[b][center][url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jy1q7oeBycw]Now[/url][/center][/b] [center] [img]http://i.imgur.com/5X4Qj0X.png[/img] [/center] [center][img]http://i.imgur.com/GYgXtMQ.png[/img][/center] [b]Clockwork Town Guild[/b] Two rookie Guilders, [b]Estelle Fenix (Rank H Swordswoman)[/b] and [b]Marcus Wiseman (Rank H Wind Mage)[/b] return to their lodgings in the Clockwork Town Guild, turning in their latest mission to subdue a rampaging Boarig. Inside, Estelle automatically dives for the Mission Board, hoping to take on a fresh new mission that's a little bit more dangerous and exciting then the usual rescuing of cats that seems to plague the town. The missions are slim pickings - the majority of missions already taken or far too high a danger rank for them to accept. And they're not the only ones. However there are two missions available, under the leadership of veteran Guilder [b]Largo [The Lion] Mann (Rank A Warrior)[/b] who's willing to allow the rookie Guilders to join him on his mission - to clear a bandit infestation squatting in a castle ruins nestled atop a hill next to the snowy mining town of Tabul. At the same time, the town is plagued by wild Firons attacking them from the other side, making camp across a frozen lake. Numerous Guilders answer the call. Of them they include: [b]Moira Dennis (Rank H Berserker)[/b] - A veteran Guilder of many years whose bad manners and angry temperment has made her never advance beyond H rank. [b]Syed Dyjani (Rank H Electricity Mage)[/b] - A reluctant new Guilder, magically bound to stay within a certain distance of Moira, much to his chagrin. [b]Selan Leclair (Rank G Dancer/Songstress)[/b] - A beautifully exotic woman with a cool and calm personality, and bewitching abilities that turn the attention of all men to her. [b]Trixie May (Rank H Prankster)[/b] - The youngest Guilder ever at 16, Trixie is a hyper and energetic prankster who batters adversaries with twin uzis and grenades. [b]Amy (Rank H Cleric)[/b] - Trixie's companion, Amy is a beautiful blonde cleric with an angry grudge towards all men, to the extent that requests for healing are often ignored. [b]"Thunderhawk" (Rank C Ranger)[/b] - An alcoholic womaniser, Thunderhawk thinks of nothing but himself and the booze he nurses in his glass, despite needing to provide a better example. [b]Nikki "Nikkolaira" Wyatt (Rank G Rogue)[/b] - A playful, flirtatious and life happy nekomimi with a penchant for breaking into and stealing belongings. [b]Colchester "Cole" Grale (Rank F Earth Warrior)[/b] - An eco warrior attuned to nature, the big, stocky man is deathly serious and determined towards right and wrong, even when it rubs off negatively to others. [b]Tobias "Tobi" Zenmyr (Rank G Marauder)[/b] - A happy, carefree jokester with a penchant for riding on top of trains instead of inside. Together the Pride is formed, and after passing on the details of the mission to his hopeful team, Largo instructs the Guilders to meet at the train station early the next morning, and for his team to get plenty of rest. [b]The Fateful Morning[/b] Estelle wakes up late the next morning, dashing madly to the train station, where everyone else, bar Largo, has already arrived. Largo finally arrives, laughing at everyone else - this was his first test to see who would and could take the initiative to check the train times. The train arrives, and the Pride quickly board. Two hours remain before the Guilders reach Tabul. During that time, the Guilders laugh, frolic, talk and throw up. But the time for jolly frivolities is about to quickly run out. [center][img]http://i.imgur.com/Ei2caoW.png[/img][/center] --- [center] [img]http://i.imgur.com/des994o.png[/img] [/center] [center][img] http://i.imgur.com/oppZAex.png[/img][/center] [b]Disaster strikes[/b] Once the Pride reaches Tabul, they realise that the situation is far worse then they could possibly imagine. During the night, the town was besieged by the arrival of a new figure, [b]Gaoh Capuello[/b], the father of the two bandit sibling ringleaders, [b]Sylvester “Don” Capuello[/b] and [b]Josette Capuello[/b]. Somehow Gaoh managed to break free from prison, track his roaming children down and rejoin them. And alongside that, Gaoh managed to steal experimental military grade weapons with him: A magitech cannon and rifle. Gaoh tests the might of his newfound power on the town itself, levelling a small section. What was originally a D ranked mission at most escalates to A rank. With Gaoh and the bandits on one side, the Firon pack on the other, and all communication lines between Tabul and other villagers severed, the situation has grown far worse then any might believe possible. Largo originally instructs his charges to return to Clockwork Town at once, but led by Estelle’s outburst, the rookie Guilders refuse to back down with the Tabul townsfolk in danger. And as dangerous as the situation is for the rookies, the numbers are so far against Largo, he could