[center][b]Nathaniel Hawthorne - Retrieval Team[/b][/center]

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Nathaniel cursed himself furiously as he slowly fell toward the earth. He was lagging behind the rest of the team after hesitating on the jump, then pulling the cord for his parachute far too early. He'd never been very comfortable with heights, but this was no time to let simple fears get the best of him. The others all chimed in on the radio with messages of their safe arrival, but Nathaniel stewed in his disgruntlement without adding to the radio chatter, muttering curses rather than letting the others know of his problems.

Finally he was nearing the roof of the mansion, so he pulled on the cords to turn his parachute. He intended to land down on the north-east corner where the others had touched down, to join up with Rhettland and sweep the building together for extra safety. However, Nathaniel found he'd misjudged the distance to the roof and went sailing right over the north-eastern corner of the building. It was at this point that he realized that this whole nonsense with the parachute couldn't have just been ineptitude on his part; there was no way he could screw up the jump, the chute, [i]and[/i] the landing all by his own failings. It had to be another test, a trial set before him by himself, his future godly self reaching back in time to make sure his mortal form achieved everything needed for the ascension to come. Nathaniel decided that this trial must be meant to teach him humility, that there were things that mortals could not control and forces they must bow before lest they be broken.

He landed on the south-west corner of the roof and managed to keep his feet. He disentangled himself from the parachute and felt the rain for the first time. It brought a tiny smile to his lips; it was just another little piece of the test, of course. Nathaniel started looking round for a way in as he finally chimed in on the radio, following the lead of the others and letting them know of his arrival. "Hawthorne here, got delayed, just landed on the south-west corner of the mansion roof. Heading inside now." He didn't bother giving any further explanation for the deviation from the plan, as that would have just taken up precious time they didn't have. Instead he made his way over to the west side of the building to look for a way in, holding his rifle at the ready, just in case.