BurningDaisies

✩ Starlight Brigade ✩

@Aqua Regis @Dark Light
Don't let the past tense fool you. You guys have freedom to get sidetracked with other character interactions along the way. I just wanted to make sure you guys had enough info to move around the station and get where you need to. Alot of info can be gathered through word of mouth or by buying a data slate from a local trader.

I left it kind of open in case you wanted to explore, but try to keep the meeting in focus.

✩ Starlight Brigade ✩

✩ An Underworld Education ✩

@EnterTheHero

Gnabik locked eyes with Therion for a long, belligerent moment and promptly bellowed with an obnoxious laugh. “You’re new to Odyssey aint’cha?” His mandible tightened into a grin. “Allow me to educate ya. For a job like this, if anyone offers you too much chit, it means you’re being paid extra for being discrete. All you really need to know is that if anything bad happens to me or the cargo, you don’t get paid. Specifics cost extra. I can tell Cresche to dock it from your pay, if you like.”

He pushed off the wall and scuttled over to the console in the center of the room, and stared vacantly into the swarm of charts, graphs, and alien symbols. He swiped his hand across the console. With a chirp, the floating images dispersed into a cloud of blue particles and slowly began to rearrange themselves.

“The basics are easy. Am I in danger? Always. You don’t get to where I am without making a lot of enemies. Everyone knows the only reason Cresche hasn’t spaced me yet is because he gets a cut from these deals. As for the cargo...” He shrugged casually.

The light particles coalesced into a model of some piece of alien tech: a sleek ring of metal with sloping grooves decorating its edge in a repeating pattern. A sphere of dark energy foamed inside the ring while tendrils of golden smoke rolled off of it.

“I don’t know what it is and I don’t really care. Let’s just say the Talim markets are completely different from Istio, so if I’m going to sell this hunk of junk locally, then I need to know how much it’s worth. If my old buddy Orion doesn’t knick it for himself, then I’ll auction it off at the trading pens and earn the chit that way. We’re not here to ask hard questions, we’re here to make money.” He leveled a hard stare at Therion. “Got it?”

The console chirped as a message arrived. “Good timing. Looks like all the right players decided to join.” He read through some information on another screen and nodded appreciatively. “They have a bit of a walk from the docks, but they should be here soon. Since I’m not going anywhere, why don’t you go make yourself useful and scope out the lounge. I’m sure there’s plenty of suspicious characters out there to keep you busy.”

---

✩ Finding Carnival Row ✩

@Aqua Regis@Dark Light

Even if Orion’s map was incomplete, he knew the right people to talk to. After greasing a few palms and tossing a few chit to the bartender of the Cakewalk, he was able to guarantee safe passage between the eternally chaotic docking bays and the squalid beauty of Mon Serrat, the entertainment district of Odyssey station.

At the center of the ward was an enormous chasm that went deeper into the bowels of the station, and above it was a spire of complex machinery hanging from the ceiling like a massive stalactite. Ribbons of strange metal unfolded out of a distortion in the air above and wound into the gyrating machinery. Beneath the spire was a miniature sun, roiling with arcs of fire that unfurled from the main body like threads of smoke. It bathed the surrounding structures in a rusty orange glow. Oh’len’s research into the artifact that helped power the station kept him fascinated for so long, they were beginning to run short on time.

Despite the presence of the small sun, the majority of Mon Serrat was stark contrast between bright neon lights and the typical dark atmosphere that pervaded most of the station. Glowing signs advertised everything from forbidden delicacies to obvious scam bait to soul-cleansing gastric baths. Despite the grungy appearance of the ward, the air was clear and the walkways were mostly clean, especially near power conduits. For the most part, O’ona’s roving nanite swarms ate all the detritus and residue that might degrade the station’s systems.

The meeting place wasn’t difficult to find. Even if it was hard to notice among the throng of aliens crowding the streets, everyone more or less knew where it was. E-Rade’s was an entire strip of seedy bars and establishments facing Mon Serrat’s signature spire. Scrap shanties had been bolted onto existing parts of the station’s interior, mixing the elegant alien structures of Odyssey with the patchwork designs of the residents. Nestled between branching columns of synthmetal and glowing conduits, the club was one of the few establishments that repurposed part of the station itself. Strobing lights and thumping music poured out of the narrow archway that marked the club’s entrance.

