Letter Bee

Noble Arms - The ASEAN War [Moved to New Thread]

Renny Let me have Sophist as an NPC:

Sophist the Agitator

_{5'8"| 160 pounds | Restless, Cocky, and Determined}

Name: Sophist the Agitator

Age: 18

Nationality: Egyptian

_{The Pharaoh's Crook}

Noble Arm Rank: B+

Noble Arm Stats

Power: B (S) (Groundbreaking, but not absurd; very hard to counter, but not invincible; effectively stronger the more Sophist learns about the forces of gravity and such and trains to calculate and manipulate them in combat)
Speed: C (S) (His power relies on not just willpower, but understanding the forces he is manipulating on a technical level, which is bound to hamper the speed of application; can work faster the more "indiscriminate" and "wild" the power use is, forgoing control/finesse for speed)
Range: C (He has demonstrated only semi-long-range feats, couldn't reach Huo Ren's sun)
Persistence: B (Seems to be able to comfortably use powers to a moderately strong/uncomplicated degree for long stretches of combat without notable strain, but higher-level feats may be exhausting/draining)
Precision: B (Extremely fine control, but the ability doesn't do any extra secret lifting, Sophist must be actively generally aware of a target to affect or exempt them from his powers' effects)
Potential: D (S) (Very flexible/powerful abilities, but the powers are inherited from a unique NA. Growth beyond existing abilities is difficult, if not impossible)

Noble Arm Type, Element, and Range: Support, Gravity??? (Close/Mid/Long)

Noble Arm Abilities: The Pharaoh's Crook enhances latent abilities and exerts a gravitational force on the user and target. Made by the most reclusive of The Seven Virtues, but inherited by someone not of them. The Crook's power manifests itself on the enigmatic and pervasive force known as Gravity, allowing him to manipulate it in various ways and degrees. His degree of use is dependent on both his understanding of the force and his current level of Willpower or focus. His abilities are noted by those necessary as the following.

• Enhanced Physicality, superhuman level. Though no where near Pure Strength NAs.
• Gravitational Fields, push and pull. To attribute weight and lessen it.
• Flight at sub-sonic speeds. An adept through his years of practice.
• Conjuration through unknown means and spiritual connection. As long as he can "visualize" it and its placement, he can summon it to the leather holster on his waist.
• Unknown physical transmutation. Upon first use, The Pharoah's Crook seemingly made him appear more like Master overtime.

Misc Abilities: Spirit Force, Flowing Skyward Style of Combat. An allegedly mystic close-combat style that was taught to him by the one called Master, but is most effective when used by an Arms Master. Its regarded by those few advanced students of the occult as deadly. The masses know nothing of it and should regard it as simple martial arts. While his martial style might be the most important, Sophist is likewise inquisitive and observant. He's also an avid studier of lost knowledge.

Personality: Both reserved and impatient, Sophist takes to conflict as thoroughly as he does to his studies of the ancient arts and peaceful resolutions. Meticulous when his attention is grasp by worldly disputes but arguably indifferent in concerns to those petty things most called negotiations, Sophist considers both himself and his time to be of the highest importance. This speaks to a level of arrogance, one he battles with daily with furious mental effort. His Master believed his path arduous but virtuous, speaking of a future yet unseen. Sophist believes his goal meaningless but trusts more in the words of his Master than the blathering of his sub-conscious angst. At the end of all things is the singular personalized ideal of a purpose. Sophist believes his is to seek penance for his whimsical faith several years ago.

*Likes: Ancient things, Pretty women, Text and Scrolls, and Noble Arms

*Dislikes: Sheeple, Over-confident men, Gun-like weaponry

Fears: Emotional attachments, Dark places, Vultures, Rats, Blood, Comedy and Tragedy Masks (specifically)

Bio: Sophist's past begins more or less as a boy named: Oba, whose curiosities led him to radical terrorism and eventual enslavement. The adage "Curiosity killed the cat." applied here with fascinating precision. In his search online, he believed he had found a group of like-minded individuals, his young mind uncaring for the dark subjects therein. Long story short, he was tasked with murdering his beloved dog and leaving his life behind him. He did so and joined a lackluster organization known as The Hand that Reveals.

