[System]
Appearance: Standing at a little over 5'11" (though he'll snap at you if you claim he's any less than 6 feet) and weighing in at about 140 pounds, Max has a lean, but not quite physically ideal, build. His face still looks relatively boyish for his age, accentuated by the implied immaturity of his persistently messy ash brown hair. His eyes might've once been a lively and piercing blue, but now they're subdued by the empty blankness of his stare; as if passion had been drained out of him entirely aside from the occasional glint of anger or sadness. He typically adorns his attire with some form of metal, if not outright armor, due to the nature of his magical affinity, and favors catalysts or casting implements that that cling to his person without fear of being disarmed or stolen in a fight.

Age: 19

Gender: Male

Element: Metal

Personality: In a word: bitter. Bitter at vampires for forcing him into what he sees as slavery. Bitter at humanity for allowing themselves to be collectively held hostage in order to control mages. Bitter at other mages for not rising up against their vampiric masters in spite of the cost. He maintains an air of cool politeness when decorum demands such, but can be quite irritable otherwise and rarely hesitates to take verbal jabs at others. When regarding vampires, his demeanor ranges from guarded, but amiable, to as outright hostile as he can feasibly act in such a scenario; depending on the attitude of the vampire in question. In general, however, he's rather sullen and resigned to his fate; any outrage he may have once felt is now dulled a quiet seething. As such, his bark is generally worse than his bite, and though he may complain, he's still willing to play the role of obediant vampire slave for lack of another option. Ironically enough, his detest for weakness pushes him to excel in that role as much as possible, despite it benefitting his oppressors.

Bio: Max grew up an only child within the territory of a highly traditionalist vampire noble, and as such spent his childhood in fear of being drunk like a juice pouch in the night. He'd witnessed the brutal exsanguination of people in his hometown written off as an unfortunate accident many times throughout his life, with the ruling count and his vassals rarely facing any sort of formal punishment for their sport hunting. In his hotheaded teenage years, once he was old enough to understand what was happening, Max was utterly appalled by the state of society and frequently argued with his parents' assertions of "That's just the way things are". Gradually, he grew to resent what he perceived as their weakness for not taking a stand; an animosity that eventually extended to almost the entire human race. Upon his Awakening, he was elated; magic was a power that could oppose and even kill vampires. Naturally, this delusion of grandeur was ended quickly by the reality of being a mage - a glorified piece of cattle for some upstart vampire to order around and drink from. Recently, he set his sights on Noila Academy in pursuit of magical instruction, believing that the accumulation of power is paramount if he's to cling to any hope of having freedom.

Sexual Orientation: Homosexual

Likes: Long walks in the sunlight (if only out of spite), Advancing his magical abilities, Bluntness, Defiance of authority, Sleeping

Dislikes: Weakness in himself or others, Vampires (as a whole - his opinions on individuals are subject to case-by-case decisions), Overly-fake people, Restrictions on his actions

Habits:
* Has a tendency to be rude whenever he can get away with it (and when he can't, albeit the rudeness is usually veiled a bit in those cases), even to people that would generally be undeserving of such an attitude.
* Generally punctual and attentive, despite a feigned dismissive demeanor.
* Avoids eye contact with vampires on principle, out of fear of hypnotism rather than submission or awkwardness.

Other:
Text Color: 8585ad

[User]
---

Max paced aimlessly around his room as he resisted the urge to start picking at his outfit before they'd even arrived at the venue. Eris had, thankfully, decided he wanted to look halfway normal this time and thus never tried to force Max into something ridiculous, but even the bare minimum of formal wear was annoying for the mage. Too stiff, his armor didn't fit under it, and it gave him unpleasant memories of his trusty salad fork defense. In a room full of leeches. One of whom he was actively working to undermine.

Turning back toward his bed, he made a move for his charging phone when he heard the door crack behind him and before he knew it, he was a mess of flailing limbs being forcefully corralled into the bathroom. "I will nail you to the fucking fence and piss on your ashes when the sun comes up," The mage threatened uselessly as he aimlessly grabbed for a weapon - a brush, a towel, something - and in his arms' failure, he turned to his magic instead. The mirror rattled against the wall. A razor vibrated off the counter and into the sink. He swore he heard water running for a second, but he had no idea which faucet he'd turned in the confusion.

Eventually he resigned himself to just letting the indignity occur, and when Eris finally relented, Max's posture sunk while he glared daggers at the leech's reflection. He looked like a tool. He fully expected Eris would come in to play stylist at some point, but not with that kind of intensity.

"Yeah, great, I'm sure I'll be the talk of the room. How long do I have to sit there and look pretty again? I'm assuming the good count doesn't serve alcohol at his events and everyone in attendance is annoying." He had one little trick up his sleeve that might make the night more worthwhile, but the odds of pulling it off were slim enough that he wasn't banking on it. Maybe someone'll get murdered behind the building again; always makes for a fun night.

---

[Assistant]
---

---

Eris chuckled as he fixed up Max's tie, creasing it just right before taking a second to think about how he wanted to respond to his question. Annoying an already agitated Max was fun, but he wanted the kid to at least pretend to be just a notch above 'hating all life' like he usually did, especially since he still needed to fix a few details on the kid: he made sure his dress shirt sleeves weren't seen poking out of his suit's sleeves, he fixed the collar, lightly tugged down on his pants so they hung right, and smoothed out his shoulders.

Inspecting the kid's wardrobe carefully, he had to admit Feliks worked wonders. The kid had a decent body type as it was, but now he looked impeccable--he could almost pass off as a real mage if it wasn't for that scowl. Ugh. But that was as good as it was gonna get for now, and he knew the kid was gonna struggle if he tried to put makeup on him. Maybe he could get away with some eyeliner.

Placing the comb and gel he had brought with him, he pulled out the eyeliner he had, looking the kid in the eye. He'd have to do the same thing he did with Maxie when he had to clip her nails: distract while doing the task and deal with any squirming. Fortunately Eris was definitely stronger than him, but just as Maxie got wild when she just looked at the clippers, he could already feel Max's hostility at the sight of the eyeliner pen.

"This'll be a short affair. All you have to do is pretend to be impressed by your fellow mage's talents, do that thing we talked about in front of everyone, and then you actually won't have to deal with other vampires. You'll just have to suffer through the other mages' boring talk," Eris managed to snatch Max's chin before he could slip past him, forced to pin him against the wall to prevent his escape and apply it without stabbing him in the eye. Focused entirely on being as quick and precise as possible, he muttered, "It's about...two hours long? Do I want to give you a cateye--no, you'll just rub it off out of spite--okay, there."

He backed off, smoothing out any stray hairs that had stubbornly decided to poke back up, and continued. "You could honestly just sit there and see how the others mingle. I don't have any details on the Marivaldi mage, so learning about her could be something," He suggested, though he rolled his eyes. "If there's alcohol, I don't want to catch you making out with the Astorio mage since he'll be there, too. Oh!" His eyes lit up as he pocketed the eyeliner. "Speaking of your boyfriend, you might wanna ask why he's trying to start that illegal fighting ring. Word around the street is he and some white haired girl are trying to start up an illegal fighting ring on campus. Ballsy, but considering he did talk back to the Queen and Lady Sinnenodel of all people, I wouldn't put it past him. I mean, he's been bulking up these past few months so it has to be for something. That'll be a fun topic to bring up."

---

Styling up @Scribe of Thoth against his will

[User]
While intellectually Max knew struggling would only make it worse - Eris having to wash off the black smears across his face and then reapply the makeup all over again was double the work - the sight of the eyeliner triggered some primal, innate defense mechanism deep within him. He subconsciously tried to rip the faucet free of its holdings, only to be met with a loud thunk as the sink tenaciously resisted his advances. Hardly even budged, damn it. At least no one could accuse Ryner of cheaping out on the construction.

"There's metal in that stick, y'know," Max commented bitterly after Eris had him sufficiently wrangled and he'd calmed down. "Could snap it like a fucking twig."

After Eris once again released him, Max grimaced at his own reflection, and the implication that he and Flower Boy were a thing only soured his expression more. Eris had some nerve calling him a lust-crazed animal when he was only invited because he was fucking the host. Not to mention he'd just finished pinning Max against the wall of a bathroom. "If the Astorio mage tries making out with me, he'll be hanging from the chandelier well before you have a chance to see, don't you worry. Keep your mind on your own boyfriend, he's plotting something." The illegal fighting ring was news to him. Was that what they talked about when he didn't show up to their study group? For all he knew, that might've been what they talked about while he was present; he tuned them out half the time.

"Wait, why would you set up an illegal fight club in a place where there's already a legal fight club?" As far as Max knew, the arena managers were fairy content to let people beat the shit out of each other on their own time as long as no one died. "And why is his partner in crime one of the least intimidating people on campus? And most importantly - what fucking street are you on that talks about mage fighting rings to a vampire?" Then again, Salem knowing absolutely nothing about subtlety was believable. Maybe the dumbass actually hung up posters.


[System]
Species: Miraluka

Appearance: She stands at 1.76 meters tall (5' 7"), lightly tanned skin, dark brunette hair at shoulder's length, small gray silk headgear covering her eyes dressed in a white tunic and leggings.

[User]
Finn stood up to greet his new master with enthusiasm. When he'd learned of his new assignment he'd been more than pleased. Many other padawans might have shied away fro a former Sith as their master, but Finn saw it as a great learning opportunity. Who better to teach you how to combat the Dark Side than a former wielder. "I'm sure it will be Master. I've never actually been off of Coruscant before this, other than my journey there. I'm quite excited to see this new planet," Finn said, smiling.

