[System]
Age: 20

Short bio: Raised by an adoptive family, Prompto lived a lonely childhood devoid of any friends. As a child, he was self-conscious and deemed himself unworthy of his peers. Although he befriended Prince Noctis in high school, Prompto has never truly rid himself of his inferiority complex and greatly doubts himself. Along with that, he carries a deep secret regarding his past, one that continues to haunt him.
Despite his burdens, Prompto remains upbeat, optimistic, and is often the first to crack a joke in the aim to make his friends laugh. Prompto prefers to see the good in people rather than the bad, and he has a soft spot for animals, particularly chocobos.

Other: Shortly after high school, Prompto discovered his love of photography and is rarely seen without his trusty camera in hand. As a result, he has many days of their journey recorded and isn't shy to snap pictures of complete strangers.

Weapon: Being the marksman of the group, Prompto is skilled with using a gun and favors that as his weapon.

Family: unknown

Relationships: friends: Noctis, Ignis, and Gladiolus

[User]
"Sarah!" Prompto skidded to a halt. One step more and they would have collided a second time.
"I was just..." He began to explain his reason for being out on the property so late, but his eyes landed on the camera before he could finish.
"Hey, you found it!" Prompto couldn't have been happier to see the camera, chocobo feathers and all. "Thank you so much! I was starting to get worried." He laughed at Sarah's explanation, relieved to have his beloved camera back. "Really? Well, if they snapped a selfie, l can hardly blame them for taking it!"

When the topic suddenly changed to his pajama pants, Prompto looked down. After leaving the trailer in such a hurry, he totally forgot he was wearing his pajamas. "...Oh! Um...I bought them at a souvenir shop on the way here," he explained, cheeks reddening with embarrassment. He was glad that Sarah was in her pajamas as well. At least this way, it wasn't too terribly embarrassing. "Couldn't resist!" He laughed again, more so from nerves than humor.

"So...what are you doing out here so late?" Prompto wondered, finding it odd that Sarah was the only one awake besides him. "Don't tell me you're sneaking out for late night shooting practice." Although he was joking, he wondered if it was true. What Sarah did was her own business, but because of the increase of daemon sightings, he wanted to make sure she wasn't taking any unnecessary risks.

[Assistant]
His comment about finding them in a shop on the way here she beamed brightly at him. He was such a bright and fun guy, so much like her and it made her happy to find such a charming and fun spirit. Though he seemed a bit shy at times… that just made him all the more adorable; which in turn made her grin brightly.

Then he asked the question why she was out so late and she gave a small shrug. A gentle innocent smile moved across her face as she tucked her hands behind her back. The embarrassment crawled across her face as her cheeks turned red. "I… I thought it would be the best idea to stay at the ranch so if we wanted to leave early tomorrow we could." She said with a nod, refusing to admit to him that she lived and paid rent at the ranch… much less up in the rafters.

"Besides," She responded with a grin, her hands loosened up behind her and she pointed up. "Nothing beats that view." Her head rolled up to show the amazingly star sky overhead with constellations viewable. "Actually…" Reaching over, she took his large hand in a small one. "Come with me, just a view minutes, I promise." With that he pulled him back around the corner and down the barn toward the end until they arrived at a ladder. "You're not scared of heights right?" She asked playfully as she climbed up.

At the roof she offered her hand again. "The best view ever." She said brightly.

[User]
"Aw, you didn't have to leave your place for that, Sarah." Prompto offered her a sympathetic look. He had no idea Sarah's home was on the ranch, he merely assumed there was another trailer on the property, and she'd rented it.

"Appreciate it, though! I know Ignis will, too. If we can get Noct out of bed...maybe we'll have a chance of leaving early," he laughed lightly, sliding the strap of the camera over his head. "But I wouldn't count on it."

When Sarah referred to the stars, Prompto started to look up when he felt her hand take his. "Huh? Where are we going?" Like a curious puppy, he allowed her to lead the way, unsure what she had to show him at such a late hour. Were the chocobo chicks up to mischief again? It wouldn't have been out of character for them. Amused by the thought, he followed her around the barn to where the ladder was propped up against the building.

"Bugs, yes. Heights, no." Prompto chuckled, keeping on the ground until he was sure Sarah made it to the top safely. If she lost her footing, he wanted to be sure to cushion her fall. After she got to the roof, he climbed the ladder and accepted her hand up. Thanking her, he moved away from the edge, surprised by how soft the section of roof was. It was covered with hay, providing a comfortable seat in which they may view the stars in all their glory.

"So this was what you were up to." Prompto smiled knowingly at the girl, relieved she hadn't been out to practice shooting on her own. Drawing his legs to his chest, he looked up at the sky for the first time that night, amazed by how brightly the stars shined. There wasn't a single cloud to block the view, nor were there any lights to interfere with their beauty.

"Wow..." Prompto breathed, awestruck by the sight. "You never see stars in the city...not like this."

[Assistant]
His knowing smile left her embarrassed as she turned her attention to the ground and sat down. "Maybe….." She said dragging out the word letting him know that he was correct but she wasn't willing to admit it. Though her small giggle and word stretched gave her away completely.

Crossing one long leg over the other she braced herself with her hands behind her as she followed the young man's gaze up to the stars, "That's the good thing about being out in the country area, the stars are always out." A smile danced across her lips before she tilted her head to one side, her thoughts carrying away before she got a chance to speak. "The city has its own version of stars though. I hope I can see your version of stars sometime." She said with an innocent smile towards the sky. "For me, something like that would be an amazing sight. Well, any of the city would be neat. I've never been to Insomnia."

Life had always been… odd for the poor girl. After losing her parents and finding a home at the Chocobo ranch getting out to do anything turned into a distance dream. Granted she loved the Chocobos and playing with them; her skills of training them became something the farm valued and there was no doubt that she was a special staff member. However, the idea of attending the university in Insomnia was something had wanted to do for a while. If she could study economics or gardening she would knowing full well that knowledge could be beneficial to the job and the chocobos!

 Her head rolled to the side as her attention moved from the stairs to the young man next to her. "Are you always so brave and willing to help out people… or on our case, yellow feathered friends? I know I've said it more than dozen times already but I-we all appreciate your guys' help with Deadeye just… just… please be careful tomorrow okay?"

[User]
"Really?" The mention of the crown city was enough for Prompto turn his attention away from the stars dotting the sky. "I grew up in Insomnia," he hugged his knees to his chest, his eyes settling on the Chocobo Ranch sign across the field. "It's nice...but they don't have chocobos," he reminded her, a smile pulling at his lips. "Aside from that, though...I think you'd like it." He hesitated, feeling tongue tied. "If...you ever decide to visit, I'll give you the grand tour!" Did he just say that out loud? He did. Hopefully she didn't think him too forward for saying so, but the offer was there regardless.

When Sarah called him brave, Prompto's eyebrows rose a little in surprise. He never thought of himself as brave. Far from it. His offer to help came instinctively. Helping out was second nature to him. "Ah, it's nothing," he leaned back, keeping upright by bracing a hand against the roof. "Glad to help! Anything for the chocobos, am I right?" He chuckled lightly, falling serious when the girl made the request to be careful.

"I'll be careful," Prompto promised, touched that she would be concerned enough to warn him a second time. "You too though, okay?"

[Assistant]
"Now I have a reason to visit." Sarah said with a smile to him. Something about being led around the city by Prompto seemed like a good idea, maybe hand and hand? Who knows?! Or she's probably getting ahead of herself because she thinks his cute. Yes she finally admitted it to herself, she found him cute. She couldn't be grinning any bigger at him when he said that he would give her the tour. Now she had a reason to get away from the farm; something she hasn't had since they fateful day.

His statement reminding her to be careful nodded with a soft smile. "I promise." Sarah said softly. The two chatted for a little while longer and finally said their good nights before Prompto returned to the trailer and Sarah disappeared back into her room.

The next morning rolled around and Sarah was up, dressed and had done most of her chores on the farm before the boys were evening moving. After getting the Chocobos fed a scent reached her nose. "What is that?" She questioned sniffing the air, the blonde deposited her buckets of feed before following her nose towards… the trailer.

"Mornin'." She called out arriving to it seeing the Prince stepping out into the fresh air looking groggy and tired followed by Gladio who seemed more awake.

"Good morning." Gladio said with a grin as Noctis rubbed his sleepy eyes and grunted something that sounded like 'morning'. "Don't mind him, he doesn't wake up easy."

A laugh left Sarah as she placed her hands on her hips. "I can tell. I hope everyone slept well."

[User]
After returning to the trailer, Prompto put his camera away, climbed up to his top bunk, and fell asleep within a matter of minutes. The day had been a long one, and the following would only be longer. They had Deadeye to take care of.

Morning came sooner than expected. Prompto lie on his back, snoring lightly with his forearm across his eyes. After a few taps on the shoulder, Ignis woke him, eyed him curiously, then moved to wake up Noctis.

Prompto groaned lightly, rubbing at his bloodshot eyes with his fists. "Morning already?"

Ignis nodded, shaking Noctis by the shoulder lightly. Noctis was ten times more difficult to waken. "We have have quite a bit of travel ahead of us," he informed the younger two, straightening once Noctis started to groggily sit up. "If we wish to reach Deadeye, I suggest we leave as soon as possible."

After a quick, yet expertly prepared breakfast, the four were ready to face the day. All except for Noctis.

Jumping down from the doorway of the trailer, Prompto skipped the stairs, landed lightly on his feet and smiled brightly upon seeing Sarah. "Heya," he greeted cheerily, fully awake despite the early hour. "I slept great! You?"

