[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/EE0Ofiz.png[/img] [img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/dHRmLjYwLjU1Y2QxMy5VR0Z5ZEMxVWFXMWxJRUZrZG1WdWRIVnlaWEp6LjA,/first-class-demo.thin.webp[/img][/center] [hr] The Grand Plaza was bustling with folks of all walks of life in the morning before The Dragon. The large notice board didn’t just appeal to those craven for money or the usual suspects of Mudville, but also to the lordlings of Ersand’Enise who sought new experiences and opportunities to land the rare quest for a unique artefact. Many of the postings were relatively mundane with many offers for jobs that flew over the heads of the elite majority of the school, some others were simple tasks with varying levels of rewards. Only a handful offered what most dreamed about and were inevitably fought over. There were, however, jobs that couldn’t simply be posted out in public. Even the boards in the questionable alleyways of the Workman’s Quarter did not advertise more than recruitment offers for ethically challenged small jobs. If one wanted to rake in the big bucks and experience life on the edge, they had to have connections or the will to put their nose in places few would willingly want to. The arrival of the Century made the opportunists from the underworld all the more wary of those who caught wind of their machinations, but the offers were nonetheless still there. The Century wasn’t the only thing that had come to the Free City as of recently. The exotic and powerful individuals from across the world ushered in sinister interests that greedily rub their hands at such a golden opportunity to exact their agendas with limited obstructions. [hr][hr] [center][img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/b3RmLjYwLmNkNDg0ZS5UR0Z0WW5NZ2RHOGdkR2hsSUZOc1lYVm5hSFJsY2cuMA/wushin.regular.webp[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/SSZy0Xb.jpg[/img][/center] [h2][b]Velles 5th[/b][/h2] [b]Location:[/b] The Docks of Ersand’Enise [b]Day of the week:[/b] Taldes [b]Time:[/b] 5:00 HE [b]Characters:[/b] Carmillia [@Animus], Desmond [@Th3King0fChaos], Silas [@Tackytaff], Trypano [@A Lowly Wretch] [hr] One such interest was represented by a notorious name among the Twin Continents’ underworld: Sinn’ulen’luunetar, commonly referred to as simply “Sinn”, was a well-known broker for affluent parties. Trust is a very difficult and expensive thing to gain in this line of work, and Sinn is one of few that had earned it with his credibility never being questioned in the twenty-odd years he had been operating. What exactly he was looking for was unknown - dissemination of information was not a thing among these people - but the select few given a rendez-vous through their own means were given “600 Magi” and the possibility for much more with the promise of no blood needing to be spilt. Ultimately, four were vetted by one of Sinn’s envoys and provided with a location and time: The Docks, “The Birch”, 5 Eshiran. It would be dark by then, with a convenient few patrols. The ship baptised “The Birch” was an old Caravel ship parked in one of the end rows with access made easy for any intruder who would care enough to board it. Upon setting foot onto the creaking floorboards of the deck, the four interlopers who had been seduced by either the compensation or the mystery of the meeting would be greeted by the infamous broker himself. [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/F1RiWwe.png[/img][/center] [color=849B84]”We will keep this brief,”[/color] Sinn’ulen’luunetar’s deep, masculine voice beckoned for their attention before he spat the jamb’ysp he had been chewing, [color=849B84]”or the Century will find you with me.”[/color] they had a lot to lose if they were found associated with such a man. He was sitting on the stairs leading to the quarterdeck and seized the brown, leather bag by his feet. The boat was poorly illuminated, which made his Yasoi features difficult to distinguish until he got closer. Clearly, he wasn’t a Constantian by his features, and yet he spoke in perfect Avincian, [color=849B84]”All you need is here.”[/color] he set the bag onto a convenient barrel that was tied to the mast. A general glance was given to the four teens, with Silas warranting a squint and further scrutiny. He didn’t say anything. Sinn then pulled a vial from one of his pouches and made sure the group got a good look. Beyond simply being glass, it had a very specific mark on it. A learned Blood mage would recognise it as the fruit of forbidden magic, and by the shape of it, likely served to preserve whatever was contained inside, [color=849B84]”One drop of blood”[/color], he traded the vial for more jamb’ysp, [color=849B84]”or five hairs in these vials. That is the minimum expected.”