[System]
Age: 26

World: Call of Cthulhu, Earth.

Race: Human, but was made to be an Elf, as was his request to a diety.

Gender: Male

Appearance :
Ysran Usually wears a robe, silk, and colored mostly a dark blue. But underneath this robe, Ysran will most likely wear everyday clothes, his favorite shirt being a short-short-sleeved black shirts that simply says "No." On it. He possesses no favorite pair of pants, although he is quite fond of his prized "Chuck Norris Action jeans" a pair of denim dark blue jeans that don't restrict movement whatsoever, while also looking stylish. He typically also wears a pair if waterproof Boots, as he basically always wore them as a child, and really hasn't grown out of them yet. (Not the boots, but the concept of always wearing them) His shoulder- length black hair flows behind him in the wind, as his Hazel eyes are constantly looking around. Ysran's body isn't Super ripped, but he does have a bit of muscle definition. After all, climbing through ancient ruins, walking and running long distances, and general exercise gives him quite good stamina and strength.

Personality: Generally very curious. Fairly carefree and loves to make others laugh. However, after having his mind probed by a god-like creature, Ysran has become a little...off. Not like Dementia levels, but enough to be noticed every now and then. Having your Psyche probed by an Eldritch diety tends to knock you off your rocker a bit.

Weapons: Mainly his magic, but when it comes to close quarters, he holds a revolver, kept shiny and clean, and a Machete that can feed on anothers sanity. Just a nick from is is enough to cause a headache. Ysran can usually take advantage of and enemy with a migrane, and can use his Breath of the Deep spell more effectively.

Abilities: Ysran uses a variety of Eldritch spells, including: Eldritch Blast, Attract fish, Summon Shambler, Summon Fish (Although this can be almost any aquatic creature) Fishscales and Greater Fishscales. Not to mention basic illusions. He is also trying his best to learn 2 new spells: Heal and Breath of the Deep.

Resistances: Mind effects, illusions. Prolonged exposure to the sweltering heat has also toughened Ysran's resistance to high or low temperatures.

Weaknesses: Frequently has fits and breakdowns because of his magic. And like said before, a bit Sociopathic.And also stuff that normal humans are weak to, like bullets, or drowning.

History: Ysran Stormreach is the son of a very successful business man (and woman) who owned Stormreach Harbor. After their untimely death, the company was left to Ysran. Instructed by a family friend, Ysran became very successful like his parents. However, Ysran grew bored of the harbor, and decided to roam the vast world as a traveling Magician. Eventually he came across a book that would change his life forever. A book containing the secrets to Eldritch and Occult magic. Real magic. Ysran's dream.

Returning home, Ysran learned about a secret Occult language and soon was able to conjure a ball of force, and soon a Shambler (a zombie minion basically) After making a name for himself as "The Magician of the Deep" His efforts soon led him to Brazil, where an aquatic diety revealed himself to Ysran. After completing a few tasks for him and his people, he was granted great understanding of the Eldritch, and can now fluently commune with them, as well as learning a few new spells. He now seeks out more knowledge and spells to fill his collection.

Here's a more detailed list of the spells Ysran can cast, as well as a short description of them.

A ball of dark energy capable of delivering quite a bit of force, about enough to go through a door. Against living targets, this can knock people down, and it terms of damage, it would take 2-3 to kill a normal person as the darkness burns like a strong acid.

Attracts all manner of fish and sometimes other aquatic creatures to a singular point. The range can vary from a few inches to several feet.

A zombie-like minion is summoned to do Ysran's bidding. It can follow simple commands such as "Hold this" or "Go there". If told to, the Shambler will follow another person's commands until told otherwise by Ysran. It prioritizes Ysran's commands first.The Shambler usually looks like this

A fish (or other aquatic creature) is summoned much like a Shambler. These can be anything from a goldfish, to a Great White Shark. However the general rule is, the bigger the creature, the shorter time it has before it is unsummoned. This can be delayed, but requires great concentration from Ysran.

Creates a layer of Scale-like armor around the skin. It doesn't turn your skin into scales,it just created a layer of them on top of the skin. Greater Fishscales is stronger, but normal Fishscales can be cast on others.

Can heal most wounds, poisons, and some diseases. This spell however costs quite a bit of mana, and spell casting time can take a while.

Fills an opponent's lungs with water, drowning them. However first, Ysran must mentally overcome his opponent. The spell also takes a moment to cast, and only lasts as long as Ysran concentrates.

Ysran projects a horrid version of a creature's worst fears. Creatures then tend to drop whatever they are holding and run as far away from Ysran as possible. Some, however, can resist the fear effect, but are still taken aback by the sight.
Another thing about Ysran's magic is that in addition to mana, it also costs a bit of sanity to cast. So if Ysran goes around slinging spells super fast, he'll likely break down and start laughing uncontrollably or get unreasonable paranoid. Stuff like that.

Upgrades: New spell: Fear. Description can be found under spell list.

[User]
"Now that everyone's ready, I'll open the portal to the next world." he said, nodding towards a blank doorway. "This next world is very different than where you just were." he smiled.

-----

Rockin' eyed the portal with a smirk. "Alright! Let's find that next piece!" He figured Code was going to have another speech for them, he loved to hear his own voice, but the unicorn pony didn't have the patience. He ran through the portal as soon as it opened.

-----

"This next world should be relatively calm compared to most of the worlds you will visit, though not compared to the world you were just in. What I can tell you about this world is the piece has disguised itself as a green, glowing amahagane. If you don't know what that is, you'll find out soon." Code said this, ignoring the fact Rockin' rushed ahead.

-----

When Rockin' landed on the other side of the portal, he stood atop a mountain. He had arrived just in time to see someone jump over the edge, leaving him surrounded by 8 samurai who didn't look all too friendly. "I'm not guessing any of you would be willing to help an off-worlder with a simple quest?"

They attacked, forcing Rockin' to put up his shield until the others arrived.

[Assistant]
As Code began to explain the next area, Ysran noticed Rockin' run through the portal. Ysran became increasingly worried as the seconds ticked by, and he ran through the portal after Rockin'.

Stepping through, Rockin' was already under attack. A group of what looked like Samurai were slashing at Rockin's magic shield. Ysran had an idea. "Oi! Over here! Come get some!" the group turned towards Ysran, losing interest in the seemingly invincible pony. Charging at him. Ysran Closed his eyes. Thought back to the horrors he had seen in that vision just a moment ago.

Ysran opened his eyes and gave an evil grin. Shoving his hands forward he shouted:"Hoxmarch!" A large black shadow flew forth from Ysran's hands. As it engulfed the area in front of him, there was a rapid succession of Clang! as the Samurai all dropped their weapons and ran off in different directions, seemingly shoving each other out of the way, trying to run from the shadows. All but one. Although he quickly realized the situation, and ran off with the others. Looking around, Ysran seemed to be on a mountain, or plateau of sorts. Somewhere rocky. "Well, that was fun. Maybe wait next time though. I don't want you dying on me. If you are going to run ahead, at least take Chuckles with you. When I decide to re-summon him, of course."

[User]
The Witch stared blankly at Code, seeming unimpressed. He likes to talk a lot, don't he? Cherry's eyebrow twitches in slight annoyance, she already tuning him out so that he sounded like an adult from Charlie Brown. The pink haired girl noticed the pony leap through the portal Code had pointed out. I didn't know we could just leave!! The Witch bolted into the portal, Ysran preceding her by a few seconds. Stupid tiny legs!!!

As she made it through, Cherry stumbled a bit and had to catch her balance. By the time she had regained that, she looked around to see they were on a mountain, and a stampede of samurai running for their lives from... a shadow.

The Witch glanced to her comrades, before frowning. Where was Broomy? He must have returned a while ago... Cherry went to the edge and looked down, eyes wide and curious. "Are... we in Japan?" Cherry smiled bright with excitement. "Its, where I'm from! Well, not me, but my character! I've always wanted to see it myself!!" The pink haired Witch seemed ecstatic, spinning around so her skirt flew around her legs. "Cmon, lets go, lets go!! I can't wait!!"

[Assistant]
Rockin' smiled as he saw Ysran come through. At least he wouldn't have to fight alone. Or at all, apparently... Then Cherry jumped through after them. Rockin' smiled and nodded. "I recognize this place. We're in Feudal era Japan. I remember that from my human memories." He turned to look over the cliff. "It seems those weren't the only samurai that were chasing after the hero of this world. My memories of this game are hazy at best and blank at worst. All I remember is we have to follow them. It's probably best if we have the one who looks most human approach them while the rest of us follow from a distance." He looked back, seeing if everyone was through.

Once everyone was through, whether at that point or afterward, Rockin' would nod to them and look over the cliff edge. "The fast way is down this way. The safe way is the path to my right." He pointed to his right, as he was facing away from the group. "I'll meet you down there. Be ready to fight at a moment's notice." With that, Rockin' leaped off the cliff and spread his wings, spiraling down until he landed, following the trail of dead bodies.

[User]
Rawk was probably the only one that actually sat through Code's explanation, though he didn't mind. He was a man who believed in gathering intel first. However, he didn't even need to bother, as all he learned was.... well, he knew where they were going now. True, he hadn't played very far into the games, but still...

As Rawk meandered through the portal, he saw Ysran scare off the samurai. Rawk then walked up behind Cherry, hearing her question. "Yes, we are in Japan. It's the only place I know that has samurai. We should find the protagonist, like Rockin' said. I have a slightly better memory of these games. The Crucible should appear as one of the key items." Rawk said.

Story Quest: Working Forward
Goal: Meet up with the Protagonist
Rewards: 25 XP, 100 Dollars, 1 Crafting Item
Time: 4 hours

Do you accept?
Yes No

Rawk causually clicked 'Yes' and then looked around, noticing the path Rockin' pointed out. "Well, I guess we might wanna split up. Since Ysran and I can't fly, I guess that leaves us to the foot path. Cherry, I'd recommend going with Rockin'. If we split up this way, we can back each other up." Rawk then turned to Ysran. "I'm ready when you are. Just need to do one thing real quick. Status." He quickly allocated his status points, then looked over to Ysran. "Okay, ready to when you are."