Finn could sense his master's awkwardness, and he moved to alleviate it. "I don't suppose we'll get into any battles? I've only ever gotten to fight with practice droids, and from what I've heard, there's something much more exciting about a real fight," he said, his eyes lit up with the thoughts of adventure. He'd always dreamed of going out and battling huge creatures, and now was finally his chance to shine.

[Assistant]
Jaros was nervous. He didn't say this, nervous wasn't not a Jedi emotion. Though, most emotions weren't Jedi emotions. Yet, nervous he was. Here he was, a completely green Padawan, about to fight the CIS on Felucia. That brought on a new question, Why Felucia? He certainly didn't know. He knew that something was off about the planet, though he couldn't quite decide what that was. To ease his worry, he went over the Admiral's words in his mind. He and his master were to defend the 406th Clone Legion while they built a base. What do we need to defend them from?

 "Excuse me, master?" He cleared his throat. "Do you know why the CIS is attacking Felucia?"

[User]
Eric had sat there quietly, a defensive objective. The planet below was an interesting one, covered in plant life both small and large, simple and exotic. Many dangerous beasts too. Eric watched as his fellow knights talked or started to even duel their padawans, which raises the question as to why Eric had one. Eric didn't feel ready for such a thing yet, but master Yoda's wisdom was not to be questioned.

Thinking of the apprentice, Jaros asked him a question. "I can't say I know padawan. This planet is near some useful trade routes but I don't believe that is the answer. Perhaps they're training Arkays to fight for them?" Eric joked.

[Assistant]
The Young one's moves seemed to indicate that they were attempting to show their sill and ability. The saber above her head easily protected in-case-of any attacks from above. Niremon spun as the Padawan leaped, meaning the two were still facing each other but at a closer distance. Nire used both blades in unison, attacking and blocking with both at the same time. Going for a swing at HER upper left and her upper right with speed and accuracy. The attack was followed with a forward slide.

 "You must always be ready to shift from defense to offense in combat situations. Know the speed and movement of your opponent and you will find victory." The calm speaking seemed at contrast with the swift attacks. Use of the Force in this would be initiated by the Padawan at some point. The attacks were a mix of Shii-Cho and Makashi, steady footwork, some sweeping attacks and some attacks with little force behind them. The Other wold likely fall into Soresu, hold off until a weakness is presented and then strike at that. That is what any duel with a Soresu user was like, especially her old master Obi-Wan.

[User]
Aresa saw the attacks coming for her and then used her blade to block the blows, quickly putting some distance between the two of them, going for a defensive pose, a little more cautious now to go attacking at her, the stories about her master were true, she was quite good. It was the exact reason why she was now letting her master come at her, she didn't know what other moves she had and Aresa didn't want to be caught off guard by them.

"I know master, but its sometimes difficult to do that when you don't know how they'll fight or what secrets they have up their sleeve." She continued her defensive Soresu position, waiting for her master to go on the attack. Perhaps she was being a tad overly cautious, but she felt it was better that way than being over-confident and end up getting herself killed.

______________________________

Amber couldn't help but smile at his eagerness, she too remembered what that was like, well when she was still in training as a Sith, but the principle still applied here, though she felt that she had to say a few things, so her student wouldn't fall down the path that she had.

"Well this will be a great learning opportunity then my young Padawan, but don't let your over eagerness and hunger for battle cloud your judgement." She didn't want to try and give him a speech, but she felt that he at least had to warn him, to prevent him ending up like her.

"We may or may not get into any combat when we land on Felucia, but what I do know is that we should resort to fighting only if we have too, but don't let the excitement of battle consume, it can be real easy to fall to the Dark Side and I don't think that would be a good startting track record for me." She lightly chuckled when she finished talking, trying not to be overly serious about it.

[Assistant]
Finn nodded at his masters words, recognizing the truth that lay within them. "Thank you master," he said with all sincerity. He felt the ship jolt slightly as they drew closer to Felucia, and he turned to look out and down at the planet. He turned back to his master, a questioning look in his blue-green eyes. "Master, I'm assuming that the Separatists don't just want Felucia for it's position in space?" the youn padawan asked. Ever since they'd begun their landing, Finn had been questioning why the Separatists might want Felucia. He'd heard others mention trade routes but he felt as if there was something more to it.

"This planet has the presence of the Dark Side. I've read about the Sith utilizing locations with Dark Side Force energy to gain power. Could that be their plan?" Finn was extremely curious. He knew that the Separatists were led in some part by the Sith, the involvement of Count Dooku proved as much. So he assumed there was something more to the supposed motives of the CIS.

[User]
Nire moved slid closer, the defensive actions of Aresa giving plenty of time to prepare for the next attack. The master brought down a double side slash followed by an over head slam with one Blade. There was a way she could win in a few simple moves, but that path would be easy and lead to at least one of them being hurt. A lock with one saber and a slash with the other was almost impossible to block if one did not have two lightsabers. She could over hear some of the conversations from the other Knights and their Padawans. Many seemed to wonder 'Why Felucia?' But in all honesty, it did not matter why, just that it did. The Council sent them, so they would do their duty as Jedi.

 "It can be difficult to know what secrets another could use to end you. That is why you must act fast of draw their secret out. Don't focus on what they could do, think about the whole picture, their technique and motives can betray their secrets." This was some of the better advice Niremon could give. Years of combat experience lent it's knowledge in full to Jedi teachings.

[Assistant]
Amber walked up next to her Padawan, looking down at it, already feeling a small call from inside her, the call from some of the dark energy on the planet, it was a quite plea, begging to be taken in by her. She rested her hand on the wall as she tried to resist the call of the Dark Side, something that could be easily noticed by her Padawan. Trying to ignore her inner darkness' want to consume the dark power the planet was emanating, though soon started to meditate, calming herself a bit, she wouldn't let herself fall back to that, she wouldn't allow the Dark Side to have her once again, she'd make sure of that.

"To be honest my Padawan, we don't really know why the Separatists are here, it could be just for the trade routes, but other than that, we weren't given any other informtation than what we have now, but we'll have to be on our guard regardless, the Seps no doubt will have some nasty droids with them which won't make our task easy."

She continued to gaze out the window, feeling the Dark Side's call just being a dull echo now thanks to her meditation, she just hoped as they got closer and eventually landed, it's call would remain like how it was now. She had a slight feeling this was also a test for her from the Council, she was a former Sith and they probably wanted to see if she could properly resist it, if so than she'd most likely no doubt have a long future with the Jedi Order.

______________________________

Aresa did her best to block her master's attacks, though with it being just Aresa's one saber against Nire's two, it was difficult. She didn't doubt that if her master wanted too, she could have easily finished the spar between the two of them, but she wasn't about to be bested, at least not so easily anyways.

When one of their sabers locked, she noticed her master's other one coming in for her, she doubted her master would harm her, but she didn't want their practice to be over yet and then used the force to provide a temporary barrier around her that would deflect the blow. The barrier didn't and wasn't meant to last long, it provided about thirty-seconds of protection, she could protect others with it too, though she wasn't very efficient with it yet, so she was limited with how many times it could be casted.

"I understand master, I guess thinking about every little detail can also be a hinderance." She responded as light partially reflected off her temporary barrier, "I'm glad that I got you as a teacher, Master." She couldn't help but add. Soon starting to go after her master, using her Ataru form to quickly attack and leap all around her master, surely with her unpredictable movements, it would at least slightly catch her master off guard.

[User]
Jaros chuckled at Eric's joke. It was good that he was trying to lighten the mood. He didn't know why, but he had a bad feeling about this.

 "Master, perhaps we should have a quick duel, the others are doing it. I don't really believe you've seen me fight yet." Before Eric could respond, Jaros leapt backwards and drew his sabre. He held in a two-handed grip, the bright green blade behind his head at 45-degree angle. He waited for Eric to strike, ready to parry and counter-attack.

[Assistant]
Eric watched as his apprentice suggested a duel, then leaped back into a stance suiting of a power oriented form. However, "It is not the time. I'm not sure it would be practical for everyone to start dueling in the same room, far to many risks for the meager rewards."

"We will soon be on the ground, there we will be able to duel safely. If we are attacked by droid forces however unlikely then we will also be prepared, rather than exhausted. It is important for a Jedi to know when to act, and when to wait. Remember that lesson if any mt padawan." Eric then felt another rock in the ship, they were getting more common. The ship was getting closer to the ground, closer to what would be the landing zone.

[User]
Niremon smiled, though neither of them could actually 'see' it. "And I am glad I have the opportunity to teach you." this banter was nice and light. The use of the Force for that barrier was an excellent protective move... but also opened the door for a Force battle. The attack was to see how a response would be implemented, and it worked marvelously.

 She was almost caught off guard when the Young ling charged and attacked with speed and force. Immediately falling back into a defensive Niman state, keeping protected while allowing for a counter attack. Such a time came in-between the strikes of the blinding offensive. The jumping left the legs mostly open for a second, this was all she needed. Niremon used one blade to lock with the Other's while she used the pommel of her free side to catch her foot off guard in air. She applied a Force Push to further off Her opponents balance. This presented two options: Use the Force to stop from falling and being disarmed, or try and push through Nire's force wall to buy time to recover, and the latter was nigh on impossible for any Padawan to do. "A wild offense can yield great results, but Defense must be maintained if there is any hope of winning beyond the first few swings." The lesson and reminder was a good warm up for the up coming battle.