Noctis ran a hand over his face, inwardly cursing his best friend for being a morning person. "Any chance we can drive to Deadeye's location?" He questioned, failing to suppress a yawn. "Or do we have to...walk." The reasoning behind his asking, was because he wished to sleep in the car on the way there. The more sleep he could get, the better, and even then it was never enough.

"Aw, come on, Noct! It's a beautiful day!" Prompto elbowed him lightly. "The walk will help you wake up!"
Being the conscious soul that he was, he glanced behind Sarah's shoulder, viewing the buildings and chocobos in the distance. Sarah offered to help them, but he knew she had plenty of work with the ranch. "Need any help with anything before we set out?"


[System]
Age: 20

Height: 5'4

Appearance:

Background: Lisa grew up on a farm with her two brothers and her parents. While her brothers spent their days out helping their father with the animals, Lisa would stay inside with her mother and learn how to cook, clean, and sew. Being from a poor family, she never got a proper education, much to her dismay. She was able to teach herself how to read and basic math, but that's it. Her family was very poor, having only enough money to barely scrape by. Her parents often prayed that one of their children would marry rich and finally be able to escape the reigns of poverty. They were shocked when Lisa revealed she wanted to go work as a servant. Her plan was to use the skills her mother taught her throughout her time as a servant and save her wages so that one day she will be able to go to a university and become a teacher some day.

Personality: Easily flustered, defensive, passionate, and hard working.

[User]
Lisa looked at her feet as he dismissed her sympathetic statement. Perhaps it was childish of her to bring up such a thing at a time like this. She needed to learn how to keep her mind grounded. She clasped her hands behind her back and briefly looked up and over at Ralf. He beared a neutral expression, per usual. It was almost as if nothing ever fazed him.

She wondered how he felt on his first day here, whenever that was.

The young woman looked back at Sir Studwick.

"I want to work here to put everything I've been taught my whole life to good use," Lisa explained. "I want to save my earnings to pay for university someday. My dream is to become a teacher. That is fairly ironic because I never got the opportunity to attend school, but something about it appeals to me greatly." She smiled. Thinking about her aspirations helped calm her nerves.

Two or three years here, and then she'd be able to live her dream. "You can trust me around your belongings. They are of no use to me. Theoretically, even if I did steal and sell something, it would guilt me for the rest of my life. It's not in my nature to act wrongly. You can trust me."

She smoothed out the skirt of her damp dress. She was starting to feel silly wearing something so unprofessional and unkept at a time like this. If her mother were here, she would have snapped at Lisa before she even waltzed up the steps of the manner to change into something dry.

Something in Lisa suddenly clicked.

She wasn't her mother, so why live by her orderly ways? I'm twenty years old, for God's sake, she thought, if I want to look so unruly at a time like this, then so be it! It was my choice. It's not even that unkept, just a little wet with a few wrinkles. I'm Lisa Thorne, and appearance isn't the most important thing in the world to me!

A little smile spread across her face, which was quickly replaced by a frown.

Who am I kidding. I resemble a clown.

[Assistant]
Studwick nodded as she had told him what she had hoped to achieve. "Very well. It sounds like you have some good goals." He said, looking down at his papers. His job was slightly dull, but he had more money than he could ever want. It wasn't a bad thing. If he had wanted, he could just hand her some money to pay for the school right away and it wouldn't affect his budget whatsoever. Studwick didn't believe in handouts. He believed in hard work and dedication, and he wanted to see if this new housemaid had the muster.

He looked down at her dress, then back up at her, "Did you not have enough time to change into something… dry?" He asked. "Do you think since you're just a house maid you don't have to look professional?" He asked slightly scolding the woman. He moved his hand with an open palm, and directed it towards Ralf. "Look at my butler." He said giving her a second to look over to him, "Does he look professional?" He asked rhetorically as the butler had stood firm in his place looking forward at nothing.

The military had drilled into him, a professional appearance is a must, unless you are out in the field. He had basically kept that mentally as he had come back into the civilian side of the world. Being a noble made that perception even more solidified into her personality.

Studwick wasn't trying to harass the young woman, just stiff arm her into treating this as a serious deal.

After he had questioned her, he said, "There will be other high class nobles coming through these doors, and I need to you prepared." He took a breath in and looked at her, "You said I could trust you, so I'll be holding you to it." He said folding his hands together once again.

[User]
Lisa listened to Studwick as he criticized her attire. "...Yes, there was time to slip on something dry. It would have been a fast change but it was possible." Her shoulders slumped a bit, realizing that she should have done what her mother and everybody else would have expected of her.

Yes, she was old enough to make her own decisions.

But at the same time, she should have known better.

It was only her third day away from her family and she already made a noticeable mistake. A faint blush painted her cheeks. She was embarrassed. "My sincerest apologies, Sir. I realize why you disapprove of my attire and I... I agree. You will never spot me looking so disorderly again." She tucked a loose lock of hair back behind her ear and glanced over at the door. It was perhaps rude of her to desire to leave the room, but she didn't want to bother him any longer. The sooner she could leave, the sooner they could both forget about this incident and move on.

"Listen, I know we have not gotten off on the best foot, but I just want you to know that I've meant everything I've said. Everything. And even though I look like this, even though I don't know a damn thing in this world besides what I managed to learn cooped up inside a dump, I value this opportunity to be here. Even looking around this one single room takes my breath away. One day, I want to be content. Fully, undeniably, one hundred percent content. This is my first step to achieving that goal." As Lisa went on that little tangent, the blush faded away from her face and she regained her confidence. She sighed. "..Pardon my language there, Sir. Will this be all?"

[Assistant]
Studwick figured at least she was honest with her answer. Having some integrity could go a long way.

"That sounds good to me Ms. Thorne." He said when she had explained that she wouldn't look disorderly again. He listened to her little spiel.

"That's good." He said nodding his head, "I'll give you a couple extra shillings if I see that you've done some hard work around the house every so often so you can get out of here quicker." He said giving her a small smile. He felt as if she wanted to leave quickly, when she had asked if that'll be all. He almost wanted to take back his generosity in that short amount of time.

He waved his hand when she had asked if this will be all, "Yes, get out of here. That is all." He said slightly disgruntled. 'Was she trying to dismiss herself?' He thought to himself looking down at his papers before he could see her reaction to anything.

"Right this way." Ralf said opening the door and leading her out of the room.

[User]
After being dismissed, she curtsied again and strolled out of the room, giving Ralf a polite nod as he opened the door for her. She was relieved that the meeting was over. More than anything, she hoped she at least made a decent first impression. She knew that was unlikely, given how he spent ninety percent of the time criticizing her, but at least she didn't get fired. It would be wretched to get fired before even starting work.

Upon arriving back at her room, she saw somebody had stopped by and draped the uniform across her bed. Unsurprisingly, it was clean and ironed. Not one speck of dust or tiny wrinkle could be found on it. Seems like the other maids knew full well how nitpick-y their employer could be. Lisa trailed her fingers across the delicate material, admiring it. It looked exactly how she expected it to; the classic French style. It was one thing seeing others wear it, but this one was hers. She loved it.

Suddenly, a familiar voice spoke, "Ah, I see you found the uniform."

Lisa jumped a bit at the sudden voice, but quickly calmed upon seeing it was just Agnes. "Oh, hello, you startled me for a moment there!" Lisa exclaimed teasingly, obviously not intending to make her feel bad. "Yes, it was hard to miss considering it was laying across my bed."

Agnes chuckled. "That is what you're required to wear while you work. While you're not working you are allowed to wear whatever you wish... within reason, of course. You are to be a simple house maid. In other words, you do whatever I or any other person in a position of authority asks you to do."

Lisa nodded understandably. "Very well, when shall I begin work?"

Agnes hummed. "If my memory serves me right, you are to start at the crack of dawn tomorrow. Report to me before starting anything. You have the rest of the day to unpack and explore the manor."

"Lovely! Thank you, Agnes," Lisa said. The elderly woman smiled in return then left Lisa alone to finish unpacking.

[Assistant]
After finishing a few papers Studwick got up from his desk. He walked out of his office in the living room. Ralf had come around the corner, knowing it was about the time he had always finished his work and came downstairs for a small break.

"Your scotch sir." He said sticking his hand letting Studwick grab it. "Thank you Ralf." He said, taking a sip of his and sitting down on his chair that had faced a fireplace.

"What'd you think of the new housemaid Ralf?" He asked looking at the fireless firepit, gliding his finger on the glass, cirlcing it.

"I don't quite yet know sir." He said turning the plate that had served the scoth glass to Studwick. "I'll be sure to let you know as soon as I find out." He said turning and walking out of the living room to return the plate back to the kitchen.

A few moments later he came back into the room. "What would you like to read today?" He asked.

"I'm not sure, pick something that sounds intriguing." Studwick said looking over to Ralf.

Ralf pointed his fingers at a few books until he found something. He grabbed it, and walked over to Studwick. "Here you are." Studwick grabbed the book and read the title. 'Emperors of Revolution'. Studwick nodded his head slightly in approval.

"Thank you Ralf. That'll be all for now." He said kicking his feet up onto the foot rest and taking another sip of scotch and setting it down on the end table beside him.

Ralf bowed slightly and walked out of the living room.

[User]
Hours passed. Studwick had gotten his meal, and Lisa dined with all the other servants in the basement. Their meal wasn't half as good as his was, but it was something. They each had a little piece of steak (cooked but cold) and a slice of bread. Lisa's slice was stale, but she didn't say anything. She wondered if the other servant's bread was stale, too.