use the assistance. He reluctantly agrees, hoping to make use of the early time and Selan’s abilities to hopefully deal with the bandits whilst they remain asleep. The Pride embarks to the castle ruins where the bandits have made camp. Reaching the hill’s peak, Largo separates the group into two teams, better to scout the ruins quickly, floor by floor. In one team there is Largo, Cole, Estelle, Marcus, Trixie and Amy. The other, led by Thunderhawk, includes Selan, Moira, Syed, Nikki and Tobi. Largo’s team enters through the front, Thunderhawk’s team the rear. [center][img] http://i.imgur.com/4j4buQn.png[/img][/center] [b]Things go bad[/b] It isn’t long before the Pride are discovered and battles erupt between them and the bandit posse. After interrogating one of the bandits, Largo departs his team to immediately hunt down the main threat – Gaoh, at the peak of the castle. Estelle quickly grows frustrated with Cole’s sub commanding, and desires putting a more direct end to the danger by racing to the top and finding the bandit leaders, and so she quickly entices Trixie – Marcus has no choice but to follow. Thunderhawk’s team finds the mission quickly turn south – their team is overwhelmed and Selan assaulted and kidnapped. They race to rescue her. As smaller battles and explosions ring out through the ruins, Estelle, Marcus and Trixie discover Josette’s room, and an equally pissed off Josette with it. After Josette becomes enamoured with Marcus, a furious catfight breaks out between her and Estelle. Meanwhile, Selan is introduced to Don in a way nobody could have predicted. Trapped and locked in a hidden room, Selan has to rely on her talents to beguile and subdue the dangerous man on her own. And while all this occurs, Largo encounters Gaoh at the top of the ruins, and the two battle. After a brief skirmish, Largo appears to be defeated, with Gaoh striding out confidently. [b]Things go worse[/b] With Gaoh let loose, the whole Pride and castle begins to feel his wrath. He stalks after and attempts to hunt down and kill the Pride, not caring who gets in his way. Don, after bonding with Selan and witnessing the Pride’s bravery in standing up against the father who inspired so much fear and sadness inside him, tries to stand up to him, but is quickly defeated. The Ruins is subjected to much stress and damage, and begins to crumble. Determined, Estelle fights against Gaoh and is separated from Marcus, but it proves futile. She’s momentarily saved by the others, but then they’re all left subjected to Gaoh’s wickedness. As things reach their most desperate point, Gaoh becomes inches away from killing them all – and it’s only a last second save by Largo that the Pride survive. [b][center][url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2r5KNTqGw4]Rules of Nature[/url][/center][/b] As Largo and Gaoh’s battle is violently felt throughout the entire castle, the rest of the Pride flee. Marcus, alongside Don and Josette, flee through the ruins using another way. As the ruins collapse into rubble and debris, Largo defeats Gaoh, and the day is momentarily won. [b]Rest[/b] The Pride are earned a brief respite, and they enjoy it to the fullest with an impromptu snowball fight. The team begin to bond more, enthusiastic with relief at having survived such an incredibly dangerous adventure. But the joy is short lived, when the other trouble plaguing Tabul – the raging pack of Firons, attacks the Tabul mines, and the lives of the villagers who attempt to go after them are put into danger. The Pride race into the Tabul mines, slaying the Firons who come in their way. [center][img] http://i.imgur.com/LTYqLJG.png[/img][/center] [b]Baptism of Fire[/b] They reach the centre of the mines, and a frenetic battle royale erupts between the Pride, the Firons, and a terrifically powerful Mother Firon. The Pride barely have enough stamina left, but manage to fend off most of the Firons and protect the villagers. But then the impossible happens. In a bid to save Estelle from an attack from the Mother Firon, Largo is stabbed straight through the chest. At the same time, the supports holding the interior of the mine structure is destroyed, and once again things start to fall apart. Suddenly the ceiling collapses. [b][center][url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FePrm-vj58]Honor[/url][/center][/b] Before the Pride’s rookies are killed, Largo saves them one final time, by holding the ceiling up with his last ebbing strength. As the Pride all turn to flee, Largo bids them farewell, and entrusts Estelle with a secret letter intended to be delivered to the Clockwork Guild leaders Rize and Kara, asking her to give it to the secretary Marise. Estelle is pulled away by Marcus, crying and screaming all the time as the Lion roars one last time. The battle of Tabul has ended. And from a vantage point overlooking the entire town, two mysterious hooded figures watch in content with the knowledge that their plans have succeeded.