 Another Padwan wanted to duel their master, but that master went a different rout with a different lesson. The difference in that single choice intrigued Nire. A larger bump rocked the ship, they had landed. "All combatants are to immediately head to the surface. I repeat, All Combatants are to head to the surface immediately." The command echoed over the comms systems.

[Assistant]
Aresa felt herself being pushed by her master's attack, causing her balance to shift, she knew she was stuck, there were only two options, one she didn't have the skill for and the other was that if she stopped herself from falling, she'd lose the grip of her saber. Having no choice she opted for the option to stop herself from falling, feeling her hilt turn out of her hand, the blade instantly deactivating as the hilt slid to the ground.

She was about to try and get her lightsaber back to go on the offensive again when she felt the ship settle and then heard someone speak over the intercoms that they had landed."Well I guess you win this round master, shame our practice is over." She lightly laughed, reaching out with the force to bring the weapon back to her where she settled it back on her belt.

"Well, I guess I'm as ready as I'll ever be, Master." She spoke as they got ready to disembark the ship they were on. She was a little curious as to what the planet 'looked' like, well at least how it could be viewed by her species, she'd only heard stories about a lot of the planets that were either occupied by the Separatists or were currently a battle ground for Republic and Separatist troops alike, no doubt it'd be interesting to say the least.


[System]
Age: 16
Background: Her family frequently traveled in space, but Holly doesn't know why, because when she was quite young, the ship she was on was set upon by pirates shortly before arriving at Mars. Holly was taken in as human debris, and bounced back and forth as she was bought, sold and traded among the usual unsavory outer sphere criminals. When around twelve(she doesn't know her exact age or birth date) she was acquired by the Jolly Rogs

From there, she was thrust unceremoniously into a Man Rodi, and served as a diversionary target for the rest of the crew. It transpired that Holly was quite good at avoiding enemy fire, and she actually performed quite well.

Personality and Reputation: Generally friendly, but fiercely independent. Loyal, very concerned with paying perceived debts(or repaying perceived slights). Has a habit of tallying what she owes and what she believes she is owed.

Mobile Suit:
Name: Big Boi
Frame: UGY-R41, Man Rodi.

Equipment: Head Mounted Vulcan Guns, 90mm Submachine Gun, a "hammer chopper."

Mobile Suit:
Name: Stolas
Frame: ASW-G-36 Gundam Stolas

Equipment:
Alaya Vijnana System
Macuahuitl, a sort of club-sword with diamond-hard blades embedded at intervals. It can be wielded with one or both hands, and makes heavy strikes while the blades tear at the target.
Ahab Thrusters
Thermal Phase Transition Thrusters

[User]
"Thanks!" Martyn said as his Man Rodi began to shoot at the Graze Scwalbe's legs, still hoping for a nonfatal hit. He then continued to say over the comms, "Keep hammering at him and make sure that he does not reach his booster pod! In fact, blow the latter up if the guy doesn't surrender!"

The Graze Schwalbe's pilot was clearly skilled enough to avoid his shots and the maneuvers of his - Well technically Holly's - team. As it fired back at the foes ringing it, Martyn moved a little closer, earning a jab by the Graze's lance. As he pulled his Man Rodi back, the young man, barely out of boyhood, glanced at what his team was doing, before shouting through the comms, "Familiar Three - Kurt - Do what Holly said and destroy that pod! Familiar Five, fire your anchor wire when ready; we'll try and herd the enemy to your position."

He then pushed his Man Rodi forward again, before telling Familiar Two, aka Theo, "You're right, I am thinking of myself. But if I'm right, all of us can get what we want as well. So follow me, Soldier; I haven't led you wrong, have I?"

Martyn was banking on the fact that he had known Theo for years, and observed him and the others for that long, to try and get Theo's agreement to follow his orders.

The Graze Schwalbe, somehow sensing Theo's indecision, was now rushing at the latter's Graze, trying to impale it with his lance. To him, Theo was the weak link in the ring of foes, a weak link to be broken and shattered. Martyn, seeing this as well, threw caution to the wind and rushed at the Schwalbe, before shouting to Fox, "Fox, Fire your wire anchor now! Hit the Graze Schwalbe!"

Hopefully, it would all go perfectly. Hopefully, the Graze Schwalbe and its pilot would be captured or at worst, the latter might be killed. But Martyn had made his calculations; he can and will apply for amnesty whatever happened, even if the process for applying for amnesty meant accepting the prospect of being watched and thus not being able to implement his plans...

[Assistant]
From his place in the dead of space, amongst his comrades and the wreckage of rocks and ships, Thom watched with cold interest. Fox's wild maneuver was met with a skillful offset, he eyed the enemy's Graze with renewed purpose. He's experienced. Good enough to hold his composure against bad odds, he determined, hands gripping the controls. This is all falling apart because of Martyn's impulsiveness.

Then Martyn's words tore through him like a punch from Bosun. It was invasive and tasteless but it brought him back to reality. Reminded him that as member of the Mercurial Witch's mobile suit team; results were demanded. It pushed out the remainder of his doubt, the scorch of battle sharpening his focus.

In a sudden burst, Thom drove the Graze-Z towards the enemy Graze. His shield which had been in a ready position was brought closer to his chest, just enough to anticipate the aim of the lance. Thom exhaled the tension building inside as the distance closed. He eased on his boosters, knowing impact at that speed would harm him just as bad as a direct hit. Martyn was closing in too, trying to play the hero as always, risking everyone's life for his own goals. It was infuriating.

Time collapsed on itself for Thom as the yellow Graze reached him with its lance. CLANG!!!

Thom swatted aside the lance with his shield, a hole tearing through the slab of metal and its wielding-arm. Without skipping a beat, his Graze-Z raised its axe and aimed to decapitate the enemy Graze's lance-arm. The screech of metal reverberated through his machine as the arm was chopped off. But he found dread filling his chest as he peered through his screen. The pilot of the yellow Graze was hardened, his rifle raising to open fire on Thom's cockpit.

"Come on!" he grumbled. "Don't let me die!"

[User]
Kurt held the controls of his Graze as steadily as possible as he lined up the shot on the Gjallarhorn mobile suit. While the teenager was waiting for the order to fire, Fox in his Hugo sped past him, firing his rifle. Kurt knew that at this distance those shots would do very little damage but he could see them as warning shots.

As Fox took up a position in some debris, Holly ordered Kurt to take out the enemy Graze's booster pods. As this was the logical thing to do, Kurt had no problem with the order. Pumping his thrusters, Kurt launched his Graze toward the enemy mobile suit. Raising his rifle, Kurt adjusted its aim, trying to hone in on the Graze Schwalbe's boosters.

Hoping that the Schwalbe wouldn't notice him, Kurt hid his Graze between a particularly large piece of debris. Holly then taunted the Schwalbe pilot over an open channel, only to be knocked off course by some gunfire. Martyn took the opportunity to take lead, ordering Kurt to take out the booster pods.

"I know, I know," replied Kurt over the comms system, "I just need a clear shot."

The enemy Graze then left the area, heading toward Thom. Taking advantage of this, Kurt left the safety of the debris field and went over to where the Graze Schwalbe had first been spotted. Using his own boosters, Kurt blasted toward the Gjallarhorn wreck and the booster pods that floated near it.

"Alright, here we go," muttered Kurt.

Once in range, Kurt lined his Graze's rifle at the booster pods. Letting loose with gunfire, Kurt could only watch as the projectiles barreled through the void of space. As he held his breath, Kurt saw the bullets hit their mark, ripping into one of the pods. Breathing out strongly, Kurt was pretty sure that he had accomplished his mission.

But over his comms he heard Thom say to not let him die. Without thinking, Kurt whipped his Graze around, pointing back at the battle. His stomach felt like it dropped at the prospect of losing another comrade. While he wouldn't say he was friends with Thom, he did know him enough that he didn't want him to die.

"Damn it. Hold on," shouted Kurt over the comms.

Hoping that the booster pods had been rendered unusable, Kurt boosted his Graze back over to the battle. Seeing the Graze Schwalbe right in front of Thom's Graze-Z, Kurt pushed his mobile suit to the max. He had precious few seconds to get into firing range of the yellow mobile suit, knowing that if he fired now his shots would do nothing.

[Assistant]
"Familiar Two, brace yourself." Was the only warning Thom received as Fox's quiet tenor crackled over the LCS. Having taken careful aim, the young man opened fire from his perch with the Hugo's machine gun. Almost all of the rounds flew harmlessly between the two Grazes, a few punching dents in their opponent's armor with only one finding it's intended target. But one was enough. Punching clean through the magazine of the Schwalbe's rifle, the impact threw off the gun's aim off... and detonated the ammunition within.

 The resulting explosion took the Schwalbe's gun hand with it, while Thom's Graze was blasted with molten shrapnel, leaving visually impressive, but mostly superficial damage on the other human debris' mobile suit. "Familiar Five securing target. Captain, requesting further orders for Familiar Squad." Fox announced calmly, an odd contrast to his Hugo's aggressive movements, the space superiority mobile suit already rocketing into the "fight". Instead of slowing down he merely fired one of the Hugo's anchor claws, catching the golden Schwalbe on the way past and sending them both tumbling through space.

