DruSM157

Pariah Online: A Voyage into the Intangible Aether

Location: The Laughing Worg Tavern-- The City of Thorinn, Aetheria

---

Benkei just sat there, in shock as talks broke down further and further, culminating in Alja’s blow up, Seele’s attempt at peacekeeping, and Kazuki’s own additions to what they could do. Benkei at first thought about just leaving; going back to his brother’s place and calling it a night then and there. What help would he be if he got goaded into arguing? What help would any of them be if they couldn’t drop their egos at the door for one damn minute and talk before letting their emotions take over?

Aaginim must have been wrong about him. How the hell could he be a leader when any time he tried to bring the group together they fractured even further apart? At least Graves had kept his cool, and no one fought with Alja over her outburst. Seele’s quick response saved the day there. Maybe someone like her would have made a better leader. Her personality lent to healing others instead of breaking them apart.

What did he know of healing? Or helping? Or doing anything useful? After all, he was the worthless son next to Kazuki. And even here, in this world that was supposed to be his expertise, it was Kazuki who was worth more again. He had money. He had property. He had skills that could help the group. What did Benkei have? Fishing? He couldn’t even feed the whole group in a single day with that skill.

Then the girl entered–Artemis–and Benkei immediately recognized the pain she carried. It was something each of them carried and tried to battle through or hide from ever since the glitch. Benkei tried to find the proper words to convey how he was sorry and that he understood but those words were lost to him. ”I’m so sorry for what you’ve been through,” he tried to piece together the words, ”You’re welcome here, with us. We’ve gone through a lot too.” If there was one thing grief enjoyed, it was company. Still, this was no time or place to try and be a poor facsimile of a good leader like Aaginim. Benkei simply returned to his seat and started to clean the mess of maps and papers he’d worked so hard on.

Pariah Online: A Voyage into the Intangible Aether

Location: The Laughing Worg Tavern-- The City of Thorinn, Aetheria

---

“Easy everyone,” Benkei said, trying to cool the air. It must have been bad with the angry twerp of all people trying to play peacemaker. “Everything you’re saying Graves, it’s stuff I’ve taken into account. Well, stuff we’ve been trying to take into account, anyways. And with your completion of the dungeon, as well as the fact that it was inside the city, we can bring that evidence to the queen here at least.”

“I know everyone is tired of hearing this, but we can’t keep treating this world and it’s people like a game now. I’m still not sure exactly what this place really is, but the denizens of this world are going to stand up for themselves now. And we don’t have the luxury of numbers of power to do anything about that.” Benkei looked over to Seigfried now. “Many of us have useful crafting skills like your blacksmithing. And I’m considering learning some new skills, even if it means I have to actually physically learn them. I know fishing won’t really help us as much as something like mining or leatherworking will. But I’ll do my part to help.”

That had been what he’d spent the other part of his morning doing; asking around town for those who would actually talk to him about work. Even apprenticing with skilled workers or simply doing common labor, whatever he could do to help bring in extra income or materials to the others, it was something he realized he had to do.

When he’d played the game earlier, before the glitch, fishing was just a fun hobby to screw around with while he waited on other players or content. It wasn’t something he’d put as much effort into like Rael’s herbalism, Graves’ hunting, or Alja and Seigfried’s blacksmithing. Even Kazuki had spent time learning various skills beyond his musical playing. Before he’d looked down on the profession system, he’d thought it was a waste of time.

But as he and Sif were putting together a list of everyone’s viable skills, their knowledge, and connections, as well as their own property they could leverage, Benkei noticed the common denominator amidst it all: compared to everyone else in the group, he was worth the least. He owned the least amount of property, he had the least amount of useful skills for crafting and gathering. Benkei had gone through his own internal horror whilst the others faced the physical horrors of rats and sewer stink.

That gnawing, endless feeling of not being good enough had sunk its claws into him, and he’d obsessively thrown himself into his work. He had to make himself valuable to others. Because if he couldn’t…what purpose did he have living when those better than him died?

”There’s one thing you said that I hadn’t really considered. But I think it’d be best if you, Rael, and Seele did the work for that: doing our part to at least open communication with the other guilds in the city. I doubt everyone will want to work together for the greater good here, but there’s safety in numbers now. And if we have to prove ourselves to the people of this world, I’m afraid there’s only one thing that we can really do: deal with the dungeons.” It was an awful thought to bring up after all the death and despair they’d experienced; and even more for those that just returned from the sewers. But it was the one trump card they held: they could take on the dungeons. And if they didn’t, there may not be any safe place left for them to go.

Gamblers of Vox Fortuna

Steven "Bolt" Armstrong is a FUCKING MECHA PILOT NAME YEEEAHHH!!!!

