[System]
Age/Race/Gender: 63 /Illithid/Male
Appearance:

Occupation: Varrus was a chief medical officer specialising in chemical warfare and genetic research . Varrus is known throughout the alliance for making agents that liquefy lungs and could even melt your face off straight through your suit. He has also experimented with genetic augmentation to create the Federations deadliest soldiers. However, he was captured and transferred to be forced to work with the crew of the Revenant.
Weapons:  The P.E. 01 is a classic rifle used by the iIllithid empire. While an energy based rifle, it is capable of using ballistic based ammunition if needed. This rifle is truly special in its ability to siphon psionic energy form its wielder in order to super-charge its rounds for extra damage. It is a semi-auto rifle with deadly accuracy and is a highly desired weapon on the black market. EMP grenades followed by canisters containing various toxins and poisons as well as 'other' chemicals. These other chemicals act as boosters to allow average specimens to perform incredible acts of physical prowess outside their range on normal abilities.
Armor: Varrus' suit is energy shield but primarily used as a hazmat suit. Due to the brittle nature of his species, his suit acts as a environmental suit used in the most hostile conditions.While it may not be capable of taking a missile, it can filter out most toxins and withstand a variety of environmental hazards to an extreme degree.
Items: Aside from surgical equipment and a variety of secret chemical cases, Varrus carries nothing of interest except a list of names written on paper.
Skills: A science officer and medical expert. Varrus is capable of performing surgery on an alarming amount of species that are not limited to humanoid. His study of most forms of life has lead to to experiment with a variety of chemical agents. His skills as a chemist are also very noteworthy and have allowed him to develop a variety of chemical agents that the alliance has come up against.
Powers: Despite his frail body, Varrus possess a powerful mind. His psionic abilities allow him to speak telepathically and link multiple minds at once. When unarmed, he can also charged up psionic energy for energy based attacks. Due to his field of expertise, Varrus has taken particular enjoyment in peering into the minds of his victims to for interrogation. Strong willed individuals can resist but don't worry, Varrus has chemicals that will make them much more compliant.
Other: Varrus has a very specific reputation as a cold blooded murderer. His agents have allowed the Federation to make entire Alliance colonies disappear in a single gas attack. Make no mistake, Varrus is a killer and enjoys it more than any one.
Other:The Illithid Empire stands as a technological marvel. While some worlds have advanced more in weapons, armor, and instruments of war or space travel, the Illithid Empire stands unrivaled in medical advancements. Their naturally fragile forms helped bring about their need to develops a strong medical based technological system. What makes the Empire so dangerous is their natural affinity for psionic abilities. This enables their entirety of the Empire to function as a makeshift hivemind, operating only to advance the species and it's Empire. While their tech and psionic abilities make them troubling in combat, their understanding of genetic mutations allows the Empire to create massive monstrosities to ravage the battlefield. The Empire is not an aggressive one however, often buying dead or extremely hazardous worlds from other governments and terraforming the planet to enable a rich evolution of life. This enables a new world thought unbenifical and new species to emerge to join the Empire. The Illithid Empire remained neutral throughout the conflict between the federation and the Alliance though the Empire wished to have a hand in it. Sending diplomats to meet with representatives and both governments. The objective was to offer medical and relief aid by donating doctors and advanced medical supplies. They had no intention of being aggressors in the war. While the alliance unwillingness to work with 'aliens' declined the offer with rather rude comments, the federation accepted. With the relief aid of the Illithid Empire to back them. Casualty rates dropped dramatically. Neutralization of alliance chemical warfare also helped the Federation tremendously. When the alliance caught wind the the Illithid Empire was giving relief aid to the Federation, they began to specifically target medical outposts in hopes to make the Empire back off.

Name: Tobi
Age/Race/Gender: Robot, 23, male A.I.
Occupation: Special Forces
Weapons:
A heavy assault rifle with several barrels. Using ballistic ammunition, this weapon holds 100 round clips and is used to put a hole through the several guys behind the several guys you put a hole through.

The 'Arm Breaker' heavy impact ballistic hand cannon is the one to use to take out the guy behind the wall. This hand cannon was designed to use by combat drones and strictly uses explosive rounds. 6 shots per clip, and can break your arm in one shot if you are a human

Uses standard ballistic cluster grenades and frag grenades
Armor: Being a robot, he was built to be heavily plated.
Items: Built with several imaging systems which include thermal, night, infrared, cold(to spot cold blooded aliens), possess an advanced intelligent A.I. equivalent to this era's supercomputers, magnetic lock boots, and a small thruster pack. His systems are copper plated to prevent being shutdown by an E.M.P but if damaged enough, will become vulnerable to one. Plasma shield gauntlet to help defend against attacks, it can withstand 1 standard rocket before breaking and needing to recharge which will drain his battery. Note that this shield will not ease the impact of ballistic weapons. The shield can cover his body if he slouched his posture and squeezes himself tighter together.
Skills: Heavy weapons expert, skilled hand to hand combatant, efficient marksmen. Certainly more durable then something not made of metal.
Powers: Built to be strong enough to shoulder through weaker materials like stone. It will take a little bit but he could also rip a human in half and punch a hole through your chest. Can not physically exhaust but he does have a battery that can last one month inactive and one week active.
Weaknesses: designed strictly for planetary missions, his armor was not designed for the cold of space and is thused vulnerable to cryogenic weaponry. Due to a 'personality' error, Tobi has two personalities, one for killing and being irrational and for for being calm and strategic. They constantly argue over combat strategies and this could cause Tobi to literally freeze in place during a fire fight if they begin to argue too much. Despite being copper plated to prevent EMP'so, enough damage will ruin the copper and make him vulnerable to EMP attacks. Due to copper being a heat conducter, to much physical stress and use of his other gadgets could cause severe heating problems if he is not careful.
Other: Loves being savage and will shove a grenade down your throat if ordered to do so.

[User]
"... nngh..."

What a night that was. Tibulass woke up with a groan, still tired despite definitely falling asleep last night. Glancing over at the bedside table, which was just a shelf next to the bed, the bottle of the infamous God's Bile was opened, and sadly it was about half-empty. That was depressing, though it did raise the question of how much the girl drank last night. She certainly didn't feel entirely good, but she did feel tingly all over. Looking over at her side was none other than Matija, halfway covered in a sheet. She clearly didn't care to be covered last night. Speaking of those sheets... they were red in a few places?! What the hell?!

Panicking a bit, Tib looked down at her legs before noticing the many bite marks along her thighs. A few of them had dried blood trailing away from them. That's probably what caused the sheets to redden. Ah well, they could be cleaned. Both of the girls had a fair amount of evidence on their body of the night before, ranging from bites to hickeys, but nothing permanent could have occurred. Though... there was one spot that didn't look so good on Tib's chest, next to her shoulder. That, right there, was a prime example of a good time.

Sniffing the air, Tibulass patted the girl beside her while running a hand through her hair. "Hey girlie, wake up," the viking said before shaking her gently. "We need to go shower, we smell like sweat and liquor. Let's go steal Stryker's big ass shower, eh?"

[Assistant]
There was an awful ringing in the air when the siren finally came to. A nudge and a muddled voice greeted her morning when she grasped enough of lucidity to even process what she's experiencing. She had been sleeping face down when she woke and the first thing that she notices is the taste of iron on her lips and the dull pain of everywhere and everything. Matija groans and turned her head to the side to look at the voice and realized that she was sharing the bed with… Tibulass?

The thought jostled her awake, making her bolt upright and hiss from the pain of sudden movement. But between the pain and ringing in her ears she still caught the "...steal Stryker's big ass shower," to which she nodded in approval despite her body screaming at her to keep still and stay down, plus the knots welling up in her stomach at the thought of contact. "Y-yeah… We should. Does he lock it? Ain't good with electronic locks," she says as she smiles with her teeth.

With some difficulty, she managed to put on her clothes from last night. It also took her some effort to walk and sneak past everyone towards Stryker's cabin door, pick said door, and grant them access into the shower where she pulled the viking in with a languid smile. Leaning towards the other woman, she mumbles "Looks like you handled last night better. Help freshen me up? Not too loud now. These ears are sensitive."


[System]
The female variant (right).

The artist, Moriartea-chan
Weapon: Staff
Combat Orientation: Magical

Element:
Primary:
Given by GM. Your character will have significantly higher resistance to these elements, and the aptitude to learn spell/ skills of these elements
Fire - The embodiment of primordial power. It specializes in both destruction and self-empowerment. A highly offensive element.

