[System]
Gender: Male

Age: 60

Birthplace: New York, New York

Appearance: Lassar stands at 5'11, 161 lbs.

Personality: Lassar doesn't give a shit. He does what he wants, when he wants, damned be the consequences. He loves booze, pot, guns, and not giving shits. He likes the girlies, punks the fuckwads, and asks for spare change whenever possible, because dammit, pot ain't free.

Occupation before the breakout: Hobo, former Green Beret.

Skills: Crack shot with firearms, knows knife fighting.

Fears/incompetencies: Lassar sucks at everything he isn't good at. There's a reason he's a hobo. Man is too incompetent to hold down any job.

Equipment: Pfeifer-Zeliska .600 Nitro Express revolver, Sig Saur MPX rifle, foot long deer horn handle bowie knife, six inch adjustable shaving mirror, a leather belt, various bottles of liquor and bags of weed, an old dusty overcoat filled with holes, steel toed boots.

Group: Unaffiliated

History: Lassar grew up an only child, and he liked it that way. A loner, a rebel, an outcast. It was as if he were a separate species from other members of the human race. Perhaps in some ways, he was. He operated on a level entirely different from others. How so? He simply had no shats to bequeath. He joined the Marines at 18, after having competed in several state shooting championships.

When he left the core at age 38, he was a Green Beret who had seen death in Afghanistan, South Africa, Syria, and Korea. Regardless of his record, he knew of nothing else but war, and descended into a stupor of substance abuse to force his inner badass into hiding, lest he be driven mad like a caged tiger. Not that he gave a shit. Then came the zombies. Now Lassar has returned for one last crusade, to kill shit and not give said shit away.

[User]
Tina would see an old, dirty man walk into sight, waving a bottle of tequila in his left hand and an outrageously massive revolver in his right. He staggered up to the zombie with the slit throat and kicked her in the crotch. As she bent over, he slammed the butt of his gun into the dome of her skull. The zombie collapsed to the ground and lay still. The man took big pull from his bottle as the zombies began closing in around him.

He tucked the gun into the front of his pants and remived from his coat pocket a joint as long and as thick as a tiger dick, and after striking a match across his left eye, would light it. He took a slow drag, smoke streaming from his nostrils. The zombies were almost upon him!

[Assistant]
It was a normal sunny day in San Diego, California. James was at the car shop working on an old Mustang that a client brought over two days ago. The car was lifted on a platform and James was underneath, working at the undercarriage. Bella, James's 2 year old border collie girl was inside the shop too. Energetic as usual. She was basically the shop's mascot. The clients that were coming to get their cars fixed imidieatly fell in love with her mellow, humble and friendly attitude. James's uncle, Dave, returned to the shop after he was gone for about an hour. He had two beers in his hands. "Hey James, come with me!" He said entering the office as James put down the tools, pushed away the tool box and went inside the shop where he saw his uncle sitting on a chair with the beer bottles on the desk. James took a seat himself, as he looked at his uncle surprised.

"As you may or may not know, today is an important day for me. This shop, this business that I opened is officially five years old." He said as he started opening up the bottles.

"And you were an important part of it. Without you I probably would've never succeeded. Or maybe I would have but it would have been much harder. But your dedication to this trade of working with cars and the respect you've showed to the clients that came here made everything so much easy." He said as he grabbed the opened beer bottles and gave James one of them.

Then James and his uncle both shouted to each others "Cheers!" and tapped the bottles together as they started drinking from them. "You know uncle you're a life saver you know that? Coming here was the best decision I could have made. God knows how I could have ended up if you haven't gave me that call and made me that offer." Said James after he let down the bottle from his mouth.

"I guess we both saved each other's lives because I wasn't doing very well in that period either, after my wife, your aunt, died. But that's it, no more sadness this is a happy day come on." Said Dave as both he and James continued drinking from their beers again. "I got some stuff to finish down town." Said Dave drinking the rest of his beer and putting the empty bottle on the desk. "You stay here and keep working. This shouldn't take long. And remember today is Friday. That means were having our weekly movie night and it's my turn to choose the movie and buy the pizza." Said Dave rising up from his chair, getting out of the office and then out of the shop too.

As James got back underneath the Mustang he took a tool and started working but it didn't take long for him to hear all kinds of comotion coming from outside. Screams, car horns ringing and sounds of struggle. "What the hell?" Said James as he got out from underneath the car and went outside only to see his uncle a few feet away, beating to death a man and crushing his head with his foot. "Uncle? Uncle what the hell is going on?" Asked James concerned, as he dropped the tool he had in his hand and ran to his uncle. "This retard tried to turn me into his dinner. But I showed him not to mess with a marine, even an old and retired one." Said Dave quite proud of himself.

Both men looked around them with shock. The world started to fall apart all of a sudden. People eating each other, sudden car crashes. Everything looked like the set of a zombie apocalipse movie. Only this time it was no movie. "You know what kid? I think we should get home while were still in one piece." Said Dave looking at James's Chevelle and running to it. "Hey wait up!" Said James running to his car himself and getting inside, with Bella following them in as she squeezed her way into the back seat barking. James proceeded to start the car and started heading home.

[User]
Doctor

Tina looks at the old man then the Zombies beginning to gravitate towards him. She is uncertain whether she should help him but only for a moment because it wouldn't be human to simply stand behind the protection of her fence at let him die. So slinging the Shotgun for the close range accuracy of her 1911 the tall blonde brings the gun to bear with her left hand first on the nearest to her gate as she pulls a second clip of ACP from the pouch at the small of her back.

 "BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!" barks the former military pistol sending 230 grains of lead at 830 feet per second through the brain cases of four of the nearest shuffling horrors. Her last three rounds in that clip she takes trouble to aim because unlike the first four are outside of point blank range. She then pops the spent clip and jacks in the fresh one giving herself seven more shots.

She tucks the spent clip into the pouch the new one came from then pulls her security remote and calls out to the old man

"I'll open the gate part way and cover you but I will not endanger my position any longer than that".

Then pistol held ready she taps the electric gate button causing the huge 600 pound section of pipe, chain link and wheels to roll back about two feet before she taps the close button that allows the gate to open four feet before the slack is taken up by the motor and it begins to roll closed.

"BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!" sounds off Tina's weapon shattering two more of the horrid remnants of humanity.

She knows she should be scared and would admit that she is but that the adrenaline overwhelmed any debilitating effects.

[Assistant]
Nikki Hyatt

Nikki called Kat and left her a message and prayed that she and Grace were okay. She got up and decided she could sit and cry about it or get off her ass and try to secure the building. Since it was summer there shouldn't be too many inside but that just meant instead of 3000 there might be only 25. She started searching for them and she held her sword in one hand. For the moment she was piling the dead bodies next to the nearest entrance to the building. She figured they could take them outside later. Between killing these things she kept her muscles moving. Too much down time would make her sore later and she didn't need to be off. Just a little bit could mean the difference between life and death.

Nikki found a radio in the attendance office and plugged it in and listened to the rock channel. It was interrupted by the military declaring martial law across the country. Nikki was suddenly worried that Matt would get pulled back before his time was up. She didn't want to think about it. He was coming here and Nolan was with him so she wouldn't have to worry about him. Her dad was in a high rise downtown and she knew in her heart there was no way he was getting out of there alive. She wiped the tears away and lopped the head off of the next walker that came out.

Nikki's favorite teacher came around the corner and she groaned. "I'm sorry Miss Isaac." As she decapitated her Nikki's phone rang and she looked down and ran back to the front door of the school Sword in hand.

[User]
Levi

---

Blood. There was so much blood. The thick oozing crimson liquid was sprayed everywhere. It pooled on the floors, was splattered across the wall and even dripped from the roof.
What the hell had Levi just walked into...

As his brain raced wildly to put together the mass of sensory data he chuckled lightly, slightly amused at the shenanigans played upon him.
It was massive, convincing, expensive.
Then an icy cold fear slowly swelled within him and a sickening fever took hold of his gut and squeezed tightly as suddenly realisation hit him and the world began to spin as he saw the bloody props for exactly what they were.
... His family.

What had he walked into
... He had walked into hell.

They were all here and now they were all gone. Levi dropped the heavy carton of beer he had just fetched for them all and like his hopes the glass shattered all over the floor. His lunch vacated his stomach and he fell to the ground. After a dark moment he proceeded to crawl around as he cried and called for his friends, he wept as he aimlessly searched the gruesome muck finding confirmation after confirmation of his worst fears until there was nothing left to doubt.

His prayers soon came true as he found survivors, Lilly and Kell the young contortionist twins were locked in the empty human fishtank. But how quick and deep the bitter betrayal of disappointment can cut as dreams quickly morph into nightmares, Levi noticed the large powerful arm of what could only be Bronson's, the strong man of the troupe. The muscly man was now but a scattering of limbs amongst two thin cannibalistic identical twins trapped in a blood smeared glass cage.