 Down an arm, a hand and against a pilot with the Alaya Vijinana System, the Schwalbe Graze's pilot stood little chance in the ensuing melee. Before too long, Fox had the Gjallarhorn mobile suit tangled up in the anchor claw's line, the Hugo's foot mounted claws further pinning his target in place. Leaning in, Fox pressed the barrel of his machine gun against the Schwalbe's vulnerable inner frame through a gap in it's armor. "If you'd like to live, I suggest surrender." The young man advised in his usual emotionless tenor, having activated an open comms channel.

[User]
"Wait, did you get him?" Holly questioned over the comm as she heard some of the chatter coming from Fox. Her displays were down for good, it seemed, and she couldn't see any of what was happening. Her mapping was still partially functional, based on the last known images, but the Ahab wave ovelay seemed to still be operating in real time. Using this, Holly turned the Big Boi so that its back was to the fancy Graze, and hit the control to open her cockpit.

She heard the wirring of servos as the armor plates moved out of the way, then the hatch in front of her opened forth. She could see now that her sidelong tumble had been stopped by grabbing the edge of the hole in the old wrecked ship's hull. What she saw inside stopped her dead. "Uh, stand by, my system isn't working right..."

The rent in the bulkhead opened to the ship's hangar bay, and there were five mobile suits lined up. Each was unique, and Holly did not recognize any of them. She disconnected her AV and the harness that kept her secured in her seat, then kicked off from the cockpit and drifted into the bay.

It was dark, and she realized the only reason she could see is that there was a computer terminal that was still active after all this time. She drifted over and looked at the screen. It was cracked down the middle, and the only word she could make out was "Wake," which seemed to be part of a button or prompt. She reached a gloved hand out, her breath caught in her throat, and pressed it.

~~~

On the bridge of the Mercurial Witch, Brun was watching with a satisfied smile as her rats tangled the interloper up.

Her reverie was interupted by a bleeping from the console, and Mick spoke up.

"Uh... there's new Ahab waves... I don't even know where they came from! They're right on top of Familiar One, but I don't see anything..."

"Could it be an error? Maybe one of the old reactors shifted when the feral one flew through the debris."

"It's possible..." he sounded like he doubted it, "I don't recognzie the signatures, so it would make sense if they're from older reactors."

~~~

Holly gasped as new light came on in the vast dimness. Five pairs of eyes suddenly flared to life, glaring down at her. As one, their armor shifted, silent in the vacuum, revealing the opening cockpit hatches in their chests. It seemed incredible that any part of them could still work, but Holly chose the friendliest looking one, and kicked off the floor towards it. She pulled herself past the armor plating and into the cockpit. It was light up brightly from all the displays and controls. Unlike the computer terminal out in the hangar, nothing could get to these electronics to damage them.

The cockpit looked remarkably similar to what she was used to. The seat was cushier, but she noticed the Alaya Vijnana interface embedded in it. The controls were also comparable, though without the scratches, scuffs, burns, and other little marks from long, hard use.

Without thinking nearly as much as she should have, Holly plugged the interface in. She made a choked groaning sound as the man-machine interface connected, her body convulsing wildly in the plush seat. The feedback was worse even than her Rodi. As her body relaxed, she gasped out the word "Stolas..."


[System]
Nickname(Optional): Pfft, no.
Age: 24
Gender: Male
Physical Appearance: Of Average build with short dark hair, Neil isn't exactly the most unique specimen. He is fit but not noticeably so. He isn't big at all, but he is also not small. He has a face girls can find cute, but not exactly dreamy. Tanned skin and a ruddy complexion from all of the machine's he's worked on, coupled with the calluses on his hands gives him an experienced look despite the very youthful appearance he has. All in all, other than the twinkling of his eyes and the trademark grin, he is essentially average. He has dark eyes and very dark brown hair, enough to be considered black under most light. He's about 5'10 and 165 pounds.
Clothing: He often wears baggy pants, mostly military cargo. He likes to wear single colored T-Shirts. Usually he wears red.
Personality: Oh, now that is a question. To say Neil is eccentric is...well, that hits the nail on the head. Very good with hand-eye coordination, competent combatant, good engineer, and a daring pilot. But prone to sarcasm, snide remarks, unorthodox behavior, and just good old fashioned explosions. He's a born jokester, though behind his charming yet insufferable demeanor belies a certain intelligence, and to those he enjoys, he does tend to have a big heart.

[User]
Neil had to tell himself to keep his teeth closed and tongue pressed to the roof of his mouth. He'd seen more than one man bite off his own tongue from a rough landing, and seeing the pink organ on the floor of the Highlander was not something he fancied thinking about. Once the ship had lunged out of the water, gaining buoyancy, he couldn't help but marvel yet again at the ship's design. Not many ships in the Imperium had the shape or density to land and remain safely in water.

He opened one eye, and then another. Neil found himself strapped to the pilot's chair, and a heavily breathing Sayeeda next to him at her station. He couldn't help it, but he laughed. It was a slow bobbing of his head and chest and first, but it grew into a full blown laugh of triumph, until he ran out of breath and simply fell limp against the chair. It didn't have an entirely different feeling than the relaxed, loss of energy after sex.

Well, they had survived. He guessed the universe wasn't done with him yet, or Sayeeda for that matter. "Oh man," he sighed, unbuckling his strap and standing up. He found the rough landing had him sore. But then what doesn't make you sore these days? Neil leaned down, and flipped the switch on the display console, the power reading of the engines came up "------" which caused him to blink. Even if they had no power, it would have displayed a zero.

"Guess that's going to need fixing, too." He said, having no idea if the anti-matter had given the engine a permanent kick like a car battery, or if it destroyed all of the power cores with its intense energy. He reached a hand down and helped Junebug out of her chair. Outside of the cockpit, it might not be civilization, but it certainly looked like a beautiful place to put a cabin in one of the richer areas of his homeworld.

"Well that was a hell of a ride," Junebug said, her professional soldier's reserve evaporating for a moment. Neil winked. "Stick with me kid, you'll go far." he joked. The next order of business for him would be opening up the rarely used top hatch. In fact it had not been used since they fought the Xenonids on Fornax and the Knight had to make that daring escape attempt.

Once Neil pulled himself up, he helps Junebug up as well. Not that she likely needed a hand, but he was her comrade after all. He stood tall atop the Xarconian metal of the ship, and he cracked his back with a stretch. "Man, it's good to be outta there!" He declared, feeling the clear, coastal air and the heat of the day pressing down. Behind them was a vast ocean, with only a few rocks jutting out of the horizon to give indication it wasn't infinite. Before them, a few dozen meters away was a shoreline, which quickly lead into a forested area full of coarse shrubs.

Where in the hell were they?

[Assistant]
Junebug looked around the scruby forest that covered the shoreline. They seemed willowy and sinuous compared to the Tara pines of her homeworld, but she had been on many planets and seen many different eco systems since then. There were no animals in sight, which was good because Junebug was pretty sure she didn't want to meet any animal that calmly accepted a thousand tons of starship crashing out of the sky.

"Damn," she said as she got her first look at the great rents in the side of the ship. Whatever had savaged them in the RIP had torn long diagonal slashes, the force of which had left the jagged edges raninbowe with heat stress. As she watched water gurgled lazily into the open holds and she felt the ship shift and then grind softly onto the pale sand beneath them. The eddying water slowed. They were in an estuary or a small river mouth with only thirty meters or so to shore on either side of them. They must have come very close to breaking the back of the ship when they hit. She suspected that Neil's last minute burst of thrust had saved them and there was a smell in the air like molten glass and burned mud that suggested she was right.

"Power reserves at critical Cap'm," Lonney's voice chimed in her mastoid radio.

"Roger that Lonney shut down if you need to."

"Aye Cap'm but what about Popsicle number three?" Sayeeda frowned trying to puzzle out the AI's meaning until she realised that Taya was still in the pod and would likely die if the power went completely out. Lonney must be channeling the last few watts of power into keeping her alive.

"Start the thaw cycle Lonney we will be down in a sec," she snapped and spun to drop back into the Highlander. A minute later she was cracking the seal and helping a shaken looking Taya out of her cry pod and into some dry clothes.

"First thing is first we better get the gun jeep onto dry land," she told Neil as she returned, leaving Taya in the cryo bay to recover her senses. The pilot had obviously been surveying the damage and looked rather mournful.

"From there we can run lines out to the ship to at least keep the lights on, even a small fusion bottle is more than enough juice for that." She sank down to the deck and peered across the narrow stretch of water at the pale sandy shore, it was almost pure white.

"I didn't see any tech on the scopes on the way down, the Goddess alone knows how we are going to get Her to lift again."

[User]
With deft fingers, Neil twirled a wrench from his toolkit as she asked her last question, his easy going yet daring grin back on his face. "Oh, just leave that to me. I know this ship like the back of my hand by now," He said, catching the wrench in his grip. Only then did he see the cut across the back of his hand. "
How long has that been there?
"

Not giving Sayeeda time to question his expertise, he expertly hopped down into the Highlander and went about his work. Before he started tinkering on the ship, Neil hopped into the jeep, revving up the engine and getting the gears moving. At first it didn't start up. But after a few choice knocks from one of his tools, it began to purr. Neil ran his hands along the wheel with a familiar touch, always ready to pilot anything he could get his hands on.

"Um," he heard from behind him. The voice of an uneasy, young woman. "Are we going somewhere?"

Neil's body fidgeted from the vehicle as he turned his head to see Taya standing in the entrance-way of the lower exit bay, clothed but with her hair still dripping wet from the liquid prison she had just been encased in. Neil suddenly felt the fire in his veins die down a bit, the adventure they were now on turning into what must be an odd and scary unknown for their new, unwitting crew member. He breathed a sigh and shut the vehicle off for the moment.