She met a couple other maids in particular named Eleanor and Margaret. They were twins who have been working for the Studwick family for about five years. They looked to be a couple years older than Lisa. The impression Lisa got was that they were a comedy duo. Eleanor had accidentally dropped her fork and Margaret called it out as a 'mis-steak' while motioning to her plate. Lisa smiled while the other servants laughed. Later, Margaret was talking about a time she milked a moody cow and Eleanor asked 'why were you milking yourself?' which made the other servants roar with laughter.

It was nearing ten o'clock. Only a few other servants remained awake. Lisa quietly strolled throughout the manor, memorizing where all the rooms were. After all, Agnes did tell her to explore. The young woman had changed into a new dress as soon as she finished unpacking. She also took the time to brush through her hair and braid it again. Even if it wasn't guaranteed she'd see Studwick again that day, she didn't want to risk him seeing her looking disorganized when she had promised to not be.

She stepped on what must have been a sore spot since the floor made a loud creaking noise. She bit her lip, hoping it didn't wake anyone up.

[Assistant]
Studwick was dozing off in his chair in front of the fire. The living room was his place he went to when he had some down time. Earlier that day he had worked hard so he could relax the rest of the day. He had went to the dining room when he had eaten his dinner.

It was just another night for him. He had a empty glass of scotch beside him. Studwick jumped awake after hearing a loud creak in the floor. He stood up, grabbing a knife that he had in his pocket. He always had one on him just in case. He knew he was rich and could always be a target to someone. Maybe it was his paranoia from the past.

"Who's there?" He quickly asked before being able to focus his eyes, holding the knife in his hand. Studwick usually dismisses Ralf before he goes to bed. He figured since he works so hard to keep him happy, he'd let him off easy.

There was no way that Studwick could rely on Ralf for the possible intruder.

[User]
Lisa made a worried face, recognizing the voice. She lost track of what mistake number this was. Definitely not the first one. At least this one wasn't totally her fault. Solemnly, she followed where the voice came from and stepped into the dimly lit room. "It's just me, Sir," she spoke quietly and soothingly, not wanting to aggravate him or wake up anybody else. She saw he was holding up a knife, which made her heart race. However, she remained calm on the outside. Perhaps there was fear in her eyes, but with this amount of light and the distance between them he wouldn't be able to see it. She held up her empty hands to show that she hadn't taken anything, nor was she carrying a bag.

"Pardon me if that creak woke you, Sir. I was merely exploring the manner, trying to commit the location of every room to memory." She smiled a bit. "It really is a lovely house. Earlier I thought your study was breathtaking, but now I know that other rooms, such as the dining room, are so much more extravagant! Of course that doesn't alter how nice your study still is. I'm incredibly impressed with the..." Her voice trailed off. "...sorry, I'm starting to ramble." She stepped forward again so he could see her face more clearly.


[System]
Age: 3423 (assuming the Silver Age of Ovid's Four Ages)

Gender: Female

Breed/Species/Type/Lineage: Spider Queen (formally human)

Physical Description:

Talents:Mother of all spiders, expert weaver, informant, and political clout.

History:Arachne, the namesake and origin of all arachnids. In a bygone age her arrogance and haughty attitude brought the wrath of the Greek goddess, Athena. At the attempt to insult and put herself as an equal to the gods she was cursed so that she and her descendants would weave forever. Transformed the woman became the first spider. Under the thumb of those more powerful she remained hidden for thousands of years. But as fate would have it even so called gods had their time. The queens spawn spread across the four corners of the Earth. With no one to stop her Arachne used her children to begin gathering information. Very little escaped her far reaching grasp, spiders having become common place throughout the world. Of course humans were not highly liked by her as they were always crushing her creations. In retaliation she made more deadly variations to fight back.

As the ancient times gave way and humanity advanced the Spider Queen gained quite a reputation among the supernatural world. Everyone had their secrets and she would cling to them as her tiny agents crept and crawled their way into everything. Staying out of most internal politics she also made moves in the mortal world. Offering her services she could steal most anything either through persuasion, intimidation, or execution. Assassination of an individual took little more than a spider bite.

Growing in influence and wealth she changed her public appearance for modern times. Having again assumed a human form she has emerged from the darkness to build an empire among the mortals. For a time she had others hold her place as President of the company but recently has taken the position herself. Of course she still holds an influence in the supernatural, and largely remains "untouchable" for fear of untold secrets being revealed in both realms. Holding a high position in several courts the sudden silence from New Camden did not go unnoticed.

Psychological Profile:She can be cold and values information above most other things. It can be a flaw at times. Having an affinity for neither the human or supernatural sides she treats them both with little regard. Some would say that acting human has made her soft though. Still everything and everyone is another piece to be used. Obviously some must be treated better than others. There is something to be said for respect after all.

Possessions:Athenian Law Group, a law firm that has its hands in many facets of both worlds. A tribute or insult to the former goddess; Spiders, as the original source of all spiders she rules over them. It may not sound like much but varying in size and deadly potential the public only sees the surface.

Yes, and: Acting as a buffer between worlds, Arachne's firm will often intervene on behalf of the courts to keep those who do not belong in the human world off the radar. She both employed Karram and appointed him to handle Claudia's case.

[User]
Flint was driving now, the back of his car packed with some of the others, Parry was talking and Flint was on the brink of smashing the car into a nearby tree. The only solace was the fuzzy, dazed feeling he was having from the alcohol consumption, the adrenaline was wearing off and Flint began to feel things slow down. That was until he realised he had nearly just missed the entrance Tony was talking about and slammed on the breaks, snapping out of his half dazed state.

He entered the place behind Tony and parked up, following the others as they entered the underground bunker. Flint realised that this was a far better place than his cramped apartment complex and sighed at himself as he had to admit Tony had done something better than him. OF course he would never say it out loud. After taking a quick walk around the place Flint realised he still had equipment back at his own hideout. He decided to slink into the shadows and, without drawing attention, began to leave. As he was taking the long walk back he heard what he could only assume was Parry. Probably seeing his new nose. It reminded him about when his nose was first broken.

It was the twenties, the economy was booming, chicks where shedding clothes, and despite what the laws where saying the booze was still flowing. Flint was with a gang of mobsters known as the 'Booze Hounds'. The name came from the gang's main business. Alcohol. The hound part came from how they killed people, it looked more like an animal attack rather than a mass shooting.

Flint was just learning his magic, and it was little more than lighting fires and keeping beers cold. Flint's most destructive power was his use of a Thompson sub machinegun. He could rip a car in half so the legends say. It was that kind of power the gang needed on a job, it should have been simple. Walk in, scare a few people into paying their dues, then walk out feeling satisfied. The job was far from what was planned however, who would have known the place was set up like a fortress? Who could have known they were waiting for them? Ten guys vs Flints five wasn't very fair, and the whole place was lit up as soon as they walked in. Flint was left alive, the other members of the gang a bloody pulp against the wall. He will never forget the words the man said, the one who was stomping on his head and busting his nose.

"No matter how strong you get, there is always a bigger dog".

Flint snapped out of his daydreaming as he got to his car, thankful it hadn't been towed to 'safety' yet. He hopped in and briskly began to drive to the apartment complex, taking a few casual swigs of his flask. When he got there, it didn't take him long to grab one of the large wooden trunks, and throw it into the boot of the car, making sure he had the key for the padlock on it. Smudge had also joined him and curled up in the passenger seat of the car. On the way back to base, he contemplated just how long it would take before everyone he knew died, he had little hope for the others and as the thought of leaving town crossed his mind, he instead lit up another cigarette and continued driving.

He returned back to the bunker, saying the secret code to Tony's guy. It was such a stupid code and he felt stupid saying it. He was dragging the trunk as he slowly made his way into the main compartment of the complex. Smudge was quick to follow, she was a timid cat but was happy as long as she stuck by Flints legs, making dragging the suitcase even harder, especially as her black fur made it hard for Flint to see in the dark.

Flint returned to the group just as they where mentioning vampires, he panted heavily as he lit up another cigarette, the last in his packet. He began to talk through mouthfuls of air.

"I know a few of the hang outs" He inhaled a puff of smoke. "Of some of the local vampire gangs, id suggest the Rusty Steak knife. Some sort of speak ea... night club" Flint awkwardly caught himself as he took another drag from his cigarette, his breathing returning to normal soon after. Smudge still clung around his feet, afraid to move more than a foot away as the strange smells of the place attacked her nose.

[Assistant]
Rikive made a face, her nose wrinkling her freckled skin, when the lawman returned and put in his own two coins. "The Norns hate me." She muttered, reaching behind her to tug out the ribbon that contained her braided hair. Or it had attempted too, with all the excitement the braid had started to come undone. A nightclub, the vampires had to operate out of those...places.

Running her fingers through her chestnut hair to act as a brush she couldn't help but think of the times Parael took her to nightclubs. They...had not gone very well. To top it off they wished to go to a nightclub where vampires liked to frequent. She knew from Parael that celestial blood was highly sought after by their kind. It did not frighten her, but if she punched a vampire through a wall for getting too close to her...Then it would likely give them away if they were going for a plan with subtlety.

"I am not needed for this plan." She declared, jumping up onto the kitchen counter to sit on, taking off Winterthorn to lay across her lap. "I don't do well in nightclubs." She kicked her legs back and forth, running her finger over her swords black sheath. "If we are attacking it head on with weapons drawn then I will gladly lend my aid. Outside of that, I will be a liability rather than an asset."

[User]
Beth let out a snort at Flint's wording, but she left the teasing for later. She considered his words while brushing a hand through her tangled hair. Other "gifted" beings were the most difficult bodies to take possession of, but she had never tried a vampire before, nor had she spent very much time in their preferred businesses. No doubt an elder would be impossible to possess, so that was ruled out. Someone else within the elder's circle, though, someone less powerful, she could use them. But what for? Beth huffed; at this rate, she would be good for nothing but the attack.