[/color] Inside the bags would be another container with six of these vials, a pair of peculiar leather gloves and a simple envelope. [color=849B84]”All you need to know,”[/color] he paused to chew, [color=849B84]”is in there. Play us, and we will know. And so will they.”[/color] not once did he smile or raise his voice. The man kept himself unreadable and level-headed. There was no desire to drag this encounter with children. The students were dismissed barely two minutes after stepping into the boat without being given an opportunity to speak, lest they be shut down by the broker. Once they opened the envelope, they found a folded parchment with only a sketch of a face and a phrase written below it: [center][i]The blood of the Lamb, or the Wolf’s pelt.[/i][/center] [hider=Action Opportunities] You are now involved in a very high-risk mission. You will get your chance to interact with Sinn as a reward for completing this quest. Brother Wolf has been known to patrol the following locations: -The Auction House -The Merchant Dormitories -The Workman Quarter You can choose to look for him and employ whatever strategy you wish in order to get your demanded quota. Feel free to employ whatever comes to mind, however be warned that he is an absurdly powerful foe and force isn’t always the answer. Or maybe it is! It is also known that Team Covenant currently resides in the Grand Cathedral, however further investigation is necessary to know where Brother Wolf/Lamb sleeps.[/hider] [hr][hr] [center][img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/b3RmLjYwLmNkNDg0ZS5TR2xuYUNCVGRHRnJaWE0uMA/wushin.regular.webp[/img] [img]https://i.pinimg.com/564x/2d/76/ef/2d76ef17ec521b509fb6cdba4a9db049.jpg[/img][/center] [h2][b]Velles 5th[/b][/h2] [b]Location:[/b] Distillery in Crafters’ Quarters - Ersand’Enise [b]Day of the week:[/b] Taldes [b]Time:[/b] 4:30 HE [b]Characters:[/b] Abdel Saqqaf Aziz, Evander [@RezonanceV], Khaliun, Leander [@Creative Chaos], Leon [@Animus], Ymiico [@Salsa Verde], Yuliya [@Suicharte] [hr] On the other side of the face of illegality lurked the most fickle and questionable types that desperately sought out manpower to exact their goals. The Burning Order was not going to benefit from using its name for publicity, even among thugs. It also didn’t have the monetary means to get prize candidates - or at least it pretended that it was the case - leaving space for only those that had a good reason to go after a Sanguinaire. Or the morbidly curious. It was their funeral. Khaliun was one such person that knew of the Sanguinaire, of the Burning Order and how to deal with them. Naturally, if any bloodsucker hunting were to occur, she would be one of the first to know, and so would Yuliya be informed as well. It wasn’t to say that rumours didn’t spread, as the young but valiant Abdel Saqqaf Aziz of Waking Nightmare made his recent close encounter with such a beast known to the authorities and those around him. It would come to no surprise that he too would attend this wild hunt. All those that entertained the rumour of a Sanguinaire hunt would eventually know of the meeting spot: A distillery in the Crafters’ Quarters at 4:30 HE. The instigators of this buzz were late, taking at least an hour to attend their supposed “event”, [color=EE9817]”لماذا هم بطيئون جدا؟” (What’s taking them?)[/color] groaned a restless Abdel, eager to deliver Vashdal’s justice to the monster he had encountered before whilst obliviously glancing toward Yuliya from time to time. A few others had gathered, a couple not even from the school, and waited. Some eventually left, thinking it all a hoax, but eventually their wait would be rewarded. Two men, both above average in height and wearing matching dark cloaks with their hoods lowered. Their rifles were also very easy to notice on their backs, with the darker skinned one also carrying a longsword on his hip. [color=36AE36]”Pardon me, mein Freunde!"[/color] an extremely Kerremand man with blonde hair and ginger stubble jovially greeted the group of people in the establishment, [color=36AE36]”Precautions, precautions. Can’t have enough, ya?”[/color] he beamed toward them all and exaggerated a shrug. [color=686A8F]”Yes, thank you for waiting,”[/color] this man’s accent wasn’t as thick as the Kerreman’s, but a fine ear could pinpoint an accent from Sakenga, [color=686A8F]”what you have heard is true: A Sanguinaire is among us. To ensure the safety of every man, woman and child in the Twin Continents, the Burning Order has, is and will investigate all information on these creatures and cull them.”