"I am heading out just to get the jeep on the beach. We've made it to an unknown planet that...I guess Junebug told you?" He asked her finally, and she gave a silent nod. Neil guessed she didn't know every detail, and so he gestured for her to head back in. "Just grab some rations and get some water. Junebug will be down in a sec." He told her, and winked. "Just chill."

The exit bay opened and he turned the jeep on once more, slow going at first to then speed up before the 'downward' exit ramp to gain some air, hitting the beach with a spray of sand and a satisfying crunch of the impact on the ground. The vehicle twirled, its back now facing the forest as Neil's front had a clear view of the Highlander's exit bay. Neil squinted from the sudden light of the sun, and he reached up to lift the visor to have it block some light, only to find some sunglasses folded up there.

"Oh," he said, slipping them on his face and smirking.

This felt like he was back on his home planet, truth be told. The heat on his skin, a nice ride, and some glasses. "Yeah all I need is an interplanetary mech war." He joked, and hopped out of the vehicle, jumping onto its hood and calling to Sayeeda. "You want to look around first or what?"

[Assistant]
Naturally Junebug did. The picked their way through the scrubby forest in the jeep, Neil expertly juking around foliage which a heavier vehicle would simply have plowed over. As they climed a rise that was part dune and part low hill Junebug pulled her helmet down over her face and toggled it to infrared. The landscape lit up in a series of pastel yellows and blues. Here and there she saw an orange flash of heat from what might be small aninimal. Behind them the Highlander glowed hot in a number of places, still cooling from the rapid decent. As they crested the rise she switched back to regular vision.

Before them stretched a wide forested plain, rising towards a greenish blue range of mountains in the far distance. The landscape was split by a surprising number of creeks and swales, many of them as large or bigger than the small river the Highlander had put down in. The trees rose high, up to thirty meters in places, but so unevenly distributed as to make the landscape look wavy and unnatural. The leaves were green but seemed to be more like collections of hair or cilia than true leaves of Terran extraction. A few animals chattered and hooted and though she could see a few heat signatures nothing jumped out as immediately alarming. There was no sign of settlements or technology as far as her magnified vision could see.

"Well if there is an infantry battalion sneaking up on us, they have some damn good camo," she observed sourly.

"Looks like we have the place to ourselves."

"Lets hunt up some food and see if we can eat the local, then we can get our mind to repairs."

[User]
"Well I can think of worse planets to be stranded on." Neil said as he parked the jeep, dust blooming in the air at the sudden lack of momentum from the vehicle. The pilot shut off the engine, and had to bite his tongue in order for him not to jinx them any further. This did seem surprisingly lucky for how fucked they were less than a day ago. He'd never had an experience on the Highlander that didn't go from out of the pot and into the fire.

Still, this place was pretty ideal for a tourist location from what he'd seen, and yet the lack of any civilization did not bode well for them. Either there was something on the world they hadn't seen that made humanity give it a wide berth, or they were further away from Imperial civilization than he was used to. "Well we still have a month's worth of supplies on the ship but-" he hopped out, his revolver already twirling in his fingers before halting midspin, smugly cocking it with a satisfying 'click.' "It's a good idea to ration it. Then again I am a city boy. You might need to hold my hand when it comes to hunting."

He certainly looked the part in his urban (albeit functionally simple) clothing, sunglasses gleaming sunlight off its dark lenses. It was an hour before Sayeeda's honed survival skills overcame Neil's incompetence. Then again, he did have a knack for moving quietly, and once he got the hang of slipping through the brush he became an asset. Soon, they caught a curious critter. A grey furred creature, with a raccoon's body proportions if not for the six legs and the bushy fox-like tail.

Neil had flushed it out and Junebug had caught it by the leg, killing it swiftly with her knife. Even after just over an hour, they were both sweating a fair bit from the heat. "Hopefully the sun lowers before too long. I'll need to check this planet's cycle," Neil said casually, stepping over a small bush and heading toward the clearing as Junebug skinned the creature. She saw the mistake Neil was making a second too late, as his foot stepped onto a bit of leaves that suddenly uprooted and shot into the air. Neil was suddenly whipped around by his foot just as the poor creature had been, and the pilot found himself dangling upside down in a makeshift, primitive trap.

Neil's glasses fell off his face, but he had the frame of mind to catch them as they fell. "Might want to cut me down quick!" he whispered vehemently, as the loud snapping of the branches that had yanked him up when he placed pressure on the rope had reverberated through the forest for Gods know how far. Whoever made the trap would be back sometime in the neat future even if they heard nothing.


[System]
Race: Human

Age: 22

Class: Black Mage

Place of Origin: Mount Osraphel, Bellas

Personality: Quiet and dignified on the outside, even lazy at times, Artemisia isn't exactly outgoing, but in truth she's more than a little spirited. Her passions include knowledge -trivia in particular-, stories both personal and grandiose, and drama, and it's no surprise that those plus her good memory and quick wit incline her towards large words, formal speech, occasional babbling, theatrical behavior, and interesting people Thoughtful, considerate, curious, and even spunky, she's cordial enough that one might never guess there's yet another side to her. With her dander up Artemisia becomes far more impulsive, temperamental and inclined to violence. She's a believer in karmic justice, including paying violence against violence, but more than that she's a believer in Garudism, the beliefs practiced by Skybound that denounce humanity in favor of a pristine, natural world where the fittest survive. Her cult taught that any action in service to the cause is justified, and that outsiders would never understand. Weirder still, Artemisia has a thing for monster people, specifically people turned into monsters and the act of turning them. In these ways, her upbringing tinges her fundamental empathy with distinctly out-of-whack morals.

Backstory: Tucked away in one corner of the vast and disparate lands that house the Free Cities of Ballas is a mountain like no other. Towering above its range, it reaches up, up, up into the clouds, and no other place in Atles boasts such a profundity of wind. It dances through the trees and across the jagged cliffs, singing and howling, and veins of air aldite course through the earth as its very lifeblood. From a colossal thermal vent in the mountain's heart an endless stream of warm wind pushes skyward, and pieces of the mountain float upon it. Upon this remote peak lie the sprawling village of the Skybound, a clandestine society dedicated to the worship of the primal being of air, Garuda. It was here that Artemisia was born.

From her early years, in the manner of all children whose gifts in sorcery were identified by the village elders, she was trained in black magic. Like the others, her parents raised her as a wholehearted follower of Garudism, beloved guardian of ancient skies who ruled over all creation. The cult eschewed humanity, blaming them for the fall from the paradise that existed under the crystals and swearing revenge. They lived in isolation and fanaticism. Yet, she received something the other children didn't thanks to her father, an outsider captured by the Skybound but deemed unfit for Ascension. Rather than be subjected to other, less glamorous rituals, Solom found salvation at the hands of the woman who'd go on to become Artemisia's mother Essentia, who'd fallen for his wittiness, charm, and good looks. A deliveryman from a nearby kingdom, Solomon could visit the village and his daughter every so often, bringing goods to trade to endear himself to the locals while keeping up the guise of being a devoted Garudist. He helped reel her back from sinking too deep into the cult, and once in a while managed to sneak her away from the mountain atop his delivery roc to visit civilization. Her love for knowledge and drama bloomed during this time, and she longed to learn more of the outside world.

But forces pulled her homeward, too. As she came of age she became involved in the Climb, the cult's longstanding practice of abduction and experimentation in order to bring about a successor to Garuda. After capturing outsiders, the cult's Skybound Seekers brought them before the elders, who would determine whether they would were fit for Ascension. The many who did not would be subjected to horrifying aldite experimentation, used as testbeds for the improvement of treatments designed to transform people into monstrous airborne fiends. The lucky few would undergo Ascension, mutated by the latest and greatest aldite treatments into the likeness of Garuda herself. Then the Skybound forced them to go up, to the peak of the mountain and beyond, higher than even the clouds, to the lofty island well beyond the reach of the mountain's thermals where legends tell the Crystal of Air once rested. None completed the ascent, but the Skybound labored on. It was only a matter of time until their formulas led them to a successor, Garuda reborn, fit to lead them in glorious revolution.

Artemisia worked as an assistant to the mages who experimented on the unfit and eventually joined their ranks, inundating captives with aldite until they became Alters, then fiends. It made her skin crawl, but somehow it fascinated her all the more. Despite -or perhaps because of- the wrongness of it all, she'd discovered a deep-seeded passion for corrupting people into monsters, but that obsession led to her trying different amounts of different aldite to see what traits would arise. Her misuse of resources eventually led to her reassignment as a Seeker.

Leaving the mountain behind, she set out into the world at last, her mission to keep an eye out for candidates she could collect return to the Skybound. Her journey took her across the land of Bellas and its Free Cities, visiting each in turn and bearing witness to their muriad wonders. Away from the cult and the intoxicating fumes of the labs and the mountain itself, Artemisia changed. Her fervor for Garuda and the rites of Ascension waned, replaced by her resurgent fascination with the cultures and creations of other societies. She could never deny the shadow of Garuda that hung over her, but Artemisia reasoned that the guardian -having already slept a millennia- could surely wait a little longer. She soon found herself traveling all over in search of interesting people, beasts, places, and the stories that surrounded them all. While Bellas contained enough points of interest for a lifetime, that troublesome necessity of money kept her working odd jobs, and one stuck her with a caravan that took her all the way north to Alexandria. As luck would have it, borders closed soon after she arrived. Trapped in an unknown city, she enlisted in the Hunters' Guild despite the risks for the good pay and ability to travel freely.