Pariah Online: A Voyage into the Intangible Aether

Location: The Laughing Worg Tavern-- The City of Thorinn, Aetheria

---

Everyone was arriving. Good. Benkei listened to Rael as she went further into the details. He grimaced when she revealed what they’d feared: these dungeons were going to keep coming, and places like cities weren’t even safe. Still; it gave them some leverage.

“Still, you all cleared it. So that keeps the city safe for now.” He smiled. “And, we can use this. When the leadership hears that they were moments from a crisis before you stepped in to stop it, maybe they’ll give us some more leeway while we set up shop.” Benkei motioned to the table full of maps and papers. “Kazuki got some awful news yesterday. Apparently, we’ve worn out our welcome with the locals, and those who own property will start to pay taxes. I didn’t think I’d have to worry about that until after college,” he muttered as an aside.

He pulled a paper with various numbers on it. “I’ve been putting together a sheet of everyone’s various skills and properties. We made a promise to stick together, and that means being ready to face dungeons and the nobles coming after us.”

Pariah Online: A Voyage into the Intangible Aether

Location: The Laughing Worg Tavern-- The City of Thorinn, Aetheria

---

Benkei had been busy after having his armor repaired. Sif had been a leading force for him, dragging him further out of his shell and into the goings-on of the city. And then, they’d reunited with Kazuki and Seele, trading more information with each other. “Right now, what we know is more valuable than gold,” Benkei told them, “though it seems gold is coming in at a close second. We need to start thinking about how much goodwill we have left with these people, especially when taxes come in.”

He’d spent his day in the Warg with maps and books on the table, going over inventories and properties; something that had once been easy to connect with a simple menu was now back to the world of analog. He grumbled, feeling like a giant fool that he hadn’t spent as much time delving into mercantilism or useful capital gaining skills. If they had a huge war chest, things would be different. Kazuki had the most capital, but how would he and his brother access anything now that traveling to the other apartments would be an investment of time?

There had to be a better way. Right now he’d cast his lot with his fellow adventurers, and they’d watched each other’s backs even when death bore its deadly fangs at them. Now, he’d need to count on them again, not as adventurers, but as partners. He’d already written down notes concerning his direct party; Sif had done well offering up her own bits of bobs of information about herself and her brother as well. “Smithing experience, musical and minstrel, craftsmen, and medicine…” he’d needed to quiz the other members of the group once they’d returned as well to get a better feeling of their own skills.

And speaking of the devil, they’d arrived. Benkei grinned as the group returned, looking worse for wear in spirit but at least they were all in one piece. That was something that eased his heart. He got up from his table and approached his returning comrades. ”It’s good to see you all are still in one piece. I assume things didn’t go quite as expected?” A sewer expedition wouldn’t take days to complete. He expected to hear the story from someone, at the very least. For now, he was glad they could all reconnoiter the plans together. Kazuki wanted to meet with the Queen, and Benkei wanted to consolidate what they could now in case talks with the royalty went south.

Gamblers of Vox Fortuna

Marlowe

Personnel Dossier

---

_Name

Marlowe Beltras

_Age

27

_{Physical Evaluation}

Standing at a solid 5’10, Marlowe takes command of the word average. He does not stand out in a line of people, he does not have any important, distinguishing marks. He bears more of a lithe physique than men his age. He keeps his hair cut high and tight, mainly to avoid any muss and fuss when wearing his helmet inside the exo-frame.

_{Psychological Profile}

Marlowe’s biggest mental weakness is his hesitation in battle. He’s a capable pilot; he was a pupil under Herax Singh, a celebrated Exoframe pilot and a well-known mercenary throughout the NSL. When it comes to making the kill; Marlowe will choke. He still hangs onto that foolish sentiment of the sanctity of life, something that usually gets idealists like himself a bullet in the back of the skull.

_{Background Information}

Marlowe hails from a backwater colony planet in NSL Territory named Seras. The planet was poorer than dirt and focused mainly on agriculture and fishing. It was during his formative years that Marlowe got handy piloting a rustbucket CRX-312 Angler Trawler. Not an exoframe per se, but operating a heavy machine does take a certain skill.

Through several traumatic events, Marlowe eventually crossed paths with Herax Singh of the Singh’s Raiders Mercenary Company, who took Marlowe under his wing. Singh would eventually lose his life in the border conflicts in 3060. With the leader of Singh’s Raiders dead, the mercenary band quickly fractured and Marlowe found himself as a free agent in a very dangerous place.

Exoframe

---

_Designation

Bucket

_{Weight Class}

Medium

_Description

Image

The Polestar Training Unit Exoframe 132 is a lightly armored, half-functioning training suit; the only Exoframe that Marlowe could grab during the Raider’s fracturing. It has been heavily modified over time, sporting a rusty EHM17 Exoframe Light Assault Gun and a modified head sensor unit. Whilst the original design is for training purposes, its light loadout and incredible maneuvering make it an efficient scout or a suit capable of hit-and-run tactics. The major issue with the Bucket, in particular, is its lack of proper wear and care over time. The left-arm capacitor has a habit of losing charge, and a solid heavy weapon shell could destroy the suit easily.

