[System]
Gender: Male

Age: 29

Former Occupation: Adeptus Arbites (Local Planetary Division)

Former Rank/Position: Enforcer

Mental and Physical Traits: Overtly, Gate's demeanour carries an unmistakable edge of order that sets him apart from penal legionnaires who led former lives that were less regimented. This is betrayed by occasional uncontrollable bureaucratic obsessions, such as wanting to stick rigorously to an intinerary or a trained routine, or some arbitrary neatness in his possessions, such as enforcing a strict policy of categorizing his baggage or arranging his bedding in a specific way. Inwardly, Gate is a conflicted individual; he despises being mixed amongst the rabble he once hunted and is firmly convinced of his own superiority relative to his fellow penal legionnaires. However, this hate does not arise from any belief in a moral high-ground - Gate is quite comfortable with his identity as a criminal and a cut-throat - but instead arises from the feeling that by losing his status he has lost all his power to do anything worthy with his life, and is instead now no different from the millions of faceless souls that churn in the Imperial machine. He is regularly reminded of this by the many officials that now threaten him, punish him and regiment his life, who have become objects of both admiration and utter resentment for Gate. As a result of the above, he regularly fluctuates between moods of nihilism and despair, and moods of violent cut-throat ambition and determination.

Appearance: Gate has a stocky build, standing shorter than most but compensating for it with a natural muscular girth. He has dark brown eyes and dark, razor-cropped hair that flows into a bushy and unkempt beard. His overall appearance bears a rough, dirty look unremarkable amongst the hordes of downtrodden scum found amongst the convicted occupants of a penal world.

Wargear:

Lascarbine
Explosive Collar
2 Mono Knives
3 Frag Grenades
3 Krak Grenades
1 Flak Vest & Flak Helmet
Imperial Guard Penal Legion Prisoner Uniform
1 Inhaler
1 Gas Mask
Poor Weather Gear
Rucksack
Basic Tool Kit
Mess Kit & Water Canteen
1 Weeks' Rations
Blanket & Sleep Bag
Rechargeable Lamp-Pack
Micro-Bead
Ident Tags ("Dog Tags")
Imperial Infantryman's Uplifting Primer

History: Gate was born on the hive world Taranis, as the son to one of the many multitudes of middle-houses that exist in society between the underhive and the upper houses, which exist mostly to act as a social buffer zone and perform jobs bridging the two economic extremes. The Kurman family line was one of law enforcement, with many generations of sons and daughters finding themselves in the employ of the hive enforcer cadres that maintained order on Taranis under the occasional discretion of the Adeptus Arbites.

Gate was no exception, and upon coming of age joined the enforcer cadres along with this three brothers and two sisters with little other thought. Gate, however, was different from his siblings. He had difficulty adjusting to the idea of a life of selfless duty, concerned only with meeting the details of his superiors. An attitude such as that - within the relatively oversight-free enforcer cadres - meant that Gate was able to avoid his official duties and instead pursue his own agenda. For the most part, his agenda coincided with that of the law; he loved nothing more than satisfying his personal vendettas against criminals and orchestrating their downfall. But his pride and willingness to bend the rules put him at increasing risk and increasingly close to betraying the laws he was intended to enforce.

His fall came as the result of a particularly elaborate sting, in which he began his own smuggling ring in order to attract an affluent black market buyer with a large bounty on his head. However, his plan failed; the black market buyer he had been hoping to attract was captured by another bounty hunter on the day he was planning to make the transaction and perform the sting. As a result, he was left with a large amount of smuggled goods and no bargaining chip to justify his actions in the form of the black market buyer.

His attempts to cover his tracks failed, and he was promptly identified as a smuggler, discharged from the enforcer cadre and a bounty put on his head. Ever proud and ever an optimist, Gate decided that this was for the best; he was getting bored of operating from within the cadre and he was making more hive credits from the smuggling business than he ever did as an enforcer. Robbing everything he could from his poorly supplied office in the neighbourhood, he left to disappear into the shifting lawless crowds of the underhive and make a new life. Unfortunately, Gate found that he had greatly underestimated just how hard it was to operate as a criminal without the benefit of his status as an Enforcer, and it was only two months before a gang of underhive bounty hunters captured him and turned him over to the local authorities. Gate ran the lottery of justice, and - perhaps due to his former status, connections or simply luck - avoided execution, and was instead sent to join the massive pool of convicts billed for relocation to a penal world, and eventual conscription into a penal legion.

[User]
Ever since the benevolent God-Emperor first purged the superstitions and backward beliefs from the Cradle of Mankind, the entire concept of a 'Hell' (in the ancient Judayo-Kristian form at least) was expunged from mankind's resume of things to believe and things to take as little more than fairy-tales. Heaven, Hell, Daemons and deities were just as useless and part of Man's pre-enlightened minds as things under ones bed or spirits in the cupboard; it has come as a suprise to the masses then when, confronted with the truth of the matter - that these things do exist in their own twisted and corrupted way - fragile minds have crumbled...but this is pure digression, and the point is this! Hell does exist, whether within the minds of men and women, whether as a physical manifestation of ones own temptations and innermost thoughts or convictions, or - in our current case - as a Penal World in the arse end of nowhere.

The first 'settlers' - though they cannot really be given the title, for they were nought more than a pair of enterprising brothers who found a fine spot for purgatory - initially earmarked the unnamed planet as a potential staging post for further invasions, or as an outpost or training planet for the Imperial Army as they were known at the time. As the Great Crusade came to a close and the galaxy began to sour, the Emperor of Mankind becoming more deity than man, an idol to worship rather than one to emulate, it was decided that the planet would come to be re-purposed by the stagnating Imperium and was given the frankly overbearing High Gothic name of Redemptio.

Redemption, ha! They would have been better calling it what it was, the place earning many epitaphs and monikers in the following centuries, as many names in as many languages as there were inmates and criminals to use them.

While never an attractive planet, the sphere of mostly barren slate-grey rock - holding winds that could freeze a man or strip their clothing to tatters with their intensity, and with mountain ranges that pierced the sky - did hold a number of natural mineral resources, the mining and refining of which were perfect ways for the Planetary Governor (more like Head Jailer) to keep the collection of human refuse in his facility in line. Matched with the nutrient poor gruel that was the mainstay of the prisoners diets, the systematic abuse of male and rape of female prisoners by the more 'civilian' prison guards - the few Arbites personnel, primarily used to quell riots or potential rebellion, keeping well out of and away from such matters - and the monotony of a featureless landscape (the mountains didn't even have snow on them...they just were) and the potential for this place to be called 'Hell' was indeed higher than not.

There were some optimists, there always were at the beginning, but once you were on Redemption for more than a few weeks...well...you soon began to realise that you would likely die there, probably after being made someones bitch, possibly slipping up and running foul of one of the multitude of gangs, and that other options, any other option would be preferable.

This is where out tale begins.

Rumours had been circulating of late, tales of great victories won and battles fought against the overwhelming press of foes that were the Imperium's to dispatch, but more importantly that - what with the campaign route passing near to Redemption, and the ever constant need for fresh bodies to stoke the fires of war - a delegation was soon to arrive from the front. Why were they coming? Who were they? What did this all mean? None of the prisoners really knew, and many were not even aware of this gracious honour, but those 'in the know', the ex-Guardsmen and PDF troopers, the prostitutes and clerks, they knew what it meant and what's more they were prepared to kill if it meant being able to leave this place.

One unlikely group of Imperial heroes were eating their daily noon meal when the representatives of the Militarum arrived, though they did not know they were heroes yet, having taken their assigned places on the benches of the eating tables and been given their non-lethal spoons with which to sup on the grey sludge that didn't even pass for food. Up on the catwalks patrolled hard men and women in uniforms of red and black, the only splashes of colour anywhere in the canteen (the prisoner jumpsuits being the same grey as the walls, tables and exterior of the prison facility), shotguns and auto-weapons held in their arms or holstered until needed, steely eyes looking out for any sign of trouble. It was onto one of these gantry ways that the Captain stepped, all brown and green suited and with one hand on the hilt of a power weapon at his side, his aides rushing in about him to view the potential mass of cannon fodder below them.

Should one have wished to be selected, they could do worse than thinking of some way to grab the Captains or his aides attention.

Conquistador@Laduguer@Amaranth@DeadDrop@Hank

So, there you go, thank you for waiting.

Now, we're all here in the canteen (think stereotyped sci-fi prison 'dining room', guards up on the walks, long benches and tables, few entries and exits etc) at the moment, just chilling and waiting to die...

You have a couple of choices, and it ranges from causing a 'distraction' of some sort, to simply sitting and eating your gruel - characterisation is encouraged, of course. You can also simply wait, and I'll move us along without too much hassle.

[Assistant] Conquistador@Laduguer@Amaranth@DeadDrop@Hank

[User]
Nathan's face presses into the sludge of slop that lays in front of him, his hungry mouth slurping up the gray sludge. It didn't take long as the tray found itself in an empty state. The sludge, devoured by the fiend. He licks his lips cleaning the chapped appendage of any more sledge before looking up at the guards and then to the prisoners. His face spread wide with a grin as he looked up to his fellow prisoners. "Do you feel it, I feel it in the air. The time of change is now, the Emperor commands it - something great is coming, the delegation is coming for everyone here. Soon, we'll be let back into society. Does that excite any of you, it excites me for I have more work to do. For the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!" He yells in their faces before laughing. Rocking on the bench that he is seated on "AHAHAHAHAHAHH!" He calms himself down to a small giggle

Some of the other prisoners of the other tables look over at him, whispering to themselves as they judge and mock the demented prisoners from afar. Nathan looks over to them with burning hate, alas his time of action will have to wait. They soon will be judged, perhaps by him but hopefully, the guards will be the ones punishing them for their sins. It's unlikely that things will change, he'll hang for what he has done that's why he is here, isn't he? Had Governor Freelok lied? He looked back up and maintained his smile to the other prisoners around the table in front of him. "What? Who? Oh, should we kill the officer? Do you not want to be set free or is it that you feel you are already redeemed. You aren't." He says to no one in particular before he laughs again.

