayaan
Tinkertown
Dragon
A disheveled woman who might have been in her mid-twenties ran out of the building and picked up the five-year-old child. "There was a girl," She said holding her child to her chest, "but she disappeared, Lord Minoc took her somewhere and none of us know where. And now he's dead." The woman put herself in between the two children and Jabberwocky, "does that satisfy you beast? Or do you still lust for more blood?"</s> |
<|description|>Ayaan
Full name: Ayaan, the Protector of the Forests
Physical Description: Ayaan's height: 7.9 ft Ayaan's weight: 1980 pounds.
Brown, smooth fur slightly covers a lively face. Glowing brown eyes deter enemies and watch over friends.
This is the face of Ayaan, a true spectacle among the rest of the friendly animals. She stands high among others, despite her timid attitude. Perhaps it's a feeling of hospitality or perhaps it's simply her looks, but nobody knows.
Class: Fantastical Beast, Amarog (basically just a giant bear)
Your Place in the World: Ayaan was your average grizzly bear before odd things started to happen. The once beautiful and flourishing trees warped and became dry and brittle, which could be easily knocked down with a simple punch. The grass became very dry so that no amount of water could easily save it. Animals started disappearing quickly, and the forests became uninhabitable and became a death ground for any living being. Thus, many unimaginable creatures began to take form in the forests. Ayaan was very determined to set things back on track. Ayaan came from 'the very hearts of the forest', as described by the townspeople. Ayaan always wanted the forests to be back, and when she discovered the Oracles could help, she decided to help them too.
History: * See Your Place in the World * Ayaan
Abilities: Ayaan has incredibly dull claws but razor teeth. Ayaan's guardians (almost every good animal of the forest) follow her with a sense of loyalty and not even a single one has abandoned her. The guardians usually are very weak but can deal a lot of damage in groups.
Equipment:
RP Notes: Can one of the Oracles go through a forest and meet Ayaan? I had an idea about it the other day. I don't know what else to put her man</s>
<|message|>Stephanie Anderson
"Yeah, that's right," Steph confirmed after Sarah attempted to answer Peter's question. "I guess you could say that it's a bunch of very small artificial workers reassembling the basic components of things, like someone turning a piece of wood into a table or chair."
A moment later, the holographic display flicked to life, and Steph couldn't help but give voice to a small gasp.
"Mom…" she whispered as she felt her eyes begin to moisten. She watched in silence, while her mother described her work on Project Prometheus.
She looks so young… Steph reflected. This must have been recorded shortly after I was born…
That seemed about right. After all, Prometheus was clearly still in its early stages, and Dr. Westfield was still alive…
After her mother had concluded her report, a map of the world was displayed, indicating the locations of various facilities linked to Project Prometheus.
"It's a report from my mom about a project she was working on," Steph explained to Peter. "And this here is a map of the world. At least, of how the world used to look… I imagine its geography is quite different now," she added, while adjusting the map so that the globe was now a flat, 2D projection, "but if we can find a more current map, we can superimpose this one on top of it. I don't suppose you know where we might find one?" she asked, turning to Sir Gravy.</s>
<|message|>Ayaan
The Library of Castle Solace
@shadowsaint007
SETTING:
-Sir Gravy had taken the girls to the Library where they searched the archives.
-The King had gone to the Barracks to discuss with the Commander the retreat of the Bandersnatch.
-Tornel had gone to the kitchens to prepare a banquet in honor of the newly arrived Oracles.
In the archive the girls found a map of the world as it was known:
Circles are for villages, Triangles are for Castles
MAP LEGEND:
* Amazon: A City of all Women Warriors.
* Brynmaer: A Village in the center of a poisoned forest
* Goa: A Castle of Warriors who Study the Secrets of Martial Arts.
* Joel: A village of caves hidden in the sea.
* Leaf: A Simple Town of Religious folks. This is where the Mystics live.
* Nadare: Land of Ice, the people are fisherfolk.
* Oak: Poisonous Swamp land, it's people are strange and not to be trusted.
* Portoa: Land of Waterfalls, a paradise. The people there are prone to vice.
* Sahara: A Dessert land. The people call themselves the "Fremen"
* Shyron: The Castle of the Kingdom of Thunder. They are isolationists and their army uses strange weapons.
* Swan: A Harbour Town filled with Pirates.
* Castle Solace: The Capital of humanity.
* Draygon's Fortress: A dark and ominous fortress. The people of Solace have no knowledge of the inner workings of the citadel.
* Tinkertown: A village of Tinkerers and Archeologists who live in an excavation site where they seek to understand the mysteries of ancient technology.
Jabberwocky's House: This is not actually on the map, but I didn't save a version of this map before adding his hideout, so pretend that the girls cannot see where Jabberwocky's hideout actually is.
Asra blinks into existence in Sarah's eyes. "The map of the old world does not correlate to the map of the new world," she comments in her pretty voice, "I am unable to decipher any patterns between the two. The number of Oracles which were created is uncertain too, whether or not they existed in the facilities which worked on the Prometheus Project is uncertain." Asra's voice took a more serious tone, "We should follow rumors of people using incredible powers like Kensu used the lightning. He was powering the battery with Pip's electro-energy and then channeling that through the sword. Someone else may have discovered the same use of such a power. If we find another battery I can talk to Stephanie as well. Tell her that it is good to see her alive for me would you please? I was dearly worried until she picked up the sword of stone."
After you guys are done planning your next steps, the knights of the castle will direct you to your rooms. There you will find lady's in waiting to assist you in dressing as well as any additional items you ask for, the King has instructed the castle attendants to see to whatever you need. Tornel has begun to plan a great feast in your honor, plan to attend the feast. There you'll get to meet some more people of the Castle and the royal family. A party should be fun.</s>
<|message|>Ayaan
Tinkertown
Dragon
The townsfolk of Tinkertown remain hidden. The mother of the 2 children has dragged them back into the hut and they have shut the door. The village has experienced a devastating loss in a short amount of time, it will take them long to recover.
Jabberwocky makes his threat, and the villagers have chosen to hide in the hopes he will leave. They have nothing left to fight against an overpowered monster like the Jabberwocky.
Suddenly, 4 giant eagles dive through the flaming tornado towards Jabberwocky! One of them strikes Jabber's back, her claws sinking deeply into his scaly flesh. Two of the others grab a wing each in their claws and try to rip him apart. The fourth goes for Jabber's tail and tries to hold it in her beak. Apparently Jabberwocky's violent outburst got the attention of the local wildlife, and they answered his call for a fight.</s>
<|message|>Serlor
Serlor already had settled on a partially collapsed house before she spotted white, shining armor, and in the blink of an eye the charred land was sent aflame in sparks of fire. She arose from the crumbling remains of the house and circled the flames once or twice, and landed in the middle of it. The flames were completely extinguished by the force. Only a small piece of the now blackened armor was left behind. She stepped on it, and doing so, the armor curled and was crushed to pieces under Serlor's claws. A snarl unexpectedly came from deep in her throat. She briefly reminded herself, that "They won't come back, because they're all dead." It didn't calm her down because the dreadful feeling was still there. As if, they were going to come back.
Never.. She thought. Her wings quivered and she moved about, anxious. " If they do come back, I'll be ready." She didn't feel ready, though.</s>
<|message|>Sarah
Sarah
"I think I understand?" Peter says in a tone that indicates he probably didn't, and begins trying to squint at the thing, as though expecting tiny elves taking apart things and putting them together. Sarah just giggles at him.
"I don't think you can see them; it's in the name after all," she explains. "Nanotechnology is too small to be seen by the naked human eye; you'll just strain your eyes."
Sarah notes Steph's sorrow, and lightly puts a hand on the other girl's shoulder, squeezing gently to reassure her and give her a warm smile.
"It's nice to meet your mother," Sarah says, looking at the fading hologram. "What did she work on... back then?"
Sarah wasn't expecting Asra to pop in on them like that, and looks around to see if anyone else can see her. Sir Gravy and Peter showed no reaction, which shows they probably can't see her, and Steph seems a bit busy - and maybe her 'receiver' isn't yet fully powered yet, and getting a battery will help her see Asra more easily.
Still, despite what Asra tells her, maybe they can spot a pattern. Even if the facilities had shifted in the meantime, they could still follow their general locations and narrow their searches down a bit.
"We should also be on the lookout for rumors of strange powers and such," Sarah speaks up, deciding to voice what Asra told her. "The Oracles and their equipment had powerful biogenic energy abilities linked to them, so we could follow such rumors on the road. I mean, some of them must have woken up already. Did every Oracle have a Wizard guarding them, or are there some Oracles still missing in the various ruins? Maybe they woke up a long time ago... and had to live by themselves."
The thought of being alone in such a world saddens Sarah as she thinks about it. That could have been her; lost in the wirlderness, not even a Wizard to guide her, and trying to figure things out on her own. It would be a lonely existence.</s>
<|message|>Jabberwocky
He roars when the eagles attack, and starts lashing out, each one of his strikes powerful enough to break rock, shatter stone. When it hits a bird, it simply explodes. He spews out tongue after tongue of fire, cooking the air, and anything caught in the blaze. He begins spinning in the air, talons lashing out everywhere, blending anything that gets too close.</s>
<|message|>Stephanie Anderson
"Indeed I do, Miss Steph!" Sir Gravy replied after Steph inquired about the possibility of finding a map. "Right this way!"
As they followed the paladin, Steph returned Sarah's sympathetic smile. "Thanks, Sarah," she told the pink-haired girl. "It was really nice to see her again, even if it was just a holographic recording. Mom worked on a lot of stuff, to be perfectly honest," she added with a chuckle after Sarah had voiced her question. "As you saw, she even did some work on Project Prometheus, back in its early days, but her real focus was nanotechnology."
"Aha! Here we are!" Sir Gravy declared, gesturing to a large map.
Steph couldn't help but gasp at the sight. The land masses depicted looked nothing like the world she had known.
Could Harbinger really have changed the world this drastically…? she thought as she scanned over the map and its legend, committing their various details to memory.
"Hmmm… Even if the world's geography has been completely altered, and taking into account that this map may not be scaled correctly, we can still use it as a rough guide," Steph told them as she placed the holographic map atop the physical one. "If we use the complex my parents and I worked in as a starting point," she began, moving the holo map to place the complex's location atop where Tinkertown was displayed, "we can extrapolate where these other locations might be found."
Sarah then spoke up, noting that potential Oracles might be found by following up on rumors of people exhibiting strange abilities.
"Good thinking," Steph commended. "Although, I doubt such news travels all that quickly these days, unless you have some form of rapid communication I don't know about," she added, while glancing at Peter and Sir Gravy.</s>
<|message|>Sarah
Sarah
Sarah nods.
"Just glad you're alright," she says.
Sarah nods.
"That would make a good frame of reference," she replies. "Makes our search easier."
"Just one question," Peter asks bashfully, "what is 'Project Prometheus'? Both you and the image - your mother, that is - mentioned it a few times..."
Project Prometheus is basically the Oracle project. As for the rapid communication, I leave that to the GM.</s>
| <|message|>Ayaan
Serlor
Sandiego
The dragon used its fire to destroy the knight in the white armor, a shadow servant of Draygon materialized before the large beast.
"You are wise to choose to kill the knight," it said in it's slithery voice, "The Paladins of Solace only want to destroy you, my Master wishes to offer you work. Tell me dragon, do you wish to destroy those who would hurt you?" The shadow monster walked closer to Serlor.
Tinkertown
Dragon
The Great Eagle that held Jabberwocky's left wing was the one that exploded. As Jabberwocky began to thrash, the other eagles let go and took to the sky. Jabberwocky had stirred up lots of smoke and dust and the air was thick and made things hard to see, so when the eagles took wing they disappeared. Jabberwocky was spinning and spitting fire everywhere, frenzied and unpredictable.
Jabberwocky stopped his frenzy after a moment and looked to see where the eagles had gone, then with a loud screech an eagle dove from the clouds above the dragon and sunk its talons into Jabberwocky's arm.</s> |
<|description|>Ayaan
Full name: Ayaan, the Protector of the Forests
Physical Description: Ayaan's height: 7.9 ft Ayaan's weight: 1980 pounds.
Brown, smooth fur slightly covers a lively face. Glowing brown eyes deter enemies and watch over friends.
This is the face of Ayaan, a true spectacle among the rest of the friendly animals. She stands high among others, despite her timid attitude. Perhaps it's a feeling of hospitality or perhaps it's simply her looks, but nobody knows.
Class: Fantastical Beast, Amarog (basically just a giant bear)
Your Place in the World: Ayaan was your average grizzly bear before odd things started to happen. The once beautiful and flourishing trees warped and became dry and brittle, which could be easily knocked down with a simple punch. The grass became very dry so that no amount of water could easily save it. Animals started disappearing quickly, and the forests became uninhabitable and became a death ground for any living being. Thus, many unimaginable creatures began to take form in the forests. Ayaan was very determined to set things back on track. Ayaan came from 'the very hearts of the forest', as described by the townspeople. Ayaan always wanted the forests to be back, and when she discovered the Oracles could help, she decided to help them too.
History: * See Your Place in the World * Ayaan
Abilities: Ayaan has incredibly dull claws but razor teeth. Ayaan's guardians (almost every good animal of the forest) follow her with a sense of loyalty and not even a single one has abandoned her. The guardians usually are very weak but can deal a lot of damage in groups.