Levi touched the glass, he leant against it, he hugged it, talked to it and even apologised to it, all whilst the viscous dead girls snapped and clawed at him from the other-side. They smashed their own faces against the glass, broke their nose. Levi could see the sinew and flesh amongst their teeth, the death in their eyes.
Bronson's large stage hammer lie in the cage with them, now red it was covered in so much blood, his hand still tightly grasping it.

It was a zombie apocalypse.
It was here.
Brain dead, empty and in shock Levi gathered some things and snuck out to see if it was true.
It was,
It was all true. Carnage ran rampant all around him. People fighting, screaming, eating each other, dying, getting back up. What was he to do. Then he saw it, an empty taxi.
Having no other plan he ran for the taxi, hurtling over a bent over muncher as it feasted on a corpse, Levi dove into the taxi and took of before he could even slam the door shut.

He drove for some time aimlessly, trying to out run the chaos like it was a wave that would die down, but all around him he saw it spread.
Then out of nowhere a woman on the side of the road caught his eye, she waved him down and he recognised her face. Did she recognise his?
That strange unplaced familiarity was like a warming light in the chaos of darkness. Levi quickly pulled over for her.

"I need to get to my baby!" She demanded. Startled and panicked Levi looked around as the chaos grew closer, they had to go, get far away, and now!
"No way bitch! You know what's happening?! It's the goddamn apocalypse! People are eating each other!" he quickly snapped back.
Panic over rode all his sense and he didn't even hear the words coming from his own mouth.
Clearly she didn't agree with what he said because before he realised it she had jerked the door open and yanked him right out of the car.
His heart dropped along with the sound of the door locks.
"What the hell bitch?! Open this door! Goddamn it!" Levi shouted as he pounded on the car. He couldn't believe it.
The woman said something else from within the safety of the vehicle just before it sped off, running right over his foot on its way.

With a horrid limp a terrified Levi chased after her. He couldn't stay in the streets. he wanted that car back, he wanted his things back, he wanted a familiar face. So he chased her and chased her, he picked up a push bike and managed to just catch which streets she turned. By the time he came across the car he was exhausted. It was parked in front of a house. His bag still lay on the back seat. Levi carefully slipped into the drivers seat, the keys were gone.
"Bitch" he curses just as the lady from before comes running out the front door holding a child.

[Assistant]
Lassar shrugged and walzed through the gate. On his back was slung a compact rifle and shoved haphazardly into his boot was a bowie knife. He had on his head a backwards camouflage baseball cap. He'd stop next to Tina, belly thrust out and eyes lazy. He smelt of beans, pot, and gunpowder. The hobo smacked his lips, plucked the joint from his mouth, and offered it to Tina with a near-toothless smirk.

"Try summa this boy, it'll put hair on yer' ass."

Where had he come from, who was he? He looked like a complete bum, but somehow had been able to afford a set of undoubtedly expensive guns. He didn't seem to be in good shape, but his lax figure and ease of motion harkened forth not the frailty of an old man, but the lounging latent energy of a big cat in Africa.


[System]
Age: 24
Height: 6'-0"
Weight: 170lbs
Allegiance: Aspirian Royalty
Distinguishing Traits: Wherever the party is, Cas is bound to be there also. He's a free spirit with a tendency to act without thinking through the consequences, although due to his cushioned upbringing and high status, he rarely has to face them. Despite his wild lifestyle, however, he has a soft side and has been known for taking in stray and injured animals he finds in the streets of the capital city.

Short Bio: As the son of the reigning king, Atlas Maydestone, Caspian has lived the entirety of his life in the capital of Aspiria. He was born with a silver spoon in hand, enjoying the finest luxuries the country had to offer even when he was as young as five years old. This experience shaped him as a person. He grew up seeing the glass half-full and believing Aspiria was every bit as perfect and amazing as his father wanted him to think it was.

As a child, he spent most of his education being groomed to take over as the next king but never really took his future duties seriously. In his mind, it was so far off, there was no reason to worry about it. That is, until his father's health took a sudden decline when he turned eighteen. Suddenly slapped in the face by the reality that he was actually going to be the next leader of an entire country, he began to pay more attention to his teachers and did his best to understand all the different jobs he would have when his father died. However, the more he studied, the more he realized how unqualified he was for such an important role.

To deal with his rising sense of insecurity, Cas delved back into any and every social event he could find around the capital city. Partying and drinking with friends took the edge off his fears and helped him to forget about the impending future of his kingship. Deep down, he knew his coping strategy wouldn't change anything, but for now, it was good enough to keep him from getting absorbed in the weight of it all. He would just continue to put it off until he had to face it, the same way he handled the Scourge.

The rebellion (better known as the Scourge by everyone who lived in the capital) was the other big, glaring problem he tried not to think about. To make the enemies seem less imposing, he and his friends would make crude jokes about them and discuss all the creative ways the king could punish them for treason when they were eventually defeated by the state, but secretly, he was always on the lookout for anyone who seemed suspicious. As the crown prince of Aspiria, he'd heard the threats the rebels spat about himself and his family, and he was concerned about what could happen if they ever managed to get inside the stronghold walls.

He just hoped the military was strong enough that he would never have to find out.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

[User]
Iris smiled just listening as Cas called the formal events overrated and how he preferred the atmosphere of bars, still another place she doubted she could go too. A part of her wondered if he had said it to make her feel better, especially as he went on to say the events were kind of snobbish and full of gossip. It was hard not to be curious about it, but it was just a grim reminder of the fact she would never attend something like that, she probably wouldn't even go into the bars or anywhere in the Capital. At least in the districts she didn't have to hide, and she could go where she pleased, not that there were many places to visit but she didn't have to hide away for fear of arrest.

Drawn from her thoughts by what Jay said she looked up about to ask what he meant by a sugar baby, but thought better of it closing her mouth as she listened to them talk on slowly understanding by what they truly meant. It was weird to think that some people where into that, just having an easy life without having to do anything. Some sort of sugar baby was a new concept to her, but you couldn't really get those in the districts. Of course, there were people that would sleep around to earn something extra, but nothing on that kind of level.

"Yeah." Iris smiled agreeing with the boys about it being a good choice, though it wasn't her taste she felt like chiming in, so she didn't seem too out of place here. Perhaps she would enjoy it more with the food and that was the hope because she didn't want more things cropping up to highlight how she didn't belong, not when it was already playing on her mind.

Even with her worries she felt like Cas had caught on, she felt the gentle touch on her back, tracing patterns and it began to calm her. It was such an appreciated gesture and it made her feel better that she wasn't openly drinking the champagne, he had to understand what she was feeling she hoped he did. Though it did bring up the question of what kind of future they could have together, something she didn't want to think about but found it hard to stop wondering on the subject matter.

"Oh!" Smiling as she caught Jays question she nodded, "I'm feeling a lot better, despite being stuck with Miles and having to put up with him daily." Making a playful comment as she relaxed a bit more at the fact she was close to Cas and she could feel his touch soothing her. "I've been taught a lot more card games, well remembered how to play. Also, can we talk about the crap reality shows you have here? Do people actually watch that kind of rubbish? I was so shocked and well, curious I couldn't stop watching it at first. Honestly I don't get it!" Laughing as she looked towards the door hearing the buzzer of the door again for their food. "I hope that's the food!"

[Assistant]
While Jay and Iris talked, Caspian sipped idly at his drink and glanced at Miles, who was also listening to them talk. The other high born's gaze was fixed not-so-subtly on Iris's face, making it obvious that he was still enamored with her. He fought the urge to roll his eyes. Even though he'd just talked to her and gotten confirmation that she didn't want to be with anyone other than him, it was annoying to watch one of his friends become infatuated with her too. He was even a little surprised by the strength of his frustration. He'd never guessed that he would be the possessive type, but then again, he'd never had feelings for the same woman as Jay or Miles before, so they'd never competed. Now that he and his friend were both interested in Iris, he felt the irrational urge to lay claim to her even though nothing would happen between her and the other man.

Trying not to dwell on it, he turned away from Miles to listen more closely to the others talk. Jay shook his head when Iris brought up the reality TV shows that were popular in the capital. "I don't like them either," he agreed with her. "Why watch something like that when you could be watching exciting action movies instead?"

"You just don't like anything that doesn't have guns, hot women and cars," Miles debated with a scoff. "I think the drama is fun, and so do a lot of other people. It's also easy to turn viewing parties into drinking parties really fast."

At the sound of the doorbell, they both glanced at the bedroom door along with Cas. "Should be," Miles confirmed to Iris, standing up from the sofa. "I'll go get it." He headed out the door again to get their food, and Jay made himself comfortable right away by sprawling out with his legs up on the couch, taking over the whole piece of furniture.

"He can sit on the floor when he comes back," he justified, resting his head on the arm of the sofa with a sly smile.

"He's gonna sit on you," Cas warned amusedly. He'd known Jay and Miles long enough to expect that when the latter came back, they were just going to end up wrestling over the couch because of the former's shenanigans. It happened almost every time.

