Mirandae

The Spirits Within

I posted. It is a bit slag, I apologize. I'll expand on it when I am not as tired.

@Mr Rage

Oh, you shouldn't force yourself while tired! Take a nap or sleep. Post when you are well and rested, instead! I could never write while sleepy, hah.

The Spirits Within

_{U. D. F. A R M O R E D P E R S O N N E L C A R R I E R}

Celise closely observed the driver of vehicle 94, as he checked the vitality of the engine under the hood. Drivers of the academy were often current or old Navigators, but sometimes civilians of Oakridge simply helping out for a symbolic fee. This particular driver appeared to be on the older side, past the point of no return of his life. He seemed to know his way around the engine quite well, however, which made Celise suspect that he was a former student, but she did not ask. Instead, she put the tip of her sword against the concrete floor, letting a modest clinging sound echo throughout the garage, to rest against it and let the man know that someone’s presence was near. He did not react; he simply kept on tinkering like a true Navigator. The vehicle itself was an interesting piece of machinery. It was a standard United Defense Force Armored Personnel Carrier, but the design and functionality of it fascinated Celise nonetheless. ★

“Oh, hi, Ajax,” Celise said. She had previously heard someone coming, but continued to pay attention to the driver’s mischief—the fact of the matter was that the driver was not supposed to modify or even touch the engine unless it was about to blow up. “I’m signed up for this mission, so I’m coming with. How could I not? It’s my hometown after all,” she continued. A slight smirk broke on the edge of his lips. Celise was delighted to return to her neck of the woods, but the circumstances could have been better. “Did you work out today already or will you do it later?” The silver girl asked. She had no intentions of breaking routines just because there was a field mission to be completed. At the very least they needed to stay fluid, flexible at all times. “I think I need some stretching,” she grunted and returned a nod to Jomen, as he approached them. ★

Celise cracked opened one of the compartments on the side length of the APC, and fastened her sword inside. Weapons were not allowed inside the actual carrier for safety reasons in the event of a crash. She also removed her backpack and put it on the ground, leaning against one of the wheels of the vehicle, along wither drink. “Give me a pull, will you?” Celise asked Ajax. She had turned her back to the Übermench and angled her arms against him for a bit of a stretching session on the fly. ★

Something that excited Celise was the thought of hopefully seeing a few interesting heights and shrines in and around Ledale. She knew of at least a couple near Rians and Bleneau. Whatever happened, those towns would most likely be used as rally points for the army on the way back. Perhaps Jomen would fancy going with her on some outings, or a bit more adventurous pursuits within the city itself, during the confrontation. Thinking about it, Celise was fascinated by the idea of securing and salvaging shrines to protect them from the enemy. The silver girl figured she would talk with Jomen about it, later. ★

Notes

Don't mind the colored stars. I'm getting used to the Act, React, Observe, Reflect-scheme. You don't have to do this kind of coloring with symbols! It's just for my own sake.

The Spirits Within

@Archangel89@71452K@EurmalEye@Mr Rage@Rockette@Rizza@deadpixel101

I'm tagging everyone like crazy today, but there is another thing I have to go through. As you all probably know, roleplaying is a battle with activity and commitment. I won't blame anyone who wants out, but I know it's really difficult for some to say it, so they just 'disappear'. I'm just going to say that that's fine. I won't start a witch hunt or put you on a shitlist. I'll simply bump the interest check and get someone else.

For posting, we'd rather take quality over quantity. Remember to check the rules for the roleplay. First, the "React, Act, Observe, and Reflect"-scheme for posts, and then the "no wait"-policy. As for length, my first post is what I'd consider a 'comfortable' post. It's not too long, it's not too short. Of course, you'll have to go over it or under it depending on situation in the roleplay, but always refer back to 'quality over quantity' in that regard.

The Spirits Within

@Archangel89@71452K@EurmalEye@Mr Rage@Rockette@Rizza@deadpixel101

I think most people chose 'Battle for Ledale', except for @Mr Rage and @71452K (?). Either way, I'll consolidate us all into the Ledale mission, and then we'll do 'Daring Attempt' after it. I'll keep the two mission format for the sake of choices in the story, and then either split the party if there is an even number on both, or do them one after another all together.

Hunts, however, will remain as they are. They're done in Flashbacks, so they're independent from the story. It's a good way to start bonding with other characters. Exactly when the hunts take place is not all that important, but it will definitely be before the current missions. I'll get in on this as the story progresses. Sometimes it will make sense to have the hunts before the whole story, sometimes it makes sense as a breather between missions.

The Spirits Within

@Rizza
If everyone chooses the same mission, the second one will either be scrapped or completed afterwards. So, it's not like both have to be completed at the same time. Choose whatever you want!

The Spirits Within

I'll tag those who have a sheet posted in the character tab. I know there are others either lurking or doing character sheets (I hope), but I don't want to bother them too much, if they've decided not to participate or want to come in later.

@71452K@EurmalEye@Mr Rage@Rockette@Rizza@deadpixel101

First posts can focus on starting the missions. Any hunts and flashbacks can be sorted for second/third posts, once we've figured out what people want to do.