It seemed the same was true for Rikive. For different reasons, of course. Leaning back in the chair, Beth began to rock on its back legs absent-mindedly. The movement created a soft creak every so often. She watched the other people in the room, propping her elbow on the back of the chair and rubbing her temples. Her mind ran a number of simulations, plotting the course of future events in as many different variations as she could think of, and each ended the same way.

It was almost amusing. Without knowing what Nemsemet's equivalent of her cursed pendant was, they were doomed to failure.

She refocussed on the task at hand and a thought occurred: any elder vampire would have an army of lessers and thralls to guard them, especially in their own territory. To take him out, they'd need an army of equivalent size or, since they were lacking in one of those, an assassin.

Beth dropped back onto all four legs with a thud and sat forward. "If we're going to do this and take on Nemsemet, which by the way is insane, then we're going to have to send someone in to confirm this big-shot vamp's involvement with the thralls before we go avenging Parry's wardrobe." Beth hopped to her feet and turned on her heel in a slow circle, eyeing each of the people in the room. "Someone who would conceivably enter such an establishment and can fend for themselves. Alternatively, with some form of back up. You're familiar with that term, right, Flint? Oh, no, you like to work alone." She spun to face Tony and Parael. "If the elder isn't behind those thralls, fucking him up's not going to send the message you're trying to send. Get information first, then act on what we learn."

Finally, she stepped aside to see everyone and folded her arms across her chest. "Volunteers?"

[Assistant]
"Casper's right, but we don't have to go in a club full of vampires and thralls. We can capture a straggler."

He'd spent time getting himself showered and scrubbed down from his little encounter with the thralls, but he seemed clean now.

"Of course, that makes it harder to pick one that's in the know, we'll be taking what we can get if we do it that way. But it's easier to grab one and stash them in a van," that they'd have to steal, "without having to take on every vamp in the place."

He didn't necessarily want to be the one sent in there. It was true that vampires and Lycans didn't necessarily get along too well, though it wasn't like those really terrible movies with whatshername the British girl or that Mormon housewife's mawkish fantasies made into lucrative novels. It was more of a thing where dangerous predators gave each other a wide berth. Vampires despised that Lycans got to enjoy the sunlight and the benefits of being alive, while Lycans were annoyed that vampires had their shit together and basically had skills that lent themselves to making a lot of money and living a plush, immortal life of leisure if they saw fit.

So it didn't take much to start a fight, but it wasn't some eternal war. Also, when Vampires decided they wanted to give a shifter trouble, they didn't go and fight them face to face, because the shifter had the edge there. They sent, for example, well-armed thralls or they used the system, which they had the means to infiltrate via the effect of their blood on humans, to fuck with them. For example, Lycanthrope family living in a building? Condemn the building, send in child services, and a whole other mountain of red tape. They tittered over it and had another champagne flute of A+.

"I'm game to help, I just can't see myself being the guy you want to walk in there," Tony concluded.

[User]
The groups quick movement made below made getting information back to Arachne a little slower. Of course once they did get to their destination the news began to make its way up to her. Sadly even if a spider managed to get into the shelter it would not be able to relay what was going on inside. That said the existence of said shelter was quite a surprise. Whoever had found it to begin with was lucky. It was certainly something that she had never seen magic tested against.

Coming out of her room Autumn was dressed in some more casual clothing. Doning the business attire would be a sure fire way to ruin it in the sewers below. Knocking on Gray's door she informed him of their destination. Most likely this would be a first for him as well. The two of them probably wouldn't be able to put up much of a fight if things turned bad, but Gray had some contingencies for that. Given what the group just went through they were likely to be skittish. Arachne would have to bank on her reputation.

Despite living mostly above ground nowadays, she still felt more at home in the depths. The sewers and old subway systems were the modern day caves. The many different paths, turns, and exits were crafted for an ambush predator like herself. Fortunately for everyone that was not her intention right now. Ignoring the graffiti on the walls she just followed the directions of her children. It was no wonder so few know of this location. It was much further than most would care to adventure and probably at one point a heavily guarded secret.

Keeping to her human form and ability made the venture much slower. But she didn't want to highlight what she had hidden from Gray so long anymore that night than she had to. The sun would be rising soon, not that one could this far underground. It meant that most of the creatures that roamed during the night would begin to congregate out of sight. It often made them easier to follow to their hiding places on the occasions they were not leveling a building. She awaited word as the two began to approach the shelter. Depending on how well kept it was they may have a way to tell they were there. But it was also possible that the door sealed them off from everything.


[System]
Male
Looks about 30
Appearance
6'0"
Pale white skin.
White irises. Edges around his eyes are naturally often dark. Giving him the appearance of having eyeliner.
Messy slightly below shoulder length wavy white hair. Long bangs that often get in his eyes. Two engraved cylindrical medium length silver hair beads, one on the right side of his hair and one on the back left.
Silver feather dangle earring on his left ear lobe.
Left hand's fingernails are pointed and sharp

Faux golden mink fur double breasted coat. Length goes down to his mid thigh. Brown horn buttons. Brown silk liner.
Black with white polka dots pattern wool fringed scarf worn draped around the back of his neck under his coat. Loosely tied into a knot low right below his chest.
Various loose fitting polo or aloha/bowling shirts.
Gold 22" 10mm cuban link chain necklace.
White ribbed tank top undershirt.
Gold Rolex Datejust 36mm with a white dial and jubilee bracelet.
Silver band thumb ring, silver pinkie finger signet ring with a X engraved on the front. Gold pointer finger ring with a inlaid diamond. All on his left hand
Plain black leather dress glove with a white X on the palm on his right hand.
Silver 12mm cuban link chain id tag style bracelet on his right wrist
Black dress pants.
Black leather western style belt with an silver buckle and furnishings. Usually has a black embossed leather revolver holster on the right side.
Black leather cowboy boots with snip toe caps and floral stitching. Pant legs worn over the boot shaft.
Or
Various Air Jordan 5 sneakers.
White crew socks.

Hair
A bit longer in the back

Nemo is often considered a Mana-fiend among other terms. Someone who can feed off of mana itself for energy. He has a innate control over mana and mastery with absorption focused spells. Being able to drain other Talent's mana reserves to refill his own. With more advanced spells Nemo can even harness the natural mana found in the world for himself in a pinch.
While most Talents are able to increase their maximum mana pool by training. Nemo sadly lacks this ability. But makes up for it by being able to permanently increase his pool by fully draining mana from living beings and certain objects. Fully draining a magic user can also sometimes give Nemo the ability to use some of their spells.
An added bonus of consuming mana is that it makes him immune to aging.

All of his mana must be put to some sort of worthy use, and Nemo does so by specializing in highly destructive spells and traps. Often using an "X" shape motif. He also utilizes summoning magic circle relay rings. When a magic projectile passes through them, it increases in speed and power. Relay rings can also be chained together like a railgun to devastating effect.

Nemo triggers most of his attacks from the X shaped rune on the palm of his glove.

At times Nemo also has a affinity for fine custom weaponry instead of spells. Utilizing rifles, knives, and his trademark revolvers with specialized ammo to conserve his mana.

Nemo is fond of the dark and the cold. He sees and reacts better in darker places with his white nocturnal-like eyes. However as a drawback he often becomes irritated and uncomfortable in bright or hot areas.

While his actual age is a mystery, it is said that at a young age Nemo was shunned by all of the leading magic organizations for his unpredictable abilities and attributes. Being an orphan, Nemo was left to fend for himself in the world. His abilities were the only thing he had at a young age, realizing that most people were afraid of his style of spells. Nemo found that resorting to force to get what he needed was usually the only option that worked.

As his control over his abilities grew he began to get more involved with the magic underground. Nemo began to take advantage of his anti-mana magic to make a name for himself as a effective assassin against other fellow magic users. He did this as a means to both further his own power and take revenge against the magic community for it's treatment of him.

As Nemo's notoriety grew, the magic factions that once rejected him began to take notice. However not in the way he once wanted. Nemo began to become a problem for them, something that reached a climax when he executed a pair of Catholic Magi while on a armored transport mission.

The Church had let him grow unchecked for too long. To solve the problem they set an ambush up for Nemo with a group of Grand-Magi and a entourage of his students. A fight occurred between the two, ending with Nemo's capture. But not before the group of mages suffered great causalities, including their leader.

After the encounter Nemo was locked up deep in a pitch black cell within a dungeon located under the Vatican. There he lies in wait, feeding off of the small amount of mana rationed to him and wondering how long it will take before he is set free.

Despite it all Nemo often comes off as a rather chipper carefree individual, something that is often seems sinister while fighting instead. Nemo is often unstable, his polite and charismatic outer attitude sheds to his more psychotic inner shell while angered.
Nemo has a fascination with all things visual. Taking great pride with his work and considering the battles he partakes in as art. Aiming to make them as aesthetically impressive as he can.
He's also a collector, coming off as borderline greedy in some cases. He'll try to obtain anything he finds visually appealing. Nemo becomes highly irritated when his possessions are sullied. Thankfully he can often repair them.
Going hand in hand with his knack for collecting, he also takes great joy in eating. Being able to consume a very large amount of food and eat just about anything.

5.5 inch single action revolver.
3.5 inch birds head handle single action revolver.
Bolt action hunting rifles.
Balisong knives

[User]
Zuri stayed quiet throughout the entire meeting since she doesn't talk much unless someone mentions her name or when she's curious about something. She was a bit nervous about tagging along on such a dangerous mission for her first mission, but she felt confident that her allies would protect her if she was ever in any danger.