It was more militaristic than one might think. They dispensed disruptive missions to their "Initiates", whole squads of kids and teens, across the continent of Africa. Before the age of nine, Sophist had killed up to hundreds of people through various means. When he had enough and his mind had somehow, however sudden it was, recognized his horrendous acts; he grasped with horror that he was trapped. Though a child soldier by choice at one point, he became a prisoner in the blink of an eye. A prisoner to his fears and environment. He sought freedom thereafter. On the precipice of turning eleven, he gathered other youths through fanciful speeches and intuitive suggestions. They revolted and though they won; he took on the burden of fifteen fallen comrades.

Freedom costs, he learned. Debts must be paid. It cost him his mind for a period until forces beyond his understanding brought Student and Master together.

Hider

_{Oba determines to repent for his sins and chances to believe in his Master.}

The topic of his training is kept secret, through no magical arts you might surmise, only a sacred creed passed down from master to student. And so, we won't discuss the three year period known as "The Contemplation". At the end of which, Oba renounced his given name and took on Sophist in reverence to his station and lessons. His Master, known simply as Master, was powerful in both mind and physicality. He carried with him a Noble Arm he claimed was created from wholecloth in the Solstice of 2019 whom, he was certain, would pass to his chosen successor when he finally died. Though they lived as scholars, the two shared a brotherly bond and so when goodbyes were shared by Master, it was Sophist who reassured that "All is right, and so it shall be forevermore."

Hider

_{Master demonstrating to Oba for the first time the power of his Noble Arms.}

His Master eventually revealed his strong ties to The Seven Virtues but did not require Sophist to subscribe to the same, believing that the choice to protect and serve Humanity must come from his own will. But that choice came to Sophist early when one day, he felt a stirring in his soul and saw his Master's Noble Arm in his hand. In the news, it turned out that said Master had died preventing a major flood from consuming several villages. And Sophist decided to use his powers more selfishly.

His first major debut was neither attributed to him or well received. A thought experiment gone awry, he produced the now coined "Footprint of God" along the Nile River. His second debut was a careless action, where he made two highly-regarded political powers kneel and show respect to one another out of frustration. He became known as Sophist the Agitator as said action only caused further strife.

Sophist has fought several Arms Masters since; the Seven Virtues being the only faction unwilling to come to blows with him. He ponders on why as he travels to the Philippines in hopes of discovering an archive of occult study at the heart of the country. A tense, yet familiar tug on his consciousness follows.

*Current Goal: To assess the hunch pulling him to the Philippines.

Military or Civilian Rank: Unregistered Arm Master

*Whatever it takes, Chosen Theme.

Noble Arms - The ASEAN War [Moved to New Thread]

Flashback Collab, Part Four

Flashback Part Four

Qingshe:

Qingshe would privately admit, the brief surge of nervous pheromones that drifted into the air as a result of her teasing almost made her purr in anticipation. Although... She resisted the urge to raise a single brow at the youngest Arms Master among them, the almost frail-looking girl, who now huddled in fear.

Well, more fear than she already was.

The raven-haired girl had been practically oozing tension from the moment she'd stepped into the transport, tension Qingshe could quite literally smell. It had only gotten more pungent the moment the girl had caught sight of her shadow's helpful antics. The timing was far too coincidental to be anything else, and Qingshe lightly pouted at the conundrum.

Just what was it with small creatures and running away from her? Well, obviously, what other response to a predator was more natural? Not that she was a predator to these people... not this time. Children should be allowed to be children. Even the ones that weren't quite apparent...

She glanced at the snowy-haired younger woman girl currently inhaling the fresh ice cream... and chewing on the hankie... and acknowledged her thanks with slitted eyes crinkling into a warm, amused smile of amber. "Oh, my pleasure, dearie~."

The Downward Descent would have had a field day with such a precious feral thing. Ah- Aaaand, just like that? There went her good mood. Just thinking about those animals was nearly enough to send her into apoplectic fits, not that it showed outwardly. Even so, the air seemed just a touch chiller than it was before, this time not at the frail girl's behest.

Regardless, she all but slunk into a seated position to Hannie's left... atop the thigh of one very (un?)lucky regular soldier, who made strangled noises of protest(?), as she wriggled and made herself comfortable, looming over the frail girl with a feline laser-focus to her serpentine gaze.

