[table][row][cell][color=2e2c2c]_____________________________________________________________ _[/color] [color=red][right]πŸœ’[color=2e2c2c]-[/color] πŸ›[/right][/color][/cell][cell] [sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][img=///BANNER\\\]https://i.imgur.com/5pPp4SU.png[/img][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/cell][/row][/table][table= /// v.05.02 'rockette' \\\ ][row][sub][h1][sub][color=black][sub][sub][color=2e2c2c][sub]...[/sub][/color][sup][color=#928b85]β–ƒ[/color][color=#908984]β–ƒ[/color][color=#8f8882]β–ƒ[/color][color=#8d8681]β–ƒ[/color][color=#8b857f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#8a837e]β–ƒ[/color][color=#88827c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#87807b]β–ƒ[/color][color=#857f79]β–ƒ[/color][color=#837d78]β–ƒ[/color][color=#827b76]β–ƒ[/color][color=#807a75]β–ƒ[/color][color=#7e7873]β–ƒ[/color][color=#7d7772]β–ƒ[/color][color=#7b7571]β–ƒ[/color][color=#79746f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#78726e]β–ƒ[/color][color=#76716c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#746f6b]β–ƒ[/color][color=#736d69]β–ƒ[/color][color=#716c68]β–ƒ[/color][color=#706a66]β–ƒ[/color][color=#6e6965]β–ƒ[/color][color=#6c6763]β–ƒ[/color][color=#6b6662]β–ƒ[/color][color=#696461]β–ƒ[/color][color=#67635f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#66615e]β–ƒ[/color][color=#645f5c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#625e5b]β–ƒ[/color][color=#615c59]β–ƒ[/color][color=#5f5b58]β–ƒ[/color][color=#5e5956]β–ƒ[/color][color=#5c5855]β–ƒ[/color][color=#5a5653]β–ƒ[/color][color=#595452]β–ƒ[/color][color=#575350]β–ƒ[/color][color=#55514f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#54504e]β–ƒ[/color][color=#524e4c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#504d4b]β–ƒ[/color][color=#4f4b49]β–ƒ[/color][color=#4d4a48]β–ƒ[/color][color=#4c4846]β–ƒ[/color][color=#4a4645]β–ƒ[/color][color=#484543]β–ƒ[/color][color=#474342]β–ƒ[/color][color=#454240]β–ƒ[/color][color=#43403f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#423f3e]β–ƒ[/color][color=#403d3c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#3e3c3b]β–ƒ[/color][color=#3d3a39]β–ƒ[/color][color=#3b3838]β–ƒ[/color][color=#393736]β–ƒ[/color][color=#383535]β–ƒ[/color][color=#363433]β–ƒ[/color][color=#353232]β–ƒ[/color][color=#333130]β–ƒ[/color][color=#312f2f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#302e2d]β–ƒ[/color][color=#2e2c2c]β–ƒβ–ƒβ–ƒβ–ƒβ–ƒβ–ƒβ–ƒβ–ƒ[/color] [sub][color=af4052]β–ˆ [/color] [color=cecece][b]V I R E L O C K S T E P S[/b][/color] [color=000000][b]|[/b][/color] [color=white][b]β™«[/b][/color][/sub][/sup][/sub][/sub][/color][/sub][/h1][/sub][/row][/table][table][row][cell][sub][center][color=928b85][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=8d8781][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=89827d][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=847e79][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=807a75][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=7b7571][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=77716d][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=726d69][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=6e6865][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=696461][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=65605d][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=605c59][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=5b5754][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=575350][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=524f4c][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=4e4a48][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=494644][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=454240][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=403d3c][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=3c3938][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=373534][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=333030][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=2e2c2c][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][/center][/sub][/cell][cell][color=2e2c2c]_______________________________________________________________________________[/color] [justify][sub][color=gray]First light split a violet sky in two, heralding a change in the clouds. Deep shadows gave way to fiery hues of red and orange; the day’s dawn, that burned away the last stars of a fading night sky above. And as the blue of an early morning crept over the horizon, the sun followed, peeling back the horizon’s too long shadow and revealing mountain peaks and rolling hills. These were the first to greet the sun in all of Enuan. A wall of twisting spires of rock and stone, snowcapped as they were, that stood as herald to a new day. They stretched toward the sky, basking in the warm touch of a waking sun that cast them in golden light and outlined them against the still retreating dark; the last vestige of a long night. They too remained as steadfast walls to that other world far beyond the Sundered Sea. A reminder to any who wandered too far from those lands that Enuan’s beauty did not come without strength and more importantly that visitors tread upon a new beginning. The Virelock Steps had always been a sign of the beginning, and not just for the people of Shodea but especially so for one. For it was through a young girl’s bedroom window that the warmth of the sun, itself still hidden behind the crest of a nearby hill, glinted off those distant mountains and found the edge of her cheek. And it too was around this time that the girl’s father found her still asleep, wrapped in soft sheets and with a gentle dream hanging above her head, he was sure. He kept his voice low as he whispered her name, doing his best not to rouse the child too quickly for fear of her everlasting hate. His deeper voice wove itself smoothly between the gentle whisper of the wind through an open window and the distant calling of the warbler. [color=white]β€œNiah.”[/color] He placed a hand on her shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. [color=white]”It’s time to wake. The day calls, child. We mustn't be late.”