Since most of them were preparing for the mission, she decided to do the same. However, instead of preparing her weapons, runes or whatnot like the others, she wanted to talk to Felix about her powers and some small talk to get to know him better, maybe because Felix and Zuri had auras that are polar opposites of one another.

She could sense Felix's bright aura from a distance, so she heads toward it. After a few minutes of walking, Zuri arrived at the room where Felix and Travis were in. Zuri stood at the door for a few seconds before knocking on it to see if they'd let her in. She felt nervous, even though there wasn't anything to be nervous about. "I hope I'm not interrupting them.." she mumbles as she waits at the door.

[Assistant]
The enthusiasm in Nemo's face and voice seemed to have been curbed by Raiya's response.

"I suppose you're right... It's probably not a good idea." He replied, tapping his pointer fingers together. "We could try doing some bonding exercises?" Nemo suggested. "We could hug? That should probably work."

Nemo didn't seem to have much experience with what he was talking about, which wasn't much of a surprise.

[User]
Raiya crossed her arms and rolled her eyes.

"It takes much more than simple physical contact to create a relationship. It's like you've never had a friend befo-" Raiya stopped and eyed Nemo up and down, "You never have had a friend before, have you?" Raiya asked with genuine curiosity.

[Assistant]
"Oh... well, I have lots of friends." Nemo replied, somewhat halfheartedly. "Business friends. They do favors for me, and I do favors for them." Nemo clarified.

Nemo broke eye contact with her, resting his arms on his lap and looking downwards. "I suppose that doesn't really count, does it?" He admitted. "No, I haven't ever had a friend. People were never very fond of me because of my appearance. In the beginning it was hard, but I've gotten used to it. Now I see it more like an advantage, my lack of any type of relationships makes it impossible to use against me." Nemo explained.

[User]
Travis considered Felix's comment briefly. Despite his rune performing well past its intended function, Felix decided to keep the inscribed spell active instead of seeking a more reliable and toned down rune to replace it. What intrigued him next was that Felix now sought a solution to the dilemma that had accidentally been made; a way to reverse the rune's extreme deadening effects and reestablish the Paragon's ley lines. The Untalent felt more comfortable with retooling the existing rune so that it wouldn't lock down the Paragon so harshly but he nevertheless acknowledged and appreciated in what Felis had in mind.

Felix's friendly gesture reassured Travis' resolve over the success of his work, "I think I can cook something up...just as long as don't lose any more sleep in the process and-

Travis' attention broke just as the unexpected sound from the door beaconed them. He remained slilent for a second before turning to Felix, "...you wanna answer that?"

[Assistant]
Felix felt Zuri's aura approach before she knocked. The room that they were in was the secret laboratory, the pathway to which was accidentally been left open. The secret pathway led to the laboratory that was separated from the pathway by a frosted glass door.

Felix turned to the door and opened it, "Ah Zuri, I see you've found my lab.The room is covered in runes to suppress mana waves so you must have followed my aura before we got to the lab." Felix thought out loud, "No matter, the lab isn't supposed to be kept a secret from our team, just from anyone who tries to infiltrate the headquarters."

Felix placed his hands inside his robe's pockets, "What can I do for you Ms. Zuri?"

---

Raiya let out a puff of air, "Whatever... Friends are lame anyway. They just betray you at a moments notice and cast you aside. It's better to keep everyone at an arms length if you ask me." Raiya replied.

[User]
"But you still have... what were their names..." Nemo started, tapping his temple a few times while he thought. "Ah yes, Tsukihi and Akane?" He remembered after a brief pause. "Are they not your friends? At the very least close comrades." Nemo asked.

"I understand you and Felix have had a falling out, I'd feel hurt if I was you too. Fear of betrayal is common, rational even, as the damage it can do isn't limited to physical. It can leave scars in your mind, something that can take much longer to fade." He commented. "Being betrayed makes it seem like that to them you weren't worth it, that you weren't of value. Which is an especially despondent thing to be inflicted with."

"It's only human to want to feel treasured by someone else, it's a good feeling. I'd like to think I'd be a good friend, double crossing somebody I share fellowship with is a thing I think I'm incapable of dreaming up. To somebody like me having a bond with someone is invaluable, there's nothing anybody could ever offer me that I'd put above it." Nemo explained.

[Assistant]
Raiya pulled her legs up onto the chair, balling herself up in a fetal position of sorts. She wrapped her arms around her legs and buried her face into her knees as she listened to Nemo.

When she was ready to reply she placed her chin on her knees to talk. "Akane and Tsukihi... they've sacrificed a lot for me. But, in the back of my mind I still have doubts. There's something inside me the really believes that they are not above betraying me as well." Raiya rested the right side of her face on her knees before she continued, "Humans are vile creatures, even the book Felix and I were raised to believe upon threat of heresy says so. But it wasn't until I saw it for myself that I believed it. And I'm not just talking about Felix betraying me either."  Raiya stopped to think if she really wanted to share with Nemo her inner darkness, but ended up deciding that it was okay.

"I've been tortured, seen allies tortured. Seen allies turn on other allies just to get what they want. I have turned on allies just to get what I want..." Raiya was feeling especially raw and vulnerable at this moment, "Nemo, I'm evil. And, if you know what's good for you, you'll stay as far away from me as possible. Because one day, I will betray you."

[User] Zuri had a lot of questions but she didn't want to take up too much of their time for her concerns. "H-Hey Felix, I was just wondering if you had any advice for me regarding my powers and if I should be concerned about using too much of my mana..?" She asks Felix with a slightly worried look about the mission, afraid that she'll make mistakes that might hurt her own teammates.

[Assistant]
Nemo's expression went deadpan during Raiya's reply, hiding his emotions towards it. Once she was done, Nemo hesitated to reply, clearly thinking for a few moments. He slowly raised from his seat, "Do I look like someone who does what's good for him?" Nemo asked, a small smirk appearing on his face.

"Evil is a strong word, I don't think you're evil, and that's coming from me, "The White Scourge", the "Mad Dog from Nowhere." Before I was captured in the public eye I was labeled one of the most wicked forces money could buy. Nobody is free from evilness, but what I think matters is why? Why is it so? The way I see it, every action has a good and bad side to it, people often choose to only see the side they want. Even evil things can have a goodness to them, something that's too easily missed. What matters to me is why did they come to be, and what purpose do they serve?" As Nemo talked he seem to put an extra effort into making his actions seem theatrical. Speaking off towards walls as if there was an audience there. Dramatically spinning around in a circle. All the while he slowly began to step closer to Raiya till he was standing only a few feet from her.

"I've long considered myself to be a tool, a weapon. I'm meant to be cast aside once I've outlived my usefulness. Even if you betrayed me Raiya, it wouldn't be unjust until the third time you've done it." Nemo finished, outstretching both his arms towards her in an invitation to make good on that hug he suggested earlier. "Life's more interesting when it's lived within arms length." He added with a grin.


[System]
Age: 19

Gender: Female

Appearance: Onyx has black hair and green cat eyes. The skin of her entire body is covered in short, soft cheetah-patterned fur, except her wings and face. She is missing her left ear and has a scar on her left cheek from a fight she was in a while back. Her wings are like the wings of a brown hawk, and her wingspan is twice her arm span. She usually wears a shawl so that her wings are hidden unless she is flying.

Equipment: 3 or 4 small knives (and other tools), a pair of restored Twin Pistols, and a basic med-pack.

Physical Abilities: Flight, 6th sence(hunting/tracking), Speed & Agility, Stealth.

Background: Onyx's species, the Elissics, live in the mountains and old cities found there. They could be categorized as a frightening predator and enemy to all creatures, as they have barely any ability to distinguish one race of creature from another from the air, and there's barely any escape once they swoop down on their prey. They are not a particularly smart race, they can't understand old human language and can just barely manage to put back together the few relics they find from humans. They can only make crude weaponry, and are fairly simple with the other things they make as well. Their society is broken up into many nomadic tribes across the region, each having their own unique color of wings, and they have no unified head of power, so they will often fight with each other when the different tribes meet.

Onyx herself is a bit different from the others in her tribe… she likes to be alone, rather than hunting in a group, and will keep trying towards her goal until she figures out how to get there. Instead of trying to fly over the tallest mountain and tiring herself out, possibly even getting sick, she'll look for the shortest path around. She's better with strategy and quick moves than drawn-out fights and trying to compensate for a group. Because of this, she is sort of left out of everything, and she doesn't care because she doesn't want to have to feel like she can't say what's on her mind. She is often given solo missions that really don't make much difference around the tribe, and whenever she's not on a mission will fly in random patterns around the mountains, usually ending up at a large lake (or small sea) where she likes to fish using an old net she had found nearby the first time she had gone there. Onyx, just like the rest of the Elissics, doesn't worry much about the state of the world or how it got that way. They all live completely in the moment.

[User] "Good. Would you like more soup? Or rather go explore the nest now? You may have more when we get back if you want." Onyx was glad to hear Tarentek's determination as she stood and started cleaning up her place. "Hey, do you know any songs? I believe I mentioned earlier that I like to sing while I cook, so do you have any songs that you like to sing?"

[Assistant]
"Sure, we can explore the...nest, as you say." Tarentek said as he stood up from his seat. "You should lead the way. I am sure you will know much better than I where would be best for me to go. And I trust you will let me know if I am about to make some terrible mistake. Though, before we leave, I would like to take a moment complement your soup. I find that it was quite well-made." He said as he began to help her clean as well.