Final Fantasy 7 Redone

Kanade "Tora" Toragami

Name: Kanade "Tora" Toragami

Age: 18

Gender: Female

Race: Half-Wutai, Half-Cetra

Occupation: Part-time Mercenary/Bodyguard

Appearance:

Kanade

Personality:
Every rose has its thorns, and Kanade is one of the prickliest. Embittered with her lot in life, her default attitude is a flippant and stubborn one. She hates authority figures, despising them all equally whether they deserve it or not. In her mind, the world is against her and the powers that be are the criminals that destroyed her life.

Only a few years ago she was a happy and energetic girl, and glimpses of who she used to be sometimes shine through, but they are rare. The majority of the time she's haughty and disagreeable, while she's quiet and reserved the rest of the time. This hasn't earned Kanade many friends.

Despite the coldness from her mother's family, she still respects them, her uncle especially (although she'll never admit it). Unsurprisingly, insulting her disgraced family is a surefire way to trigger her explosive temper. When angered, her mouth has a mind of its own and it has gotten her into trouble countless times. It only gets worse when she's drunk. If she isn't sobbing quietly in the safety of a local inn, she's picking a fight with the entire bar.

History:
What's so wrong about a being different?

Born to the Toragami clan heiress, Sakiko, and a charming wanderer from foreign lands known as Desmond, Kanade was destined to live a troubled life. Although the Toragami were a well-respected pillar of Wutai society, they also revered tradition and family honor, both of which her mother had openly violated by ignoring her arranged marriage and eloping. Kanade being born of an illicit affair only worsened the insult.

As her aunt tells it, Sakiko returned to the main household only a few years later with a swollen belly and a young Kanade clutching her skirts. Although the return of the Torgami's prodigal heiress prompted much debate and hostility, Sakiko rejoined her family in the end. But it wasn't without consequences. Sakiko had earned many enemies within the family including her own father, Kanade's grandfather. Her family investigated Desmond as well. While they found his trail, they never found the man himself. Sakiko seemed heartbroken and forlorn upon her return, and never gave a reason for why she had come back. The vitriol from her family did little to improve her state of mind. She died in childbirth a few months later, and her newborn son didn’t survive.

Despite Sakiko's younger brother, Toshi, already taking her place as heir, he was the one who defended Sakiko and Kanade. Toshi even adopted her officially. But, with two older brothers (cousins technically), Kanade would never inherit the family. Instead of being groomed for diplomacy, like her oldest brother Tetsuo, or business and finance, like her brother Shiro, she was mostly left to her own devices. With little to do, Kanade spent much of her time talking to the ghostly voices that spoke to her occasionally. Few in the family were willing to show her any affection either out of disgust or fear of retaliation, but at least one of the maids tried to look out for her. Concerned about the child's strange behavior, she brought it to Toshi’s attention.

Toshi never bore his adoptive daughter any ill will, but her mere existence was black stain in the family history. In an attempt to free her from the Toragami family politics and give her the attention she needed, he arranged a marriage between Kanade and the Mitsuhama clan heir, Haruto. The two were introduced shortly thereafter. Haruto was a bright and energetic boy, and the two got along so well that they became inseparable. Anything one of them was interested in, the other wanted to do as well. Kanade spent so much time at the Mitsuhama household that she was more or less raised by the maids and servants there.

Although she still heard voices from time to time, she wasn't sure what to do about it. When she consulted the Mitsuhama maids, they brought her to the family doctor, but the diagnosis went nowhere. In the end, they hand-waived it as Kanade's overactive imagination. The young Haruto seemed to be the only one interested in her stories about the voices and what they told her. Many of their adventure games in the Mitsuhama gardens were inspired by what Kanade had vaguely heard.

Years passed and the war with Shinra was getting worse. The Mitsuhama were keen to teach her and Haruto martial arts in case the war came to their doorstep. Kanade was so fierce in sparring practice that her teacher started calling her 'little tiger'. The war was a distant problem for them, and they passed the time like children normally do: blissfully unaware of how harsh reality really was.

When the dust settled after the Wutai-Shinra war, entire families had been wiped out and the sanctions on materia made rebellion a false hope. However, that didn't stop a vocal minority from speaking out against the deeply unfair peace treaty. Toshi Toragami was among them. He schemed to disrupt Shinra's supply lines many times and used his position as a diplomat to pressure them. The moment something of a social movement began to appear, his heroism and courage was rewarded with a swift death.