Secondary:
Hand-picked by the players. Your character will have marginally higher resistance to these elements, and the aptitude to learn spell/ skills of these elements
Light - Having an all-embracing property, it specializes on wide-spread effects, be it healing or damaging. A very well-balanced element in terms of offense-defense-support spell / skill availability.
Lightning - A variation of Fire element. Whilst Fire element's effects are often rough and unrefined, Lightning put the full power of fire, and direct it in surgical precision. Requires affinity to Fire element.
Darkness - Having an all-consuming property, it can absorb and/or negate other's skills and defenses. Though it has many utility spells and skills, there are not many that involves direct attacking.

Skills:
Innate:
- Weapon Summon: The ability to materialize your weapon of choice at will
- Superior Intelligence: Your character starts with increased memory and cognitive ability, and has higher aptitude in increasing this stats
- Superior Willpower: Your character starts with increased mental fortitude and resistance to magic, and has higher aptitude in increasing this stats
- Blessing of the Prophet: When outside of battle, the energy "Vassa the Prophet" exudes will repair the damages done to your physical body. Greater wounds take longer to heal, but anything short of missing limbs and/or organs should heal given enough time.

Tier 1:
Sigil magic: The use of symbolic representations (e.g. glyphs, monograms, pictorial signatures) to practice magic. Such symbols must be inscribed upon a surface and infused with the caster's intent, willpower, and magical energy. The uses are various, though at this tier fairly simple (e.g. barriers, traps, minor wards). This type of magic can be used in the quick, dirty, and rough variant, or in a complex, highly specific, and time consuming manner.

[User]
"P...pretty?" Cythril said in response to Lisami calling his name that. His ears perked up, he rose to his feet and he scratched his cheek in light embarrassment. He was trying to come up with something to say, but no words came to mind. It didn't seem like the goddess was too bothered by it as She continued to talk shortly after, even without his input. It caused another headache for Cythril, the pain assaulting him shortly after Her mention of the void's wraiths. He had to clutch his head and shut his eyes tightly to not get overwhelmed by the migraine. Flashes of memories assaulted him, taking complete control of him for a moment.

He could remember it all. The smell of blood. The impact of the weapon in both his hands slicing through any who stood in his way. The feelings he had at the height of battle, and his hatred for the gods. Cythril wished death unto every last one, an unrelenting paragon and martyr who lead the people in an unholy crusade.

But he couldn't remember what he was holding. It was like there was some part of him that's missing, a hazy blur among all the crystal clear stills.

He spontaneously stumbled on his feet. Guided by instinct, he backed away a little from Lisami. "What was... am I...?" he muttered, but without being able to find any words to finish the thought. Cythril repeated phrases like it a few times, each with a short break, trying to sort out his memories.

All he wanted before entering this garden was a chance, but what chance? Another swing at Lisami? A chance to run away from his own mistakes? Redemption? Cythril looked up at his... enemy. He should be fighting Her. Trying to kill Her... but he couldn't. He didn't feel at ease. The emotions of what he'd done screamed at him to lash out, to spill the goddess' blood. No matter how much it yelled at him, Cythril wouldn't be able to. He no longer had his weapon... and no longer felt the way he had.

"I... have changed," he replied.

They talked. It was comforting. Cythril felt terrified of Lisami before, but the more She entertained him, the less he felt on edge. It was only a small comfort; his memories kept coming back to nag at him. No matter how much the man tried to take his mind off it, he couldn't ignore these revelations. Even though they were mere flashes, they were undoubtedly real. The cynic inside him screamed not to trust Her, that She had gone mad. Cythril didn't want to listen. Even if his memories are true, the Lisami in front of him is not what the stories painted her to be.

What his memories told him She was.

The goddess had to excuse herself at some point in their conversation and left the man on his own. Cythril didn't like the sound of the "uninvited guests" she used as the excuse. Without Lisami around, his eyes were drawn to the object he'd noticed before. It was Her 'trophy' buried in the center. He stepped over to it, the handle that stuck out of the floor almost beckoning him. More pain assaulted his head as he got closer. The object was nostalgic. Cythril knew it belonged to him. He slowly started to reach for it in trance-like state, but a sudden rustle snapped him out of it. Cythril glanced over in the direction that said rustle had come from. From the hedgerows. Two figures popped out them.

"What are you-?"

Cythril never got to finish the question. A shockwave caused the attire of the all the garden's visitors to flutter in a gust of wind. Cythril turned his back to the other two, but still took a few steps in their direction. It put the 'trophy' in front of his face. He glanced at it for a moment, right before his instincts kicked in. Danger. It took him no time at all to crouch down and a keep his head low. Something swooped by and missed him by a hair's breadth. He looked up, scanning for his assailant. It didn't take long to find. A giant dragonfly, twice the size of a person. It wasn't looking at him. It didn't even seem to register him. The bug's beady eyes were transfixed on the two females that had entered the domain. Protecting it from trespassers.

'I don't need to do anything here,' Cythril thought. He could just let the two of them deal with this. He ignored the commotion, turning his eyes back to the object. 'I don't need to, but...' his thoughts trailed off again. No. This wasn't right. He still hadn't made sense of those memories. He needed to draw it out. That extension of himself. It was the only way.

Cythril stepped closer. He wrapped both his hands around the shaft.

A pain first assaulted his hands, then his arms. It started as a light shock, then bony tendrils sprouted from the object to stab into Cythril's skin. Was it testing him? Were they trying to repel him? He didn't care about those questions. This object was his. Damned be that a nobody resigns themselves to nothing.

With a mighty heave, Cythril pulled out his very own Excalibur. That said, it was no sword. The long, wooden shaft ending in a curved blade... it could only have been a farmer's scythe. No ordinary weapon, just a tool. A blade meant for reaping wheat. That's all he had, once. The one thing he'd been able to get his hands on. In order to defend himself... to rage war against the gods. It felt right in Cythril's hands. It made him feel tingly, nostalgic.

With his scythe in hand, he could feel a hint of the arcane flowing through him. It wasn't much, but it was familiar. Cythril once used spells and techniques. Now, he'd use them again.

He turned back to the dragonfly, gauging its behaviour relative to the two newcomers. His scythe was crying for blood. It wanted to revolt, to lash out against something. Thousands of voices all gathered in his head, crying out in a singular purpose: Battle. Cythril could ignore himself no longer.

The arcane magic that ran through his body began to flow into the wooden handle of his scythe. It all gathered on the edge of its blade, and as it did, Cythril dashed off to the side. He wanted to find the opportunity for a clean shot at the unaware foe. The magic coursing through his weapon first formed to coat the blade in raging flames, then those flames quickly morphed into the crackling of electricity. Cythril spun his body around to slash the air with his scythe, sending a bolt of lightning crashing straight toward the oversized insect. Unfortunately for him, not only was he was clumsier with his weapon than he had been, but the insect had also caught on. It moved to the side, Cythril's lightning harmlessly striking one of the walls.

The situation started looking bad now that he'd lost the element of surprise. Even if there was distance between the two of them and even if it was three-on-one, this dragonfly was nimble and quick to react. Cythril didn't have time to charge another spell, so he brought his scythe up closer. He needed to reposition, but his first worry was to dodge any counter-attack his self-made adversary would launch.

[Assistant]
Huladuras stood before a mighty beast now, seemingly having just finished with another less fortunate soul than himself. But, rather than listen to the creature, Huladuras simply looked down at himself, extending his free, left hand forwards to inspect it. It was marked by flame and ash, scorch and burn, and so was the rest of his body, only covered by a thin loincloth that covered his privates. Then, he looked right, up and down the shaft of the polearm, inspecting it, and then turning it sideways in his hand, gripping it with two hands. Finally his eyes gazed upon the minotaur king before him.

"I am Huladuras," he stated, letting his foot drag backwards through the dirt of the colloseum, entering a fighting position. "And I am no prodigal son." Without any further warning he rushed forwards, the polearm swinging back before he sent it hurtling forwards towards the minotaur, swinging the hammer at it's face. Of course, Huladuras had not seen how the minotaur crushed the former 'prodigal son' and so needed to find out just what this beast was capable of. In the off chance that the minotaur dodged the attack -- or even better, it hit -- he would swing the polearm back the way it had come from, in reverse, trying to hack the pick into the minotaurs head.

Of course, there was no guarantee that this would work. But nothing ventured, nothing gained.


[System]
Titles: Emissary and Champion of the Winter Court

Affiliation: Highborn to the Winter Court, born into a lower family of Nobility. His position of nobility was raised upon his revival from the dead.

Gender: Male

Age: 89 (26 years alive, 56 years dead, 7 years undead.)

Birthplace: Cannala

Origin: The tale of the Dullahan from Irish Folklore, also known as the Headless Rider.

