Maverick

Hunter took the moment to nod and give a small reverence to Elson's carefully groomed words. The man had a way with diplomacy since they had met years ago, that was for sure, and it was little surprise that his skills took him to be a Major in such a esteemed platoon as the Talons. Deviously, he smiled with knowledge they the future might reunite the old squad together, and things would finally get exciting once again. Now, with more pressing matters to think about, he stood up and tapped his glass with a small spoon as to call attention to the rest. "Friends, it is with a great sense of pride and honor that I direct my words towards you, for the time could not be better for what we are about to discuss. As Commander of the Royal Dragoons, it is my duty to keep our lands safe from invaders, to scout the surrounding areas for threats and to fight for the safety of the Aelindran people. In this way, my desires are two-fold." Taking a slow sip of his whiskey, Hunter cleared his throat and gazed around the room. "Socially, I believe we share the common goal of overthrowing this wicked, corrupt body of leadership that has turned our once renowned and magnificent country into but a small dot in the cartography of the continent. No longer I wish to stand by the sidelines while other powers rise to challenge us without us having a strong base to defend our way of life. As for lady Olandra's question, any species or race willing to help us grow and to share the common goal of prosperity and safety would be more than welcome. Second, as you may know, most of us here are career military men and women. The sentiment of looming dread is ever-present this days as news of warmongering and military campaigns become more and more common along the continent. Therefore, it is with great sadness that I fear for our borders. Our coffers are used for lavish parties and corrupt deals between filthy-minded nobles while our armies become stagnate and obsolete. What will we do when the armies of the south come to our doorsteps, seeking to conquer our lands? Without new technology and funding, we will be left in the past and easily crushed. Our footmen are fierce and hardy, our cavalry swift and precise, our scouts and ranged infantry fast and disciplined. If we provide them with the necessary tools, Aelindra can become a force to be reckoned. But please, do not confuse my words with a lust for carnage. As a great general once said... If you want peace, you must prepare for war. Thank you." Perhaps his words would be harsh on their ears, but Hunter felt it was his duty to point out his outlook. It wasn't a hunch at all... He KNEW that the world's turmoil would eventually reach them, and that no matter how valiant and fierce his soldiers were, without proper gear and funding they would be sitting ducks against the more technologically advanced forces of the continent. He sat back down and gathered his whiskey once again, drowning the sourness from his lips with a big gulp of the cold beverage.

A collapsing building on one side, a horde of undead on the other. Hunter's eyes rushed from side to side as his comrades began to formulate plans, with Alfonso taking the lead with that. A higher ground would serve well, but where exactly could they- Virgil, obviously using his quick wits, took a shot at a half collapsed structure, making it began to rumble before the scream of "Get inside!" could even reach his ears. Hunter's eyes went wide as the rubble began to recede, time running short on their choices. Deciding that they stood more chance fighting a crumbling building than an unending swarm of ghouls, he sprinted towards the building with his sword in hand, preparing to open a path if necessary. Unfortunately, dust began to cover the entire area inside the building, making hard to breath and even harder to see. His friends where out of his sight, but just forwards he could see a couple of weathered down metal desks where he could take cover. Hunter ran and dexterously slid under one of the desks as debris began to fall harshly on it. "Oh, bloody hell..." He groaned as he used his neck scarf to cover his face from the dust particles while a staccato of stone threateaned to bury them alive. He suddenly heard a cracking sound just above them. Raising his eyes, he saw the ceiling cracking under pressure, and it would take only seconds to break and hit those inside the room. Thinking quickly, he kicked the desk towards a nearby pillar before moving towards it and pushing it hard, the pillar crumbling down and making one of the already ruined sides of the building bear the brunt of the landslide of debris. The ceiling seemed to hold now that enough pressure had been released as Hunter procceeded to take cover under the desk once again. He would wait until the dust settled to scan around him. "Everyone alright? Elson? Virgil? Sancroix?" He yelled, hoping to hear his friend's responses.