Equipment:
RP Notes: Can one of the Oracles go through a forest and meet Ayaan? I had an idea about it the other day. I don't know what else to put her man</s>
<|message|>Sarah
Sarah
"I think I understand?" Peter says in a tone that indicates he probably didn't, and begins trying to squint at the thing, as though expecting tiny elves taking apart things and putting them together. Sarah just giggles at him.
"I don't think you can see them; it's in the name after all," she explains. "Nanotechnology is too small to be seen by the naked human eye; you'll just strain your eyes."
Sarah notes Steph's sorrow, and lightly puts a hand on the other girl's shoulder, squeezing gently to reassure her and give her a warm smile.
"It's nice to meet your mother," Sarah says, looking at the fading hologram. "What did she work on... back then?"
Sarah wasn't expecting Asra to pop in on them like that, and looks around to see if anyone else can see her. Sir Gravy and Peter showed no reaction, which shows they probably can't see her, and Steph seems a bit busy - and maybe her 'receiver' isn't yet fully powered yet, and getting a battery will help her see Asra more easily.
Still, despite what Asra tells her, maybe they can spot a pattern. Even if the facilities had shifted in the meantime, they could still follow their general locations and narrow their searches down a bit.
"We should also be on the lookout for rumors of strange powers and such," Sarah speaks up, deciding to voice what Asra told her. "The Oracles and their equipment had powerful biogenic energy abilities linked to them, so we could follow such rumors on the road. I mean, some of them must have woken up already. Did every Oracle have a Wizard guarding them, or are there some Oracles still missing in the various ruins? Maybe they woke up a long time ago... and had to live by themselves."
The thought of being alone in such a world saddens Sarah as she thinks about it. That could have been her; lost in the wirlderness, not even a Wizard to guide her, and trying to figure things out on her own. It would be a lonely existence.</s>
<|message|>Jabberwocky
He roars when the eagles attack, and starts lashing out, each one of his strikes powerful enough to break rock, shatter stone. When it hits a bird, it simply explodes. He spews out tongue after tongue of fire, cooking the air, and anything caught in the blaze. He begins spinning in the air, talons lashing out everywhere, blending anything that gets too close.</s>
<|message|>Stephanie Anderson
"Indeed I do, Miss Steph!" Sir Gravy replied after Steph inquired about the possibility of finding a map. "Right this way!"
As they followed the paladin, Steph returned Sarah's sympathetic smile. "Thanks, Sarah," she told the pink-haired girl. "It was really nice to see her again, even if it was just a holographic recording. Mom worked on a lot of stuff, to be perfectly honest," she added with a chuckle after Sarah had voiced her question. "As you saw, she even did some work on Project Prometheus, back in its early days, but her real focus was nanotechnology."
"Aha! Here we are!" Sir Gravy declared, gesturing to a large map.
Steph couldn't help but gasp at the sight. The land masses depicted looked nothing like the world she had known.
Could Harbinger really have changed the world this drastically…? she thought as she scanned over the map and its legend, committing their various details to memory.
"Hmmm… Even if the world's geography has been completely altered, and taking into account that this map may not be scaled correctly, we can still use it as a rough guide," Steph told them as she placed the holographic map atop the physical one. "If we use the complex my parents and I worked in as a starting point," she began, moving the holo map to place the complex's location atop where Tinkertown was displayed, "we can extrapolate where these other locations might be found."
Sarah then spoke up, noting that potential Oracles might be found by following up on rumors of people exhibiting strange abilities.
"Good thinking," Steph commended. "Although, I doubt such news travels all that quickly these days, unless you have some form of rapid communication I don't know about," she added, while glancing at Peter and Sir Gravy.</s>
<|message|>Sarah
Sarah
Sarah nods.
"Just glad you're alright," she says.
Sarah nods.
"That would make a good frame of reference," she replies. "Makes our search easier."
"Just one question," Peter asks bashfully, "what is 'Project Prometheus'? Both you and the image - your mother, that is - mentioned it a few times..."
Project Prometheus is basically the Oracle project. As for the rapid communication, I leave that to the GM.</s>
<|message|>Ayaan
Serlor
Sandiego
The dragon used its fire to destroy the knight in the white armor, a shadow servant of Draygon materialized before the large beast.
"You are wise to choose to kill the knight," it said in it's slithery voice, "The Paladins of Solace only want to destroy you, my Master wishes to offer you work. Tell me dragon, do you wish to destroy those who would hurt you?" The shadow monster walked closer to Serlor.
Tinkertown
Dragon
The Great Eagle that held Jabberwocky's left wing was the one that exploded. As Jabberwocky began to thrash, the other eagles let go and took to the sky. Jabberwocky had stirred up lots of smoke and dust and the air was thick and made things hard to see, so when the eagles took wing they disappeared. Jabberwocky was spinning and spitting fire everywhere, frenzied and unpredictable.
Jabberwocky stopped his frenzy after a moment and looked to see where the eagles had gone, then with a loud screech an eagle dove from the clouds above the dragon and sunk its talons into Jabberwocky's arm.</s>
<|message|>Ayaan
The Castle of Solace
@shadowsaint007
Tornel was making his way to the main banquet hall to prepare for the next evening's festivities. He was fuming inside, but nothing could stop him from being the charming Master Wizard he was known to be. The girls were in the library going over whatever items were there from the mysterious ancients. He couldn't bring himself to trust them, but the King believed their story and Tornel had to obey the old man's wishes, even if he thought they were foolish. "What if they really are Oracles?" he thought to himself, then he shook his head to banish the thought. Tornel had been on an expedition with 3 others from the Brotherhood of Wizards where they broke open one of the strange caskets that held an Oracle. The human looking thing inside crumbled to dust when they broke it open, as if it was made of burnt paper and then struck by a hard wind. From then on Tornel knew the Oracles were not alive; they were for decoration, or something equally redundant. The real power from the old world was chemistry! The ability to mix the materials of the world to create fire and light! The book that held those secrets were kept in Tornel's personal library in his tower.
Tornel stopped when he got to the banquet hall and looked at the mural painted into the ceiling. There above him were 8 large figures painted in various dress, each one modelled after one of the Oracles that had been uncovered, one of them had Pink hair. Tornel stopped and looked at her, that was the one who had met with the King, the one from Kensu's islands. The artist had done a good job getting the girl's face just right, and if an artist could paint a face to look like the Oracle on the island then one of Draygon's monsters could do the same too. But she didn't try to murder the King, and she didn't retaliate when Tornel attacked her. Something didn't make sense, so Tornel would do what he always did, he would fake it. He could pretend they were real Oracles until the creatures that called themselves "Sarah" and "Stephanie" revealed their nefarious intentions, and then Tornel would be ready to stop them.
"Bring out all the gilded tables and best ceramics," Tornel told the attendants preparing the room, "The King wants tomorrow night to be a night to remember!" The numerous attendants stopped what they were doing to listen to the Wizard speak, "There will be musicians! Jugglers! and the finest of meats and fruits!" Tornel was practically dancing around the room, "Our Oracles have awakened! Tell the men-at-arms, and have them tell their wives and their children! We are living on the precipice of mighty change! A Time of awakening! and a time when the evils of Draygon will finally be dispelled from this world!" The ballroom staff applauded and smiled and slapped each other's backs affectionately. "You all have not seen them yet, but I have," Tornel continued, "tell all the people of our castle and the city surrounding us that they are welcome to come and see the gods made flesh! The beauty and wonder of the ancient world come to life! Tomorrow, you will see the Oracles who have awoken and come to save us all!" This triggered another cheer and then the good people of Castle Solace got to work polishing surfaces and preparing the great feast.
Tornel motioned to a young squire who was standing guard at one of the entranceways. "Squire," Tornel said, "Go to the Library and tell Sir Gravy to be ready to escort the ladies to their rooms and stay with them until the feast tomorrow."
"S...Sir Gravy," the Squire stammered, "the Captain of the Guard, Sir?"
"Of course child," Tornel smiled, "relay the message and then remain with them to help Sir Gravy as an escort. The ladies may wish to pick out dresses or some such, they are permitted to do as they please. But stay with them, and report all of their activity to me once it is done. Do you understand boy?"
"Toast Sire, I am Squire Toast."
Tornel appraised the youth, "Squire Toast then. Be off, and go about your duty. Report to me in my quarters one hour before the feast begins."
"Yes Sir! Right away Sir!" The boy clanked a sloppy salute and hurried down the hall, his boots thudding as he ran.
Okay friends, do as you will for the rest of the evening and tomorrow during the day. Remember a few things: The Oracles are depicted in paintings and as statues throughout Solace, because Tornel used them as a display item. Sarah will probably be recognized because of her distinct hair. The feelings about the Oracles are something akin to a religious adoration, they are mysterious and god like to the more superstitious, but there are others who disagree. No matter what, they are celebrities so just remember that in your writing. Stephanie would not be so easy to spot because she is a pretty but plain girl, no pronounced distinguishing features.
There are lady attendants at your disposal and food is available if you ask for it.</s>
<|message|>Sarah
Sarah
"Well, hopefully that will make our search a little easier," Sarah says as they leave the Archives. "It's still a bit daunting to try and find the Oracles all over the map."
"I'll be honest, Peter says, rubbing his head, "This is probably the furthest I've ever been from home. The idea of going even further is rather intimidating... though I have to admit, also a bit exciting."
"It is, isn't it?" Sarah muses. "I mean, the view from the sky-mantas was wonderful. A bit windy, but you get used to it. The view was definitely worth it. I mean, you're way up there in the sky, and you look down and everything looks small, like doll towns. I couldn't even see individual people, I was so high up..."
"I don't know, what if you fell?" Peter replies, looking a bit green at the thought. "It's an awfully long way down..."
"Well, Pip almost slid off the wing, but that's because he was so small," Sarah admits. "Still, he didn't mind. Did you, Pip?"
Pip barks cheerfully at the mention of his name.
"Oh, I wonder what the view from the towers is like?" Sarah speaks up cheerfully.
"Oh, no thanks, I'm fine around here, ma'am," Peter says nervously. "Maybe we should tour the rest of the castle first nice and slooOOOOOOOOOOWWWW!!!"
Despite Peter's protests, Sarah grabs him by the arm and drags him along to get a view from the tower. Pip barks and chases after them.
"Hurry up, Stephanie!" Sarah calls out cheerfully. "I bet it's a wonderful view from up there!"</s>
| <|message|>Ayaan
Facilities:
1. Apalachee Facility, USA
2. Sao Paula Facility, Brazil
3. Greenland Facility
4. Antarctica Facility
5. Cape Town Facility, South Africa
6. Helsinki Facility, Finland
7. Naning Manufacturing Facility, China
8. Seoul Facility, Korea - Main Offices for Biogenic research
9. Mt. Fiji Facility, Japan
10. Sydney Facility, Australia
Every facility has a research department, a pod manufacture dept, and a business office. The Naning facility manufactured the materials for building Harbinger and much of the materials used in the manufacture of the pods.</s> |
<|description|>Ayaan
Full name: Ayaan, the Protector of the Forests
Physical Description: Ayaan's height: 7.9 ft Ayaan's weight: 1980 pounds.
Brown, smooth fur slightly covers a lively face. Glowing brown eyes deter enemies and watch over friends.
This is the face of Ayaan, a true spectacle among the rest of the friendly animals. She stands high among others, despite her timid attitude. Perhaps it's a feeling of hospitality or perhaps it's simply her looks, but nobody knows.
Class: Fantastical Beast, Amarog (basically just a giant bear)
Your Place in the World: Ayaan was your average grizzly bear before odd things started to happen. The once beautiful and flourishing trees warped and became dry and brittle, which could be easily knocked down with a simple punch. The grass became very dry so that no amount of water could easily save it. Animals started disappearing quickly, and the forests became uninhabitable and became a death ground for any living being. Thus, many unimaginable creatures began to take form in the forests. Ayaan was very determined to set things back on track. Ayaan came from 'the very hearts of the forest', as described by the townspeople. Ayaan always wanted the forests to be back, and when she discovered the Oracles could help, she decided to help them too.
History: * See Your Place in the World * Ayaan
Abilities: Ayaan has incredibly dull claws but razor teeth. Ayaan's guardians (almost every good animal of the forest) follow her with a sense of loyalty and not even a single one has abandoned her. The guardians usually are very weak but can deal a lot of damage in groups.
Equipment:
RP Notes: Can one of the Oracles go through a forest and meet Ayaan? I had an idea about it the other day. I don't know what else to put her man</s>
<|message|>Ayaan
Facilities:
1. Apalachee Facility, USA
2. Sao Paula Facility, Brazil
3. Greenland Facility
4. Antarctica Facility
5. Cape Town Facility, South Africa
6. Helsinki Facility, Finland
7. Naning Manufacturing Facility, China
8. Seoul Facility, Korea - Main Offices for Biogenic research
9. Mt. Fiji Facility, Japan
10. Sydney Facility, Australia
Every facility has a research department, a pod manufacture dept, and a business office. The Naning facility manufactured the materials for building Harbinger and much of the materials used in the manufacture of the pods.</s>
<|message|>Jabberwocky
He snaps at the eagle, wings beating and stirring up smoke. He growls from all the cuts and scrapes on his leathery, scaled flesh. He roars, and the sound makes a shockwave, blasting the birds away from him. He flies higher and higher, untill the birds can't reach him at his immense altitude.</s>
<|message|>Stephanie Anderson
"Well, from what little I know of it, Project Prometheus was focused on the manipulation of something called 'Biogenic Energy'," Steph explained after Peter had inquired about the project. "That's the kind of energy harnessed by the sword Minoc gave me," she added, hoping that might make things a bit clearer. "It also had to do with the creation of beings specifically designed to make use of such energy, like Sarah here."