Race: Undead Fae

Appearance: (A Picture will come soon enough, but for now, a detailed description.) Nikolai Pelletier is an above average man in height, weight, and build. He has no remarkable traits such as beautiful eyes, golden locks of hair, or strange skin color. Except for one minor detail. Nikolai has no head. Well, not on his shoulders anyway. He carries his head on his waist in a glass case. The case is ornately designed to ensure that his head doesn't look ugly while he totes it about. The trim around it is made of polished brass with silver inlay. The portion of his neck that is severed has a silk cloth laid across it and is tied in place by gold lace. The case is attached to his waist by a chain of steel, coated in silver to give it a more high class look. When he truly wishes to hide his undead-ness, he will cover the case in a square of chainmail. This hides his head from those around him.

His body is reasonably fit, about as fit as you would expect a soldier to be. Where his neck would connect to his head there is another piece of silk held in place by a length of gold lace, this keeps him from showing his insides to those that he converses with. It makes diplomacy a bit easier. His skin is a bit pale, but nothing unnatural.

Adorning his form is a suit of classy armor, the armor of nobility of course. It is a suit of hybrid mail with a mix of chain and plate to give a full range of protection. It is made from damascus steel, forged in a crucible and then hammered across a mold of his body. The suit was forged specifically for him, making his movements significantly more natural while wearing it. To make discussion with others even easier, he had a special helmet forged. This helmet attaches to his back and chest, rather than his shoulders. This allows him to turn the helmet to substitute natural movement. It makes him more alive than he really is.

His head is a normal humanoid head, though with several fae traits. (Which is understood, as he is a fae, not a human.) His head is rather angular with a pointed jawline. His eyes are closed, though his eye color is hazel. The hair on his head is relatively short and well kept, his hair color is dark brown. His nose is a bit long but not unattractively large. His ears are pointed at the top and his lobes are a bit long.

Nikolai himself stands at 6'7" and weighs 212 lbs.

Occupation: A diplomat from the Winter Court, serving as Queen Mab's personal champion for duels and to accompany her to potentionally dangerous events.

Resources:
- Hand Forged Armor: A suit of armor specially forged for him, ordered by Queen Mab herself to be made. It is a simple suit of armor that can be concealed under clothing or worn openly.

- Cavalry Sabre: A three foot long blade with a sizeable crossguard, it is a simple and elegantly curved blade. Perfectly suited for combat on the ground and on horseback. Made from steel, its handle is made from yew and is coated in cattle hide.

- Combat Lance: Unlike the lances seen in jousting competitions, this lance is designed for true mounted combat. It is a deadly sharp length of metal with a cross shaped tip, it is brutally efficient at punching holes in his foes. It is an oak lance, measuring seven feet long from tip to pommel. The tip is made from steel, stone sharpened and adding another seven inches to the weapon. It is unweildy when not on horseback.

- Reasonable wealth: His social status allows him to earn money passively, though his job is high risk, it actually doesn't involve much more than him riding about on his horse and occasionally mounted combat. He constantly has money to pay for room and board, food, and the like. It is a good living, albeit a simple one.

- Pheidippides: Nikolai's trusty horse. A massive war horse, standing at 24 hands.(8 feet tall.) This horse is a monstrous stallion, towering over man, elf, and fae alike. Its coat is charoal and mottled with white splotches, its mane is a deep black with a beautiful gloss. Its eyes are intense, shining and hazel like his rider's own. Pheidippides is as high bred as you can get when it comes to horses. He can haul a four horse cart on his own, able to pull three tons of weight behind himself.

Pheidippides is a 228 stone horse. (3,000 lbs.) Tremendously strong and fiercely loyal, Pheidippides refuses any rider but Nikolai. Bucking them off with an intensity unmatched by lesser horses. Pheidippides is not the fastest horse in the world by any stretch, but he is significantly faster than any human. Able to gallop at 38 mph, canter at 15 mph, trot at 10, and walk at 5. Pheidippides has great stamina, most horses can only gallop for short bursts. He, however, can gallop for three solid hours before even showing signs of exhaustion.

However, Pheidippides's greatest shortcoming is his own size. Pheidippedes has joint problems due to his weight, extended periods of riding without rest can leave him exhausted and worthless for riding. His hooves must be filed daily, otherwise they turn rough and painful for him.

Skills:

- Diplomat: As the emissary from the Winter Court he is required to be skilled in diplomatic ventures. His specialties are interrogation, intimidation, and parties.

- Rider: What? He's a headless horseman. He's skilled at riding horses.

- Soldier: Upon being raised from the dead, post him learning of his killer's death, Nikolai joined the military and swiftly jumped through ranks. Of course later being promoted to Champion and Emissary through a long series of events that would take a while to record.

Personality: Nikolai is a cynic by trade and a racist by hobby, as a nobleman of the Fae-kind he holds himself in a much higher standing than other 'lesser' races. Humans, elves, and other kinds are lesser to Fae in his eyes. However, he is a professional, and never lets his personal view of others obscure his thoughts. Outside of his duties he is still an uptight and generally unpleasant person to be around.

Biography: The tale of the Dullahan isn't a story with a "Long long ago." or a "And they lived happily ever after." It's simply a tale of a man who lost his head in an argument, and then lost his head in the following fight. With death fresh on his collar and fury fresh on his lips, he was not so bound to the grave as normal men would be. The horseman rose from the grave to seek vengeance, but he was too late. Now he roams the earth, seeking purpose in mortal lands as one no longer among the living.

[User]
Tori

Tori wasn't surprised when she was approached by a Faeborn. She studied the elf, sure she had never come across him. Graunted, she had met a lot of Faeborn in her time in the Summer Court, and she hadn't spent a large amount of time there in anycase. Mostly, it had just been a learning experience rather then a social visit.

it didn't surprise her that he knew who she was though. While she was training ner own senses, she hadn't been successful at being able to sense the magic and power inside others just yet. She wasn't aware that it was possible to determine which Court she was aligned with, nor had she been aware that hers reseambled her mothers.

She curtsied as Lucien introduced himself, keeping her eyes on his, and not looking down nor away. She knew it was incredibly likely that Lucien knew her story, and was aware that the fact he asked was simply a game, she smiled. She had learned pretty quickly that the Fae enjoyed games, and enjoyed tricking or manipulating people.

"yes, Lord Lucien, my mother wished me to be away from the Courts as I grew up. She thought that it was better for me to live with my father, and therefore be able to interact with humans more effectively then most Fae." She could play the word game as well. She had learned that quite quickly. She shrugged at his question about why she would be walking the streets like a commoner.

she appeared thoughtful, as if it was a hard question to answer. "although my reasons are mostly personal, the easiest way to answer that is that I straddle both worlds. Human and Fae. I enjoy being in both words, and I decided that in order to maintain both aspects of my heritage, that by maintaining a commoner position in the human world, I can be more valuable to the Summer Court"

she smiled, and gave a laugh, "I am sorry, Lord Lucien, I forgot my mannors. I should introduce myself properly. I am indeed my mothers Daughter. My name is Tori" she deliberately left off her last name, knowing that names, when spoken by the owner, were power.

[Assistant]
While the processions of Alexandria roared behind him, Baleno was involved with a fine sword until the merchant told him its price. Gritting his teeth out of embarrassment of having to decline the purchase and disgust at how high he was charging, Baleno grudgingly placed the weapon back on its rack. It was a shame that such a glorious blade cost so much. He was sure that it would be put to proper use in his hands and not that of the aristocrat that could afford it. Baleno wished a good day to the merchant and turned to leave his stall. That was when he came face to face with his wishes.

The recruiter's offer was like music to his ears, a mischievous smirk sculpting his lips. All he needed to peak his curiosity was the word prince. And to think that he didn't even have to go far to find a need for his services. There wasn't a chance in hell that Baleno would decline the offer. Before opening his mouth to accept, he shot his eyes back at the sword he was marveling. Blessed with another job it seemed, the coin that Baleno required to get the weapon was as far away from him as his feet were from his knees. Sure a bit of labor was required but it wasn't like Baleno couldn't cut his way to another payday.

"I humbly accept the honor if it is to be mine," Baleno responded to the recruiter, tilting his torso in a slight bow of respect and gratefulness. "And I prefer women, thank you, " he sarcastically added with his own flavor of bold humor.

While Baleno appreciated the offer he knew that no job came without competition. Even if he were to gain acceptance into the ranks of such high nobility, a service that carried more stability than any of his previous ventures, he knew that he would be fighting not only next to some fine warriors but against them for recognition. As a man who sought profession at every angle, Baleno was fully prepared to do what it took to stand apart from the rest. He had his invitation so now he needed to secure it. Already aware of the upcoming fighting competitions, his next move was to gain access to the Keep. Since he was a foreigner he wasn't formally acquainted with the social order of Alexandria. He didn't want to march straight in to the Keep yet without first obtaining clearance.

