[hider=Annaveya Kushrina]

[b]Name[/b]: Annaveya Kushrina, [i]The Western Cross[/i]
[b]Age[/b]: 26
[b]Gender[/b]: Female 
 
[b]Physical Description[/b]:
[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/D3w0jvD.jpg[/img][/center]

[b]Skills[/b]:
-Master of Aeronautical Combat
-Adept in Hand to Hand and Close Quarters Combat
-Negotiator in Mercantile / Business arrangements
-Bilingual - Kushrina Family's odd native tongue and common

[b]History[/b]:
Historians always conflict with one another when they discuss the history of the Kushrina Line.

It is a  matter of mixed opinion and conjecture, yet none can ever deny the fact the most powerful Mercantile family began rather small. A cluster of traders and tradesmen from the wastes of the desert towards the end of the Old Empire. Even through tragic and terrible Wars they prospered, sitting on the sidelines rather than getting involved and taking sides. As a result, the wealth they accumulated was absolutely massive, rather than those merchants who supplied weapons and got attacked by enemy nations, the Kushrina caravans supplied food and medicine equally for any who requested it.

Even so, such wealth did not go unnoticed as time drew on. Pirates, accursed Privateers on the seas and Raiders on the ground out for glory and greed often began to victimize Kushrina mercantile fleets. Initially, the family requested protection and assistance from military forces, and such a request was bitterly refused. As a result, ingenuity took upon it's shine to the family as they were the first to leave the hazards of the earth, and took to the skies. The first Airships they created were simple, cargo carrying structures that hauled goods and cash from one city to the next. They were slow, cumbersome, and could almost be matched by horses on the ground. 

However, as their wealth began to continue accumulate even further, their stubbornness towards efficiency brought new invention to the skies. The Airships they and they alone controlled gradually became more sleek, faster, and even larger in comparison. Such drive soon brought about the invention of the Kushrina's Family's greatest prize during the emergence of the New Empire: The Dawn's Guard. It is an absolutely massive Airship. Some claiming it to be a literal city floating in the air, and others began to fear and despise it. Travel that once took months now could be completed in the matter of a few hours thanks to the Guard.

Yet it was created for once purpose. It was no longer a simple merchant ship. 

It was heavily armed.

For the Kushrina family knew all too well that the ingenuity of Pirates had taken to the skies as well, and they intended to continue to protect their absolute control of wealth in the skies. Within The Dawn's Guard grew the family's private paramilitary force, subjected to extreme training the Kushrina family and their associates became the true elite aviators of the air, calling themselves "The Heaven's Lance", children of the main line of merchants were all required to join this service. For without the benefit of Magic, they had to resort once again to their inventiveness to insure the Family's survival. 

Such invention brought about the first fighter Aircraft.

Launched from the Guard, these light, heavily armed, and incredibly fast while maneuverable machines could number from a handful to even dozens in a single attack wave. Which, when backed by the massive and elaborate weaponry on The Dawn's Guard, they could be used to remarkable levels of effectiveness. Again, Pirates suffered even greater losses from the sky as a Result, and other Mercantile Families soon took to the air and flooded the heavens. While respective governments suffered, the Kushrina Family began to flourish to even greater heights, as now Mercantile Families were also paying them for the escort of their goods. Such flowering prosperity then grew in the form of three more capital Airships. 

The [i]Heavens' Vanguard[/i].

The [i]Dauntless Wind[/i].

And [i]The Fated Endeavor[/i]

Each ship is home to four squadrons of Twenty-five Fighters each. Named after Valkyrie, each respectively have a directional and numerical denomination. The names that so many Pirates came to know and fear were Brynhildr, Hildr, Hrist, and Skuld. Each respective squadron specializing in specific types of warfare. Brynhildr and Hildr known for their ability to dominate the skies in Air-to-Air combat. Hrist for their remarkable intermixed Air-to-Air and Air-to-Ground tactics, and lastly Skuld for Air-to-Sea. (For an example, Annaveya's aircraft call sign is "West Hrist 01")

Even at the utter dislike and nervousness of various nations, the Kushrina Armada had been truly born. Protecting the skies of their respective mercantile lines and even others of similar profession from Piracy. Some have even come to call them the "Nation of the Skies", even though they have no structured governmental setting. They are simply a company trying to protect their assets, and will do so with an Iron Fist. 

These three new Capital Ships joined The Dawn's Guard in the skies in a continuing show of might and dominance in the four corners of the New Empire. From victories against even the most malicious Pirates, a new concept began to rise. Each Fighter Wing gained a new form of Rank, The Cross. Such distinction came only to the pilots of Kushrina blood who held the most prowess in the air. Named for each of their respective locations, the Northern, Eastern, Western, and Southern Crosses soon came to be known for the ferocity in which they engaged the enemy that attacked their family's incredible wealth. Rumor and legend often tell of their incredible ability to not only take on multiple enemy fighters at once, but also destroy their home ship at the same time. 

This is often where historians finally discuss The Western Cross. 

Known by such a name, it took years for them to discern the fact that her name was in fact Annaveya Kushrina. The heiress to the Kushrina Fortune, she is often claimed to be the greatest pilot of the age. Pushing Airship and Fighter performance to the very edge of the envelope time and time again. Though her business tact wasn't necessarily the best, her ability to command and control The Dawn's Guard fighter wing was absolutely unrivaled less for the other Crosses. It was in the Sky, rather than the Administrative side where she felt most at home, and her performance signified it.