She leaned forward till no more than inches separated her face from the girl's pale visage, humming cheerily with a low purr that could barely be heard over the rumble of the transport's movements, certainly not by those more than a single seating away. The soldier she currently availed herself of as a cushion swallowed audibly to her perked ears.

"Lucky bastar-" she heard another soldier mutter before being firmly elbowed in the gut by his neighbor, much to her amusement and mildly restored mood.

Her shadow burbled silently and thrummed with a barely perceptible electric hum, as she smirked and idly played with some of its mass that had spread to the seat and wall next to her, the ebony and lurid green deforming and resetting mindlessly in her grasp.

The delightfully cloying scent of fear was almost overwhelming so close, intoxicating even, and Qingshe had to resist the urge to deliberately stoke it higher. Some instincts... really were too troublesome sometimes. The price of progress perhaps. Instead, she pouted and allowed her shadow to wriggle away into near nonexistence, only maintaining a small puddle on the floor, out of visual sight of the huddled child.

The sound of the checkpoint inspection was acknowledged and discarded, as she heard all she needed to from it. "Lei Qingshe: A-rank, Hannie Cavalet: C+-Rank and Nil: C-Rank. No last name on that one," the driver rattled off without hesitation. A couple wide eyes from eavesdropping soldiers turned her way, to which she cheekily wriggled her fingers.

Beyond that, it wasn't much the serpentine woman's concern, as her golden gaze -having briefly drifted to the front of the vehicle- snapped back to the girl she sat beside. "Hannie Ca~va~let~ That's you, huh~?" her lilting Chinese accent sounded out inquisitively in a manner that gave the distinct impression she was tasting and savoring every last syllable, like merely the act of learning something so simple was a delicacy of verbality.

NPCs:

The checkpoint opened, with the soldier in charge remarking in Filipino, "It seems we have a chance, then."

His compatriot remarked, "Yeah; 'the kid' would be happy to hear about that..."

A reference to Second Lieutenant Noel Alonso.

Hannie:

Hannie considers, from a variety of standpoints, the good it might do not to respond to her name. She could just stay curled up here and keep crying and never let anyone move her. That'd be nice.
It won't happen though, will it?
She extricates her face from her coat, wipes her eyes, sniffs. Maybe some other time.
Her ears, and the eyes of most of the men in the truck, have told her that Qingshe is speaking from beside her. That's enough - she doesn't need to look. It's like a stalking panther or a monster in a dream. It'll get aggressive if she looks. Even at the corner of her vision, those slitted eyes so close...
Her reply is quiet, and has to push through a few false starts in her tightened throat.
All that for a little, "mm-hmm."
She watches Nil teething on a sheet of fabric. It's the least confusing, dreadful, imminently frightening thing there is to watch right now.

Nil:

Nil had become a bit curious about the other Arms Masters, especially since their names were told outloud by a soldier to the checkpoint guard. Hannie Cavalet and Lei Qingshe, both female names but one was from the west and the other chinese, so it was probably the two other girls in the truck, odd how all the girls had NAs. It became became clear who was who when they started talking with each other again, not like it would be hard to tell who came from the west and who came from china.

Qingshe left had left her ice-cream-making shadow on the ground, why didn't she dismiss the shadow entirely? why is a chinese here to fight other chinese? will the shadow make more sweets? Nil pondered these questions while gulping the rest of the hankie.

NPCs and Noel:

The truck finally arrived at their destination, and opened its door to allow the people inside out to where the temporary HQ of the defenders were. A soldier led the way inside, before gesturing for the Arms Masters to come in.

Sison Auditorium in Lingayen was once the cultural center for the entire region (which in turn was made up of two to three provinces), a neoclassical building from the 20s and renovated twelve years ago back in 2010. Now, however, it served as a makeshift barracks for Lingayen's defenders, including the Arms Masters, at least temporarily. At least the stage saw some use, though, as the projector screen showed the situation all over Lingayen Gulf and the rest of the Philippines.

A boy was giving the lecture, his unique clothes and armor marking him as an Arms Master, and the Second Lieutenant's chevrons on the shoulder of his sleeve marking him as their commanding officer. Upon seeing Qingshe, the boy nodded in acknowledgement, as though to a superior, and spoke, "Your coming here means a lot."