"Excuse me, sir," he addressed the recruiter, "but I have also been led to believe that a tournament is coming up. Do you know for certain where I may enlist myself for such an event?"

His aim was still to show what he was made of. He hadn't walked all the way from the Olympus Imperium just to become another grunt. He needed status to accompany his profit. Drawing the blood of others was the easiest way for him to obtain both.


[System]
"Gunpla? Sure, I'm in love with the sport."

---
Age: 16

Year: 1st Year

School: Ichikawa

Personality:  * (+) Instinctive
* (+) Dutiful
* (+) Determined
* (-) Selfish
* (-) Reckless
* (-) Unstable

Background: Natsu Saisei is the younger of two, trailing behind his elder brother by a gaping ten years. His childhood was normal, often invisible to most because of his introversion. He found a love for Gunpla battling at a young age, mostly due to his elder brother's obsession with it. But it was there that they found a connection through Gunpla that bypassed the usual jealousy of siblings. It produced a humble, sincere appreciation for their faults and skills. When his elder brother was diagnosed with lung cancer ... that changed. Natsu began to harbor guilt for hating his elder brother. But who else could he blame for all the pain and anxiety that plagued him now? Questions that poisoned his mind now. When will Yuma die? Is he already dead? How does cancer even work? If nothing else, Natsu had recognized his own chaotic thoughts and emotions. His anger and abundant love for his brother: Yuma, clashed violently inside him, numbing him to everything besides these three things. Yuma Saisei, Gunpla, and his damaged mentality.

Battling/Building Ability: Natsu has no building ability at all. Perhaps his greatest flaw is his unwillingness to learn the basics of repairing or building. When asked why, he simply shrugs his shoulders and walks away. The truth is a bit more difficult to hear. Since his childhood he had relied on his elder brother, Yuma, to build and repair his Gunplas. After his brother was diagnosed with lung cancer from his horrible smoking habit, Natsu had been denying the harsh reality that his brother may die by relying heavily on his exceptional building skills. Telling his brother, "You can't die with a gift like this, Yuma." As for his battling skills, let's just say he's put all his pain and free time into mastering Echo Barbatos. It connects himself and his brother in a way not many can grasp.

Mobile Suits:
-Name: Nu-Build Echo Barbatos Rex (Echo Barbatos)
-Description: A lightly modded version of the Barbatos Lupus Rex frame; Nu-Build Echo Barbatos Rex is a sleeker, immaculate construct with parts taken from the admirable Nu-Gundam. Dubbed the Echo Barbatos, the build has these armaments.
* ->>> Weapons

	+ Two beam sabers. One of average length, the other shorter. (Right hip, placed vertically.)
	+ Tail Blade w/ closed-ranged particle blaster. (Tucked away on its lower back.)
	+ Yuma's Echo System (YES) System. (Its speed and agility are extreme allowing for it to produce afterimages and complicated maneuvers. The secret to this however, is the slight, ever-so subtle shift, in its all white color when moving at high-speeds.)

"You taught me to love Gunpla battles."

[User]
"Yo Chiaki!" Nanashi called as he gestured to out side, the girl nodding and following him outside.

---

The two sat on a bench outside, water bottles in hand. "So, Nashi, you seem to be the same as always."

Nanashi chuckled. "Look whos talking, I had to get you outside and away from your team to get you to say a nickname. Chi-chan has always been so formal around people." He said the last part with a fake sigh. "So, thoughts?"

Chiaki took a gulp of her drink before responding. "Well out of our three teams, Team Chaser probably has is the favorite to get into the top of regionals this year."

"Although?" Nanashi asked, clearly expecting more. Nanashi had known her long enough to know when she had more to say.

"Although, the team from Karasato isn't that far behind them, track record wise. Both teams over the years have been in the finals of their own local tournaments." She finished as she stood up and began to head to the gym. "Our 30 minutes are almost up up. We should head back." She said as she walked backwards before stopping. "Say, I'm kinda curious why you decided to join the tournament. You kinda suck at battling y'know." She said teasingly.

Nanashi frowned, heading back to the gym. "It's cause master said that I could win. And I want to prove to everyone he's right." He said without looking back.

---

Inside Nanashi returned, Walking up to his team with a paper in hand. "Yo guys! I got the line ups for today!" He said as he beckoned everyone to gather around. "Ok, our first fight is with the Karasato Group, so it's gonna be tricky. We don't really have any info on their members or Gunpla right now so we're going in blind." He said as he showed them the bracket, the other teams @Dezuel acquiring them at the same time.

[Assistant]
"Ah, so I get to pummel that trash talker first?" asked Sousuke with a smile that made it hard to tell if he was serious or not, "Suits me just fine. Oh, by the way, if we face Chaser next then it sounds like you'll get to head to head with Sakuya. Asaka's almost certain to target me and Natsu-kun here said he would take on Tsukasa. So that'll leave Sakuya as your dance partner." Sousuke tipped his hat, then retrieved the Crossbone Joker from its case. Sure enough, Shouji had come through and the Joker was it's usual shiny-new self.

"Not a bad shine, there, Shouji." Sousuke mused, then put the gunpla back in its carrier. It looked like the only thing left to do was to wait for the shindig to get started.

---

"So, we're facing the Nobuya team first?" asked Keiichiro, having just been handed the line up, "You better not lose, Kikkawa. Not before you and I settle things." he muttered under his breath. Despite the constant accusations of holding a petty grudge, that wasn't really on Keiichiro's mind at all. There was something else he wanted from Kikkawa, something more valuable than settling a petty score. But before Keiichiro could focus on that, it looked like Team Chaser would have to go through Nobuya Academy first.

"Team Chaser," said Keiichiro, looking dead serious. His partners both approached and awaited his next words, "it's finally time. Move out!" they both turned abruptly and flanked their captain as the team made its way to the area where they would soon be facing their first opponent.

---

Up in the stands, among those who came to watch the battles, a single figure stood out a bit more than most. He was a student, but not from any of the participating schools. No, he was there as a scout, primarily. This practice tournament would make a good opportunity to observe the upcoming competition. It was true he had traveled a fair distance to attend, but the intel he would inevitably gather was well worth it. He dressed nicely, wearing what could be described as his school's uniform - though it was quite a bit more formal, almost like a business suit more than a school uniform. He had snow white hair, and small oval glasses. Suddenly the student heard a low whistle coming from behind him.

"So this is that practice tourney, eh? Man, you sure go the distance to learn about your opponents." it was another student who had entered not long ago and then sat next to the first. Unlike the first, this one was dressed completely casually. He wore tight-fitting jeans, a forest camo hoodie with a black t-shirt underneath it. Unlike the first student, who's hair was shorter and cleanly kept. This second student had blaring red hair, almost certainly dyed that way. It was also kept more wildly, some kind of lion's mane.

"I'm surprised you even showed up, after all this particular assignment isn't required of you." the first student spoke in a much more business-like etiquette than the second, who spoke casually to a fault.

"Meh..." the second student shrugged, "...I had nothing better to do. Besides, call it... morbid curiosity." the second student smiled in a way that could only be described as sinister.

"Just don't go causing any trouble, Kusaka. We're here on behalf of our sponsor, and make no mistake there will be consequences if your antics cost Team Shuffle its sponsorship." the first student said, quickly and in a subtly threatening tone.

"Tch, whatever. Just watch and nothing more, I get it." replied the second student - Kusaka, in a miffed tone.

[User]
Syo tightened his hands into fists after having seen who they were being put up against. "Yes! Going to destroy that kid..." He grinned and took out his box where he kept his gunpla. The Berserk Ignited.

He wandered over to where the practice fight was going to take place and got into position. Taking his gunpla out of it's box and placing it. Soon after Kayl and Ternal both walked up. Kayl took his own box out of his sidebag, placing the mostly red gunpla, the Shinzaku at the ready. Finally Ternal opened his dark briefcase, within it he had three different gunpla aswell as spare parts for them. Then to the side he had a white face mask which he touched briefly with his hand but left it be. He grabbed his hand at the large orange gunpla, the Destiny Extended. Which he lined up next to the other two already placed.

"Say your prayers kid." Syo said in a manner which could be heard to the other side. It was obviously intended for Sousuke. Kayl winched to this but did not intervene this time, he had to focus and be ready for the coming fight. He threw a sideway glance to Ternal, the latter was not nervous the slighest.