[Assistant] Ysran nodded at Rawk's statement. But before that... Ysran walked over to where the Samurai were. Bending down, he picked up one of several Katanas that had been dropped. Standing up, he examined the sword. It was definitely sharp. And seemed sturdy enough. Well, as sturdy as a Katana could be. Ysran held the blade over his shoulder. "Hey Rawk, want one of these? A bladed weapon could be handy." He walked past Rawk and looked down, off the mountains. It was a long way down. He stepped towards the path down. It was pretty steep. A good few minutes had gone by without any problems, and remarkable progress down the mountain was made. But Ysran thought to himself, what game was this? Samurai, and feudal Japan. Well they certainly belonged together. But there were several games like that, so what could it be? Ninja Giaden? No, not enough platforming. Maybe... some low budget Naruto game? It was possible. Ysran was clueless. Guess he'd have to wait and see.


[System]
Age: 18
Gender: F
Appearance: An Asian woman with a thin but athletic build you might expect from a free-runner. Her nose is wide and flat and her dark-green mono-lid eyes are a little too small for her flat face. Her eyebrows arch towards her nose and her lips are curled down at the end, giving her a neutral face of looking peeved off. Her skin is naturally a sort of peachy color, but because of how much time she spends out of doors it has tanned to shade of olive. Her hair is dark-black, usually tied into a high bun.

She wears an off-white tank-top with a dark blue hoodie layered over it. For mobility as she moves her bottom articles of clothing is a pair of sweatpants and some expensive looking running shoes.

When she is doing criminal activity, she puts her hoodie up and places a black cloth wrapping over the bottom half of her face.

Personality: Extrovert, Confrontational, Emotional, Has-A-Moral-Code, Confident

Powers/skills: Kinetikinesis

Samantha is able to control the kinetic energy of objects she touches, as well as herself. This allows her to strengthen the power of her attacks, run faster, and manipulate her momentum. With this power, she can do things like jump in one direction, and then suddenly change course mid-flight. She can also use this skill to scale up walls and even do short term gliding. This also grants her the ability to throw objects much faster and with more control than normal. However, the more drastic of a change in kinetic energy, the more stamina it requires and she can be exhausted quickly if she does too many bizarre plays.

She is also adept in free-running and parkour, as well as stealth and lock-picking. She has excellent hand-eye coordination, but this is not the result of any supernatural powers. She's just coordinated.

Equipment: She carries an extendable baton that is easily portable. It extends out to a foot and a half, she can use it for a variety of things. She also has a handgun with a single extra clip she keeps on the inside of her hoodie in a hidden pocket. Other items include a miniature lock-picking kit, and a pocket with three metal ball bearings she can use as projectiles.

Short Bio: Her early childhood was spent in a wealthy neighborhood, her father her only caretaker. Her father, Lo Park, was a quiet man on the straight and narrow, he'd never committed a crime in his life and he never would. He was also an older man, for Samantha was born very late into her parent's marriage. Complications resulted in the death of her mother, so Lo Park took care of Samantha by himself. Lo Park loved Samantha with everything he had, but unfortunately his child was a troublemaker, and was horrible to him. She was never built for the lavish life style, and hated every moment of her private-schooling.

 As time went on, he developed early onset Alzheimer's disease. Samantha neglected him for a short while as he began to become more and more unstable. She turned to a life of crime, doing petty thievery. Eventually, when her father forgot her name for the first time, something clicked inside Samantha. Her father was the only family she had, and she was going to take care of him as best as she could. Using her father's money, she hired a personal caretaker for her father. She felt terrible for being so ungrateful and spoiled to her father, but still, the life of crime called to her. She did it not for the money, but for the thrill. Everything else drove her crazy; in her mind she had no other option but illegal activity. When she was sixteen, she was pick pocketing people when she was intercepted by a young woman named Elizabeth. Elizabeth was her mentor, teaching her advanced techniques. Samantha was better than ever at her craft.

Elizabeth challenged her to do something big. She was planning to rob a gas station, and could use a partner. Samantha accepted. During the heist, they ascended to the rooftops. That was when it all went wrong. She didn't know how it happened, but when Elizabeth went to lift her up to a higher roof, Samantha's leg shot downwards with an immense amount of force. She kicked Elizabeth in the head, her kinetic energy manipulation manifesting at the worst possible time. She killed her mentor with that blow. Terrified, young Samantha fled from the scene. It was a traumatizing moment.

Still, life went on. She continued on her own, learning more and more about her newfound power. She began pulling more and more solo heists, getting grander and grander as she grasped the scope of her powers more and more. Eventually, she donned the alias Maverick. In between in all, she visits her sick father and his caretaker. She doesn't tell him of what she does, of course not. He may not remember that she said it, but she didn't want him to be disappointed in her. Samantha knew her lifestyle was foolish, but somehow it was too late. There was something deep inside her that kept her from going back.

And then, she was contacted by The Presence. It would expose her identity, tell everyone that she was responsible behind the murder on the rooftops. It would destroy her father, force him into a retirement home. She had no choice to believe it. It knew everything about her somehow, she feared that it too could find a way to link her father into her actions. It couldn't happen. She wouldn't let it.

Other: Due to her previous and only experience with killing, Samantha is incredibly averse to lethal combat. She refuses to kill someone, unless under extreme, extreme circumstances. She's in it for the thrill of outwitting and escaping, not murder.

[User]
Metallia placed her chair among the other chairs when they came in, slightly behind the rest of the line if possible. After that, she has been sitting silently, watching over the rest and intentionally not involved herself.

... Hm. The Presence seemed to have quite the amount of control over them. Metallia pondered about the means which it gathered information, and as such also what means she could use to do things that the Presence wouldn't be able to sense. ... More on that later. She dispelled the line of thought immediately with the after-thought of "it might be able to read minds".

This post is also just a general "I exist" post, Metallia just watching silently on the side.

[Assistant]
Conrat looked to the two who had sat next to him. They were both strange in their own ways to say the least. Conrat couldn't accurately describe, Joe, he was like nothing he had ever seen. I mean tight clothing was one thing, but this was another. He was friendly enough though, and, as if Joe's suggestion was a command, Conrat slouched ever so slightly in his seat and crossed his arms. Ed was different, he looked normal enough, if a bit scruffy, but it would have been a bit hypocritical for Conrat to even mention that, let alone take it into account. His strangeness came from the incident earlier, of which Conrat only caught a glance at.

Conrat jolted in his seat as the unfamiliar sound of a gun echoed through the room. He immediately straightened up, grabbed his sword and had unsheathed it halfway before The Presence began speaking again. He quickly put his sword on the ground, he was no longer embarrassed or anxious, he was on edge. The Presence seemed to have the base on lockdown, and no doubt with weapons like that this would be a tough, near impossible fight if this was a trap.

He kept his back straight, Joe's suggestion of relaxing would fall on deaf ears after that kind of shock. The Presence spoke like a noble, Conrat had met once. He was a ponce to say the least, and actually confessed to be a paedophile after his army had been defeated by the Demon Army. The promise of riches and bloodshed was nice enough, but Conrat didn't take the demand for 'obedience' very well. Obedience was something he gave to those he respected, and someone who couldn't even face a team they'd assembled was not someone he respected.

[User] Things were heating up that was for sure. It seemed in accordance with the new additions, The Presence was eager to trim the numbers. She could understand him firing off a shot at LL and Mako, after all they had practically raided the mans fridge. Maverick, however, was just standing minding her own business, surely that wouldn't require being shot at. As if to demonstrate a small amount of her so-far secret powers, Tereska's finger slyly morphed into a talon, she used the extremely sharp nail of sorts to scratch a small doodle into the expensive-looking table in front of her. Her other hand remained, cupping her chin as her boredom became more and more obvious.

[Assistant]
@Mr_pink

Jackal gave her a rather overconfident and cocky grin. "If you get on my bad side then you may want to worry about how my kin are at being ambitious predators." Even from here, he could smell the residue of magic from her, though she didn't appear to be the only one to cast spells, there was definitely a difference in quality and type. There was something, instinctual nostalgic of it. Afterwards he began to take note of more of his contemporaries. One of the girls seemed to have embarrassed herself, and the other was almost in trouble as the presence may have shot her had she continued whatever it was she was doing that was unknown to Jackal's attention. Speaking of instinct-based nostalgia, He noticed another striking character, a man with a giant sword. "Nice to see some variety, I appreciate the use of a more primitive weapon." He called over to Conrat. Most of these characters seemed tolerable. Well except for two. One smelled of seafood, the other wasn't wearing any clothes, and had been the center of misfit behavior for this meeting. He tried to ignore them for now, annoyances for another day.

[User]
His mind having wandered off from boredom, the sudden sound of gunfire caught Nergal off-guard. Tensing up as his gaze snapped to the ceiling he relaxed slightly when he saw the guns seemed to be pointed elsewhere and the Presence voice growled at the three who still had yet to sit down. So it seemed that they weren't completely replaceable or else he would have imagined the Presence would have wounded or killed those three for ignoring its instructions, though as he gave the guns another glance he figured there was unlikely to be anymore warning shots.

Looking at the rest of the group he gauged their reaction to the scene, he noted that most of them seemed to be undisturbed by the gunfire, including those that had been shot at. The naked boys reaction was particularly curious and amusing, to have such a blatant disregard for a tool that was designed to kill him spoke of either great mental fortitude or mental damage. Then there were others like Phone Freak which he couldn't help but chuckle at, her comments just far made her seem like a smart individual so perhaps she was just unused to combat situations? The warning the Presence aimed at her was curious as well, giving him an idea of what kind of powers she might have.