One more night in the city. It seemed like a long time since she had arrived, since that incident in Terrenus... Since she took all she had and took that airship across continents, taking her to the place she had heard was akin to her old home. The Corvinite Empire, Kadia... Another empire to live under. Why did her mind take her there, she didn't know. Holding her hands together, Alexa walked down the streets of Axis Mundi. It was a rainy night, one like many others before where she had nothing to count but the memories in her head and the steps she took towards the pub. The bustling of souls and coin filled her ears as she approached the Emporium area, people spending money they barely had on things they didn't need, or she thought. More than annoyed, she was jealous... Of their clean minds, the ignorance in which they lived their lives serving the empire day after day. They didn't know of the horrors inside her head, the images burned into her eyes, making her afraid to even consider sleep. Yet she was still human, a fragile one at that, and her survival depended on what little hours of sleep she could muster before waking up in cold sweat. She pushed the door softly, the heavy wooden thing creaking while the jiggling of the bells announced her entry. "Welcome to the Brew Stop my lady what can I... Lords have mercy Alexa, is that you?" The tender said, approaching the girl and touching her face. Alexa had not slept well in days, perhaps weeks, and it was starting to show. Her eyes were sunken, her hair was scruffy and her white strands of hair seemed to grow wider since the last time she had been there. "I'm fine Claire... Just had a couple rough nights..." Alexa coily answered, trying to avert her gaze. "Are you sure you can work like that today? I can tell the boss-" "No! No... It's... It's fine hun I just... A glass of juice perhaps and I'll be ready to sing." Claire looked at Alexa with a worried look, but could do nothing but nod at the request. She knew she needed the money. A few minutes later, she was already standing on the centerfloor, a man with a guitar next to her. "Ladies, Gents and all who join us today at the Brew Stop, today we welcome once again our angel voiced maiden for the delight of your ears! A round of applause for Alexa!" The owner of the pub announced, giving way for her. She cleared her throat as the patrons' looks gathered all on her. She felt weak, but if there was something that soothed her mind for a while, it was that song... Her voice carried the weight of a pained spirit, every word that came out ebbing and flowing through the crowd with melancholy and emotion. Some of the patrons teared up, others simply focused on the tune, some even sang along with her, knowing the lyrics from a previous night. Alexa lost herself in the music, a single tear streaming down her cheek as the last words fell from her mouth. One more round of applause, a few cheers. "Thank you..." She uttered to the crowd, bowing softly before leaving the stage. "Another good night sweetie! Here's your pay. Are you sure you don't want to stay the night? It's rainy outside." The owner, Clarence, said. Alexa merely shook her head. "It's fine boss. I can take care of myself for now." "Alright... But do come back if you need anything eh?" Nodding, Alexa turned and left the pub into the stormy night... Walking down the street, she reminisced of the things she had now. A job, perhaps not the best, but enough to keep her fed. A small place to live, so she wouldn't freeze to death on the streets. Not steady, but not bad... However. The image of her sister asking for help plagued her mind. It was a recurring nightmare, one that had become more a more prevalent since she had left Yh'mi. Every night, on the clock, she would hear her praying for her return, to hear her voice once again. Then the screaming of demons, the rattle of heavy weaponry, the searing flash of laser fire. All these things crawled down her memories every day... Even now, they plagued her, and made her forget about her surroundings. She had just walked into an alley without noticing. "Hey... What do we have here?" A raspy voice called her attention behind her. She turned to meet the gaze of 3 men, all looking like drifters, perhaps foreign. She took a few steps back before one of the men grabbed her arm. "Where do you think you are going eh? Don't be scared we won't do anything you wouldn't like!" He said. Alexa stuttered, scared and confused. "P-Please I... I need to leave..." "No don't go! We are kinda lonely here. We saw you singing at that place, beautiful voice you got there... A nice purse too. And a rocking body..." The men threw her against a wall and pressed a knife to her throat. She stared at them in utter shock, her eyes beginning to water. "Give us what we want and you won't become another victim eh princess?" One of the men said. "Yeah. Girls disappear all the time y'know?" Another said, moving her coat out of the way to reveal her shoulder. "Please... I don't want... I don't want to hurt you please..." She answered her voice beginning to crack. She could feel it building up... "Hurt us? Haha!" The three men began to laugh out loud, failing to notice the environment around them. A few stones began to float, dust seemed to freeze in place, stray cats and dogs ran for safety. Small things that would go unnoticed, but she knew what they meant. Her voice became more desperate. "Please! Let me go! PLEASE LET ME GO PLEASE YOU DON'T KNOW." She closed her eyes. The blade was pressed harder against her throat in response. "Shut the fuck up bitch! You... You?" As Alexa opened her eyes, they were aflame with blue energy, her tears shining down her face like liquid stardust. The men began to feel the temperature drop suddenly, something pulling at their brains. They tried to run, but couldn't. They tried to say something, anything, but their bodies wouldn't answer. The one with the knife fell back in pain as the pressure in their brains became more pronounced. "I SAID. LET. ME. GO!" A wave of blue energy erupted from her as she screamed at the top of her lungs. To the outside viewer it made no sound, but inside the minds of those in the alley, a scream of supernatural proportions ringed inside their heads. The three men fell back in excruciating pain, their minds torn apart piece by piece by the cacophony. They thrashed and clawed at their eyes, desperately trying to make the pain stop and the noise go away. One of them began to bleed out of his eyes while the other lied twitching, copious amounts of a sickly yellow-red liquid pouring from his ears. The last one became like an animal, trying to climb up the wall in vain like a lizard trying to escape from a fire, before simply collapsing into a gibbering mess. The scream began to cease after a solid 30 seconds. The rain, stopped by the psychic explosion, began to fall again. With her back to the wall, Alexa sat with her hands to her head, her knees to her chest and her face hidden against them. She sobbed... Why her... Why didn't she die back in the hiveworld? Why couldn't she just... Die. @Alexei