[/color] [h1][/h1] [sub][center]talour::[color=white]06:12[/color][/center][/sub] Theirs was a quaint home, situated halfway up a large hill on a terrace and steeped in cool shadow throughout the first half of the day until noon. It was surrounded by trees that were conveniently split to the West, framing in moss lined bark and deep greens a view of the small town of Talour not far below, drowning in a thick morning mist that emptied into a nearby valley. Paths wound themselves between the dense brush, leading away from the house and up and down the hill, every one of them an embellished tale of adventure through the eyes of a young girl. On that day however, only one of them mattered, same as it did every Ferndale. The path that carved left and toward a distant unseen shore. The path that told her favorite story with her favorite characters and yet seemed new and different every time she travelled it. It was also the path she’d been told many times that she must never travel alone, and as her father helped her into her outlayers, he reminded her of this yet again. She would remain by his side at all times and never wander too far ahead or too far behind, a sentiment she repeated to him verbally as he finished buttoning her up. A thick jacket was put over her shoulders to help keep the morning at bay, and with some help, she stepped carefully into a pair of boots meant to keep water out. With a scarf also wrapped loosely around her neck and chin meant to trap some small amount of heat, whatever cold awaited her outside would be hard pressed to find her. But, as prepared as she thought she was, as she followed her father out into the early hours of that day’s dawn, she was not prepared for the lingering frost in the air immediately becoming ice upon her nose and a chill in her lungs. Her warm breath turned to a thick mist and her cheeks flushed and she wiggled her nose as the two of them stepped into the forest. It wasn’t terribly far before they reached a clearing in the trees where the path they followed continued around a sharp bend in the hill and trekked into the shade of a thick canopy ahead. To the right, the hill dropped off a semi steep incline and far beyond it in full display were the mountains. The same ones that had greeted her through her windows, no longer lined in golden light and surrounded instead in a thick fog that leapt off its peak and drifted further inland. The rest thread through a thick sea of trees, brushing leaves and stones and leaving in its shadow a hint of the nearby sea as an ice laden bite disguised as dappled dew. Its cold kiss hung on grass and moss and bark and clung to the world the same way it did Niah, outlining the waking world in beads of glittering light. And it was like this every morning. A scene painted across the sky and land for her eyes only. A gift given to her freely as she strode into the embrace of another day's dawn and a promise that tomorrow, if she were good, she would see more of the same. So she remained forever in her father’s faded shadow, stepping carefully around loose pebbles and heeding his words to stay within the jagged edges of the path they followed. Listening and humming along to the tune he played upon his lips; A lullaby, well known to the children of Talour and given to the wind as a gentle whistle, the tone of which Niah skillfully, playfully matched. A tale about a ghost shrouded in morning fog, much like the fog of that day, that took the shape of an Elk and could only be found prancing around the edges of the dark during the dusk and the dawn. A tale about an elusive protector against the unknown. A tale Niah knew well as its legend had become embedded in Talour custom and even in her own house. She could see easily the charm clipped to a lock of her father’s hair; a splinter of a pale white antler meant to ward against evil spirits. And she believed wholeheartedly that the charm worked, for why else did life, so often hidden in the forest, visit upon her during her journey, playing out their parts in a tale known only to her. Insects chittered in the ground and in the air their little warnings of the pair’s approach, scattering under rock and deadwood as Niah stepped under a felled tree; felled by a giant named β€˜Err Cake’, she told herself. They chittered again as she hopped atop a small rock, her breath tumbling from her lips as puffs of hot smoke when she leapt from it to a nearby boulder and then onto the ground. They chittered once more as she shook the stem of a young tree sprouting from the ground just to the side of the path, knocking loose every glistening bead of dew. But as the both of them continued forward through the forest, ever approaching the last bend in the path that would walk them to the waiting sea, Niah did notice a subtle change. That ambient song of the forest, though very much still surrounding, had been steadily growing more and more quiet. In fact, some notes were missing. Most notably to her, the Sillar, who was often resting in her nest in the crook of a split tree, had not called its morning greeting to her at all. When she’d passed it, the nest had been empty. And, now that Niah was thinking about it, she realized too that there had been no morning howl from the lone Thalnyx who often hunted in the area every morning. Besides insects turning the dirt and the wind whispering through the trees, the forest had been eerily quiet. It wasn’t until they emerged on the shore that her father had made any indication that he too had noticed the strangeness of it all. It was quiet where they stood, straddling the boundary between the forest and the sea and with no one to greet them but the sound of waves rolling onto shore and the ice embrace of a cold wind. His eyes darted around that beach and when he’d found nothing out of the ordinary, he looked further South where the forest seemingly fell into the ocean. Its abrupt end formed one half of the mouth of a river that passed through Talour and emptied into the ocean. It was also there that he noticed a large grouping of trees that were moving in strange and unnatural ways, as if they were being pushed to the side to make room for something far too large to have made a habit of roaming there naturally. A flock of birds poured from the disturbed canopy, their telltale iridescent plumage the unmistakable shimmering of the Sillar under the light of an early morning sun. They took flight and made haste away from whatever it was still hidden away. Then there was for the first time that day, the muffled sound of thunder. Of cracking stone and rock and the siren song of a tree felled in the distance. [color=white]β€œFather…”[/color] Niah began, trying to form a question she didn’t know the shape of. Her father interrupted her before she could finish. [color=white]”Come, Niah. We cannot linger here.”[/color] He scooped her up into his arms as the path of [i]it[/i] turned toward them. [color=2e2c2c]_[/color] [/color][/sub][/justify][/cell][cell] [color=2e2c2c]_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _[/color] [sub][center][color=2e2c2c][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=333030][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=373534][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=3c3938][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=403d3c][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=454240][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=494644][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=4e4a48][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=524f4c][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=575350][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=5b5754][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=605c59][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=65605d][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=696461][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=6e6865][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=726d69][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=77716d][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=7b7571][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=807a75][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=847e79][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=89827d][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=8d8781][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=928b85][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][/center][/sub][/cell][cell][sub][color=2e2c2c]______________________________[sub]...