[Assistant]
When the gunshot rang out next to Mako and the naked one, mako resisted the urge to jump. When the presence spoke and told him how these guns could punch through titanium a small grimace formed on Mako's face, "A fine waste of a bullet since I was going to seat myself anyway." Tupperware dish in hand he made his way back to his chair and after moving his "Party Gear" on to the table he sat down and continued eating raw salmon filets, now right in front the entire group.

After listening to all the voice had to say Mako simply shrugged, "Human riches hold no appeal to me...bloodshed however is more my scene..." Mako smiled to himself once again letting his razors show a bit as he thought about all the interesting people he was going to eat. "Yeah what about when we aren't doing stuff for you? You gonna lock us up? What good are riches if we are to be slaves?" Mako continued to eat fish while sitting in his chair directly across from the man with the large sword.

[User]
Of Night @dragonmancer

Dianna laughed, placing Ms. Muffins II on the table, as if displaying a weapon of mass destruction. The kitten stared at everyone with the wide eyes of a doe, focusing softly on the man eating raw fish, before scratching at the table. Dianna smiled at the cute little pet, stroking her behind the ears. "Even the most ambitious predators have fallen at the hands of Ms. Muffins II!" She announced enthusiastically, and the kitten meowed sweetly in response.

She remembered the many ways Wise One would punish her if she became overly cocky. Some were funny, others...not so much. She knew that she wasn't going to hold a dagger that had once been a spoon to the man's throat, that would give off a bad impression, and not everyone took it as lightly as she did. Instead, she would do something more playful, with quite possibly a sour result.

"Columbae." She muttered, pointing at his chair. The wooden piece of furniture he was once sitting on became a small flock of doves. As soon as the initial shock wore off, they flew up into the rafters, leaving the white haired man without a seat. Dianna smiled warmly at him, before turning her attention to the man eating fish. He had brought up a good point. "Yes! That is a grand point! I would much rather go home, than stay here after we are done. A festering hole of criminals is not a place for me."

[Assistant] At first Jackal chuckled at the sight of her trying to make her cat sound threatening. However he was soon left in surprise as his chair disappeared and was replaced by a flock of birds. Annoyed Jackal tried to catch one but his reaction was delayed. No longer having a chair he was forced to stand up in front of the table. Crossing his arms he glared at the witch and her cat too.


[System]
Age: 18

Occupation: Mechanic at his father's garage.

Personality Traits: Sarcastic and somewhat rude. Atsuma is blunt and honest when it comes to situations and isn't afraid to call someone out. He does have a temper and it shows but his reactions tend to be loud and over-the-top causing more attention than he had originally expected.

Little Background: Atsuma has been working under a car since he was able to carry his father a wrench and has been a grease-monkey ever since. Despite his poor attitude he gets fairly good grades in school and there is no surprise his best grades come out of shop class. His cocky and arrogant ways leads him to believe he can do anything and so far, his drive has yet to prove him wrong. Now as he inches towards graduating, he hopes to continue to work with his father and learn as much about being a mechanic.

[User]
Ding Ding Ding

"Thank god!" A blonde haired boy shouted from the back of the classroom as he slammed his history textbook shut with diligence.

"You know Mister Kyo, if you showed as much enthusiasm coming into class as you did leaving, your grades would be better." The teacher called out to the blonde as everyone gathered up their belongings.

"Yeah yeah, you're not the first to preach to me Mister B and you won't be the last." The blonde called back as he got to his feet and shoved his textbook back into his bag. Letting out a large yawn he stretched his arms above his head and pulled out his gloves from his bag. Slipping the gloves onto his hands, he gave them a smirk. The leather felt good against his skin and he clenched his hands into fists. "Oh yeah…" He muttered to himself with a grin. Tossing his bag over his shoulder he strolled out of the classroom like he owned the place, only to pass his teacher who was rolling his eyes.

A quick stop at his messy locker left him grabbing only two things, a helmet and his keys. Kicking the locker shut with his foot, he spun the keys on his fingers and whistled an obnoxious tune as he strolled through the halls. His hazel-gold eyes scanned the people through the hallways but he showed little interest until he stepped outside. His brothers were climbing into Rayne's car and he gave them a polite head nod as the two waved to him. Astuma was the eldest of the three Kyo brothers and probably the one most would consider a 'rebel' of some kind. He was rude, direct and sarcastic unlike his brothers and always showed a sign of superiority that no one could seem to talk down.

Atsuma arrived at his bike and gave it a grin, "Still looking gorgeous but no play today, we've got to help the old man." He said to his motorcycle as he climbed onto it. Pulling his backpack onto his back, he slipped his helmet onto his head and stuck his key into the ignition. The bike roared to life before settling into a nice purr. Giving a soft sigh and finally feeling content after a pointless day of school he pulled the bike out of the parking spot and took off.

After a nice ten minute rid he pulled into the back of Pat's garage, his dad, Patrick's, pride and joy. He was the best mechanic in town and everyone knew it. Not only did everyone know it but everyone came to him for help with the cars. "Atsuma!" His dad called out from somewhere in the shop as the young man entered and removed his gloves and school stuff. "We got work today!" His father was happy and jolly plump man at 5'7 inches in height and round shaped; quite the opposite of his 6 foot toned lean son. "Alright!" Atsuma called back matching is father's excitement. If there is one thing Atsuma loved outside of his family, it was mechanic work.

[Assistant]
Ding Ding Ding

"That bell was late by 1 whole minute. Again" a girl with orange-gold hair murmured darkly from her seat at the front of the class as she snapped her fingers, causing the peon sitting on her right to begin packing away her things quickly and efficiently while the peon to her left pulled her chair back as she gracefully rose to her feet.

"You know Mister Kyo, if you showed as much enthusiasm coming into class as you did leaving, your grades would be better." The teacher called out to a certain blonde boy at the back of the class.

"Yeah yeah, you're not the first to preach to me Mister B and you won't be the last." The blonde called back as he got to his feet and shoved his textbook back into his bag.

The orange-gold haired girl silently fumed as she waited for the blonde to exit the classroom before taking her bag from the peon who had packed it. She hated every second she spent in the same room with that boy. Come to think of it, she hated everything about that boy. Once she was certain that he had put enough distance between them, she nodded to the peons on either side of her before taking her leave. The teacher watched her leave tensely. Were she not the daughter of his boss, he would have rolled his eyes at her as well.

Once again, she was forced to stop and wait for the blonde to leave his locker. Her locker was right next to his, and she didn't want to be anywhere near him for longer than she needed to. Once the blonde was out of sight, the orange-gold haired girl approached her locker and retrieved her keys. Once she had them, Chisana Dadakko walked out of the building. She found her car and began her usual drive home. 10 minutes in, however, the car began making some very unusual sounds. And on top of that, it was slowing down.

"What?!" Chisana exclaimed as she floored the gas in an unsuccessful attempt to gain speed "Why is my car slowing down?!". As the car continued to slow down, Chisana spotted a garage on the side of the row and breathed a sigh of relief. "At least I can get someone to fix it here" she said to herself as her car barely made it into the garage before its engine died.

A jolly plump man who had been arranging some tools looked up from his work. From the sounds he'd heard the car make on its way in and the desperate look on the driver's face, he knew what she wanted. "Atsuma!" Patrick called out "We got work today!"

Chisana groaned at the mention of Atsuma's name and then a 2nd time at Atsuma's response. 'Why me?' Chisana thought to himself as she listened to the sound of Atsuma's approaching footsteps.

[User]
Finishing up getting ready for work, Astuma slid himself into his work jumpsuit and dusted off his hands. He liked working in the shop with his father. It was great father-son bonding and was teaching him a skill he never thought he could have. His attention span in school wasn't very long but he really enjoyed the freedom of doing things with his own hands. It would explain his lack of attention and his even more lack of willingness to pay attention during school.

When he walked out into the bay, however, he stopped. His arms fell to his side and he let out a sigh. "Hello princess. Did you chariot break down?" He asked with a sarcastic chuckle to his voice as she climbed out her car. With a skilled hand he reached down and popped the hood. Once the supporting was in place he leaned into the car. His expression changed to one of seriousness as he looked over the car. Unlike his many blank expressions in class, these were focused and examining the things within the car.

"Tell me what's been happening? Describe the sounds. Any odd smells?" His golden hazel eyes never left the shut off car and the reached down, grabbing something from inside and began to feel it, deciding if it was tight or loose.

[Assistant] Chisana turned her nose up at Atsuma indignantly in response to his greeting as she climbed out of her car. She then walked over to a nearby chair and sat down as Atsuma got down to business. "I was driving home from school today and the car started making this weird spluttering sound" Chisana said when Atsuma asked about what happened "Soon after, the car began to slow down and refused to speed up even when I floored the gas pedal. I barely had enough time to get here before the engine died. That's all I know". Chisana then lapsed back into silence and resumed turning her nose up at Atsuma. Chisana hoped that she didn't have to stay for long. She detested every second she spent in that garage and wanted to leave as soon as possible.


[System]
Age: Physically 25
Gender: Female
Race: Elven

Appearance: Juna has in possession great natural beauty, and many men have fallen for her for this reason in the past. She is about 5'2 in height, with green eyes, and not very muscular, with gentle and graceful features. She has fair and clear skin, with golden blonde hair. She usually wears a set of brown leather armor, but in times of comfort she will wear lighter cloth or wool clothing.

Brief Character Concept: Juna, despite her gentle appearances, is far from gentle. She is quick in combat, and surprisingly strong as well. She skillfully wields her sword, and uses her many knives as further support in battle. Her personality, at least on the surface, is that of a carefree, if snarky, individual. She lives a life full of independence, and is known to be loyal to no one except Lothren. She has two true goals in life, and that is to kill Amon Serona and see that Alonso lives out his life peacefully.