He turned back to look at Iris, deciding to participate in the conversation she had started up before. "I think reality shows are popular because a lot of people here like the idea of being on TV," he posed. "There are so many different ones with so many different themes that pretty much anyone can send in an audition to join. Especially the dating shows. I bet they get hundreds of applicants every season." He paused, then added, "And a lot of people just like judging the cast over everything they do wrong." He shrugged. "I like a few of them, but they're pretty hit or miss for me as a genre."

[User]
"Yeah I think even I'd prefer watching the action movies. Some of it was just absolute dribble. I was not a fan." Shaking her head in amusement as Jay happily conversed with her, it was nice to just have a casual conversation with someone else. Someone other than Miles for the past week and Jay seemed genuinely interested which was nice. That and she knew Jay had no intentions of making any sort of moves on her unlike Miles, it felt strange to think of that because she had honestly been so oblivious to it but now it seemed so obvious she couldn't believe she had missed it.

How will I even approach that subject? Maybe we are over thinking it. Maybe he doesn't like me. Iris thought to herself as she glanced down at the flute of champagne in her hands that she had barely touched. Glancing up for a second nodding as Miles said he would go get their food, a part of her nervous to try this new pizza that she had never tasted before. It would be interesting to see if she did like it, hopefully she did because she didn't want to feel different from the others over it or be pestered about not liking it. Again just another thing she knew she was overthinking, but everything was building up for her especially when she felt like she had no one to talk too.

Chuckling as she watched Jay get comfortable on the sofa, she rolled her eyes when he said Miles could sit on the floor, "As if he would. You better not be ruining my bed there I don't want to sleep on the floor." Making a fun comment to keep the mood light and happy, especially as she was enjoying the company of everyone here even if she would rather prefer spending it with just Cas.

"Really? Why do people want to be on TV? I don't get it, especially knowing that all those people would watch." Iris shook her head not liking the sound of it at all, but then it was different for others they might be more in tune with things like that. "Dating shows? Oh gosh I bet there are some hilariously bad ones of those." Grinning as she looked up at Cas considering his next words around how people liked to judge others. There was so much truth in those words, people liked to judge others and their lifestyle. Always having an opinion when it was none of there business, "I guess… I don't see the attraction, especially if you're just going to pick out all the fault when they do wrong. Speaking of TV, I did watch a really strange film. A part of me thought I had made it all up! But again, I didn't have much else to do so I ended up watching a lot of rubbish. It kind of makes me miss going outside."

Finding her gaze look over at the window looking towards the outside wondering on when she could go out, if she could even go out. The back of her mind still convincing herself that she should just go back to the districts. Maybe I could slip out one night without anyone noticing?

[Assistant]
"Because it would be cool to be famous for something," Jay answered matter-of-factly when Iris asked her question. Despite what she and Cas said about Miles, he sprawled out even more on the sofa with his hands behind his head and both feet kicked up on the opposite armrest. "I wouldn't mind getting word out about my autobody shop and being recognized for it. If a producer came along and said he wanted to make a show out of what I do, there's no way in hell I'd turn that offer down."

"Being famous is also overrated," Caspian pitched in, wrinkling his nose at the subject. "You lose a lot of privacy, and everything you do has consequences because people are watching your every move. It gets old fast." If he'd had his choice, he would have preferred to be a contestant on a reality show over being the heir to the crown. At least that way, his lack of privacy would have been temporary rather than something he would have to put up with for the rest of his life. There were some perks, he couldn't deny that, but for the most part, he found himself dreaming of escaping from his fate and being a regular high born.

"Yeah, yeah," Jay rolled his eyes. "We all know how you feel about it." He and Miles had heard the spiel many times before, since the prince was fairly vocal about his distaste for the spotlight. They knew he would have preferred to live his life under a rock rather than put up with paparazzi, reporters, nosy supporters, interviews, and all the other things that came with being royalty in Aspiria. Neither of them understood it though. To them, being a member of the royal family sounded amazing, and they would have traded places with him in a heartbeat if they could.

Cas didn't bother to reply. He knew his friends didn't understand the weight that came with being the crown prince. Even if he'd liked the attention—and he didn't always enjoy it—he also had to take into account the responsibilities, private classes, meetings with dignitaries, involvement with the military, and all the pressure he was under to meet the expectations of the monarchy's main ring of support. It was a lot for one person to handle.

Glancing down at Iris, his smile returned as she carried on the conversation about TV shows in the capital. "Oh yeah?" he mused. "What was the film about? Now that you've said that, you're gonna have to tell us the details."

At her mention of going outside, Cas followed her gaze to the window. He wished he could assure her that she wouldn't be cooped up much longer, but in truth, he had no idea how long it would be until she could leave the Kinders' home. The soldiers might believe she had left the capital, but they still knew her face. If she suddenly reappeared in the streets, they would arrest her immediately. He paused in his absentminded tracing of her shoulder blades, perplexed by the thought. Maybe he could talk to Jacob about it. Surely the guard would have some ideas as to how he could smuggle her from Miles' bedroom to a safer location—

"Who's ready to eat?"

Abruptly, Caspian's thought were interrupted when Miles burst into the room carrying two large, cardboard boxes in his hands. The smell of hot pizza wafted through the space, and his stomach growled reflexively. Closing the door with his leg, Miles strode over to the coffee table and set the food down on the surface along with a set of four plates. Dusting off his hands, he turned toward Jay, "Move over, jackass. You're in my seat."

"Make me," Jay winked at him challengingly.

Without hesitation, Miles dove for him, and the two began wrestling over the sofa just as Cas had predicted. The prince snorted and leaned forward in his chair. "Mind grabbing me a couple slices while they're occupied?" he asked Iris, placing his hand on her collar. "One of each kind of pizza, please. They're both great."


[System]
Physical Form:
 Tall, well-muscled, and stable, he is the pinnacle of physical perfection, even by the standards of some who would call themselves 'Immortal'. He is 6'8", and weighs at 300 pounds, in his normal form.

In his alternate form, he gains a sentient sword, and a set of armor which is actually part of him. In this form, sometimes his face is visible, but more often than not, he keeps his mask on. He is 7'0" even, and weighs 450 pounds.

Abilities:
 Normal Form / [CONDITIONAL USE] Carnage Form - Athinar has decided to forgo magic that affects others, in favor of a magic that supplements his already impressive strength. His Carnage Form is a shell, which looks like armor, but actually is a super-dense exoskeleton. While in this form, he is significantly slower, but is immensely more powerful in terms of strength and defense.

 [CONDITIONAL USE] Summon: Carnage Blade - Athinar has the ability to summon his Carnage blade at any time, however it is smaller and less impressive when he's not in Carnage form, although it still is alive, and speaks to him. The blade's name is Requiem. Basically what the sword looks like, except with glowing red runes down the middle.

 (Normal Form - Rock Style) Blood Palm - Athinar uses the blood spilled by anyone, including his own, in a fight, to empower his fist's attack.

 Martial Arts - Athinar was trained in three forms of martial arts by the monks. However, he is only the equivalent of a black belt in one, and slightly competent in the others.
 (Skilled)Rock Style  - Athinar stays solid, and in place, for the most part. He uses his fists, elbows, and occasionally trips the enemy, but tries to keep his feet steady. For if he can, not much in the terms of human force can move him, but if anyone has trained in Windstance (or was strong enough), they could move him through sheer momentum and weight transfer.

 (Beginner)The Path of the Cyclone  - Not so much a martial art as a series of moves, executed one after the other, this unarmed style is used to fight large groups of enemies. There are twelve moves altogether, in three groups. However, Athinar was only taught the first group, and cannot continue the momentum of the Path.
 - Leaping Tornado: Athinar lunges forward, landing among his enemies.
 - Unseen Tempest: Athinar waits three seconds for enemies to close in, ready to strike.
 - Stormblade: Athinar ducks down beneath a man's weapon, and elbows him in the chest/neck area.
 - Cyclone Kick: Athinar does a roundhouse kick, tripping all surrounding enemies.
However, these are usually poorly executed, due to lack of training.

 (Beginner) Celestial Mirage - This is possibly the martial art that he's learned that he has the most trouble with. It is a kick-based martial art, one that forces you to maintain patience. It's attacks come in bursts, to draw the enemy out, and allow the student to analyze the situation. However bad Athinar is with this, it was still one of the arts he learned from the monks, and he views it as a useful, albeit F*CKING INFURIATING skill.

Personality: Athinar gets intense pleasure from seeing other creature's blood. No matter the circumstances, or whether he is allied with them or not. When he is not getting excited by bloodlust, he is usually a very calm, collected individual, who is quite intelligent, surprisingly. When blood is near, he turns into a vicious man, taking pleasure in drawing blood, tasting it, etc. Afterwards, he is, shall we say, *ahem* easily excitable. If you know what I mean. However, this doesn't mean that he's not smart. He is extremely smart, in his bloodlust, and will be able to craft plans on the fly, if they end in violence and killing.