(As a black mage she has a 'rod', which she uses in ways many might deep unconventional for a magician)

[User]
Ferris Wood | Winding Paths

---

"Mhm."

While the blonde's response was cheerful and polite, Mitra felt it a certain yet different way.

She had known the Red Mage once in her life and seeing him in the guild hall had caused a certain feeling rise up in her gut. It was one of the reasons she rushed to introduce herself as Mitra and not her trueborn name. She didn't like people knowing things she didn't want them to know. There were other reasons that she chose to keep her responses to Blaike minimal and playfully antagonistic throughout the journey from the guild hall to the Ferris Woods. History. Feelings left unresolved. If she was somewhere private she might've screamed into the void, her frustration about the situation incomparable to anything else.

But just as the Red Mage knew Mitra's true name she also knew his and it certainly wasn't Fremont. He had been born with a much more flowery and pretentious name. Full of titles and everything. She couldn't believe he was standing there. He hadn't explained anything. He was too busy grandstanding like he did when they were kids to care.

It was whatever. What was the likelihood she'd have to pal around with him as the token Red Mage forever?

"Just looking for miniboros, like I said."

[Assistant]
---

---

Rioting cabbages, how humorous! Luna was greatly amused by the little joke, unable to contain a giggle as she pictured the monsters as vegetables. On hearing the name, Luna's eyes widened, an odd shine to them as the knight introduced herself. Before she could respond, however, the dragoon--Mitra?--asked if she had any experience with her weapon. Luna deflated slightly, her jaw working as she wondered if she should admit her experience, or lack thereof. But what if she was asked to stay behind? Hiding it didn't seem right, either. What a conundrum.

Fortunately, the red mage--Blaike, yes she was sure of that one--spoke, taking the attention away from her. Luna returned his smile, looking back at Ianthe as he focused on Mitra. She put on a grin, absolutely ecstatic as she practically hopped along. "Your name is like the flower! How pretty!" Luna exclaimed without really thinking, immediately launching into an explanation. "Well, the word itself translates into 'a flower of purple color' and there are a few species of violet colored flowers that fall under that category, but it's better known as a species of butterfly: the Pseudoneptis bugandensis ianthe. Except, I never quite understood it because the butterfly seemed to be more a shade of indigo than a violet color? At least from the pictures I've seen in the library, but if I ever run into one while we are out here, I'd love nothing more than to properly discern its color."

At the very end, she fell silent as she looked around. She didn't think that they would see any while here if she was honest. Animals had a tendency to avoid the miasma, although whether it was instinct or the up-rise in fiends was up to debate. Poor creatures, having their home invaded.

She gasped as she realized she forgot to respond to the other half of Ianthe's statement, waving the bow around a touch. "Songs are my forte, believe it or not! I've played the harp since I could reach and pluck the strings. Mother said it was a dignified talent to learn," Luna swelled with pride as she spoke. "My tutors spent plenty of time teaching me archery as well, and I greatly enjoyed shooting while on horseback!"

Luna paused for a moment, deflating again as she looked downwards. "...although, I admit this would be the first time I've used both skills in conjunction..." She admitted sheepishly. "B-But I won't be a burden! I swear!"

---

[User]
As the group of hunters advanced, the atmosphere of the forest surrounding them continued to be more than a little impressive, but it didn't exactly get any worse, at least not at any noticeable speed. Nothing jumped out at them just yet, so Artemisia's rising apprehension started to even out. Still, she couldn't exactly start her mind wandering at a time like this, so she contented herself with listening to the dialogue between dainty Luna and her new lady knight friend. Despite the circumstances, the mention of Luna's bow seemed to lift her spirits, her manner quite casual all of a sudden. The knightess replied in kind, also pretty lighthearted if a little forced. Is she trying to break the tension? Because it's working. She even went as far as to introduce herself, offering a rare and nice-sounding name that made Artemisia think.

Toward the other side of the party, the spearmaiden and swordsman exchanged a few curt phrases, their 'conversation' as succinct as it was unsatisfying. As such Artemisia turned her attention back to the others, just in time for Luna's bright, excited voice to ring out through the woodlands in a far-too-cheerful examination of the name, revealing it to be both a name for a butterfly and a flower. The black mage didn't mind, though, since random facts like that never failed to capture her attention. "Hm, is that a fact?" In addition, the thought of such a formidable and stolid-looking lady knight having such a cute and girly name made Artemisia giggle. Almost like an expression of inner beauty and whimsy, buried deep down under all that discipline and muscle. If she's got a reputation to uphold, she might keep that name hidden away beneath that armor too, sharing it with only those she trusts to see her true self. Wait, no, she just told it to a bunch of strangers.

Almost getting so sidetracked that she stopped paying attention, Artemisia tuned back in just in time to realize that whether she meant it or not Luna was saying something else, aside from that she knew a lot about organisms. Whoa, she grew up with access to a library? She might have lived in a big city like Civitas Miribilia. But who's a tutor? Some kind of teacher?  Not wanting to come off like the uneducated mountain yokel she technically was, though, the black mage kept quiet. Instead, since there seemed to be no monsters around at the moment and nobody said to be quiet, she decided to repay Luna's trivia with some of her own. That meant trampling right over the girl's rather childish lack of self-assurance, of course, but that was hardly her fault. We're not a support group, after all.

"If you know that, you probably know about the plant I'm named after too. Well, less plant and more family of plants. Worts, sagebrushes, sage, wormwood, even tarragon. Not exactly flowers, I'll give you that, but still plenty good. Strong odor, strong flavor, strong all around. We don't die easy." She crossed her arms, looking proud herself. "Plus, you get absinthe and vermouth from the stuff. Pretty cool, right?" The whole time she neglected to mention her name, but if Luna knew her stuff she might even be able to guess it.

Artemisia, however, gave her only a few moments before fixing her with an innocently inquisitive look. If Luna wanted to chat, she ought to experience an expert, and though no doubt a woman of many talents Ianthe wasn't cutting it. "Almost as cool as someone with libraries, and tutors, and fortes who goes shooting for enjoyment becoming a monster hunter, huh? You must be a real natural talent. What's your story?" Sure, she was putting Luna on the spot, but Artemisia's voice held no hostility. As a connoisseur of stories, she wanted to learn what made the girl tick.


[System]
Species: Human

Age: 28

Gender: Female

Appearance: Shorter than average, dark hair, somewhat sun-kissed skin from outdoor activity, and way less scars than one would've expect. Usually clad in mail hauberk adorned with pieces of banners from felled foes (or a pretty dress, at rarer occasion), and always with at least one weapon in her person.

Bio: When Yvonne was born she's the only child to the opulent but very much declining house Rosenving, it took less than two more decades of ridiculous parties and all-around bad financial management before it was driven to the verge of bankruptcy. Naturally there comes the talk of marriage upon which Yvonne, an oddball obsessed with distinctly unladylike things like driving the business end of a weapon into someone's soft flesh, all but absconded with her great-grandfather's blade. The rest of her life was spent in a wild ride of mercenary work and avoiding (more commonly, well, thoroughly violencing) the men hired by her family and/or her would-be fiance to bring her back. Her journey brought her all round the three kingdoms and more, even after her ancestral home collapsed and pursuers stopped coming.

Invited by promise of great reward and, among other thing, to try save the little henchman boy that used to follow her around (yes, that would be the prince), and the fact that she happen to be lurking around the border already, Yvonne stepped back toward the royal court of Kindeance once more.

Skillset: Well versed in outdoor survival, knack for murder and violence, oddly high spatial awareness, dancing, easily thrives in chaotic situation, very good at intimidation, weaves pretty dang well, and is proficient using common melee weapons. Personally prefers the mace despite her title.

Spells:
-Mansplitter (Self-buff. Gain inhuman strength for a very short period. The stronger the effect, the greater the backlash.)
-Warcry (AoE debuff. Inflict terror in a wide area. Greater effect on closer target, and greater effect on direction Yvonne is facing.)
-Bloodlust (Passive. Haste, pain tolerance, and resistance to mental effect. Starts off weak but ramps up as the fight goes on.)
-Resilience (Passive. Harder to injure, less affected by existing injuries, and heals a lot faster than normal at the cost of increased calorie usage.)

Equipment: Daily necessities (preserved rations, a tin pot, medical supply, knapping, change of clothes, etc), adorned mail hauberk, the sword her great-grandfather wielded that probably never saw use since then until it landed in her hands, a heavy flanged mace, a rondel dagger.

Other: Can be inserted to the plot any time it's convenient (or fun) to do so.

[User]
"Alright, just roar if anything comes up. I'll follow you from a distance"

 Alright. Time to sort out the items from the saddlebags, and then Cedar's items.
 It's quite interesting, looking at how similar Cedar's inventory is to these kidnappers. Hand axes, knives, these... If he remembers correctly, these are called knapping tools? He himself quite never saw his need for these things used to create sharp stone tools. After all, he's able to pull a sizable supply of iron from within his own body.

 Cedar... Right, Matilda did call him Cedar, didn't she? Henri shrugged, realizing that he misassumed that his name is Cedrick because he once heard that Yvonne girl call her 'Ceddy'.
 That man Anderson was calling him Cedrick too, most likely because of Henri. Yet, he felt no obligation to fix this mistake. He will just let it be, as a tiny future source of hilarity.

