Hexaflexagon

Spiritum

@vietmyke
Shut up Myke, I needed a name.

Spiritum

@HeySeuss@McHaggis@vietmyke@Mercenary Lord@Draken@AlexStarsion@Mike73

And without further delay the next post is up! Sorry about that life kind of took me by the balls and didn't want to let me go. I was originally going to split this into two slightly shorter posts but I decided it would be in best interests if I smashed the two together to get things going a little bit quicker! If any such delays are to occur again, I'll be sure to keep you all updated!

Spiritum

IAF Envoy-class Cruiser Palatine
Vangar Airspace
Several Hours Earlier

---

The fluttering flag of the Imperial Air Force danced among the heavens. A shock of black and red emblazoned with the roaring gryphons - the symbol of House Skymning rulers of Vangar. The flag was worn and the colors were beginning to fade, a few centuries old at this point. Squatting atop of the upper rigging of the Palatine marking it as the flagship of the Vangar Diplomatic Fleet. Monstrous in its side nearly twenty feet in length made of the highest quality of threads by the finest seamstresses in all of the Imperial Provinces. The pole keeping it rooted in place was tugged and buffeted in a groaning protest with every small gust of wind. The winds themselves were thicker than they should of been at these altitudes, loaded with thick smoke and ash rising from the battlefields that seemed to be not but misshapen clumps of green and brown far below them.

Colette Van Skymning of House Skymning stood on the observation deck in deep thought. Behind her was the vast expanse that the was the Vangar Empire, an empire which was forged by the blood and sacrifices of her ancestors before her. The empire which her father had ruled since he was but a young man. It was a land of peace and order where crime was punished with a clenched fist and everyone from the lowest of peasants to the highest members of the nobility had enough to eat upon there tables. Ahead of her was the unknown, the small Kingdom of Rassvet. A land of great industry, ingenuity but also one of isolation and seclusion. If the books of history she had read in the palace library were to be believed as well it was a land of corruption and greed. Where the nobility dominated their politics to keep the lower classes repressed and below them in rank. A land where the military and nobility ran unchecked by any form of strong leader. There king only a figurehead to sign documents and officiate holidays. A strange land where children as young as ten were taken away from their lives and families to be turned into killing machines.

So why did the notion of the place excite her so much? It was a simple thing really... boredom. The sweeping vistas of the Vangar empire was too familiar to be of interest to her. Even the Palatine which was compared more often to a floating mansion or castle rather than a airship had come to become the familiar. When she was younger it's many decks and interlocking hallways were filled with mystery and wonder but over time all the nooks and crannies had been explored and there was no secretes, only the dull and unremarkable sense of familiarity. Ever still there was a lingering sense of doubt in her mind, maybe the nobles were right, maybe she was only pushing for peace as much as she was because of boredom. Risking the so called 'honor and prestige' of the Empire by reaching out a hand of friendship to the small kingdom that had spit on their offers of peace and unification before.

Maybe they were right.

One thing her critics claimed was undeniably true. She was young and inexperience. The only conformation she needed for that was to look at her reflection cast in the glass panes of the observation deck. Having turned eighteen years of age just a few months prior, a young women looked back at her. Hair black as the night sky falling down to her waist, blue eyes bright and filled with a sense of young naiveté and optimism. There was certainly a sense of beauty about her but it was the cold and distance type that came from the upper edges of nobility. The cutting image of her mother or so she was told to believe. She never knew her mother, having died soon after she was born due to complications from the birth. She knew not the rigors and troubles of rule and politics like her father or her siblings knew. She was always the youngest, the coddled one, her father's favorite. She may of had the best education and training by some of the brightest minds in the Empire but she didn't have the experience, the foresight to do something with it.

The sound of swishing fabric brought her out of her reverie and back into the present. She turned her head to watch as a lone figure made his way towards her. He was dressed in a crisp and wrinkles uniform of the Vangar Military. Hair grey in color and pulled back into a short ponytail, a thick mustache present upon the upper lip expertly trimmed so that no follicle of hair stood remotely out of line. He walked a decided level of purpose about him soft footfalls echoing across the empty chamber. His name was Ardin Kazmyr, some time ago he was the leading tactician and general of the whole of the Empire. He retired some twenty years back serving in a less prominent role as a tutor to the Emperor's children as a favor to his childhood friend. Uncle Ardin was a permanent fixture of Colette's life and he had always been her favorite tutor. It was upon her request, not her father's for him to accompany her to Rassvet.

"Ah there you are milady. The servants have been looking for you everywhere." Ardin explained as he closed the distance standing next to her gaze focused intently on the horizon. "I should of figured that you would be here. You always did love the views from up here, even as a small child."

"Yes. My apologies Uncle, I just needed to find somewhere quiet to think. I wasn't really feeling up to being followed around by the whole retinue." She explained, voice tired.