[/color] this one didn’t lack any enthusiasm, but the humour was absent and his posture was stiffer than his laid back partner. [color=686A8F]”You may call me Lissanon, and I’ll be happy to answer your questions.”[/color] he closed his hands before his abdomen and gave a general glance to all those that had decided to stay, [color=36AE36]”Und Ich bin Viktor. Pleasure! I will be joining the hunt with you.”[/color] his pearly not-so-whites were flashed to the public. In general, they would explain the basics of a Sanguinaire, their lust for blood and how they “assimilated” power, albeit in somewhat vague terms. Certainly not enough to prepare them for what was to come. [color=78CBE8]”Если то, что вы сказали, правда, (If what you said is accurate,”)[/color] spoke Khaliun as she leaned toward Yuliya with the softest of tones her naturally deep voice could muster, [color=78CBE8]”это может быть истинным или даже высоким. (it may be a true, or even a high.)”[/color] the Tethered gave the same passing look Lissanon had given to the group, [color=78CBE8]”Если это так, используйте их в качестве корма. Не рискуйте разоблачением. (If that is the case, use them as fodder. Do not risk exposure.)”[/color] light steam escaped from the shadows brought by her hood, [color=78CBE8]”Эти двое не знают, с чем имеют дело. (These two do not know what they are dealing with.)”[/color] [hr] [b]5:30 HE[/b] Finally, they were let out, with the simple instruction to patrol the night with forged Lamplighter identification as to bypass curfew. The Century didn’t help, but the lack of direct affiliation to the Order made things easier. Viktor led the hunt, often gathering a little congregation before spreading out. [color=EE9817]”Help! I found someone!”[/color] Abdel called out, concerned for the recently injured teen girl over the perpetrator. She had been bitten with the telltale signs of a beginner Sanguinaire: Sloppy, visible markings and leaving the victim in the middle of the street in the Workman Quarter near the Queensgate. [color=36AE36]”Ya, das a Sanguinaire attack. I have seen this each time.”[/color] he tended to the girl’s superficial wound, [color=36AE36]”Get her somewhere safe, ya?”[/color] he nodded at one of the volunteers to carry the girl. [color=78CBE8]”Another one, further east.”[/color] muttered Khaliun in Avincian, which both Yuliya and Abdel could hear at the very least. Abdel furiously jetted himself with the help of his powerful arcane magic until he found the next victim, an elderly citizen with no real mana-value, [color=78CBE8]”... это не нормально.” (This isn’t normal.)[/color] and again, another hunter called out an unconscious individual, this time a student with a RAS any Sanguinaire would be attracted to, [color=EE9817]”This monster must be stopped! فاشدال يحفظهم جميعا بأمان! وتعطيني القوة! (Vashdal keep them safe! Give me Strength!)”[/color] Abdel took to the air, only to notice the same pattern Khaliun had. [color=78CBE8]”This is trap.”[/color] remarked Khaliun as she reached out to keep Yuliya back, far less concerned with what the others would do, [color=78CBE8]”Don’t rush. Don’t overwhelm prey. It will run if it feels in danger.”[/color] and then she let go once she had imparted her wisdom, taking to higher altitude too and shadowed her own Sanguinaire. The body count didn’t climb until the hunters would inevitably find a trail of blood leading into the Proving Grounds. A gate was left conspicuously opened with torches burning strong and ambers flicking about within the tunnels that led to the colosseum itself. [color=78CBE8]”It’s there.”[/color] [hider=Action Opportunities] You are on the Sanguinaire’s trail, although it seems it WANTS to be found. Feel free to seize this chance or branch off to find other clues if this is just too spooky for you. How you approach this is crucial. Khaliun has hinted that bullrushing with overwhelming force is a great way to get the target to flee, and it is FAST. You are expected to kill this thing to get the reward. Be ready for a very bloody fight if you’re going through with this. Abdel, Viktor and Khaliun will be assisting.[/hider] [hider=Deadlines] Posts are due [b]Sunday, November 13[/b], however should I get the posts earlier, we can begin the next part of the mission earlier! In both cases, they will likely take place on Discord whether for fights or interactions. For this cycle I expect regular posting (you may collab) to explain how your character got into this, what they do during this introduction (if they have questions in High Stakes I’ll have Lissanon answer them live if needed) and what they’re going to do from now on. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me![/hider]