Rufus Shinra didn't even have to lift a finger. Other Wutai families ensured that nothing would disrupt their newfound peace, however unfair it was. The Toragami became persona non-grata among the other Wutai clans, even those who were sympathetic, including Mitsuhama.

Although Mitsuhama was reluctant to break off the engagement between Haruto and Kanade, they were pressured and threatened into keeping their distance from anyone in the Toragami. Haruto was even sent away to study magic in another country.

At only sixteen, Kanade found herself humiliated, bitter, and alone. Alcohol became her escape and she's been riding a downward spiral ever since. Kanade is a well-known troublemaker and angry drunk. She has been thrown out of so many establishments for starting brawls that most people call her 'Tora' or 'Little Tiger' now.

Weapon:

Mithril Claws

These light-weight clawed gauntlets can rend through most materials. They also serve as excellent arm guards and will protect against most normal bullets. They are well-suited for catching blades, tearing away pieces of armor, and demolishing furniture. They can also be used for climbing.

Equipment:
Miscellany
♦ Two potions
♦ Three mini bottles of the cheapest hard liquor
♦ Some Gil
♦ a wedding ring
♦ a stack of letters she wrote but never delivered.

Designer Phone
♦ Unlike most other cellphones, this one was crafted for the elites of high-society. This glass-like magitek slate has intricately detailed jade inlays, silver trim, and the designer's name etched onto the back of it.

Leviathan Charm
♦ A good luck charm from Haruto's mother. It is said to ward off harmful magic and keep evil at bay.

Thravian Designer Boots
♦ Crafted by a talented cobbler in Thravia, these elegant leather boots have impeccable stitching and sturdy raised heels. Even without the time materia shards embedded in them, these boots would have been incredibly expensive.

Titanite Earrings
♦ These earrings have a droplet of amber encased in a lustrous, translucent blue metal. It was a gift from Haruto himself, and she keeps it as a memento.

Skills:
Socialite
♦ Even if Kanade is no longer part of high-society, she still knows how to play the part. She can easily blend in with affluent crowds and make friends. With the right attire, few would question her presence in a posh lounge or an expensive ball.

Loudmouth
♦ Haughty and opinionated, Kanade has a gift for getting under people's skin. Whether its a mean comment about their weird hairstyle or a withering insult about their general incompetence, she has a knack for goading others into fighting her and can turn an entire room against her with just a few words.

Pugilist
♦ Having tempered her family's martial arts in numerous bar fights, she has become adept at defending against multiple enemies at once. Not everything can be dodged or blocked, however, so she learned how to gracefully take a hit. Being surrounded isn't much of a drawback for her, in fact, its part of her defensive strategy. The more enemies she can engage in close-quarters, the harder it is for them land a hit on her without endangering an ally. If she can't dodge or parry, another enemy can make for a convenient meat shield.

Elusive Target
♦ Energetic and unrestrained, Kanade never stops moving bobbing, weaving, and dancing around her opponents. She makes novel use of her environment and position to evade, find cover, and generally frustrate her opponent.

Second Wind
♦ Not everything can be dodged or blocked. Someone lands a few lucky shots? That's fine. As the fight drags on, Kanade's connection to the lifestream gets stronger as she slowly, unconsciously draws upon it. It may not stop the bleeding, but it can give her the energy to outlast the other guy.

Materia:
Rebound Materia
♦ When Kanade blocks or parries an attack, some of the power is absorbed and used to reinforce her own counter-attack. Her next attack unleashes a shockwave of energy that can strike multiple enemies at once. _{(Inspired by Counter & Deadly Dodge materias)}

Cleansing Materia
♦ Poisona is the only spell she has awakened so far, and she mainly uses it to cure hangovers.

LIMIT BREAK:
Desperate Counter
♦ A shimmering field of energy flashes around her which completely nullifies the damage from one attack or spell made against her and absorbs some of its energy. The thin barrier erupts immediately after and engulfs both her opponent and anything nearby in an explosion of primal energies. The stronger the attack, the more damage this deals.

✩ Starlight Brigade ✩

@This Girlie@Drache

✩ The Churn ✩

Melusine pulled her shawl tighter as she felt a chill. Her delicate, wrinkled hands clutched the skull clasp tightly as she stared wistfully at the Hollow Grove. Eighty years is nothing to a Nano, but it was the distant past for Melusine. She could still see it in her mind, the scrap heap it used to be. She had walked by this same spot nearly every day since she had arrived on the Odyssey and the view was always different. Each day another small part of the grove changed into something extraordinary.