"Something troubling you then?"

"I just wonder if I'm doing the right thing." Colette responded producing a slow nod of agreement from the older man.

"The terrible affliction that comes with being in a position of authority. As it where. I thought the young miss was certain of her position regarding our current matters in Rassvet. The speech that you give to your father was enough to convince him." Ardin reminded her. She had worked for a month on that speech doing research and studying the theoretical techniques of some of the greatest writers in Vangar and the world at home. It was one of her more prouder moments in the spotlight, a moment made even better when her father relented and sent another diplomatic envoy to Rassvet to try and begin peace talks once more.

"I thought I was certain as well... but maybe the critics are right. Wasn't it you that always told me that war was a necessity needed to fuel the Empire?" She asked looking towards the older man. In return Ardin gave a small smile as he stroked his chin seemingly in deep thought.

"Very true, but I propose to you something else once said." He responded. "I will do all within my power to ensure the continued prosperity and well being of every man and women beneath me."

"Who said that?"

"Your father, on the day of his coronation." Ardin explained as he placed a hand upon Colette's "From the first day of his rule, he has been focused upon the well being of the citizenry. This war has produced nothing but bloodshed and the death of many young individuals for no gains to speak of. While some may not like the idea of peace, it may truly be the best course we have available."

"Even so, all we have done to the people of Rassvet is destroy their towns and set there fields ablaze with fire. Every single offer of peace we have put forward they have rejected for they feel that our terms have never been generous enough."

"And so it is your job young princess to due what the others can not. An easy task? No. But one that can we be accomplished? I certainly believe so"

"You make it sound so easy Uncle."

"Like most things. Anyway, we've spent enough time conversing. Captain Rekks desires to go over the security detail one last time. I understand why your father trusts him so much, but can the man ever be persistent."

---

The would-be warriors gathered about the campfire that Gideon had made for them. Setzer appreciated the fact that he actually did the damn act by hand instead of using some showing magic like some would of done. Maybe that's why he also liked Gideon, the two of them despite their differences in upbringings thought on the same wavelength. As the group began to gather about the campfire, Setzer made quick work of braining out the rest of the gear from the truck. He didn't seem to mind the work hefting the heavy creates over towards them with ease. He sat atop one of the crates in a spot close enough to fire but in such a position that he could watch the road for any incoming movement. The ever constant paranoia of preparedness that came from WARDEN training finding its ways to manifest in the queerest forms.

He caught the flask of whiskey that Galahad had tossed his way without even looking in his general direction, heavy hand reaching and snatching it out of the air in one quick motion. Galahad and Setzer argued about many things over the course of their tenuous friendship over the year from the proper way to approach a battle, to the best way to pick up girls but they could at least agree on something and that was the merit of a good whiskey. He preferred the backwater country designed to knock you down and not let you wake up until the next morning smelling of somebody else piss and regret but as of late Galahad had been pushing his father's new brew on him. It was an... acquired taste, he could taste the blue blood on his tongue with every swig but it found its way wearing him down slowly and steadily. He took a swig as he heard Lee spoke up.

"Kristoph's party Lee?" Setzer called over to him. "The one where you passed up dancing with hottest girl in our class, Lilith from Barracks Number 3 because you had a stomach ache? God I was sure you lost your head." Setzer explained with a small smirk upon his face. Not that Setzer was complaining of course because when Lee turned her down it was good old Setzer to come in and sweep her off her feet.

He watched as the magic users did there thing, Zimmy doing her standard teleporting gig vanishing and appearing from tree branch to tree branch before falling flat on her ass with a considerable amount of grace. It was easy to see why people liked Zimmy even admired her with her natural tenacity and fun loving appearance. Galahad went about his duties setting up the perimeter security system with the level of precision and care that he placed in all of his work. Setzer could at least approve of that, even if Galahad was a so called prodigy he still put in more work into everything he did then most people. The security system would hopefully go unused they were too far away for any real conflict from the border to come there way, but there was still the occasional bandit and wild animal that haunted the wilderness of Rassvet. And then there was Trent who... danced about touching people. Setzer never really understood Trent all that much despite Trent's best efforts to try and understand Setzer. Though that was the main problem, Trent had a habit of trying to poke his way into things that he really shouldn't. Though of course Setzer didn't even try to argue with Zimmy when she said that she had invited him along.

He reflexively brought his hand up to the heavy bracers that seemed to be ever presently attached to his arms as he watched them. Then something made him stand up maybe it was the alcohol or his own natural tendency to be a big old show off but he called over to Zimmy playfully.