[sup].......[/sup][/sub][/color][/sub] [sub][table][row][cell][sub][color=gray]> [color=red]βŸ’β¨€[/color] init.transfer (protocol//mirrorline.secure) ...establishing stream... ...sync:complete. > failsafe_activation. > current_position: 17Β°03β€²26.44β€³S 28Β°55β€²38.21β€³E eritus::shodea::[color=white]talour[/color]::[color=white]05:43[/color] > recording_location β†’ worldnet.node23.alpha command.relay_app/e.[/color][/sub][/cell][/row][/table][/sub][/cell][/row][/table][table][row][sup][h1][sup][color=black][sup][sup][color=2e2c2c][sub].....[/sub][/color][sub][color=#2e2c2c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#2e2c2c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#2e2c2c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#2e2c2c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#2e2c2c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#302e2d]β–ƒ[/color][color=#312f2f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#333130]β–ƒ[/color][color=#353232]β–ƒ[/color][color=#363433]β–ƒ[/color][color=#383535]β–ƒ[/color][color=#393736]β–ƒ[/color][color=#3b3838]β–ƒ[/color][color=#3d3a39]β–ƒ[/color][color=#3e3c3b]β–ƒ[/color][color=#403d3c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#423f3e]β–ƒ[/color][color=#43403f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#454240]β–ƒ[/color][color=#474342]β–ƒ[/color][color=#484543]β–ƒ[/color][color=#4a4645]β–ƒ[/color][color=#4c4846]β–ƒ[/color][color=#4d4a48]β–ƒ[/color][color=#4f4b49]β–ƒ[/color][color=#504d4b]β–ƒ[/color][color=#524e4c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#54504e]β–ƒ[/color][color=#55514f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#575350]β–ƒ[/color][color=#595452]β–ƒ[/color][color=#5a5653]β–ƒ[/color][color=#5c5855]β–ƒ[/color][color=#5e5956]β–ƒ[/color][color=#5f5b58]β–ƒ[/color][color=#615c59]β–ƒ[/color][color=#625e5b]β–ƒ[/color][color=#645f5c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#66615e]β–ƒ[/color][color=#67635f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#696461]β–ƒ[/color][color=#6b6662]β–ƒ[/color][color=#6c6763]β–ƒ[/color][color=#6e6965]β–ƒ[/color][color=#706a66]β–ƒ[/color][color=#716c68]β–ƒ[/color][color=#736d69]β–ƒ[/color][color=#746f6b]β–ƒ[/color][color=#76716c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#78726e]β–ƒ[/color][color=#79746f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#7b7571]β–ƒ[/color][color=#7d7772]β–ƒ[/color][color=#7e7873]β–ƒ[/color][color=#807a75]β–ƒ[/color][color=#827b76]β–ƒ[/color][color=#837d78]β–ƒ[/color][color=#857f79]β–ƒ[/color][color=#87807b]β–ƒ[/color][color=#88827c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#8a837e]β–ƒ[/color][color=#8b857f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#8d8681]β–ƒ[/color][color=#8f8882]β–ƒ[/color][color=#908984]β–ƒ[/color][color=#928b85]β–ƒ[/color][/sub][/sup][/sup][/color][/sup][/h1][/sup][/row][/table] [h1][/h1] [table][row][cell][color=2e2c2c]_____________________________________________________________ _[/color][/cell][cell] [sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][img=///BANNER\\\]https://i.imgur.com/955U3ib.png[/img][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/cell][/row][/table][table= /// v.05.02 'rockette' \\\ ][row][sub][h1][sub][color=black][sub][sub][color=2e2c2c][sub]...[/sub][/color][sup][color=#928b85]β–ƒ[/color][color=#908984]β–ƒ[/color][color=#8f8882]β–ƒ[/color][color=#8d8681]β–ƒ[/color][color=#8b857f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#8a837e]β–ƒ[/color][color=#88827c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#87807b]β–ƒ[/color][color=#857f79]β–ƒ[/color][color=#837d78]β–ƒ[/color][color=#827b76]β–ƒ[/color][color=#807a75]β–ƒ[/color][color=#7e7873]β–ƒ[/color][color=#7d7772]β–ƒ[/color][color=#7b7571]β–ƒ[/color][color=#79746f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#78726e]β–ƒ[/color][color=#76716c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#746f6b]β–ƒ[/color][color=#736d69]β–ƒ[/color][color=#716c68]β–ƒ[/color][color=#706a66]β–ƒ[/color][color=#6e6965]β–ƒ[/color][color=#6c6763]β–ƒ[/color][color=#6b6662]β–ƒ[/color][color=#696461]β–ƒ[/color][color=#67635f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#66615e]β–ƒ[/color][color=#645f5c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#625e5b]β–ƒ[/color][color=#615c59]β–ƒ[/color][color=#5f5b58]β–ƒ[/color][color=#5e5956]β–ƒ[/color][color=#5c5855]β–ƒ[/color][color=#5a5653]β–ƒ[/color][color=#595452]β–ƒ[/color][color=#575350]β–ƒ[/color][color=#55514f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#54504e]β–ƒ[/color][color=#524e4c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#504d4b]β–ƒ[/color][color=#4f4b49]β–ƒ[/color][color=#4d4a48]β–ƒ[/color][color=#4c4846]β–ƒ[/color][color=#4a4645]β–ƒ[/color][color=#484543]β–ƒ[/color][color=#474342]β–ƒ[/color][color=#454240]β–ƒ[/color][color=#43403f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#423f3e]β–ƒ[/color][color=#403d3c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#3e3c3b]β–ƒ[/color][color=#3d3a39]β–ƒ[/color][color=#3b3838]β–ƒ[/color][color=#393736]β–ƒ[/color][color=#383535]β–ƒ[/color][color=#363433]β–ƒ[/color][color=#353232]β–ƒ[/color][color=#333130]β–ƒ[/color][color=#312f2f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#302e2d]β–ƒ[/color][color=#2e2c2c]β–ƒβ–ƒβ–ƒβ–ƒβ–ƒβ–ƒβ–ƒβ–ƒ[/color][sub][color=af4052]β–ˆ [/color] [color=cecece][b]T H E O B S E V A T O R Y[/b][/color][/sub][/sup][/sub][/sub][/color][/sub][/h1][/sub][/row][/table][table][row][cell][sub][center][color=928b85][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=8d8781][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=89827d][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=847e79][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=807a75][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=7b7571][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=77716d][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=726d69][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=6e6865][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=696461][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=65605d][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=605c59][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=5b5754][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=575350][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=524f4c][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=4e4a48][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=494644][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=454240][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=403d3c][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=3c3938][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=373534][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=333030][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=2e2c2c][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][/center][/sub][/cell][cell][color=2e2c2c]_______________________________________________________________________________[/color] [justify][sub][color=gray]A dark spire was suspended from the ceiling, the end of