The Spirits Within

_{O A K R I D G E A C A D E M Y A T R I U M}

Spirits swirled with lull motions within a dark dormitory room. Brilliant hues granted a faint glow on porcelain skin and silver hair. During such moments of rest and tranquility, the spirits within eagerly emerged to frolic. Many were their shapes and forms within a young girl named Celise, one sill resting in the early hours. A spirit of particular liking and fondness, the shape of a fox of icy hues, always saw to the silver girl’s wakening. It twiddled and swirled in the air until Celise broke her slumber.

It was Monday morning. She had stayed up late the previous night to stroll around campus, around the academy grounds, nearby heights, and gaze upon the stars as she always did. Celise was a navigator at heart, an explorer, and she enjoyed such pursuits even if the area was known to her for many years. However, this day was special for many reasons. Not only had the United Defense Force launched a large-scale operation to strike at the heart of the enemy with experimental weapons, Celise was also going home for the first time in two years.

The city of Ledale was under attack by infectious creatures, which put a dent in vital resources and supply lines. The academy had been broadcasting the news over the entire weekend. While most of the regular student-soldiers were not required to assist in the matter, all Guardians of the academy in their field mission phase of the education were going to ship out. Celise had spoken to her parents about the situation, and it had apparently gotten serious enough for them to pack things up and travel to the nearby town of Rians, where Celise’s grandparents live.

Celise pulled herself out of bed. The space in which she lived was the same as every other student on the campus ground. The rooms were rather small, but equipped with a bed, desk, shower, and a mini refrigerator. One of the walls had a holographic screening device that could broadcast whatever the student chose to tune into. Most of the programs were news about the war, politics and such, but some channels broadcasted old films. In the room there was also a small window overlooking a central garden. The Oakridge campus was a collection of cylinder structures with a hollow middle clad a decorative garden of flowers, plants, and trees. There were four of these cylinder housings on campus, each one able to house a three thousand students.

The first thing Celise did every morning was to text Lisa, a not too far off neighbor at the campus. The silver girl only included weird symbols in the message—♛☄♒⊗∃—but the recipient knew what it meant or did not mean. It was one of many of the ritualistic behaviors surrounding their kinship. But, her practice was interrupted by the thirty-minute interval announcements echoing throughout campus and the academy complex. Such were the days of school-wide deployment into the field. The announcement urged volunteers to report to academy administration, and Guardians to receive their mission documents. As Celise already knew, she was headed off to Ledale.

Morning routines on deployment days were delightfully short. There was no bother with showers, no bother with cosmetics, no bother with much at all. She packed a dark backpack with everything she needed—some basic change of clothes, energy drinks, valuables, map and compass, and some navigation trinkets. Guardian deployment was a bit different from the regular army. They were expected to be on their own, to orient the world as independent units. They did not wear any uniforms except a mandatory badge given by the academy—the badge depicted the Oakridge Academy logo and a student identification number. Celise clad herself in a plain, dark shirt with its sleeves cut off. Tightly fitted jeans, although ripped, of the same coloration covered her legs. She always had some troubles with getting into them, bumps of skin and flesh protruding the ripped slivers along the thighs. And for wartime Celise used regular sneakers, which revealed her actual height.

Grabbing her sword from a tiny locker next to the bed, Celise was ready and out the door. The identification numbers of the Guardians assigned to her particular squad had been sent to her phone. The group had to meet at the academy garage for transportation to Oakridge City. Celise thought she recognized some of the student identification numbers in her squad, but she could not be entirely sure, as she had never memorized anyone’s digits. It was also under her impression that her squad would share transport with another doing another mission in the city itself. Celise made her way through the academy atrium. It was more or less the heart of it all, but relatively quiet still. The atrium was a gathering place for students, as well as a hub connecting all other buildings and places to it. There were numerous shops, cafes, restaurants, vending machines, and entertainment available around the clock. These businesses were obviously provided by Oakridge city, not ten minutes away by car.

Celise bought herself a fresh energy drink at a vending machine before slipping down some stairs to the garage. The drink was called Renegade, one of her favorites. Entering the cool, massive space for vehicles storage, the scent of metal and rubber hit her. The gearhead within her awakened instantly. Students of the Navigation Division were also mechanics and drivers, after all, even if Celise’s heart was focused on something more specific—pathfinding and exploration. As she approached the vehicle number listed in the message on her phone, 94, it appeared that the driver had arrived, doing some basic maintenance.

The Spirits Within

@Prisk So when should we start posting in the IC?

@EurmalEye

In the coming days, for sure. I've jotted down some notes for my first post, so I'll start writing it tomorrow (Friday). I don't plan to do a novel-length starter, as it usually goes. Some people are still doing their sheets, one fore sure. But that's alright, they won't miss anything.

The Spirits Within

Disclosing my shopping list:

1x Renegade
1x Elixir
2x Potion

Celise is energy drink junkie.

The Spirits Within

I've updated the first post to contain all information about the roleplay. The second post of the out-of-character tab has information about Season One, instead of 0th post in the in-character tab.

@71452K
Don't feel bad. It's not necessary to have kinship with every character.