Ansen gazed into Arieya's eyes with puzzlement. Every muscle of his body seemed to tense in her presence, as if his instincts could easily pick up the sheer difference in power between the two. He knew she wasn't lying. Rainza was a dangerous girl, more dangerous than anyone he had ever met. Perhaps the most dangerous currently standing in the world. Many had goals, achievements and necessities, but none compared to the raw, barely contained lust for retribution his beloved held inside her. He also knew that his mission was still not over, and however dangerous the Aldrak was, she was also his greatest ally, and if both of them at full power could not defeat the giant beast that had fell them, then what chance of surviving their missions did they have. "What say you?" was a rethorical question. The Emerald Banner Master knew this very well, only waiting for the confirmation to come out of his lips. Perhaps the knight was not ready for the challenges yet to come. But Ansen was no lesser man. He lowered his head in respect, knowing that a more formal bow was meaningless in the presence of someone as Arieya. "What must be done, will be done. In and beyond the call of duty. I, Ansen of Carilssia, submit to your teachings, Arieya of the Emerald Banner." His gaze would raise once again, meeting with hers as the last words came with his voice, his eyes aflame with the will of his spirit. "What is it that must be done?"

The alternating hum of the spellcycle bumped and weaved as it crossed the open spaces of the city's outer plains. "Logical place for a workshop." He thought, though he wasn't accustomed to the country side anymore, as it was either the spiraling towers of the capital, the claustrophobic rooms of the barracks or the open wilderness of the battlefield what he usually trudged on. Hunter rode down the road, his helmet reflecting the vibrant greens and browns like lines of paint from an artist's brush. A smirk crossed his face when he thought of the current situation. Aunoma was a part, if not THE technological future of Aelindra, and the fact that he was involved in the reformists gave him a window to see that future happen in front of his eyes. It also helped to think that he was good friends with the woman, and that his help would be appreciated instead of scorned. After a few more minutes, he arrived to what seemed to be a mobile workshop, quite rustic looking, but cozy in it's own sense. "Lady Aunoma..." He said, taking off his helmet and turning the spellcycle off before unloading a small cooler sitting tightly in the rear grill. "... Hopefully I don't intrude in your ruminations." Placing the cooler at his feet, he removed his jacket, showing he was wearing black, form fitting training t-shirt under it. Sturdy pants and a pair of trail boots completed his casual ensemble, with his hair left scruffy and just lightly combed to a side painting a stark contrast to the sharp, shiny looking Cavalry man present in the day to day. His speech however remained almost the same, a smooth but stern tone. "I brought some beverages. Ale, soft drinks and... Let's see... Iced Tea. No sugar. Your favorite, if I am not mistaken." A slight smirk formed on his lips as he said the last part, betraying his self-satisfaction. "If you must ask... Miss Elilah told me. She is a fine source of information."