 After melting the unnecessary metal tools and throwing away the saddle bags, sackcloths, and any non-metal parts of the knapping tools; he began equipping Cedar's gear with much care. The cloak of a 9-feet-tall bear is expectedly too long for his normal human size, and so he wrapped it partway on his neck like a thick scarf. His hand axe and knife are then sheathed on the right hip. His flints, placed in the left pocket. His leather-wrapped knapping tools, attached to his left hip. His rope, slung to his right shoulder. His ball of twine...

 This is quite an unusually-shaped item, this ball of twine. He reached for Cedar's barrel and attached a diagonal rod to the side of it, and hung the ball of twine onto it. He then wore the barrel on his back. It's good that they added this leather harness to it, turning it into quite a bulky backpack. Finally, his oversized boots and gloves are simply worn directly, even on top of his own shoes, and he'll just hold Cedar's shovel in the open and his big stick as a walking stick, he supposes.

 Henri began to walk, following Cedar from a huge distance as he said.

[Assistant]
Placidly padding along, the big lumbering form of the bear-man slowly made its leisurely way first up along the edge of the lake, to collect the tiny shriveled black berries that had been overlooked by the birds last winter from amidst the dangerous coils of prickles that were known as "GreenBriar." Birds and deer subsisted on the things during the winter months, as the perennial vine was semi-evergreen, and kept foliage on even in the winter-- or so his dad told him. He had never seen it himself. Whenever the weather started getting cold, the urge to go to sleep became overwhelming, and without even realizing it, he would just wake up several months later in time for spring.

The nasty little vines would serve their purpose quite well here, and would be a buffet for the birds this winter. Deer did not really like wading through the marshes, though he supposed the ice and snow would harden it up well enough for them to consider foraging among the ruins this winter.

Tucking quite a number of the shriveled little black bastards into the small pouch he had retained, and laced to the inside of his right arm, he had long since begun his long, shuffling and investigatory plod all around the ruins. There WERE a few edible roots and small fish hidden among the muck, and he was still very famished from his stay in the dungeon. It didn't hurt any to actually play the part he was 'pretending' to be-- especially since he knew how to do it, and it would serve several roles at once. It was a good hour or more before he was satisfied with having seeded the area with the vicious little horrors he had 'just so happened' to drop into the foraging holes he had been digging, while discretely prompting them to germinate, and greet the summer sun. He had continued 'subtly' coaxing their growth, while doing his lumbering "bear shuffle" amongst the muck and puddles, urging their roots to go deep and wide into the surrounding environs. The whole damn ruin site was now ringed in, like one giant bear trap, ready to be sprung.

Lazily, he waddled back up to the lake, carefully removed the small sack, then took a nice refreshing dip in the water to get all the mud (and old dungeon stench) off.

"Are you done yet?" was the complaint he was greeted with when he returned to Henri, who was wearing his clothes in a most peculiar manner. Almost comical.

"Yup. I thinks so. I'm ready when you is."

[User]
He listened, but not to understand. To him, their words were discordant noises, rambled by criminals either to rat out their partner-in-crime or to vaunt their innocence. Be it a plea, confession, or reason, he ignored it all as he toss them into the Rascade dungeon. And today, he expected it to not be any different.

But the first person to speak had brought a certain irregularity, and it started to get on his nerve. How dare they come to this place, deceived his men, and then stated, right in front of his face that they hold the information he was unworthy to hear?
His anger reached its peak when a certain former noblewoman spoke up and reinforce what the first trespasser said. Even more so when she brought up the name Matilda. Too long that she-orc had been the thorn in his side. So what? His Highness trusted her and now she acted like she owned Rascade.

"Be silent!" he rebuked, harsh and efficient. "I am not here to bandy words with an ungrateful daughter who ran away. How is Rosenving now? Did you crawl back to His Majesty's feet asking for His favor while your family begged for table scraps?"

Yvonne strode a pace forward, but suddenly Jazdia's clutched her by the shoulder, and she halted, glancing at the elf with clear disdain.

"Greetings, Constable Delving. I wholeheartedly acknowledged that the timing was less than ideal. But my friend was right, we are here on Fredricus' order." Jazdia opened her bag and reached for a transparent tube, which contained a piece of document, neatly rolled and tied with a red ribbon. She unknotted the ribbon and presented the paper so he can read it himself.

But the man furiously struck the elf's palm, causing the contract to be released from her grip and flutter away before landing on the grass.

The captain whirled at Keito, before continuing his admonishment loudly.

"Listen here, you cheap idiots! I asked a question, plain and simple and all of you made a fucking song and dance about it! I don't care who ordered you. I ask a fuckin question and you fuckin answer. Now is there any of you, in this sorry group who can answer, in plain Common? Please? Thank you!?"

As he speaks, a dozen of guards had made their position around them. All were armed, and they only waited for the Constable's order.

"Or maybe I should just haul all of you to Rascade Dungeon myself!"

[Assistant]
Chōnan snapped from both for stroking the Captain's man strength on the lady's palm and desecrating an important paper that had been sealed by the King himself.

"Mind if I put something first?" He said and pulled something from his bag and it was his mask during his prime on Knight's career. As he did a knight salute, an overwhelming ferocious aura has been released and those who caught feel flinches and recognize his prime status as a knight before. "Ex-Knight of cavalry unit, Kagetane Chōnan...

Late Sergeant, definitely going to haunt you down as you stroke that paper with the King's sealed into the ground. A yelling that pierce into your soul. Whole day of running around until your feet give up" He walked toward the place where the contract fell off. The surrounding guards that were meant to block him started to shaken and Chōnan felt disappointed. "These guards are not ready... yet... Their postures are weak and shaking. Even less trained Mechean surely fill vacant spots here." He picked up the contracted and handed back to Jazdia instead. He felt that the Captain himself can't be trusted to hand the contract. "It is classified from the top and I'm overseeing our guests for their work under Madame Matilda Ironsword. We had a business here and also I visited my late units and my superiors." Yes. He paid them a vist before he catch up with his party on the investigation area.

"As Milady's suggestion, go send a runner if you are not satisfied enough."

[User]
"These guards are not ready... yet... Their postures are weak and shaking. Even less trained Mechean surely fill vacant spots here."

"As Milady's suggestion, go send a runner if you are not satisfied enough."

Few recognized that mask, but their number was insignificant compared to those who feared the wrath of the Delving.

The Constable had his mouth agaped slightly, both in anger and bewilderment. Though he could find the gist of whatever this Ex-Knight Cavalry was saying, he still heard it as a slightly clear gibberish. An impudent one. One that does not respect his authority. In a fit of newfound anger, he brandished his pike and thwacked the Ex-Knight Cavalry at the back of his knee, immediately ending his dramatic posturings and forcing him to kneel. And soon it was apparent that the soldier was not trembling in fear, but instead waiting for an order, and they just got one.

Two soldiers joined the fray, then one more, probably annoyed by the warrior's condescending remark, or they wanted to prove him wrong, all working in unison to pin Chounan to the ground and had him cuffed. The contract escaped the Samurai's grip and stretched out again on the grass.

[Assistant]
"No, Junior. I dont think I will." Well ain't today just going real real bad. Yvonne sported a lopsided grin, something her brothers in arms would've recognized as the prelude to violence, but this far off her hunting grounds there's no one capable of noticing the threat. "What make you think I care about my family, daddy's boy? Looks like you still have no brains between that ears of yours - crown business. Maybe try listening sometimes. I'd say if you hurry you can run to father dearest to beg his majesty for some breadcrumbs before the day ends."

And the damned foreigner just went and spouted some convulted nonsense. Then he got taken down by surprise. Good fucking job man. Yvonne ain't letting that happen though, dude's about a third of their fighting strength by her estimate. The mercenary took one step forward, twice, swing her leg back, tap into her inner strength, and kicked the dumb schmuck trying to cuff her coworker. Not a big boost, she's not planning to kill the footman, but enough to lift him a foot into the air. Catching the idiot by his cuirass strap, she utilized the man as a bludgeon to knock away the other two before tossing him toward Aaron - who saw it coming and stepped aside, but all it achieved was the improvised projectile crashing into the gathering rank of the guards.

That should do for warm up.

"Up you go." She grabbed the downed adventurer by the scruff of his neck, pulling him to a standing position before retreating out of the pike's range. Yvonne escalated alright, but no steel were drawn on her part. Who knows? Maybe the show of force will get the other side to reconsider their stance. She didn't fancy the thought of fighting through the entire garrison of Rascade.


[System]
Theme:
For Ironic Reasons

Gender:
Female

Species:
Goblin

Appearance:

Goals:
Survive

Past Life:
Orchid's life was simple. She was just an everyday girl born and raised in a rural countryside in North Carolina. Her family were farmers; they raised cattle and grew corn to sell both locally and to various food industries. It was a family business and as the eldest child, Orchid often had to do all the chores herself if her parents weren't doing it. Feeding cattle, harvesting crops, taking care of her siblings. All while balancing an education and a social life. Sufficient to say she had to make some sacrifices.

She grew big and strong, stronger than most boys and even her own father (Though it didn't help that he was growing old). She could carry a small cow, push a truck out of the mud, and haul hundred pound bags of cornmeal in a ten mile walk. She never really took care of her appearance beyond some acne problems, and physically she was healthy, but her burly muscles and general demeanor did not earn her many friends. Girls insulted her for her manly physique and guys were either intimidated or just disgusted by her lack of femininity. Orchid learned not to care; she was doing more for her family now than those kids could with their entire adult careers. Always the dutiful daughter, she did everything for her family. Even sacrificed herself for them.

