Gowi

Rogue Continuum: The Singularity Crisis

Lurking would imply I am not vocal about my watching.

All-Star Marvel: Audax Mundus Novus - Season 1 (Completed)

I'm cool with doing it as soon as possible. The training session while fun though could get stretched too long if we don't figure out how to end it quickly; maybe Captain America can tell us we're done for [insert reason] or we could simply sum it up in Season 2.

NCQ — Season I: Favors for Favors

I'm fine with a timeskip too, although what Joe will do in the time will depend on when and with what answer Katarina Poux returns.

@M127

Yeah, I imagine they got a lab worked out and they got to work. Didn't think I had enough content to warrant a post though, so it'll be background stuff.

NCQ — Season I: Favors for Favors

ADP's reaction should be good.

NCQ — Season I: Favors for Favors

The New Frontier: A Marvel/DC One Universe RP

Re-reading Morden's Supes and I found myself oddly inspired for a few scenes for Carol; not quite interlinked large arcs, but it could regain some steam and make some sense why Carol isn't around in Metropolis right now.

NCQ — Season I: Favors for Favors

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STEIN

TRAINING FACILITY, NEW ANCHORAGE
_EVENING

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For the last few hours, Stein had done her best to do something productive instead of commit to a longer involvement with Percy Moore considering she was more than familiar with how it was obviously going to waste not only her time but also Agatha’s— the discussion following a specific briefing with their previous commander still oddly fresh in her mind. However, there was nothing she could really do to change how Percy Moore thought or acted; at least, unless something changed to the point where Stein felt she had to. The only thing Stein considered that she “had” to do at this point in time was to give Agatha an idea of what New Anchorage’s facilities were like and show her what she had requested: the ropes.

Admittedly to Stein, the ropes consisted simply of knowing where the pilot barracks, main NC hangars, shooting range, obstacle course, simulation hub, fitness center, and training rooms were and little much else. She had pointed to Agatha’s datatool if she got lost and needed to know where certain rooms were had she lacked the cognitive memory functions to sufficiently remember them. Though unlike other pilot’s Stein did not suggest it in a condescending fashion as a sort of jab at her fellow pilot, but rather a sort of obtuse matter-of-fact statement that only someone like Stein could essentially get away with saying.

In addition to making Agatha aware of the facilities, their locations, and their functions the blonde-haired pilot returned to a statement she mentioned when she walked away from the conversation with Percy— Of course. I'm due for another run, anyway.

Whether Agatha continued to follow her had been irrelevant as far as Stein believed due to the fact that it wouldn’t affect her intended activities that she had planned to space out in-between 1300 and 1800 hours.

There would be little time for idle chat.

Pressuring herself into the same regimen of timed obstacle course runs that she had done prior to lunch, Stein would continuously make sure that she would make sure she would make good use of the last day free from New Anchorage’s loose operation though she was not entirely convinced that Graham would make them run through corporate schedules after the sun set either. It was a doubt, but Stein felt it was more of a fear factor to pressure pilots into stop slacking around base— though there was also the idea that her doubt could’ve been quite incorrect… but there was no way to know in advance.

As time drew closer, Stein did as she did earlier— a quick shower before heading off to the Mess Hall before contemplation of what activities she should do afterward up until she set herself for a four-to-six our sequence of much needed bed rest. With so many pilots, concerns, and situations she considered going to the hangar to check on her NC, returning to the NC that Graham had designated for them to climb, or even going to the simulation hub for a simulated encounter to maintain that her skills were still sharp. There was a multitude of things that were optionable. Perhaps people like Percy saw it as robotic or soulless but Stein rejected the idea with the belief of efficiency being better than complacency.

It was how she was raised.

The blonde-haired girl had been the first pilot to make it to the Mess, though considering everybody’s state of mind it wasn’t so odd in retrospect. Stein didn’t quite understand how people could get so thrown off-kilter by simple requests from their commander, but therein was an issue that even she was slightly aware of— how she grew up and how she lived was different than even the person closest like her at New Anchorage in Elizabeth Jackspar. The lives of the majority of pilots she called and would call comrades were alien to her, almost like they were from Mars. Part of her wanted to relate to them or at least be able to understand them like she did her former comrades. She struggled thinking that she would connect to the people of New Anchorage quite like she did back in Seattle.

Stein sighed heavily as she sat down at the table with her food tray in hand.

Why is the world so different beyond what I know?

It was then that a voice from behind broke her away from her thoughts, her nerves tightening as she heard it.

“Anastasia?”

Her blue eyes turned to face the person who had spoken to her— someone she was… familiar with. Someone she thought had disappeared from her life following his success. Stein commented blankly as she looked at the suit-bearing man who held his own tray in hand.

“Father.”

Ingram Kalfox.

Stein would’ve been lying to herself had she believed herself to not be surprised by this… development. The last time she had seen her father for an increment of time longer than an hour was when she was twelve and was well into her promising military career and yet here we was in New Anchorage. Did whatever that caused her early retirement from the Volkov Corporation cause a similar fate for her father? And if so, why did he decide to come to New Anchorage instead of jump ship to another major corporation? What was his intent here?