which was impossible to see, drowned as it was in the shadows that gathered around it. It spiraled down to a dull point, creating an overly large, cumbersome silhouette like that of a jagged finger clawing at the ground. A silhouette interrupted only by the tangled paths of wires wrapped around it like a web. Below it and inside what looked to be a bowl carved out of the ground was a man, reclined or embedded into a complex apparatus acting as a chair. Half his head and face down to the bridge of his nose was covered in a metal plate, and wires protruded from the back of his head that fed into the machinery below him. They spread out and away from him like the folds of a pleated skirt. Despite the restraints, the operator was calm and moved with a comfortable confidence, guiding his hands over the various inputs of a complex interface, and tapping only where he needed to and without any obvious visual assistance. His head remained tilted back, as if he were staring into the bottom of the inverted spire, or through it, and every now and then he would speak something subtle, coaxing life out of the machine. Every word was a slight shift in the chassis where it would twist above him smoothly and rotate itself and the bowl beneath it into a new position on his command. When it moved, a nearby floating and transparent image of Erritus topography would shift to follow, the digital landscape scanning across what looked to be verdant landscape foreign to Valaria. This window into a far away land swept across deep valleys and impossibly long stretches of lush plains, intersected by the rivers and tributaries that made up its complex waterways and marked the boundaries of Enuan’s bounty. The β€˜observer’ followed one of these rivers to the coastline and turned South along the border of the Sundered Sea toward what had been marked as an object of interest. It stopped when the system alerted the operator that the object in question was in view and highlighted the target where it was in the top left corner of his UI with a thin-lined box. Within that box was a black streak that stood out in a sea of green and blue. A very obvious blemish on an otherwise pristine world. [color=white]”Alert.”[/color] A muffled metallic sound like a bolt slamming into place echoed across the room and lights embedded into the frame of the machine turned from a soft white light to the warning hue of a deep yellow. A half a minute later and a woman approached, stopping at the edge of the bowl and turning to look at the digital display in front of her, studying it closely. To her trained eye, the Southeastern coast of Enuan was unmistakable as was the mountain range nearby; the Virelock Steps. She knew the area well, enough to recognize that the strip of land obscured by the odd stain as home to a singular settlement: A fishing town known as Talour that was less than a stone’s throw away from the Sundered Sea. [color=white]”Closer,”[/color] she ordered. The operator nodded, pressing a series of buttons on the panel in front of him and pulling back on a lever. Immediately the air began to vibrate as a deep thrumming filled the room and the β€˜observer’ prepared itself for further instructions. The operator spoke clearly to it: [color=white]”Two degrees West and zoom in...”[/color] The machine moved and the digital landscape moved with it, scanning left and repositioning the curious black mark in the center of the display. As it zoomed in, the mark slowly became a distinct plume of smoke. It paused. [color=white]”More...”[/color] Again the machine moved, zooming in further and stopping when just outside the smoke cloud was the edge of a small town, clearly visible. Littered around it were a number of irregularly shaped blots. [color=white]”More…””[/color] The image continued to zoom further in until finally, those fuzzier shapes sharpened enough to be recognizable as bodies. [color=white]”Stop,”[/color] the woman ordered again, stepping closer to the image and studying it further, confirming for herself that she was seeing exactly what she thought she was. There was no mistaking it. [color=white]”Get this to Lady Dina and the war council. Immediately.”[/color][/color][/sub][/justify][/cell][cell] [color=2e2c2c]_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _[/color] [sub][center][color=2e2c2c][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=333030][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=373534][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=3c3938][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=403d3c][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=454240][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=494644][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=4e4a48][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=524f4c][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=575350][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=5b5754][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=605c59][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=65605d][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=696461][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=6e6865][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=726d69][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=77716d][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=7b7571][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=807a75][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=847e79][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=89827d][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=8d8781][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=928b85][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][/center][/sub][/cell][cell][sub][color=2e2c2c]______________________________[sub]...[sup].......[/sup][/sub][/color][/sub] [sub][table][row][cell][sub][color=gray]> position: 62Β°44β€²05.18β€³N 118Β°55β€²38.21β€³E valaria::aventhal::[color=white]aven[/color]::[color=white]13:37[/color][/color][/sub][/cell][/row][/table][/sub][/cell][/row][/table][table][row][sup][h1][sup][color=black][sup][sup][color=2e2c2c][sub].....[/sub][/color][sub][color=#2e2c2c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#2e2c2c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#2e2c2c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#2e2c2c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#2e2c2c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#302e2d]β–ƒ[/color][color=#312f2f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#333130]β–ƒ[/color][color=#353232]β–ƒ[/color][color=#363433]β–ƒ[/color][color=#383535]β–ƒ[/color][color=#393736]β–ƒ[/color][color=#3b3838]β–ƒ[/color][color=#3d3a39]β–ƒ[/color][color=#3e3c3b]β–ƒ[/color][color=#403d3c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#423f3e]β–ƒ[/color][color=#43403f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#454240]β–ƒ[/color][color=#474342]β–ƒ[/color][color=#484543]β–ƒ[/color][color=#4a4645]β–ƒ[/color][color=#4c4846]β–ƒ[/color][color=#4d4a48]β–ƒ[/color][color=#4f4b49]β–ƒ[/color][color=#504d4b]β–ƒ[/color][color=#524e4c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#54504e]β–ƒ[/color][color=#55514f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#575350]β–ƒ[/color][color=#595452]β–ƒ[/color