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Q - FLUX

Why doesn't this forum have downvotes?

Q - FLUX

Courtlandt Holdings did nothing wrong

Immortality's End - Prodigy Prophecy

The sounds of the sea and the cry of the seagulls that accompanied them echoed off the walls of Cynthia’s bedchamber. Brilliant sunlight streamed through the room’s large bay windows, only partially blocked by a lone maid by the window. From the four-poster bed near the sunlit window, a snugly tucked in girl stirred, rustled by the sound of panes being winched open.

Ultimately, she was roused by the absence of curtains, having been pushed aside by the golden-haired maid. Rolling to the edge of the bed to sit up, she yawned, stretching her arms up high. “Good morning Luna,” she yawned once again, a greeting which was copied and reciprocated in return.

Exchanging a wordless glance with her personal maid and childhood friend, she stood up to be dressed. Cynthia drew no pleasure from formal attire, and accordingly dressed herself in sweaters and loose skirts, comfortable clothing suitable for the north’s frigid climes. Having clothed her mistress, the short-haired maid disappeared.

-

Although freshened and clothed, she was yet to have her breakfast tea, and as such, the pattern of her movements as she made for her meal in hallways looked near aimless. Unusual today, the halls were devoid servants, a fact not lost even on the sleepy girl.

As she raised her finger to wipe an eye, a movement on the royal rugs in front her caught her eye. Billowing upwards as if smoke, a shadowed figure rose from the floor, staring without emotion through two white eyes at a now alert girl. She raised a hand as if to cast, but as quickly as it appeared, it was gone. Her eyes narrowed as she searched her surroundings, but found nothing amiss.

The existence and meaning of such a creature appearing where she was wasn’t lost on her. Fully awake, Cynthia pondered the thought as she arrived at her dining room for her morning meal.

-

“You’re awake today.” She was met with sarcastic, but genuine surprise from her maid, who stood at the ready with a silver tray. “And so she is,” said a male voice seated at side of Cynthia’s long table. Slightly lanky and of silver hair, he was Edmund, another merchant and her right-hand man. In a childish manner, she stuck out her tongue and seated herself at the head of the table.

It was indeed rare for her to be fully awake in the morning, and she and everybody else knew it. Regardless, she had little energy to quip back. Setting a white napkin on her lap, she mixed milk into her black tea, taking a sip before she worked on a breakfast of eggs, sausages, and toast. As was customary in her household, after setting down a package of letters and reports, Luna sat down across from Edmund to join the two at the table for their meal.

“So? How did the business with Lord Barentz go?” Placing a cut piece of meat in her mouth, she looked at her silver-haired associate with a single open eye. “I doubt he’s all smiles after Brilliant Alice was lost.” Cynthia was referring to the third merchant ship out of their port lost in a two-week period to the infamous vessel-devouring leviathan. While it was not one of her own, there was heavy pressure on her to deal with the monster. Barentz, an insurer, was one of many.

“He’s demanded more escorts for his clients, as expected. As I’m sure you’re acutely aware, our own position hasn’t changed, so I politely told him to ‘fuck off’, as you will.”

“Good man. But we’re going to have to do something more about this soon—“

Sipping her tea in one hand, she rifled through the stack of letters before she stopped on one with the seal of the Mecrundyr Federation. Pausing, she shot a glance at her maid who dismissively waved it away. “You were going to see it anyway.”

Raising her own eyebrows, Cynthia unceremoniously opened the envelope with her butter knife. Wordlessly, she scanned the pages within as she finished her tea, refilling it before passing it on to her 2nd and her maid.

“The prophecy, is it?” Luna looked up, having read the document. “That’s presumptuous of them…”

“But it makes sense.”

The brown haired merchant glanced between her two subordinates. “Regardless of what you think, this makes the first formal contact by Neerie. Miguild’s signature is clear. Too bad the timing is inopportune.”

Edmund rubbed his chin. “You will accept, then?”

“I think I will.”

Immortality's End - Prodigy Prophecy

Well, the upside to having two Mecrundyr merchant empires is a rivalry, no?

On it with a post tomorrow.