He looks back up to the Captain and back to the group of prisoners. His hands gripping around his empty tray. "Throw it? We'll attack him? This sounds righteous!" He looks up to the bare gray ceiling. "The Emperor approves. Tell me when and we shall duel him, for our freedom. For honor, for glory, for our RIGHTS. WE. ARE. MANKIND!"

[Assistant]
Life as a penal convict was one of contradictions. Gate hated the food - Emperor could only know what went into it - and yet he ate it anyway. Gate hated the water - he heard that they put things in it, the sort of things that made you behave like the screaming lunatic gesticulating down the table - and yet he drank it anyway. Gate hated the air - it was dry and stale and stung your eyes, making it hard to think - but he kept breathing anyway. Gate hated his superiors and yet he lived his life at their beck and call.

He stared into the slick grey surface of his gruel and begin to slip into thought, until something out of the ordinary caught his eye; new officers arriving into the mess hall. Normally they didn't change the guard so regularly, so he wagered something unusual must have been occurring. From his appearance and demeanour, the Captain reminded Gate of the private enforcers of the noble houses that ruled his hive homeworld; arrogant, overpaid and concerned only with pursuing their own personal power fantasies. Gate respected that. He couldn't imagine why one would come here, and part of him didn't want to know; sometimes prisoners he had known had disappeared one day, and never came back. Who would miss them? What better place for a bored noble or adept to collect human fodder from? As badly as Gate wanted to leave, he didn't wish to leave only to become a plaything or a human lab animal.

And yet... Gate did badly want to leave. So badly that any opportunity, even one that proved fatal, was worth taking; because in that opportunity lay the faintest glimmer of hope. Hope. Gate considered hope to be of deep significance to life on the penal world. Hope is what men of ambition had. Hope is what survivors had. It was only those who were broken - little better than animals, waiting to die here - that didn't have hope. Gate dearly wished to keep hope.

He shook himself out introspection. He was still staring at the Captain, who seemed to be observing the massed rabble in the canteen. Gate sensed the need to attract his attention, as though he was looking for something. But how? How was he different to this man from the hordes of grey-clad souls surrounding him?

Despair gradually sunk in as Gate realised... he wasn't.


[System]
"If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun."
– Katharine Hepburn

Rae is a short, skinny teenager who walks too tall and fears too little. With long, wavy, chestnut hair, deep brown eyes, and a smattering of freckles, it's easy to be pulled in by her charm. However, underneath all that lie hard lines of ropey muscle. She has no tattoos or piercings to speak of, but both her legs, starting from her upper thighs, are made up completely of wires and shiny metal paneling. Rae was born without her legs developed. Because she was born to a family of Inquisitors, Rae had the best biotech available to her. Her legs are sleek and lightweight, a dusty gold color in an attempt to match her skin. She leans more towards expensive, high-fashion clothing and overpriced makeup, though she is not above occasionally dressing for comfort.

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Basic Information
N I C K N A M E
Rae – used by everyone. Don't call her Victoria. Ever.
Trooper – used by her parents in rare moments of affection
B I R T H D A T E
October 3rd
G E N D E R
Female
A G E
16
S E X U A L I T Y
Pansexual

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Imprisonment
C R I M E
Convicted for theft, systems tampering, homosexuality, illegal biotech upgrades, and drug usage
Y E A R S S P E N T
<1
P R I S O N E L E C T I V E
Janitorial Duties
C E L L M A T E
None. Up until recently she lived with a quiet girl named Julianne. She turned 18 two weeks ago.

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Education & Skills
O C C U P A T I O N
The Katona family is famous for producing generation after generation of high-ranking Inquisitors. Rae was next in line.
C L A S S E S
* Computer Science
* Anatomy
* Advanced Robotics
* History
* Painting
* Remedial English

S K I L L S
* Mechanical/electrical engineering
* Weapons training
* Hand-to-hand combat
* Observation
* Basic first aid

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Mannerisms
L I K E S
* Back talking
* Smack talking
* Sweet talking
* General flippancy
* Fashion
* Poppy music
* Socializing

D I S L I K E S
* Being bossed around
* Condescension
* Asking for help
* Animals
* People who can't take a hint
* Country music
* Her family

H A B I T S
* Humming
* Eye rolling
* Doodling
* Thinking out loud

H O B B I E S
* Painting
* Yoga
* Being spiteful

F E A R S
* Helplessness
* Inadequacy
* Bugs

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Delving Deeper
P E R S O N A L I T Y
To call Rae 'willful' would be an understatement. Stubborn as an ox would be more accurate. Hard headed. Clever and charming to be sure, but the moment you think you can tell Rae Katona what to do is the moment you realize you'd have better luck trying to set fire to the ocean. More spiteful than rational, Rae will often do things completely ignoring any consequences.

Though her childhood was far from blissful, she's grown up with more opportunities and resources than anyone should have any right to – and she knows it. She carries herself with all the swagger and confidence (some might say arrogance) of someone who's only ever had it good. Underneath the teenaged attitude and saccharine charm though is a soldier in the making. Rae is sharper than she'd have you think, and surprisingly disciplined when she wants to be. Not that you'd ever realize, with how she seems to court trouble. In spite of (or more likely because of) the strict discipline instilled in her, she takes any opportunity she can to break the rules with reckless abandon, her disregard for authority clear in every move she makes.

Though impulsive, Rae's a perfectionist and can't help but hold herself to implausibly high standards. She expects too much from herself, but hides her insecurities well.
H I S T O R Y
Victoria Rae Katona was born the second child to Henry and Sabine Katona, a well known Inquisitor family. Their other child, Rae's older brother Jensen, was not an Inquisitor. No, instead of carrying on the proud family legacy, Jensen had gone off to be an entertainer of all things. It was quite the embarrassment. Henry and Sabine promptly cut him off and focused all their attention on their younger child – much to Rae's misfortune.

Her childhood was, in a word, regimented. In another word, stifling. In several words, a massive pain in Rae's ass. She had to always be at attention, practice with firearms, hand-to-hand combat, painting was a 'waste of time,' socializing was a distraction… Rae felt smothered. And bitter.

And so, like any teenager, she acted out. She started to steal things. She messed around with the systems. She made unauthorized modifications to her biotech. Never anything too severe, but enough for her to feel in control, even a little bit. Inevitably, she was caught stealing one day. The Inquisitor was an old friend of her father's, and willing to let the offense slide, much to her parents' relief. It just wouldn't do if they were disgraced by not one, but two unfortunate children. Having a thespian in the family was bad enough. A criminal would be the final nail in the coffin holding their family's pride.

Rae then proceeded to confess to a slew of crimes – only a few of which she was actually guilty of.

To her satisfaction – and her parents' collective horror – such a confession was too much for the Inquisitor to ignore, and Rae was promptly thrown in jail. Her parents were mortified. Then, when she finally let the reality of her situation sink in, so was Rae. She'd just confessed to a multitude of crimes. When her trial date arrived, there would be no way she'd be allowed to live. And so, Rae's own pride and bitterness had been her death sentence. At least, until J came along.
T H E M E S O N G
Drama Queen – Green Day

daddy's little bundle of joy
out of a magazine
everyone's drama queen
is old enough to bleed now

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E X T R A I N F O
Rae was the first of the inmates to set foot on the new world.

[User]
Delores "Dee-Dee" DeMarco

"Don't think I won't cut you just because you're cute."
– Dee-Dee; shortly after her arrest.

Dee-Dee and her band of murderers had made it some distance from the rest of the survivors. It would be much easier to look after a small group like the one she had now and supplies would last longer. To hell with the others, they could rot in that wreck of a ship for all she cared. Lucy, who was taking point, stopped the group for a moment, just as the sound of some large animal boomed across the landscape. "Let's keep moving. Better them than us." The whole group started to run through the endless forest of trees, confident that they would be relatively safe so long as they stayed mobile.

A few hundred meters non-stop and suddenly Lucy fell down a steep decline into a strange hole. Dee-Dee stopped the rest of the group just short of following her down. Looking down to where Lucy had fallen Dee-Dee could see that she was alright if a little shocked.
Virgil: "You're supposed to be the lookout, so maybe try to fuckin' look out?"
Lucy: "Bite me, kiss-ass."
Virgil: "You-"
Dee-Dee: "Cut the shit, we keep moving for now."
Before Dee-Dee had time to add anything else what had first appeared to be a bunch of oddly shaped rocks emerged to reveal that it was actually an enormous creature. It was easily the size of a horse from earth but it stood using only it's rear legs. It turned it's head toward Lucy and sniffed her a few times. No one moved although the others had raised their weapons just in case. Lucy reached toward the lumbering beast trying to touch it's nose and instead was greeated by a long tounge that smacked her in the face. That seemed to satisfy it's curiosity as the beast went to lay down again, effectively ignoring them.