History: Juna was born to a pair of normal Elven parents on the border of Areta. She had a normal youth, where she lived as a carefree, youthful spirit, with her childhood friend Ilias. Then she met greatest love of her life, Hadrian, a young human man. They would often play the harp together, and he taught her how to sing. Yet when they had finally grown close, Hadrian succumbed to a sickness that he had long held secret. Hadrian passed away from Juno seemingly as quickly as he had come, and although her heart healed in time, a deep scar would remain in her heart.

She grew close yet again to Ilias, and in time the two of them were to be married. Yet it was not to be, for on the day her wedding was to be held, the Aretan Knights came. Illias and Juna's parents were killed, and only Juna survived. She cried, mourned, and cursed her fate. She remembered the face and the name of the one she saw as most responsible, Amon Serona, and Juna swore to herself that every future day of hers would be dedicated to hunting him down until one of them was dead. Juna, over the years honed her skill in fighting mostly through experience.

She does not hesitate to speak of how she has murdered. Before she was among the Mummers, she was caught in a human village while chasing down Amon. She found herself having a hard time escaping, and she slew a few knights, and a few people who shouldn't have died did die as well. Juna never refers to this event in any detail, only saying that it makes her a murderer. She would not have gotten out alive were it not for Lothren, and for this Juna offered him unflinching loyalty. When she met Lothren, and he offered her a place as one of the Ytharien, Juna was hesitant, but accepted. With her impeccable skill at both the harp and her beautiful singing voice, as well as her personality, Juna was a natural performer, and as the years passed she grew into the role.

[User]
"I'm sure you are," Juna replied to Annara rude and uncalled for comment.

She had apparently taken it quite seriously, although it wasn't as if Juna had meant to question her adequacy in combat situations. She was sure that she had adequate combat abilities, although it wasn't as if they were involved in situations of extreme combat. Rather, the challenge was getting so that no one had died, which was something which they had probably all failed at least once. God knows Juna had failed, and her failure was something she would never forget, but now she was getting distracted.

Annara went on ahead of her, as she was quite eager to go inside. Juna didn't know what was going on in Annara's head, and there was no way of knowing what was. What was certain, however, was that Annara would be going in first. Was Annara always quite so moody and irritable? Juna could not quite recall so, but then again it was not as if she was a close friend, although she did care about her deeply. In a way, it seemed like Annara's mood shifted from angry to angrier, and she rushed inside the house Lothren had been. Juna wasn't aware of what was wrong, just that it was. Juna followed suit, even if that meant leaving Aust in the dust. He'd be fine.

Juna saw the knight, who was surprisingly still for a man with such hatred and fervor in his eyes, which was perhaps the second strongest combination of emotions in the world. Juna could tell that if he had any choice, he would spring on Lothren in a moment, but it seemed the power of a rifle was convincing enough. Lothren held the Knight's fate, and his life was like a string of yarn in between a blade of scissors, ready to be cut at the first notice.

Annara seemed to have had some bad experience with the Knights of Areta. Juna understood, of course, but she didn't get violent like Annara did. She hit him multiple times, and they were good hits too. Now, as entertaining as it may be to see a Knight get pummeled by a cute girl, senseless violence inevitably had to stop. That was the price that needed to be paid.

Juna grabbed Annara by her arms and carefully pulled her back a few feet. She needed to calm down, and Juna needed to be the one to do it. She had a feeling, though, that she wasn't leaning on Annara's good side. Juna thought she had a good nature, but she was not sure about a kind nature.

"Well that was something," Juna said, giving Annara a smile. "But don't hold it against me for doing this."

"I understand the want, the need, for revenge," Juna said, and her smile had disappeared into an expression of deep serious. "But you can't go and attack him simply because he is a knight. And even for the one who you want revenge on, you must be willing to become evil, and more evil than they ever could be, because they never had your morals, but you did."

"Well, why don't we get on to the next order of business," Juna said, her smile and seemingly carefree demeanor returning. "Now sir knight, I am an elf, and I'm sure you are overjoyed to meet me. If we become friends I'm sure everything will go great, and I'm sure you know it too."

[Assistant]
Aust was last to make it into the building and down the stairs, and by the time he made it Juna was already pulling Annara away from the knight. On the floor a bit behind them all was a man in the garb of a Viceni mage, clearly unconscious. In the middle of it all were Lothren and the knight, one with a firearm leveled at the other in order to discourage any hostile movement. All in all, it was an interesting scene. Aust wasn't sure who was in more danger at that point; the Ytharien, the knight, or Alonso's disguise.

Juna seemed to have a handle on Annara, and Lothen had the knight under control for the moment, so Aust paced slowly around them all the check on the mage. Aside from being severely battered and bruised, presumably from the knight's tirade he had heard a few moments before, but would live without any attention. If not for the fact that he would be stranded and alone in a building with a the potential to be destroyed if others fell on it, the Viceni would have eventually woken up and recovered from the probable concussion in due time. Under the circumstances, however, it seemed unwise to simply leave him be.

Now that Juna was addressing the knight, Aust turned to their leader. He had given his instructions as to the knight, but hadn't said anything about the mage, or about what would happen when Alan saw them returning with a knight in tow.

"What about this one? He's out for now, and will be for a while, but I don't think we can just leave him. It's obvious he's a Magus. If he wakes up to the village empty and destroyed, he might get it in his head to track us down for some revenge. Could be a real threat. Beside that, it doesn't feel right. We got everyone else out as safely as we could. Who knows what could happen to this one before he stirs?" Aust said, speaking from where he knelt at the unconscious man's side. He carried his longknife bare in his right hand, the sharp tip pointed in the general direction of the knight in case things got exciting again. The elf's eyes flicked between his companions and the two strangers, trying to pay attention to the whole situation at once.

[User]
Gawain coughed violently as he stared up into the barrel of the firearm aimed directly at his most precious item - not his face, but rather what was inside of it. "Just like an elf," he groaned with a smirk on his lips. The man was clearly not impressed by the little spiel that the elf was putting on. "An elf would aim a weapon at a man with nigh more than his fists." he continued as his eyes fell upon those who were entering the room. The first down seemed to be a girl - human from the looks of it but evidently no better than these pointy eared rats. Second came a woman, an elf woman none the less. The footsteps of the third could be heard but by then the human woman had nearly slung herself onto the knight - for no reason!

The man defended himself as good and bad as he could. The presence of the firearm was, ofcourse, a demotivating factor. He tried to shield himself, mainly his face, using his arms and shoulder as a shield against her many blows. She spat at him, a nice big wallop of spit landing in his face before she attempted to kick him in the sack. The elven woman pulled her away barely in time and he felt the feet connect to his inner thigh, nearly hitting his second most precious item. As he got on his knees, coughing violently again, his eyes went up and stared into the eyes of the girl. "I've no idea who or what you are," he said while he gathered a mix of blood and spit in his mouth before tuffing it out in front of her and the elven man with the guns' feet. "But from your language you're evidently a tribal whore. And if you've ever looked for a reason we hunt your people every now and then, the reason lies right before you." he said, spreading his arms presenting himself as 'the reason' for hunting the tribal horse people.

"Criminals hide in your tents and your people refuse to give them to us. And now look at you. Beating an unarmed man.. if this gun wasn't aimed at my head I'd have your head..." His words were followed by a shifty glance at the gun. He decided to hold his tongue with the insults for now, for fear of his head being blown off. Gawain was a hothead, and an aggressive fighter when it came to it, but he was not dumb enough to fight back with.. whatever that thing was aimed at his head. He'd seen one before - once, only once - and whatever those things do, he did not wish to experience it.

The third figure had now entered the room but was quickly obscured again by the elf woman stepping up. She spoke some horseshit at the other woman, something about being evil. It made no sense to Gawain so he simply grimaced at it. He was unsure what to do - there wasn't much more to do but wait for a chance to get some kind of sharp weapon and get rid of these pointy eared fuckers. She continued to put on a little play for the knight, pretending they could be friends. But she likely realized full well that the knight was in a position where he couldn't demand for anything. It made sense. "Aye," he said, one of his eyes already growing thick from the beating he'd received from the woman. It didn't seem to stop him from playing along with the game. "My first elven friend. I'm overjoyed.." He snorted and spat out some more blood before awkwardly stumbling onto his feet, though not making any extremely fast movements to avoid getting, you know, shot.

The man stepped up now, finally making an actual statement. It was about the mage - and although Gawain could live with it if they simply left the mage, something compelled him to speak up. It must've been the fact that to Gawain, mages were heathen blasphemers. "He somehow captured me. The man is a criminal. You might be an elf, so I don't think you'd understand the concept of.. justice.. but if you've any contempt for kidnappers and backstabbers, you'll end this man's life." He looked at the elf for a moment before shaking his head solemnly. What was he talking about. Backstabbers? "Ofcourse you'd not understand.. you four are all backstabbers like he is. That's the reason I got captured.. unarmed and unarmored. Monarch bless me.. I'll need it."

[Assistant]
Juna was normally not quick to anger, but there were certain things that could be done which trigger her anger instantly. They didn't number very high, but if by chance you treaded on one of them Juna would have been far more willing to merciless. She would never go straight to being evil, except in one circumstance, but her nature would become so that she would be quite unpleasant for he enemies, and quite sadistic.

It so happened that this Knight, this pompous and arrogant man, unable to keep up his façade of bravery in the face of a weapon pointed at his face, had crossed a line which Juna would not appreciate being crossed. When he had called Annara a tribal whore Juna had decided she did not need to hear any more. It seemed she had made a mistake and had not come to correct conclusion when she had burst forth a lesson in ethics from her mouth.

"I've changed my mind! Sorry about this, Annara." Juna said with a smile. "It seems deep thoughts really can only take you so far. Forget all about that pseudo-philosophical drivel I spouted. "

So Juna promptly let go of Annara, releasing her arms. Then she looked at the knight, and angry look in her eyes but a firm smile on her face. She knew exactly what she would do, and it would only be the beginning. She kicked him between the crotch with a firm thrust of her foot. Juna would see how much he liked that, how smart he was now.