After Steph asked about potential methods of rapid transit, Peter frowned. "W-Well… There's the train we took to get here, but, uh, like I said, it only runs between the Castle and Tinkertown…"
"There are also several winged beasts upon which one can ride," Sir Gravy added. "Of course, they are not simply handed out to just anyone, but I have no doubt that two Oracles of legend, such as yourselves, would most assuredly be granted them, if requested."
"You can say that again," Steph agreed, when Sarah noted the daunting task ahead of them. Then Sarah mentioned going to check out the view from the towers, practically dragging Peter along with her. "I guess it wouldn't hurt to get a look at the local the lay of the land," Steph reflected with a giggle, as she and Sir Gravy followed after them.</s>
<|message|>Sarah
Sarah
Up in the tower, Sarah was looking out at the landscape, letting her pink hair dance in the wind, brushing it out of her eyes to get a clear view, a bright smile on her face. To her left is Sir Gravy, doing little more than admiring the view himself.
"It's not as high up as it was on the sky-manta's back," she tells Stephanie when the other girl joins her. "But here, I can see things better. I can see the people in the towns, the farmers in the field. It makes me wonder what they're thinking of, how they're living their lives. It's just... so strange, thinking about how these people spend their lives.
"To be honest... I envy them a bit," she admits, a warm smile adorning her face.
Peter, by contrast, is rather green in the gills, leaning on the inner wall away from the battlements, and trying not to throw up. He's clearly not comfortable way up here.
"Begging your pardon, Sarah, but I don't think I'm cut out for heights," he admits. "I've never been this high off the ground, to be honest, and I'm finding it's making me sick."
"Oh don't be silly, Peter," Sarah giggles. "You just don't look down. I mean, I've been 'alive' for the past week and I already guessed that bit."
"Easier said than done!" Peter says. "You told me not to look down and it got stuck in my head! You just don't tell someone that, especially if they're afraid of heights!"
"Well, maybe it's dangerous if you fell from a great height-"
"Exactly! And I'd rather not find out!"
"But as long as you're standing on something solid, you'll be fine." Sarah stamps the stone. "See? It's safe. Even if the heights look scary, you're safe."
She looks down to prove her point, but then something draws her attention. It's the scorch marks left by Bandersnatch, blasting the castle walls with fire and magic. The walls had weathered them well, but the scorched black contrasted against the majesty of the stonework, marring the appearance. The paladin notices her gaze.
"It's a shame what that brute has done to the walls," Sir Gravy admits. "Fret not, dear ladies, we'll have the painters and stonemasons clean that up as best as they can. This castle's survived worse, so no need to worry."
"That's nice," Sarah muses. "But it's what he tried to do. He tried to destroy the castle..."
"As I said, this castle's survived worse. Trust me when I say this castle might stand for centuries more yet!"
"Certainly not for his lack of trying," Sarah replies bitterly. "Why do Draygon's servants do this? They seem keen on destroying everything... why? What do they gain from this? It's bad enough the world's fallen from the days of the ancients, they're trying to destroy more of it..."</s>
<|message|>Stephanie Anderson
Steph raised an eyebrow at Peter's terrified demeanor.
"Seriously?" she asked Peter with a chuckle. "You're afraid of heights? Your home town was built on top of a mountain!"
"Y-Yes, that's true," Peter conceded. "B-But I never really ventured outside all that often, and I never got close to the c-cliffs…"
"I guess that explains it, then," she noted, although she still found it amusingly ironic.
Steph's attention was soon drawn back to Sarah, who was asking about Draygon and his intentions. It was something that had been poking at the back of Steph's mind as well. Who was this Draygon, and how was he able to create monsters like the harpy she'd fought back at Tinkertown? From what she had been able to gather, the so-called "Wizards" were simply people who had learned how to utilize some facet of old world knowledge or technology. Was this the case for Draygon as well? If so, then he had certainly acquired a knowledge of science far in advance of that displayed by the rest of this depressingly medieval world. However, before Sir Gravy could answer Sarah's question, or Steph could give voice to one of her own, they were interrupted by the arrival of a youthful squire.
"P-Please pardon the intrusion, Sir Gravy," the squire stammered, clearly out of breath. "But I come bearing a message from Master Tornel. He has instructed me to request that you…" His voice trailed off as he noticed the two young women present. "O-Oh, good heavens!" he exclaimed, prostrating himself in supplication. "Please forgive your lowly servant, mighty Oracles!" he pleaded. "I did not mean to disturb you with my presence!"
"D-Don't worry," Steph told the messenger gently, more than a little taken aback by his reverence towards Sarah and herself. "You didn't do anything wrong, and there's really no need for you to be afraid of us," she added with a reassuring smile, while kneeling down and placing a hand on the squire's shoulder. "We're regular people, just like you."
The young man gasped as he felt Steph touch his shoulder, but calmed slightly upon seeing her kind smile. Now that he looked at her face, she didn't appear to be any different than a normal person. And yet, she was an Oracle, a divine messenger of the Ancients! How could she be so… humble?
That thought was quickly banished when Sir Gravy spoke up.
"Young squire! You spoke of a message from Master Tornel! Out with it lad! What new task awaits?!"
"M-My apologies, sir! M-Master Tornel wishes for you to escort the Oracles to their chambers and watch over them until the feast tomorrow. I would have informed you sooner, but I was told you would be in the library, and when you weren't there…"
"Not to fret, young squire!" Sir Gravy reassured him. "Your quest to locate us was successful, and you have imparted the message entrusted to your care. You have done quite well indeed! What pray tell is your name, young squire?"
"S-Squire Toast, sir."
"Well, then, Squire Toast, I shall be sure to mention your exemplary service when next I speak with both Master Tornel and His Majesty, the King!"
"T-Thank you, sir!"
"Think nothing of it, lad!" the paladin replied with a hearty laugh. "A job well done deserves to be recognized!"
"Wait, you mentioned a feast?" Steph asked.
"Why, yes! Of course! Master Tornel is preparing a grand banquet in your honor! There will be music and entertainers of all kinds! Master Tornel has demanded only the best for our Mighty Oracles!"
"Tornel's setting this up?" Steph asked dubiously. She tried not to scowl at the mention of the wizard, but after his earlier treatment of Sarah and herself, she found it hard not to regard all his actions as highly suspicious.</s>
<|message|>Sarah
Sarah
"Well, the King was angry with Tornel at his actions," Sarah says. "Maybe it's his way of an apology?"
She still remembers the fury in the King's eyes at Tornel's actions, and while she's still a bit upset about how Tornel had tried to kill her earlier, maybe he saw the error of his ways? She's a bit full after her brunch with the King, but she's certainly curious about the entertainment for the meal.
"Either way, sounds like there's going to be quite the spectacle there, and I'm kind of curious to see what they have."</s>
<|message|>Jabberwocky
He takes a deep breath, and blasts out a wave of white hot flames, the air burning as the liquid like blaze feeds greedily on the air, and the bodies of birds. He snarls, and loops around the castle, watching Bandersnatch lay seige to the building.</s>
| <|message|>Ayaan
Castle of Solace
The Oracle's Banquet
It was the night of the banquet in honor of the Oracles and the end of the siege. For reasons unknown Bandersnatch had left, though he did not leave empty handed. He now held in his possession one of the mythical swords of the ancients, the Sword of Fire. The people of Solace, however, did not see that as much of a loss because Tornel, the High Wizard of the Castle, only used the sword as an ornament and never learned how to channel its great power.
The true inspiration of the Banquet was the arrival of the Oracles, beings of fable who were seen by many as god-like entities who have risen to lead them into the future, and by others as fake messengers created by the Wizard cult. Not much time had passed since their arrival, but like all monumentally changing events, waves of emotion swept through the population of the castle and and surrounding town. The common folk enjoyed a spectacle, and the possibility of seeing living gods was sure to be one. On the night of the Oracle's Banquet, as it was being called, the main hall of the castle was filled to the brim and people were gathered in the courtyard outside of the gates having their own celebration and listening to the music echoing from the castle interior.
On a stage at the end of the hall furthest from the door was the King's thrown and his chromed and gem-inlaid table. Sitting on either side of the King sat Sarah and Stephanie, each dressed in finery that was both radiant and glowing. After the girls sat family members of the King, including his son and three daughters. At the end of the table sat Tornel, purposefully positioned so that he could conduct the orchestrations of the Banquet. Each dish was brought in and served on fine pewter plates, the wine and juices were served in plain silver goblets shined to perfection.
The banquet hall was an open space between the King's table and the large double door that lead into the courtyard. There were tables against the far walls containing mountains of fresh food and servants quickly refilled trays and brought fresh munchies to the people dancing and mingling. On well lit balconies above the food tables there sat small quartets of musicians playing wind and string instruments with a drummer keeping the rhythm. To the King's left the musicians had a female singer, to his right was a male singer. They took turns but sometimes harmonized together, the affect was beautiful.
The roof of the banquet hall held the visage of 8 women, each in varying stages of dress and with different symbolic images around like stalks of wheat, a boat, or a golden fleece. One of the women had pink hair. The King would note that these are images of different Oracles who were venerated by the people. The people had different names for the Oracles based on tradition, the one with Pink hair was named Laughter. There was no image to depict Stephanie.
Periodically throughout the banquet people brought gifts and laid them down at the steps before the throne. There they would ask for blessings from the Oracles, flatter them with a poem or song, or confess a deep affection and vow their servitude. Every third of Fifth supplicant was a performer brought in by Tornel who performed magic tricks, acrobatics, or some other vaudevillian act meant to entertain and keep the festivities fresh. After each one the people of the banquet would applaud and the night seemed to go splendidly.</s> |
<|description|>Sarah
Physical Description:
Sarah is a slender girl with bright green eyes and soft, shoulder-length pink hair and pale, almost alabaster skin. She stand at about 5'4" (162.6 cm) and weighs 100 lbs (45.3 kg). She has a curious glint in her eyes, and tends to see everything as though for the first time.
Class: Oracle
Personality:
Sarah is a warm, compassionate soul, always worried about other peoples' welfare and willing to go to any length to protect them. Despite her lack of social experience with the world, she can tell when people are being hurt or abused, and will try and ease their suffering any way she can.
Due to mostly being a blank state, the world around her entices her curiosity, and she will try to learn as much about it as possible. She will try and know more any new sensations or experiences she might encounter, giving her the feeling of a wide-eyed newborn child eagerly gawping at the beautiful world around them.
Her lack of experience with the world means she's also very naïve and clueless about current events or about certain social cues or behaviors that more worldly people would pick up easily. She does have a general sense of social decency and behavior, but the nuances or subtler plays are a bit beyond her experience, and a cunning operator can out-think her until she catches on.
However, despite this, one should not push her too far. She is still an Oracle, and programmed with combat skills and powerful abilities, and can end up fighting back rather tenaciously when she or those she cares about are threatened.
History:
Sarah recalls nothing of her past, practically having been 'born' to the world with the opening of her case.
Abilities:
* Enhanced physical attributes: As an Oracle and genetically engineered being, Sarah possesses a certain amount of enhanced strength, increased agility, and improved durability and stamina, as well as a small measure of enhanced senses. However, the emphasis are on stamina and agility, making her a poor choice for a heavy fighter.
* Healing: Aside from no small skill at normal healing, she possesses the ability to heal injuries and wounds almost instantly. Currently, she's still learning how to use this power, so she can heal mild injuries and cuts.
* Protective 'magic': Sarah can use her 'magic' to protect her allies by casting a small, protective halo to absorb some of the damage that hits them.
Equipment:
Sarah barely has anything beyond the shirt on her back and a few items and supplies given to her by her mysterious caretaker.
RP Notes:
Sarah is basically a blank slate, one with little to no knowledge of the outside world, and must learn more about it to survive and complete her destined mission. Fortunately, she does have a certain amount of combat skills programmed into her, allowing her to fight competently and survive long enough to get stronger.
Sarah's main virtues are compassion and empathy, the ability to feel for those around her, and a strong desire to reduce their suffering and help them find happiness.
Role-wise, Sarah would lean towards a mage-knight with an emphasis on magic and healing. While she is still an Oracle, she prefers to use magic and healing to support her allies in battle and help them out of battle.</s>
<|message|>Ayaan
Tinkertown
The Jub Jub Bird
"Yesss... yesss! Die! Die you weak, pathetic Fools!!" The harpy screamed, hovering over the village. Tinkertown was built into the ruins of one of the structures of the ancients. It seemed unreachable from the ground, a protected spire on a mountain's peak calling the clouds it's friends. Unreachable from the ground, sure, but not so unreachable if you could pick up your force and drop them on balconies, on roof tops, and on ledges. Late the day before she had drugged a herd of twelve lizard-bears and had gently placed them into their positions. It was a perfect set up for the meager and unprepared peasants of this disgusting place, they didn't have a watch or guard posted at all so they had no idea. When the lizard-bears awoke, they began to wreak havoc, and havoc was what Jub Jub loved the most.
