EliteCommander

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

Ssarak can fly above the trees, you know.

Also, isn't it daytime? They set out from their campsite in early morning.

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

Depends, how thick is this forest? I think Djarkel is described as pretty barren, so I don't imagine this is exactly a rainforest or anything. It also depends on if there is a clearing for the camp.

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

Ssarak could perhaps come in from a really high angle of attack. He could back off, get up high into the air while out of sight, then descend from above once everyone is distracted. While they're focused on the half-elf, they won't see him swooping down to deliver the a hammerhead to the biggest threat's skull.

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

Unless you guys really suck, a battle of this size should go down in less than five minutes. Taking into consideration how long it takes to stab someone to death, and applying a bit of tabletop, I'd say that if you guys can take out the surface guards after the away crew leaves, you might have a few minutes to deal with the last few in the ravine before the away crew could arrive, assuming they could even tell something was going on. Otherwise they'd leave without ever knowing their HQ got sacked. Though depending on how you do it they may or may not be aware of your presence. It's not a deep ravine, barely large enough to hold the the ferals in cages while giving space forthe robed man a private room. Bandits sleep outside just so ya know.

@Lucius Cypher

The battle would go quickly, but the biggest time waster would be waiting for people to leave and come back.

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

With Meirin staying back at the caravan, we might have some more time, and he did say five hours to begin with.

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

I would propose a modification to this plan. It seems like most of the bandits are drunk, so now is a good time to attack, definitely. However, we know that some of the bandits are going to leave soon. So, we wait until the group is walking away, then have Alaira and Darius sneak as close as they can, then suddenly attack the few that are remaining. If there are any archers still. Ssarak can fly up and crush their faces. We would time this attack so that the others leaving can hear some commotion behind them and turn around. If we're fast enough on the initial attack, we can hide, then proceed with your plan, but on fewer enemies at once.

Alternatively, we can wait until the group that leaves is out of earshot, take out the ones in camp, then catch up to and attack the others with your plan.

Star Wars - Scum and Villainy

Sirka almost rolled her eyes when Tor started going on about avoiding any jokes on his culture, though she did manage to stop herself. Tor had to be about the most stereotypical Mandalorian mercenary she had ever seen, but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. She had, after all, taken a great interest in their people at one time, and she could pretty much predict how he would act in most situations. She liked to make fun of pretty much anything, but she supposed she could hold off on that particular topic. Sirka held up her hands and gave a slight laugh. "Fine, fine, I'll give your people all the respect in the galaxy. Besides, it's not much of an insult to say your Mand'alor escaped from that sarlacc twice. That thing's brutal; digests you for like a thousand years or something. I'll just make sure to make fun of you relentlessly instead."

Once the mood lightened and the topic shifted to recreation, Sirka gave a glance to Tony and looked him over and take in his scent. "You know, that really doesn't surprise me at all. You do got that look about you, Tony. 'Course, your kind also tend to be level-headed when you need to be, so you've got that going for you. Me...well, don't get in my way if I'm mad. Might end up ripping your arms off. I'm just glad at least one other person on this ship shares my idea of a good time." She commented as she slowly walked over close to Tor and looked almost straight down at him. "Maybe we should get together sometime and partake in some or...all of them." Sirka said suggestively, a slight smirk stretching across her reptilian visage.

Ashes [EliteCommander and Vesuvius00]

Tarentek chuckled. "I see. We actually have some similar things among my people, just not with ears. Our ears are pretty much the same throughout our lives. Or at least, they stay about the same size compared to our head. For us, it is big eyes, or a small tail. Especially the tail. A lot of cruel children have bullied others based on that. Luckily, mine is about average, so I've never had to deal with that."

As the pair stepped out of the den, Tarentek took in a deep breath of the fresh air. "So, what is our first stop?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei listened to the discussion of the others to get a sense of the current state of the clan. As expected, it seemed like some individuals loyal to Harriet might fight even if it was suicide but others would have doubts. The fear of death from fighting the other three quarters of the clan, coupled with doubts from seeing the trial itself, could keep many of them from taking action. However, to avoid bloodshed entirely could prove difficult.