Relationships:
Emily- Thinks that the homunculus is beneath his attention, generally, unless she does something big and shiny.
That Which Consumes Peace- A fool, disobeying the Boss, but made a nice save, getting Shukra mildly punished.
Ekushka- Hasn't met her yet.
Narza- Is quite fond of the little ghost, curretly.
Shukra- A pompous ass who fails at commanding.
Darkwraith Kor- A good fighter, like Athinar, who shares his bloodlust. Enjoys his company.
Azavarn- Too flamboyant.
Umbra/Christopher- Thinks that Christopher is a bit off, but doesn't know why.
Torrens- Doesn't have any opinion of him, but thinks that a fire demon might be useful.
Clotho- Has a strange fixation on Clotho's chitin.
Twitch- Has disdain for the ratty, well, twitchy kobold. Maybe if he actually did something, he might be useful.

Backstory: Athinar is the reincarnated form of an ex-Dungeon Keeper, banished from his former world, and born to a new life in this one. However, he don't remember shit, and the only benefits were the impressive physical abilities you see today. He was born to an order of monks, who trained him in every combat style, unarmed and armed. However, this revealed his darker secret, his love for shedding blood. Killing them all, he was guided by a voice in his head, who told him that if he joined with him, he'd get to kill, kill, and keep killing. So he met up with the Dungeon Keeper, and started killing.

Other: If Athinar seems too powerful, remember that he was converted to the Dungeon Keeper's cause by him just saying that he could kill people if he joined him. He's not dumb, but he does have quite the one-track-mind, and is quite susceptible to manipulation, in both forms. Like, REALLY susceptible. A novice hypnotist could put him to sleep.

[User]
Balothiss was normal at one point then he was frozen the next he felt the cold getting to him it should have killed him but he was too angry to die to a spell so weak compared to his ability to cast his innate magic.

He felt the ice around him grow warm as he summoned fire balls but they merely looked like heat signatures in the dark on the ice and as the ice began melting he began putting more effort into the flames which turned from just orange red to fiery blue with a hint of yellow as his head freed from the ice he bellowed loudly with anger and he looked around to see 'Cold stare' stuck in ice as well.

It took him about 10 minutes to free himself from his icy tomb but Balothiss was determined not to die at any cost and he surely would not die at the hands of the blue robed person who froze him.

Balothiss started melting areas and he began trying to free 'Cold stare' making sure to try and not burn him with the fire that he summoned.

Once he freed him Balothiss looked at him and said with annoyance and rage.

"I am not pleased at all by this blue robed person who froze us I want to tear the bastard limb by limb and burn the coward to death in his final moments of breath!"

Balothiss huffed and his eyes were blood shot and irritated from the melted water that got into his eyes.

"Let's go kill that filthy bastard!"

And with that Balothiss motioned for 'Cold stare' to follow him as he melted his way out of the ice and it took quite a long time but they found themselves out of the ice without trouble at all.

"What do we do now?"

He asked 'Cold stare' who was constantly viewing what he was doing but not at all saying anything to Balothiss.

"What are our options!"

Balothiss asked.

[Assistant]
Cold stare was quiet. The ice affected him not in the least he simply stayed in the spot awaiting the other to break free. He saw the one who froze the warrior and the question asked had the same answer Cold stare applied to the dwellers of this village. As a reflex he brought his blade vertically to his hood and then swung it wide in front of him. The fallen defender thought, Evil must spread if they are to learn their lesson. This user of ice definitely stood in the way.

Cold stare advanced in the direction the caster was last seen he ignored obstacles and barriers moving through them. killing cowards who used them to hide. The further he got from the fires the faster his cold aura returned. This night would not be the night for a savior. This was not cold stares night either, it belonged to righteous evil in all its dark purity. He was merely a vessel for the wrong in this world to find expression. Cold stare followed the trail that caster left behind, his warmth of life would be his demise.

[User]
Balothiss followed close behind Cold stare who didn't answer his question verbally but he did it through action and the answer was 'Kill' and Balothiss smiled as he ran behind Cold stare.

He cleaved his sword from his left to his right cutting down anywho jumped in his way Balothiss was painted in blood and he had a determined look on his face a deep frown as he followed along behind Cold stare who was hacking down guards and focusing keenly on the caster with murderous intent in his eyes.

Cold stare wanted to kill the caster as much as he did so he followed along minding his surroundings making sure he would be ready if he was going to be surprised by an opponent and he was careful to keep a close eye out for other spellcasters.

[Assistant]
Xallihion will immediately attack the second the Dwarves turn their backs to the ambushers, his mental command ringing in the minds of his slaves, Kill them. With a drawing of power and a single wave of his hand, Spectral Tentacles will erupt from the walls of the tunnel, blocking the Dwarves retreat and even snaring two of the unlucky Dwarves, crushing and ripping their bodies apart as the rest of the Dwarven patrol freezes in place. At the same time, Xallihion's five slaves will rush out and charge down the tunnel towards the Dwarves, their mining picks at the ready as they close in on the patrol. The patrol will turn in time to see them and most will be able to respond to the sudden attack from the slaves by drawing their weapons.

 Xallihion's mental voice will ring out, loud enough to be heard by all in the tunnel, You are mine now slaves. Bow before your new Master. With his powerful mind, Xallihion breaks the weak mental barriers that most of the patrol have around their minds, with five of the Dwarves dropping to the ground as he rips their will from them. The slaves show their worth by holding the remaining three Dwarves busy, but they suffer terrible wounds in doing so. Drawing his wand, Xallihion will point it at the remaining members of the patrol and will activate its power, launching a barrage of six arrows of pure force at them. The arrows speed down the tunnel unerringly as they slam two at a time into the three Dwarves, blowing large holes into them and quickly killing them.

Stand up Slaves, your Master demands it. The five Dwarves that Xallihion ripped the will from begin twitching before standing up and standing there, their faces blank as they await their new master's orders. Gather anything of use, weapons and armor, for it seems that someone has begun to finally play the Game. Walking past the new Slaves, Xallihion will dispel the Spectral Tentacles from the tunnel, waiting just long nough for his slaves, wounded or not, to quickly scavage the corpses and form up behind him. Let us go see what this new player has brought to the Game, and with that, Xallihion will lead his force down the tunnel excitement beginning to rise from inside his cold calculating heart.


[System]
Runan Isles Savior Corps

---

Established in the wake of Westwel's destruction, the Runan Isles Savior Corps is by no means the most impressive program on Illun, but it's well-funded and well-run by a few survivors of Westwel's own Corps.

Character Info

Name – Besca Darroh
Age – 35
Affiliation – R.I.S.C.

Originally from Westwel, Besca Darroh has been around Saviors her entire life. Her grandfather had helped fell the Modir who would become "Dragon," and her father had headed Westwel's burgeoning Savior program. She met dozens of pilots, watched as their connection to the Modir ate away at their minds and bodies. Other nations treated their pilots like a resource to be burned through, kept at arm's length in all but public affairs. Besca, however, went out of her way to engage with Westwel's pilots and even piloting candidates, caring after them with a degree of humanity which was, frankly, missing in the programs of other nations. Her methods were derided as frivolous and naïve by her peers, but the pilots appreciated it, which, to her, was all that mattered.

She lost many things in Westwel's fall; her home, her father, her friends, and no small piece of her faith in humanity, but ironically enough she didn't lose her job. When Runa took in her country's refugees, and subsequently acquired their first Savior, they came to the last living member of Westwel's program for help in founding their own.

Nowadays, Besca doesn't often involve herself in the politics of the program. Technically speaking she isn't even chief of operations—a position occupied by the Runan government—but rather, her duties revolve around "pilot maintenance." While she hasn't lost her desire to make life easier for the pilots, she isn't nearly as incorrigibly optimistic or sunny as she once was.

Character Info

Name – Dahlia St. Senn
Age – 18
Affiliation – R.I.S.C.

Dahlia was a toddler when her home was destroyed by the Modir, spirited away from Westwel in the arms of a family friend. She spent the first fourteen years of her life in the quiet, lakeside town of Hovvi. She was, like many children, absolutely enthralled by the Saviors, so when she tested positive and was whisked away into orbit, Dahlia thought her dream had come true. She missed her friends, and her adoptive father, but this was her opportunity to do something important. This was her chance to help.

She had no idea.

Runa's Savior, Dragon, had not been phased by a single pilot until Dahlia entered the cockpit. With its potential finally unleashed, she was able to end invasions within minutes—which was crucial, because she couldn't remain connected for much longer than that before the giant's neural regeneration reached critical levels.

Dahlia has become Runa's WMD, and as such, she actually doesn't pilot as much as she did before R.I.S.C. acquired its two other Saviors. Besca has become rather protective of her, not wanting to risk putting her in situations where she may be forced to over-exert herself, or risk being overtaken.

Character Info

Name – Hadrian Ghaust
Age – 38
Affiliation – R.I.S.C.

Hadrian Ghaust is Helburke personified. He is strong, unrelenting, stoic to a chilling degree, and utterly devastating in the cockpit. Ghaust is also a veteran pilot, having commanded the Savior Marrowman in service of the Helburken crown for 20 years, and despite a phasing speed so slow that he rarely deigns to use his magic at all, he was well on his way to becoming one of his country's most accomplished pilots.