As an added bonus, there was an Oracle here... somewhere. If she could murder the strange creature and bring it's wrecked body, or maybe just its head, Draygon would be well pleased.
The lizard-bears had ripped into a few of the villagers, Jub saw their blood stain the steps and it made her mouth water. The villagers had been herded into one of the central buildings by four of the more furious bears. The other eight had shrunk away into corners and were trying to find a way down. Fools, this is a one way trip for them, there is no way down but the fall, no way down but death. Jub smiled and licked her fangs.
"You.. Will... NOT!.. take them!!!" Came a scream from the building being molested by one of the bears, suddenly a spike of mountain sprung from the door and pierced the animal through it's torso. It whimpered lightly and died quickly. The cry of their dying fellow lizard-bear worked the other three increased their ferocity, and three more from the group trying to get down responded as well and began scratching at the doors and walls which were protecting the villagers inside.
Jub took to the skies and with a few strong flaps of her wings she flew around the mountain village, looking for some sign of where the Oracle shrine might be. That rock spire was obviously the work of the fool wizard who guarded these parts, so somewhere in this disgustingly clean spire of houses there had to be one of those pods, but where? Well, it didn't matter, once the lizard-bears murdered their way through the townsfolk they would find the pod and if they didn't eat the inhabitant then Jub Jub would surely have her blood. She continued to circle the village.</s>
<|message|>Ayaan
The Cave of Kensu's Island
Urgrapth nimbly creeped about her lair. Millions of shining threads glittered in the soft light of the deep cave, as she moved across the steel like threads they tinkled, creating a musical ambiance of nightmares. Slowly, deliberately, she moved to inspect the tightly wrapped bundles she had collected from the sea village. Morsels of delicious food, enough to satiate her hunger upon waking in this cave, and enough to keep her and her babies alive for the next year. She was happy, but she didn't smile. Emotions existed in some absent part of her psyche, separate from her conscious self but present enough for her to know it was there. Methodically she moved from bundle to bundle, making sure her neuro-venom was keeping them alive so as not to spoil the meat but still enough to make sure they couldn't move. If they could move they could hurt her and her babies, and that simply would not do.
A blue light began to blink over her head. She looked up and opened her fanged mouth in a hiss, an intruder had entered her caves. She moved quickly to the button and slammed it down, releasing the blue smoke that caused hallucinations. She went to another button and upon pressing it the outer doors slammed shut, this did two things: it closed the entrance so her latest victim could not escape, and it closed the hole at the top of the mountain so the blue smoke wouldn't release into the village but would fill the caves and take down this mysterious visitor. Once the visitor collapsed she'd send her babies, just like she did to the town, and her babies would bring the visitor back and she would wrap it and save it, or maybe, her babies could use the snack...
Spider monster has the town wrapped up and plans to eat them. She is releasing a blue smoke that causes hallucinations and is supposed to incapacitate a normal person. She has closed off the entrance to the cave so Kensu cannot come and help, and she has sent her babies to you, they are about the size of a small dog and look approximately like this:
Good Luck :)</s>
| <|message|>Sarah
Sarah walks down the corridors of the cavern, staying close to the light Pip provides. While she spent some time exploring the cave, uncertain of where to go, she gradually feels a "pull" from something deep within, something calling to her. Maybe it's the sword? Kensu mentioned that perhaps she'd have better luck finding it.
For his part, Pip seems to have quickly gotten accustomed to his new companion. He seems to stay near her, panting at her cheerfully whenever she stops to investigate something. Or maybe he's just a good dog who likes people. Either way, Sarah likes her new companion back and pets him from time to time.
The time spent in the cave, however, makes her appreciate the sunlight outside even more. She's not sure how long has it been in here, and the place is getting rather claustrophobic, what with its tight corridors, lack of light, and strangely stuffy air. Even Pip is whining in concern; this is deeper than he's ever been before, and he keeps occasionally turning back to her as though to say 'are you sure?' It almost feels like it's hard to breathe in here. She pauses to take a breath, struggling against the suddenly heavier air. It's as though the air itself is resisting being drawn in. Suddenly, she feels the world beginning to swim around her, causing her to stumble and struggle to stay on her two feet. She hesitates, taking a couple of stumbling steps - and then her foot hita a soft spot in the ground that caused it to collapse and swallow her up. She screams as she falls into the abyss.
She looks up and tries to grasp the ledge, but it's too late, and she's already fallen in. She's falling down both at high speed and incredibly slowly, as though she'd been thrown down a hole but stuck in water or sand on the way down. Nothing around her but darkness and terrifying flickers. Then she feels herself hit something hard.
She wakes up to find herself back in the capsule, only now it's full of liquid. She tries to call out but all that comes out of her mouth are strangled gurgles. Beyond the glass, she can see people - no, not people; monsters. Misshapen caricatures of men with mismatched features and empty black pools for eyes, burbling some black tongue that sounds like it's coming from the depths of a bottomless lake. One of them reaches out and rubs against the glass with monstrously long, slender fingers, as though to torment her with her helplessness. She feels like she's going to suffocate, to drown. She bangs against the glass of the capsule, trying to scream through lungs full of vile fluid.
Oh please, open, please open, please open it won't open it won't open itwon'topenitwon'topenitwon'topenitwon'topenITWON'TOPENITWON'TOPENITWON'T-
Then she realizes something is in the capsule with her as it grabs her face from behind with a long, slimy tendril. She vainly struggles to knock it away-
Suddenly the horrid vision is gone, and above her is Pip, barking at her for some reason before he resumes licking her face. She stirs, weak and sick, feeling like she's about to throw up, while the air around her is thrumming and heavy with malicious intent, her vision hazy...
Pip isn't sure what happened with New Master. She started out well, giving pets and rubs which he appreciated, but after a while she started going in deeper into the cave than Old Master did, as though driven by something. Old Master never acted like she did either; first she was calm and focused, like she was hunting or something, but then she started to tremble, breathe hard, and smell funny. He could smell fear, it was instinctive to dogs. But this fear is different; the longer she stayed here, the more New Master seemed to be going crazy, reacting wildly and shiver before she eventually collapsed and started screaming. He tried to revive her, bring her to her senses by licking her face, but she slapped him away in her thrashing. If she didn't just smell full of fear, he'd have chalked it up to being moody, but he can smell something in the air, bad and sick, like it was making New Master sick just by her being in it. As it were, he just barks at her in mild reprimand before trying to revive her again.
Her eyes open, and he sees she can see him again. He'd be happy, but her shivers indicate she's still under the influence of the Bad Smell, even if she can't smell it. He can, but it's not affecting him for some reason. He'll have to be her eyes and ears for now.
And that's when he hears - and smells - something else. Something bad. He smelled traces of it in the village when Old Master took him back and found all the other people gone.
Out of the shadows come three things - bad, tall, gangly bug-things, with legs like spiders and long claws like a mantis. Pip realizes these spider-things were there at the village. They took Old Master's friends, the neighbors who'd say hello every morning, the little children who'd play with him every day, who'd feed him tasty scraps when they thought Old Master wasn't looking, the nice skinner who'd toss him some spare rawhide to chew whenever he came begging. These spider-things had the villagers' smell on them. They took the villagers.
Pip growled, his fur standing on edge as he turns to face the bug-things. The spider-things will not take New Master. Not if he had anything to say about it.
What Sarah sees is three long, spidery horrors crawling out from a wall and skitter towards her, their terrifying presence filling the world as the air is now positively groaning and shuddering, her vision blurred and her breath short and uneven. All she could do is scramble to sit upright, her mind feeling like it's trapped and drowning in water, her reactions slow and ponderous even as the monsters sped up to attack her.
And then she sees Pip, glowing alight, growling and barking bravely at the monsters, trying to scare them off. He manages to get them to back off briefly with his loud barking and snarling. But the spell is broken as the spiders smack him aside and reach for her. Pip hits a wall with a loud whimper and crumples to the floor.
With the annoying yapping thing dealt with, the leading spider-thing turns its attention to the newcomer. This new human isn't like the others in town; she looks and smells... different somehow. It's puzzled to see her still conscious, but finds her sufficiently weakened by the miasma to be taken. Its mandibles open, looking like a nightmarish maw full of teeth to the still-stricken Sarah, hissing in anticipation. She struggles to throw off its grasp, managing to smack its arm aside with surprising strength. The spider-thing hisses in surprise, then anger. This one is still strong, it realizes even through the miasma she's proving resilient. Best to weaken it some more before bringing her in. Or better yet, it realizes, it's been a while since they ate. It's always delightful to enjoy a fresh kill, it decides, as it calls up its brethren to finish this strange human off. They raise their claws into the air to strike...
To be continued...</s> |
<|description|>Sarah
Physical Description:
Sarah is a slender girl with bright green eyes and soft, shoulder-length pink hair and pale, almost alabaster skin. She stand at about 5'4" (162.6 cm) and weighs 100 lbs (45.3 kg). She has a curious glint in her eyes, and tends to see everything as though for the first time.
Class: Oracle
Personality:
Sarah is a warm, compassionate soul, always worried about other peoples' welfare and willing to go to any length to protect them. Despite her lack of social experience with the world, she can tell when people are being hurt or abused, and will try and ease their suffering any way she can.
Due to mostly being a blank state, the world around her entices her curiosity, and she will try to learn as much about it as possible. She will try and know more any new sensations or experiences she might encounter, giving her the feeling of a wide-eyed newborn child eagerly gawping at the beautiful world around them.
Her lack of experience with the world means she's also very naïve and clueless about current events or about certain social cues or behaviors that more worldly people would pick up easily. She does have a general sense of social decency and behavior, but the nuances or subtler plays are a bit beyond her experience, and a cunning operator can out-think her until she catches on.
However, despite this, one should not push her too far. She is still an Oracle, and programmed with combat skills and powerful abilities, and can end up fighting back rather tenaciously when she or those she cares about are threatened.
History:
Sarah recalls nothing of her past, practically having been 'born' to the world with the opening of her case.
Abilities:
* Enhanced physical attributes: As an Oracle and genetically engineered being, Sarah possesses a certain amount of enhanced strength, increased agility, and improved durability and stamina, as well as a small measure of enhanced senses. However, the emphasis are on stamina and agility, making her a poor choice for a heavy fighter.
* Healing: Aside from no small skill at normal healing, she possesses the ability to heal injuries and wounds almost instantly. Currently, she's still learning how to use this power, so she can heal mild injuries and cuts.
* Protective 'magic': Sarah can use her 'magic' to protect her allies by casting a small, protective halo to absorb some of the damage that hits them.
Equipment:
Sarah barely has anything beyond the shirt on her back and a few items and supplies given to her by her mysterious caretaker.
RP Notes:
Sarah is basically a blank slate, one with little to no knowledge of the outside world, and must learn more about it to survive and complete her destined mission. Fortunately, she does have a certain amount of combat skills programmed into her, allowing her to fight competently and survive long enough to get stronger.
Sarah's main virtues are compassion and empathy, the ability to feel for those around her, and a strong desire to reduce their suffering and help them find happiness.
Role-wise, Sarah would lean towards a mage-knight with an emphasis on magic and healing. While she is still an Oracle, she prefers to use magic and healing to support her allies in battle and help them out of battle.</s>
<|message|>Ayaan
Dragon Jabberwocky's hideout
Ruby hugged Jabber back, accepted the food and ate graciously, "Not yet Dadda," she said between bites, "it's all clicks and strange noises. I need to talk to the fairy again, but I'm not sure how," she chewed, "she said something about my 'biogenic energy' giving her enough strength to talk to me, but I don't know what that is or how to make it work."</s>
<|message|>Jabberwocky
He sighs, and glances at the crystal necklace around her neck. It glimmers softly in the light. He smiles, and kisses her head gently. "We'll figure it out baby girl. Have you tried those meditation cards I got you?" He gently hands her a engraved plate with some simple steps to guided meditation. "Don't worry, we'll figure it out someday. How was your day today?" He smiles, gently brushing her hair.</s>
<|message|>Ayaan
Dragon
Ruby set aside her food and ran her hands over the indented cards, scanning their contents with her fingers, they involved breathing exercises and sitting in silence, which was something she was good at anyways. "I'll be honest Dadda I haven't looked at these since you brought them," he started to brush her hair, "there are some disruptions the mecha has reported from the Sat-lites," she stumbled over the word, "Jub Jub is attacking some village of Tinkers in the mountains, and Bandersnatch is heading towards Castle of Solace. I don't think Bander is going to have much luck though, he's only one lieutenant against a huge castle with knights and soldiers and who knows what else."
Ruby picked up her food again and took another bite, "I don't understand what your boss wants you guys to do," she spoke with a mouthful of food, "I mean..*chew*.. what good is randomly destroying things?"</s>
| <|message|>Sarah
The further she goes down the caverns, the more Sarah finds it harder to breathe. The shadows, which only just flickered and shifted, now seem to form malevolent faces, gaining demonic forms and always seeming to reach out for her, clutching with long, spindly claws. She would startle, only to stop and realize Pip was looking at her funny, as though wondering if she's alright. She realizes that Pip isn't affected by the miasma, meaning she could at least trust his senses if not her own.