He then looked at Hannie and Nil and greeted them with a wave, "You two; I'm glad to have your presence as well. I presume the trip went without any problems?"

Noble Arms - The ASEAN War [Moved to New Thread]

Flashback Collab, Part Three

Flashback Part Three

NPCs:

The Truck was moving closer to Lingayen City, close enough that the people inside can see that soldiers and civilians alike were helping dig trenches and place what Anti-Air systems they can afford (including one Israeli SPYDER system) wherever there was space. Barbed wire and large spikes, as well as concrete Anti-Tank 'hedgehog' barricades, were also being placed.

At least there were preparations...

Qingshe:

There was a flicker in the confined space, as -between one moment of splattering dessert and the next- the fragments seemed to disappear mid-flight. No. Not quite disappear so much as they were snatched out of the air at speeds barely perceptible to the naked eye. The floor was no longer a steely grey, but instead an inky, bubbling black flecked with green. It was there that the last flickers of what were once small writhing tendrils -the tips headed by fanged mouths not dissimilar to chest-bursters straight out of Alien- could be seen retreating into the void.

Tsking her tongue in a chiding, strangely motherly manner, the tall woman in the cyberpunk dress had moved. It was hard to find a better word to describe the serpentine swiftness with which she'd suddenly gone from being in her seat to standing next to the two Arms Master girls... with a hankie in hand?

"Jesus, Qingshe! At least try not to rile the troops!" one of the higher-ranking soldiers exclaimed with a startle, several of his comrades echoing his alarm before acknowledging the lack of actual threat and returning to tense annoyance, intermixed with -for some- reluctant amusement. He clucked his tongue at the unrepentant smile he received in return from the now named green-haired woman.

Instead, those golden, slitted eyes returned to the younger girls. "Oh, my my~! How uncivilized~" Despite the words, there was a purr of interest(?) to her voice that -if one didn't know any better- they might compare to the rattling of a viper. "Honey, if you wanted a treat of your own, all you had to do was ask~!"

The blackness on the floor had retreated till it ebbed tidally merely around the edges of the hem of Qingshe's dress, like a mockery of a shadow. From its mass, a thin cylinder crawling with glowing green lines extended up from it to the voluptuous woman's hand... before the top opened like a tube and expelled an ice-cream cone identical to what the melted mess used to be.

Extending the hankie to dab the mess around Nil's lips with a kindly smile, she plucked the cone from her shadowy cyberpunk appendage with one ebony-gloved hand and offered the fresh treat. It was... visually somewhat odd behavior, given that there appeared little if any difference in age between her and the snowy-haired young woman, but the latter's own prior actions lent an air of unusual genuineness to the gesture.

The offered dessert was strangely well-chilled as though it were fresh out of a fridge, and -were it to be tried- one would find the flavor to have suffered no loss, despite the odd origin. In every conceivable way, it was an identical, flawlessly reproduced product, edible and enjoyable in all the ways that mattered.

Hannie:

Hannie begins to smile at Nil's strange eating behavior, and that smile is promptly killed.
She makes no successful effort to conceal how the shadowy apparitions unsettle her. She watches them with wide eyes, and remains frozen after they fade away.
Is this what Arms Masters are like? Kirvella's scary, this gir- wom- Qingshe's scary, the white-haired girl... well, she seems okay, but she looks kind of creepy?
They can't all be like this. Can they all be like this? Can she get used to working with people like this?

It's doubt after doubt piling on. She might die from her own anxieties.
She never should've spoken up.
being sent to die
all those people staring at her
they didn't even let her talk to mom before they sent her to d
Hannie drops the cone.
it's so crowded in here
the way they looked at her what were they thinking
what's Kirvella going to do out there
why are they at war why why why why

There's not much room on the seat, but she brings her knees up to hug as well as she can. A ragged breath narrowly escapes her before she lets her face fall into the soft fabric.
She should try to cry quietly. She'd rather not disturb anyone.

Nil:

Nil didn't expect the green woman to just... teleport across, likely no one did, Nil was startled by this unexpected situation, when and how did she move so fast but more importantly why? was it the ability of her stand Noble Arm?

Nil was shocked for a few seconds and could barely understand what the woman was saying, was it related to their earlier discussion? did she do anything wrong? why is everything so green right now?