Despite this being the first time he steps out in the open like this he isn't nervous the slighest. I, who have been fighting alot be feeling at least something. These guys will be good. A fair challenge. I am nervous but also thrilled. There is going to be three gunpla I have never seen before in this fight for certain. Kayl readied himself with intense focus in his eyes. They waited until everyone had taken their place, all three of their opponents.

"Kayl Lanzer of the Karasato gunpla club, Shinzaku launching!"

"Syo Morisaki, Berserk Ignited. Shred everything to pieces!"

"This is Ternal Dawning, Destiny Extended taking off."

[Assistant]
* * * April 28th * * *

Natsu had said little in response to Nanashi's news. He had been focusing on Tsukasa, expecting to slaughter her plans with instinct and resolve alone but Karasoto would do as well. He could easily change his targets to any one of those showoffs. Whether it be the feeble, Syo, craven, Kayl, or the cheesy, Tarnal; one by one they would fall to the king of monsters: his gunpla, Echo Barbatos.

"Time is fleeing. Less not waste anymore," said Natsu in a very different tone. It was deep and hollow, a cold cavern beneath the earth.

At the arena he knelt to the floor, slipping his bookbag from his shoulder, as he pulled Echo Barbatos from its pouch. Normally he would have had its case but that morning had been froth with emotions. In short, he had forgotten it. The sleek, all-white, Gunpla looked lifeless but he felt a heartbeat inside its plastic. He touched it to his forehead. I want to rampage on the field ... Please, let me. I'm tired of feeling helpless ... and guilty. Let me feel strength and power now.

Natsu placed Echo Barbatos down, set his GP base, and spoke far too low for it to matter. "Saisei deploying, roar and go, Echo Barbatos."


[System]
Alias: Blitz

Position: eleventh grade (high school junior)

Abilities/powers: Electricity manipulation/generation - Shawn has the ability to control, direct, and create electricity from his body. He is essentially a living, rechargeable battery

Electromagnetic manipulation - a sub power to his electricity manipulation, Shawn has also started to learn how to control electromagnetic fields, using them and warping them to his aid. This is very much a lesser power to Shawn, and he can only use it to assist with his electricity manipulation.

Plasma Absorption- Shawn can absorb any form of plasma and take it into his body, storing it for later use. However, he can only hold so much before it starts to have negative effects on his body, warping his senses and even causing body spasms. The level of plasma he is holding can usually be discovered through his eyes.

electrical immunity- due to his abilities, Shawn does not feel pain from electricity, nor to outside electrical forces have any effect on his body, unless it is an inhuman amount and something not even he can contain.

Sex: Male

Age/Date of Birth: 16 - May 7th, 1983

General appearance:

Shawn stands at five feet, eight inches, Not as tall as his titan of a mother, but he is already taller than his father. Though he has a rather lithe build, he's strong enough to tackle most problems with his body, though he prefers to use his powers over brute force.

Additional Appearance/costume:

More of a prototype than anything, Shawn rigged up his own suit with the assistance of those in the school. The faceplate beneath the visor of the motorcycle helmet has small nodes on the inside to interact with Shawn's powers, allowing him to change the colors of the mask at will. The entire suit is lined in a similar way, the crevasses glowing with the activation of his powers, much like the suits from the movie TRON.

Personality:  Though a self proclaimed 'chiller', Shawn is at the point in his life where he is so stressed out that it has made him numb and even. He swears that he's listening, especially when his head is propped up with his arm and there's a trail of droll leaking from his mouth. He does try, though. He is a bit of a perfectionist in the few things he can actually focus on, but otherwise airy to the world around him. He is the worst combination of "driven to take on the world" and "could not get off the couch for unlimited money". He likes to talk, mindless chatter and banter during fights, but mostly just whispering conversations and thoughts to himself, slinging thoughts and ideas around from him to himself.

Special Skills: Escrima Stick proficiency, Tonfa proficiency, moderate athleticism, moderate wiring skills.

Place of birth: Massachusetts, USA

Weapon(s) of choice: Shawn... borrowed, two old police batons to work with his powers, juicing them up with delicious electricty to pack an extra punch.

Medical information: Fit as a fiddle.

Brief History:Born to a hearty Irish mother and immigrant father, Shawn was raised in a house of mixed cultures was was spectacularly odd. Both of his parents were mutants, his mutations being an amalgamation of theirs. When his powers came, his family welcomed them with open arms, and the town was curious, but not negative of his abilities. However, his parents could only teach him so much. He was sent off to the Xavier school to further hone his powers and help those in need.

Relatives: (Any living, dead, or important relatives your character may have)

Name: Doctor Booker "Blake" Smith, PhD

Alias: Lightsmith

Position: Student Councilor, Therapist, Substitute Teacher

Abilities/powers: Light Manipulation, "Hard Light Constructs" - Blake has the ability to channel "Mana" and create solid structures out of light. The strength of the constructs depends on how much mana he makes it out of, and is also dependent on his physical energy. His constructs can shatter if he is not strong enough, and he can make them move and morph at will.

Sex: Male

Age/Date of Birth: 36 years old, 2/5/1963

General appearance:

Additional Appearance/costume:

Personality:Lax and Easygoing, Blake was a part of one of Professor Xavier's first classes after the Apocolypse incident, and only left the institute to get his degree in psychology. He returned to the institute to help Charles and stand in for any of the big X-men and women when they could not teach their own classes. Not exactly a hippy or a guru, but he does sometimes drift into those categories.

Special Skills: Doctorate in Psychology, pistol training, combat training.

Place of birth: California

Weapon(s) of choice: His constructs, namely. He has an emergency pistol that he can pour mana into and fire light, but hardly uses it.

Medical information: (Any medical conditions your character may have, not a necessity)

Brief History:

Relatives: (Any living, dead, or important relatives your character may have)

[User]
The moment the door was unsealed, Heidi also left, and was faced with three guards. One exoskeleton-enhanced roundhouse kick later, all three were unconscious. She fished around them for a keycard, found one, and started freeing Mutants too, shouting "C'mon! We have to escape! You're free! Let's go!" as she did. One tried to run back to the president's room, with murderous intent, but one Gauntlet blast to the neck later, and Heidi was carrying said mutant over her shoulder, fight off guards and rogue mutants alike. "We don't have time to go back!" she shouted at them. "We have to get out of here now!"

When this didn't work, and she had incapacitated more mutants than she could carry, she changed her shouts to "No point going back there! He's dead already! We need to get out of here!" which had a much higher success rate. Plus with the briefcase full of papers on one hand and a KO'ed mutant held on her shoulder with the other, she could no longer fight herself. Words were her best weapon now. Speaking of weapons, Tatianna couldn't be seen or heard anymore. Had she gone ahead?

As she had predicted, the guards stopped being a hindrance to their escape once enough mutants were freed. Heidi watched the liberated mutants slice and rip guards apart left and right. It was a bloodbath.

Heidi couldn't cry yet. The mission wasn't over.

[Assistant]
Chrys blinked when Tatiana stormed off. With the mutant children coming at them Chrys put up a field around himself, redirecting attacks as he moved forward, using his powers to knock people out by running along the walls and ceiling. He found himself moving too far ahead and with a light pull, shifted himself back to the room, slamming up a field to stop things from entering. "I think I can either clear a path or shift us out of here back to the plane. Though if I do the latter I don't think I'll be able to do anything for a while after... I can feel my powers hitting a dampener thanks to the paradoxes. You've done a number to the place, small pockets of the place are... missing."

Using his spatial senses, he could tell that he wasn't going to be able to hold the place stable for too much longer. If they stayed it could collapse, sending out ripples across space-time he was sure only he'd survive, if he was able to survive at all.


[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]
Feeling the sweet release of his hand that had gripped her arm Iris rubbed where he had held tightly to soothe it from throbbing pain. It was then she found herself laughing bitterly when Jacob continued to interrogate her about the big plan and what was going to happen next. "You're quick to make assumptions, but you don't know what's been going on with Cas at all. There was no elaborate plan to keep me here. The most elaborate part of the plan as you put it was when he broke me out of the hospital before I was sent back to prison."

Iris understood why he was questioning her so heavily, she got it but at the same time it was a little too much and somewhat overwhelming. It brought back horrid memories of when she had been questioned in the prison multiple times to only be forced into giving away the answers from that truth serum. Shuddering at the thought of it she hoped that it would not be the same again, that he didn't have an emergency one on him for dire situations. The thought of that drug alone made her feel sick to her core, colour all gone from her face as she reminded herself of the horror from the prison.

Dragging a hand down her face as she tried to compose herself, she looked back at Jacob meeting his gaze and she could see the sceptical expression he held. "You know the night he disappeared. We had planned to run away together if you want to call that elaborate, but then everything got complicated."