Immortality's End - Prodigy Prophecy

Cynthia Cykes

Chief Executive Officer, Northern Mecrundyr Company | Grand Marshal of Cephalon
23 / Female / Human / Mecrundyr

---

History:

The Thallasocratic Republic of Cephalon is a nation of middling size lying in the Northern regions of Mecrundyr. Water makes up much of its borders; in the north, it is dominated by coastline, and to the south, a great river forms a natural barrier from the region’s other republics. Like several others, it is a combinations of cultures, ruled by a democratically elected council. The seat of power in this nation lies not in its central government, however, but the large trade company headquartered there, which controls the majority of the military in the nation and has the ear of the ruling council.

Cynthia is the face of that company and its absolute overlord. She was, however, not born a noteworthy individual or to a distinguished family, but rather to a poor mage, an alchemist, whose career she followed in her early years.

Her early successes there boosted an unsustainable ego, and her mind began to fill with grand aspirations. Fueled by such and influenced by the grand trade that was ubiquitous to the region, she looked to break her own way in.

Cephalon was as much a meritocracy as it was a republic. Although not necessary true, this was a thought instilled in Cynthia since her youngest years. Accelerating ahead of her own age, she clawed her way to take the mentorship of the proprietor of a fledgling company. Humored by the man, she was taught social skills, money, and most of all: greed. Greed gave fruit to ambition, and ambition gave claim to power. She took after her mentor; Cynthia was a reckless risk-taker that gambled with her money and her life alike. Fortune favored the bold, and lady luck graced her with kindness.

As with countless others across eons, Cynthia grew up in the shadow of the Baelwill empire. Its people reigned with impunity, fed by its deadly triumvirate of aces. She would never have believed that they would lose two of the three. On the death of its shield and the fall of its star, a Grand Alliance of interested parties was formed in Mecrundyr. Forces from influential companies and several of the fourteen nations assembled, hoping to finally put an end to the oppressive force that so dictated their lives. From Cephalon, an allied force marched on Baelwill and a vast armada sailed around north, intent on bombarding the capital.

Few from both forces returned.

While others thronged for opportunity, she thrived from their loss. Her country was left a shell of its former self, many of its young, able-bodied men and women never to return. Her mentor, leading a division himself, was among them. Having stayed within the nation, she discovered that control of the company that she had since worked for had been willed to her; he had no family. During this time, the nation entered a period of economic recession that saw the collapse of many merchants of the old guard.

Cynthia was not a person to wait. She renamed the business to the Northern Mecrundyr Company, quickly moving to take advantage of the postwar environment. Using her newfound assets, she consolidated the business, buying up the liquidated remains of others, and as affairs stabilized, filled the vacuum in power that the failed campaigns had wrought. Slowly, as she grew her shipping empire, attaining ships, men, arms, and the ears of important politicians, her own ambitions blossomed alongside it. As time passed and the company’s international sphere of influence increased, the uncertainty of Baelwill came to the table time and time again. And uncertainty was bad for business.

Skills and Abilities:

The Blue Water Merchant
–
Despite her age, Cynthia is a true blooded merchant through and through. While she has a small frame and a cute demeanor, she is an individual not to be underestimated, easily holding her own in negotiations against organizations, kings, and queens alike. She has total monopolization in Cephalon, and her impact there is second to none. In her short time, her economic sphere of influence already spans across several nations. To enforce and protect her shipping, Cynthia employs a large professional army of soldiers and armed merchantmen at sea. Chartered by Cephalon, it dwarfs and acts as a second branch of its military under her command.

The Mercury Sea
–
Although she ultimately found another path in life, Cynthia never forgot her origins. Cephalonian magic is an amalgamation of many forms; as a field, it is as diverse as its namesake nation. It is almost always necessary for students of Cephalonian academies to specialize, and Cynthia was no exception. She shows a mastery of liquid and waveform magic. Cynthia carries around a vial of metallic liquid that she can transform and manipulate at will to form objects, weapons, and even autonomous entities.

Immortality's End - Prodigy Prophecy

Cephalon extends a little further West to the west-most offshoot of the river. :3

Immortality's End - Prodigy Prophecy

A kraken in northern waters?

Putin Cynthia demands a Black White Sea port!