Then the green woman just... materialized a new ice cream, that was just as unexpected but this time rather than being shocked Nil gave a hasted 'tank you' in danish before eating the frozen dessert in two quick bites, trying and failing to be less voracious.

'Thanks' she said right after this time in english, realizing that's how she was addressed just a second ago, a bit less on the edge Nil now just sat in her corner slowly gnawing at the handchief she was offered.

NPCs:

The truck was on the outskirts of Lingayen City, and had to stop at a military checkpoint, where two soldiers can be heard gossiping that the Chinese Fleet had appeared over the horizon and that the northern part of the Philippines was being bombarded by planes and targeted by missiles. Nevertheless, when the truck driver rode up to them, they snapped to attention and one of them asked in better English, "We've been notified there are Arms Masters in the truck; what are their names and general ranks?"

He then clarified, "NA Ranks, I mean."

Noble Arms - The ASEAN War [Moved to New Thread]

Flashback Collab, Part Two

Flashback Part Two

Nil

Sitting in one of the four corners was Nil, who now tried to get more tucked in the corner than she already was.

Her gaze was initially fixated on the child, or to be more precise her ice cream, everyone could use an ice cream right now. At moments moving her head to look at soldiers, they were also looking at the child in what was certainly a look of horror at what they had come to and what they were going to be up against, Nil preferred to believe they were also hungry and thinking about the ice cream.

Then they started talking, the soldiers were now arguing with a woman with weird green claws who sat all alone as if everyone else hated or was afraid of her.

Looking back and forth between the ice cream and the ongoing conversation Nil noticed the woman had some green glowing things on her, did no one tell her she had to cover that because of 'air attacks' or whatever Nil had been told, maybe everyone hated the woman also back at HQ, were they treating her like this for fun or because she's one of the bad guys?
Nil concluded she couldn't be one of the enemy otherwise she would be on the sea right now, not in this truck, but them why was she so hated?

Hanni:

Maybe it's too hot for ice cream. Maybe she's just eating too slow. Hannie lets Kirvella come to her hand and runs the currently-silvery blade over the melting dessert.
She wasn't listening too closely for a while there. The discussion felt like it sort of breezed past the words "we're being sent to die," in favor of whatever this...
She peeks up at Qingshe. Is there a word for her?
In favor of whatever she wanted to talk about.
Hannie's really here. In this truck of people being sent to die.
Hush...
She reflexively dismisses Kirvella. It makes her feel only a little better.
"...um."
Oh, why is she saying anything? Does she have to?
"We're... uh... fighting other humans. They have potential too."
She waits for someone to admonish her for stating the obvious.

NPCs:

The soldiers all look pointedly at Hanni, almost glaring at the reminder of the humanity of their enemy.

Hannie:

Hannie catches the glares for half an instant and makes a laudable effort to phase away through the wall behind her.

Nil:

The child SPOKE!? Nil was shocked, stunned and completely stupefied by this child preferring to speak instead of eating the obvious ice cream in from of her.
Did the child know how to eat? she was taking a lot of time and she even tried to cut the ice cream with an ice knife, probably no one taught her the sanctity of food and rites like 'proper' and 'etiquette'.

Maybe this conversation was important somehow, Nil should hear what they're even talking about, even if for just a few seconds.

Qingshe:

Long green hair swayed with the motion of a head turning, as Qingshe eyed the source of a brief -but notable- drop in temperature with renewed interest. Shortly after, the snake-eyed woman smiled all too brightly at the assertation made by the small, huddled girl.

"Yes~!" she chirped, lightly clapping her hands in a manner reminiscent of a teacher praising their favorite student. "Exactly so, of course~!" Her eyes were a mellow green tinged with gold now, as they conveyed a certain edge of seriousness to her apparent elation.

Her tone became almost... educational, as she leaned forward eagerly, propping one elbow on her crossed knees and her chin atop the connected hand. "Of course, thankfully, Noble Arms tend to favor the... misfortunate. Despite their numerical superiority, they are far less likely to birth fresh Noble Arms on the battlefield than every one of you. Even so..." She sighed with faux drama. "What potential they have has unfortunately been long-since greatly explored..." Her reptilian eyes squinted in anticipation, their hue draining into yellow. "But that's what I'm here for, to rectify that advantage by hook or crook~."