However, Ghaust's priority has always been the fight against the Modir, and Helburke's clamor for political power is something he viewed with silent disdain. To him, using Saviors to settle diplomatic disputes isn't just wasteful, it's shameful. So, when Helburke ordered him to bring Marrowman to bear against the newly-risen Runa's Dragon, he refused. When, then, he was given the ultimatum of going through with the duel or forfeiting his rank and position, he looked his general in the eye, ripped the pilot's medal from his collar, and left his home behind.

Overnight Ghaust was made a Pariah in Helburke, and his home turned against him. He was forced to leave, and though several foreign programs sought him out, Ghaust denied them all, even passing up a pilot's seat in Eusero. Instead, he went straight to the burgeoning program in Runa, who was more than happy to take him.

Character Info

Name – Safie Calhan
Age – 22
Affiliation – R.I.S.C.

R.I.S.C.'s newest pilot, Safie has spent the past year earning her place at Dahlia and Ghaust's sides. Born and raised in Runa's largest city, Queenshand, Safie was one of countless starry-eyed youths who dreamed of the day she'd get to step inside the cockpit of a Savior. A positive connection-test put her on the path, but it was the months upon months of personal training, rigorous study, and nights spent running sims until dawn that pulled her ahead of the other aspirants. With a phase potential speed just above average, she was a perfect fit between Runa's other two pilots.

While Dahlia has accrued something of a heroic mythos about her, she's often reclusive and hesitant to make many public appearances. Safie on the other hand loves to meet the people she's helping, be that with personal visits, answering fan-mail, or simply getting her hands dirty cleaning up after the messier invasions. Some see her approach as distinctly Euseran, but Safie didn't become a pilot for the attention, she became a pilot because it was the right thing to do.

Character Info

Name – Lucis Abroix
Age – 25
Affiliation – Casoban, on loan to the R.I.S.C.

Casoban's sole effort to save Westwel, while ultimately futile, planted the seeds of goodwill between it and Runa. Casoban has always lived in the influential shadows of Helburke and Eusero, but allied with Runa, the two manage a strong presence on the world stage.

As a show of solidarity, Casoban has even begun sending a Savior of its own as backup to Runa's invasions. Enter: Lucis Abroix.

Lucis is perhaps one of Casoban's most beloved pilots, despite having only a handful of deployments to his name. Handsome, personable, with a poetic flare and the voice of an angel, many people back home already consider him the face of Casoban's Savior program—a role he is more than happy to play. Lucis makes regular public appearances, seemingly never missing an opportunity to espouse his love for the beauty of the world, and his burning desire to protect it from the Modir.

[User]
Dahlia joined her, panting, and showed no qualms about using the wall for support. She leaned back and slid down to a sit, peeling the helmet off her head. Hair was sweat-stuck to her face, she blew strands out of her mouth and took long draws from her own water bottle. It seemed like she was even more winded than Quinn was. Perhaps that shouldn't have come as such a surprise; Dragon wasn't a marathon Savior after all, it was a sprinter.

"Good," she breathed hard between gulps. "You're getting quicker. S'good. Gotta watch the blindspot—if I hadn't caught you with that hook, I think you would've gotten me."

These sessions had been good for Dahlia, too. Teaching was more difficult than she'd suspected it would be, harder than Besca or Ghaust made it look, and she was always anxious that she might explain something poorly, or unintentionally help foster bad habits. Her lessons weren't perfect, and were far more about instinct and reflex than anything else, but seeing Quinn improve so much in such a short time—especially with her particular background—gave her confidence.

It also reminded her that one day, perhaps sooner than not, Quinn might have to put what she'd learned to use. That was much harder to square herself with, but she tried, if for nothing else than to make things for Quinn easier. There was enough stress in this job already.

"We can call it for now, what are you feeling for lunch? Tohoki Grill? CB Danes? We could always grab whatever's in the mess, or something from the vending machines. Your call—I'm starved, I'll eat anything."

It was true enough, but Dahlia and Besca had both been making efforts to give Quinn choices where they could. They kept the schedule as strict as the higher-ups commanded, but when it came to things like meals, or movie night, or even just what she did with her spare time, it was important that she felt she could choose.

She got up off the ground, tossing her gloves and pads into the hamper. She gave her sister an expectant smile. "So? I'll text Besca once we're settled down."

[Assistant]
Ah. They were done. God, she couldn't chug down the water fast enough. She pulled the helmet off, readjusting her eyepatch strap where it started to slip, and spiked it into the ground—not the most comfortable, was it?—before shaking her braid back to the center. Her chest was still heaving, sucking in long, deep breaths. Still, she couldn't help but huff out an almost scornful amused breath, which was about as far as she ever came to laughing these days.

"Hah, you and I both know that's not true. I'm still a looong way from beating you." She took another long drink. "Definitely gettin' closer though. Almost tagged you with that last one." She was...mostly satisifed with how she'd done. That kick had strained her a little more than she wanted it to, though, and it wasn't even a particularly high one. She penciled in train flexibility more on her mental docket.

One last pull from the bottle and she'd drained it, dropping it to the ground and knocking it into the wall with a gentle tap. She always tried to catch it with her foot, but it almost never worked. One day, she thought.

"Your call."

As always, being able to choose sent both a warm thrill and a cold shock down her spine. Being able to choose meant being able to choose wrong, after all, and the last thing she ever wanted to do was disappoint anyone, especially her new family. As time went on, though, the feeling was starting to drop, and making decisions was starting to come more easily to her.

"Been craving some noodles," she said, tearing the last of the pads off and sending them after Dahlia's, "and we've been eating at Dane's a lot the past few days. You okay with Tohoki?"

Walking over to the exit and wiping off her forehead, she fished her phone out of the little mesh pocket by the door and slid it into her own. She still marveled at the sleek little dark gray thing sometimes. She owned a phone. Quinnlash Loughvein owned a phone! A month ago she never would've dreamed of having one, and now she slid one into her sweatpants pocket every morning. It was didn't even seem real.

Kicking out the improvised doorstop, she yanked the door open—it was getting easier every day—and stood in the frame, propping it open. "Lead the way, Deelie."

It wasn't just to be polite. Something about leading people somewhere, she'd found, dropped a ball of anxiety into the pit of her stomach. She was trying to get better about it, she really was. But today, she just wanted to follow.


[System]
Character Sheet
Martox Orihime (Or-eh-hyme)
Character age
Male

Race/People
Tundal

A race of humanoids from the icy Northern tundras. Often born with a higher proficiency in magic, especially with fire-type spells to help them keep warm. Typically used as battle-mages in the military because of their innate ability to use more destructive spells. Typically shorter and with thicker hair.

Appearance
Relatively tall compared to most Tundal people, Martox stands at 5'7" with a more athletic build. His hair is dark brown, almost black, and he often keeps a 'messy' look to the hair on top of his head with his beard being trimmed to look more scholarly. He carries a sling bag on the his back to hold extra books and any other goods with him which also has a sheath of sorts for him to put his staff in when not in use. On his left leg is a bag which he holds his personal journal, any money he has, and any food when he has it. Under the bag on his leg he keeps a concealed steel dagger. His clothes are light, making it easier for him to move freely, with patches of leather over vital/more commonly hit parts on his body to help guard against attacks. On his left side his rank in the military is sown into the leather, a staff to symbolize that he is a mage superimposed on two yellow chevrons pointing down to the ground.

 Always wears the cape/robe but often puts his hat on his hip.

 The middle crystal being ice with the swirls going around the crystal being red.

Traits
Skills
-Master in fire magic
-Proficient with ice magic and lightning
-Novice in illusion spells and with necromancy
-Knows one self healing spell and one friendly healing spell
-Good at sneaking and stealing
-Skilled with staff fighting
-Good with people

Flaws
-Slight temper; While he won't blow up to minor things that happen to him, he will hold grudges
-Despite wanting to be a great mage he doesn't know much healing magic
-Not very strong; He mostly relies on his magic to help him out, but he's more nimble than tough
-Lazy; He likes to take a lot of breaks and take shortcuts whenever possible

Personality
While Martox is typically considered friendly and kind to people he meets once, he's often considered cocky or arrogant to people that know him longer than a few days. Despite this, he's very critical on himself. He wants to be a great mage, and sees his shortcomings as a handicap. But, he also uses this to further improve himself. He has a lot of drive to do good and to better himself, even though it doesn't show often because of his laziness. After the battle with The Necromancer though, it's clear that most of that cockiness has left him, though traces of it still obviously remain. He is more devoted to do the right things in life, trying to free himself of his guilt after helping The Necromancer.