Finding herself peek over her shoulder towards the window for a split-second Iris debated her chances of using the window as an escape. Problem was it was far too high up, but the thought of going back to the prison felt worse. "Sure, I claim to be in love with him. Nothing will convince you otherwise, right?" She felt tired of this, tired of trying to prove she meant no harm and at the end of it all it didn't matter. Her fate was sealed, there was nothing she could do to save herself but oddly enough it had been something she had accepted. As long as Cas and Maisie were well and safe, she could be happy with that.

"Just… get it over and done with already. Lock me up and throw away the key, have me killed as I'm sure that I have a death warrant out for me." Iris sounded defeated as she carelessly shrugged her shoulders no fire left inside to even bother with fighting him. "Have them interrogate me with that drug again. I don't care anymore. I'm done." What else could she do in this situation? Beg for her life? That wouldn't happen, not when deep down she still had little care for it and even with the brief visit from Cas it hadn't changed anything apart from her resolve to protect him from Ethan. As dark as it sounded Ethan couldn't blackmail her if she was dead and maybe the security team would protect him? They had finally found her after all.

[Assistant]
"Apparently I don't," Jacob growled in agreement. He was more frustrated with Caspian than he was with Iris for that reason, because he never would have imagined Atlas's son would do something so reckless. The new king had butted heads with his father over plenty of things before and had a weakness for the night life in the capital, but he'd never done anything that had the potential to damage the crown's reputation. He was responsible. If he drank to excess, he walked with an escort instead of driving; if the young women in the city flirted with him, he wouldn't take advantage of their interest; if the previous ruler had needed his help, he always stepped up to do the job. For a young man in his early twenties, he'd matured beyond his years, so it was dumbfounding to the security guard that he would have thought up such a shortsighted plan.

As Iris went on about Caspian's original intentions to run away, Jacob pinched the bridge of his nose between his fingers. The more he uncovered, the worse it seemed to get. The former prince had known that his father was on his deathbed, that there were no other successors in line for the throne, and yet he had still come so close to abandoning his people. Flightiness wasn't a good quality in a king. Now that he knew it had almost happened once, he was going to keep a closer eye on the fledgling monarch in case he was ever overwhelmed enough to try it again. Until Caspian named someone else as his successor or had children of his own, the monarchy was precariously close to collapsing.

He remained quiet while the rebel girl seemed to give up before his eyes. She had fought him hard in the beginning, but it looked like she didn't have enough resolve left to keep going. His eyes flicked once more to the filthy kitchen contemplatively before returning to her face. "Sit down," he said, gesturing to the couch behind her. His words were still firm, but the initial anger had melted from his voice. Now that she had answered his questions and had lost her willpower, he didn't feel the need to keep fighting with her.

Taking his own advice, the guard sat on the opposite end of the sofa and leaned back with his arms crossed. He was still alert enough to stop her if she made any sudden movements, but there wasn't an immediate threat that required him to stay on his feet. "You say I've been kept in the dark about the king recently, but I do know him, Iris. Better than you do," he told her bluntly. Someone needed to tell her the truth, and right now, he was the only one who was in a position to do so. For Caspian's sake, he was going to be candid.

"You two only met a few months ago. I promise you that isn't enough time to learn every detail about a person, no matter how much you care about each other, and I can tell you right now that the Caspian you know isn't the same Caspian who was prepared to be the leader this country needs." Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on his knees as he held Iris's gaze seriously. "I'm sorry if this is difficult to hear, but this relationship the two of you have is a detriment to him. Now that he's been crowned king, Caspian has committed every facet of himself to Aspiria. I'm not yet sure if he grasps the full depth of what that means, especially after discovering this," he gestured vaguely at the suite, "but running around in secret to be with someone who isn't even a highborn, let alone a person who could strengthen the monarchy politically… These aren't actions befitting of a king, and I can no longer stand idly by and watch him revert into an impulsive teenager. That means these meetings are going to stop."

[User]
To not know what was going to happen was so unnerving, Iris found herself at a loss and even though she accepted this was probably the end of the road for her she didn't know what he was going to do now. It threw her back when he told her to sit but she found herself complying because there was no other option. Iris could peg it from the room and try to escape, but he would catch her and then there would be a commotion and it just wouldn't end well for anyone involved. Taking a seat, she found herself fiddling with her hands not knowing what to do with them as she avoided making eye contact with him because it felt awkward.

Even as he sat and started to speak, she knew he was telling the truth, but the difference with hearing it from him was that she knew it was not just because he cared about the monarchy but because he actually cared for Cas. Hearing the words from him hit differently. "Don't apologise." There was no need for him to say sorry to her when she knew he was right with everything he said. "You think I don't know that?" Sighing heavily as she placed her head in her hands knowing that their relationship wouldn't last, and it was silly to even think it would have. It was a stupid dream and even as Jacob spoke about it, she found herself saddened by the fact he was just confirming what she already knew to be true.

"I know I'll never be good enough for him, that he would lose the trust and faith of so many people if they knew about me. Some non highborn girl from the districts, part of the rebellion. Daughter to the leader of Hope… I couldn't do that to him, not when he made the decision to go back and take responsibility." Iris could feel the tears in her eyes, but she didn't want to cry in front of him, so she blinked them back before looking up to meet his gaze again.

"Truth is..." Hesitating for a moment before she continued on. "I had planned to disappear tonight before all this." Hinting towards the fact he had visited as well as Cas as it had been completely unexpected for her else, she would have made an effort to clean it. "I was going to try and make an attempt at returning to the districts." Whether or not it would be successful was a different matter, but Iris already knew she had to leave Cas. Between the threat to his life with Ethan with the threats that she believed he would act on and knowing just how the country would react to her being with him was enough to know in her heart it was the right decision.

"I'm not about to bring him down, not when I firmly believe he will make changes for the good of all the people and I know he will be better off without me." Reaching to her pocket she pulled out the note she had addressed to Cas, looking at it in her hands. Everyone would be better off without me here.

[Assistant]
When he was finished speaking, Jacob sat quietly and watched as Iris hung her head in her hands. It wasn't that he didn't think she knew he was telling her the truth, but even if she was aware of it, neither she nor Caspian were doing anything about it. They were still meeting in secret, and he was sure the new king was plotting to change their situation so they would be able to make the relationship more official. On their current path, they were headed for ruin—not just of themselves, but of the kingdom as a whole.

He was concerned about the way the Aspirian people would react and how foreign leaders would view their monarch if he came forward about being with a former member of the rebellion that plagued their country. For one thing, it wasn't proper for a member of royalty to casually date like other highborns did. His eventual marriage was supposed to be with either a woman from a powerful family or a princess of another kingdom who could unite Aspiria with another nation and make both lands stronger. Atlas had tried to get it through his son's head that choosing someone out of love wasn't an option for him, but it seemed like that lesson hadn't stuck.

Additionally, if the other highborns learned that their new king had chosen to be with a criminal, it could chip away at their faith that Caspian was a mature and grounded ruler. They didn't need another revolt to deal with on top of the one that was already ongoing beyond the walls of the central city. That included an external attack by a foreign military that thought the current king was too weak to be in charge. No matter which way he looked at it, Cas's infatuation with Iris was going to make things more complicated and dangerous than they needed to be.

So, when Iris informed him that she was aware of where she stood and revealed that she'd planned to leave the capital, the security guard arched his brows slightly with intrigue. Maybe they were on a more similar page than he'd first thought. He glanced at the piece of paper in her hands and skimmed the words, considering the new information he'd just been given. That she'd had the note already written told him that she was being honest about her intention to go back to her home. Perhaps he didn't need to rip her away from Caspian after all.

"I understand that this is difficult, but you're right," he told her, looking up again to meet her eyes. "Without any distractions, Caspian has the potential to be a great king. Even more so than his father, so…" He stood up from the sofa and checked his watch to assess the time. "If you are serious about leaving the city quietly, I'll give you a ride past border patrol." Putting the device away again, he turned back to her and folded his arms. "We've increased security measures since Caspian returned, so you won't make it past the infrared or the guards without help, and since there is still a warrant out for your arrest, you'll be returned to a prison cell the second someone catches you. If you want to get out and promise that you'll cut all communication with the king, I will make sure you're returned to the nearest district without any trouble."


[System]
Age: 19

A very down-to-earth girl who's currently attending college. She lives alone in a campus dorm, and is known for being a major bookworm. She studiously completes her assignments, keeps few friends, and overall has a bright - but somewhat lonely - future.