"So, what was that you were doing with him before I rudely interrupted you, Annara?" Juna said, discretely drawing her knife.


[System]
May you ever walk in the light of the crystal.
a.k.a. Lunaria Estacise Alexandros VII

Race:
'Elezen'
Age:
21
Class:
Bard
Place of Origin:
Alexandria
Personality:
Determined
Courageous
Gentle
Standoffish
Neurotic
Backstory:
The moment that a widowed King Aconitum Napellus XV decided to take an elezen bride named Belladonna, it was safe to say that the decision had made quite a buzz. The fact that she was affiliated with the Holy Alexander Church did soften the blow somewhat, as did his apparent desire to give young Prince Asterius a mother. The controversy flared when their union resulted in a child--there were those that believed it was nothing short of an omen. He bequeathed the name of the kingdom's founder to her, claiming that the princess' birth was a symbol of unity and peace.

Despite being second in line for the throne, Luna has lived a majority of her life away from the public eye. She was cited as having poor health and painted as a delicate girl, her appearances few and far in-between. A majority of her time was spent studying aldite for purposes unknown, although it took years for her to realize how odd her life was. Aside from having little royal responsibility, her father often pushed her towards research and generally discouraged interacting with anyone he didn't approve of. He stressed that there were too many people in the world that wanted nothing more than to use her for their own purposes.

Two months ago, Luna discovered a journal that ended up completely changing her viewpoint. She began questioning many things in her life, and after a confrontation with her father, she decided she needed to strike out on her own. Once the borders were closed, she quietly made preparations to escape the castle.

With a harp bow and an array of Songs in hand, Luna specializes in providing support from a distance. Her melodies have an assortment of effects on both friend and foe, ranging from healing and buffing to distractions and debuffing.

[User]
Ianthe
Ianthe listened while the room began to fill, and pursed her lips. She knew it was best that they get started soon—after all, the sooner they did the job, the sooner they got paid—but part of her wouldn't have mourned another hour or so to sit there with her eyes shut, legs propped up on the junker of a shield she'd brought, trying to eek out a few minutes of true rest. Gods knew she hadn't gotten any the night before.

The city was a lot of things. It smelled like industry, which was to say it smelled like the shit of an iron horse, but it was also burdensomely crowded and unrelentingly loud at every hour. She'd only just managed to find a room last night, with a hard bed and a window that wouldn't shut, which let the sounds of city nightlife flood in until sunrise. Argo didn't have a lot of things, but it did have silence, and she'd taken that for granted hard.

The Guild Hall had a homey quality to it at least. It looked handmade, sturdy. Ianthe recognized the heads of a few of the fiends she'd met at the border, and was pleased that the sights of the unfamiliar ones didn't daunt her. There was, of course, a difference between bravery and stupidity, and it was a line drawn in the ever-important sand of self-confidence and self-assessment. Did she wish she'd come to this better equipped? Sure. The shield was, as she'd noted, a hunk of junk, a poorly-cut slab of metal with leather straps and shoddily-soldered grips. The sword wasn't much better, but it was sharp and she kept it well cared-for. It would have been stupid to go into something like this, as she was, alone, and while she'd done her fair share of stupidly bold things as a youth, age and injury had tempered her well. Well enough to be thankful that there'd be a group of them going out.

Cracking an eye, she spotted a few noteworthy fellows. Big spears and frilly clothes were quick to catch the eye, but Ianthe knew the value of a humble appearance. It was easy to discount someone just because they looked like they didn't belong. Ianthe wasn't about to make that mistake.

[Assistant]
A v a d d o n

"Is there a reason no one is speaking?" The first to break the enforced silence was a rather massive man who stood before the others, hand held up to support the dainty, and likely somewhat embarrassed, maiden who had been hoisted on his shoulder since he'd entered the guildhall. A good Samaritan deed of his own design to help a fellow recruit get to the Hunter's Guild in time to make it for the trial. However, if said trial was just going to be them standing around in silence for minutes, Avaddon wasn't quite sure he was in the right place. "Not to be rude, Mr. Proctor, but you've been staring at us for the past few minutes and I'm not much for waiting around when there is work to be done."

Turning around with a smile to the other applicants, the large man beat a hand against his chest with a raised voice.

"If we are to take this test together, I will say the first thing we should do is introduce ourselves, no? My name is Avaddon, of the Red Storm tribe. I hope that we all make it through together and prove to make good allies in the test to come." His piece said Avaddon cracked his neck a bit as he turned dot look at the Proctor once more, hoping his little display would be enough to get something out of the man. If not, then Avaddon felt he might need to look elsewhere for assistance in matters of his quest. Perhaps the Hunter's guild he'd heard so much about was full of nothing but hot air. A disappointing fate if true, but not one the large Fabul man had been unprepared for.

[User]
Holy City of Alexandria | Alexandria Hunters Guild Headquarters

---

"Mitra." The dragoon uttered, as friendly as she could muster.

Her eyes looked to the one face she recognized, but she decided to not say anything. If he decided to call her by her true name she was going to clock him in the balls with the fastest knee he had ever seen. Admittedly, though her disdain for them at the moment was complicated and Mitra knew she had be as amicable as possible when it came to the group of guild hopefuls around her. How much gil did she even have left? Could she afford to eat for longer than a few weeks? She had to turn her luck around and become a success. Confronting the man who knew her when she was small and bright-eyed would have to come later.

"I'm pleased to meet your acquaintance, Avaddon. I hope we'll be fast friends on this venture." She eyed the girl hoisted over his shoulders, was she a slave? She did hear in her classes at the imperial academy how the tribesmen of the Red Storm Tribe kept slaves. Perhaps she was a concubine of his? Mitra couldn't help but be curious about that fact. "Who's your… friend?"

[Assistant]
How in the world did she get herself into this situation? The Hunter's Guild was her destination, so coming across an oddity or two was to be expected. That being said, when she had nervously approached a seemingly friendly face, she had hoped for some directions and nothing more. She did not consider the possibility that not only was the man also heading to the Hunter's Guild, but he had insisted on taking her there himself. He was charming, definitely, but as kind as the offer was, she preferred to go alone. And then he continued to insist while saying something about being a gentleman--she honestly couldn't remember, she was too busy getting swept off her feet and carried over like he was her personal chariot.

Not that she didn't appreciate his kindness, but when was he planning on putting her down?!

The woman could have died of embarrassment right then and there, staying quiet as the group gathered. Once the man broke the silence and introduced himself, it seemed to break the tension in the room. Why someone of the Red Storm tribe would come all the way to Alexandria was beyond her, but she supposed everyone had their own reasons; a brief look around let her know that not everyone was a native. Perhaps they shared her goal in crossing the border.

Considering Avaddon had no problem keeping her on his shoulder, she naturally assumed that she was going to stay this way for a while. With a small sigh, she figured she should introduce herself next. "...I'm Luna..." She replied meekly, hanging her head in shame.


[System]
Appearance:

Age: 17

Year: Sixth

Classes:
Transfiguration
Potions
Charms
Defense Against the Dark Arts
Alchemy
Study of Ancient Runes
Care of Magical Creatures

House: Gryffindor

Short bio: Damian was born in America, a half-blooded boy raised in a bad neighborhood, somewhere between the borders of Texas and Arkansas. His father was a magical wizard - a former Auror, to be more specific, while his mother was a simple muggle housewife. Life growing up wasn't easy. He was often picked on at school, for no reason other than the fact that the bullies were idiots, and quickly learned to fight with his fists, feet, head, elbows, knees...practically everything. Magic didn't really interest him, but when he tried, he got his first spell done correctly, marking him as a naturally talented wizard - much to his stoicness, and his father's happiness.

However, Damian was busy with MMA and Boxing lessons - even at a young age, he was taught beginner stuff, but, at the age of ten, something happened...even he couldn't help. His father was gone on some Britian wizarding business, and an infamous gang in their neighborhood crashed the party. Long story short, unthinkable things were done to his mother while he was on the floor, half-knocked out and bleeding from fractures and broken bones...in the end, his mother was killed.

It was abrupt, insane, and brutal...but it happened. This marked the start. When his dad came, Damian was sent to Britain - as an American Exchange Student, to go to Hogwarts. Apparently, that's why his dad left. His dad became distant after that, and they never really talked much. Damian continued to take MMA and boxing lessons, and practiced magic so that, when his fists couldn't do the talking, curses could. He promised that he would never let anything like that happen to anyone close to him again.

Personality: Damian can come off as a rough, unfeeling boy, having suffered quite a bit of sad events in his life, early on. This gives him a tough outer-shell. He's independent, not easily making emotional connections, but this has also made him focused, brave, and determined - while also being protective of the friends he has. It's rather easy for him to get annoyed, but rather than throwing a hissy fit, he tends to either act violent, or put the anger into training. This makes him rather ambitious, which is why, combined with his quick-thinking and reflexes, makes him ingenious in stressful situations.

It's easy for others to get intimidated by the American, especially due to his calloused demeanor and blunt ways of getting things straight, and he will not take any crap from anyone. Despite all of his callousness, however, Damian is inwardly kind towards the 'nicer' people, and will help when he sees bad things happening to good or semi-good people. The kindness is gruff as if he's reluctant to show compassion. He can also be cheerful when either drunk, or happy about some success - successful pranks, for instance. Tends to smirk when things go his way, as well. Is rather quiet, all things considered, but absolutely has no trouble speaking up when he feels like it, although he tends to let his fists or wand do the talking when necessary. Actions speak louder than words.

Summary - Focused, determined, brave, quick-thinker, tough & calloused, ambitious. Maintains a cool, detached image. Oddly enough, he is very much like a lion...or a griffin.

Wand: Fir wood wand, Dragon Heartstring core, 12 1/2 inches.