She coughs into the crook of her arm as the bitter, pungent miasma fills her nose and mouth, her eyes watering. She's certain this miasma is the source of these hallucinations; get rid of it, and she'll be able to trust her senses again - for that matter, she'll just settle for being able to breathe clean air again!
Pausing for breath, she notes the spiderling claw resting in one hand. She realizes that the claw is much smaller than she thought it was, and the things that had harried her earlier were much smaller than she imagined. It must be the miasma's work too. The sooner she's done here, the better. Fortunately, the deeper she goes, the closer she can sense the sword. It's as though this particular sense, this feeling, is uncorrupted by whatever hallucinations inflicted upon her, allowing her to at least navigate the tight, winding corridors with some reliability. The sooner she finds that sword, the sooner she can begin to understand her past, and the thought drives her onwards, battling her thick, palpable terror.
Pip, for his part, is worried about the path they're taking. The miasma is thicker here, and it's hurting his nose and eyes, causing him to whimper in protest. He could still smell the fear on New Master, even as she continues to walk forwards. The paths here are new and uncertain to him, and he can smell the spider-things more and more; this is their territory. And yet, New Master seems persistent in the path they're taking.
Then he smells something... close. More Spider-things. He stops and growls threateningly, and New Master takes a few moments to realize the threat too.
"W-what is it, Pip...?" Sarah asks anxiously, only too aware that her skin is clammy with sweat and she's breaking out in goosebumps. "Is... is it more of those things...?"
She hears something skitter closeby, and prays it's only another hallucination. However, the sound comes closer, and she she grips her makeshift weapon, she realizes the sound is undeniably real. Before she realizes it, there's another patrol of spiderlings here, one bigger than the previous one.
It takes a considerable effort of will to not bolt; there's more of them this time, and she's still suffering from shakes and nausea. However, she reminds herself that these things, while still dangerous, aren't as big as she thought, and that this time, she's armed. If they want to kill her, she'll put up a better fight this time. And she knows she can at least heal Pip if he gets hurt...
The spiderlings emerge from the winding tunnel, not sure what to expect, but ready to fight. They see a human girl and a strange, furred creature, the human girl holding what seems to be a claw from one of their brothers. They collectively hiss in anger, the combined hissing echoing in the caves menacingly. Apparently, those two managed to overcome the previous patrol, and for some reason this particular human is immune to the miasma. They skitter forwards quickly, intending to put these foes down quickly.
Pip strikes first, the crest on his back lighting up again before filling the cave with a bright light, striking one of the spiderlings in front with a powerful bolt of lightning. The sudden blast and the surprised screeching of their ally surprises the spiderlings, causing them to panic and try to split up, backing away from another possible attack.
Sarah, finding her chance, swings with the claw, only to realize she attacked a hallucination. In retaliation, the closest spiderling cuts her arm with an opportunistic strike, wounding her. Despite the pain, she doesn't let go of the claw. She tries to kick in revenge, but misses as she stumbles, barely managing to keep her balance. The spiderlings try to capitalize on her weakness, trying to swarm the duo with superior numbers. They swing their razor-sharp claws, slashing and stabbing, but Pip dodges deftly using his surprisingly strong legs to dodge and weave their strikes. He'd felt their sting once, he's in no hurry to get hit again. Sarah dodges a swipe by stepping back out of harm's way, but knows that they need to end this quickly. She sidesteps another attack, then sends one flying with a swift kick, smacking it against the cave walls.
Pip avoids another slash, and finds an opening as the spiderling had overcommitted, leaving its flank open. He lunges forwards, snarling, before clamping on the thing's throat with sharp teeth. The spiderling panics and tries to throw him off, managing to inflict a slash while one of its brothers assisted by managing to stab Pip in the flank. Pip yips in pain but doesn't let go, not dropping the spiderling until it flops lifelessly to the ground. It whirls with a snarl and a snap at the spiderling that wounded it. Its brother moves to flank, forcing Pip to hobble around to avoid getting attacked from two sides at once.
Sarah, meanwhile tries to cut down the last spiderling still standing, but it uses its smaller stature and great agility to dodge attacks. However, it miscalculates and finds itself cornered right in the path of a frenzied swing, and blocks by raising its claws to block. It manages, but Sarah's greater strength shakes it, and it would have gotten stabbed had not its dazed comrade recovered, and moved forwards to jump onto Sarah's back. It starts clawing and slashing, causing Sarah to cry out in pain and reach for the thing. Unable to reach the blind spot on her back, she resorts to slamming herself, back-first, into the nearby wall several times. The spiderling ultimately lets go after one too many hits, allowing Sarah to crush it under her boot. Its enraged brother jumps at her leg and stabs her in the calf, causing her to grunt in pain and drop to one knee, but she manages to bring the claw down sharply, impaling it in the back and twisting the blade to ensure it stays down this time. She clutches her wounded leg in pain.
Pip snarls and barks at the surviving spiderlings, trying to keep them back while he charges another lightning attack. The spiderlings sense it too, and try to at least finish this furry threat before the human recovers from her injuries enough to help. One of them skitters sideways, claws raised, but it's a feint to draw Pip's attention while its partner attacks Pip's exposed and injured flank. However, it barely manages to get close before Sarah's boot comes down, crushing it with brutal intent. Sarah had managed to heal herself so she could move sufficiently to help Pip. Surprised by this turn of events, the surviving Spiderling turns and tries to run away, but Pip catches with a strong jolt of lightning, frying it and putting it down for good.
For a moment, the noise in the hall quiets down, as Sarah pants heavily trying to recover her breath and the spiderling's scorched corpse sizzles audibly. Pip limps over to the corpses, sniffs them to make sure, then barks at them tauntingly, as though to gloat about winning. Limping, Pip turns to Sarah, panting happily as he's glad to see she's alright. Sarah returns his grin by kneeling down, petting him gently, and healing his wounds.
"There," she says. "Let's hurry, we're almost at the sword now. Let's find it and get out already."
She stumbles along, trying to heal her wounds, Pip walking along, lighting the way. This time, Sarah's stumble is a bit rushed; even as dizzy as she is from the fight and the miasma, she can feel the sword close. If she finds it, maybe she'll have an easier time in here.</s> |
<|description|>Sarah
Physical Description:
Sarah is a slender girl with bright green eyes and soft, shoulder-length pink hair and pale, almost alabaster skin. She stand at about 5'4" (162.6 cm) and weighs 100 lbs (45.3 kg). She has a curious glint in her eyes, and tends to see everything as though for the first time.
Class: Oracle
Personality:
Sarah is a warm, compassionate soul, always worried about other peoples' welfare and willing to go to any length to protect them. Despite her lack of social experience with the world, she can tell when people are being hurt or abused, and will try and ease their suffering any way she can.
Due to mostly being a blank state, the world around her entices her curiosity, and she will try to learn as much about it as possible. She will try and know more any new sensations or experiences she might encounter, giving her the feeling of a wide-eyed newborn child eagerly gawping at the beautiful world around them.
Her lack of experience with the world means she's also very naïve and clueless about current events or about certain social cues or behaviors that more worldly people would pick up easily. She does have a general sense of social decency and behavior, but the nuances or subtler plays are a bit beyond her experience, and a cunning operator can out-think her until she catches on.
However, despite this, one should not push her too far. She is still an Oracle, and programmed with combat skills and powerful abilities, and can end up fighting back rather tenaciously when she or those she cares about are threatened.
History:
Sarah recalls nothing of her past, practically having been 'born' to the world with the opening of her case.
Abilities:
* Enhanced physical attributes: As an Oracle and genetically engineered being, Sarah possesses a certain amount of enhanced strength, increased agility, and improved durability and stamina, as well as a small measure of enhanced senses. However, the emphasis are on stamina and agility, making her a poor choice for a heavy fighter.
* Healing: Aside from no small skill at normal healing, she possesses the ability to heal injuries and wounds almost instantly. Currently, she's still learning how to use this power, so she can heal mild injuries and cuts.
* Protective 'magic': Sarah can use her 'magic' to protect her allies by casting a small, protective halo to absorb some of the damage that hits them.
Equipment:
Sarah barely has anything beyond the shirt on her back and a few items and supplies given to her by her mysterious caretaker.
RP Notes:
Sarah is basically a blank slate, one with little to no knowledge of the outside world, and must learn more about it to survive and complete her destined mission. Fortunately, she does have a certain amount of combat skills programmed into her, allowing her to fight competently and survive long enough to get stronger.
Sarah's main virtues are compassion and empathy, the ability to feel for those around her, and a strong desire to reduce their suffering and help them find happiness.
Role-wise, Sarah would lean towards a mage-knight with an emphasis on magic and healing. While she is still an Oracle, she prefers to use magic and healing to support her allies in battle and help them out of battle.</s>
<|message|>Jabberwocky
He smiles. "It's not random. It's all planned out. We're just looking for information, and they threaten us when we don't ask nicely. So we defend ourselves, that's all." He sighs. "Do you know why I have to hide you away? Why you can't leave the cave without me? The world is a dangerous place now. Monsters are everywhere. It's the only way to protect you."</s>
<|message|>Stephanie Anderson
Steph's aim was true, and she grinned as her cryostasis bolt struck the harpy's wing, blowing it clean off. The creature fell from the sky, wounded, but not killed…
Guess these bolts don't have enough juice to affect an entire creature in one shot… Steph reflected. This would be more difficult than she'd first thought, but she was up for the challenge.
Her determination was put to the test a moment later, when her hyperaware senses detected a flash of light. She dropped to the floor less than a second before a beam of bluish energy shot through the space she had just been occupying.
Holy crap! That was close!
Quickly regaining her bearings, Steph utilized her superhuman perceptive abilities to locate the source of the beam. Not wasting a moment, she snapped off another shot, this time, aiming for the creature's head…</s>
<|message|>Ayaan
Tinkertown
@gummiecandies
Half of Jub Jub's head exploded leaving one eye and a flapping jaw. She stumbled into the room through the window, her body jerking and staggering, splashing black and blue phosphorescent blood all over the walls. After a moment her body stopped convulsing and fell to the ground at the Stephanie's feet, her chest deflated with a gargling hiss of escaping air. Jub Jub was dead, and her reign of terror on the people of the land was over....
*******
The roars and banging of the Lizard-bears against the doors, windows, and walls was deafening; almost loud enough to drown out the crying of the innocent people hiding in the corner. Minoc, the Gnome Wizard, was bravely standing at guard, the twenty or so inhabitants of the building huddled behind him, he held the Sword of Stone before him threateningly. He had somehow managed to get the magic sword to shoot a stone spike into one of the monsters, but he had no idea how it happened. He felt some strange pulse run through his body and then Boom! a giant spike of mountain impaled one of the beasts through the door. Frustratingly, this only seemed to rile up the monsters and now it seemed there were more of them than before.
"Be calm my people," he said, trying to be reassuring, "I will protect you.. somehow." The monsters beat at the failing wood, it wouldn't be long before they broke through, and Minoc didn't know what he would do then.
---
Dragon
From his thrown room Draygon's head suddenly snapped towards the direction of Tinkertown. His lieutenants were all linked to him, he had given them power and in turn he owned a part of their life force, when that life force became extinguished, he knew. "Servant," he called in his deep, threatening voice, "send a Raven to Jabberwocky to return to me," from the edge of the light a spindly entity bowed into the shadows to do as its master bid.
*******
"I understand Dadda, I know," Ruby said, beaming at Jabberwocky, "I love you Dadda, always." Her smile was wide and innocent. Suddenly, A little blue light began to flash on one of the cave walls and emitted an electronic burp. "Oh," she said, "Someone's up above, in the outside." Draygon's Raven had arrived at Jabberwocky's home on the mainland.
Jub Jub is dead, Draygon sent a Raven to Jabber's home, it took 2 hours to fly from Draygon's castle to Jabber's home, I've now added Jabber's home to the map. Please use this information as a baseline to determine the time it takes to travel by air from one place to another as well as the time of events relative to each other. That means that Draygon's Raven at Jabber's house exists 2 hours ahead of where Stephanie is right now, please keep that in mind when you post- This is the first time we are all being brought together, fingers crossed XD</s>
<|message|>Jabberwocky
He smiles, and kisses her head. He then rubs her back. "Go to bed now. Stay there until I come back, ok Ruby?" He gently puts her to bed, then shuts the hidden door to her room. He turns to the raven, all business. "Jub Jub has fallen? By who?" He growls softly. While Jub Jub wasn't a exactly a friend, she was a good worker/fighter. "Is Bander still alive? He hasn't fallen yet I trust?"</s>
<|message|>Ayaan
Dragon
The Raven cocks its head inquisitively and squawks. When it arrived all it had attached to its foot was a ribbon of paper that said Jub Jub has fallen, return to Draygon.</s>
<|message|>Jabberwocky
He nods, and he changes back into his monster form, spreading his massive wings, and taking off, flying out, and over to Draygons castle, the animals and humans scattering like mice before the scythe. He flies in though a window, and kneels before Draygon, head bowed. "You summoned me Master?"</s>
<|message|>Ayaan
Dragon@Ponn *Right now, Jabberwocky is 4 hours ahead of Sarah and Ayaan, so he will not be getting any more posts in his story line until Sarah catches up, Ayaan is timid to post so we will see how she does, but we will not put pressure her to move and we will not wait for her to post to move forward ourselves.