It was a cold winter morning. Though it was snowing heavily, school was not out due to important tests the students had to take. Orchid was waiting at her bus stop with her two siblings who were also going to school. It was cold, but they had made sure to dress warmly. But this also meant they were sluggish and a bit slow. As they were waiting for the school bus Orchid heard it coming. But something was wrong. The bus wasn't stopping. It started to slide and in the fraction of a second she knew what was going to happen. Her school bus was going to swerve and possibly hit them. She could jump out of the way but her little siblings couldn't they would be too slow. So as the adrenaline pumped through her body she picked them both up and threw them to safety. This left her no time to save herself as the bus crashed into her. Her last memories was looking up to the sky and noting how warm the snow was.

Abilities:
Light Equipment - The use of small tools, and lighter forms of armor, weaponry, and other items. Skill granted by birth as a Goblin.

Pacify Animal I (1.0) - You remember how to handle animals and read their body language. Through your own actions, you have a higher chance than normal of getting a hostile beast to calm down and become neutral towards you.

Stronger I (1.4) - Hauling bundles of hay and sacks of grain isn't all about size and muscle, though that certainly helps. Leverage is also a large part of strength, and you remember that. Your raw strength is increased by a minor amount.

Crafting III (3.0) - You can now craft more complex objects with a single moving part (like a flail or a wheel) more easily. Stamina usage from crafting decreased. Sub-stat Enhancements of items crafted from this point on are increased, but items previously made are still the same.

Material Analysis I (1.15) - You have developed an eye for determining the qualities of inorganic or non-living objects. At this level, you will only be able to gain surface information about an object. When used in conjunction with a crafting skill, it may help discover more compatible items.

Monster Analysis I (1.0) - Flat teeth indicate herbivore, binocular vision implies a predator or gatherer. Allows you to analyze animals and monsters, even those you've never seen before. At this rank you'll only learn basic information

Smash I (1.0) - A Physical Skill that consumes Stamina instead of MP. One blunt type attack deals increased damage!

Transformations:
Goblin

Inventory:

Raw Dire Rat Hide (Equipped)
Loincloth (Equipped)
Sharp Stone (Equipped)
Rawhide Bag (7/12) (Equipped)
* Hard Stones x2
* Goblin Bones x2
* Herbs x3

[User]
Mourningstar

"FUCK. DIPLOMACY. YOU ALL DIE!!!" And so the ball drops. If it was even possible, Mourningstar was floating away even faster with Oberon now, all senses on high alert as she hoped and prayed to whatever deities existed in this world that Jason wasn't after her. Fuck, fuck, fuck, why had she done that, why does she always fucking panic in the important situations-

So focused was she on her own lamentations and trying to keep Oberon safe that she didn't notice the Dire Rat lock her off until the last second, nearly crashing into him as she swerved to avoid damaging Oberon's cocoon. "WHY THE FUCK DID YOU ATTACK JASON?! I THOUGHT WE WERE ALLIES!" It screamed at her as her eyes darted from side to side in a panicked fashion, rocking Oberon unconsciously as she worked out what the fuck just happened in the past 30 seconds. Mana Blade charged, firing at Goblin to keep Oberon and other slime safe. Orders screamed, attention dragged to mean screaming Slime, Jason. Temper lost, focus lost, Mana Blade loosed at Jason. Things are hazy, she grabs Oberon and runs, tries to get Goblins off of her by directing them to Jason. Faint wish that he dies?

Conclusion, fuck life. "I- I- I panicked okay! I was about to shoot the goblins, then the slime yelled at me, I was forced to focus on it! I lost my concentration mid cast, the Mana Blade shot out, I couldn't control it!" Mourningstar's voice cracked a little as she said this, slowly inching to the side as she desperately searched for another escape route. "Just leave me alone okay, I don't want to fight humans!" She momentarily slipped into that weak voice, that voice she spoke in her whole life. That soft, pathetic whimper that came from her lips any time she tried to talk to someone. There, that was the path.

Mourningstar made a run for it, bolting to the left of Ed as she moved towards what appeared to be another group of three in the distance, from what she could tell they were all different monsters. More humans, a quick alliance could be made to protect Oberon and herself if needed. Plus, they just needed to get out of this cave in general, there was no telling what could happen if they stuck around while it was turning into a Dungeon. "Help! Help me! I'm being chased by bad guys!" 'Relying on someone else to save you once more. Pathetic.' She couldn't even disagree with that voice.

[Assistant]
@Guy0fV4lor @ReusableSword @Gardevoiran @Kazemitsu @floodtalon @ReusableSword

Curious Danny decided to follow Jason and finally noticed Torrent in cocoon form lying in the cave. Unsure as to what it was he decided to try and analyse it before chasing after the Mage Slime, in hopes of both getting answers and maybe learn some new magic skills.

Despite him flying as fast as he could Jason had a head start and also moved at full speed, so it took Danny some time to catch up. He arrived just in time to see another Wisp throw some blade of Mana at Slime while a bunch of Goblins including one covered in burns were seemingly just looking on.

The Dire Rat yelling about how they were supposed to be allies had to mean that the Wisp was also a former human. Danny had no intention of getting involved in a fight between them and Jason though he would help out if the Goblins turned aggressive. Luckily before combat could really start the other Wisp took off saying something about not wanting to fight humans. He wondered if he should follow after them or stay and if necessary help with the Goblins. He decided to stay with the group and used Monster Analysis I on the scarred Goblin.

Abilities:

* Mana Orb I and II
* Lesser Force
* Levitation
* Monster Analysis I
* Meditate I

Transformations:

Inventory:

[User]
As expected in this form his efforts didn't amount to much. It seemed like he didn't have access to his usual abilities in this astral form, nor could he call out to warn Mourningstar of the approaching Goblins, though it at least appeared as if people were coming to help in that regard.

The more he tried to move however, and the more he was denied, the more familiar the sensation holding him in place felt; it was similar to the way he had felt in the moments between his death in his old world and his rebirth into this one. An endless white expanse and a voice, something he had been through twice now thanks to his reliving it a couple days ago when he had tried to open his character sheet. This felt somewhat similar to that, though he had not tried to move around much back then; well, that only made sense since he had heard the Demon King's voice earlier and this whole ordeal had begun once he'd selected his evolution.

What could he do with that information though? Knowing that the Demon King was responsible for this didn't help him at all. The question was why was he stuck? And he was sure that he was stuck. Had something happened during the evolution process that had… halted it somehow? There was that error message after all.

Looking up at the ceiling of the cave, through the ceiling of the cave, Oberon called out in the hopes that the Demon King would hear him. "Hey, Demon King, why am I stuck here? Did something happen? I need to get back to my body; terminate the evolution for now if you can, I'll try again later."

As soon as he had spoken Oberon began to feel… something, looking at him. For a moment he thought that the Demon King had heard him and was responding, which would be the fastest he had ever gotten a turn around on a bug report in his life, until he realised that the sensation didn't come from above, but rather from below him. Turning in that direction Oberon saw, or at least felt, a pair of piercing blue eyes focusing on him.

The thing, whatever it was, was deep underneath him in some lower part of the cave. The fact that whatever it was could perceive him in this form did not reassure Oberon in the slightest; neither did the thought that maybe it could interact with him in this form as well. Something told him that whatever this was, it was far stronger than anything else in this cave.

"Are you… are you the one causing this interference?"

Calling customer support
Making friends

[Assistant]
Orchid supposed that she's been too lucky so far. She had been so focused on looking for threats, she didn't bother to watch her step. First she felt a slight falling sensation as she tried to catch herself. Next she felt something prick her foot. It wasn't a deep cut, but it surprised her nonetheless. When Orchid looked down she could see the maw of spikes and other nasty things beneath her. She had no idea what it was, but likely had to do with the dungeon's new changes. Either way, it was time to go. First thing Orchid did was stab her spiked club behind her, to give her a bit of leverage to escape whatever pit she was about to fall into. Next she braced her shield beneath her, in case she would fail and and fall anyways. Her shield could help protect her.

As she got a grip due to her club, Orchid would do her best to fling herself back and away from this new, unknown danger. Whatever just stabbed her was likely hostile and has to do with the cave's new environment. If she had to guess, it was likely a skeleton or zombie that just bit her foot. She wasn't sure, but she didn't intend to find out by letting it eat her leg. "Ash!" Orchid called out as she was trying to escape. "Be careful! Something over here!" If Orchid could get away she'd try to get back on her feet and get into a defensive stance, ready for whatever might be in front of her. Hopefully it was just a natural hazard and not an enemy. Orchid has been conserving her strength as best as she could, but she hasn't rested since she camped with Ash.

Health - Mostly Full
Magic - Full
Stamina - Mostly Full

Skills -
Use Light Equipment (--)
Pacify Animal I (1.1)
Stronger I (1.4)
Crafting IV (4.1)
Material Analysis I (1.6)
Monster Analysis I (1.25)
Smash I (1.2)
Charisma I (1.05)
Taboo (1.0)
Fireball (0.5)

Inventory -
Raw Dire Rat Hide (Equipped)
Loincloth (Equipped)
Stone Spiked Club (Good) (Stored)
Wicker Shield (Well Made) (Equipped)
Torch (Equipped)
Plant Fiber Sling (Loaded) (Equipped)
Rawhide Bag (8/12) (Equipped)
* Hard Stones x2
* Antidote Fern
* Fiber Cordage (Average)
* Bloody Garrote

Leaf Sling Bag (1/3) (Equipped to Rawhide Bag)
* Sling Stones x4