Hobbies: Flying on his broom - Quidditch, to be more specific. He's incredibly good as a Seeker, and has been scouted by official wizarding teams ever since his third year. || Practicing the more practical magic arts, and perfecting them; Most are afraid to duel with the brusque American...his over-charged Reductos are very scary. || Exercising, something most wizards don't do. Magic is fine and all, but lifting weights and sprinting up hills tends to get the blood flowing.

Pets: A magical lion cub called 'Leo'. It has the physical appearance of a regular lion cub, but as it grows - which it does a bit faster than normal, it's size will become noticeably larger than any other muggle lions. It's hide will also be magic resistant as it grows.

Personal possessions: Other than the necessary thing, such as his necessary robes and school supplies, depending on the time of the RP, Damian has his personal riding broom, bought after quite a bit of hard work, and some funding from his parents, along with the sponsorship of a Wizarding Quidditch Team that wants to see him succeed; he has the Firebolt Supreme, hailed as the greatest racing broom in the 21st century. Hehas some less than legal items, easily disguised. For instance, the ring on his left and right hands will actually turn into brass-knuckles once a sliver of magic is siphoned into them. He also has a map, which was, once again, funded by a bunch of hard work and odd jobs; a map enchanted by some guy in France, which allows him to see the presence of anyone within a certain distance around him, along with their names.

He also has a few muggle-fied things; a motorcycle, tricked out with different runes and charms so that it could...yes, fly. [Think Sirius' motorcycle, just more modern in design.] A set of muggle clothing that he wears when not forced to wear robes, and boxing gloves, boxing tape, a weight set, and a heavy-duty punching bag that's charmed to never break or rip. He keeps the boxing equipment constantly in his shrunken trunk, unless he trains that day.

Patronus: Griffin

Relationships: Nicholas 'Nick' Gregory Hornhill - Despite their minor differences, with Damian being a bit more cold, focused, and ruthless than Nick, and Nick being a bit more wreckless, inquisitive, and persistent, they quickly became friends - with Nicholas really being one of the few people Damian talks to out of the Quidditch field. Damian's quick-thinking and ferocious presence has gotten them out of quite a few bad situations, and Nicholas is the one to make them go through the bad situations, with his love for pranks and the such - which, although he wouldn't admit it, has rubbed off on Damian as well. People have learned not to bully or otherwise mess with Nicholas due to the threat of Damian finding out - not to say that many people bothered Nick in the first place.. [Others are open!]

NPCs: His dad.

Why am I awesome?

'Cause.

[User]
Jaden

"Yeah from what I hear the teachers get scared of her too as amazing as that sounds. But I don't know her personally as I have mentioned before so I could not tell you the full story. Heck sometimes I don't even know if the rumors that go around this school have much merit some days. I mean the one time one of the prefects from one of the other houses was under the illusion that a fully grown troll was using the lavatory on the third floor during the night, to the point where she avoided the entire floor when it got even slightly dark. Naturally me and a couple other Prefects checked it out one night to lay it to rest, turns out that somehow one of the first years head moaning myrtle and thought it was a troll. Myrtle thought it was the funniest thing she ever heard... well after she got over the fact the someone thought she was a troll."

Jaden drew his attention away from Mary when he heard the screech of an owl, flying through the door his owl Tarim suddenly appeared holding a small envelope from site. Jaden found this curious, mail was usually delivered during lunch time on a normal day so why was he getting a letter this early in the day? As Tarim dropped down he dive bombed like a bird possessed right through a group of first years, they yelled in surprise as a bowl of cereal flew all over the table. Tarim always did that to the other students, Jaden shook his head as Tarim released the letter in front of him, with a screech the owl disappeared shortly after as Jaden picked up the letter, the envelope was blank on both sides, turning it over there was an wax seal keeping it closed. Jaden quickly opened the parcel as he removed the folded sheet of paper and opened it. There was but one line on the paper, but it was enough to catch Jaden's air in his throat as he slowly looked up.

Jaden swallowed a little hard as he looked around silently, no one seemed to be paying him any particular heed, his delivery only drawing a couple gazes to begin with. Folding the piece of paper back up he quickly stuck it in his inner robe pocket with his journal and stood up casually, but a little too casually if anyone cared to notice.

"If you will excuse me I have some business to tend to, I will see a little later Mary. Good luck with your classes today, see you at DADA class possibly if you can make it."

Jaden was a tad hasty as he fully removed himself from the table and walked a bit quickly out of the main hall disappearing around the side of the door out of sight.

[Assistant]
Patrick Ford
Patrick knew that he didn't have the best tendencies for waking up in the morning. It wasn't always that he stayed up late either; even if that was something that happened very regularly. He'd be reviewing Quidditch games in his head or going through every word on his parchment to make sure it was as good as it could be before he submitted it. He knew that he perhaps didn't have the natural intellectual tendencies of his house and that he probably studied like a Ravenclaw but he had to work much harder for it. He just imagined that a Ravenclaw could pick it up before someone could even swish their wand. He polished off the rest of his toast and bacon, brushing his hands down quickly on his robes before he paid her his full attention.

when Genevieve turned, he followed her gaze and nodded a little. He knew both of them of course, given that they played matches and had lessons and all that other stuff. It wasn't hard to get to know the other people who played Quidditch because there was always some various tussle over who had booked the pitch or who had pulled the best moves at a game. It was a passion and a sport that many people followed. "Isn't that what he does?" Patrick asked as he gestured toward Darius. "I've played you guys multiple times and watched all the matches and he always seems to be somewhere else. Not that he's bad at it but I'm sure he has it covered. Besides," He grinned widely and ran a hand back through his hair. "How can you be sure I won't repeat history and send the bludger your way?"

Then he paused and looked at her face. Something was a little obscure this morning but he couldn't put his finger on it and it wasn't his place to pry. He was a very nice and compassionate guy but he could be a bit behind on the whole emotion thing. Not dense but not wanting to assume. "I think I'll pass, I don't want to intrude and I know we've played you already but…it's your training session so…" He shrugged one of his broad shoulders then picked up a pancake, tore it in half and offered a chunk to her. "Besides, got to do some work. You know how it is. But, doesn't mean I don't wanna see you because I can't seem to shake you," He joked.

[User]
Undertaker

Mary Winthrop

Mary nodded a bit meekly at Jaden's request for information about Karen. He knew enough to know that Mary avoided Karen as much as possible, and Mary certainly wasn't going to antagonize Karen. She did however think his story about the troll in the bathroom was hilarious. She hadn't heard about that.

When Tarim showed up Mary offered him a bit of bread, but he was off and gone before she had gotten the bread ready. She didn't notice Jaden's discomfort at the note. "If you will excuse me I have some business to tend to, I will see a little later Mary. Good luck with your classes today, see you at DADA class possibly if you can make it."

"I'll do my best." Mary smiled and waved goodbye. She sat alone for a moment before Emma plopped down next to her.

"Oh Merlin's beard I've been looking for you." Emma spoke excitedly and fast. "I went to the library before breakfast and found this." She held up a thin black book.

"Uh, all right?" Mary looked at her confused.

"It was the only book I could find that actually talked about the rune I found last week, and get this the tiniest mention is almost an afterthought." Emma opened the book to the page. She continued babbling about the rune, until Mad returned from talking to Sylvester.

[Assistant] Damian leaned back in his seat, folding his arms and staring across the table at the girl. Leo leaped onto the dinner table, and Damian's eyebrow twitched slightly as the over-sized lion cub nailed a piece of bacon on it's claws and 'nimbly' leaped over the plate, only to fall face-first into a third year's food. "Exercise and a hot shower." He said simply, eyes narrowing as he leaned forward. Leo tried to move out of the way, but the Seeker's hands were too fast, even for most adult players. In a blur, the lion's bacon was in the ear, and Damian snapped it up with a quick jab, brutally biting into the morsel of food and glancing around, just to see a flash of Nick go towards another crowd. "That idiot." Damian grumbled, grabbing a vine of grapes from the fruit platter. Around a dozen on his calloused palm, he began flicking them towards Nick's face, each one meeting their mark with wet 'squelches' on the boy's forehead.


[System]
Age:22

Gender: Female

Race: Nem

Appearance:

(As above, but with rounder ears! Though her hair is naturally black, she dyes it pink to stand out. A merchant's most powerful weapon is being remembered. In addition, on the occasion she needs to go outside during the day, she wears a cute, floral, wide-brimmed hat)

Personality: Sweet, caring, and good-natured on the outside. Calculating and selfish on the inside. Lirrah does what she can for the people she likes, and everyone else is scarcely a concern of hers. She has no particular investment in Velt or Ithillin aside from the knowledge that brewing hostilities are a good business venture. It would be easy to label her as another amoral war profiteer, but it's hard to make the title stick when she's personally serving hot meals to the folks on the borderlands (for a fee, of course). In any case, she is outgoing, personable, and really lays on the cute. Cute is good for business.

Brief Backstory: Born into a humble family of sweets-makers with three older brothers and three older sisters, it would be no exaggeration to say that Lirrah was the baby of the family. If she wanted acknowledgement, she had to work for it. Whether she had to lie or exaggerate or even shout, she was always yapping in order to get attention.

From a young age, this served her well, though it got on her siblings' nerves. She learned how to cook, and was quite talented, but her gift of gab often had her strutting the sand to entice customers instead. She and her family's trade became so well-known through her raw, extroverted moxie that she was considered by many to be the unofficial mascot of the store. She and her family's brand of sweets soon became inseparable.

For most attention-seekers, this amount of notoriety would be enough to live a lifetime, but Lirrah wanted more. Her cries yearned to reach more ears. She wanted to say something that the entire known world would one day need to listen to.

On her sixteenth birthday, people came from settlements all around to celebrate her. It was at this moment that she decided to cash in all the affection and goodwill she had earned from a lifetime of honeyed words as sweet as the ripest melon juice. She wanted to leave the village, and travel north. For that purpose, she collected many investors and partners who would fund and stock her caravan, with no proof of success other than the borderline disgusting amount of aplomb with which she conducted herself.