In the meantime, Jabberwocky will get to play a small side quest. He will be playing Sir Breakfast, Captain of the Guard and noble knight of the Kingdom of Solace. We find him talking to his King and preparing...
The Castle of Solace
The king stood nobly at the parapet of his castle looking to the south, his mind wondering. Tornel, the fire mage stood beside him, cradling the Sword of Fire in his arms. Behind them both stood the brave man, the volunteer, Sir Breakfast.
"You are sure Tornel," The King said regally, "you received a message that Bandersnatch was headed this way?"
"Yes my Lord," Tornel replied huffily, "our lookout in the mountains by the sea have reported seeing his ship dock. He travels slower than Draygon's other rabble because he cannot fly, but he is most assuredly on his way."
"A fearful day," the King said heavily, "but as a blessing this Noble Paladin has volunteered to defend our Kingdom against this terrible monster." The King turned and inclined his head in the attitude of superiority common to all aristocrats. Sir Breakfast took a knee before the king, pledging his life and his sword to the fight. The King presented his royal hand to be kissed.
"Go my Heroic Paladin," the King said, "Take the Sword of Fire and face this putrid beast, and bring me back his head." Tornel handed Sir Breakfast the Sword of Fire as the knight arose, then he snapped a turn, and marched to the stairs leading to his horse.
Sir Breakfast
*********
Bandersnatch could see the speckle of the white castle far to the north of his position. He had brought a regiment of twenty of his master's shadow servants to help, but he felt strong enough to do some damage. Draygon had given him an extra, special gift, one they would not be counting on, and one that damn fool wizard would not be prepared for.
Bander strolled into the field in his human form, taking each step as if claiming ownership of the ground and daring anyone who wants to to fight him for it. He pulled his great sword from its sheath and pointed it towards the glittering castle, "March!" He growled, and his shadow army began to march forward.
[
Bandersnatch</s>
<|message|>Jabberwocky
Sir Breakfast draws his flaming blade, and mounts his horse, riding out to battle. He stares out of the visor slits in his helmet, and charges toward the vast army in his path, eyes fixed on the one called Bander. He pulls his steed to a stop, glaring out of his helm. "Bandersnatch! Fight me in a knight's duel, one on one!"</s>
<|message|>Ayaan
Bandersnatch got off his horse and walked up to the challenger. "I accept Fool!" he said, "Prepare to die!" The Shadow Servants formed a circle around the fighters, giving them plenty of room to maneuver. Bander didn't hesitate, he walked forward and swung his sword his heavy sword in an arch over his head, aiming to crush his opponent's skull in one blow.</s>
| <|message|>Sarah
As she walks deeper and deeper into the catacombs, Sarah feels the miasma thicken around her. Her lungs burn even as they develop some tolerance for the substance, seeing becomes difficult as she has a hard time telling what's real from what isn't. The only thing keeping her fevered mind going is the growing certainty that the sword is nearby, that there's an end to this maze. She pauses to cough, her coughing dry and chest-wracking, her lungs protesting the foul mist filling the cave. She has to find it soon, she thinks.
It doesn't take her long to realize the growing gut feeling inside her, the sense that's she's arrived somehow. If she hadn't been following said sense to lead her to the sword, she would say she's hallucinating. Instead, she lifts her head, and looks around.
Sure enough, there on a dais, is a sword embedded hilt-deep. She's almost tempted to call this a hallucination too, if she isn't so glad to finally get here after all the trouble in the cave. She takes a moment to check her surroundings, to be sure that this is indeed where she needs to be. She can feel the stone dais, the strangely warm metal of the sword, and the pulls her finger when she feels a spark of its Thunder affinity. She looks at Pip, and realizes he's curiously sniffing the stone dais, then barks at her as to confirm it. She takes a deep breath before casting aside the used and broken claw she was carrying around as a makeshift weapon.
"Here goes," she says, grasping the hilt with both hands and pulls as hard as she can, trying to gather all her strength to try and get the sword out. She grunts and hisses at the effort. "Come on..."
Suddenly, she jolts backwards as the sword seems to free itself from its prison, and she feels a surge of electricity surge through her body. This sensation is strangely warm and good, filling her being with confidence and calm amidst her weariness. It feels as if the very sword itself was reaching into her with its power, filling her with newfound resolve. She feels its power washing over her, reaching deep into her mind and heart, as though to awaken something sleeping within.
When she opens her eyes again, the hallucination seem to have receded. She still sees things vibrating, the shadows shifting and twitching, and faint echos that aren't there, but her mind is no longer trap in feverish visions and fearsome illusions. She could see and feel more clearly, and the miasma isn't affecting her as strongly. Is this the power of the sword, or did it merely heal her of the worst of the effects. Either way, she's going to need her wits to get out of this place.
She takes a couple of practice swings with the sword, feeling it in her hands. It feels balanced, the grip natural, as though it had been forged just for her. She grips it tightly to reassure herself, feeling as though she could take on the world.
"Come on, Pip," she calls to the dog, "we need to get out of here and back to Master Thunderfist."
Pip barks eagerly, pleased to see New Master snapping out of whatever fear had been controlling her.</s> |
<|description|>Sarah
Physical Description:
Sarah is a slender girl with bright green eyes and soft, shoulder-length pink hair and pale, almost alabaster skin. She stand at about 5'4" (162.6 cm) and weighs 100 lbs (45.3 kg). She has a curious glint in her eyes, and tends to see everything as though for the first time.
Class: Oracle
Personality:
Sarah is a warm, compassionate soul, always worried about other peoples' welfare and willing to go to any length to protect them. Despite her lack of social experience with the world, she can tell when people are being hurt or abused, and will try and ease their suffering any way she can.
Due to mostly being a blank state, the world around her entices her curiosity, and she will try to learn as much about it as possible. She will try and know more any new sensations or experiences she might encounter, giving her the feeling of a wide-eyed newborn child eagerly gawping at the beautiful world around them.
Her lack of experience with the world means she's also very naïve and clueless about current events or about certain social cues or behaviors that more worldly people would pick up easily. She does have a general sense of social decency and behavior, but the nuances or subtler plays are a bit beyond her experience, and a cunning operator can out-think her until she catches on.
However, despite this, one should not push her too far. She is still an Oracle, and programmed with combat skills and powerful abilities, and can end up fighting back rather tenaciously when she or those she cares about are threatened.
History:
Sarah recalls nothing of her past, practically having been 'born' to the world with the opening of her case.
Abilities:
* Enhanced physical attributes: As an Oracle and genetically engineered being, Sarah possesses a certain amount of enhanced strength, increased agility, and improved durability and stamina, as well as a small measure of enhanced senses. However, the emphasis are on stamina and agility, making her a poor choice for a heavy fighter.
* Healing: Aside from no small skill at normal healing, she possesses the ability to heal injuries and wounds almost instantly. Currently, she's still learning how to use this power, so she can heal mild injuries and cuts.
* Protective 'magic': Sarah can use her 'magic' to protect her allies by casting a small, protective halo to absorb some of the damage that hits them.
Equipment:
Sarah barely has anything beyond the shirt on her back and a few items and supplies given to her by her mysterious caretaker.
RP Notes:
Sarah is basically a blank slate, one with little to no knowledge of the outside world, and must learn more about it to survive and complete her destined mission. Fortunately, she does have a certain amount of combat skills programmed into her, allowing her to fight competently and survive long enough to get stronger.
Sarah's main virtues are compassion and empathy, the ability to feel for those around her, and a strong desire to reduce their suffering and help them find happiness.
Role-wise, Sarah would lean towards a mage-knight with an emphasis on magic and healing. While she is still an Oracle, she prefers to use magic and healing to support her allies in battle and help them out of battle.</s>
<|message|>Ayaan
Caves of Kensu's Island
"Sarah.." a familiar, singsong voice chimes into existence, "Sarah, are you there?" An image of Asra appears in Sarah's peripheral vision. "I'm back, oh good, I'm back!" The Fairy giggled in happiness.
"You must've found the sword then, good, that is so good. I was worried the Wizards had failed. There is so much to tell you, so many things have happened. Where do I start? From the beginning I suppose. I'm going to run out of time, so I'll tell you everything I can before my power runs out, you had better sit down."
"A long time ago, long before you existed, there was a great man, a scientist, named Drake Logan. Dr. Logan had discovered something no one ever knew before, the use of Biogenic energy. It is the energy of life force, but it is so much more. It is the equal sign of Einstein's formula, Energy = mass times the speed of light squared. Of course, you don't know what that is, I'm sorry, I will focus on what's most important."
"Dr. Logan's research allowed him to understand how the energy within living things worked with the energy in the matter all around you. He discovered a method for channeling that energy into circuits and through doing so create or rearrange physical matter. It was the potential within his discovery which led to all the people of the world laying down their weapons for the sake of peace and scientific progress. It was the beginning of the evolution of the species..."
"What you don't know, this was hundreds of years ago. The people allowed a single entity to carry the weapons of the world, it is called the Harbinger, for it was supposed to warn of consequences. It was programmed to keep people in line, but never to kill. It's weapon systems were primarily those of weather using Dr. Logan's science. For some reason it... for some reason it destroyed the world..." Asra paused for a moment.
"Before I went offline I was part of a protocol knows as the Oracle program. You see, for Dr. Logan's science to work perfectly the human body needed to be perfected, just like having a clean circuit within a computer. Oh, you don't know what a computer is, well, that's okay, believe me when I tell you, human's have bodies full of dirtiness. You, however, you were made perfect, in the image of a god. You were grown to channel Biogenic energy through your body without resistance, so what you channel is pure."
"You need the circuits to aid you, until you learn for yourself. The circuits are the Swords. They were designed to link to your body and allow you to channel your internal life energy into matter. This sword will allow you to channel your energy into lightning, as you can already feel. Every sword has two boosters that you can find, a battery which will double the amount of power you can focus into the weapon, and a bracelet, which will allow you to pull from Harbinger itself and release destruction 100 fold of what you could normally. Your kind alone are made to be trusted with this power.
"I've run out of time, find others like yourself Sarah, find others, and find more of the swords. Learn to use their power. The wizards will help you, they...." *SCHZITZ* "...an evil has reached out to Harbinger..." *S@CT!$ZCH*... "deeper in the caves you will find... "!SK$#ZTCH@%$. . ...
As suddenly as she appeared, Asra was gone, and Sarah was once again left alone in the caves with her companion Pip.
*********
Urgrapth waited and waited, but none of her babies returned. The visitor must be strong, the visitor must be terrible. Urgrapth would fight, for herself and her babies, Urgrapth would suvive.
She rolled up the morsel in her front legs and brought it to her mouth, it smelt like flowers. She bit into the soft flesh tightly woven in the wiry threads of her webbing and began to suck, suck, suck the life from it. She could feel her strength grow as warmth spread through her body.
Sarah has learned about the history of the Oracles and the swords. Now she has an understanding of how to use the sword and why it works. She also has a hint as to the fact that she was created in the pod to be a perfect, god-like creature.
Also, Our lady spider is chomping down on some poor towns person, I recommend you hurry, you may be able to save the little person from their death, maybe. Good luck!!</s>
<|message|>Stephanie Anderson
Steph exhaled in relief after the harpy's partially decapitated body crashed to the floor in front of her.
Welp, I guess that takes care of that… Now I just have to deal with those creatures out there…
Moving to a better position, Steph saw that several of the beasts were gathered around a centrally located building, attempting to get inside. She only had three, perhaps four, shots left, so she needed to make each one count. Taking careful aim on the first creature's head, she squeezed the trigger, snapping off a quick shot, before moving on to the next.
One.
Two.
Three…
Four.
A quartet of corpses now lay upon the ground surrounding the building, but there were still six of the creatures left, and Steph's rifle was now completely out of energy. She needed a new plan… Thinking fast, she instructed her nanites to reassemble her rifle into a sword. Although she was reluctant to engage the creatures in close combat, she knew her enhanced body was fully capable of doing so.
She took a deep breath.
Okay… Here goes nothing!
Leaping from her balcony, Steph used the momentum she had generated to bring her blade down hard upon her first target's neck. This, coupled with her superhuman strength, allowed her weapon to slice clean through, neatly decapitating the creature. Wasting no time, she swiftly jumped over to the next beast and repeated the process. She kept this up until the area around the central structure was completely free of the beasts. This didn't mean Steph was about to let down her guard, though. She had been keeping count, and she was well aware that there were a few beasts still unaccounted for. Not wishing to hunt them down, and potentially be caught unawares, she opted to take up a defensive position in front of the structure's entrance and wait for them to come to her…</s>
<|message|>Jabberwocky
Sir Breakfast bends backwards, letting the sword bury itself in the earth, and leaps away from the earth shattering blow, sweating his blazing sword at his opponent, slicing away a chunk of his armor, and slashing his massive sword into two white hot slabs. He then rears back his horse, letting it strike a devestating blow to Banders breastplate.</s>
| <|message|>Sarah
Just as she turns to leave, Sarah is aware of something... happening. She pauses, looking around, but then it happens...