][color=#5a5653]β–ƒ[/color][color=#5c5855]β–ƒ[/color][color=#5e5956]β–ƒ[/color][color=#5f5b58]β–ƒ[/color][color=#615c59]β–ƒ[/color][color=#625e5b]β–ƒ[/color][color=#645f5c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#66615e]β–ƒ[/color][color=#67635f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#696461]β–ƒ[/color][color=#6b6662]β–ƒ[/color][color=#6c6763]β–ƒ[/color][color=#6e6965]β–ƒ[/color][color=#706a66]β–ƒ[/color][color=#716c68]β–ƒ[/color][color=#736d69]β–ƒ[/color][color=#746f6b]β–ƒ[/color][color=#76716c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#78726e]β–ƒ[/color][color=#79746f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#7b7571]β–ƒ[/color][color=#7d7772]β–ƒ[/color][color=#7e7873]β–ƒ[/color][color=#807a75]β–ƒ[/color][color=#827b76]β–ƒ[/color][color=#837d78]β–ƒ[/color][color=#857f79]β–ƒ[/color][color=#87807b]β–ƒ[/color][color=#88827c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#8a837e]β–ƒ[/color][color=#8b857f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#8d8681]β–ƒ[/color][color=#8f8882]β–ƒ[/color][color=#908984]β–ƒ[/color][color=#928b85]β–ƒ[/color][/sub][/sup][/sup][/color][/sup][/h1][/sup][/row][/table] [h1][/h1] [table][row][cell][color=2e2c2c]_____________________________________________________________[/color][/cell][cell] [sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][img=///BANNER\\\]https://i.imgur.com/7BHpQlv.png[/img][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/cell][/row][/table][table= /// v.05.02 'rockette' \\\ ][row][sub][h1][sub][color=black][sub][sub][color=2e2c2c][sub]...[/sub][/color][sup][color=#928b85]β–ƒ[/color][color=#908984]β–ƒ[/color][color=#8f8882]β–ƒ[/color][color=#8d8681]β–ƒ[/color][color=#8b857f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#8a837e]β–ƒ[/color][color=#88827c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#87807b]β–ƒ[/color][color=#857f79]β–ƒ[/color][color=#837d78]β–ƒ[/color][color=#827b76]β–ƒ[/color][color=#807a75]β–ƒ[/color][color=#7e7873]β–ƒ[/color][color=#7d7772]β–ƒ[/color][color=#7b7571]β–ƒ[/color][color=#79746f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#78726e]β–ƒ[/color][color=#76716c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#746f6b]β–ƒ[/color][color=#736d69]β–ƒ[/color][color=#716c68]β–ƒ[/color][color=#706a66]β–ƒ[/color][color=#6e6965]β–ƒ[/color][color=#6c6763]β–ƒ[/color][color=#6b6662]β–ƒ[/color][color=#696461]β–ƒ[/color][color=#67635f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#66615e]β–ƒ[/color][color=#645f5c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#625e5b]β–ƒ[/color][color=#615c59]β–ƒ[/color][color=#5f5b58]β–ƒ[/color][color=#5e5956]β–ƒ[/color][color=#5c5855]β–ƒ[/color][color=#5a5653]β–ƒ[/color][color=#595452]β–ƒ[/color][color=#575350]β–ƒ[/color][color=#55514f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#54504e]β–ƒ[/color][color=#524e4c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#504d4b]β–ƒ[/color][color=#4f4b49]β–ƒ[/color][color=#4d4a48]β–ƒ[/color][color=#4c4846]β–ƒ[/color][color=#4a4645]β–ƒ[/color][color=#484543]β–ƒ[/color][color=#474342]β–ƒ[/color][color=#454240]β–ƒ[/color][color=#43403f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#423f3e]β–ƒ[/color][color=#403d3c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#3e3c3b]β–ƒ[/color][color=#3d3a39]β–ƒ[/color][color=#3b3838]β–ƒ[/color][color=#393736]β–ƒ[/color][color=#383535]β–ƒ[/color][color=#363433]β–ƒ[/color][color=#353232]β–ƒ[/color][color=#333130]β–ƒ[/color][color=#312f2f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#302e2d]β–ƒ[/color][color=#2e2c2c]β–ƒβ–ƒβ–ƒβ–ƒβ–ƒβ–ƒβ–ƒβ–ƒ[/color][sub][color=af4052]β–ˆ [/color] [color=cecece][b]W A R R O O M[/b][/color][/sub][/sup][/sub][/sub][/color][/sub][/h1][/sub][/row][/table][table][row][cell][sub][center][color=928b85][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=8d8781][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=89827d][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=847e79][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=807a75][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=7b7571][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=77716d][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=726d69][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=6e6865][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=696461][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=65605d][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=605c59][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=5b5754][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=575350][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=524f4c][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=4e4a48][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=494644][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=454240][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=403d3c][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=3c3938][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=373534][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=333030][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=2e2c2c][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][/center][/sub][/cell][cell][color=2e2c2c]_______________________________________________________________________________[/color] [justify][sub][color=gray]She listened to them talk over and across each other. Disembodied voices flinging themselves across shimmering mountains and lush terrain; a digital recreation of a far away place that floated between them. Like children they were, squabbling over the scraps of a thing that did not belong to them, and every one of them believing they were the adult in the room. Believing they themselves were the voice of reason. The voice of truth. Dina only recognized them as the tired and old voices they were. A collection of the most powerful people in Valaria and each of them too old and too afraid of the world they themselves created. Clinging to the old ways and hoping it would save them from the crumbling foundation of Evan. But what in all of Erritus could save her from the 'nothing' she gained listening to the three across from her talk? [color=white]”It is a fishing village. Nothing more. Attacking it would be beyond wasteful.”[/color] [color=white]”So if it wasn't us, then it was what? In-fighting? Within Talour itself?”[/color] [color=white]”That is highly unlikely. I mean look at the damage. This is not typical of a coup. It's as if the town was razed.”[/color] [color=white]"Slina has maintained amicable relations with all her allies. She would never attack one of her own for any reason, and there is no one else in all of Enuan with the resources capable of such an attack. There is no one else but the people at this table.”[/color] [color=white]"So you continue to say, and yet you fail to see that no one gains anything from moving on Talour [i]and[/i] attempting to hide it."[/color] [color=white]”If no one on either side is willing to claim responsibility, then all I see is a foothold delivered to us on a silver platter. Whatever happened, the difficult part is done. Talour is decimated. We can move in and claim it for ourselves without a fight, [i]and[/i] if we move now, we can do so before they can, avoiding the logistical nightmare of moving all our forces overseas.”