NPCs

The mood lightened; the soldier who spoke English began chuckling, and translated what was said to the rest of his folk, who began smiling.

Hannie:

Hannie scans the room for the punchline to the joke she must've just missed. All she finds is more people looking at her.
Wait. That one's just looking at her ice cream.
Well, her appetite doesn't seem to have been keeping up with it anyway. She offers it across the aisle to the highly focused stranger.
"I'm, uh..."
She almost says "scared to die," but the mood just lightened. She's silent for several seconds while she thinks of something else.
"...glad you'll help."
It's a safe bet. The, uh... green... person, was probably talking about helping.

Noble Arms - The ASEAN War [Moved to New Thread]

Flashback Collab - Chapter One, Desperation in Lingayen, Part Zero

Enroute to Lingayen, Phillipines

Flashback Part One

Hannie's PoV:

Things have started moving so fast.
Just this morning, Hannie was back in Australia. They told her she might have to leave a month back, but she thought there might be another warning. Or that they'd just forgotten it.
Wake up. Have breakfast. Now get on this plane, you're going to the Phillipines. Huh?
It's been a few hours of just being herded around now. No one seems to have the time to explain what's going on for her. She feels like she knows, but... she'd rather not be right.
Now get in this truck with these army men. Take some ice cream. Good girl. Good luck. With what?
Now it's moving.

It feels dark in here. It isn't really, but there's something wrong with the atmosphere. Hannie holds an ice cream cone and stares at the floor, the smallest figure present - not necessarily by much, but something about her makes her feel yet smaller.
The soldiers are quiet. Are they staring at her? Are they leaving the air open for an Arms Master? Or is there just nothing to say?
After a while, Hannie looks up to scan around. Are they all army guys?

NPCs

The Truck's Radio was broadcasting the worst news possible: China was invading in what they call a 'territorial protection operation' and it was taking the Philippines' premier Arms Masters to protect the country from a now-constant bombardment of ballistic missiles and other long-range weapons, as well as the might of the Chinese Navy.

The Philippines' own naval forces were concentrated in the west, trying to bar the way to Manila Bay while its air force was barely holding on.

As the 'Government of National Salvation' scrambled all its remaining forces, it became clear that the main thrust of its defense was on Lingayen Gulf, where the Japanese had landed in World War II.

And (more) Arms Masters were their only hope.

Qingshe's PoV:

Another battlefield, another front of the war... and another group of stagnant hicks in dire need of uplifting in the face of Chinese aggression... It was hardly anything new to her. Rather, if anything, it was the same thing she had busied herself with these last 10 months after she finished wallowing in her own indecisiveness.

Fingers clad in emerald-hued false claws tapped a stuttered rhythm upon the surface of a sleek electronic "pad" of sorts with a very distinct, glowing green-on-black cyberpunk aesthetic. The screen's dim light helped illuminate the owner's somewhat more sparsely inhabited corner of the vehicle. "Somewhat", in that the transport was cramped enough as is, and there wasn't a whole lot of room to distance oneself from less palatable company... subtly or otherwise.

That didn't mean some didn't try, no matter how that would reflect on their "comradery" or willingness to supply it.

Reptilian eyes crinkled into silent smiles at the soldier currently keeping a whole seat's worth of space between himself and her, and she smiled impishly at the shiver (in fear or... perhaps something else?) that he rather impressively managed to mostly conceal. She licked her lips in a hungry manner that left little intent to the imagination, before mercifully relenting her teasing of the poor human man to pan her searching gaze over the transport's other inhabitants.

She could see them... the other Arms Masters, the diamonds in the rough among the common chaff, and her mouth watered with venom at the thought of- No, this really wasn't the time. But later? Later, she promised her cravings, humming cheerfully to herself with a lilting, almost musical whisper in the cramped air.

Eerie techno-green light played against the walls beside her from her salacious dress-like "armor", as she leaned back and grinned.

"My~, it sure is optimistic in here~" she tittered, her soft Chinese accent flavoring each syllable.

NPCs

The soldiers began talking among themselves in Tagalog/Filipino and a few other local dialects/languages, but one, who spoke accented English, finally replied to Qingshen, "We're being sent to die; why would we be 'happy'?"

Hannie:

Hannie quietly looks down again and starts eating her ice cream.