Lucy spent the next few minutes wiping her face of alien drool but this encounter went extremely well. Dee-Dee noted that these creatures seemed docile so they could probably be domesticated somehow. Still they had to find a good place to camp that was far enough north to give them a head start from the larger group of survivors. It was best for them if they got a hold of whatever was waiting for them up north before everyone else. Assuming whatever was waiting for them was enough to satisfy all the survivors, she could only imagine how much that would mean for just her group of six. There were a lot of assumptions going around but really she had nothing else to go on and the best way to stay alive was to be a step ahead of everyone else.

[Assistant]
Velvet heard the birds before she saw them and shortly after them the sound of a large creature that set off the primitive portion of her brain that controlled her fight or flight mode urging flight. She chose then to allow instinct to control a portion of her mind an refusing to abandon logic.

*Panic is the weapon of failure* she said in her thoughts as she tucked the pipe into the webbing on the back of her pack. Then she unfolded the crash axe twisting it in her grip to use the spike as her attack choice in deployment.

Once a armed by the formidable tool she headed upstream avoiding the potential predators that took Ian knowing it held the potential of a shallow crossing closer to it's headwaters an granting her a safer fording opportunity. Her movements were more in the open as she made her way silently north-northwest.

[User]
Rae moved through the ship's hull, making her way back to the pod she'd emerged from. At least, the one she thought she had. Probably. Or maybe it was this other one? No, that one for sure. It was an old class of ship, that was for sure. Aside from the part where it'd gone barreling into the planet's crust, and how the outside was black and scorched after burning through the atmosphere though, it was in astonishingly good condition.

Poking and prodding around the ship, Rae soon found one of the many weapons stashes hidden in a forgotten corner.

"Oooh," she cooed. "Hello, there." Her slender hands curled around a rifle. It was an older model, bolt action with a scope, black and clean. Rae brought the butt against her shoulder and lined up her eye to the sight. She hadn't used one of these since before her arrest. "Yup, I think we're gonna get along fine," she said to her new friend. Her mouth skewed though as she relaxed and looked down at it. Rae had used guns before, sure. But she'd never had to use one to survive.

She'd never been stranded on an alien planet before. Then again, not many had. At least, not many who went on to tell stories. For a brief moment Rae let the reality of the situation wash over her. Then she shoved it down.

A small bag was pushed into the corner where it'd been hidden, and Rae bent to inspect it. Inside were several boxes of ammo for the rifle, along with two packets of dried rations (who even knew how old those were), an empty water canteen, and… six unopened packs of dental floss? Rae's eyebrows furrowed together.

Who the hell had packed this bag?

Her confusion was interrupted when sounds of excitement breached the ship from outside. Rae immediately stood at attention, trying to make out what the commotion was about. Setting her jaw, she came to a decision and swung the strap of her bag over her shoulder. Her grip was familiar on the rifle as she moved back towards the door. She poked her head out.

People were starting to run. Rae scrunched her eyebrows in confusion. Then she noticed the rumbling. Eyes widening, Rae snapped her head around to see the shaking tree line.

"Shit."

In one quick motion, Rae pulled the rifle's sling across her chest and took off after her fellow inmates.


[System]
Female
Age 24
Appearance
5'6"
Lean flexible athletic build
Light skin (Japanese)
Appears to have shoulder length jet black slightly spikey hair from the front. However her hair splits into parts, taking the longer half and tying it together at the neck into a downwards facing ponytail that reaches her middle back.
Medium sized ahoge, more of angular/rigid spike shape, changes based on their mood/emotions. And electrical charge in battle.
Dark drab blueish-gray/steel left eye.
Yellow right eye with a slit shaped pupil.
Eyebrow over her left eye has a slit break in it towards the outer middle.
Irezumi tattoos:
Right arm- Nagasode style sleeve tattoo extending down to her wrist. Nara black wind bars for a background, with a green snake with a red belly coiling down her arm with it's head ending at her outer wrist.
Left arm- Shichibu style sleeve tattoo extending down to her middle forearm. Nara black wind bars for a background, with a blue snake with a yellow belly coiling up her arm with it's head resting on the front of her upper shoulder. Kanji for Mamushi 蝮 (pit viper) tattooed in black on the inner blank space of her forearm.
Back- Her entire back is covered in large nara black ink clouds for a background. And a large tattoo of the giant 8 headed and tailed snake Yamata no Orochi, various flowers, and lightning bolts in the foreground.
Slightly elongated fang canine teeth on the top and bottom as compared to normal people. Teeth are overall sharper.
Ear piercings- Left: Two slim steel rings on their lobe. Helix cuff.
Right: Circular silver stud on their lobe. Smaller steel cuff at the middle of the outer ear/lower helix.
Black painted nails.

Customized slightly oversized black leather asymmetrical moto jacket. Worn unzipped with belt hanging loose.
Steel curb chain necklace that extends down to her chest. Medium sized silver upside down cross pendant.
Zip-up black hoodie. Worn under her jacket with the hood laid over the jackets collar. Worn unzipped often with the sleeves pulled up to her elbows.
Vintage oversized heavy metal band T-shirts, some with the sleeves cut off. Worn over fishnet shirt. (Metallica, Slayer, Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin, Megadeth)
Long sleeve black fishnet shirt. Sleeve extends into a fishnet fingerless gloves on the left but is cut off at the wrist on the right.
Silver signet ring on right middle finger with an upside down cross engraved in it.
Mokume-gane Ouroboros shaped ring with pink jeweled eyes on left index finger.
Steel cuban link chain bracelet on right wrist.
Steel studded black leather belt.
Steel chain hanging down at her right side. One end attached to a belt loop, the other to a pocket watch manadial.
Worn/faded slim dark indigo Japanese selvage denim jeans. (Black or stonewash alt. colors)
Black with white accents Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 running shoes.
Black calf length open toe and heel socks.

Secondary hairstyle reference (Somewhere in between the two)

Close type of ponytail style reference

Raiya specializes in destructive magic. She is a master of electrical spells, and ruinous spells. She has a great foundation in most all Catholic magics as well as some Japanese Zen Buddhist/Shinto magic. As with her fascination of Japan, she also has a great fascination with snakes and has developed snake themed fighting style and magic. Every so often she sheds her skin, this makes her immune to aging. With her magic powers, she also has the ability to control certain light metals.

Raiya's parents, Japanese immigrants, owned a successful Japanese cuisine restaurant chain in New York City. Both parents died in a burglary gone wrong leaving Raiya orphaned in infancy. With a large mana constitution, Raiya was immediately adopted by the Catholic cathedral and put into mage training. Growing up in the New York Cathedral, she always shadowed Felix and thought of him as her older brother. Raiya was always proficient in magic, and her studies reflected that. Raiya achieved the rank Grand-Mage at the age of seventeen. At the age of twenty she was sent with two other grand-magi to investigate the sudden disappearance of a remote village in Italy. The village was razed, not so much as a 2x4 left standing upright. Investigating the trace of mana waves left by the spell she made her way to a nearby mountain where she found on a cliff-side the definite point of origin of the spell. Looking around the point of origin she found footprints. The foot prints looked exactly like the sole tread of a typical Catholic Magi officer. The level of destruction and the fact that the mana waves left by the spell accounted for only one spell, coupled with the footprint meant the evidence pointed toward an Arch-mage or higher to be the cause of the destruction. Once she returned to the Vatican, she provided the evidence in a council meeting. The council thanked her for the evidence provided but stated that they would be conducting the investigation from then on. Even though the council told her to no longer investigate this issue, Raiya continued the investigation on her own. Looking into the records of those who were gone the night of the destruction of the remote village, she narrowed it down to two, Arch-mage Thadeus and Arch-mage Felix. After obtaining this information, Raiya investigated both Thadues and Felix's living quarters. She discovered that Felix had never even worn his uniform boots, as he wore his own more comfortable combat boots. Thadeus, on the other hand, did not have any other pairs of footwear besides the ones on his feet, which were the uniform boots. Learning of this information but knowing the Vatican council would never listen to her, she approached Felix whom she knew was innocent. She told Felix all of the information she had obtained, but Felix brushed her aside saying that the Vatican was conducting their own investigation and to go against their demands to keep the investigation within their selected team would mean excommunication, even if the information was correct. Felix told her that he would not tell anyone about her own investigation, but pleaded with her to keep quiet about the issue until the Vatican completed their investigation. Raiya couldn't believe what she was hearing, that her cold hard evidence was being brushed aside because of protocol. But what's more, that the investigation team was comprised with Thadeus's brother as a member meant surely that Thadeus would never be convicted of this crime. All of this put into perspective Raiya's membership with the magi, and soon after she left the magi and Catholicism altogether. When she left two others left with her, the other two grand-magi that were on her initial investigation team with her. Soon after they left, they returned to NYC. Because the Vatican saw them as Apostates, they froze all their accounts and social security information, forcing them to make money through means less savory. Instead of falling into despair, Raiya and her two peers adopted the shady lifestyle altogether. Through their magic abilities, it wasn't long before they were running the biggest criminal organization in NYC. Raiya still resides to this day in NYC with the other two magi as her right hand women.

Raiya is seemingly devoid of any positive emotion. Her normal demeanor could be described as aloof. She is seen as a hard nosed, unwavering leader. This makes her well respected by her subordinates in the gang she runs. Though, to those who know her well enough she can be lighthearted. She has a short temper and a low tolerance for annoyances. In her annoyed state she has no problem threatening her friends with one of her sushi knives she keeps in her inner coat pocket, or electrocuting them with her magic. She loves Japan, even though she wasn't raised there herself. Her fanaticism for Japan runs so deep that she has Japanese tattoos, and has even taught herself the language perfectly. She is an excellent chef and specializes in Japanese cuisine. Even though she isn't very sociable, the few friends she does have are kept close to her and she protects them.