It was the Western Cross that lead the other Four in an attack against the Pirate's Rebellion. Where hundreds of Pirates and Privateers banded together to bring down the Kushrina Capital Ships. Initially, the Pirates had planned to take them on one at a time, where they might stand a fair chance in combat.

Yet it was not in the Kushrina Family Blood to play fair. 

With the growth of wealth, the growth of their control of the skies, massive and intricate spy networks then sprouted forward. And as a result, the Family knew very well that the Pirates were going to attack The Dawn's Guard all at once. It was a heavily clouded day that moment, and as the Guard hovered in the air, the Pirates surged forward in attack. With a rallying cry, they charged defiantly across the skies. And then the world itself changed. 

Hellfire began to rain from the sky. 

Dozens of Kushrina Fighters, numbering into the Hundreds dove in upon the attackers from above. And to their horror they saw something they hadn't expected. Four Crosses. Then from the clouds descended the four behemoth capital ships, each of them so massive that they could blot out the sun. All with their incredibly heavy weapons trained upon their adversaries and there was nothing else the Privateers could do. 

Mercilessly, hundreds, if not thousands of Pirates died that day. The key victory solidified the skies for trade and commerce for the next several years, and made even government sanctioned navies shudder in the thought of taking on a Kushrina Capital Ship. Until at long last Pirates began to sprout up again and harass merchants once again. Having been a Cross since she was merely seventeen, Annaveya simply continued to hold command of her Wing, rejecting any further promotion at the disgruntlement of her father until she was forced at long last to take command of The Dawn's Guard at the age of 26.

Stubbornly, she still leads her Wing in combat. 


[b]Personality[/b]:
Of what is little known about Annaveya by historians, what is the most prevalent is her affection towards ruthless efficiency. Pirates upon being caught in the act were not even brought to a fair trial, and were executed on the spot. Often by her. Unafraid to get her hands dirty and into the trenches in the family's unending war against piracy, the odd contrast is that she's oddly benevolent towards those who are innocent. Even assisting competing Merchants while they fled from Pirate attackers. On the surface, the Kushrina family practices strictly moral business practices.

Though as historians delve deeper, they are beginning to find shrewd dealings between the family and the Crown. As well as other dealings with suspicious outside agencies independent of the Queen.  

[b]Equipment[/b]: 
Six-Shot Revolver x2
Full-tang Combat Knives x4

[hider=The Kushrina Mercantile Family]

An ancient merchant family known for thousands of years for spectacular business practices and ambitions, the Kushrina Family is headed by Alexandrov Kushrina the Eastern Cross, the commander of the fastest capital warship ever built, The Fated Endeavor. Known for their adventurous and daring tendencies, the family has risen from rags to become one of the most wealthy and a powerful autonomous force in the empire. Second only to the Empress and the military forces there accordingly.

Controlling and devoutly protecting seventy-five percent of the airship trade, and even the twenty-five percent they don't control, they continue as a business alongside commanding an elite, privately owned paramilitary force. Their prowess with building not only trade ships, but aerial instruments of war has granted them a valuable contract with building warships and trade ships for the Empire. Other smaller nations not united beneath the Empire's flag resent the existence of the family, but there is little that they can do other than be crushed beneath the Heel of a Kushrina Capital ship if they were to attack; and they know it.

Three of Alexandrov's children command the respected Airships outside of the Endeavor. With the youngest being Halion Kushrina the Northern Cross at the age of twenty, commanding the largest ship, The Dauntless Wind. The second being Emile Kushrina the Southern Cross at the age of twenty-two, commanding the most heavily armored ship, The Heavens' Vanguard. Lastly, the eldest daughter, Annaveya Kushrina the Western Cross at the age of twenty-six, commands the most heavily weaponized ship, The Dawn's Guard. The respective four crosses are known for two things: first and most infamously, their prowess in fighting in combat and aeronautical warfare. Second, their business cunning, and ability to recruit some of the most brilliant and ambitious minds in the world. 

The people understand. If a Kushrina ship is the shadow which blots out the sun, they will be safe.

The respective Crosses can be seen below.

[b]Alexandrov Kushrina, the Eastern Cross; Head of the Kushrina Family[/b]

[img]http://i697.photobucket.com/albums/vv333/uthanos/4241eac78f84c0c39e12d16a708f88708a2bb80b.jpg[/img]

[b]Annaveya Kushrina, the Western Cross; Eldest Daughter, Heiress to the Family Fortune and Company[/b]

[img]http://i697.photobucket.com/albums/vv333/uthanos/gilded_roses_by_kureo95-d60er1r_zps71b6448e.jpg[/img]

[b]Emile Kushrina, the Northern Cross; Eldest Son[/b]

[img]http://i697.photobucket.com/albums/vv333/uthanos/0618559c7538e86c439bcdafb0943ef0a85f7603.jpg[/img]

[b]Halion Kushrina, the Southern Cross; Youngest Son[/b]

[img]http://i697.photobucket.com/albums/vv333/uthanos/075350a034ad89e877402af3fb697bf693ca0f77.jpg[/img]

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