Ellyna nodded happily, practicing the pronunciation a few times in her head for safekeeping before patting the man's arm and turning to face Novalie. "Ah, don't worry about that. You already look the part I asure you!" She said to her new sister, shaking her hand. "If anything, I am the one honored to meet you haha!" Ellyna then faced Lord Llewellyn again as he began speaking. The way he spoke reminded her of the teachers and professors in her father's educational videos, men and women of stern but pleasing attitude, carrying the crowd through their words with explanations and hand gestures. In her mind, the plan lacked a few essential components, as they had no specifics on their marks. However, a company of veterans was a solid option as they would be the most adapted to change and on-the-move strategies. Ellyna scanned the map, her eyes flickering as the information imprinted on the digital part of her brain. "Done." She whispered in a soft tone as the captain finished talking. "I have stored the information from the map, if you need to review it just tell me yes?" She continued excitingly. "My only question is... Where can I put my things? Oh... I have to change into my armor..." Ellyna looked around for a place to change, her naivety coming out to play once again as her lack of questions would denote. However, in her mind at least, she had all the information she needed and would need to be of as much help as she could in the mission to come. When pointed, she would excuse herself and walk cheerfully towards the room for a few minutes, returning already doning her suit of Blackwatch Armor and her pair of blades hanging from the sheaths on her back. She walked back to her place next to Novalie and began humming once again.

Chaos and dark magic. Ravenous undead surrounding them at all sides. A berserker of flame, cutting swath after swath of revenants with both gusto and insane rage. All these images would have broken lesser men into gibbering masses, for the mind of a human is a soft, fragile thing. However, in Hunter's mind, he saw mere obstacles to overcome. After all... They were not lesser men. His teammates fired their volleys with the precision a company of warriors such as themselves were expected to make, the hordes of the dead vaporizing as the caster gun's payloads flown through them like butter, those not destroyed tumbling to the sides inmobilized with severed limbs and bodies. Hunter leveled his gun as well, aiming towards the close group remaining and firing his own shot to make the gap that much more wide. To an outside observer, the men acted mere seconds away from the other, the staccato of gunfire sounding like a rapidly thumping war drum in the dawn of a battle. Indeed, though they were trying to downplay their previous knowledge of each other, it was inevitable that when working together, they would look, act and fight like a well-drilled firing line of elite soldiers. "Well... It seems like subtlety is no longer an option my friends." He said, giving the others a cool, but amused gaze before unsheathing his runic blade. "A fine show, but not yet finished." His sword would light up in arcane fire as he charged along with Elson and the others, cutting up any undead on his path as they continued their advance. At this rate, they would certainly manage to make a sizeable progress, but not without requiring as much effort as they could muster. His eyes moved sharply as another rabble of undead appeared from a nearby alleyway. "Look out!" He exclaimed as he raised his sword into the air before striking the soil with the edge. The runes lining the blade began to shine as a wave of magic boomed through the floor, reaching the horde and becoming a veritable wall of fire that stopped the monster's advance in their tracks.

I'm still here. I'm really, sorry for my lack of posts ;w; Internship is kicking my butt. I'll try to keep up tho!

Yes I am still here! I'll post soon. Sorry about getting lost, college got me running around in my last year.

"Yes, breakfast sounds good." Whispers aknowledged, her hands calmly moving to her bag. The lizard girl retrieved a pair of large, juicy oranges and a wrapped loaf of bread, apparently neatly filled with dry meats. "It's not a lot for breakfast, but it's quite balanced I presume." She continued, giving Aygis a half of the bread and an orange. The lizard girl sat next to the kobold and bit down on the bread, the salty taste of the dried meat a good compliment for the slightly floury texture of the bread. Her mind wandered for a few minutes, her eyes focusing on nothing in particular. A bird here and there, the rustling of the tree branches... "I can imagine how pretty this place would have been before the whispernight..." She said, finally looking at Aygis. "Perhaps someday it will go back to it's former glory. Maybe I'll even be still alive to see it." A few more minutes passed, her bread was gone and all she had left was the orange. Figuring she could eat and walk, she signaled Aygis as to continue their journey into the ruins. Pass a couple arches, the sprawling mess of rubble and masonry gave the city a ghastly face, Whisper's senses remaining alert even when still eating fruit. A hand always hovered near her daggers, and her eyes instinctually scanned the area. "Any idea where we could go? I don't notice any obvious roads... Perhaps..." It took a few seconds for the lizard girl to recognize they were standing on the broken remains of a watch tower, an old, dead reminder of civilization. A slight sensr of melancholy invaded her as she stepped on a broken shield, perhaps the last posession a soldier ever held in their hands.