[User]
Travis watched on as Raiya tried to instigate Father Stockton into fighter her in his powerless state. Rutger fumed and seemed nearly ready to lash out again but unexpectedly, he released his dagger along with the anger that formerly painted his expression. Travis couldn't tell whether he had lost hope and accepted the reality of his eventual demise or if he had some sort of sort of unforeseen backup plan as he reflected the same provocation back to Raiya. The Untalent could only surmise Rutger's strategy was to promote hesitation in their battle-hardened teammate and in doing so possibly sparing him.

Unsurprisingly, if Travis were in Raiya's position, he'd have certainly hesitated in finishing off an unarmed and powerless opponent. He couldn't come to grips with carrying out such a death sentence upon an individual whom couldn't fight back; he simply couldn't find the justification in it, despite the potential danger they could still posed. On the other hand, Travis could leverage his advantage over Rutger with the knowledge of his fabricated and spell and assured the unaware Father that the rune's effects were long-lasting. Having said that, the ball might have been back in Rutger's court again, leaving the powerless Talent to their own fateful decisions. Rutger diffusing himself as a threat would have been the preferred outcome unless he became hostile once more in desperation and give Travis the same jurisdiction in ending his life as the Untalent did to Roy hours earlier.

The problem though was that Raiya was not Travis and considering her history with Father Stockton clear, Travis felt it was unlikely that she allowed Rutger to leave intact. Then again, there were many things he didn't know about her and even pondered if she recognized the fragile circumstances of killing a now-harmless opponent. Travis could only watch and observe how far Raiya's vengeance would go.

That was then Nemo finally returned, looking bloodied and yet still beaming with unaffected amusement.

Nemo took hold of the moment and verbally fortified their advantage over Rutger further now that he and is abilities were present before musing the possibilities of the Father's fate. It became quickly apparent that this situation was no longer under Raiya's judgement as Nemo pulled his revolver out and shot Rutger without any hesitation at all. Travis nearly jumped having been caught off-guard by Nemo cold and decisive death-draw.

"Y-yeah, now it is," he replied finally to Zuri's tired query.

[Assistant] Zuri was glad to see Nemo still alive and walking, even though he wasn't in the best of state. She watches as Nemo approached the group as he took out his revolver and ended Rutger's life in a blink of an eye. She stood there in silence as blood started leaking out of the lifeless body that lied on the floor, creating a small puddle from the gunshot wound. "Shall we continue?" Zuri says in a lighthearted manner.

[User]
Raiya waited for the cowardly Stockton to pick up his blade and meet her head on. But, he was much more cowardly than Raiya had expected, and when he dropped the blade and conceded, Raiya's anger was stoked even more. When Stockton opened his mouth to explain himself, everything that dribbled out convicted her more to end him. His last words were, "Go ahead, show them what you are, you viper." To which Raiya replied, "I'm a viper?" her eyes narrowed and her brow furrowed as a strange smile crept over her face, "You're damn right. Now let me make sure that you don't forget exactly how snakelike I am." She flipped her knife so the blade faced downward as she went in for the kill she so desperately wanted. But at the moment she stalked forward, Nemo appeared out of the shroud of darkness of the hallway they had initially entered the room from.

 Distracted by the sudden appearance of their separated teammate, she turned her focus to Nemo. He walked up and began to speak. It was clear where this was heading before Nemo ever opened her mouth. If Raiya had the energy, she would have jumped on Stockton and murdered him before she indulged Nemo's diatribe, but her exhaustion had set in her bones and as sluggish as she was, the only way for Raiya to end Stockton would have been a slow and painful one. "Don't you dare, Nemo. This is my history, this is my family, this is my kill." She spoke in a weary voice. Her warnings were not headed as Nemo produced a pistol and ended Stockton there. Raiya remained silent as she dropped her knife. She tilted her head downwards averting her gaze from meeting Nemo's. She couldn't look at him, Raiya felt extremely wronged, her mind was so clouded by exhaustion and the reality of the situation that she had no words to express what she was feeling. Her anger was swelled before she tried to go in for the kill, and that pent up anger had nowhere to go so it coalesced and condensed itself into a hard ball of resentment that she would not soon let go of.

 Raiya had half a mind to walk away from the group and try to find the exit and possibly try to find her own way off of the island. But that thought dissipated as her rationality reminded her that she knew nothing about sea travel, hated large bodies of water, and did not know how to swim. So instead, she just silently walked towards the big runic doors with her head faced downward as she walked. "Let's just get this over with." She grumbled angrily as she walked, 'the sooner we finish the mission the sooner I can find my way to the nearest bottle of liquor' She thought.


[System]
* Age: 16
* Gender: Female
* Race: Human
* Appearance: Armored, Unarmored. She is 5'1, with pale skin, blue eyes, and blonde hair. Her armor is silver with gold decorations. Her sword has a golden hilt.
* Personality: Fanilly is one to take her duty seriously. This is both due to a belief in the cause of the Iron Rose Knights, and a severe insecurity and self-consciousness about her position. She is well aware that she is young and comparatively inexperienced. She knows that she is only in the position she is because of her birth, as she was born under a full moon. This only makes her feel worse about it. For Fanilly Danbalion, captain of the Iron Rose Knights, she can't help but feel that they have a point. She's young. And even though the founder was the same age, she was viewed as something miraculous, almost a saint. Should Fanilly truly be leading them? This weighs heavily on her mind, and thus one of her biggest desires is to prove that she is. In spite of her young age, in spite of how this tradition has worn thin for some, Fanilly wants to prove that she is a worthy captain of the Iron Rose Knights above all else. Aside from this desire, the girl is somewhat socially awkard, sometimes unprepared for conversation. However, she is not really shy and can generally deal with attending various functions in the capital, as is expected of the Iron Rose Knights. She is dedicated to the purpose of the order, to defend the innocent and protect the land of Thaln. However, the doubts surrounding her have lead to a lack of confidence in herself. Fanilly has a younger sister and as a result has a somewhat stronger affinity for children and desire to keep the safe, but as someone dedicated to the Iron Rose Knights' cause she wishes to protect all those in need. While she has a lacking in confidence, she retains some pride in her training, as she has proven to be skilled at swordplay in spite of her youth.
* Brief Backstory: Fanilly was a daughter of the Danbalion family, a noble family already. While they had never been knights, her birth on a full moon immediately made her a potential future candidate for the Iron Rose Knights' captain. She was simply needed sooner then many expected. And so she experienced training for several years leading up to her instatement as the Captain of the Iron Rose Knights. Initially she was confident in herself, but it quickly became clear that even some within the Knights had grown tired of the tradition of selecting a maiden born on a full moon to be the captain. This wore on her quickly, and has lead to her desperation to prove herself.
* Equipment: Fanilly wears a well-made set of somewhat ornate armor. She wields a fine longsword in her right hand and a dagger with a curved hilt for trapping weapons in her left.
* Skills: Fanilly has experienced extensive training in swordplay, specifically in the use of a longsword in both hands, or paired with a unique parrying dagger.

[User]
Julianna got an sudden chill down her spine when the guantlet touched her shoulder. Considering their situation, Nero was lucky Julianna didn't stab him with her weapon. What an incredibly rude thing to do and stupid thing to do during a crisis, even if it appeared to be over. Thankfully for Nero, Julianna was able to realize just who it was.

Julianna didn't respond right away and let Nero do what he wanted. Nero was scorpion, shiny, armored, and full of poison. He was also very observant and his little jab at her hit home rather quickly, but of course she wasn't going to go along with it.

"What matters is that we have caught the immediate threat and that we know whoever is behind this attack is of the extremely cautious sort. No doubt it will be very hard to glean any useful information out of the assailant." That was certainly true, with an attack who could not even speak who had to know how to ask the right questions to get any useful information, also if the killer was illiterate as well it would be even more of a challenge.

All that being said, she now had a nasty hand on her shoulder, did the man have to leave his gauntlet on? Yes they were still in a potentially hostile situation but having a gauntlet on your shoulder was creepy and uncomfortable in more ways than one. Thankfully she had just the thing to take care of the situation.

"Ah yes that reminds me Sir Nero, have you had the pleasure of meeting my father, Marquis Silvern?" Julianna smiled put an open palm toward the large man now standing next to them. There was never anything quite so intimidating as a father who looked like you were assaulting their daughter. His smile seemed pleasant but his eyes were fixed on the offending gauntlet.

[Assistant]
Martina Stonehammer
Well, she'd missed, but... At least someone had managed to catch the assassin. Getting to her feet and dusting down the front of that garish collection of frills her mother had made her wear, she joined the knights who had surrounded the Nem, fully ready to let her have it...

...And then she noticed the scars on her neck, and her inability to speak. Surely, this poor thing had been forced into this... Surely, whoever had done this to her was the true villain, the one truly deserving the fiery wrath that had been boiling inside her since the princess had been attacked.

She couldn't help but roll her eyes as the undead knight tried to get the assassin to write on a napkin. Without wasting a breath, she stomped off to someone who she knew would have something to write with...

Her father.

Naturally, a big event like this filled with nobles was an excellent opportunity for him to negotiate new trade contracts and expand his business. And whilst it was the dwarven way to inscribe such agreements upon stone or metal (thus creating a lasting, binding contract)... Well, Thaln wasn't exactly dwarvish lands, and sometimes even the most traditionalist of races had to compromise. After a short exchange with him, Martina soon returned to the Nem, slamming a roll of parchment, a quill and an ink well in front of the diminuitive assassin.