Once Onyx asked him about his singing abilities, he stumbled over his words for a few brief moments as he was forming a response. "Oh, um, well...no, I don't. Sing. I don't sing. My mother liked to, but I never really picked it up. A lot of my focus went into my studies on technology, so I never really had time to pick up any musical talents." He explained somewhat nervously. It was true that he could not sing well, but it had not been for a lack of trying. His mother had loved to sing, and he tried to learn, but was terrible to start. He might have improved, but teasing from other children had stopped him from trying before he could gain any musical talent.

[User]
"I get the feeling that you already have a sense for what to and what not to do, although I will stop you if you are about to do something offensive." Onyx had to force herself not to laugh at how he had stuttered in his answer about singing. She got the feeling that there was a little more to his reason than what he had said, although she didn't want to say anything about it. He'd probably tell her later if it was in any way important.

As she lead him out of the den, another question crossed her mind. "Tarentek, I mean no offence when I ask this, but are you considered 'normal' among your people? I can tell you that I am not among the 'normal' group here. Most think i'm... lost."

[Assistant]
Tarentek found Onyx's question to be curious, and unexpected. He had never thought about whether or not he was 'normal,' though that fact likely meant he was. If none of the others had any question about his place within society, then they likely had no issues with him. "I have not really thought about that before, but I believe my people would consider me to be normal. I am a warrior with knowledge and interest in our technology, both of which would be considered honorable among my people. Beyond that, I have not done much that would be exceptional. I suppose the most they might find strange about me is that I have not yet found a wife, despite being at the appropriate age. Still, that is not terribly uncommon." He explained briefly as his face took on a more concerned expression.

"What do you mean by 'lost'? Do others among your people take issue with you?" Tarentek asked. Given all that Onyx had done for him, he did actually find that he was sympathetic to any potential struggles she might be facing.

[User]
"They don't really think that I'll be able to function as a part of the Tribe once I come of age, because I have not yet found my Niche." Onyx had hoped that Tarentek would have been in a similar situation, but what he said made her think that he was more like someone in the role of a Sentry, a heroic role that the people looked up to. "Currently, I am in training to be a healer, however healers usually have a stronger Soul than Heart."

"I believe I had mentioned something about Spirit, Soul, and Heart last night when I had asked you about your beliefs. My Spirit is strong, my Heart is strong, but my Soul is weak, and Soul is what matters the most when one comes of age."

[Assistant]
"I am not sure how well I understand." Tarentek responded regretfully. "Those concepts, soul, spirit, and heart, are not ones I grew up with, so I don't think I understand them in the same way you do. I remember you describing your soul as your 'eternal self,' but don't understand exactly how you can make it weaker or stronger. I will try to understand as best as I can, if you believe it is something you can explain in words. For my people, we did not have any sort of ritual to determine our role. In theory, our paths were chosen based on our greatest talents, but that was usually just following our parents' roles. After all, our talents are usually formed through what our parents teach us. The methods of your people are new to me; foreign."

Tarentek doubted his answer was what Onyx wanted to hear, but nevertheless, he gave a smile and tried to elevate the mood at least somewhat. "But, as I said before, my people are always open to new ideas, and I am no exception. And as someone with an outside perspective, I might even be able to give some advice."

[User]
"I am not sure if I could explain it any differently without distorting the meaning, but I can say that my situation is very rare. Most of my people, across all the tribes, have a weaker Heart and a stronger soul. They are harder to get along with, but they are better suited to leadership and making decisions that affect more than themselves." Onyx stopped walking as she spoke, while a thought came to her. "I also think I mentioned Fellagang and Heillias last night, although I don't think I said anything about them..." Onyx trailed off as she tried to think exactly what she should say. She didn't want to make Tarentek think she was forcing him to recognize them, but she wanted to be clear that they were not simply the meaningless fact that he was so used to learning in his culture.

Then, the words came to her, a breathy whisper in her mind. "Yes, our Soul is our eternal self and the source of our strength when we come of age. A strong Soul is sought after and guarded by Fellagang and his minions, as he is the patron of our Soul, and a strong Heart is guarded by Heillias, the patron of our Heart. Fellagang and Heillias fight each other for the right to be recognized as the 'good' conscience, as they both are a major power on the decisions we make."

"The only way to make a Soul stronger is if one is blessed by Heillias, where a stronger Heart is a blessing of Fellagang. They can only bless the other's patronage because that is the nature of their fight. One with a stronger Heart is more likely to listen to Heillias than Fellagang, where one with a strong Soul listens more to Fellagang than Heillias. They are both jealous of the other, so they are very unlikely to bless anyone unless their Spirit is strong enough for such a change to leave their loyalty unaffected."

[Assistant]
Tarentek did his best to understand what Onyx was explaining. To him, what she described was a spiritualistic religion, a concept that was foreign to his people. Despite this, her beliefs were not so complicated as to make him unable to understand entirely. As she explained it, the soul and spirit was indicative of different parts of their personalities, with each guarded by one of their deities. That was actually reasonably similar to his own people's beliefs, though in the case of the Karisskan, Jhala imparted onto them their entire personality. He still felt that there were parts he must be missing, as any religion was too complicated to explain in a few short sentences, but he did have some thoughts on what she had said so far.

"I see, so these beings work against one another, but both for your benefit. And a stronger heart means you are blessed by...Fellagang. You said a strong soul is important when you come of age, but I have a question about your heart. Namely, what are all the traits a strong heart bestows upon you? If a strong heart gives you certain traits, then those traits would have to give you certain skills and abilities that others do not necessarily possess." Tarentek asked.

[User]
"I am glad you seem to understand better now." Onyx said before answering his question. "Well, our Heart grants us compassion and joy, along with love and loyalty. Heart becomes our agility and speed in battle, and a guide when we are unsure what to do. Those with a stronger heart are more delicate than those with a weak heart, but are often kinder than those with a weak heart."

"I would not say that our Heart does not give us good traits, but none of them define a practical role in our society. Sentries and scouts, hunters and healers, and leaders are the fundamental roles that must be filled for a tribe to continue to survive, while the role of a prophet, merchant, or diplomat is unnecessary because of the leader's ability to contact other tribes and arrange trades like that. Most Sentries can play the role of a merchant if needed, and prophets are practically nonexistent once you are this far from the hearth of our people."

[Assistant]
"You know, I believe I might disagree with that." Tarentek commented, casting his gaze across the village as they walked along in order to observe his surroundings. He did not know for how long her people had been living essentially alone in these mountains, but he had the feeling that they would not be able to maintain their isolation forever. "The way your people live, it seems to have worked for you. Even without those roles you just mentioned, your people have survived and, normally, would probably continue doing so. However, with this Empire approaching, I have a feeling that the wave of change is going to come crashing down over this place, and every other settlement in this area. No matter how events unfold, I see no way that any city is going to remain untouched. I do not know if I told you, but that mission your father assigned me is to go to Tel Nof, with an escort, and negotiate on behalf of your people to secure their aid in the coming war. From all I have gathered, that is something that has never happened with your tribe, or if it has, no one has mentioned it."

Tarentek looked back to Onyx with an encouraging expression. "This problem you face, with your heart being stronger than your soul, it may just be a sign of things to come. You people might not have traditionally needed the roles you are suited for, but as change sweeps the land, your people may find themselves in dire need of people like you. After all, if it were anyone else from your tribe who had found me, I doubt they would have saved me. You would not have received my warning, and you would be left to face our enemy alone, with no time to seek help from even your own kin."

[User]
Onyx couldn't stop herself from staring at Tarentek as they walked. Her father wants him to play the role of a diplomat!? "Y-you make a valid point, however that would imply that Fellagang and Heillias knew this was going to happen by the time of my birth, and that is not possible. Only Olias can tell the events of the future, but Olias never tells Fellagang or Heillias anything of what they see. Only Spirits of the past may guide the Spirit of the future."

Onyx sighed and took a deep breath before continuing. "One thing I think I've realized by talking with you about this is that I probably am destined to be a Prophet or a Diplomat like my mother is. I will have to go to Fellagang's place of power and ask him for guidance to be sure, however I have a feeling in my heart that I am right." Onyx stopped talking and led Tarentek the rest of the way to the marketplace in silence.

The marketplace was one of the most confusing things Onyx had ever experienced in her life, and it was all because of wings. Everyone in the market was almost always an Elissic, because of the aversion her race had towards outsiders they rarely appeared there, however the living mosaic of multi-colored wings made it just as confusing as if every person there was a different race altogether.


[System]
---

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Age: 19 years
Year: 1st
Gender: Male
Species: Warlock (Water specialization)

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---

Physical Description: Standing at five and a half feet tall. Morgan is a rather thin individual, though not completely devoid of muscle. He has a mop of dark brown hair, always parted in the middle, that falls to his shoulders. Often hidden by his hair are dark blue eyes that always seem a little distant. He is rarely seen without his scarf, which is woven of thick black wool and appears hand-made. Though often barefoot out of preference, he would rather have sturdy boots than any shoes. The skin of his back is covered in thick burn scars from waistline to hairline.
Personality: Morgan generally prefers to keep some distance from others, staying out of group conversations and rarely talking to anyone at all. Even when he does, it isn't unlikely for him to get lost in introspection mid-conversation if some line of thinking seems a more interesting pursuit than the verbal exchange at hand. His friends are few and far between, and are typically people he finds to be interesting enough to actually hold a lengthy conversation with. Even then, he prefers to let them do most of the talking. When the focus is on him, he is severely out of his element.
Hobbies: Reading, observing nature, drawing and writing (mostly to record notes), and dabbling with potions.
Familiar: Judas, a grumpy, grey-eyed black cat.
Extra: Nothing, at the moment.