Torn panels had been overgrown by metallic vines. The nest of wires and debris had sprouted into chrome shoots and bloomed into enormous mirror-like petals. Trees of liquid silver grew from every surface, their sleek branches exploring every new direction and ignoring any sense of gravity. Broken machines and scrapped parts had sprung to life in so many shapes, some thick, lumbering, and docile, others lithe, graceful and skittish. She could stare at O’ona’s handiwork for days.

For the first time in years, she had someone to share the sights with. She turned to the furry synth sitting next to her, and began speaking in old Ferontic. “It’s about time we get to work. Food and batteries aren’t free.”

Melusine's instincts cried in alarm and she leaned slightly to one side as a volley of laser fire scorched the wall behind her. “Oh my!” She let out a startled gasp, and as her attention drifted towards the five armed Ryzekt thugs blocking the nearby corridor.

One of them stepped forward; a thread of white smoke curled off the bulky, glass bracelet latched to its outstretched hand. A feline trunk, six scythe-like legs made up the alien’s lower half, while its upper half sloped into a broad torso with four thin arms. Its entire body was covered in blue and green chitin with spiny hairs forming a lion's mane around it's neck Menacing orange haze steamed out of tiny holes along its body. It trained it's predatory yellow eyes on Melusine and squinted at her suspiciously.

“The bounty s’worth more if we bring you in alive, Empress. First shot was a warning. Make any sudden moves and the next one will go through that wicked skull of yours.” Its voice was so deep it might have been raked through gravel. Its eyes flicked to Maddy. “Tell the synth to stand down.”

A few more of the strange mantis-creatures brandished their own cypher weapons, and leveled their aim at Melusine and Maddy.

Playing the role of a frail old homeless woman was easy for the former empress. No one thought twice about ignoring her, and that was just what she needed. But somehow these morons managed to match her with a forty-seven-year-old bounty posting. She thought that unlikely. Someone else was after her this time no doubt. She sighed irritably. This was the first time she had had much opportunity to visit with her curious new friend, Maddy.

She was about to introduce their skulls to their thorax, when she noticed someone else approaching.

✩ Starlight Brigade ✩

You're good, I'm working on intros for the remaining 3 characters.
In particular, the one for Maddy@This Girlie and Durzi@Drache is mostly done.

I've been on-call pretty much all week (and this weekend), so progress has been slow. >.>;

✩ Starlight Brigade ✩

@Dead Cruiser
Chasing Shadows
Obscured by the shadows of nearby alley and his own chameleon skin, he had watched the fight unfold. It began like any other, a few Blackclads in synthmetal jackets blocking the path of some lost soul who wandered too far from the main deck. However, seeing a man put four Blackclad thugs on the ground in record time, Skreed knew better than to make enemies. Having dangerous friends was much more promising.

“Well, well, well~ Can’t say I’ve seen four Blackclads bite the iron so easily. And done in by a Clueless no less. Shocker really~” A tall, stocky lizardman with thick tusks detached from the blackness of the alley in one liquid stride. His stony expression made him seem unflappable. “You really should have expected it, wandering into this ward. Most get peeled like some dumb gully, or worse. Lucky you.” He said with obvious sarcasm. “If you’re not going to pilfer their pockets, I’d get scarce if I were you. There’s dozens more where they came from. The Blackclads run everything in this ward. What's a clueless body like you doing in this dump anyway?”

✩ Starlight Brigade ✩

4 down, 4 to go.
I'm working on better, more personalized story hooks for each one of you, so bear with me.

We'll get there.

Edit; I also fixed the discord link.

✩ Starlight Brigade ✩

✩ Up to No Good ✩

@Aqua Regis

Message for Orion

The ship console let out a shrill chirp as a message appeared on the holoscreen. A familiar face was displayed on the floating blue terminal.

“Hey Orion, I came across something you might be interested in. A relic showed up two days ago after a smuggling run went sour. I’m sitting on it right now while my fence figures out what to do, but for the right amount of chit, It could be ‘lost’. You know those alien symbols on your drive booster? This piece has near identical engravings. It’s probably made by the same race.

If you want it, come find me at E-Rade’s lounge. I’m not going to hold onto it for long. You have some competition.”