"If you can write, write." The scowl etched across her face burned with barely contained fury. "Tell us who did this to you, who made you go after the princess, and we assure you... Our vengeance shall be swift and merciless."

[User]
The assassin stared in blank confusion, momentarily taken out of her limp acceptance of everything that was done to her, when the little girl retrieved napkins and food. That, certainly, was difficult to understand for the girl. But she understood when parchment was spoken of. As the girl who had pinned her to the ground asked her questions...

For the first, the nem nodded. She nodded to the second, as well. To the third, she hesitated.... and as her mind seemed to wander, an expression of anger came to her face. Yes, she'd failed, but if she hadn't...!

With trembling hands, she snatched the paper away from the taller girl, then the quill and inkwell. She'd tell them exactly what they'd done by stopping her assassination attempt. Then they'd understand.

As she wrote, the true hoplessness of the situation she'd found herself in sank in deeper and deeper.

When she raised the parchment up, there were furious tears in her crimson eyes.

You've killed my sister. And so have I.

---

Fanilly relaxed slightly when she saw the Assassin had been stopped. Good. She'd gotten stopped before she could leave the room, and she was unharmed by the looks of things. That meant they could figure out who was behind this. As Sir Gillian proposed getting everyone out of here, the short blonde nodded. It'd be easier for everyone involved.

It was about then that the head of the head of the royal guard approached. He was a tall man, in ornate armor, with a long poleaxe. He had quite the mustache.

"Your highness, are you okay?!" her called. The Princess nodded.

"I'm fine, the Iron Roses kept me safe," she said. While she looked like she had composed herself, Fanilly could hear her voice wavering. "The captain has a request for you, as well."

"The captain?" he looked around, before realizing the rather short Fanilly was directly in front of him. "What is it you request?"

Fanilly nodded. "I need your men to clear the hall out, to get every noble to a safe location. We'll keep the Princess safe."

The main hesitated. It was their duty... but... the Iron Roses were legends, of course, even lead but such a small girl... "... V... very well."

With that, he set about ordering the guards to clear the room. Fanilly glanced back at the others.

"I'm going to see the prisoner," she explained, "Keep the Princess safe, no matter what."

And with that, she began to approach the cluster of knights, and the defeated assassin. As she grew closer, her blue eyes widened at the sight of the ugly scars on the nem girl's throat. Just what had happened...? ... Regardless, they had to learn what was going on. That message she held up... they'd killed her sister? And she had as well?

... No. They'd find out what was going on regardless. There certainly hadn't been a second Nem here... So the message must have meant something else.

[Assistant]
Tyaethe blushed when the parchment came out... who was she to know that there was someone actually carrying writing supplies around in a ball? It was far beyond the norm for someone to actually come to what was supposed to be a relaxed party and bring tools of their work. Instead, she munched idly on the bread whilst waiting for the nem to write out her message.

It definitely wasn't a pleasant one.

If they had both killed her sister then that meant the assassin was blackmailed to be here... and if they let news spread of a failed assassination, then that would remove any chance of preventing the gruesome punishment from being carried out. Swiftly, Tyaethe drew her sword again, slamming it into the ground for attention.

"To everyone outside of this room, bar the king and queen, the princess is dead. This is a matter within the remit of the Knights of the Iron Rose, and I will hold anyone spreading the truth responsible for manslaughter. Do you understand?" the paladin stated, hoping that her reputation would overcome her small stature. Nobody that she had been determined to protect had died, though once it had been close... if not for Elionne. This would be the same.

[User]
Gillian eyed the moustached guard as he retreated, though was relieved he seemed to back down to Fanlily's inherited authority. He returns his sword to his scabbard, rubbing his eyes as he does so. Tonight was more stress than he'd care to have in a year. Mayon above willing it only aged him a few days, though considering tonight's luck that seemed unlikely. "At this rate I'll be grey by my thirties…" he grumbles to himself.
The princess it had it worse though she held up better than he'd expected. But even seasoned members of the order would be shaken after an attempt on their lives, and Gillian had no interest in testing the limits of the young woman. "Your highness…" He starts voice much softer than normal. "I think it best that we retire to somewhere quiet until things have calmed down. Do we," He says, gesturing to himself, Ian, Christina and Sult, "have permission to escort you back to your quarters? Or would you feel more comfortable elsewhere?" He asks. Normally, he'd confine the noble to their quarters and ignore any protest. But given his earlier behavior, he doubt she'd respond well to such an act at the moment. And that aside, the girl looked as though she was well past due a chance to regain some control over the situation.

[Assistant] Viviane sighed as she tried to get control over herself the situation was over there was no more need for violence at the moment. Despite those thoughts she still gripped her dagger tightly in her hand an assassin who failed their missions was nothing more than a fly to those that may have sent her. This meant that this was nothing more than a opening act surely they did not expect the assassination to work? "A opening act worthy of ten playwrights by itself. The act opens with the failed assassination attempt on the beloved princess Quick to defend her life the fearless captain leaps to her aid pushing her away just in time." She said aloud as she twirled on her left foot causing the hem of her dress to fly by the action. "Surely no better tale could be told? A twist perhaps of events to create a starts of forbidden love? Oh the story of love and tragedy that it would entail." She continued twisting events to seem more like that of a scripted play as she headed towards the captain. Her twisting of events slipping from her tongue not done in jest or in merriment rather a way to get across her own opinion of that there was a possibility it was scripted to happen. Though she doubted anyone would understand what she was getting at it was the nature of people to assume the worst after all even she was not free of that.

[User]
The Nem assassin's eyes widened at the declaration by the little girl.

So did Fanilly's. For a few moments she didn't quite understand, after all... and then it hit her. The Assassin must be getting blackmailed with the fate of her sister in order to do this. And if word got out that she'd failed, the nem's sister would likely be killed. But claiming a member of royalty was dead... wouldn't they have to work quickly if they wanted to avoid the consequences of such a claim? Taking a deep breath, the short girl approached the tiny assassin.

"Dame Tyaethe is right," she began, "If word gets out that the assassination failed, that would mean they'd probably kill her sister. The Iron Roses defend the crown and the country, but we will not have the blood of a blackmailed girl's sister on our hands. But we'll have to work quickly, which means..."

She took another deep breath. While her words were sincere, her tone betrayed her fears and lack of confidence in such a claim. Claiming the princess was dead... the idea of doing that felt terrifying, in a way, but she couldn't doom this girl's sister. "Can you take us to where your sister is being held?"

The nem assassin was silent for a few moments. Then she raised her parchment and put the quill to the paper.

Yes.

Her hands were trembling after she wrote her message. It was clear she couldn't believe this was happening.

Fanilly nodded. Trying to calm her nerves, she took another deep breath. Work fast. They had to work fast. That would mean word wouldn't get out, either of the lie, or simply because of a rumor of the Princess's death spreading too far. Before the night was done, they had to be finished with this.

"I-Iron Roses, be ready to move out as soon as possible," the blonde said, "We-ah...?"

One of the newest knights, Viviane, was saying... what? Fanilly didn't understand, to say the least. What was all the talk about plays all about?

The nem assassin, however, did. For a few moments, her relief mixed with confusion and hesitation was overcome by anger.

How dare this girl suggest that she was intended to fail?!

---

"Ah? Er, yes, er..." the Princess took a deep breath, before nodding. Her hands were shaking. Someone really had just tried to kill her... for a few moments she realized that the knight speaking to her was one of those that had made her so very angry, and yet at this point... well, something like that seemed quite trivial.

"Please, I... I think I need a moment to relax, y-yes..."


[System]
Yo, here it is!!!
Age: 24

Gender: Male

Race: Mura

Appearance:

I did warn you not to look... haha

Element Affinity: Edos, the Luminous Saint (Priest)

Magic: Seals (used in healing)

Gear: Alezander only carries with him his pure white hoodie and wears wooden sandals and a white bottom kimono. He has a stave strapped to his back and wears black gloves on his hands. He also has a pouch that carries his Seal Paper with pre-written glyphs for healing and warding off evil spirits.

Brief history:

Born into a family that still prays to Edos and has a small shrine on their property to their Patron Saint. He was raised from a young age in believing he was no Magi and would never be a Magi. His father's harsh words were not far from the mark. Alezander, Zander to friends, holds a small grudge against those who are pure Magi and need no extra items to use their magic. His father being the one he holds the biggest grudge against. His father is at large known as a master healer and doctor for his ability to make most ailments go away with a simple wave of his hand and soaked brow. Zander's mother, is a Priestess of Edos and pretends to not understand why the Church does what it does and why people have turned their back on it. Zander will not acknowledge he even has a living mother just for that notion of pure blindness.

For years Zander kept his head down, did his chores around the household. Pretended that everything was fine and nothing was wrong. He studied under his father to learn the glyphs used to heal people and animals alike. To chase away dark spirits and to never turn his back on the Church. If there was on thing that Zander needed, it was more training on creating his own glyphs to force his own magic to awaken, if it ever would.

At age 24, Zander's life came crashing down. His whole life had been a lie. He was a Magi alright, but his father was not. He only claimed to be one. He used the same glyphs, hidden around the room he treated his patient in. He called upon them and had one on his forehead to make sweet appear as if he himself was the focal point of the spell being cast. His disgust for all things related to the church and his own hatred for what he himself had become and had been his whole life.

"I'm a Magi..." he muttered to himself. He was bruised and bloody from the thrashing given to him by his father. "I'll set out, away from the Church and it's reach... I'll heal those I can. If I truly have to I'll use my own power as a Magi... through these glyphs."