"Ooooh big deal I can teleport. Too bad it's nothing that can't be accomplished with something that may be a vague concept to you! Upper body strength!" Setzer explained as he sauntered over to the biggest and tallest tree in the adjacent area. And like some large gorilla he leaped up grabbing the lower branch and with seemingly not a lot of effort at all he pulled himself up. He repeated the process again and again, and soon even his large frame vanished into the tree top, the only sign of his existence being the rustle of branches higher up. Eventually he found himself near the very top of the tree his head peaking out and serving the surrounding forest around him.

The view itself was breathtaking, a sea of green stretching seemingly endlessly towards the horizon. It was framed by the clear night sky above, thousands pockets of magical energy painting the sky alight with their beauty and energy. The skies in Yerin were never the same every night, patches fading and coming into existence as magical energy was used and then dispelled. They say in some places in the Vangar Empire where their factories consumed the lands that there were no skies above, all the energy being consumed to produce more weapons and more armor. He wondered how they were expected to win against a force as big as Vangar. He figured the real answer was that they weren't. Despite the efforts by Prince Fenris which swung the weight back in their direction it was only a matter of time before the costs of war hit home. It was the cold math of it all but Rassvet just did not have the resources needed to win a war of attrition such a large force. But that's what soldiers did, they fought and then they died.

He could of swore he saw something in the sky, blinking he peered back up and indeed there it was.

A large bright object was barreling overhead. At first he just thought that it was a large comet or some other form of debris that was caught in the planet's gravitational pull. But as it got closer it became clear what it was, it was a large airship certainly bigger than any Rassvet produced machine. The ship itself was consumed with flames as it came soaring overhead. Staying at a steady pace behind it were assault craft constantly bombarding the ship with a hail of explosive fire. The blast echoing through the silence of the forest. The crippled ship fired back definitely but it was loosing altitude quickly. Setzer watched as the ship continued its arc across the sky before it smashed into the ground several miles away from them. Setzer could still see the blaze over the treetops and moments later there was a large explosion and a destructive column of magical energy the as the ship's Mist reactor went critical.

Setzer leaped from the top of the tree reinforcing his body as he did with a small amount of magical energy so that when he landed on the ground be his fellows he was perfectly okay even though he just fell some fifty feet. From the looks on there face they must of seen much of the same. He automatically took his phone out of his pocket intent on dialing in the authorities or something but where he had a cell signal a moment ago he had no such luck. It appeared that something was jamming all transmissions in the area.

"What... the fuck is going on?" Setzer asked aloud to nobody in particular.

Spiritum

Update
Still chipping away.

Spiritum

Sorry folks you all deserve an update on my part!

Sister came to town meaning that I had to fulfill my sacred duty as the cool uncle and entertain small children. The promised PLOT filled post should be posted tonight.

Nᴀʀᴜᴛᴏ: Uɴɪᴛʏ Oʀ Fʀᴇᴇᴅᴏᴍ

Post incoming soon!

Spiritum

Haha, thanks. I wasn't sure if the picture was fine tbh since everyone used more realistic pictures and the one I used is more anime-esque, but I'm glad you like it.

@Mike73

Nah it's fine.

And in more important news.

The Intro post is up!

Spiritum

_{Act 1: In which strange occurrences are begot.
Muzak}

---

It was a blustery evening in early spring, and a converted military transport held together by loose bolts and hope roared down the open road. It was headed southeast towards the heartland of the small kingdom of Rassvet about as far away from the war as you could get. The current driver of the vehicle was a muscular youth built like a fucking brick wall, red hair getting tossed and thrown about in the wind being let in by an open window. From the outset he looked like a standard Rassvet youth; black muscle shirt and a simple pair of worn-in jeans ending with a pair of running shoes. Betraying the image was the intricate tattoo etched into his right bicep, an ancient dragon mid-roar, the symbol of WARDEN. No the driver and his companions were something different.

Not too long ago Setzer was the only child of an alcoholic that couldn't give a damn about him. Now he was 'the shining hope of our proud kingdom' as Representative Vanclyf had so dutifully reminded him and his cohorts at their graduation from the Citadel only a few days prior. Before nobody seemed to really give a flying shit about WARDEN, they just existed as they had for hundreds of years. Now with the war on? Now all eyes were focused on them hoping for them to come in and save the day. It was all some kind of joke really, but then again Setzer didn't expect anything different. He would go perform his 'patriotic duty' soon enough and head out to the battlefield where he would probably get some medals, save a few lives, and then die alone in a foxhole like everybody else.

Don't get him wrong he relished the idea of testing himself in actual combat, instead of the simulators and sparring matches that he had become accustomed to over the the years. He wanted to see if he was as good as his own ego thought he was. But being a WARDEN wasn't the safest job in the world and as the battles on the border became more and more pitched mortality rates weren't looking too good. As the instructors told them all when they were just ten years old stepping into the Citadel for the first time. You're living on borrowed time.