[/color] [color=white]”You mean to send [i]it[/i]?”[/color] [color=white]”The nephilim is ready. It has been ready. Why leave it to rust when it should be used to expand our reach across the Sundered Sea? And now when they least expect it?”[/color] [color=white]”To suggest they have not been expecting an attack is beyond ignorant. Trust me when I say that they are well prepared, not to mention they have a frame of their own. If they see us move anything, troops or otherwise, onto their lands, it would be taken as an act of war and they will reply in kind.”[/color] [color=white]”They would do so at a disadvantage with a loss already and a nephilim that is inferior to our own.”[/color] [color=white]”Inferior? Based on what facts? They have access to the Eaeth-Song [i]and[/i] the Oracle. That advantage alone is not slight in the least.”[/color] [color=white]”They lack experience.”[/color] [color=white]”So do we.”[/color] [color=white]”On the field. And might I remind you that you serve us. Your reliance on the bounty that is theirs by right of luck is temporary at best and little compared to what could be gained by moving on them. And now.”[/color] [color=white]”What we would gain would be paid for in blood. And might I remind [i]you[/i] that the Prince has not yet been challenged as a pilot. Not outside of a simulation. There are no other nephilim pilots besides Shodea’s and we have very little data on her frame. Not to mention the Prince himself is not in attendance, yet again.”[/color] Dina raised her hand to silence the others in the room, realizing all too quickly they were either going to talk each other into a circle or steer the conversation in a direction she didn't want it going. There was also a matter of time. [color=white]”You are both of you correct,”[/color] she began, dropping her hand and standing out of her seat. [color=white]”We’ve waited far too long to move on Shodea, and had it not been for my father’s… condition, we would already be halfway across Enuan. But the situation has changed and we’ve been given an opportunity to move forward and to do so without the unnecessary spilling of innocent blood.”[/color] She looked at the vacant seat at the other end of the table, the one her brother was meant to sit at specifically during gatherings such as this. [color=white]”In the interest of expediency, we will send NF zero one to Talour to assess the situation and offer… aid if necessary.”[/color] [color=white]”Aid?”[/color] [color=white]"Yes... I do not intend to start a war, not yet."[/color][/color][/sub][/justify][/cell][cell] [color=2e2c2c]_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _[/color] [sub][center][color=2e2c2c][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=333030][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=373534][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=3c3938][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=403d3c][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=454240][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=494644][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=4e4a48][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=524f4c][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=575350][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=5b5754][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] 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[sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][/center][/sub][/cell][cell][sub][color=2e2c2c]______________________________[sub]...[sup].......[/sup][/sub][/color][/sub] [sub][table][row][cell][sub][color=gray]> position: 62Β°44β€²05.18β€³N 118Β°55β€²38.21β€³E valaria::aventhal::[color=white]aven[/color]::[color=white]13:58[/color][/color][/sub][/cell][/row][/table][/sub][/cell][/row][/table][table][row][sup][h1][sup][color=black][sup][sup][color=2e2c2c][sub].....[/sub][/color][sub][color=#2e2c2c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#2e2c2c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#2e2c2c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#2e2c2c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#2e2c2c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#302e2d]β–ƒ[/color][color=#312f2f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#333130]β–ƒ[/color][color=#353232]β–ƒ[/color][color=#363433]β–ƒ[/color][color=#383535]β–ƒ[/color][color=#393736]β–ƒ[/color][color=#3b3838]β–ƒ[/color][color=#3d3a39]β–ƒ[/color][color=#3e3c3b]β–ƒ[/color][color=#403d3c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#423f3e]β–ƒ[/color][color=#43403f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#454240]β–ƒ[/color][color=#474342]β–ƒ[/color][color=#484543]β–ƒ[/color][color=#4a4645]β–ƒ[/color][color=#4c4846]β–ƒ[/color][color=#4d4a48]β–ƒ[/color][color=#4f4b49]β–ƒ[/color][color=#504d4b]β–ƒ[/color][color=#524e4c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#54504e]β–ƒ[/color][color=#55514f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#575350]β–ƒ[/color][color=#595452]β–ƒ[/color][color=#5a5653]β–ƒ[/color][color=#5c5855]β–ƒ[/color][color=#5e5956]β–ƒ[/color][color=#5f5b58]β–ƒ[/color][color=#615c59]β–ƒ[/color][color=#625e5b]β–ƒ[/color][color=#645f5c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#66615e]β–ƒ[/color][color=#67635f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#696461]β–ƒ[/color][color=#6b6662]β–ƒ[/color][color=#6c6763]β–ƒ[/color][color=#6e6965]β–ƒ[/color][color=#706a66]β–ƒ[/color][color=#716c68]β–ƒ[/color][color=#736d69]β–ƒ[/color][color=#746f6b]β–ƒ[/color][color=#76716c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#78726e]β–ƒ[/color][color=#79746f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#7b7571]β–ƒ[/color][color=#7d7772]β–ƒ[/color][color=#7e7873]β–ƒ[/color][color=#807a75]β–ƒ[/color][color=#827b76]β–ƒ[/color][color=#837d78]β–ƒ[/color][color=#857f79]β–ƒ[/color][color=#87807b]β–ƒ[/color][color=#88827c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#8a837e]β–ƒ[/color][color=#8b857f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#8d8681]β–ƒ[/color][color=#8f8882]β–ƒ[/color][color=#908984]β–ƒ[/color][color=#928b85]β–ƒ[/color][/sub][/sup][/sup][/color][/sup][/h1][/sup][/row][/table] [h1][/h1] [table][row][cell][color=2e2c2c]_____________________________________________________________[/color][/cell][cell] [sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][img=///BANNER\\\]https://i.imgur.com/KbRiH4U.png[/img][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/cell][/row][/table][table= /// v.05.02 'rockette' \\\ 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[/color] [color=cecece][b]P R I N C E ' S C H A M B E