Why was he here?

“It’s been a few years… hasn’t it Anastasia?”

She felt the pressure around her get heavier.

“Stein. Call me Stein.”

Why was he here?

A Gilded Throne- The Shadow Looms (Recruiting)

William Valian

12th of Gerna | 1200 AU
Ebon Keep, Xandria

It felt strange, sitting in the royal throne.

Even after several days of being appointed as “Lord Regent” he still felt it an uncomfort that he wasn’t sure how to feel about. His brother had gone off to the imperial capital, Lalrial, with his father in a silent rush. No words had been spoken to him by his father or his brother or by the council about the decision; as if it was “how things should be” and that it was completely acceptable. He wondered if the same reaction was met well when Duncan Cragmore prepared to do the same. Then again William saw King Kenten Cragmore as a bit of a drunken oaf and equally as psychotic as his heir. William had once heard that the King of Erayis fornicated with goats in front of guests to assert dominance over them. He was sure it was a lie, but the fact those kind of words were said made him look at the Cragmore’s twice— and his sister, Imara, was marrying into that lot.

Benjamin Cragmore had been educated in Ebonheart some years back, but something bothered him about him. He was too different than his family to the point of surrealism and on top of that it reminded him of his brother, Rodan, who was sort of a problem when they were younger. Not the abrasive type of problem Alexander was, but more of the “I just had a druid cast a spell on you and you should stay away from water.” problem. He had been too scared to bathe for four weeks after that happened and when it rained… he didn’t even want to remember it. But Rodan did change from his darker temperament and the word was that he was a more kinder and honorable sort as he operated in Lalrial in many ways.

He sighed as he looked over to his wife who seemed to look equally as awkward sitting in the long empty seat of the Queen of Xandria.

“You look how I feel.” William said with a nervous chuckle. “Not sure how anybody can get used to this.”

Aristal looked over, “it wouldn’t be so bad.” She paused and looked around before hushing her voice. “But the queen’s seat is a little dented inward around the bum.”

His brother would’ve scolded her for that comment, he was certain. But really, this was one of the reasons why he loved Aristal Valarien. It wasn’t that it lacked manners or tact, but really straddled the line of appropriate and the right kind of humor to make a room more breathable. He was biased, of course, considering his title of “The Jester Prince” as bestowed to him early in life. But it was here, in the throne room, she didn’t even bat an eyelash to say such a thing albeit at a hushed volume. Him in the same position probably wouldn’t have the same confidence and nerve. But then again, “The Jester Prince” had been absent from William’s voice for reasons that were due to his mother’s death twelve or so years ago. But meeting Aristal and falling in with her had brought it back out, like it never was gone in the first place. She was like a fuel that reignited a dying flame.

William blinked, his brow raised at the remark. “You just said that. Out loud.”

A look of horror crossed Aristal’s face, her eyes in a slight panic. Her voice softened even more into a whisper, “Should I not have?”

William laughed as he witnessed her expression. “I wouldn’t worry about, there’s nobody here to hear it. Well, outside of me, the guards… and the ghosts.”

Aristal made a face and swung a fist into the air playfully, mock hitting William, “I’m not that gullible! It’s just something I’m not used to is all. At the very least, these ghosts could fix the seats of our chairs. What are we even sitting for, waiting on visitors? I feel like a grandmother who doesn’t get any visits from her children but remains doubtfully hopeful.”

“You’re right.” He paused for a moment as he stood up from the throne. “Well, I suppose the only answer I can give you is that I’m not sure what else to do. I’m Lord Regent, and I have nothing to… well, regent. Xandria’s dukes do a lot of the ‘heavy pulling’ which leaves only one fourth of the nation needing the King unless circumstances warrant it. I mean I can set in ordinances and decrees. I could knight you if you’d like, that’d be a riot.”

Aristal looked around again, as if there was a sudden secret audience she was wary of. A smile crept over her face. “Can you really?”

A loud audible groan came from one of the others in the throne room as William averted his attention to the source of the discontent.

“Lord-Regent William can indeed, do such a thing. But I would not advise such frivolous mockeries of knighthood and I would remind him of his duty.” The comment came from William’s personal guardian, Ser Irdana Qwynt, a member of House Valian’s royal guard.

William frowned, “Oh come on, Irdana, don’t be such a stick-in-the-mud.”

“I will continue being a stick-in-the-mud until one of us is gone and buried as is my oath.” She sighed, shaking her head. “I know you are trying to find entertainment out of your boredom, but believe me you should be doing something far more kingly.”

“Like what?” Aristal interjected, “I think we are doing great so far. We’ve sat down, we complained, we almost ordained a knight.”

She looked over to William, perhaps for reassurance of her statement, or perhaps waiting for a smile from her joke; either way she smiled contentedly with her rebuttal.

“From my ears? He could do something about the vilespawn nest that was detected downriver, the sandseed infestation in our ports… there are more than a handful of options, my lady.”

“We could probably figure something out.” Aristal looked intently at William, “Right?”