[User] "I am most certainly not fishing for compliments!" she told her, rather loudly and angrily. "I was simply asking a question, thank you very much!" Still angry, she gave a light "humph!" and turned around in her chair, finally pulling out her textbooks and notebook. "Now, if you're going to say, at the very least be quiet. I have things to do." She frowned into her textbook, but her mind was still elsewhere. The princess of Hell had just randomly fallen into her dorm room, and now she was going to stay here? Well, Sarah certainly didn't have the courage to say no. But how was she supposed to live with a demoness? She sighed; she'd figure it out later. She wrestled her wandering mind into submission, and managed to - at least, to some extent - focus on her homework.

[Assistant]
Nefas chuckled a little as the blonde got hot headed. She agreed silently to Sarahs request for quiet as she opened up her book and begun reading more. All Nefas did was her her face in this book. It was given to her by her mother who was a great demon priest but sadly Nefas saw very little of her due to her duties in the underworld. So to her, reading this book was like spending time with her mother.

A loud screeching whistle started which made Nefas jump slightly as she was brought back from her own little world in her mind. It sounded almost like a baby banshee. Nefas looked a little confused. Why would Sarah home baby banshees? Of course it was the kettle on the stove that was screaming telling Sarah that the hot water was ready for the tea. However, Nefas had never heard of a kettle before so this had her confused.

[User]
Sarah was thankful that the demoness at least respected quiet. Suddenly, a low moan turned into a screeching whistle, and Sarah lifted her head from her work. "Huh? Oh, right! Tea's ready!" She hopped out of her chair and into the tiny kitchen, lifting the kettle from the stove and - when it was ready - pouring the tea into two small cups. They weren't exactly teacups - coffee mugs, really - but they worked. She took them both back out into the main room, where she handed one to Nefas. "Here you go," she offered. She still couldn't help but smile slightly at the idea that she had just casually served the daughter of Satan himself a cup of hot tea, but by this point, she was mostly over the shock of it.

Mostly.

[Assistant]
Nefas took the cup that was being held out for her and looked down into it to see the contents. It didnt look appealing, like hot dirt water. Browny beige colour. She looked up at Sarah with a scrunched up nose. "This is actually drinkable ?" She questioned as she looked back down into the cup.

Nefas put the cup to her lips and took a sip. She blinked contemplating. Then nodding she took another sip. "This is actually rather enjoyable!" She said in an almost excited tone. Almost. She downed the whole contents of the hot beverage. Heat didnt really get to Nefas the way it does to humans, she is after all from the hottest place ever known. She also seemed to radiate heat, so where ever she went it was rather a nice cosy warm.

She smiled slightly looking at her cup then held it out to Sarah. "I would like another!...Whats that human phrase for being polite...." She thought and racked her brain as she recalled some lesser demons talking one day about how humans said 'please' and 'thank you' ... Demons did not have need for these words unless speaking to someone of authority, however apparently humans said it to anyone and everyone regardless of rank. "Err... Please?...That is the correct word you humans use am I correct?" She asked raising a brow slightly.

[User]
Sarah couldn't help but smile; for the daughter of the devil, Nefas was almost like a little child: every new thing excited her. It was fun... if not still a bit strange. When she said please, Sarah's smile grew even wider. "That's the word," she told her, "and thank you for being so polite about it. Yes, you may have another cup." She took Nefas's mug back and poured some more tea in it, returning it to her quickly and still with a smile. "There you go! If you want any more, the kettle's still about half full, so feel free to get as much as you like." With that, she returned to her seat and placed her own cup of tea beside her - it was still too hot for her to drink. That, however, is when she finally did notice how warm the room was becoming. After another moment, she realized the heat was coming from Nefas. She stood and stepped closer; sure enough, it got even warmer the closer she got to Nefas.

"Wow, you're really hot," she told her. Then her face turned every shade of red imaginable as she realized what she'd just said. "I-I mean, warm! Like- Like body temperature, you know? Y-Y-You're radiating heat is what I meant, not that you're-" She stopped again. "I-I mean, not to say you're not attractive - you totally are, and-" Her face turned even redder. "I- I mean- You're-" She simply sputtered until she was just standing there with a beet-red face, not saying any more for fear of further digging herself into this already embarrassing situation. Finally, she simply turned back to her chair and sat down, the heat radiating from her face almost as hot as the heat radiating from Nefas. Way to go, Sarah. Way to go.

[Assistant]
As Nefas took the second cup from Sarah she downed it almost instantly. She really enjoyed this tea. When she eventually went home, she would have to make her father get some in for her. It was delicious. She blinked in surprise at the 'hot' comment then pursed her lips together as she attempted not to laugh as Sarah just fell flat on her face over her words. "I apologise if it is uncomfortable for you, it isnt something I can just turn off... One of the perks of being a demon child from hell I guess... You never get cold." She said with a small smirk on her lips now.

She stood and made her way over to Sarah who had her back to her now. Gently Nefas leaned over Sarahs shoulder and snaked her arm around her neck to her cheek and softly pushed Sarahs head to face her own. "Does it make you too hot under the collar? Sarah?" She whispered as her face was mere inches away from the blondes now. "You are very pretty you know that?" She said softly. "You would make a fine Succubus." She said, again with a smirk.

[User]
"Sounds, uh, nice..." she muttered, still blushing and facing her desk, desperately wishing a hole would open in the floor and swallow her for a few hours or so. Naturally, however, the floor stubbornly remained solid and hole-less. She sighed as she tried to focus on her work again, which proved very difficult as two very warm and smooth arms suddenly encircled her and turned her to be face-to-face with Nefas, who was standing very close to her right now. She felt her heart hammering in her chest, and she couldn't tell if it was fear, or... something else.

"You... think so?" she asked, still blushing terribly. Sarah had always been teased as a child about how she looked, and although she now knew logically that it had just been simple teasing, she was still very insecure about her appearance. "Um, thanks, I guess... You, uh, you look really pretty yourself." At this point, her mouth felt like it was moving without any conscious thought from her, but being told by a demoness that one would make a good Succubus was... not something she was used to, to put it lightly. So, she was responding in the only way she knew how: babbling nervously like an idiot and hoping she didn't make a fool of herself. "I've... never actually met a Succubus, so I... guess I'll just have to take your word for it. Eheheheh..."

Wow, she was getting hot. Was all that coming from Nefas? Somehow, she kind of didn't think so.

[Assistant]
Nefas chuckled slightly at the blondes now very red face. "You are even cuter when you're all red and blushing like that." She said in almost a seductive tone. Almost. Nefas looked over Sarahs face, her dark eyes scanning every inch of it. Then she stared deeply into her green eyes, like she was staring into her very soul. This human was very attractive and from what she has read of her mind, she is very sweet and sincere. This is not something Nefas has ever come to cross paths with before. After all, demons are far from sincere and sweet. It was a nice change. She also enjoyed how the blonde seemed to trip over her own words and just ramble. It was nice.

"Perhaps one day, I shall take you to meet some of my friends. One of them is a Succubus." She said softly, she meant it in a nice way. Not in a 'Ill take you to my lair and my friends and I shall feast on your bones' kinda way. Nefas thought she was being nice, in her own weird demoness way of course, but nice all the same. Whether Sarah took it that way was another matter however.

[User]
Ohhhhhh, it was definitely getting hotter in there, and she especially felt it on her face, which continued to grow redder. Sarah felt herself sinking into her chair, though her eyes were locked on Nefas's. She let out a little more nervous laughter, feeling rather like a chipmunk under the eyes of a falcon. "Um... Y-Yeah! That sounds, um... fun?" she responded, not quite sure of how she could take the invitation. It hadn't sounded like a death threat, but seeing as this was the Princess of Hell, who was she to judge the meaning?

She was also growing increasingly uncomfortable beneath the woman's piercing - though not unkind - gaze. "So, uh, hey! Here's a thought: it's almost time for supper! You, um, wanna... go somewhere to eat or something?" She paused, then quickly added, "I-I'll buy, of course!" Did demons even use money? Either way, it probably wasn't a good idea to try to tell a demoness to pay for her own meal. "There's - oh, let's see - there's, uh... a really nice Italian place nearby, or we could go out for hamburgers! Interested?" She was speaking in more fast, hurried tones - if she didn't get out from under Nefas's gaze soon, she was afraid she'd pass out from the sheer heat she felt in her face at the moment.

[Assistant]
Nefas chuckled. She could tell the blond was getting nervous the longer she stayed this close to her. Nafas backed off from her. Still looking into her eyes though.

She raised a brow at the offer of food. Nefas nodded "I will try anything you are in the mood for. I don't feel hunger or thirst. They are merely desires I want to try. So whatever your taste buds are tingling for I will be happy with." She said with a smile. It was a kind smile for Nefas though to others it makes her look slightly unhinged. She hasn't ever had to convey emotions through her face before so its not natural for her. In hell people didn't talk much.