--Gnabik

@Dark Light

Message for Oh'len

“Oh’len, right? Cresche tells me you’re the body to talk to about getting a half-decent appraisal on alien scrap. The money may be a little dirty, but I can actually pay you what you’re worth unlike the last bastard you dealt with. Yeah, that’s right, I know that scum-sucking charlatan Lenzo tried to cut you short last time and now he’s a pariah in the trading pens. Word gets around. Anyway, we recovered a relic from the space wreckage around Jurroc III. That’s where you come in. I need you to make up a price tag. I got buyers waiting and my usual contact went dark after those morons at the Tower spread that ghost story across the Lines.

Job's yours if you want it. Meet me at E-Rade’s lounge.”

--Gnabik

@EnterTheHero

Meeting with a Spider

Gnabik

Pale green luminescence shrouded the room. There were no lights, the walls, ceiling and floor had a dim radiance all their own. The walls arched into the ceiling which dipped towards the center and put the focus of the room on a strange workstation. A dense array of glowing symbols floated above it, and within the cloud of alien runes was the vague shape of a starship currently docked at Odyssey station.

The hatch opened with a pneumatic whir letting the jazzy synth music outside flood into the room. The wave of sound was muted as Gnabik squeezed his bulky, arachnoid body into the room. His mandibles vibrated curiously as he cocked his head and eyed Therion.

“Ah, right.” He began “You’re the new one Cresche hired, right? I don’t bother keeping track anymore. Too many faces and bad smells to remember.” He said with a sigh. “ Doesn’t matter. It’s a short contract, and the pay is worth it. Keep me alive for the next few days, and you’ll have enough chit to snort Suryadic Ash for weeks…. or whatever it is your kind does for fun.”

Gnabik scuttled past the Shuran mercenary to the cabinet and retrieved a thin, silvery tube. He pinched off the top with his claws and drank the glittering white contents in one gulp. His shoulders rolled like he just shrugged off a tremendous weight, and he let out a happy chitter. "I needed that." He said, sounding a bit more relaxed. He turned back to Therion and the two largest of his six eyes became fixed on him.

“You got a bit of the Ley in you, don’t you?” He tucked his legs under his thorax and leaned casually against the wall, exuding an air smug confidence. “I can see it, you know. That cloud of sparkly shit clinging to you. Smells like burnt oil to me, but that’s magic alright.” His mouth spread into a grotesque smile. “So, what’s your gimmick, then?”

@Faerrin

A Beautiful Distraction

A thin green haze filled E-Rade's lounge. All manner of aliens were here partying it like it was the last day of their lives. As far as they knew, it might be. From thin, elegant Orvons to stocky, four-armed Tuskers, even those furry little maniacs called Killorians, all of them were packed into wide open lounge. The gravity was lower here so the dancers could be more acrobatic and flashy on their platforms above. Faint ripples in the air outlined the edge the protective force field that separated the dancers from the crowd below.

While the music thumped outside, in an adjacent room the next set of dancers prepared for their shift. Even behind closed doors people still gossiped about the wild conspiracy theories circulating the rumor mill.

A tall, scantily clad Orvon called to Nidia. "Looks like you might make double wages tonight, Nidia. A couple of the faces in the crowd look familiar." He sand settled on a couch nearby and crossed his long, elegant legs in smooth and liquid fashion. He swiped across a the glowing bangle on his wrist and a holoscreen appeared near Nidia. The screen displayed the grisled, lizard-like features of a Trennel thug. Layers of text and info floated around the criminal's picture. "Bounty is 10000 chit."

"You think she can't find her own bounties, Ylis?" Another of the dancers heckled with a laugh.

"Hardly~" Ylis rested his regal face in his palm, and drummed his fingers thoughtfully against his cheek as his playful, gold eyes locked on Nidia. "Her dancing lacks flair. I'm more interested in her other job." He offered a mischievous grin to the other dancer. "Aren't you the least bit interested to see her handle a bounty twice her size?"

✩ Starlight Brigade ✩

I've realized that in my haste to get things started, I made the intro more difficult for you guys to write yourselves into than it really should be. I didn't really give you guys a lot to interact with aside from a vague notion of the space station, and that you should be there.... Somehow.

So... It may take me a bit, but I'm going to work on that over the next few days.

✩ Starlight Brigade ✩

@This Girlie
1. Yes, it's been a week since the message was received.
2. Rather than high-alert, the locals are just very much on edge and many are ready to snap.
3. Istio is the most backwater system in all of Talim. Even if the Talim want to pay a visit, Istio is really far away from the leylines. Doesnt mean they won't come to investigate, but it's probably a matter of time.