"I do not know if it will be possible to eliminate entirely the risk of bloodshed. From what you describe, some of her followers are fiercely loyal, and loyalty can sometimes outweigh even the will to live. However, we can do everything within our power to lower that risk. First and foremost, we need to be united, and your packs need to understand that we are united. After the announcement tomorrow, I would recommend speaking to your packs about this. Let them know that you three are not enemies, and that even many in Harriet's packs are not likely to follow her. How you go about it is up to you, but I would recommend that you all speak to them together, to show that you are not enemies. If Harriet's packs are certain that the rest of the clan would stand against them, more of them would be unwilling to raise arms in support of Harriet." Meesei recommended. Staying united could act as a deterrent against violence, but to keep the peace entirely, Meesei had another, more risky idea.

Meesei took in a deep breath before continuing. "Do you believe Harriet's clan to be honorable in their service to her, even if they are misguided? Because I have an idea of how to use that. It will be dangerous, but for this clan, I am willing to accept the risk. Harriet is not going to be able to spread chaos before the trial, I will see to that personally. However, once she has the clan's ear at the trial, there will be no way to stop her from attempting it. She will have to call for violence in front of everyone, but that means I will be able to address the entire clan as well. As I am sure you know, the title of Champion is an earned one. It is based on merit and strength. As such, if someone proves themselves to be the stronger, they can take the title themselves. Given the position she carries, Harriet could earn my title by challenging me. However, I could also pose to her a challenge as well. If she tries to provoke the clan to violence, and it seems like it is working, then I will challenge her, in front of the entire clan, to a duel to the death. I will challenge her to prove that she has Hircine's favor, and that her actions were just, by claiming my title. From Harriet's reputation, I cannot imagine she would deny such a challenge, and if she did, then she might lose the confidence of even her closest allies. In either case, it would stop the clan from breaking out into a fight."

The Relics

Name: Jana Karchak

Age: 30

Gender: Female

Faction/Allegiance: Kalesian Empire

Relic Description: The relic itself is a metallic, circular plate roughly half an inch thick and the size of a palm. It is engraved with strange writing, but it is not visible, as it has fused itself to the base of Jana's skull. Initially, it was fused to her skin, but her scales have since grown over it.

The relic's primary effect has been constant, unstoppable, and irreversible for Jana. Over time, it has morphed her body into that of a reptilian creature that is larger and more massive than a human being. She has considerable strength, speed, and endurance, with a tough hide and a fierce bite. The relic's only other effect is to allow her to breathe fire, an ability powered by solar energy. Currently, she is capable of roughly five bursts of flame in a short timespan before needing to recharge.

Appearance:

Lizard

(Roughly the size of a horse)

Flaws:

Jana lacks opposable thumbs, and while her fingers are dexterous enough to manipulate to grab objects to an extent, it is more difficult than before.

For reasons Jana does not understand, her relic will occasionally give her headaches. They range in severity from a minor annoyance, to crippling migraines that can all but incapacitate her. They are unpredictable and do not seem to need a cause.

The relic at the base of her skull is, quite literally, a sensitive spot on her body. Touching the location is uncomfortable for her, and enough pressure on it can put her in considerable pain.

As much as Jana tries to make the most of her new life, she has started to develop a pessimistic outlook on her future. She hates the loss of her humanity, and at times, can fall into depression and self-loathing.

Skills: Few of Jana's skills from before her transformation are usable in her new body. However, she is knowledgeable in combat and has learned through practice with Rebaine how to serve as an effective combat mount, as well as how to fight on her own. Since she is not guided in the same way as a normal mount, they have learned to pick up on cues from one another in combat to communicate their intentions.

Biography: Jana was born into a military family, and while not a noble, she was not exactly of low birth. Her family owned land and had enough wealth to hire others to work on it. However, for her and her siblings, it was their military training which was given the most focus, even early in their lives. They began their training at home, much earlier than most Kalesians. At first, they each received a general education, then specialized once their specific talents began to manifest. For Jana, that talent was with animals. One of the chief uses of her family's land was to raise, train, and maintain combat-ready mounts, including the ferocious bargal. For most of her training, she was restricted to using horses, but she did gain some experience with the bargal.

Given her prior experience, Jana advanced quickly once it was time for her to attend a military academy. She entered early, at around 10 years of age, and since she had learned basic combat skills long before even entering the academy, and she had no trouble passing required tests to be accepted for training to become a cavalrywoman. It was also not long after arriving that she began to make friends as well. There were a few groups we was acquainted with, but in particular, she befriended a boy named Rebaine, and later a young man named Roan. Over time, their specializations did serve to separate them. Rebaine intended to pursue the art of espionage, and while Jana and Roan were both cavalry, Jana was heavily focused on becoming an officer. Despite this, they all kept in touch, but for Jana, it was Rebaine that she went through the most effort to communicate with. Through the years, they had become close enough that Jana could not even entertain the thought of separating from her entirely. Although Jana would not admit it to Rebaine, it even caused her to change her career path. She still became an officer among Kalesia's cavalry, but instead of joining Kalesia's standing army, as was her original intention, she pursued a career in Kalesia's internal security against threats such as outlaws. She used every friend and connection she had to attempt to remain stationed reasonably close to Rebaine, and it was not long before this effort reached she had known she wanted, but could not admit to even herself. After ten years of friendship, they became lovers, which quickly resulted in their marriage a year after they graduated from the military academy.