Lyla Warren

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Age: 19 years
Year: 1st
Gender: Female
Species: Splice (Flying Fox)

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Physical Description: Lyla has ears that, like the animal she had been spliced with, look similar to those of a fox. They sit atop her head and match her hair in color at the base, darkening on the way up until the tips are black. Two bat-like wings, with wingspan as wide as she can spread her arms, connect between her shoulder blades. They are not capable of flight (yet) but can be used to grasp things in a manner similar to normal bats. Overall, Lyla is short and slim, weighing in around one hundred pounds and standing at just over four and a half feet. Her eyes, once a strong blue, seem clouded or faded.
Personality: When she is not tired, Lyla is a font of cheer and laughter. Her bubbly personality lends well to befriending beings of all types, though more stoic people often find her annoying. Having no idea how to deal with angry or upset people, she tends to be rather meek when confronted. In the end, she just wants everyone to be content.
Hobbies: Reading (usually Braille), sleeping, dancing, and music.
Familiar: None
Extra: Lyla was born entirely blind, but has hearing good enough to allow her to echolocate with ease in most situations. She hums habitually to facilitate this. Lyla is also primarily nocturnal, causing her to have trouble sleeping at night, especially when alone. This often leads to her being sluggish and lethargic for a good portion of the day.

[User]
- Laurel -

---

Laurel looked strangely at the dragon before her as she once again shadowed his steps towards her bed. She chuckled softly when he asked about the heat. "Sulley, I am the near perfect embodiment of the daughter of the Sun God. I am the goddess of fire in Egyptian culture." She offered as an explanation, her voice soft and warm as she looked at him with a smile. Green eyes swirled softly with the golden yellow of her other form and uncertain excitement. She pursed her full dark pink lips as she watched him remove his shirt and then lay down among her gold sheets. They were literally gold wrapped in tiny microscopic threads of silk so they felt like silk but had the majorities of the properties of Gold, namely its high melting point. It was her mother's invention, a gift to her and nearly impossible for anyone but her mother to create. They shimmered dimly in the low light of her room as they were rustled about by the dragon.

The sight made her realize that the only light in the room was the soft flickering light of the candles places strategically around the room. That accompanied with the frankincense and myrrh incense that were burning created an air of mystique and possible romance though the idea had never once crossed the gifted's mind. She hadn't been raised in a household of love and romance, only business and responsibilities. She wasn't a prude so to speak, she had simply never been around anyone who had offered either out of fear of her herself or the people she was often surrounded with. Her father and brother certainly didn't help things. It was this sheer lack of thought about the subject that allowed the gifted to slip her thumbs in the belt loops of her jeans and shimmy out of them without reserve, revealing toned and well tanned legs.

The only adornment of her body was the shimmering gold belly button ring she always wore and a pair of brilliant, almost startlingly red panties. For Laurel it was the natural thing to do, one didn't generally lay in their bed with clothes on. Not to mention she wasn't really interested in snagging the custom fabric of her bedding. She had cooled significantly just in the small amount of time she had already been a little ways away from Sulley. Being closer to that searingly delicious heat was the only thing she was particularly thinking about. It was rather addictive when one spent the majority of their life feeling cold. It was a detestable thing, being cold. However, these days she was more often than not cool to the level of discomfort if not sickness. It was almost as if she had controlled the fire inside her to the point it was dampening out. Fire wasn't something that tended to lend itself willingly to being controlled. In the first years here at the school she had been nothing short of explosive.

She leaned against the edge of the bed for a brief moment before she prowled onto the bed, her lithe muscles rippling underneath her olive skin. Sidling up next to the dragon's dimly glowing skin, she laid easily against his ribs, unable to stop herself from touching him. It was a this point that the low purr vibrated from her chest, her now smoldering green eyes fluttering closed while her lips parted. The heat this close and this temperature was sheer bliss compared to the near icy existence she had unknowingly been living until this moment. "Thank Re for these gold sheets. You have a good bit of temperature before they melt and an absurd amount before you even get close to burning me." Her words were barely a breathy purr, completely without pretense. She gave a contented sigh, as she pressed against him further. She was, however, glad for the vanilla and chocolate scented perfume she had put on not long ago being this close to someone. It was the only partial thought that entered her bliss consumed mind.

[Assistant]
--Vlad--

Somewhere in the north, 4 years ago....

Loud breathing... Each step feeling heavier than the previous one... Body covered in blood... A young red haired man, unable to continue anymore, stops walking. His clothes were in pieces, his body covered in wounds and blood, his eyes barely open and lifeless. He looks up at the sky, admiring the snow that was still there. A small smirk appears on his mouth before a tear rolls near it. "Anna.." and with those words he collapses backward into the snow. A moments ago he barely could bear the pain, but now he felt so peaceful, the cold embracing him in its arms. He could feel each snowflake slowly falling on his body, carefully covering him.

"Don't leave me yet Anna.."

Vlad suddenly woke up, he was still outside leaning against the tree. He looked around, the sun was still pretty far up, which meant he didn't sleep for long. Something heavy was stuck in his throat, and the looming sadness he felt before was back again. His familiar seemed to have noticed it and was pushing it's small head on his stomach with all it's might to distract him. Vlad looked at the little bird and smiled, although you could barely call it a smile, and looked at the bird with his eyes halfclosed, as if he was trying to stop something coming from his eyecorners. He caressed the little phoenix before putting it on his shoulders and sitting up straight with his legs crossed beneath him. He had to focus, he had limited time left and couldn't bare to waste it, perhaps he could still do something about it if he managed to get stronger.

He formed half circles with his hand hands and put them near each other, but didn't press them together. His hands were forming a circle now. The witch slightly focused on the center inside his open hands before a small ball of fire formed. It was orbiting nicely inside the circle, like a little sun. Vlad then slowly turned his hands upwards while the ball slowly floated into the air. When it was high enough, about 3 meters into the air, the witch quickly closed his hands forming fists. The ball exploded, resulting in a small explosion sending different tints of red around it. It was beautiful to look at, and the witch also noticed some students had stopped to admire it as well.

[User]
Asmund Gjanarsson
Wren@KuramaaaZ

---

Warming up... The gifted really would have liked to just skip this step and start making real progress or real failure immediately. Asmund wasn't someone who didn't know about the need for warming up in sports, not doing so could easily result in unnecessary pain. He wasn't the one to get his nerves and nothing against Niall, but the other student also would be an additional witness to what could come and the gifted didn't know if Niall would be the type that would keep everything a secret or if the man would tell it everyone who wanted to know - likely after a bit of advertisement. The logical part of his mind had taken this possibility into its considerations and subsequently born the desire to discover the truth behind his current riding abilities as quickly as possible. After all, Asmund wanted to start enjoying this beautiful morning. So far, a certain witch had successfully prevented this.

"Alright..." He saw Niall's mare bucking for a reason he was unable to determine and got quickly convinced that it never really existed. "Much more animated ?" he asked, an audible amount of wonder in his voice. This horse would be an attempt on his life if he had to ride it! And if there would ever be a minor intentional 'glitch' in his arm that would cause his fist to slam into someone else's face, he had to excuse with the words 'My nervous system is exceptionally animated this day...' or the like. If Mrs. Fairfield was good at extenuations, he could be as well!

After a noticeable delay, the gifted actually managed to command the draft horse beneath him to trot. His eyes were locked onto Niall and his doing for at least half of the time, but just seeing it wasn't really enough information. How much force to use on the reigns and all those subtle signals transmitted via body contact, that was something he would have to derust himself. However the last time he had been riding a horse his properties as a gifted had not yet manifested themselves. It made the task way more difficult than just remembering.

It was when Asmund seemed to finally settle in rather well with the current exercise when there was an external disturbance. An all too familiar disturbance... It really didn't need that much mental effort to raise suspicion towards a certain student that he had thought still to be confined in Laurel's quarters. What made things worse was that the exploding sphere of fire had seemed to emanate from a tree. A tree! If Laurel would see this...

"Vlad! What the hell are you doing ?" He used the witch's name in the firm belief that it was really him. Asmund's voice was loud enough that he would be able to hear it.

[Assistant]
Kiara finished Morgan's thought for him, and he smiled. Perhaps it really was that simple. He had agonized about the why when it should have been about the want. Another lesson from the Fae to be taken into consideration. Thinking on that and watching Kiara as she looked around the clearing lead him to wonder what he had been expecting. That didn't last, however, as it was very clear what she wanted when she turned back to him. Part of him was still hesitant and apprehensive, but the rest of Morgan was very intrigued by the idea of Kiara all to himself and in his sanctuary.

As she wrapped her arms around him, his own circled around her waist as though they were meant to be there. Heat rushed to Morgan's cheeks as Kiara brushed a lock of hair out of his eyes. With her gaze locked on his, he felt rooted to the spot. Where else would I want to be? Finally her lips parted, but this time only to ask a simple question, one loaded with meaning. Caught between anxiety and desire, the Warlock found himself incapable of speech. He made a couple of false starts before giving up on that route.

Actions speak louder than words right?

Before he had fully processed the thought, Morgan pulled Kiara against himself and lowered his lips to hers.