_{Equipment and Armament}

EHM17 Exoframe Light Assault Gun: A common Exoframe assault rifle that has seen far better days. Has a habit of locking up when fired for too long.
Polestar Armament Light Jump Jet Pack: A small, fuel-efficient Exoframe backpack module that allows for limited air maneuverability or long jumping. Probably the only reliable piece of equipment on the exoframe.
Jury-rigged Ammo Capacity: Extra ammo pouches created from combat-grade materials. Allows for a slightly larger ammo loadout for the Exoframe at the cost of being completely asinine to the field.
Durus Security Systems Light Armor: Important and critical systems are outfitted with DSS Light Armor throughout the Exoframe. It would be useful if parts weren’t already damaged and dented from light use. Still capable of defense from small arms fire or from a few heavy weapon shots. A solid hit at an unprotected area would equate to the death of the pilot.

Gamblers of Vox Fortuna

Marlowe

Personnel Dossier

---

_Name

Marlowe Beltras

_Age

27

_{Physical Evaluation}

Standing at a solid 5’10, Marlowe takes command of the word average. He does not stand out in a line of people, he does not have any important, distinguishing marks. He bears more of a lithe physique than men his age. He keeps his hair cut high and tight, mainly to avoid any muss and fuss when wearing his helmet inside the exo-frame.

_{Psychological Profile}

Marlowe’s biggest mental weakness is his hesitation in battle. He’s a capable pilot; he was a pupil under Herax Singh, a celebrated Exoframe pilot and a well-known mercenary throughout the NSL. When it comes to making the kill; Marlowe will choke. He still hangs onto that foolish sentiment of the sanctity of life, something that usually gets idealists like himself a bullet in the back of the skull.

_{Background Information}

Marlowe hails from a backwater colony planet in NSL Territory named Seras. The planet was poorer than dirt and focused mainly on agriculture and fishing. It was during his formative years that Marlowe got handy piloting a rustbucket CRX-312 Angler Trawler. Not an exoframe per se, but operating a heavy machine does take a certain skill.

Through several traumatic events, Marlowe eventually crossed paths with Herax Singh of the Singh’s Raiders Mercenary Company, who took Marlowe under his wing. Singh would eventually lose his life in the border conflicts in 3060. With the leader of Singh’s Raiders dead, the mercenary band quickly fractured and Marlowe found himself as a free agent in a very dangerous place.

Exoframe

---

_Designation

Bucket

_{Weight Class}

Medium

_Description

Image

The Polestar Training Unit Exoframe 132 is a lightly armored, half-functioning training suit; the only Exoframe that Marlowe could grab during the Raider’s fracturing. It has been heavily modified over time, sporting a rusty EHM17 Exoframe Light Assault Gun and a modified head sensor unit. Whilst the original design is for training purposes, its light loadout and incredible maneuvering make it an efficient scout or a suit capable of hit-and-run tactics. The major issue with the Bucket, in particular, is its lack of proper wear and care over time. The left-arm capacitor has a habit of losing charge, and a solid heavy weapon shell could destroy the suit easily.

_{Equipment and Armament}

EHM17 Exoframe Light Assault Gun: A common Exoframe assault rifle that has seen far better days. Has a habit of locking up when fired for too long.
Polestar Armament Light Jump Jet Pack: A small, fuel-efficient Exoframe backpack module that allows for limited air maneuverability or long jumping. Probably the only reliable piece of equipment on the Exoframe.
Jury-rigged Ammo Capacity: Extra ammo pouches created from combat-grade materials. Allows for a slightly larger ammo loadout for the Exoframe at the cost of being completely asinine to the field.
Durus Security Systems Light Armor: Important and critical systems are outfitted with DSS Light Armor throughout the Exoframe. It would be useful if parts weren’t already damaged and dented from light use. Still capable of defense from small arms fire or from a few heavy weapon shots. A solid hit at an unprotected area would equate to the death of the pilot.

Gamblers of Vox Fortuna

Mechs :)

Pariah Online: A Voyage into the Intangible Aether

wait what is going on

Pariah Online: A Voyage into the Intangible Aether

Location: Blacksmith-- The City of Thorinn, Aetheria

---

“Have you thought about investing in new armor?”

Before, Benkei may have actually taken the smith up on that offer. Before all of this, all he’d really thought about and cared about was getting stronger, getting better gear and clearing more content. But now? He had to actually consider his own funds. He could bum off his brother, sure, but how long would that cash last?

”If it’s fixable, then it’s fine.” When he did get a stable income, then he could splurge on things to keep him alive. He handed over the money to the smith, and thanked him, before turning back to Sif.

”That’s one errand out of the way. Let’s make our way back; i’m sure everyone should be coming home from their own errands soon enough.”