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[hider=Main Mission (Optional)][@ZAVAZggg][@c3p-0h][@Almalthia][@Damo021][@Exit][@Argetlam350][@NorthernKraken][@Inertia][@Tenma Tendo][@MsMorningstar][@Duoya]

The following ties into the main mission. This mission is optional.  If you'd like to be a part of this mission, please make it obvious so we can get a party formed.  At the end of each main mission, I will provide a summary for what happened in OOC so that anyone can join in the next main mission and still have background knowledge about what is going on.  All the main missions are going to be linked by an overarching thread.  The last main mission will be mandatory for all players.  Aaaaaaand here we go!
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[color=ed1c24][b]BLANCHETTE ROUGE[/b][/color] :+: [color=ed1c24][b]RED HOOD COMMANDER[/b][/color][/center]

	The sun had risen and, with it, Blanchette.  After waking from the recurring nightmares she faces every night, she stood up, covered in sweat, and started to make quick work of her morning routine.  Once she got herself cleaned up, she sauntered over to her armor that was rested on a rack.  Blanchette's nude body was a novel of scars and scratches, telling stories of the battles she survived and ones she nearly didn't.  She didn't used to wear the armor all the time, but she had since learned to be wiser.  There was no place that was truly safe.  She moved to her undergarments and began getting dressed before finally suiting up in her crimson.

	There was a new crop of Yellow Hoods.  It was time to put them to work.

	Her footsteps echoed down the corridors as she made her was to a particular dorm room.  Once she found herself at the right door, she gave it three solid pounds.  She didn't hear any movement on the other side, and there was no sign of response.  She pounded again. 

	"[color=ed1c24]Finlay![/color]" she shouted, stern.  When there still wasn't an answer, she opened the door and was surprised to find it hadn't been locked.  More surprising, still, was the vision of a half-naked Finlay sprawled out on the bed, his head hanging off of the side snoring with enough volume that one might've mistook his for a werewolf.  There was an empty mug that was discarded upon the floor with a damp puddle around it that smelled of ale. [color=ed1c24] [i]There[/i] was[i] cause for celebration last night[/i][/color], Blanchette reminded herself, trying to fight back her disappointment.  She looked around the small chamber and spotted a glass of water that was half full.  Without hesitation she grabbed it and hurled its contents right at Finlay's head.

	"[color=a9a9a9]Ah, for fook's sake![/color]" he shouted after spasming into consciousness.  "[color=a9a9a9]Who's the fookin' dead ma-[/color]" His bloodshot eyes regarded the shape of the blurry commander.  It was a shape he had memorized.  With a sudden jolt, he shot up off the bed and to his feet, standing at attention while water dripped from his hair and nose onto the floor.

	"[color=ed1c24]Good, you're up.[/color]" She had no intention of asking him how he came to be in this drunken stupor.  There was work to be done.  "[color=ed1c24]When Ryder came back to us, he told us of his encounter with a small horde of ghouls.  This is in line with other reports we've heard from various other northern outposts.  I need to know what's going on and I need to know it now.[/color]"

	"[color=a9a9a9]Yessir,[/color]" Finlay diligently responded.

	"[color=ed1c24]I don't want dilly dallying on this one. We need to hit this now and hit it hard before it gets out of control.  Seems like the perfect assignment for some of your recruits to cut their teeth on.[/color]"  Finlay just nodded where he stood.  "[color=ed1c24]Get a team together.  We don't have time for you all to travel by horse.  I'm sending a mage with you.  He's no hood and he's certainly no fighter.  He's only got one trick up his sleeve.[/color]"

	"[color=a9a9a9]Aye, o'course.  If I may, what's the trick?[/color]"

	"[color=ed1c24]He gets you where you need to be in seconds rather than weeks.  He's an incredibly valuable asset.  You break him, I break you.  Understood?[/color]"  There was no humor in the commander's face as he delivered that last line.  Finlay gave a dutiful nod and then watched as Blanchette left his quarters, shutting the door behind her.  Finlay let out a sigh of relief before turning around and taking in the scenery of his room.

	"[color=a9a9a9]Right.  First, get the room ta stop spinnin'.  Then we throw the yellas to the wolves.  Gonna be a good day.[/color]"

[hr]

[b][i]Some time later...[/i][/b]

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[color=ed1c24][b]FINLAY DOUGAL[/b][/color] :+: [color=ed1c24][b]RED HOOD[/b][/color] :+: [color=ed1c24][b]GREAT HALL[/b][/color][/center]

	Finlay was briefing most his hoods in the main hall about the situation.  To the right of him stood [url=https://i.ibb.co/n6sz2RS/Francis-Dobber.jpg]a man of small stature in a very earthy wardrobe with a large pointed hat and a pipe that he was currently toking upon[/url]. 

	"[color=a9a9a9]...and the Commander expects us to get results.  This is... uh... Well he's going to help get ya there and bring ya back and that's about it.  Make sure to keep him safe or we're gonna feel the wrath o' Rouge.[/color]"  He looked to the short man.  "[color=a9a9a9]The hell [i]is[/i] your name, anyway?[/color]"

	"[color=a2d39c]Francis,[/color]" said the man, his voice an incredibly high as if he were exposed to massive amounts of helium.  Finlay did a double-take, his face contorting as if he had just witnessed someone eating their own excrement.  Fancis, on the other hand, just took another puff from his pipe before continuing.  "[color=a2d39c]Francis Dobber.  At your service.[/color]"

	"[color=a9a9a9]...you've gotta be fookin' kiddin' me...[/color]" Finlay just stared at him as if he were looking at a mystical unicorn.  After a moment, he forced himself to snap back to attention and looked to the crew once more.  "[color=a9a9a9]Right.  So this squeaky fookin Dobber is gonna get you dobbers up north to Crimson Heights.  You're objectives are as follows: Locate the the fookers that forgot how to die and kill 'em proper.  Find out why in the ever-burnin' hell they were there to begin with, and get yer arses back here with some useful information.  Ya follow?[/color]"

	"[color=a2d39c]And also make sure I'm safe,[/color]" Francis added with a queasy smile.  Finlay looked back at him with a look of horror and continued confusion as to the existence of someone such as he.

	"[color=a9a9a9]Oh sweet lords, I'm gonna kill ya myself if I have to here ya speak again, ya fookin' mouse in man clothes![/color]" Francis sheepishly went back to his pipe.  "[color=a9a9a9]Right.  Ryder!  You're takin' this one,[/color]" he glanced at the other Red Hood who was leaned up against the wall across the room.  "[color=a9a9a9]There's no way in hell I'm spending any extra time with this weird, properly named fookhead.[/color]"  Ryder pushed himself off the wall and walked to the front to stand by Finlay.  He was ready.  "[color=a9a9a9]Who else is in?[/color]"