[User]
It was with visible relief that Sarah sagged into her seat at Nefas finally stepped away. She still couldn't seem to tear her eyes away from that gaze, though. "In- In that case, let's go get some burgers," she suggested, her speech steadily returning to normal. "It's cheaper, and money's a little tight for me right now." She used to work as an assistant in the library here, but they'd dismissed her for reading on the job. Normally, that wouldn't be worth dismissing someone over, but even Sarah had to admit that reading for six of the eight hours in a shift was probably not one of her wisest ideas.

She glanced down at her assignment. If the Princess didn't get hungry, there was probably no need to rush. "Tell you what: give me about 15 minutes to finish this up, then we can head out. It's pretty close to campus, so..." Hm. Actually, how would they get there? Normally, she just rode her bike, but there wasn't room for two on it. "Do you have a bike?" she asked. "Or, well, rather, do you even know what that is? No offense!" she added suddenly. "I just, y'know, if you haven't been here before..." She stopped before she dug herself into any further holes. "Actually, nevermind. We can just walk."

[Assistant]
Nefas chuckled at her stammers. "Walking is good." She said, softly. Normally she'd just teleport, but seeing as she has ho idea where this burger place is, it would be pointless to do so, she's be teleporting all around the city. which reminded Nefas. Where exactly in the world was she?

As the girls began to walk down the streets of this place she looked at the blonde once more. "Where exactly in the world am I?" She asked curiously. Nefas had the ability to speak every in every tongue, but people move around a lot so she could be anywhere. She looked around her surroundings as they walked, she knows very little of the human world, so she had no clue.


[System]
Age: 211, to his best estimate
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 192 lbs
Race: Vampire
Birthplace: England, circa 1667 (Elizabethan era)
Short Bio: Born in the Elizabethan era and surviving into the Victorian, Vail has seen the rise and fall of two centuries' worth of dynasties—not just human, but supernatural as well. As a member of the Hygrace family, he was raised in the wealth and prestige of the most powerful vampire clan in London. His uncle, Lord Reginald Hygrace, was a respected leader, known across the nation for offering protection to any vampires who needed sanctuary from The Order of the Saints: an influential group of men and women who tracked down and killed the "demons" for a living.

For nearly a century, Reginald's efforts kept both his family and the rest of the vampires safe. However, around the year 1750, he made the mistake of taking in a man named Lord Elias Wynter. At a glance, Elias seemed like just another refugee seeking sanctuary with the Hygrace family, but in truth, he sought to overthrow the ruling dynasty completely.

Unbeknownst to the Hygraces, the Wynters had been plotting for quite a while to take over and change the way that vampires lived in England altogether. They believed that as "superior beings," they should fight back against humans instead of hiding from them in fear. They saw the Hygraces were weak and cowardly, unfit to lead their kind, and so started a rebellion.

When he commenced his attack, Elias managed to kill Reginald, but his attempt to finish off the rest of the oldest generation was cut short by his victim's younger brother—Vail's father—Peter, who went on to take over as the leader of the Hygrace clan in his sibling's stead. Unfortunately, the Wynter family refused to give up after just one defeat and has continued to fight for power against the ruling dynasty ever since.

For Vail, the following century of his life was spent predominantly in hiding. As the son of the most powerful vampire in England, he had to look out not only for members of the Saints but the Wynters as well. With such a large target on his back, he learned how to fight and wield a gun in order to protect himself. Both skills have saved his life since.

Of course, he can't spend all his time in seclusion without going stir crazy, so he finds time to attend parties and other large gatherings put on by other aristocrats in London to get out of the Hygrace manor on occasion.

[User]
Retreating into his thoughts, Vail wrapped one arm around Victoria's back as she agreed that the ritual didn't sound as promising as they had hoped it would. There were a number of details about it that deterred him. Firstly, he disliked the idea of bleeding her until her heart stopped. Every time he'd bitten her before, he had done everything he could to make the feeding process as tolerable as possible, since he didn't want to cause her pain. But he knew of no way to take away the suffering of death. He was torn between his distrust of letting another vampire turn her and the discomfort of knowing that he would be the one to cause her to endure such misery.

Secondly, the fact that it could take up to a week for a human to turn was off putting to him. There were many people, both human and vampire, who would go out of their way to make sure she never woke up. The Order would oppose the creation of a new demon, and the Wynters would surely do everything in their power to prevent a member of their rival clan from taking the Crest heiress, whom they had deemed as their property, away from them. Even his own father couldn't be trusted, since the leader of the Hygraces had made it perfectly clear that he wanted her out of his son's life. Vail was uncertain if he had the fortitude to fend off all of the opposition by himself while she was in such a vulnerable state.

The final nail in the coffin was that the ritual only had a success rate of fifty percent. If the first risks weren't daunting enough, the chance that he could lose her if her heart rejected his blood was enough to make him quail at going through with it at all. He turned his head to bury his face in her hair, closing his eyes as he breathed in her familiar, calming scent. There were still obstacles to be faced if she remained mortal, namely her possessive fiancé and his antagonistic father, but they seemed miniscule compared to the possibility that she could die if the transformation went wrong. He didn't want to bear the burden of knowing he had killed the woman he had grown so fond of when there were other options left to be tried.

"I don't think so," he murmured into Victoria's long tresses when she asked if they would become related. He knew little about the field of medicine, but Peter had told him about human surgeries before. Organs and blood could be donated to save the lives of people who needed them. If this ritual was anything like that, then the DNA that made up their bodies would still be entirely separate aside from the cells that traveled through her veins. Based on the context of the book, it seemed like turned humans were adopted into clans for the purpose of reproducing too. He wasn't sure what else the author could have meant by diversifying family lines.

"It doesn't matter though," he sighed, softly stoking her back as she yawned. "I don't think this is a good idea. I don't want to lose you if it doesn't work." He turned his head away from her again and swallowed, salivating reflexively as his predatory urges tempted him to feed on the weary prey in his arms. She had been his exclusive food source for a while now, but after she went home tomorrow, he had a feeling he would need to go hunting in the city to quell his blood cravings so he wouldn't lose control and attack one of the servants.

For now, though, a distraction was good.

Shifting his weight on the bed, Vail turned back to Victoria and pressed his lips against hers, driven by a need to redirect the impulse to sink his fangs into her neck and a desire to make the most of the time they had left before Peter forcibly removed her from the property. Unsure when they would be able to see each other again, his movements were marked with passion as he leaned over her and held the back of her leg with his free hand.

[Assistant]
Victoria had everything going against her, she thought she could seek refuge at the Hygrace manor but instead she was met with the callous heart of Peter. Even if she were successfully turned, would he still want her as part of the clan? Somehow, she had to make it worth his while, see her as a valuable asset. Which meant keeping The Order off their backs and keeping the Wynters away from them so that his son would be safe. She was going to prove that she cared more about Vail than he knew. If that meant keeping her distance so he was out of harm's way, then so be it. She knew Vail would defy his father and sneak out to see her at first opportunity. He was head strong and there was only so much she could do without forcibly telling him to stay away. She wasn't sure if she was strong enough to push him away, she wouldn't want to do it.

She enjoyed his soothing strokes across her back and the sound of his voice muffled by her locks. Feeling his breath trickle along her hair. He told her it mattered not if they would be related or not, though unlikely. She likened it to a human blood transfusion. The human adopted the foreign blood into their system, if compatible. It bolstered their own blood cells to create more cells until it was back up to full capacity. But Vail said he did not even wish to try. The risk was too great. She smiled though, when he said he didn't want to lose her. Did that mean he cared about her as much as she cared for him? Well she didn't want to die either, not this young. She had so many things left to do and accomplish.

She noticed he had to turn away suddenly and swallowed hard as if fighting his primal instincts to feed on her. She had seen him struggle with it for the past few days. She was impressed he had managed to keep it all under control so far. There was always that risk though…

As she contemplated this, he turned back to kiss her without warning. He fully leaned over her and made his intentions known as his kiss was full of passion, unlike before when she had seduced him into it, this time he made the decision on his own. Now that she was strong enough to at least kiss back, she wrapped her arms firmly around his neck and the hand that grasped the back of her leg lifted up so he could reach further up…

---

The next morning, Victoria was awoken abruptly by a loud knock at the door. She looked up, feeling light headed and weak still from her slumber. She had no clothes on underneath the bed covers thanks to Vail the previous night. Although Vail had taken her to heaven and back again, she doubted his father would appreciate finding them in bed together like this. Since it was he who knocked impatiently at the door.