Sarah is half-tempted to consider this yet another miasma-induced mirage, but at this point she's just glad to get some extra information about who and what she is... and why did she wake up in a capsule in a cave?
Sarah pauses, but takes a seat, if only to rest her legs. She didn't have much time either, but she supposes a few answers would be worth it.
What followed was a long, confusing tale about a lost civilization, a Dr. Drake Logan, and the keys to uplifting and advancing a civilization, only for it to collapse when the very key to its salvation became the instrument of its doom - Harbinger. Seems like whatever ancestors she had, they had chosen... poorly.
She was... created...? Created to be perfect? Was she just some craftsman's creation, made to fulfill a purpose? The possibilities left Sarah a little uneasy, and she almost missed the bits about the biogenic energy within herself and the use of the sword as a... focus? Yes, focus seems like the best term for it.
It still feels weird for Sarah to have a fully developed vocabulary without the lifetime experience of developing and improving it.
Still, the idea of having woken up with only a name, no memory of herself, and now a destiny to fulfill was a tad intimidating for the girl. She certainly didn't feel like some perfect being. If anything, she imagined this is what a scared little girl would feel.
Though she felt it was unnecessary for Asra to insult her creators by calling the humans 'dirty'. For if Sarah is supposed to be some pure, biogenic-channeling superhuman, what did that make her creators, one who could not channel that energy nearly so well? Sarah wanted to have words with them, but somehow Asra unintentionally insulting them was mildly amusing.
Sarah wants to call out to Asra, to tell her to keep explaining more. However, Asra had made it clear her time was short, so Sarah glumly accepts the fairy's hurried farewell, and hopes to see her again so she could ask more questions.
For now, she has to get out of the cave, and figure out what this Harbinger business is.
"Come along, Pip," she tells her companion. "We need to get going. The sooner we leave this cave, the better. And we need to warn Master Thunderfist about these creatures..."
Pip barks in agreement, and hurries along besides her, wagging his tail. It's good to see New Master in good spirits like this.
However, Sarah quickly realizes that while going into the cave was easy with the sense of the sword leading the way, going out was going to rely on memory and careful backtracking. To her chagrin, she had misread a path and found herself someplace... unpleasant. It looks and feels unpleasant, like a home for all those creepy little spiderlings she ran into earlier.
It's then she hears something, like something biting down, and a weak struggle and moan. She feels a shiver down her spine, but something was telling her to hurry, to find the source of the sound. It wasn't going to be pleasant, but she needs to be there.
Pip looks up at Sarah and whines anxious. He can smell... many things. He can smell the spiderlings, thicker on the ground and more in number. He can smell their foul nest, the home where there'll be much more of them. He can smell something even worse, like a bigger and meaner version of them. But then he realizes he can smell... the villagers! He sniffs the ground a few times to make sure. Yes! It's faint, but he's sure. The villagers were here! Maybe the spiderlings took them? He looks up at Sarah and barks, then looks in the direction of the nest, alternatively growling in apprehension and whining uncertainly.
Sarah, coughing on the miasma, notes Pip's behavior; he seems both anxious to go ahead and afraid of something. Part of her is afraid of what she'll find there, but Pip wants to go, or part of him does, anyways. She grips her sword, and feels the biogenic energy flow from her into it. She is at least better armed this time. Better to move ahead with caution.
What she finds horrifies her; people suspended in thick, sticky webs, dazed and moaning when they can be heard, or limp and apparently lifeless. Were these the people from the village? Did the spiderlings do this? And if so, why? Or was there something else in here? She reaches out to feel a hand to make sure it's not another hallucination - and to her surprise, it isn't. The people are out cold, but not dead.
She goes in deeper, motioning to Pip to stop growling as they hurry along, trying to find where this cavern of horrors ends...
...and then she sees something that could be described as a nightmare made flesh...</s> |
<|description|>Sarah
Physical Description:
Sarah is a slender girl with bright green eyes and soft, shoulder-length pink hair and pale, almost alabaster skin. She stand at about 5'4" (162.6 cm) and weighs 100 lbs (45.3 kg). She has a curious glint in her eyes, and tends to see everything as though for the first time.
Class: Oracle
Personality:
Sarah is a warm, compassionate soul, always worried about other peoples' welfare and willing to go to any length to protect them. Despite her lack of social experience with the world, she can tell when people are being hurt or abused, and will try and ease their suffering any way she can.
Due to mostly being a blank state, the world around her entices her curiosity, and she will try to learn as much about it as possible. She will try and know more any new sensations or experiences she might encounter, giving her the feeling of a wide-eyed newborn child eagerly gawping at the beautiful world around them.
Her lack of experience with the world means she's also very naïve and clueless about current events or about certain social cues or behaviors that more worldly people would pick up easily. She does have a general sense of social decency and behavior, but the nuances or subtler plays are a bit beyond her experience, and a cunning operator can out-think her until she catches on.
However, despite this, one should not push her too far. She is still an Oracle, and programmed with combat skills and powerful abilities, and can end up fighting back rather tenaciously when she or those she cares about are threatened.
History:
Sarah recalls nothing of her past, practically having been 'born' to the world with the opening of her case.
Abilities:
* Enhanced physical attributes: As an Oracle and genetically engineered being, Sarah possesses a certain amount of enhanced strength, increased agility, and improved durability and stamina, as well as a small measure of enhanced senses. However, the emphasis are on stamina and agility, making her a poor choice for a heavy fighter.
* Healing: Aside from no small skill at normal healing, she possesses the ability to heal injuries and wounds almost instantly. Currently, she's still learning how to use this power, so she can heal mild injuries and cuts.
* Protective 'magic': Sarah can use her 'magic' to protect her allies by casting a small, protective halo to absorb some of the damage that hits them.
Equipment:
Sarah barely has anything beyond the shirt on her back and a few items and supplies given to her by her mysterious caretaker.
RP Notes:
Sarah is basically a blank slate, one with little to no knowledge of the outside world, and must learn more about it to survive and complete her destined mission. Fortunately, she does have a certain amount of combat skills programmed into her, allowing her to fight competently and survive long enough to get stronger.
Sarah's main virtues are compassion and empathy, the ability to feel for those around her, and a strong desire to reduce their suffering and help them find happiness.
Role-wise, Sarah would lean towards a mage-knight with an emphasis on magic and healing. While she is still an Oracle, she prefers to use magic and healing to support her allies in battle and help them out of battle.</s>
<|message|>Jabberwocky
He flies from his dead steed, and lands with a crunch, something inside him breaking. He screams in pain, and forces himself to his feet, raising his sword, the grass smoldering under the power of the magical blaze. He leans back, and the broken sword slashes out his left eye. A blood curdling scream splits the air, and he slumps over, dead.</s>
<|message|>Ayaan
Bandersnatch walks up to the heavily armored knight and places his heavy boot upon his head, he then proceeds to crush it like a tin can, blood and gore ooze out of the visor like chunky, strawberry pudding. He picks up the Sword of Fire and feels the energy surge through his body. He begins to chuckle and the Sword alights in flame. He begins to laugh and points the sword to the Heavens. He begins to howl as he shoots a brilliant flame into the sky! It's roar could be heard for miles.</s>
<|message|>Ayaan
Tinkertown
Stephanie and Ayaan
There was just one lizard-bear left, and it was pregnant. She shrunk back into the corner, away from the bloody gore of the others, shivering, frightened. She would fight, if she had too, but mostly she wanted down and to protect her baby, she wanted down so badly. She could see the small human with the sharp claw that had rent through the others easier than she herself could tear through a fish, the human had its eye on her, and that eye spoke of murder. She hissed and laid down, trying to make herself smaller.
Suddenly a giant bear wearing a satchel and rope jumped onto the balcony! Roaring and swiping defensively it put itself between the lizard-bear and Stephanie, the human simply watched, waiting to see if the bear might attack. The bear backed a couple of steps, not taking it's eyes off the human. When it got to the lizard-bear it turned and grumbled a bunch of odd noises and whines, the lizard-bear rumbled back as if they were talking. Then the lizard-bear started slowly walking towards one of the suspension bridges and the bear followed close behind, keeping one eye turned towards the threatening human just in case she decided to attack again.
There were no longer any threats and so Stephanie was allowed to relax. Behind her came a hesitant knock on the wood that used to be a door. "It may be strange to knock since you are outside and I am inside," came a timid voice, "But I'd rather you not kill me if it pleases you." A small head with big ears, a pointy hat, and circular, wire-rim glasses poked its head around the corner. "Oh my," he said, looking at all the gore of the dead lizard-bears and the tiny speck of a girl who didn't even appear to be sweating.
---
Minoc's House
Minoc sipped his tea and nibbled his cake, he watched the young girl, Ste-fah-nee she said was her name... most peculiar. "First of all, allow me to thank you for saving us," he said in his elfish voice, fumbling a little over his words. "I... er.. I... don't know where to start." He put down his tea, "I've imagined this for so long you see. Ever since I was a lad, and my dad looked after you, and even before then when I saw my Grandad look after you. I always wondered if you woke up... well, never mind all that. You have woken up, and you're no where near as fragile as I suspected." He tried to smile assuredly as he refilled his tea from the teapot on the table. "I don't suppose you realize the creature you just killed do you?" he looked at her inquisitively, "No, I guess you wouldn't. Her name was Jub Jub, she's one of many nightmares in our world and her death will be no loss of happiness to the bunch of us here, I'll tell you." He nervously chuckled a little.
He sighed and settled himself down, "You must be asking yourself who we are, and what's going on," he said pointedly. "Well, I'll tell you all that I know. I am a member of a secret society of wizards, alchemists, and archeologists who have discovered you all in the pods you woke up in. The pod that used to be over in that corner, as a matter of fact," he pointed to the far wall, "You turned that into a sword you say? Remarkable, absolutely remarkable." He paused to sip his tea and appreciate the enormity of the moment. "I am an archeologist," he continued, "I have been digging into the mountain with these good folks researching whatever mecha from the ancients we could find and put to use. I've never heard of this nano-tech, but we have found books and manuals detailing the magic of biogenic tech. Fascinating stuff really, just absolutely fascinating. Some of our more... imaginative members of our sect have been able to translate these secrets into the manipulation of, of Lightning, Fire, Wind!" He became more animated as he got more excited, spilling tea with his punctuations. "It's really quite amazing and gives us another step up on the enemy," he was sputtering a bit now.
He settled himself again, "That would be Lord Draygon, or Lord Dragon as we generally call him, or it, whatever he is, the monster." He went to drink more tea but found his glass empty and motioned to the little girl near the back of the room to get him more. "Lord Dragon has in his employ others whom he has made monsters like him, creatures who can shoot bizarre beams of light from their eyes which can melt stone, change their form to become a person or a beast, and reports say there is one who can even phase through walls. It's all terrible, terrible stuff, but we have the advantage you see, we have the works of the ancients which give us strength, and now, well girl, for some reason we have you." He sat back, the little girl brought him some more tea and he took a sip. "If we can trust you that is."
"You've proven that you capable of incredible violence, and I understand that sometimes that is necessary, but in this town we eschew such application, even if it seems our last option," he sipped his tea and licked his lips. "I want to trust you, but I am not the leader or our cult and so it is not for me to determine. You will need to go to the Castle of Solace, far, far to the north and west of here. I.. uh.. don't suppose you can turn that sword into a back pack can you?" He asked while pointing. "Oh that's good, then, you'll.. uh... you'll also be needing this." He handed her a tightly woven bundle of cloth that was about a meter long and about 25 cm wide, it must've weighed 12 kilograms. "When you arrive at Solace you must speak to Tornell, the wisest and strongest of us all. Present him with this package I give you and tell him who you are, he will be waiting for you."
Minoc smiled warmly as the meeting concluded, "Now your transport, I bet that's what's on your mind, huh?" he sniggered like a kid with a secret, "You're in luck! We have a special, underground transport that was left to us by the ancient ones. Oh yes, you'll see! It is a sub-way, as the sacred texts call it, and there are not many in existence but it has been my project for many years and I am proud to say that we have the only working rail travel device in existence!" He was bouncing in his seat at this point. "But you mustn't go alone, oh for sure you will not! You will take my apprentice. Peter!" He yelled, "Come!"
A young, pleasant looking boy came running up, carrying his backpack and ready for travel. "Peter my boy! You will take this young lady into the mountain and there is no time to waste! Young Stephanie, before you go do you have any questions for me?"
Animals- gone. You have tea with Minoc and he tells you many things. If you have any questions now is a good time to ask them.
You are to go to the Castle of Solace using an underground Rail with Peter, and NPC you may play as you like, however, when you get to the train like carriage he should tell you that they have used a device to move the train that neutralizes inertia, so you can travel at very high speeds and stop very quickly without being killed.