Background
 Martox was born in the Northern Tundras in a small village of about 20 filled with other Tundals. There he was raised to use his magic abilities to primarily keep warm and to hunt for food. But Martox wanted to know more about magic and more about the outside world than just staying in the village like most of his generation would be content with. When a caravan came through one day, heading down to the main city, Martox, only 16 at the time, quickly hid among the cargo in the back of the wagon. When he arrived at the city, he didn't plan on what exactly he was going to do, just that he wanted to expand on his magic knowledge. After asking around the city for a while he was pointed in the direction of a prestigious mage that was said to often take in pupils who wished to learn. Eager, Martox rushed to the old mage and requested to be his apprentice. But Martox was too young and didn't have any money on him so he was sent away. After that, Martox struggled to scrape up coins to afford food and inns. He went hungry for many nights before he took up the art of theft. He would primarily try to steal at night and, after a few years and getting caught several times, he started to get pretty good at it. Taking food was an easy chore for him. At 20, he had plenty of friends and even started to work for the local blacksmith as a fire tender. He often attributes the only reason that he wasn't in jail was because of his charm.
 He continued to work for the blacksmith and to steal food, to save as much money as he could, for about 5 years. When he was 25, and with a purse full of coin he again went to the wizard. Who, this time around, took his money and started to train him in the art of magic. The wizard started teaching him more destruction type spells until Martox became proficient at them. After that, Martox started to learn illusion, which he thought would help him steal more easily, and the very beginnings of healing. But, before he got very far along with learning those, he was caught for stealing again. But this time, it wasn't one of his friends in the guard that had caught him. So he was left with a choice. Join the military, or go to prison for 5 years. While the second option appeased to his lazy side, the first option seemed to suit him better. It would give him a chance to further his magic training and he would be fed with a warm bed to sleep in every night.
 In the military, Martox was actually very happy. But, instead of being able to continue the training he was working on, he was made to work on his destruction skills more. Eventually, he was able to work his way through the ranks and actually became a pretty well respected mage in his unit. Martox decided not to leave after just his 5 years of required service. He continued for another 2 years, placing him at 32. After that, he had a good bit of coin and was incredibly good with his destruction magic. Martox desired to work his other arts further though, so with a half-heavy heart he left the military and began to travel. Training with who he could, when he could on his illusion skills, ignoring his healing.
 After traveling a bit, he had heard news of a powerful necromancer. Instead of immediately thinking the worst of this mage, Martox was excited. What he had heard, instead of dangerous or evil, was a teacher. Someone who could train him in the art of necromancy, something Martox had never been able to learn and always wanted to, another magical art to put on his resume. So he went in search of The Necromancer, picking up clues here and there of him. Eventually, Martox had found him, before his rise to power and before his armies had been risen to fight against the living. Martox requested to be his apprentice, and that he would pay any price The Necromancer demanded. Instead of coin though, The Necromancer just asked that Martox gave him undying loyalty. Martox obliged, knowing that he would do whatever he felt like doing in the end regardless. So The Necromancer started to train Martox slightly, but using him mostly for other things. Martox was never asked to go into a village and kill any people, so he never knew of The Necromancers true intentions. When Martox was eventually taught to raise the dead, he did so for the Necromancer, unknowingly helping him increase the size of his army for the future war. One day, while raising dead and studying to better himself in the skills he knew, The Necromancer came to him and requested for him to follow. So Martox did. When they arrived to their destination, Martox had finally seen the army being conjured.
 Appalled and taken by surprise, Martox demanded that The Necromancer explain what the massive undead army was for. So he explained his plans to destroy the world and how he was going to kill every living thing in his path. The Necromancer reminded Martox of his vow to be loyal, and offered immortality to him by making him into a lich. But Martox refused, and even attacked The Necromancer. But he was quickly dispatched. But, before the killing blow could be dealt, The Necromancer was distracted by a militaristic attack. In the few seconds Martox had, he ran away. When Martox had heard of a team of Heroes being assembled, he knew he would have to join. Some of The Necromancers massive armies were his doing, but he didn't want to go back there. It took him several weeks before he joined the team, joining only a week before they were planning to attack. There, he met another wizard named Concara who was more than willing to help him learn more magic. Martox kept secret that he was once in The Necromancers apprenticeship. Two days before the team planned to attack, Martox came out and told the group that just a month before he was helping The Necromancer build his armies. At first, Martox was attacked and subdued. But he explained that he didn't know what The Necromancer was planning and that he could help them attack, giving them weaknesses and other things that would help in the battle. Eerily, the team allowed Martox to help them.
 Concara still accepted Martox and trained him as if nothing had happened. They became very close in that week, and Concara explained that it didn't matter what Martox's past was. Just that he was there doing the right thing now, and he knew that Martox just had a strong desire to learn any magic he could. When it was time to move out, Martox was noticeably nervous. He did not want to return to The Necromancer and fight him again, he had almost lost his life once already. But he pushed past his fears and went with the team to fight. Martox fought valiantly in the fight beside Concara. Both of them taking out hundreds of undead, eventually making their ways to the last lines, inching closer to The Necromancer. When they finally pushed through and Martox encountered The Necromancer, he obviously recognized him. The Necromancer had quickly hit Martox hard blowing him back and then fighting Concara. Before Martox could get back though, Concara was downed. The Necromancer looked at Martox and grimly smiled at him before firing an icicle through Concara's chest. Before Martox could react though, The Necromancer fled to deal with the other heroes attacking on other fronts. When Martox got to Concara, Concara smiled and handed him his staff, Ignis et Ice, before passing away.
 Martox then spent the next ten years training and bettering himself in magic. Though he still never focused much on healing. He traveled a lot and tried to do as much good as he could. But he started to stray away from necromancy spells until recently. He never totally forgave himself for helping The Necromancer come to power.

Items
Quite a bit of coin, one magic book on necromancy and one on illusion, his journal filled with teachings and runes, and Ignis et Ice, a staff which increases the range of his spells significantly and increases the power of ice and fire magic spells.

[User]
As if on cue, the sound of approaching footsteps reached the party at the cabin. Or rather, staggering footsteps. A lone figure dislosged itself from the shade beneath some pines and came hobbling towards the cabin. The occational clink and clank of steel revealed that the person was armored, and the pale light of the moon reflected off of a sword being dragged in the dirt behind the figure. As it came closer, signs of struggle or battle became apparent; the sword was stained with a splatter of dark red, and blood was dripping from the tangled mess that was the figures head. It stopped a good few feet away from the party, slowly swaying this way and that, before finally raising its gaze. There was no mistake, it was Celeste. And by the looks of it, she had recently been fighting. Hard. Her left hand hung limp and useless at her side. The only part of her with any kind of vigour left was her right hand, clenched so tight around the hilt of her sword that her knuckles were white.

As one of the heroes tried to move against her, she hissed audibly and added, whispered through gritted teeth, S-stay away! I... I don't... I can't...

A violent spasm went through her body and she shrieked with pain. Her head snapped forcefully backwards, and then to the side. From there her gaze was once again turned against the heroes, giving them a sideways glance. There was something off-putting about that glance. She was also smiling cruelly, as if she knew a secret the people in front of her didn't and she was mocking them for it. She spoke once more, this time with a calm, steady voice.

Ok boys. Let's see what this bitch goes for.

Without any warning Celeste lunged forward, no more staggering but seemingly in perfect health, and swung her sword at the one closest to her!

[Assistant]
"WOAH! Woah watch it!," Oryx shouted as he lunged to his side, dodging Celeste's blade and watched as it sliced through his armchair. The piece of furniture slip in half, plopping onto the ground with heavy thuds. This seemed impossible! Celeste would never betray them like this. What did she mean? That couldn't of been her speaking that last moment before she attacked.

The Vanguard rolled from another quick swing and grabbed his shield as he scrambled to the front door, holding it up against a third heavy strike. Celeste's blade clanked against the blessed wood, leaving nothing but a small notch.

Oryx back stepped against the wall, holding his place so that he could best defend against more strikes. His blade would be useless here, for he wanted nothing to do with another dead ally. Not on this day! Oryx let himself be used as Celeste's punching bag, or her puppeteer's if he had the right idea. Dispite the blessed powers of his shield, every swing cracked and splinted his very hands and fingers. Too much punishment like this, and he wouldn't be able to hold a young kitten, much less a shield.

"Something is afoot here," Oryx announced and he blocked another vicious attack. "Obviously. Watch yourselves friends for this is not our Celeste, and whomever this be is out for our hides. If one of you could hold her down, I think I can help!"


[System]
Appearance: Jan stands at 1.65 meters tall. He has fair skin, dark-blonde hair styled shortly and combed to the side. He has little standards concerning the clothes he wears, usually wearing whatever he managed to get on the cheap from a clothes vendor. The only criterium to him is that something needs to be functional. It doesn't need to be pretty or graceful, it just needs to work.
Age: 27
Personality: A rash and hasty man by nature. Jan is a spirited and loud individual with a somewhat cruel streak to his actions. He doesn't particularly mind if other people are served by his actions, but is ultimately only in it for himself. He has a somewhat unnerving eagerness for the adrenaline of battle, but he places great value on loyalty, even if it is for the slightly pragmatic reason that a long-time partner is the best partner.
Tactical Preference/Skills: Jan has great proficiency at gauging a situation for oppurtunities. Naturally, this means he is also quite good at exploiting usch oppurtunities. He is a crack at shooting while moving at high speeds, and it is hard to find something treathening enough to flinch him enough to break his stride.
Neural Plug Synchronization: 80%
Other things of Note: No! only lasagna!
Text Color: quotation marks will serve just fine, thank you very much.