Additional info:

Alezander likes to be called Zander. He is a Magi just repressed by his father trying to protect him from the outside world. He still holds a grudge against other Magi though to cover for himself. He uses the seals out of habit and only in an emergency will he use his own body as the conduit for his healing magics.

Name: Geoffrey

Age: 22

Gender: Male

Race: Mura

Appearance:

Element Affinity: None

Magic: N/A

Gear: Wearing citizen garbs, brown pants and a single black shirt. He has a pair of fingerless leather gloves on each hand to help with his Archery. Wearing a pair of simple sandals, and usually keeps his bow un-strung in his quiver along with arrows.

Brief history:
Geoffrey has no idea who his father is, and it doesn't bother him in the least. He's unsure of what he wants to do with his life, but he's always felt the call of the wind. The urge to go out and see what the world has. When a young Priest appeared at his Inn Doorstep, offering healing in exchange for a room over a week ago, Geoffrey took him directly to his mother.

Later that night, the two bonded over ale and Zander for once let his walls down and let Geoffrey into his life. That same night brought them even closer together. Before all that; however, Geoffrey helps his mother and his not really twin sister's who are quite a bit older than him. "Thirty-five is OLD!"

Having worked at the Golden Coffer Inn most his life, he's heard wild tales of adventurer's, guard patrols, and a few bandit's that his mother, Olga turns a blind eye too. A few have helped him learn the ways of a bow, a few have offered to make it Demacite Arrows and Shafts and has always refused. He has nothing against Magi or Demacite users, but finds it a bit cheap to hard work with his weapon.

With a choice before him that he doesn't even realize, he tends to his few time lover in hopes he'll awaken.

Additional info:

Geoffrey HATES being called Geo. His mother and Zander are the only two he allows, save for the two barmaids who call him that in a mocking tone and luscious winks. His bow is re-curve, a throw back to earlier hunters and his want to show people hard work earns more. Though he will defend Zander, he doesn't agree with the way he treats others.

Editted to change the backstory a little to match and show he is a Magi not Mundane... heh Mundane I like that.

[User]
It wasn't long before the sounds of ringing steels and shouts and curses drifted down from the deck—Danica's instincts had been correct. Someone had come to reclaim the merchant's goods, but the bandits weren't going down without a fight. At the moment, she had no way of telling how many opponents there were, or even who they were. Was it a contingent of guards? Ten men, maybe? Dani could not imagine that the city had sent too many of them. The goods and ship they had stolen may have been valuable, but surely not important enough to warrant the attention of a whole army. The snatches of conversation that reached her failed to give her any clues, but the cries of pain from familiar voices made her wonder if things were under control.

The bandit leader had already gone out to confront their assailants, so it was left to Danica to hide and wait for action to come to her. The Naga backed into a corner, taking advantage of the limited light and augmenting her natural talent for stealth with her shadow magic. It was just as well that she hid, for soon enough someone entered the cabin she was in. And by entered, she meant he barreled into the room, falling down the stairs and ending up in a muddled heap at the bottom. Dani palmed her knife, silently watching him stumble to his feet, noting in surprise that he was just a kid. Well, she amended, he couldn't be much younger than her, and he was even a few inches taller, but she had been expecting someone much older. This Muran couldn't be a member of the city guard, and he certainly wasn't dressed for the part.

It didn't seem like any of his friends were going to follow him down here, considering his involuntary grand entrance, and he was still recovering from his fall; Danica saw her opening and took it. She exploded out of the shadows in front of her adversary, appearing in a blur of motion as she slammed into him and drove him into the opposite wall. There she pinned him down with an arm, conscious of the tiny amount of space between their bodies as she held her weapon up to his face. He was bleeding from some cuts on his cheek, and overall had the battered and bruised look of one that has been in battle. Clearly her allies had given as good as they'd got. The look on her victim's face made her laugh—she was going to enjoy this.

"What's the matter, little Muran? Lost?" Danica simpered as she pressed her knife up against the man's throat, leaving some space between the blade and his skin. Their faces inches apart, she locked her startling yellow eyes with his, having to tilt her head back slightly to meet his gaze. The minor height difference clearly didn't bother her as her lips curved into a deadly smile, snakelike fangs on display. "Say, you're a cute one… Shame I have to kill you."

[Assistant]
Amuné couldn't really tell what was going on in the fight from where she waited, hidden behind a clump of bushes. She heard shouts of anger and pain, but she didn't think most of them came from her friends. That was good, wasn't it? The girl hoped so, as she pressed against her moorcat's side to minimize her shaking. Zander had gone to join the conflict by then, and it was just her and Wyth, waiting and hoping. She was so scared for them, but Ethan wanted her back where she would be safe.

The vision that slammed into her took her by surprise. It was jumbled and confusing, with her friends and the new healer and the bandits and men in suits with strange devices. Where had they come from? The child had no idea, but the expression in their eyes made her blood run cold. They were dangerous, and they didn't care who they had to hurt. They'd kill anyone that got in their way, and right now that included Amuné and her friends.

The girl struggled to reorient herself as the vision faded, finding herself on her hands and knees. She must have fallen when she zoned out. Wyth was watching something, a silent snarl on his lips, and abruptly moved so that she was draped over his shoulders and leapt aside. Shards of ice buried themselves in the ground where the pair had been moments before.

Amuné's gaze moved in the direction from which the attack had come, and she couldn't keep from shuddering. It was a suited man like from her vision, and on his arm was a strange device that held traces of magic. She could see others like him, closer to the ship. What should she do? Ethan had said to stay clear, but she was no longer safe hiding where she was, and the others were in even more danger. She repositioned herself on the moorcat's back, barely avoiding falling off as he dodged another attack. Why was he attacking her? She'd done nothing -- she needed to tell the others, and they had to get out of here. Bandits were one thing, but these men were something else, something very dangerous.

A soft command to Wyth and he made for the ship, gathering himself to leap onto the prow. "Nymira!" the girl called, her voice frightened. "There's bad men coming, one shot ice at me and they're /really/ bad!" Amuné looked around, but she couldn't see Ethan or Cecil from where she was. "Where are the others? We should go!"

[User]
His dash backwards sent him stumbling down over the fallen bandit that he had headbutted. He felt the wind get knocked from his chest, and rolled to get to his feet quickly. The bigger bandit hadn't moved to attack, nor had the one with the quarterstaff, their attention was on the new arrivals.

Before he could even call out a warning to the one with the ax, he cringed as the lightning coursed through the bandits body. That was more then a stunning effect, that was meant to maim if not kill. As he was brushed off Zander had two options in front of him, one of which was slaughtered when he heard Amuné's cry. His option was to check on the girl and turn the bandits onto those in the tailored suits.

Before he could even move again; however, he felt like he had been slapped. The moorcat had carried Amuné on its back and unto the deck of the ship. His staff lay in the bush, forgotten in their haste, and Zander now had a reason to dislike the girl and the beast. Seething on the inside he turned his attention to his own predicament. Turn the bandits on the suits, or turn on his heel and leave. The young girls actions had in a sense broken the Healer's Oath in a sense. He was left to fend for himself. Oh he would use that if they got out of this intact. Nymira seemed to be the most sensibly to such things, he would prey on her sense of honor.

Shaking the thoughts from his head, and staring at the other three with the Demacite Armament, Zander froze. They weren't church members, he would have been slain on the spot just to clear his family's name. No, these were either resistant members, or rogues looking to make a profit off lesser foes.

"What did you plunder fully," Zander asked the bandit gasping for air at his feet. "Food, cloth and if I had to guess by those four, Demacite as well. Resistant Members against the Church come to rain fire upon your worthless skulls. Fools, the lot of you. Your Magi might have stood a chance against our small group, but against four with Demacite Armament... No. Tis true folly, as a Healer I shall pray for your safe passages to the Saints Nine."

The bigger bandit had heard the last of the statement and smirked, "She be enough to take down de four here. OI! Matey's ignore the young'ns take down da fancy!" The expression on his face was priceless when he heard little uproar in return to his mighty call of force. Rage gleamed in his eyes as he turned to look at Zander. "Ya worthless whoresons! I 'member this for days ta come!" Turning to the bandit with the quarterstaff and the one with the bow, he nodded. The three took off unto the boat, not even looking back to see if anyone followed.

Zander sighed in disgust, "Thieves of no honor are worthless then the air they breath unto the lands and seas." Looking at the three still outside the boat, Zander clasped his hands before him as if in a prayer and bowed low. The bandit at his feet kept gasping for air through his bloodied nose cavity and Zander let out a breath.

"You're lucky I know that your lot has stayed at Olga's Inn..." standing up from his bow he addressed the last of those with the Demacite. "Lo friend of no party here. Friends I have upon the boat, to get the Peddler Lazlo's silks and such from this ship. They should not attack, if you do no harm to them."

Turning his back to them and placing a Seal Paper to his chest, a very minor elemental ward, it would lessen any damage to him if they struck and would probably drain him of the rest of his magic. Caution would be the better part of valor this day. Kneeling to the right side of the bandit he had struck he scoweled.

"Olga would scold you and your captain for not getting further away," he scolded. "Daft pirates you lot are.."


[System]
UserName: Lucius Cypher
Age: 19

Mageblood type: Lues

Favored Magic Class: Psychomancy

Previous Magic training: None. She doesn't even know she has mage blood.