That's why he was out here in the middle of bumfuck nowhere with a small collection of friends. To be honest it was a meager showing. Zimmy had invited at least fifty people to come have one last party to end all parties but as it turned out most people were busy. Some were either heading back home to visit their families before getting shipped out and others were already on the front lines within hours of graduation. Some were dead already But you worked with what your were given it seemed. Setzer wasn't one to pass up an opportunity for a party and it was certainly better than dragging his ass home. Hell he didn't even know if he had a home anymore, he wouldn't of been surprised if his father had already drank himself to death in his ten year absence.

They were heading to a secluded little spot that Gideon knew about. Apparently it used to be the grounds of an old hunting lodge used by the House of Anbruch. The lodge was torched to the ground during the Unification War between the nationalists and royalists almost two hundred years ago. The lodge itself was never rebuilt but it is still technically Anbruch land. Lots of wood and a large lake untouched by society, it was the perfect place to let loose away from watching eyes.

_Bzzrrr^t_zzz

"Friggin piece of shit." Setzer muttered to himself as he looked down towards the radio now spitting out a growl of static. He should've known better than to trust Galahad with getting the truck in the first place. My daddy's a general I can get a truck for us. Didn't mention the fact that Setzer probably could've found a better ride in the junkyard if he looked hard enough. But of course it wasn't Galahad's fault that ‘all the good vehicles were currently being used on the front lines, and that it was very hard to get even this hunk of bolts.’ Shaking his head Setzer balled his hand into a fist and struck out with a hard blow against the dashboard. The static began to fade away as stuttering fragmented voices began to replace it, and with another well placed hit, the device seemed to be working again.

"And welcome back listeners to RPR and our continued coverage of the Vangar Conflict. There was hard fighting around the border town of Calty today between Vangar and Rassvet forces in the current push to secure Fort Kelgrav and after several hours of fighting our brave soldiers had to make a tactical retreat. On the coastal front a supply carrier was sunk today in the Ragnar Bay by a Vangar Submarine. And in more hopeful news Imperial Princess Colette Van Skymning, the youngest daughter of Emperor Mazurek Van Skymning ruler of Vangar arrives in Orestia today as part of a peace delegation. More on those talks within the hou-"

The sound of the radio announcer was replaced with some rock song cranked up to high as Setzer snorted to himself with a hint of disdain. Yeah 'peace talks' he wondered if they would go as well as the last five that the two countries had tried to hash out. Turns out peace was a hard thing to work out when one country wanted complete and utter dominion over the other. No the Emperor himself could come and shake hands with Gideon's grandfather and have a nice cup of tea and it wouldn't change anything. This war wasn't going to end until one side was destroyed by the other.

"Turn right"

Setzer cut hard to the right and at the speed he was going nearly tipped the vehicle onto two wheels, as he listened to the GPS on his phone. They were off of the highway that they had followed most of the way and now onto the real back roads. The truck bumped up and down on a pothole marked road having apparently not been tended to for some time. The scenery slowly changing from flat open plains to the rugged outer edges of a centuries old forest. The grumble and roar of the truck as it pushed along starling the wildlife as clusters of birds sprang loose from their trees and into the sky. Setzer eyes flicked over to the GPS they were getting close now.

He tilted his head back over the chair looking through the small door that lead from the driver's cabin to the back where the rest of his cohorts were stowed away. It was a nice enough space, they managed to fit a table in there somehow to one side and outfitted the old metal benches with cushions so that they were at least semi-bearable. The second case of beer that day had already been opened and most of them seemed fine chatting among themselves. Setzer shouted back over the rumble of the truck and the low groan of conversation.

"Put your dicks back in your pants ladies and gentlemen. We'll be there in five!"

Spiritum

Alrighty folks! I've just finished reviewing the second round of PMd sheets sent my way. With that being said I think we are now at a good enough ways along for me to start working on the Introductory post!

While I'm working on that y'all have a mission.

@VoiD, @TerribleName and those lurkers out there still working on your Character Sheets feel no need to rush things along, for the nature of the first 'act' or so will allow you to slip right in without much of an issue. And it's going to take some time for me to actually get that intro post up.

@HeySeuss@McHaggis@vietmyke@Mercenary Lord and @Draken@Mike73@AlexStarsion (once you guys transfer your sheets over) your mission is a little bit more trickier. Our group of dysfunctional young adults are supposed to be friends. It's up to you folks to figure out the relationships between all your characters. That means you have to actually talk to one another and gasp collaborate, horrible I know.

Spiritum

@AlexStarsion
I mean apparently everyone has just collectively deiced to PM me. So PM away I guess!

I apologize now, but CS' are the bane of my exsistance!!!

@AlexStarsion

And don't worry, the only way you get better is by putting yourself out there right?