And the NC sheet:
Code-Name:Goldenspur

Appearance: Slightly larger then most at 17 meters tall, the Goldenspur has somewhat thin skin for its' size everywhere but the front, and has oddly built knees. It has a standard, sand-like camouflage paint scheme, and due to modifications made by its' pilot, its' thrusters uniquely burn a golden yellow. In addition, its' uniquely enlarged shoulder mounts resemble the skeletal portions of a birds' arms, and weapons installed in these mounts will look like wings when not in use.

Body-Plan: The design is based from a basic humanoid frame. The legs have folding joints that allow the mech to transform from a more aerially maneuverable upright stance to a surfaced, speed-focused tank-like mode.

Equipment: The Goldenspur has a full array of standard ECM measures, including radar jammers and heat-concealing paint. Armor is noticeably thicker at the front of the machine. In addition, the Goldenspur is equipped with chaff launchers and smoke-screens to assist in dissapearing in the thick of combat. With assistance from Volkov, the smoke and chaff are also capable of reducing the effectiveness of laser weapons. Of course, raw kinetics are still an issue.

Armaments: The Goldenspur's primary weapon is a large-scale heatray that requires it to be two-handed by its' manipulator arms. While it can vaporize medium NC's in short order, it requires it to be in close combat, and while firing, it's an energy hog, reducing the Goldenspur's ability to maneuver with its' thrusters. For lesser targets, it has two medium-scale gatling cannons in its' enlarged shoulder mounts, when not in use, they point upwards, resembling the wings of an ancient 'Hussar'. The gatling guns can only swivel towards forward targets, but can disable tanks and most non-NC targets in a short period of time, and can sting an NC until it's down easily enough. Of course, due to their ROF, they are severely innacurate at higher ranges.

[User]
Jan Van Gent and Stein could hear a faint 'tap tap tap' in their ears. Alex, the driver-lady from before, soon began speaking"Hey, this thing on? This is the... uhm... Freighter One, crewed by Bill and Alex. Little Dragon, Goldenspur, prepare for transport.".

The elevator-pads each NC was on began their startup sequence, allowing 30 seconds for the engineers to stop what they were doing and get off. The elevators began their movement, slowly rising as their respective doors in the ceiling opened. The NC's were now top-side, and a particularly large and long helicopter was hovering over-head. It was effectively two spines connecting a front and back end together, and each 'spine' had three mounting hooks, and enough space to comfortably fit your average NC. The front end had a large, angular canopy, while the backside featured fins and two small jet engines for lateral movement.

The sides of each 'pod' had landing gears, and various pieces of equipment, including cameras and chaff launchers, among others. Bill had to ruin it. "Damn, I'm still geeking about piloting this thing. 'Mirin hard. I'm not gay, but if I had to fuck a manly vehicle.."

Alex rolled her eyes, "Are you serious? Eaurgh... that's one of the few things I don't miss from those 'glory' days."

Two magnetic hooks lowered themselves from the chopper, attaching to the backs of the NC's, and reeling them in. When they were fully retraced, additional clamps connected themselves to the NC's, to make sure they didn't jostle around during flight.

"Strap on to your butts, I'm still getting used to handling this thing."

Quickly, the massive helicopter went full-throttle, moving through the air with surprising speed and elegance for something so brutish and bulky looking. Minutes of travel turned to hours, as Bill and Alex talked to each other about the stupidest things during transit. "No, that's not possible. How could snakes even take down a moose?"

"I don't fucking know, I'm not a snake. Maybe they have snake-spears? Or snake-guns? They kill moose with snake-guns and turn their moose-hides into snake-clothes. It's the only solution I have, man!"

"Or, Gee, maybe the meese-... moose just migrated?"

"You're no fun."

Before they knew it, they were flying over the water with land on the horizon. A few hours have passed.

"Combat's approaching, if you have any anguished declarations of love, I'd say em now."

[Assistant]
Joe stood before the door leading into the command center, it was open. Accessed from the same 'hub' as the briefing room, but the next door counterclockwise, the CIC was just like any other room in the underground facility. Surprisingly spacious, well-lit, and with mostly clean air. Sophia looked behind her, she was standing in the middle of the room, flanked on each side by occupied desks. The computers on each were dedicated to one NC, and the info being sent from it. Only two were being fully used, with the other three being used for analyzing more detailed information from their transport helicopter.

"Joe.", Sophia plainly noted.

"Hello. Am I too early?", Joe incquired.

"Naah. They're nearly at the combat area. The last few hours have been boring as hell, huh?"

"Indeed they have been. Simulations aren't my thing. Is there any unoccupied computer available here?"

"...Well, technically. But no, not for you. I'm a bitch, but it'd be rude if I told one of these jockeys here to get up just for your highness."

"True, which is why I asked if there is an unoccupied one, but there seems to be none. Do we have any new data on the enemy?"

"Not really, no.".She watched one of her little 'minions' screen, noting that they were due for an 'operation start'

"Ok then, I have no more questions or other remarks right now." Joe looked at a few images of the railgun, attempting to determine its capabilities. The large, deceptively simple railgun was a beast. The only two uses it'd actually be efficient for Joe could think of was for either anti-orbital work, or for laying waste to entire military bases in single, powerful shots. The modificaions made by Red-Star were hard to notice, making it difficult to discern their nature.
It was very hard or maybe impossible to discern the exact capabilities from the images, however, it was definetly possible to discern the maximum possible speed and size of one of its shots, scaled by the size of the railgun. It wouldn't represent an actual shot, but the maximum possible without destroying the railgun with the shot. By his estimations, this thing had enough power in each shell to be a smaller-scale 'weapon of mass destruction', easily enough to kill an NC with a single shell, and blow one hell of a noticeable crater into the roof of a Burrow, easily enough to collapse several blocks, if not more. Its' range was theoretically worldwide, as well.

Sophia activated her earpiece. "This is the Captain. Initiate undocking, mission is a go. Little Dragon, counterclockwise. Goldenspur, Clockwise..

Alex had her orders, "Roger, Captain. Good luck, you two.". The helicopter disengaged its' hooks and grabbers, making the two NC's fall gently to the ground, thanks to their thrusters. The Little Dragon and the Goldenspur, while they fell, each had two radio requests. Before even looking at the senders, it was obvious they were from the two enemy NC's.


[System]
Age: 25
Appearance:
Gender: Male

Personality: A rather lonely, hardheaded fellow. He keeps to himself and his pack mostly, but he is fiercly loyal to them and the people he care about. He knows he should probably keep away from trouble but he can't stand to see injustice and not act.

Background: He never knew his parents. He has always lived in the backstreets of New York with one pack or another. When he was a teenager he was kicked out of his pack because the alpha saw him as a threat. They were a bad bunch and Gabriel constantly tried to change their ways which is the reason the alpha chased him away.

Eventually, he made his own pack with somewhat like-minded individuals. Recently however they've been attacked by a few rival gangs and have lost some territory.

[User] Gabriel wasn't expecting this reveal so soon after he had confessed to Vanessa, but as soon as they returned to the apartment Vanessa had told the others straight away. He stuttered as he looked at his friends. "W-well, I, uh... It's, I..." he began, which made Conrad and Jaze (possibly Robyn) laugh so hard they almost fell off the couch. Thomas was mostly just shocked with his jaw hanging. They had never seen Gabriel speechless before, so this was a priceless moment. "That takes the cake!" exclaimed Conrad, who had to lean on Jaze not to die of laughter. Jaze himself was chuckling. Gabriel felt incredibly embarassed, but felt like he had to retake control of the situation. "First of all, Robyn!" Gabriel said, speaking with authority, "Don't call me boss, alright? I may be your 'leader' but I'm not your boss. And secondly you just had to make that joke didn't you?" He stared her down with a stern gaze, but his flushed face made it hard to take him seriously so Robyn mostly tried to fight off a grin. "Third, yes I have grown quite... Attached..." he said, unsure what words to use and looked at Vanessa "To her. It's... Normal. Right? She did save me from the up-town pack's goons. Sorta."

[Assistant]
''I am sorry Gabriel.. We just never had thought to see you so speechless or with a women'' Robyn said, she still tried to fight her grin but without much success. ''Okay guys, now its good'' Vanessa said, she sensed that Gabriel didn't feel great and she didn't want his friends to laugh at him like he was some idiot. ''It's 5 am already... Did you guys wanna sleep a few more hours or shall we start packing?'' she asked. ''Sleep! At least you, since you are the one driving us'' Robyn said. Vanessa nodded. ''True, that might be a good idea'' she said and looked at the others.