Observer


[System]
Age: 22

Allegiance: Imperium

History:
For as long as she could remember, Lorelai had always wanted to be just like her idol and become a knight of the Imperium. She had been born to a modest family that had lived happily under the Imperium's rule for generations amidst the dreamy countryside. Whereas most girls played with dolls, Lorelai spent hers with local garrison polishing armor and helping prepare there meals after many years of pestering them to let her help. It was a certainty in her mind that she would be another soldier of the Imperium, protecting the peace and prosperity of others just like the Crimson Knight.
Lorelai had seen Asgard once in her child, on her families yearly visit to the capital for the festivities celebrating the Great Beast's demise. A crimson beacon that shone brighter than the fireworks bursting along the night's sky, the image of Asgard burning itself into her mind as the ideal she would strive for as a knight of the Imperium. An obsession was born, but for such a just cause who could call it wrong?
True to her word she joined the Imperial army, and while not one of the true knights like Yggdrasil or Asgard, she had earned a less-than-kind nickname that she took in stride, the Abyssal Knight. Among the rank and file she was known for demonstrating a willingness to go to extreme measures to maintain the peace regardless of being ordered to or not. Her moniker, once derisive, was uttered in respect following an incident whereupon a patrol she was accompanying had been assailed by a raging beast. The patrol had fled in the face of certain death, but Lorelai hadn't. Word spread of a monster that would certainly ravage the land, and it was thought that none could stand against it alone.
Lorelai stood against the beast. She laid it low and tamed the beast, christening it Durgan, and brought it into the service of the Imperium. Riding atop her new partner she was terrifying sight, bringing peace wherever she went by leaving dissidents in pieces. Just like her idol.

Personality:
Lorelai is a zealous devotee to the Imperium and it's perseverance. To the citizenry and the loyal she is warm and genial, but to the brigand and rebel she is a merciless terror. In the face of her idol she may as well be a blushing school girl, and will do anything in her power to meet her standards as Lorelai perceives them. She possesses an unshakeable will in the face of adversity, though is weak against the admonishment of her superiors.
Lorelai firmly believes that everything she does is for the good of the Imperium, and that what is good for the Imperium is good for all. Doubt never enters her mind on the righteous of their cause, and every day the Imperium can stand tall is another with which Lorelai is happy with her life.

Tome:
In it's sealed form Lorelai's tome is ebon in color with a scarlet inlay for decoration. Released, and it becomes an Imperial standard whose pole is as unbreakable as her iron will. The purpose of this flag is that it allows Lorelai to channel earth shattering bursts of concussive force, primarily through three mediums.
First, Lorelai channels the force through her body, usually done to increase the force behind her limbs or released outwards to repel something within arms reach. Second, an object Lorelai is in contact with is propelled under tremendous force, typically used to propel rocks, arrows, or whatever Lorelai can get her hands on and make them deadly projectiles. Third, the force is directed into and released via another party, such as releasing the force through the hind legs of a steed she is riding to propel them forward. This requires continuous physical contact and concentration to perform with harming the channeled party.

Other:
Lorelai is never seen far from her mount, Durgan. In combat, while her tome is her primary weapon she also carries a common place sword that is easily lost or broken, so Durgan carries of quiver of swords on his side for easy replacement.

[User]
Lorelai

"Lady Eleonor..." The Abyssal Knight said in a small, forlorn voice as the doors closed behind the Crimson Knight. It brought her no small measure of pain to see Eleonor so distraught over her worth as a parent, a subject which Lorelai could offer nothing substantial in comfort. Try as she might it would only come across as vapid flattery if she herself had no parenting experience. If Durgan had pups I'd like to think I'd rear them right, but that isn't the same... Beyond that Durgan was just so picky he'd rather ride out his seasonal heat in solitude then settle for a creature his lesser.

Still, it brought her some joy to find that her lady had so readily accepted her as to bestow a nickname on her so soon after entering her service. While Lorelai was in this state of mixed elation and dejection, a maid approached her and whispered in a hurry about reports of explosions and gunfire coming from the woodlands nearby. Under most circumstances Lorelai's immediate response would be to send a missive to the nearby garrison while she prepared the chateau in the case this was a rebel attempt on Eleonor's life, but this wasn't typical.

"What wretched timing. Axon, I understand you have only just arrived but I must request your assistance. The Lady Fei and Lord Jessi had left for...a morning run, shortly before your arrival, and I am hearing talk that there are signs of conflict near us. If there weren't the possibility they could be involved I wouldn't ask this, but I would appreciate if you could help me investigate this." Lorelai asked of Axon, not a shred of doubt over whether or not she could trust him now that Eleonor evaluated him.

"We have already begun to make preparations, Dame Lorelai. The Master shall not be disturbed in the slightest until you return, and your partner awaits you out front." The maid said with a polite bow. "Though if the Master were to inquire about your presence, we will be obligated to speak truthfully with her."

"I would ask no less of you. Please go tell her that Axon and I shall be investigating a commotion in the woods. It should not take us long and that I would like to join her on her walk when I return." Lorelai turned to the side as the maid gave her a knowing look and left to do what she was told with a light giggle. Slightly embarrassed, the Abyssal Knight stormed out of the hall and just hoped Axon agreed in coming along without waiting for a response.

Outside where there had once been a general resplendent in gold was now Lorelai's partner in upholding Imperial Justice, Durgan was waiting for her. It's eyes shone with a disturbing amount of intellect even as it grunted in acknowledgement of Lorelai's presence. She climbed atop his bare back and settled atop the mane of flame colored fur before turning back to the entry way with a hand ready to help someone aboard. "Time is of the essence, so let's be quick about this, and hope to the Imperator that the Lord and Lady haven't become involved. Lady Eleonor has enough weighing upon her mind as it is."

[Assistant]
Axon mostly continued to pluck at the food as the maid came in and notified the group of the chaos in the woodlands nearby. Perking an eyebrow at that he listened intently though he seemed to be focused on the food. His spy training kicking in to make him dual focus with ease. Though it was more of a habit than because he wasn't welcome to lend an ear. When the maid concluded and Lorelai started to say her piece he was already mouth full of some fruits when he turned to her.

It took him a few moments to fully chew and swallow his morsels before he spoke up in response, "I'd be happy to join you Lorelai. I must admit I'm quiet curious of what could be happening so close." Again his tone was still jovial and seemingly whimsical despite teh reports of chaos.

When Lorelai charged out of the room Axon was quick to stand up as well though before he ran out of the room he swiped an apple from the table. Chasing her down through the halls he took a few bites of it before tossing the rest away to degrade in nature. When Lorelai ran up to what was basically a large stone dog... thing... he paused for a moment. Such a strange creature and sure something that wasn't of common stock. When she reached out a hand to help him up he again hesitated though it was better than walking so he took her hand and leap up to join her. "What is this one's name? Particularly though, what is this thing?"

[User]
Měihóu Niángniang

"Hey, watch where you're firing that thing! You chipped my tooth!" Měihóu popped out in a shower of leaves and twigs from inside the upper branches of a tree, as though she had been falling through it, about three horselengths away from General Titania, about 30 degrees east of where Titania had been facing.

She was mumbling a little bit, but her message would become a fair bit more clear when she spat one of Titania's giant bullets at Titania's feet, accompanied by a few tiny white flakes. Surely she hadn't actually tanked one of those rounds to the teeth? Had she? Must have been a bluff, right?

She slammed down into the ground, her staff at her side the majority of her earthshaking landing, suddenly a massive weapon nearly thicker than Monkey was wide at the shoulders. Almost as though Monkey needed to say in that unspoken language of showing off, ~No, mine's bigger.~

"If you could give me enough to cover a visit to the dentist, that'd be great." Monkey seemed to be playing it straight though, her hand out as if expecting payment, her tail impatiently tapping on her hip.

[Assistant]
Chen Chideta

---

Chen continued to run away from Titania, already preparing a mental map to one of The Librarian's various hideouts. This mission had gone completely FUBAR and it was definitely time to abandon ship. At least he could say he had found a really good supplier if it came down to it.

"Good being a iffy term in regards to her-" Suddenly he crashed into a red haired girl with a box attached to a necklace around her neck and an equally red mark on her forehead. Good to see it wasn't just him.

"Who are you?" She asked out of nowhere. However common courtesy dictates that he must respond when asked his name.

"My name is-" A bullet whizzed by his head and directly into a tree nearby, drilling straight trough and into another tree. "-Unimportant at the given moment, I need to go now. Chen finished as he tried to get his bearings. Which way to the forest hideout, damnit he thought it was that way but now he wasn't sure.

A hand was offered to him, a worried look plastered on the girl's face. She had a plan of escape obviously and was offering to share it with him. Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, Chen accepted and grabbed her hand, ready to follow wherever it was she wanted to go.

@TheWindel@KoL

[User]
The Abyssal Knight clasped Axon's hand and pulled him atop the mount to sit behind her. Sadly for him the mane of fur ended where Lorelai sat, so he would have to hold onto her or be liable to fly off and reach a nasty collision. "Ah, I should introduce you. This is the Terror of the Eastern Front, Bane of Uprisings, Savior of Orphans from Burning Buildings-" The Savior of Orphans from Burning Buildings stamped his paw into the earth, almost as resentful of the title as the braids the children tied into its fur after the fact. That Lorelai didn't raise a finger to undue them earned her a rougher ride than usual for many months."-and my trusted partner in upholding the good of the Imperium, Durgan. Beyond that if you wish to know the species, well, so would the Imperium's leading biologists and naturalists. We haven't a clue, and he isn't willing to talk on the matter either."

"Now hold on tight, because I would really like to return to Eleonor before she finishes her preparations. Her general shouldn't wander too far from their Knight's side without orders, don't you think?" Lorelai turned back to face front and wound a gauntlet into Durgan's fur. The beast needed no further prompting or guidance to know where they where intended for. It wasn't like they would be going to get groceries on hectic day like this one was turning out to be. Tearing down the dirt road in leaps and bounds, clods of earth flung in their wake that left a trail of detritus leading towards the heavy scent of gunpowder wafting from the woods.