William nodded as he reached for the goblet of wine that was to his left. “Well I g—”

The throne room’s doors suddenly opened, effectively stopping William dead in his sentence, to see a young page.

“My apologies Lord-Regent, but Princess Emilia Valian requests an audience.”

It was a strange thing to hear in the midst of the discussion, but he was now distracted by his curiosity. Emilia was his youngest sister, albeit the fiercest of the three daughters of his father. The fact she wanted an official audience with him as Lord-Regent was odd indeed. What had she been waiting the last few days to address to him in official capacity? What was she unable to tell their father? He thought for a moment before looking to the courtier who had announced such to him.

“My sister? Right, weird, I approve of course. Let her in.”

Few moments passed as Emilia Valian marched in with her guardian at her side. She looked as determined as Alexander had when they discussed his plans only a few days prior… a fact that set him in unease. Emilia already had a reputation of a militant ranger who was cut from the same cloth as Alexander, though with more talent in archery than the entire current Valian line combined; William was skilled in archery and he didn’t even come close to her ability and he was twice her age. It almost made a man sinfully envious. Almost. He kept his mouth shut as he waited for her to go through the courtesies and then speak her case.

“Lord-Regent.” She spoke calmly and clearly.

“Right. Well, so you have your audience, Emilia. Is there something on your mind?” As William spoke, Aristal seemed to sink back into her chair, eager to not get in the way of family matters.

“Yes. As you know I am fourteen years past my nameday now. With our elder brother’s intentions to travel north I wish to join a honorable expedition of interest to me. I ask you this as Lord-Regent to know that I am an adult now and should be allowed to make my own decisions. I have no interest staying in Ebonheart when there is a whole world out there. So in full, I wish to be allowed to do this quest and pursue my freedom. If you could respect my wishes and support me I will be eternally grateful.” Emilia’s declaration had a bite to it as her presence from her march inward into the throne room had only suggested beforehand.

“I see. This is quite the thing you are asking.” William took a breath to clear his mind as he took a drink from the goblet. “Father will most certainly be unhappy. Were you afraid to tell him?”

It was a bit of a trick of changing the conversation but William wasn’t quite sure how to address the situation. His sister was the least flowey of the Valian women and this was her being clear. He still remembered when she was asked what she wanted to do in life and she said “ranger” without battling an eye. She was seven at that time. He didn’t even find archery interesting until he was eleven and that was quite the years of difference. But she had been compared to their mother’s sister, Rymira, on many occasion— probably a reason why she had been educated by the experienced knight-ranger. It really came to no surprise that she wanted to adventure and not be thrown into a political marriage at this point their house didn’t need in the present considering their Taullruian, Valarien, Amrothan, and Duvard ties. Honestly, if he didn’t have his father and perhaps the royal council to worry about he would’ve just said yes right out of the door.

“Father has been sullen and depressed for the entirety of my life. Endangering myself would risk breaking him.”

“So you leave it to me to be the one who does.” William retorted, a bit more abrasive then he would’ve liked.

“While I can accept your request, I won’t. The way I see it is if you are truly an adult as you say, you will be direct and honest with father when he returns; just as Alexander was. You can be patient until then.”

Emilia’s demeanor took a step back as she choked on her own words. “I… I understand, Lord-Regent.”

“Good girl. You are dismissed.”

As Emilia a bit sullen from his remarks began to make for the door he spoke one more time. “And Emilia? I completely understand. I will support you when you ask father.”

Her frown returned to a smile and she nodded as she left the throne room. “Thank you, Will.”

The Lord-Regent waved his hand in a shooing motion, “Yeah, yeah. Go shoot a kobold or something.”

It was with that the younger Valian departed from the throne room, William eyed Ser Irdana who had the biggest and smuggest grin on her face that he had seen in sometime; and he had looked in the mirror this morning! With that done with he looked around at the throne room wondering if he was done bearing this boring and frustrating activity for the day. He placed the goblet back down and let out a slight chuckle. “Father’s not going to be thrilled when we talk about this. But then again, maybe he’ll accept it. It’s been a long time since me and Alex were playing with wood swords in the courtyard. The oaf always beat me, it was totally unfair.”

“I bet I could beat you, and it’d be fair.” Aristal challenged lightly, plucking at her fingers and cleaning underneath her nail.

“That’s not fair, I’m a pretty mundane swordsman! I prefer the bow, really.”

“Well so do I!” Aristal smirked, continuing her endeavor.

“And my sister could outshoot us both, blindfolded. Now, that’s unfair.”

“Can’t win them all I suppose.” Aristal turned to William, her back popping in her seat.

“Ahhh… the restlessness.” She complained.

“Yeah, I’m about done with sitting on a throne for the day. Let’s find us something more productive to do.” William said as he stood up from his seat.

A Gilded Throne- The Shadow Looms (Recruiting)

@Firemaker Btw, be sure to post future Nation sheet submissions to the GM staff.

@GreivousKhan

You know... like it says to.

NCQ — Season I: Favors for Favors

Well I'm online now if you want to do something or discuss it.