Immortality's End - Prodigy Prophecy

Cynthia Cykes

Chief Executive Officer, Northern Mecrundyr Company | Grand Marshal of Cephalon
23 / Female / Human / Mecrundyr

---

History:

The Thallasocratic Republic of Cephalon is a nation of middling size lying in the Northern regions of Mecrundyr. Water makes up much of its borders; in the north, it is dominated by coastline, and to the south, a great river forms a natural barrier from the region’s other republics. Like several others, it is a combinations of cultures, ruled by a democratically elected council. The seat of power in this nation lies not in its central government, however, but the large trade company headquartered there, which controls the majority of the military in the nation and has the ear of the ruling council.

Cynthia is the face of that company and its absolute overlord. She was, however, not born a noteworthy individual or to a distinguished family, but rather to a poor mage, an alchemist, whose career she followed in her early years.

Her early successes there boosted an unsustainable ego, and her mind began to fill with grand aspirations. Fueled by such and influenced by the grand trade that was ubiquitous to the region, she looked to break her own way in.

Cephalon was as much a meritocracy as it was a republic. Although not necessary true, this was a thought instilled in Cynthia since her youngest years. Accelerating ahead of her own age, she clawed her way to take the mentorship of the proprietor of a fledgling company. Humored by the man, she was taught social skills, money, and most of all: greed. Greed gave fruit to ambition, and ambition gave claim to power. She took after her mentor; Cynthia was a reckless risk-taker that gambled with her money and her life alike. Fortune favored the bold, and lady luck graced her with kindness.

As with countless others across eons, Cynthia grew up in the shadow of the Baelwill empire. Its people reigned with impunity, fed by its deadly triumvirate of aces. She would never have believed that they would lose two of the three. On the death of its shield and the fall of its star, a Grand Alliance of interested parties was formed in Mecrundyr. Forces from influential companies and several of the fourteen nations assembled, hoping to finally put an end to the oppressive force that so dictated their lives. From Cephalon, an allied force marched on Baelwill and a vast armada sailed around north, intent on bombarding the capital.

Few from both forces returned.

While others thronged for opportunity, she thrived from their loss. Her country was left a shell of its former self, many of its young, able-bodied men and women never to return. Her mentor, leading a division himself, was among them. Having stayed within the nation, she discovered that control of the company that she had since worked for had been willed to her; he had no family. During this time, the nation entered a period of economic recession that saw the collapse of many merchants of the old guard.

Cynthia was not a person to wait. She renamed the business to the Northern Mecrundyr Company, quickly moving to take advantage of the postwar environment. Using her newfound assets, she consolidated the business, buying up the liquidated remains of others, and as affairs stabilized, filled the vacuum in power that the failed campaigns had wrought. Slowly, as she grew her shipping empire, attaining ships, men, arms, and the ears of important politicians, her own ambitions blossomed alongside it. As time passed and the company’s international sphere of influence increased, the uncertainty of Baelwill came to the table time and time again. And uncertainty was bad for business.

Skills and Abilities:

The Blue Water Merchant
–
Despite her age, Cynthia is a true blooded merchant through and through. While she has a small frame and a cute demeanor, she is an individual not to be underestimated, easily holding her own in negotiations against organizations, kings, and queens alike. She has total monopolization in Cephalon, and her impact there is second to none. In her short time, her economic sphere of influence already spans across several nations. To enforce and protect her shipping, Cynthia employs a large professional army of soldiers and armed merchantmen at sea. Chartered by Cephalon, it dwarfs and acts as a second branch of its military under her command.

The Mercury Sea
–
Although she ultimately found another path in life, Cynthia never forgot her origins. Cephalonian magic is an amalgamation of many forms; as a field, it is as diverse as its namesake nation. It is almost always necessary for students of Cephalonian academies to specialize, and Cynthia was no exception. She shows a mastery of liquid and waveform magic. Cynthia carries around a vial of metallic liquid that she can transform and manipulate at will to form objects, weapons, and even autonomous entities.

Log Horizon: Western Europe

Now that I'm back home, something that concerned me were the healing abilities... Straight 25, 50, and especially 90% heals without mention of cooldowns, cast times, mana drain, or restraining factors came off as very overpowered to me. Usually they're ace-in-the-hole type abilities with very long cool-downs or associated nerfs because of how quickly they could recover a battle.

Log Horizon: Western Europe

@The_written_John

To be fair, he delivered on an interesting, feasible character. You did not.