Race: Narsea Human

Appearance:

Short Bio: Annabeth is the youngest child of three. She grew up on her family's farm, which her father got after serving some time in Eania's Royal Guard. Her mother died giving birth shortly after she was born, so she grew up under the same mannerisms as her brothers, at least until she was old enough to care about such things as being feminine. Her eldest brother, Rendar Gulch, one day left the farm when he discovered that he had Mage Blood and went to train at the Twilight College so that he may join the Royal Guards like his father had. This left Annabeth to help run the farm with just her father and her other older brother Brendan.

But about a few years later, Annabeth's father grew ill. He was old, and his time was coming to an end. By this time it would be up to Annabeth and Brendan to take care of the farm. Rendar came home to help take care of their ill father, but things took a turn for the worse. Bandits attacked the farm one night, stealing nearly everything of value and burning their home to the ground. Annabeth was saved by Brendan, but he was struck down just as they were about to flee. It was then that Rendar went into such a rage that he killed all the bandits in a single lightning strike, so powerful that it leveled the entire farm into a crater. Annabeth was lucky to not have been killed herself.

That day Annabeth and Rendar had to bury the remains of their brother and father at the same place where their mother was buried at. Rendar told Annabeth to move with some family back at Eania, and since she didn't really know what else to do with her life, she did as he told. She lived there for a short while with her other family members, but part of Annabeth didn't want her to stay. She wanted to become more powerful than just the frail farm girl, someone who could take care and protect her friends and family. She felt weak, and she was going to do something about it.

Though it was difficult finding one willing to teach a girl, she took up swordsmanship. She fought with a sword and small shield, and even learned grappling using knives. As she continued her training, she received a message from the Twilight College from someone named Lucilia. Apparently something had happened to her brother, and they would like to extend a helping hand to his next of kin. Fearing the worse, Annabeth packed her things and headed towards the college. She didn't know what happened to her brother, but she was determined to save him.

Good Attributes:
Silk Hiding Steel – Annabeth may look like a demure young woman, but hidden underneath her unassuming appearance is a fierce warrior. She hasn't gotten into a real fight personally, but she has honed her mind to be able to operate in the heat of battle with grace and efficiency.
Horse Rider – Annabeth is an excellent horse rider, and while some may be more difficult than others, she can easily adapt to different horses and riding styles.
Archer – When she lived back on the farm Annabeth helped her brother hunt when her father was growing too old to do it himself. She's not the best shot, but to dismiss her as an amateur would be a mistake as well. She can land an arrow into a buck fifty yards away if she has time to lead it, and she has and is quite good at using her bow while on a horse, even as it's galloping at full speed.
Domestic Skills – Annabeth took care of the house back at the farm, and she didn't lose any skills when she moved. Her family owned an inn, and despite owning it for twenty years, Annabeth pretty much took care of most of the physical duties and chores during her time there. Cleaning, cooking, organizing, talking to customers, if she didn't do it, it was because she was busy doing something else important.

Bad Attributes:
Unexperienced – Despite all her training, Annabeth has only done just that: training. She's never been in a serious confrontation before, and the only time she did she had to be saved by her brother. She's no warrior despite what her skills may tell you.
Light Weight – Referring to Annabeth's physique and to her alcohol tolerance. Annabeth is strong, but she's also rather small. She can train her body to lift and use a ten pound sword with ease, but a hard blow will likely shatter bones if she doesn't protect herself properly. And it only takes half-pint of ale to make her loopy. Worse if she actually gets poisoned, as her immune system isn't the best.
Naïve – Annabeth's something of an optimist. This isn't bad in itself, but it's almost absurd how often she thinks that some people or things could be reasoned with or how good something could be. Though it is partly so she can cope with whatever tragedy she's going through at the moment, the denial can be more detrimental than trying to make light of a very bad situation.

Secret Word: Rebirth

Rewards: Stealth Ring

[User]
**Alaira Taenn**

Oh, so he had a big Axe? was she supposed to be impressed? Internally, she laughed a bit. The way that axe was designed, it would likely get stuck in things quite easily, such is the price paid for ornamentation. Either that, or it was wielded by someone with monstrous strength. Of course, seeing as that was untrue of the last guy she fought that waved around a similarly over-ornamented weapon, she was doubtful.**"Eh, I've seen bigger."**She said. Well, wielded by a*minotaur*, but still. She was about to challenge the poor bastard to an honor duel when some other fight broke out. Hey, wait a second, why wasn't she invited? How inconsiderate! The lizard excused himself, but she found herself following for a closer look.

As it turned out, they hadn't come to blows yet but Alaira had seen enough situations between such people and they only ever ended in two ways: Violence, or sex (Usually in a different location). However she'd never seen a Naga so pissed off. It wasn't long before they came to blows, and she was certainly enjoying the show. Her money was on the Naga.**"Come on, smack the bitch outta him!"**she shouted as the guy avoided her attacks. However, soon she had the guy pinned and was about to tear his throat out when she moved to intervene.**"Heh, playtime's over..."**she said with a crooked smile as she readied her lance and was about to charge in and knock the girl off of him. However, she did none of that as she noticed Lizard-boy was about to do something.

The Lizard fired some sort of purple(?) gas out of his mouth at the two of them, and suddenly they didn't feel like fighting anymore. and then... it was as the two acted that the sheer... ridiculousness of the situation dawned on her. She started laughing as the two drugged fools started... well, being affected by it. she only laughed harder when the two wandered off together, considering that she was literally about to tear his throat out with her goddamn teeth.**"Well look at that Mr. Hero, you saved the goddamn day..."**she said, still getting the laughter out of her system.**"The hell was that? I didn't know you could do shit like that..."**she said. Clearly this guy was a bit of a killjoy, but he might be a good fight, who knows.

[Assistant]
Ssarak Dyreackthanose

---

Ssarak leaned himself up against a nearby column, letting the head of his axe rest on the ground while he held lightly onto the end of its handle. He closed his eyes a moment and let out a deep breath, though he could already feel that he was about to get a headache. A good deal of fatigue came over him, though it was nothing some rest, and maybe a meal or two, could not fix. He was proud of his actions, however. For once in his life, he was saving lives instead of taking them.

"Psychomancy can have many effects, not all of which are harmful. I would rather save a life than to take one." Ssarak said, opening his eyes to look at the Forest Elf. "As an Esyire, I can project the essence of my blood into a sort of breath attack. For other bloods, that might be fire, or lightning, or even shards of rock. For psychomancy, the effect is not quite so directly harmful. Mine in particular has a calming effect on the victim, along with other effects one would commonly associate with various types of drugs. It was, however, exhausting."

[User]
Annabeth was hopeful when Uicle said he could help, only for that to be followed by a series of unfortunate events. Everything he touched began to break, and she was a bit worried. This was more than simply bad luck. Bad luck could be falling out of your chair or having a painting fall on you. What happened seemed to be a very lazy assassination attempt involving broken furniture. It was funny at first, but now Annabeth was seriously concerned that there was something wrong with Uicle.**"Uicle, is... No, there is something very wrong with what just happened. The falling hammer, that worker dropping knives on you, that could have been an accident... But this? Broken desk, broken chair, surely this isn't normal."**Annabeth was trying to show concern for her teacher, if only because she was worried his bad luck was going to affect her as well. Everyone had their quirks, but this misfortune that followed Uicle could be maddening.**"Forgive me if I am speaking out of place... I am merely concerned as a student, about your well being."**

Satori

**"You would find that Psychomancy is capable of much more still."**From the shadows Satori appeared. She had heard the clamoring and would have came in to stop it had Ssarak not shown the ability to handle it himself. Not how she would have done it, but he did well considering his abilities. She was wearing a two-piece long robe, made of a light blue and white cloth, which contrasted with her pale pink hair.**"I thank you for stopping them before they came to blows, Sir Dyreackthanose. Though this incident will be reported none the less... And Miss Taenn, fighting in school grounds may be allowed when sanctioned, but we do not advocate hostilities among the students. We are here to learn our magics, not as a place to do harm to each other."**Satori walked over to the duo with her hands laced over each other. Though her face held a small smile and her tone of voice was almost soothing, there was the subtle feeling that she was crawling through the minds of the two, like she was merely a distraction for an assassin to slit through throats from behind. But it was just Satori, alone with the two students.**"Lessons will begin soon. I myself am heading towards my classroom. Seeing that you are one of my disciple, Sir Dyreackthanose, would you like to accompany me?"**


[System]
Age: 2.5 years old

Appearance:

Position: Hunter

Personality: A good hunter, Klondike can be a bit cool and aloof, but he means well and would fight hard to defend the pack. He's big but not very agile.

[User] Renzo sighed. He knew that Amber always felt really bad about her messing up in hunts but he didn't know she felt this guilty about it. "It's alright Amber. We all mess up from time to time." He reassured the she-wolf. "Rats are still food. Besides, prey is scarce since most are in hiding because of those humans and those tube-like things of theirs." He continued. He felt really bad that Amber felt this way. "Stealing from humans?" He repeated in a questioning manner. "I want to say that it is idiotic but I suppose feeling guilty makes you feel that bad. Don't do it again." He said as an order. "You don't know what you're getting into. Now come on, let's head back..." He stood up from his position and turned back to the direction of their dens. "Besides, we might catch some game while we're heading back."

[Assistant] Misty nodded. "That's probably best." Then she too noticed Renzo leaving. "That's odd. What do you think he's up to?"

[User] "Not sure, maybe he spotted a quick meal," Lila said, shifting to lay partially on her side. "I'll try finding an elk tomorrow, they might've moved farther into the western forest, hopefully they haven't gone into tiger country."