R[/b][/color][/sub][/sup][/sub][/sub][/color][/sub][/h1][/sub][/row][/table][table][row][cell][sub][center][color=928b85][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=8d8781][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=89827d][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=847e79][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=807a75][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=7b7571][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=77716d][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=726d69][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=6e6865][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=696461][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=65605d][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=605c59][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=5b5754][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=575350][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=524f4c][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=4e4a48][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=494644][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=454240][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=403d3c][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=3c3938][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=373534][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=333030][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=2e2c2c][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][/center][/sub][/cell][cell][color=2e2c2c]_______________________________________________________________________________[/color] [justify][sub][color=gray]It didn't take overly long for her to climb the steps to her brother's chamber, isolated as it was in its own wing of the palace, and It certainly was not long enough for the frustration she'd collected from before to leave her. In fact, during her ascent, it'd only gotten worse, due mostly to the fact the antechamber she found herself in was significantly colder than the rest of the palace. To one side, the walls had been removed from floor to ceiling, turning the space into an open air room that provided a wide panoramic of all of Aventhal. It was admittedly a beautiful thing to see that only a lucky few had the privilege to experience. A painting framed in black stonework of the dark and desolate land that was her home. A reminder of her family's legacy that stretched well beyond the distant horizon to places she could not see but where her family’s influence could still be felt. It would have given her a sense of pride if not for the piercing cold drifting off the face of the nearby mountains. She had to wonder what exactly the difference was between leaving it as is or installing windows to replace the heaters lining the opening that were clearly inadequate. Opposite this, large rectangular stone doors, gilded in vibrant golden patterns and delicate shapes, were carved into pitch black walls and flanked on either side by guards. These guards remained perfectly still; sentries encapsulated in black armor and caped in thick furs across their shoulders and back that did a much better job at keeping the biting cold at bay, she was sure. As she approached, they slammed the end of their lances into the marble floor and clicked their heels, hailing her. She nodded to them both. [color=white]”Is he inside?”[/color] she asked simply. [color=white]"Yes, milady."[/color] She gestured at the door. [color=white]”Open it.”[/color] The same guard gave her a quick nod and the both of them immediately turned on their heels, grabbed a handhold, and pushed open the door, revealing a near pitch-black room beyond. Enough ambient light from the panoramic view behind her forced its way inside, filling the bedchamber just enough to allow the Princess to see clearly exactly what she was expecting to see: Her brother, still in bed and flanked on either side by a woman. Both of them immediately sat up, clutching bedsheets to their chests. [color=white]”Out!”[/color] Dina snapped, stepping into the room. [color=white]”Of course, Princess,”[/color] both women nearly yelled. They quickly clambered off the bed and gathered their clothes, bowing to the woman, who was already disregarding them completely, before running out and into the cold of the antechamber still half naked. The guards shut the doors after them, once again dousing the room in darkness. [color=bca346]”I was meant to be enjoying that,”[/color] Davon whined as his sister her way over to the window. She grabbed the thick edges of the curtains and threw them open, flooding the room with the harsh light of a midday sun. Davon flinched. [color=white]”Yes, well. You’ll have plenty of time to enjoy that and everything else that comes with you being you, in due time.”[/color] She replied cooly, tying to the side both curtain ends and turning around. With the shadows finally and permanently pushed back, she could see for the first time a bedchamber that was meant to, but fell short of, representing the royalty of its host. [color=white]”The day is nearly at Zenith.”[/color] she said, walking over to one of the night stands and lifting with a repulsed finger the edge of a tray of half eaten food. [color=white]”...What… is this?”[/color] Davon paid his sister or her words little mind as he rolled off the bed and stood next to her, half decent, and picked up a glass of wine from the tray that had been left out. The same one she was pointing too. [color=bca346]”Are you here to scold me over missed council?”[/color] he asked. He downed the glass in one go before setting it back down and looking about the room. [color=white]β€œDavon, I understand your want to wallow, but this was serious and [i]is[/i] still,”[/color] his sister began. She followed after him when he started to walk off, wandering seemingly toward a chair in the corner of the room. [color=white]”It was an emergency war council meeting. Do you understand? Everyone was in attendance.”[/color] He turned to give her a look, arching his brow in mild confusion as he continued to move away from her. [color=bca346]”And?”[/color] Dina gave him the same look in return as she shook her head. [color=white]”The doubt you sow among the other houses with your absence. They mean to question my ability to command my own brother. To question you and your ability to do what is expected of you. Are we to just ignore that?”[/color] A dry laugh was Davon’s reply, or more a cough than anything involuntary brought on by humor. He tried to imagine the faces of the other voices on the council. Tried to imagine them casting judgement upon his sister. Behind thinly veiled smiles or whispered secrets or even more directly, it mattered not. Every scenario ended the same way; with him having their heads removed and placed on pikes. He knew that [i]they[/i] knew better than to voice anything that could even hint at their doubt of her, but he was still curious to know. [color=bca346]”Did they say as much?”[/color] he asked as he retrieved from the back of the chair a thermal shirt that he began working over his shoulders. [color=white]”Of course not. They have no choice but to listen, but that is missing the point.”[/color] He finished putting the shirt on and then turned to his younger sister. [color=bca346]”Dina. [i]I[/i] am no longer relevant to the conversation. I do not belong in that room and haven’t for some time.”[/color] [color=white]”Regardless of what father has said, [i]I[/i] still need you, especially when your relevance becomes the topic of conversation.”[/color] [color=bca346]β€œOh?”[/color] Davon paused, curious. [color=bca346]”Do you intend to parade me around again, dear sister? Is Aventhal so quick to forget its protector that they need look upon him further?”[/color] [color=white]”We intend to deploy zero one.”