Qingshe:

The unnervingly unnaturally beautiful young woman pouted in faux offense at the disheartening reply, her hungry, golden-red, slitted eyes almost visually waning between languid blinks into a moderately less predatory red-tinged blue.

Shortly thereafter, she merely shrugged and smiled with almost insulting brightness. "And here I thought humans were supposed to be adaptable, the ultimate underdogs, developing strength in adversity~... Evolving..." She grinned, eying the present Arms Masters, before waving her hand dismissively. "But if you're so resigned to being prey, then by all means, at least do yourself the favor of not worrying about the inevitable slaughter, hmmm?"

The words were far from encouraging, but they weren't intended to be. It was rats like these that natural selection would weed out by the end of things, so what concern was it of hers how they wasted their pointless existences? They didn't even have the decency to donate themselves to her research. At least then their deaths would have purpose.

Moreover, from a tactical standpoint, it would be foolish of her not to nip such talk in the bud. "Hope"... Such an ephemeral, irrational concept, yet all too important. A fighter with conviction and the belief that they could -would- win was worth ten of those that thought otherwise. The Chinese had no reason to believe the latter and so were already at a large advantage. The last thing the Philippines needed was nihilism crippling their few fighters' will to act.

Qingshe giggled cruelly. "If you're going to die, don't drag your comrades down with you. Be worth something more than nothing, and at least have the dignity to shield those with the will to win where you couldn't."

NPCs:

The soldier muttered, "Maybe it'd be easier if we can make weapons out of our souls, then."

Qingshe:

With her acute hearing and the generally restrained noise level of the transport, Qingshe had no trouble perceiving the soldier's words and leaning back, crossing one slender leg over the other, her strange cyberpunk "dress" notable in that it only formed a ruffled "skirt" from the knees down.

"Mmm~," she agreed noncommittally. "Maybe~... or maybe not~." Cupping her chin with one palm, false claws delicately traced her jawline in thought. "Don't underestimate humans... Our potential is limitless... Noble Arms are proof... and by no means the only kind."

She had little more to say on the matter. She was here to help these people, but she wasn't about to hold their hands. If they couldn't understand that much and extrapolate what was important from there, she felt by no means obligated to elaborate without direct prompting.

Noble Arms - The ASEAN War [Moved to New Thread]

@Renny, let's talk on Discord.

Noble Arms - The ASEAN War [Moved to New Thread]

Discussion is still going on in the Discord; sorry for the slowdown in the pace of the IC thread.

Noble Arms - The ASEAN War [Moved to New Thread]

Originally Posted on the Discord Server:

Quick heads up. As we transition into including a more in-depth system for describing and classifying NA powers, if you haven't already done so, please copy/paste the below RPGguild-coded segment to right below where you have your NA's rank listed. If you like, you may go ahead and start filling it out, but we'll be visiting each character individually on the matter. With luck, this will help place less obscene value on the ranks themselves and more on what the NA actually does. The introduction of an actual measure of stamina and such beyond a vague OOC mention will also help with balance.

With the introduction of ranks being graded on an average, it also effectively allows for more flexibility in what power an NA is allowed. For example, with the right spread, a D-Rank NA could, in theory, pull off A-Rank firepower in a brief burst.

insert NA rank here

Power: The pure energy the NA can exert (offensively/defensively/healing/etc).
Speed: How fast the power responds to the user and takes effect.
Range: How far-reaching the abilities are (potential fallout included).
Persistence: Stamina toll on user. Higher rank = more ease of use.
Precision: How surgically (or clumsily/indiscriminate) the NA performs.
Potential: Power's flexibility for creative use and evolution.

If you want, you may also use a graph image based on the JJBA Stand ranking system instead, since that is what we are basing this off largely. The above is the most convenient to read, but you have the option for flavor. Just try to have it in a hider in either case.

Royal Rumble: Rumble over the Heavens

This Character Application has been dropped:

Name: Austin Brightvale

Age: 16

Grade: St. Laurel's, Second Year.

Biography: Austin was born to two 'Ungifted' parents who somehow avoided the lure of extremist organizations like the 'Null Meta' creed, and were able to blunt the sharp edges of prejudice by being skilled enough at what they do - accounting and handicrafts - to live in a well-off manner. In time, they were even able to adopt two children - sisters - who did have Gifts before conceiving Austin as they were growing older.