Everyone likes sweets.

Her network was enormous. The affection that everyone had for her was overflowing. And flow it did, into coins and goods and equipment that would enable her desire to reach north. As far northward as she could go… so far, and so high, that even she could look down at the world despite her people's relatively short stature.

It took a while, of course, to get everything ready. But within a few years, funds and equipment in hand, she reached Velt. This was only going to be her first stop, but it would be a profitable one. She had weapons to feed into the growing fires of hostility, and Nem glasswork and art pieces to appeal to nobles who wanted to show off how world-wise they were and who had more money than sense. With her charms, and the situation to her advantage, it was almost impossible to fail. She made a killing when she finally arrived and, happy with the numbers, decided to move onto Ithillin. What happened when everything boiled over wasn't important. What was important was making her money off both sides and getting out, continuing to reach ever northward.

The situation was not exactly as it was described to her.

The conflict was practically already happening, and the borderlands were almost a war zone, with skirmishes and bandits and monsters out in force. Lirrah learned this when she picked the most reasonably under-staffed point on the border to make her trip, and found her caravan surrounded by marauders. Though she could shoot a bow (her home village was small enough that everyone needed to learn), she was not a real fighter. Her hired muscle fell quickly to the deluge of bandits, and she was soon surrounded.

She didn't want her ambition to end there, but what could she do?

Then, the Lions roared.

Routed efficiently to the last, the bandits went from an overwhelming bellow to a simpering swan song within moments. Lirrah explained the situation to the Lions, embellishing to make herself seem less opportunistic, and she soon learned that things were more dire between the two nations than she had imagined.

A caravan cannot move north through a river of blood. Even avoiding everything else, the upcoming conflict could capture her supply chain and leave her stranded. There was nothing else for it. Thinking quickly, she talked her way into a mutually beneficial exclusivity contract with Velt during wartime. Her supply chain would be useful, and she could set up shop personally among the group that had helped her. Until the war was over, she would need to hold out. She didn't want to pick sides initially, but as it turned out, a side picked her.

Equipment: A diverse array of highly saleable wares! Within reason, of course. The art objects get sold far before they reach Lirrah, because warriors on the frontline have little need for such things. If there's something specific a soldier wants, however, she can usually get it in a week or so depending on rarity. She stocks generic weapons, along with some more interesting exotic weapons from her homeland. Nem bows, especially, are in high demand. With the ever-present threat of skirmishes, she stocks a ridiculous amount of healing potions. More high-end wares include enchanted rings and brooches, with a variety of protective effects, and even magical weapons. Nem alcohol is, to most, a novelty, but she gets enough requests from those who have taken to it to keep it in stock (and to drink herself).

When out and about, she carries a bow and a good supply of potions, as well as a few explosive flasks and acid bombs. She has an enchanted hat that cools her and gives her a lot of shade, though seeing beyond the immediate bound of that shade is still difficult as a Nem. Mostly it makes travel during daytime much more comfortable.

Skills:

Diplomancer: Lirrah is very good at talking to people, and even getting them to agree to things they normally wouldn't. She's that charming! She's a natural in any environment, from swanky party to seedy bar. She can lie as naturally as she breathes, and can make herself the center of attention with little effort. Conversely, during a combat encounter, she can turn up her cute and helpless act such that most reasonable enemies wouldn't target her unless they had no other choice. Very helpful as a merchant!

Swift: Lirrah is dexterous, agile, and quick on her feet. On the rare occasion she can't talk or act her way out of danger, she can usually escape it. Her sight, mainly in the dark, is immensely keen. She's good with a bow, though aiming far away is difficult for her during the day. She's practiced enough with the sling to fling dangerous flasks many feet away. Fast hands are useful in the kitchen, and she's also quite good at sewing and knitting.

Gourmand: Lirrah is an excellent cook. She's best at dishes from her home country, but picks up new cuisine quickly as well. Sometimes, the difference between a dead soldier and a living one is a happily-fed belly. She's especially gifted at desserts, which she can make at the level of a genius patissier. She can only make so many to her exacting standards day to day, that they run out quickly. People have gotten into fistfights over the strawberry shortcake!

[User]
Cadmon Demet

---

Landshark

---

The effort needed to resist rolling his eyes was nearly herculean. What was needed to keep his jaw shut for a moment was even greater.

No, no, I just thought I'd take a romantic stroll around the war camp with my favourite assassin.

As much as he wanted to say something sarcastic like that, it would be pointless. Antagonizing her would be no help at all with what they were soon to face; beyond that, he had little doubt of his low likelihood of waking up in the morning if she decided she disliked him enough. Not that she seemed inclined to harm an ally, certainly not in that way, but he only trusted an assassin as far as he could throw them.

Given that Kayliss was a somewhat tall human woman rather than a Nem, that wasn't very far at all.

"With any luck," he said after a moment. No true confirmation for her question, yet, but he was hoping. "Assuming they didn't meet with an unfortunate fate, our scouts are due to make their reports to Lady Velvetica today. If they bring back something useful, I'm hoping that we could make use of your talents."

[Assistant]
Roger Falkner and Shortclaw

There's is something strange about the ground down there.

From above, Roger could see splotches of terrain taking on a different color as they got closer to the bandits' hideout. They had been flying low to avoid detection, but it was still high enough to see a stark difference from the surrounding land.

It wasn't unusual to see land of different colors whenever they flew over farmland, but this was no freshly tilled field, ready for planting, and it was far too extensive to be the work of small burrowing animals. This was...well, he had no idea what it was. Even stranger, he glimpsed a few objects on the ground that looked a little like scarecrows. Surely the bandits couldn't actually be trying to work the land down there, especially in this rocky area, right?

It was a curious enough matter that Roger opted to take a closer look. He circled around, then signaled his mount to descend and land. The griffin slowed its flight and touched down on the suffiently large clearing of disturbed earth, bounding off the ground once before coming to a stop, causing Roger to bounce in his saddle. The first thing the rider did was take a few moments to glance around the area to ensure there was no trouble awaiting them.. He hadn't seen anyone when flying overhead, but it paid to be cautious. Shortclaw turned his head around as well, also on the lookout for trouble.

If he doesn't see anything, we should be clear. His eyes are keener than mine. As he looked around, he noticed one of the "scarecrows" he had thought he spotted.

That's no scarecrow, he thought to himself, uneasy at what he beheld. It was a crude, macabre effigy of some sort, crafted with bones and topped with a humanoid skull, creaking eerily as it rocked in the strong wind. Just what were these bandits doing out here, and why would they create such twisted totems? He already knew that these bandits were doing some strange and unsettling things, and the fact that they'd construct these things raised some questions as to just what they were up to.

In contrast to his increasingly uneasy rider, Shortclaw seemed completely unfazed and uninterested in the effigy, probably because there was no meat on the bones.

"Let's get back to the camp," Roger spoke, signaling the griffin to take flight. Shortclaw began to run forward and flap his wings, leapt into the air against the wind, and began gaining altitude. There wasn't much else to do here, so once they climbed above the treetops, Roger directed his mount back to the camp. He wasn't entirely sure what these strange effigies meant, but whatever it was, it wasn't good. Perhaps the Steel Princess or one of the Lions' more learned members, or one of the other scouts, would have a better idea.

[User]
Gisela

At the price, the demon turned expectantly to look down at the hundi, who only sighed before rifling through her pockets for payment. To be so easily overcharged was galling, especially when she wasn't even the one who was going to be eating it. But the coins were passed over nonetheless, and the massive demon warrior took the pastry and thoughtfully started eating it.

"You don't have to be so afraid. A merchant like you could hardly put up a good fight, so why would I want to bother?" the demon said between bites, offering reassurance in the least reassuring way she could. "This pie's good."

"Oh, good evening, Guillaume," Gisela said, giving a slight curtsy. A mage she might be, but she was still a commoner... and far too many of even the lesser nobility got annoyed if not shown the proper respect. Guillaume seemed to be above that, but why take the chance? "No new injuries to report?"

[Assistant]
Lirrah practically jumped when she was addressed by a newcomer, her nerves already agitated by the presence of the world's tallest demon. When she looked up, however, she was greeted by the sight of the sort of person that might be described in a heroic storybook. Tall, golden-haired, with a sort of reassuring joviality.

Lirrah had read one or two of the more popular Veltan stories to get a sense of what does well over there, though she had not grown up with them. She was neither starry-eyed nor enthralled, but his presence was nevertheless a comfort. She forced a smile up on her face, which was almost indistinguishable from her genuine one.

"A-ah, yes, this is our first meeting," she replied, producing a mutton pie and indicating a price of 1200. As she leaned over to give the man a ticket for a pastry later, she added in a conspiratorial whisper, "I certainly would have called for help myself if my voice hadn't gotten stuck in my throat... ahaha..."

She quickly turned her attention back to the demon woman (not that she had left Lirrah's vision since she showed up) as she took the Hundi's money. Perhaps the demon's summoner? Either way, the Hundi quickly busied herself with the knight. They seemed to be on good terms. Lirrah had yet to clock all the dynamics in this location, so it was good information to have.

Lirrah gave the demon woman a big smile, still forced, and still almost indistinguishable.

"T-thank you. I, ah, make all the food myself. C-cooking and selling! My skillset is hardly suited to compat. I'm just a weak little Nem~"

Lirrah didn't mention that she wasn't bad with a bow or a sling. She doubted that would be enough for the woman to take an interest in her, but the further beneath notice she was on that front, the better. If this was a woman who only enjoyed a fight against those with combat ability, Lirrah should be safe with her... probably.

"Ah... and if you like the pie so much, please do stop py the Matayannah Trading Company tent at home camp, and tell your friends. I am sure to put my nerves aside if we get more acquainted~ I really do appreciate your custom!"