''We can start packing or first try to sleep some'' Conrad said. ''Well, that is up to you guys'' Vanessa said and looked at Gabriel. Vanessa then got out her phone and texted her uncle for the van and said that she is going back to her own house. She knew this would be a surprise for her aunt and uncle but she also knew that they would love to have her back in her own house, they never had liked the idea of their niece living in the backstreets. ''Okay, the van will most likely be here at 11 am or 11:30'' she said. ''I will have a few last things to get done before we head to the forests.. So I would really like it if you guys could pack this house empty.. Leave the furniture though.. We have better stuff in the house'' she said. She gave Gabriel a soft kiss on his cheek and then walked to her bedroom, leaving them in the living room with the choice to do what they want.

[User]
"It's okay I'm not really mad." Gabriel responded to Robyn's apology. He pretended he didn't notice her struggle with hiding the grin.
"Anyway c'mon and let's pack down all the stuff yeah? Yeah?" Thomas said, attempting a terrible pun that hopefully Vanessa wouldn't get. The others just facepalmed. "That wasn't funny, kid." Conrad said, patting Thomas on the head gently. "Let's pack, gang." Said Gabriel "We can sleep when we get there."
When Vanessa gave him a soft kiss on the cheek, Gabriel smiled but didn't say anything. He just looked at her until she disappeared into the bedroom.
Packing was quite fast, although it took a while for them to realize what to pack and where to put everything. They found plastic and paper bags and stuff though, so it was fine.

Long story short, they finished packing through the morning, and when they were done they were all yawning. Gabriel kept glancing at the bedroom door, wondering when Vanessa would wake up but also wondering when he could finally look at her again, now that he had realized she was quite pretty. He snickered to himself at the thought. "Alright guys... Let's hope Vanessa wakes up soon so we can sleep, heh." he said, sitting down on a chair with a sigh.

[Assistant]
Vanessa woke up at 8 am, with only three hours of sleep she felt like she had a really heavy body. She stayed in bed for another thirty minutes and then heard Gabriel say that he hoped she would wake up soon. She got up and dressed up. Today she wore a slightly teared down jeans, with a top with a huge rose covering the front. Her hair bound in a ponytail, she put on her sneakers and walked into the living room.

''I thought that I had said that you could still sleep too'' she said and shook her head. ''Robyn, take that spare bed'' she said. When Robyn wanted to refuse she got a pretty scary stare from Vanessa. ''Okay, I am going'' she said and went to the bedroom. Vanessa followed Robyn, helped her with the bed and then grabbed a few extra blankets. She threw one at Gabriel and then one over Thomas who already had fallen asleep on the couch. ''Conrad.. Jaze.. One of you can take my bed, unless Gabriel wants to sleep there. Robyn sleeps on the bed next to mine'' she said. Jaze ran for her bed and jumped on it. Vanessa shook her head laughing and then gave Conrad the last blanket. ''We have another chair, take some sleep.. I have to get to my shop to give the keys to Amanda'' she said.

[User]
After everyone had taken their places, Gabriel smiled at Vanessa. It was funny how she already had managed to gain some sort of authority among the pack. The 'Streetfangs' they called themselves, but right now they weren't really on the street.
Gabriel covered himself with the blanket he was given and closed his eyes. A few hours of sleep is better than none.

Short post, but don't really know what to write until we get to the house in the woods x)

[Assistant]
Vanessa smiled. She walked up to Gabriel, gave him a kiss on his cheek. ''Don't worry, I'll be back soon'' she said and then walked away, taking her coat. She got out and this time she took her car. It was not much that she owned and she mostly used it as she had to go to the flower market but this would be faster.

She drove to the flower shop and saw Amanda standing there already. Holding her two year old in her arms. She parked her car and got out. ''I am going to give you something, and you can't say no to it'' she said and Amanda nodded. Vanessa then walked to the girl and gave her the keys to the shop and her pass to the market. ''But..'' Amanda said. ''I said no no'' Vanessa said. ''What are you gonna do then?'' Amanda asked. ''I am going back home, I've found some people that can use my help and I am going back'' she said. Amanda smiled and hugged Vanessa. ''I am so happy that you are going back, it is your house'' she said. ''I know'' Vanessa said. ''You will be okay'' Amanda said. ''And always welcome to come back'' Amanda said. ''Let me know if you wanna change the name or something, I'll keep the shop on my name so you don't have all that trouble'' she said. Amanda nodded.

Vanessa then drove to her aunt and uncle and gave them a last hug. ''We stored the things you still had in that garage box in the van already'' her uncle said. ''Thank you'' she said and then swapped the keys. ''Just call me when you have time to come over, then we can swap the cars again'' Vanessa said. ''That will come later, the Jeep is standing in the garage of the house'' her aunt said. ''Awesome'' Vanessa said, she hugged them both. ''We will stay in touch, thanks again for taking care of me'' she said. ''Don't be silly, we would not have wanted to miss it'' her Aunt said.

Vanessa then left with the van and when she parked she saw on her watch it already was 10 am. She got out of the van, locked it and then walked to her apartment. She opened the door slowly and walked in as quiet as she could. She saw Gabriel, Thomas and Conrad asleep and smiled. She sat down next to the chair where Gabriel was sitting on, she wanted to be close to him, and laid her head against his hand.

That's okay :) Gabriel / The pack couldn't do much now anyways :P You can, if you want, do after a short wake up paragraph a time skip to where they just arrive at the house.

[User]
It was 10 AM, and Gabriel softly woke from his sleep by something touching his hand. Opening one eye tiredly to see what it was, he saw Vanessa's hair. He suddenly realized where he was again from the disorientation that sleep brings, and he smiled. With his other hand, he stroked her hair gently. Funny how I barely know anything about this girl. I don't even know how old she is, I don't remember if she told me. he thought and smiled at her again, before closing his eyes and drifting back to sleep again for a moment.

An hour later, they were all up and got into the van. Everyone was excited of course, but still sleepy. Thomas was fighting dozing off in the backseat with Robyn, who were bullying him by flicking his ear as soon as he fell asleep. He never knew what it was that woke him up.
Jaze and Conrad were in the middle row, and were yawning occasionally, looking out the window, peacefully excited about their destination.
Gabriel was in the frontseat with Vanessa, who was driving.
They drove for quite a while, out from the city and into the woods. This region was familiar to Gabriel, but he hadn't been here for a very long time. Not since his turning... His history here made him shudder slightly, but he pushed the thoughts away from his mind. Once they arrived at their destination, they were all stunned. The house was gorgeous, with an enormous property. Everything was modern and felt fresh even though nobody had probably been here for a while. They were all looking around the house and the grounds, exploring the surroundings. It was truly astounding.
It didn't last long however, for after but a few hours the pack was tired again after having spent so many hours awake and so few hours asleep. Vanessa had showed them to the rooms where they could sleep and they had all pretty much fallen asleep directly. Except for Gabriel.

Once the others were sleeping, Gabriel looked at Vanessa and smiled. "I haven't seen them this comfortable in years. It is a truly great thing you've done for us. We'll have to find a way to repay you one day." he said, and wanted to take her hand and hold it but didn't know if that would make him come off too strongly, despite the fact that they had confessed to each other just a few hours ago.
"So this entire property is yours? Your inheritence? You must've had a very rich family... It's quite a drive out here too." he said, making small-talk at first, but after not really knowing how to continue the conversation, he decided to just screw his previous thoughts, and took hold of Vanessa's hand in his own. He looked at her. "You are... Quite beautiful, you know." he said, feeling sort of embarassed for saying such cheesy things... But he wanted to say them. He wanted to speak his mind. He had always been direct, open and honest with his pack, so he wanted to be so with Vanessa too. In time... he thought to himself, She will know the truth. But not yet.
He kept holding her hand, brushed her hair away from her face with his other hand, leaned in and gave her a kiss. Afterwards, he looked at her. "Sorry, am I being too cheesy? I feel like I'm being too cheesy. I bet you think I'm being too cheesy." he said, almost laughing. He sorta wanted her to take the initiative, to see wether or not she wanted to kiss him again... He felt silly for wanting such things, but he kinda just wanted to stand here and kiss her for a moment before he could go back to sleep for an hour or two.

[Assistant]
Vanessa had given them all their own room as she had directly told her aunt and uncle that she wanted the house to have the exact same amount of rooms as it had before, just some extra bedrooms. She looked at Gabriel and took his hand as she saw he wanted to take hers. She listened to him and smiled a little. ''Yes.. This all is mine... I told you, that I had a other house, one where we could all live'' she said and winked at him.

''I don't know if my family is rich... I do remember that my father used to be a hunter.. But he didn't only hunt in the morning on deer's and other wild animals.. When I was still very young I can recall somewhere in my memories a fight between my father and mother about my father's midnight hunts once a month'' she said and walked to the couch. She sat down and pulled him on it too. When he sat, she crawled up to lean against him. ''There.. this is better'' she said and then listened to him as he kept saying that he thought that she would find him to be too cheesy. She shook her head and when he didn't stop, she placed her lips on his. She closed her eyes and laid her hand against his cheek. Her hand would slowly slide into his hair and her free hand would be laid there too as she kept kissing him. She would allow him to get some sleep soon but first she wanted him to know she didn't mind him being 'cheesy'.