Austin was an average child, although he was intelligent, but his parents took care to raise him right, so that his intelligence did not isolate him. He loved music, sweets, and even playing kickball. He loved his friends and family, and adored his two older siblings. He didn't care that he didn't have a Gift yet, although one of the few sore spots in his life was when he was reminded that his parents didn't have those either, that no God had chosen them. It didn't matter; he loved them anyway.

When his power finally shone, when he was able to lift up others' hearts with a Gift from the God of Hope, he hoped his parents would accept him anyway, that the pain they had gone through would be lifted, not sharpened, by the revelation that he had a gift. And his hope was rewarded when they embraced him, before inviting his sisters to join in as well.

Austin vowed to live a life worthy of his family, neither taking risks or trying to grow up too soon like most others his age, but also not backing down from a fight if it did come down to one. He wanted to make others happy, he wanted to make his family happy, and as he grew up, he wanted to find love with a boy or girl of his own age, and lift their spirits up as well.

But for now, he was content; will he stay that way?

Powers:

Core Power: Child of Hope - Austin emits a golden aura that in addition to increasing his own and other people's luck, also boosts his physical health and resistance to diseases mundane and magical. This aura, when meeting an equal and opposite Core Power, is canceled out and cancels out said equal and opposite Core Power (sorry, Crow!).

Note that he can choose to turn off his aura so as not to draw attention to himself.

First Power: Uplifting Spirit - Austin can dispel negative energy as a reflex, dispelling curses and similar powers and weakening Undead or Demons. Note however that if a person's curse is inflicted, on themselves, by their own Core Power, Austin can only dispel it for 24 hours and only if it is willingly accepted.

He can also choose to refuse to dispel a source of negative energy after a moment's consideration, which is useful as negative energy and its users are not always evil in intention.

Second Power: Wings of Light - Two bright wings made of pure 'hard light' spring forth from the back of Austin's jacket, allowing him to fly as fast as a civilian helicopter; these two bright wings can also be used as weapons and makeshift shields as their glowing feathers can detach themselves from the wings to throw themselves at an enemy or form into sheets of light which can block bullets.

Third Power: Song of Avalon - Austin stands up and sings, and holy light rains down on a space the size of an area the size of a suburban home, passing through mundane roofs and floors in order to reach Austin and his friends, whose physical wounds are healed by contact with the light. As it continues to rain, more wounds are healed, although Austin can exempt any foe he has from the light's healing effects. When his voice gives out or he depletes all his Mana reserves, the rain of holy light ends.

Relationships:

He loves his family and may or may not be preparing a love confession to Ken Illustrious Ikari.

Mechwarrior: Disposable Heroes

Raven Rivers

Right for the wrong reasons? Raven thought, remembering what Ingrid had said, as if being a good person isn't more important than being a good Mechwarrior...

Either way, he was glad he was charging towards the base, instead of the convoy itself, thus lessening the risk that he might fire at unarmed folk, most of whom were probably not willing to be there. He prepared his long-ranged missiles first, then his laser, then the rest of his weapons as he waited for the ECM to be put up and orders to be given as to exactly what to target. Until then... He was dealing with hypotethicals.

Was he going to be ordered to fire at the gatehouses, or the turrets, or the wall itself? Or was he going to be asked to target the radar dish which poked itself above the wall, which in turn was unlikely? Either way, Raven prepared to do his duty, irresolution and worry lost for now as he waited for orders.

They were going to get the convoy. They were going to get the supplies. They will not fail this; their spirit remained strong and their minds remained clear. Katrina, Andrew, this is the first step to rescuing you both, as well as everyone caught by these pricks. He remembered Ingrid's words too as he continued his thoughts, An independent word which acts as a buffer against pirates; maybe that is the best fate for this planet. Who knows, maybe we can form a new contract with them as a free world, maybe even settle down if the Colonel permits...

He caught himself idly daydreaming; has the ECM been turned on yet? If it had, Raven intended to fire, if there was still time before battle, even a few seconds or so, he was going to clear his head and try to focus as he waited for orders on what to fire on. For Katrina, for Andrew, for my family, for the Green Knights, for the common people suffering through this...