Detail the play as you like, if you unwrap the sword and touch it it will trigger another event.</s>
<|message|>Ayaan
Cave on Kensu's Island
Sarah
Urgrapth looked up from her meal before she had finished killing her prey. There was a person there, with pink hair! The Intruder!! Urgrapth hissed from her position and jumped from her web onto the wall, a wave of her spiderlings began to cascade down the cave wall near to where the pink haired intruder was to get her.</s>
<|message|>Ayaan
Draygon's Castle
"I summoned you because Jub Jub Bird has been killed. She was one of your crew, was she not?" Jabberwocky did not move, Draygon continued speaking, "Go to Tinkertown in the mountains south from here. Investigate her death, report to me what you find. Destroy any that threaten us. If they are hiding one of the podlings, bring it to me." The air was cold and ominous, "Now, GO!!"</s>
| <|message|>Sarah
What Sarah sees before her is nothing short of a monster out of a nightmare. A large, human-sized spiderling with eyes sparkling malevolently in the shadows and mist, a girl's upper body grafted to a large spider's abdomen, the girl would be considered pretty were it not for monstrous features betraying her nature. To Sarah's horror, the spiderling queen seems to be eating a villager, a young girl struggling weakly to escape her grasp, gasping for breath as her struggles weakened.
Upon seeing Sarah, the spiderling queen hisses and jumps backwards, letting Sarah rush forwards and check on the girl. The villager girl is still alive, Sarah notes with a sigh of relief, but she seems badly drained and weakened.
Pip notes it's one of the washing-girls from the village, and whines sadly as he tries to wake her up by nudging her hand and licking her face. The big spiderling had hurt her, and he could smell its scent on her, especially around the bite-marks on her neck.
However, Sarah realizes she has no time to tend to the girl; many spiderlings were coming her way, and she doubts they'll wait politely to put the girl safely away to fight properly. She instead stands over the girl's body, sword in hand, Pip growling besides her. If she's going to fight, might as well make a stand. This time, she's ready.
Pip opens up by blasting one of the spiderlings to a cinder with a bolt of thunder, the spiderlings bunching up meaning he manages to injure a couple others. Sarah grips her sword, and starts swinging at the incoming horde. The sword is a much better weapon than a stolen claw, far better than her bare fists, as it feels natural in her hands. She swings and cleaves a spiderling in twain, catching another with the backswing and severing one of its claws. This time, she has a longer reach and better weaponry, allowing her a desperately needed advantage. Furthermore, thanks to the sword's purging of the worst of the miasma's effects, she's far more lucid and in control in this fight. She glares at the spiderlings, as though daring them to take another step.</s> |
<|description|>Sarah
Physical Description:
Sarah is a slender girl with bright green eyes and soft, shoulder-length pink hair and pale, almost alabaster skin. She stand at about 5'4" (162.6 cm) and weighs 100 lbs (45.3 kg). She has a curious glint in her eyes, and tends to see everything as though for the first time.
Class: Oracle
Personality:
Sarah is a warm, compassionate soul, always worried about other peoples' welfare and willing to go to any length to protect them. Despite her lack of social experience with the world, she can tell when people are being hurt or abused, and will try and ease their suffering any way she can.
Due to mostly being a blank state, the world around her entices her curiosity, and she will try to learn as much about it as possible. She will try and know more any new sensations or experiences she might encounter, giving her the feeling of a wide-eyed newborn child eagerly gawping at the beautiful world around them.
Her lack of experience with the world means she's also very naïve and clueless about current events or about certain social cues or behaviors that more worldly people would pick up easily. She does have a general sense of social decency and behavior, but the nuances or subtler plays are a bit beyond her experience, and a cunning operator can out-think her until she catches on.
However, despite this, one should not push her too far. She is still an Oracle, and programmed with combat skills and powerful abilities, and can end up fighting back rather tenaciously when she or those she cares about are threatened.
History:
Sarah recalls nothing of her past, practically having been 'born' to the world with the opening of her case.
Abilities:
* Enhanced physical attributes: As an Oracle and genetically engineered being, Sarah possesses a certain amount of enhanced strength, increased agility, and improved durability and stamina, as well as a small measure of enhanced senses. However, the emphasis are on stamina and agility, making her a poor choice for a heavy fighter.
* Healing: Aside from no small skill at normal healing, she possesses the ability to heal injuries and wounds almost instantly. Currently, she's still learning how to use this power, so she can heal mild injuries and cuts.
* Protective 'magic': Sarah can use her 'magic' to protect her allies by casting a small, protective halo to absorb some of the damage that hits them.
Equipment:
Sarah barely has anything beyond the shirt on her back and a few items and supplies given to her by her mysterious caretaker.
RP Notes:
Sarah is basically a blank slate, one with little to no knowledge of the outside world, and must learn more about it to survive and complete her destined mission. Fortunately, she does have a certain amount of combat skills programmed into her, allowing her to fight competently and survive long enough to get stronger.
Sarah's main virtues are compassion and empathy, the ability to feel for those around her, and a strong desire to reduce their suffering and help them find happiness.
Role-wise, Sarah would lean towards a mage-knight with an emphasis on magic and healing. While she is still an Oracle, she prefers to use magic and healing to support her allies in battle and help them out of battle.</s>
<|message|>Jabberwocky
He spreads his wings, taking off, and flying out of the castle. He soars through the air, heading for Tinkertown. I wonder what he would do if he found out I was raising a Podling to overthrow him? He flies over the town, and roars out a challenge, the air vibrating from the force.
He circles above the town, his massive shadow sweeping over everything, sending the villagers into a panic.</s>
<|message|>Ayaan
Urgrapth's Home
The layout of Urgrapth's Home was as follows: There is a single cave entrance that leads onto a flat, circular platform. Beyond that platform is a valley of broken stone and metal, difficult to cross except by the thin wires of Urgrapth's web. A few of the villagers were webbed up close to the platform for easy access, but the majority of them were stuck higher up, closer to the ceiling and high walls. Towards the back of the domed cavern, away from the opening of the cave, is a nestled corner of metal, protected by a thickly layered steel door, where Urgrapth has her special place. This is the room with the door that Kensu opened that awoke the Spider creature, and this is where Urgrapth now hid, scrunched into a corner away from the stranger who had invaded her home and killed her babies.
From the vantage point of her room she could see her spiderlings cascade down the wall nearest the intruder like a wave of clicking teeth. She had never stepped back and watched her brood like this, separate and removed from being their mom. A small, quiet part of her mind thought they looked horrific, monstrous, evil. They had too many eyes and sharp appendages and even sharper fangs, and their hunger could never be satisfied. For a moment, Urgrapth didn't feel like Urgrapth, she felt conflicted in seeing both monsters and babies in the same form.
From the safety of her vantage place, she sank further and further into her consciousness. She carefully watched the young girl with the pink hair, She's about my age, she thought in a voice that didn't seem like her own. I wonder if she wants to be friends? Mama says I need more friends. Gerty took a step forward, but there was something wrong with her legs. She looked down, her legs were like hairy spikes! What happened!? What was going on!? She backed up into the corner and looked at her hands, they were wrong too, everything was wrong! She panicked, her eight legs stomping anxiously as her head swiveled in every direction, trying to understand what was going on. Her mind wasn't working, she couldn't remember! She felt her soul being twisted and torn, where was her she? Where was her mom? Something terrible had happened, and there was nothing left! There was no hope!
Lightning crackled and the cave was light up for an instant, the smell of charred insect filtered through the cavern.
The noise pulled the Spider Queen form her blood-shot mania and she hyper-focused on the pink hair of the intruder. Something snapped in her spider brain and the last of the rational mind of Gerty gave way and died, leaving only instinct. Urgrapth saw the intruder, and her panic became fury; she rushed out of her hole to attack! Speeding along her webs, she attacked on the side opposite of the wall where her babies were descending. Pink Hair cleaved one of the little ones in half and cut off another's arm in the back swing. The dog was unguarded. Urgrapth leaped and stabbed her spike down upon the small animal...
Gerty is dead, long live Urgrapth: Queen of the Spiders!! She's about to kill Pip! You better do something quick!</s>
<|message|>Ayaan
Jabberwocky's Hideout
| |
| --- |
| Annabelle had been watching Jabberwocky's house for days. When Draygon's raven showed she felt like she was finally about to get her chance to find whatever secret the bastard was keeping. She had been Draygon's top lieutenant before Jabber came along, and she'd been furious ever since he took her position. She hated it that he somehow sniffed out the Crystallis sword and brought it to their master, and now they were being sent to harass those old wizards which was both annoying and dangerous, well, dangerous for some. Jabber didn't seem too hasty about finding the so called "Pod-creatures" either, and that made Annabelle suspicious.
She crouched in the brush where she had been hiding and watched Jabberwocky form into the black dragon of his monstrous state and fly to the south. Annabelle smiled, he would not be coming back soon. She casually sauntered up to the house and knocked on the front door. "Housekeeping!" she called. When no one answered she pushed the door with her incredible strength and as its supports gave way the door fell flat with a dusty thud.
She was humming to her self and smiling as she skipped into the old house and looked around. "Jabber Jabber," she ruminated, "ya sure don't have any taste for decoratin' do ya'? You need is a woman!" She ran a finger along a dusty shelf and made Yuck! face as she wiped it on her pants, "...or a butler."
She pranced around the rooms, looking at papers and through drawers, trying to find anything incriminating or even interesting; she found nuthin! Jabber was a stubby old boring nobody who didn't even have dirty pictures lying around, some kind of villain, huh?
She got to the library on the base floor. On one side it had a fire place with a rug and two chairs, across the room on the other side was a wall of books behind a large, oaken table with candelabras on either side. Annabelle slowly traipsed around the table and looked at the books, her nimble fingers gliding over the dusty bindings. She walked over to the fireplace and inspected the chairs, the embers, the floe to see if there was something hidden there, there was nothing. She walked back to the table and scrunched her face in frustration. "God, you're such an Asshole!!" She said and she stomped her boot on the wooden plank floor. The sound echoed.
Her eyes went wide and the corners of her mouth turned up in a smile, "OoooOOOohhh! What have we here?" she said. She bent down and proceeded to punch her way through the floor boards, wood chips flew from her fists and got stuck in her hair; her face had taken a maniacal twist. "Well well Jabber, maybe you're more interesting than I thought." Under the floor between the oak table and the wall of books was a ladder going down into a tunnel that Annabelle was sure would lead somewhere interesting.
She jumped down the shaft and let herself drop all the way to the very bottom, maybe 50 meters (150 feet) from the surface, give or take. She looked around and saw that the tunnel pointed east, towards the water. She figured she might be deep enough to be underneath the water, but there was only one way to find out; she began jogging down the tunnel.
She came upon the end of the tunnel as it opened into a large cavern. At the far side of the cavern there was some sort of antique mecha panel that had blinking lights and whirling colors, and above all that was a large map on some sort of display that looked like it might've been the entire world. This was good, but not enough to get Jabber in trouble. Annabelle dropped from the edge of the tunnel and moved quietly to the shadows. Then she saw the girl.
The young girl was about 20 meters (60 feet) ahead of her. She was walking around the corner near the blinking machine carrying something that might have been food. She sat down at the blinky mecha thing and began to eat, it was food. Annabelle smiled and watched for a moment, surveying the situation. The young girl's face was wrapped in some sort of bandage, Annabelle suspected that she was blind. And to top that all off, she was pretty sure that this girl, was a Podling. |
Annabelle is one of Draygon's lieutenants who is jealous of Jabber's rise. She stalked Jab's place and found Ruby. Shadow Dragon- as you prepare a post keep in mind the distances between our players and the power level of Annabelle. Ruby is a badass, but don't play her like she's the baddest mother-effer in the galaxy, if she wins this confrontation, let's make it a solid win.</s>
<|message|>Jabberwocky
Ruby wanders around her room, and sits down with her food to eat on her bed. She happily tucks in, until she hears someone. Her head raises, and she turns her head to the noise. She swallows. "Hello? Who's there?" That's not Daddy......who is that? Did Daddy get me a Mommy?</s>
| <|message|>Sarah
Sarah continues cutting away at the spiderling horde attacking her, managing to cut another in half when she saw something dance in her peripheral vision. She's half-tempted to ignore it as yet another hallucination, but something makes her turn around and notice in horror as the spiderling queen is coming down hard - and aiming for Pip, who is too busy snarling and snapping at a couple spiderlings to notice. For a second, it seems as though everything was floating in water, a moment suspended in time. It takes every inch of will and strength for Sarah to force her whole body to move, trying to cover Pip before he gets fatally skewered.
"NO!"
By some miracle, she manages to block the tip of the spiky foreleg with the flat of her sword, placing herself between an angry spiderling queen and a surprised Pip who yelps and jumps back. However, by doing so, she left her back exposed, and one spiderling stabs her in the calf with a claw. Giving a pained grunt, Sarah tries to push back, but is slowly driven to her knees by the force of the queen's push, spiderleg scratching against unbreakable ancient steel.
Pip, mortified that his carelessness caused New Master to get hurt, turns around in a snarl and goes after the spiderling that just hurt New Master's leg. He bites but misses, the spiderlings falling back to avoid his wrath. This time, Pip doesn't pursue, trying to cover Sarah's back while she struggles with the queen.
For a moment, Sarah feels as though she'll be smacked down the ground, unable to keep up the effort against the queen's pressing leg. However, she takes a deep breath, and takes a gamble by changing the sword grip, causing the leg to slip off to the side, allowing Sarah to force the queen off balance with a twist of the sword. With the sword free, Sarah takes her moment to strike. She charges the sword with the biogenic power of lightning, lighting the cave around her with a brilliant azure flash, and swung as hard as she can at the queen in an upwards stroke.</s> |
Subsets and Splits
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