[/color] Where Davon stood now, the shape of the window cast across his face and chest in sharp amber light, highlighting him against a backdrop of the rest of the darker room. His face seemed much more serious now than before. [color=bca346]”Where?”[/color] [color=white]”Shodea,”[/color] She replied. [color=white]”Talour.”[/color] Davon furrowed his brow again but remained silent, his gaze wandering past Dina to the stone wall behind her as he searched the masonry for an answer to a question he hadn’t voiced. He knew Talour to be a fishing town on the very edge of Shodea. He also knew it to be small, out of the way and having had contributed so little to trade that it was considered nonexistent. Every wartime plan they had drawn up for a potential invasion of Shodea left Talour, along with a large number of other insignificant towns, out of the conversation, and over the past few years since Davon’s involvement, he’d been witness to many an abandoned plan. Their opinion on Talour never changed. To suddenly be not just β€˜of interest’ but the target of a N/PHLM deployment meant that something [i]had[/i] changed. More than likely, a new piece had been added to a board. [color=bca346]”Small mountain ranges nearby…”[/color] Davon’s eyes snapped back to Dina’s. [color=bca346]”What’d they find there? Another crater?”[/color] [color=white]”No.”[/color] Dina tapped on the tablet she’d been holding onto and then handed it to Davon. A number of items began to populate the thin, translucent screen. Images and text and every piece of available data needed to quickly catch him up with everything that was discussed in the war room. It didn’t take him long to understand the situation, and even less time to begin filling in the gaps of information with his own questions. According to what he’d been given, nearly an hour ago, the small town of Talour had been almost entirely wiped out. But what stood out more than anything else was the swiftness of the attack. Destruction of such scale was historically an act of aggression, specifically from one of only two superpowers on the planet and the only nations with the resources required of such speed. However, with Aventhal having had no hand in the attack and the attack itself out of character for Shodea, Talour’s fate was a mystery. [color=bca346]”Shodea would never attack one of their own,”[/color] Davon muttered. [color=white]”Finding out β€˜who’ or β€˜what’ is part of why you’re going.”[/color] Davon handed her back the tablet. [color=bca346]”And the other part is establishing a foothold by rendering protection and aid?”[/color] he correctly presumed. [color=white]”Yes.”[/color] [color=bca346]”If we’ve noticed then they would have too by now, and by the time I get there, it'll be over two hours since Talour was attacked. Shodea will have mobilized. If they didn't think we had a hand in what happened, when they see me, they will. Are you sure about this?”[/color] [color=white]"I am."[/color] [color=bca346]”And what if their response is the Oracle herself, what then? What am I to do about the LΓ³menel girl?”[/color] [color=2e2c2c]_[/color] [/color][/sub][/justify][/cell][cell] [color=2e2c2c]_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _[/color] [sub][center][color=2e2c2c][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=333030][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=373534][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=3c3938][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=403d3c][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=454240][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=494644][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=4e4a48][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=524f4c][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=575350][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=5b5754][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=605c59][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=65605d][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=696461][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=6e6865][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=726d69][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=77716d][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=7b7571][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=807a75][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=847e79][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=89827d][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=8d8781][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][color=928b85][sup][h2][sup]β–Œ[/sup] [sub]β–Œ[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][/center][/sub][/cell][cell][sub][color=2e2c2c]______________________________[sub]...[sup].......[/sup][/sub][/color][/sub] [sub][table][row][cell][sub][color=gray]> position: 62Β°44β€²05.18β€³N 118Β°55β€²38.21β€³E valaria::aventhal::[color=white]aven[/color]::[color=white]14:35[/color][/color][/sub][/cell][/row][/table][/sub][/cell][/row][/table][table][row][sup][h1][sup][color=black][sup][sup][color=2e2c2c][sub].....[/sub][/color][sub][color=#2e2c2c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#2e2c2c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#2e2c2c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#2e2c2c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#2e2c2c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#302e2d]β–ƒ[/color][color=#312f2f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#333130]β–ƒ[/color][color=#353232]β–ƒ[/color][color=#363433]β–ƒ[/color][color=#383535]β–ƒ[/color][color=#393736]β–ƒ[/color][color=#3b3838]β–ƒ[/color][color=#3d3a39]β–ƒ[/color][color=#3e3c3b]β–ƒ[/color][color=#403d3c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#423f3e]β–ƒ[/color][color=#43403f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#454240]β–ƒ[/color][color=#474342]β–ƒ[/color][color=#484543]β–ƒ[/color][color=#4a4645]β–ƒ[/color][color=#4c4846]β–ƒ[/color][color=#4d4a48]β–ƒ[/color][color=#4f4b49]β–ƒ[/color][color=#504d4b]β–ƒ[/color][color=#524e4c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#54504e]β–ƒ[/color][color=#55514f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#575350]β–ƒ[/color][color=#595452]β–ƒ[/color][color=#5a5653]β–ƒ[/color][color=#5c5855]β–ƒ[/color][color=#5e5956]β–ƒ[/color][color=#5f5b58]β–ƒ[/color][color=#615c59]β–ƒ[/color][color=#625e5b]β–ƒ[/color][color=#645f5c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#66615e]β–ƒ[/color][color=#67635f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#696461]β–ƒ[/color][color=#6b6662]β–ƒ[/color][color=#6c6763]β–ƒ[/color][color=#6e6965]β–ƒ[/color][color=#706a66]β–ƒ[/color][color=#716c68]β–ƒ[/color][color=#736d69]β–ƒ[/color][color=#746f6b]β–ƒ[/color][color=#76716c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#78726e]β–ƒ[/color][color=#79746f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#7b7571]β–ƒ[/color][color=#7d7772]β–ƒ[/color][color=#7e7873]β–ƒ[/color][color=#807a75]β–ƒ[/color][color=#827b76]β–ƒ[/color][color=#837d78]β–ƒ[/color][color=#857f79]β–ƒ[/color][color=#87807b]β–ƒ[/color][color=#88827c]β–ƒ[/color][color=#8a837e]β–ƒ[/color][color=#8b857f]β–ƒ[/color][color=#8d8681]β–ƒ[/color][color=#8f8882]β–ƒ[/color][color=#908984]β–ƒ[/color][color=#928b85]β–ƒ[/color][/sub][/sup][/sup][/color][/sup][/h1][/sup][/row][/table]