For the next seven years, both Jana and Rebaine continued to pursue their respective careers, but they also did whatever they could to stay as close to one another as possible. Whenever one would be forced to move for a significant length of time, the other would do what they could to take a position close by. When their careers brought them close enough, they were able to live together under the same roof, but even when duty demanded they be apart, they visited as often as possible. It was not the most traditional marriage in any sense, but it worked well for a time. However, this changed with a fateful purchase two years ago that would shake to the core every aspect of Jana's life.

It was during a raid on a bandit camp that Jana was knocked from her bargal by a bandit who managed to get the jump on her. The bandit was killed with Jana being mostly unharmed, but her helmet had not been properly secured and had flown off, only to be crushed by her mount in the struggle. The battle ended without further incident, but there were still other camps in the area they needed to contend with, and Jana did not wish to fight with no head protection. She preferred her permanent helmet be made by a skilled blacksmith from the city, so during their next stop in the nearest village, Jana purchased a temporary replacement. Instead of a blacksmith, she purchased one from a traveling salesman which seemed like it would fit her head. As soon as she placed it on her head, however, there was a quick, painful sensation, after which she found she could no longer remove it. At the back of the helmet was a circular plate the size of her palm which had fused to the back of her head, near the base of her skull. It did not take long for her to realize that it was a relic. Just like her husband, Jana reported it to her superiors as soon as possible, but unlike Rebaine's quill, the effect of Jana's relic was much more severe.

Over a period of time spanning a few weeks, Jana's body began to shift in form. The change was drastic, and agonizingly painful. Every single bone that broke and reformed, every muscle that tore as it moved and grew, she felt. The helmet broke away from the metal plate after a few days, after which her skin shifted into scales and grew over the relic. Between the terrible pain and the horrifying physical changes her body was being forced through, there were many points during the transformation that her doctors could not say how she was even managing to stay alive.

After the transformation finally completed, Jana had lost almost all traces of her humanity. She still had her mind, and she could still produce speech, but there was nothing else that could indicate what she once was. Now, she was essentially an animal, something with no shred of hope of ever returning to a normal life. Since she was now an evoker, she still had a place within the Empire, but that was only a small consolation considering all she had lost. After the shock of the transformation wore off, Jana fell into a deep depression, but Rebaine had a more proactive reaction. After the initial panic he frantically searched for any and all information that might help Jana control this relic. Unfortunately, the search produced nothing in the way of useful information, but regardless, Rebaine's dedication did serve to help Jana in another way. While Jana had been ready to give up on life, Rebaine held hope that Jana's condition could be cured, and convinced her of it as well.

Jana's mind is still ravaged by pain, doubt, and depression, something which has cause her husband considerable frustration. She has certainly not returned to her former mindset, but after over a year of brooding, she has begun to find some measure of normality in her present condition. In recent months, she has even found herself feeling happy again, if only briefly. Now, she and Rebaine have set out to find the traitor, and their old friend, Roan. Jana shares her husband's anger towards him, however; the idea that, somewhere beyond Kalesia, they might find something to help with her condition is what truly motivates her.

Personality/motivation: Before her transformation, Jana could easily be described as a friendly, cheerful individual. She was not social in the sense that she liked to make as many friends as possible, but rather focused on forming deep bonds with a few close friends. As a soldier, she has no qualms with killing when necessary and can be brutal in a fight, but as her parents taught her, she can separate her profession from her personality. To her, being a soldier is her duty, and an honorable practice. While she can be merciless towards bandits and other outlaws, even an enemy soldier would receive respect from her. She loves animals and is generally compassionate. However, since her transformation, fear and depression have taken a hold of her mind. Those traits she has always held have not left her, and they do still shine through from time to time, but whenever her hope for the future falters, she quickly turns despondent. Now, the only things that seem to keep her going are her husband Rebaine, and her hope for a cure.

Relations: Jana is the wife of Rebaine, and a former friend of Roan.