[Assistant] Klondike headed over to Zia's place, ready to discuss the recent events.

[User] "That could be. I sure hope that the elk are still around. We're going to need more food soon than just rats and rabbits. We can't live on those alone." She stretched and then yawned, feeling a little tired and hoping that everyone would return to the dens soon so they could rest and be safe from humans.

[Assistant] Lila gave her sister an affectionate nuzzle. "If you're tired, you can go to sleep, I was about to do the same," She said.

[User]
"Yeah... I'm an idiot..." She said quietly. She stood and followed Renzo back to the dens. She was glad he had caught her. She was thinking so unclearly, who knows what could have happened if she had followed the trail any further. She had never seen a human before, but she knew that they never let bodies go to waste. They always made sure to use every part of the body, and it wasn't always for food. She heard what they used furs for, and the thought made her shudder.

"Thanks..." Amber said to Renzo. As they walked back to the clearing, Amber's mind wandered to the other pack members. She was worried. How was Lila going to react? What if she was furious at her for running off again? Oh no, she was going to be furious. Amber visibly shrank back at the idea, but she steeled her emotions and continued walking with Renzo back to the rest of the pack. She was going to face her errors and accept her punishment.

[Assistant] Misty nuzzled her back. "Thanks. I think I will. Good night." She lay her head down on her paws and then shut her eyes. It wasn't long before she had drifted off to sleep.

[User] Lila yawned and turned fully to her side, laying her head on some moss before falling asleep.

[Assistant] Zia was laying down, waiting to see if Klondike was coming over or not. When he came in, she snapped to attention, raising herself. "Klondike, good to see you. Now, let's discuss the most important topic of the night...humans." She paced in the small area, thinking about what She would say next. "If they were to attack, what in the world would we do?"

[User] "We'd have to fight back, of course. If they are too dangerous to fight as a group, we would have to gang up on them one at a time" Klondike replied.

[Assistant] "It isn't that easy, Klondike. We have to have a plan. How will we prevent an attack?" Zia looked at Klondike, her eyes soft and hazy. She was far too busy thinking to focus her attention on him, but she tried her best to.

[User] Postremo noticed how Renzo left but thought he might of found something close by to eat. Then Postremo felt a bit tired from what has happened so far today. He never thought that humans would be this close to the pack. Postrmo then remembered what the humans had done so far to his friends' family. He also remembered how they took the life of his parents and his little sister. He started to head to his den to get some rest but couldn't help but feel stressful and anger.

[Assistant] "Prevent an attack? I'm not sure. Maybe if we attacked them first? But no, that's very dangerous" Klondike replied. "It isn't so easy, figuring these things out. If the stories about humans are true, all they have to do to kill us is point one of their... things at us, and there'd be a loud noise and we'd fall over, dead."

[User] Misty suddenly sprung awake after having a bad nightmare. She panted and tried to clear her head of the nightmare before leaving the den, not wanting to try and sleep anymore. She went out to see who else was around.

[Assistant]
"The plan was idiotic, you are not... you were just blinded by guilt." Renzo reassured the wolf as they walked back. He also wondered what would've happened if he didn't see her leave the dens. Maybe Amber would've turned back or maybe she would do the exact opposite. Either way, he was just glad that she was safe when he arrived.

"No problem, just don'd do it again. I might not be there to stop you again." Renzo said. He noticed her going stiff and looked like she was being forced to go back. "Loosen up Amber. They will understand, they always do." He continued before they entered the clearing. His eyes scanned for the wolves but all seemed to be in their dens. "No one seems to be out, would you go to Lila and Misty or not? The choice is yours." He said walked to the entrance to his den and sat down, looking at Amber wanting to see what her choice would be.

[User] Lila felt Misty bolt upright and opened her eyes, giving her sister a bleary look as she left. How long had they been asleep? She yawned and rolled to her stomach and then stood upright. Now she was thirsty. There was a stream close to the dens but she should have someone with her, just in case. She let out a huff and then padded out, seeing Renzo just return. Well, hopefully he wasn't busy. Lila padded over to the other den and peered into the dark hole. "I need to get a drink, would you like to come along?" She asked him.

[Assistant] Renzo looked at Lila before looking back at the she-wolf whom he arrived with then back at Lila. "Sure." He said. He felt thirsty too at least and besides, it would be pretty dangerous to go alone even if the stream was just near. He stood up and walked towards Lila. "Come on." He continued before heading out.

[User] Lila smiled and backed away from the den before following after him. "What were you doing earlier when you ran out of the clearing?" She asked curiously.

[Assistant]
Amber watched Renzo and Lila leave for the stream. She decided it would probably be best that she talked to Misty. She didn't know what to say, though. Should she simply confess that she ran away and Renzo caught her before she genuinely tried to steal from humans? Well, yes, but...

Amber stopped outside Misty's den. It felt so strange and extremely uncomfortable to directly confess like this. She almost hoped everyone had noticed so she wouldn't have to have this talk. She knew it was the right thing to do, though.

"Can I come in for a second?" Amber asked timidly, her eyes downcast.

[User] Misty noticed Amber and she smiled at her. "Yes, of course you can. What's on your mind?" She scooted over so that the other wolf could sit beside her if she wanted to. She was happy to have someone to talk to so she could take her mind off of her nightmares.

[Assistant]
Amber gratefully entered the den and lay beside Misty. She paused for a moment. She wasn't sure how to go about confessing her mistake like this. Amber groaned and rested her head on the bare ground. "I'm such an idiot!" After a moment, she finally took a deep breath and launched into the story. She explained how she felt about her recent hunting failures. She explained her plan and how she had run away from the pack. She explained everything.

"-And then that's when Renzo found me and brought me back to the clearing," She said, finishing up the story. Amber quickly glanced at Misty to see her reaction. Amber wasn't sure how Misty was going to react. She mentally braced her self in-case Misty grew to be furious with her.

[User] Misty frowned, but didn't get angry with Amber. "You shouldn't have done that. You should know how important that you are to the pack and you shouldn't take any unnecessary risks like that. Just because you had some failures while hunting doesn't mean that you're not a good hunter. We're going to need you now more than ever with the humans nearby. Just make sure that you don't do it again, okay?" she told her firmly, but not unkindly.

[Assistant]
Amber stared at Misty in surprise. She had greatly underestimated Misty's kindness. She felt herself overflow with joy for merely being forgiven. She felt her tail wagging happily, but she made no effort to keep it under control. "Thank you so much, I won't let it happen again!" Amber said over-confidently.

Amber exited the den and was about to make her way over to her favorite napping spot, but she paused when she thought of a question she had. She turned back to Misty and asked, "Are there any plans for the next hunt?"

[User] Misty followed Amber out of the den and then shook her head at the younger wolf's question. "I don't think so. With the humans so close I don't think we should send out any hunting parties until we've finished with our first patrol to make sure that there are no humans too close to the dens."

[Assistant] Amber's ears drooped at the news. She thought back to where she had found the elk trail. It wasn't all that far from their dens. There was no doubt in her mind that the humans could simply wander into the clearing. It was only a matter of time. "I don't know if you've already been talking this over with the others, but I'm afraid we may be attacked," Amber replied quietly. "The scent I found wasn't that far off. They could be closing in on us."

[User] Misty's eyes widened when she heard this. If the humans attacked them first that would be disastrous. "We need to make sure that all the others know. You should go down to the stream and tell Lila and Renzo. I'll talk to Postremo and let him know as well." With that, she turned and made her way to her mate's den.

[Assistant] "I saw someone exit the clearing and found out that it was Amber. I went after her as she was alone of course." Renzo replied, sitting down and looking at the stream. "As for what she was doing... well, she will explain herself." He continued before bending down and drinking the water before sitting upright again.

[User] "Amber left? On her own?" Lila asked, her eyes widening. What was she thinking?! Lila let out a sigh and got herself a drink of water. "I need her for a hunt tomorrow, she wasn't injured at all, was she?"

[Assistant] "Yes, she did." Renzo replied, looking at Lila as she drank. "She wasn't injured, thankfully. Although she might have been if she didn't pick the human scent up." He continued.

[User] Lila jerked back from the water. "What human scent? Just how far did she get before you found her?"

[Assistant] "Honestly... it wasn't very far." Renzo replied, standing up and looking back to the direction from where they came from. "Come on, let's get back. It's dangerous."

[User] Postremo was still on his den unable to go to sleep thinking what the humans are planning. He was still wondering if he should talk to Renzo and Misty about something really important. There wasn't enough information for his to come to the decision unless they get even closer. In the middle of thinking he heard someone walking toward his den.

[Assistant] Amber nodded, turned and darted towards the stream. Renzo already knew and might have already told Lila, but Amber had to make sure. She was nearing the stream when she finally heard their voices. "Renzo, Lila!" She called, trying to sound calm. She arrived at the stream and spotted the two of them. She quickly hurried over to them. "There you guys are," She said, huffing for air slightly. "Are you coming back to the dens? I told Misty about what happened and how close the scent was. She looks really worried."

[User] Misty saw Postremo lying in his den as she came to a stop at the mouth. "Do you mind if I come in?" she asked. "I wanted to talk to you about everything that's been going on."

[Assistant]
Klondike gave Zia a little nuzzle. She seemed to be drifting off. Not that he could blame her. It was not easy to take in all of these recent changes.

"Listen, I think I should get back to the others. You can follow me if you want to, or stay here. Or do whatever you want. I'm not in charge." He got up and left to find Renzo, Lily, Amber, Misty, or anyone else he would run into first.