He never would have thought that he would see Kuratel, much less after the Whispernight had occurred. Exchanging pleasantries to both old and new friends was, of course, his first priority, greeting them warmly, before standing still to admire the surroundings. Hunter was a man that exuded an almost ethereal kind of calm yet at the same time his presence was imposing and authoritative. His eyes moved from side to side, deep contemplation and analysis always a thing on his mind. His Royal Dragoon uniform was stylish and practical, his cavalry jacket a perfect fit and gilded with his rank and regiment badge while his caster gun and runic long sword hanged from his belt ready to be used in the occasion. Hunter scanned the area with a somber look in his eyes, his gaze paying respect to what once was a great land full of life and activity. He stood right next to his friends and fellow officers as Elilah explained the situation at hand, following the same script of feigning obliviousness to past meetings. A steely gaze followed her movements, but his mind was occupied processing and creating plans for any eventuality that could occur. After her explanation was done, he raised his hand to interject. “My lady, if I may…” He said, retrieving a backpack and revealing it’s contents to the group. “Since we are separating, I believe these will come in handy. I brought them in case we got lost on the way, but I believe this is a much better purpose.” Hunter gave every party member a flare gun, a clip on belt with 3 spare flares hanging from their grips. “If anyone in any group needs any assistance, shoot a flare so we can pinpoint your location. Hopefully we will be able to send some help your way. It could also work for additional light sources or even distractions. Be creative.” He spoke politely, like addressing an audience. “I’ll go with Sancroix and Faulkner, I believe my abilities will be much more handy in the retrieval of the airships. In any case, do not hesitate to shoot a flare, as I will be on the lookout for any signal.” Without further ado, the colonel walked towards Cazarosta and gave the man a friendly pat on the back and shoulder, a friendly smile on his face. “Those dragons have one hell of a challenge going their way, eh Caius? Take care of yourself dear friend, make sure Caterina hits the mark too. And don’t be too much of a hero or I’ll have to go and save your skin, and we all know your pride won’t be happy with that. Plus you have Campos there and if the reports are correct, his skill is legendary.” He said, giving a nod to Campos with the last words. With a chuckle, he then moved towards the airship team, standing with them with pride. “Captain Elson, ‘tis good to see you are eager for this mission as well. I’m sure your abilities will be of much help.” He said respectfully to his fellow officer before looking at the rest. “And here we are, walking into danger together once again, like old times.” Hunter had nothing but the utmost respect for these men, and he was already feeling quite confident in their success.

Same here! Good to see you here Grizz. Haven't written with you since Skies of Fire xD

Indeed, I'll be posting in a few

Little had passed before more people arrived to the Inn. Ellyna watched the captain stand at attention in front of Llewellyn, an act she found endearing if only to be able to copy such formal movements. She smiled at the man, name and rank already stated, before she hastily patted him in the arm and waved at him in an exagerated motion. "Hello Captain Gareau... Did I... Did I say it right?" She asked. "I'm Ellyna Garniel, I hope we can be good Blackwatch siblings!" The inn suddenly fell silent for a few seconds as another person, this time a girl, stepped into the building. From her position, Ellyna could not identify her very well. As she started moving forward, however, her optics focused on her face, a near inaudible zoom-in sound breaking the monotonal whispers of the surroundings. She giggled as the positronic part of her brain brought up the information stored... Her uncle's words only confirming her data that this girl was in fact Princess Novalie of the Corvinite Empire. Ellyna was going to say something to her before being interrupted by Captain Llewellyn. The plan seemed simple enough, the girl assimilating and gathering all information necessary about the quest in hand. She paid attention quite firmly as a matter of fact, going from peppy to focused in a second. A hunt was a quest of many stages, but her job there was a simple as it came. Watch, learn, and follow orders. "The Blackwatch never fights on it's own..." She repeated after the captain. "Yes Uncle... I mean... Captain!" She answered firmly, with a slight smile on her face. Ellyna then turned towards Novalie. "My data says you are Novalie, daughter of Emperor Corvinus." She said rather matter-of-factly before returning back to her overexciting self. "A real life princess right in front of me! And we get to be family too!... Sort of." Ellyna hugged Novalie's arm affectionately before jumping back and extending her hand. "Sorry... A little overexcited. I'm Ellyna Garniel, your new sister from now on." She continued, giggling happily. "Can't wait to begin learning from AND with you." Hopefully, she thought, they wouldn't find her as annoying.

Hunter stands ready to plunder o/