[System]
Username: @Sho Minazuki

"Look, I'm a little tired right now, so can we make this quick?"
Age: 27

Gender: Male

Race: Human

Appearance:

Color: Inky black

Symbol: An eye-scarred raven.

Semblance:
 Raven Mirage - Wolfram can disperse into a murder of ravens and crows, and can use them to scout as well, some have called him the 'vampire of crows' due to how visually similar he disperse into crows compared to when a vampire disperses into bats in popular media. Other abilities include that these crows can function as normal crows and feed on animals to give him energy as well. He is powerful enough to have an abundance of crows in an area that it can be difficult to figure out where he will appear next, compared to his student years.

Weapon Name: Vindicator

Weapon Appearance/Function: The gloves are more a utility than an actual weapon, using the circuits that are all along the palms, he can materialize dust into small weapons. Larger weapons require something far more advanced or a work-around method, and far more dust due to density issues.
Type: Dust, Utility, Aura
Weapon Derivation: Twin gauntlets, lean in appearance.
Holstered/Sheathed Appearance: A pair of really stylish elbow long gloves. Some seemingly mechanical parts along the forearm area, and dust slots.
Form 1: Conduit Function, Materialize - When entering combat mode, a thin steel armor covers the gloves, also colored black, and along the palm, circuits matching the hand appear. Through those circuits he can use the dust equipped to form throwing knives of varying size and element by melding it with his aura, as well as creating thin wire for trapping and even slicing, and finally, needles, which are his most potent and efficient means of disabling or killing someone.
Form 2: Conduit Function, Imbue - Not really a second form, just another function. He carries twin knives that he uses as a secondary weapon when forced into close quarters, with the imbue function he can give these knives new properties, or even extend their reach. This isn't limited to the knives though. He has other equipment as well for this very concept.
Form 3: Conduit Function, Shroud - He can cancel both imbue and materialize to use his gauntlet as the main weapon, by wrapping it in dust, he can use it defensively, or expel it upon striking a target for more damage.
Form 4: Grappling Hook - There's a grappling hook on this thing. Neat.
Form 5: Gambit Round - There's a one-shot and powerful pistol underslung on the gauntlet. It only has one round, and it's settings have it use all the dust that is currently equipped, making the single shot insanely powerful, but renders the gauntlet useless. This is a useful option in some cases. The drawback is that he'll need to re-equip all the dust vials again, which takes quite awhile.

Elemental Functions: The following are functions he can add for his knives and needles depending on elements.
* Gravity - He can use this dust to bind enemies to areas that are marked by his needles or knives. He can also create the reverse effect and propel himself, or an enemy far away.
* Explosive - By combining fire and earth, he can create a violent explosive knife.
* Incendiary - A simple fire type.
* Frostbite - A simple ice type designed to disable parts of a body, or even freeze their heart.
* Shredder - A concentrated wind or air type that disperses the knife into a cutting wind.
* Water - He can douse his enemies in water with this.
* Stun - Sends out an electric shock on whatever surface it lands on, and stuns them. It's especially deadly if they are soaked.

Equipment: The following he carries on him in order to use Imbue for.
* Large Folding Shuriken - These shuriken are a little larger than normal, and fold so they're easy to carry. He only has a few, so he prefers to use them in a boomerang fashion. It's useful when fighting a crowd of grimm.
* Twin Knives, The Harbingers - Twin double-sided knives, straight blade, cross guard. They look fancy, and actually have a hidden dust vial in their handles, allowing him to do a surprise reload once his gauntlets run out of Dust. Alternatively, the dust can be used to propel the knife even faster when thrown, which can surprise his opponents. The daggers are also able to be attached to his heels, giving him even more options when in combat with them.
* Compound Bombs - These on their own are regular smoke bombs, but the smoke is made of a compound that reacts well with dust, allowing him to make fire bombs, cold bombs, and so on, depending on the dust he imbues into them before throwing.

Personality: Despite his heavy presence and the way he looks and his skills, he's a very carefree person, normally seen with a friendly smile that people often mistake for a creepy slasher type. He's just a guy trying to live right now, a little cynical, as he once had aspirations of his own. He made his living in the underground with assassination jobs, they weren't his cup of tea, but he was very good at them, plus no one else wanted to hire him, so inadverdently he became known as the "Harbinger of Death", and all those other names. He didn't become a Hunter to kill people, he became one to kill Grimm, so he was not content with this. Still, it gave him an enormous amount of money, so he couldn't complain. Assassinations to him were like that desk job you hate so much at this point, and really just about anything would pique his interest.

History: Wolfram was no honor student, in fact no one liked him except his team back in Haven, who honestly were all friendly. He was considered the strange kid, reserved, and almost like a pushover, normally that alone wouldn't put him in the situation he was, but it was the fact that he had an uncanny talent at pointing out people's weaknesses. It wasn't semblance, he already awoke to that, so it scared people that he could figure out very quickly what made them tick. Nothing really happened with it though, and he graduated normally. Some of his team suggested him to a medical profession, as his talent would be very useful in that field. Others suggested the black ops of militaries. He wanted to fight Grimm though... But he considered the options.

He ended up trying both. It was difficult for him to enter the military medical field, because he was just so horrible at it's theory, then he was offered to the black ops, assassinations and the like, and he was just really really good at it. He eventually quit though, because he didn't like the line of work, but eventually he starved because he couldn't find other jobs, he did the odd Grimm slaying job on mission boards, and among other things, but as his failures in higher level Grimm slaying missions became apparent, his options narrowed, until he eventually starved for a whole month.

That all ended when his asking around for jobs eventually landed him into the underground's mission boards, because someone wanted his skills as an assassin. As he was pretty much starving and desperate, he accepted, and before he knew it, he became reputed as one of the best assassins in the history of Hunters and Huntresses, albeit in the underground. Although little did he know until later, there was no turning back. No regular mission board would accept him picking up a quest, very few had need of his talents too, and so there he was, stuck in the underground, almost by accident.

Trivia
- Wolfram is a German name that is a portmanteau of "wolf" and "raven", basically making it "wolf-raven".
- Mord is just German for "murder".
- His theme is mostly crows and ravens, and represents an omen of death.
- His story of being essentially mistaken or stumbling into criminality is similar to how the father of the boys in the German tale The Seven Ravens mistakes them for going out to play instead of getting water for their sister, which leads to them being turned into crows.

[User]
Thomas Adkins|Mountain Glenn/Abandoned building basement|Monday Afternoon

 Mountain Glen felt like home to Thomas. He had never visited until now, but it had that same bombed out and Grimm infested feeling that he knew. Over half of his life had been spent at war, to him these ruined towers and empty shells were more natural than a living city bustling with activity. Thomas made his way through the city, using his old navigation techniques and avoiding unneeded fights with the Grimm. It relieved him to be in an environment like this, the tranquility of normal life only brought anxiety. To Thomas, that peace was a fragile illusion that passed itself off as natural. Mankind has had to fight to survive since the dawn of time, and the future will not be any kinder than the past.

 The present situation had one key difference from Thomas' memories of war: the presence of hostile humanoids. On a select few occasions his unit had encountered resistance from separatist forces (usually some Faunus group), but those had been brief and easily settled with the application of overwhelming force. In the ruins of the city there was a large contingent of private security and an unknown number of White Fang. He'd regret fighting the hired security, it was likely that a lot of them had been grunts just like him. Of course, they chose to go out here and risk their lives just for more money, accumulating wealth so that they could insulate themselves from harsh reality. All the crap with the White Fang had started when he was still on the battlefield, so he didn't have much of an opinion on them. If all went well and he avoided them it would stay that way.

 Exfiltration required a careful approach. Regular soldiers were given simple missions, subtlety was the domain of special forces. Nevertheless, Thomas had picked up a few tricks over the years. From his scouting with binoculars in a distant building he picked out that the soldiers had a perimeter set up around a few of the city blocks, his target was inside that radius. Thomas didn't know much about recent gear, but he could recognize heavy weapons and the trademark twitch of someone on combat drugs. He didn't pop his head out for long, they could be watching at any time. They probably had a heavier position at the site itself, and a few scout patrols roaming around.

 Whatever was going on in Mountain Glenn was something people wanted to keep off the books. It could be a crime syndicate or a shady corporation, but whoever it was they obviously had a nasty disagreement with Thomas' future employer, nasty enough that there were two other hired guns running similar jobs in the area. Thomas wouldn't get involved with them, but that meant there could be some fireworks going on while he ran his mission. Before doing anything else, Thomas found a spot in the basement of ruined building near the perimeter. He hid there while he figured out a plan beyond "charge in, shoot everyone, stab anyone not dead from shooting."

[Assistant]
Hitsuji Momo - Vacuo Outskirts/Outside Outpost of Military Junta|Monday Afternoon

Hitsuji Momo had found herself a nice little spot a few hundred meters away from the outpost and was just waiting. The sheep faunus was sitting down on the hem of her battle skirt, not caring if it got dirty, her back to a nice large rock out there in the middle of the badlands. At the moment she was waiting for something very specific to happen, she had lived near this kind of area before and her horns were telling her a dust storm was incoming. The dust storm would hide her presence when she made her move to infiltrate the outpost.

"Ahhh, why'd it have to be a rescue operation of all things? Since I need to rescue some hapless person I won't be able to bash too many heads in without worrying about my target becoming a corpse. Doubt there will be any grimm in there either. Can't get paid if all that's left is a corpse, lame." Hitsuji tapped one of her horns against the rock as she picked a small camera out of her pocket.

"I also got some Mr. Pervert here wanting to up his prized collection for his own 'private' use." She complained some more as she dusted off the lens. "Rabbit lover eh? Probably likes big busts too." She stole a glance at the outpost then quickly hid again as she waited for the dust storm. She made sure the camera's flash was turned off and sighed, "Please stay alive my hapless target in the meantime." Hitsuji closed her eyes but kept her other senses completely open. Her time would come soon.