Parzivol

Sleep, Grand Automaton, That We May Plunder...

Directive State User Interface:
— Protect MRS Property
"MRS Property":: "Anything produced, purchased, or used by MRS. This includes you. Exclude JUNK flag.":: Definition by MRSA10ProjLead05
Priority Order:: "A10-2022" "XDFSU1" "Generalized MRS Property"
— Harvest DERELICT Metals
MRSA10ProjLead13 note:: "Do not directly interface with the artifact if you can avoid it. High risk activity."
— "Make a show for Origin.":: Unclear, please clarify directive.::"It will make sense.":: Definition by [Deleted_User_Data]
2022A note:: Have I been tampered with? Report to MRSA10ProjLead13 upon completion of “Harvest DERELICT Metals” assignment.
— Regular Report Behavior
ConditionalStateModification by 2022A:: "Breach report behavior where efficiency dictates.":: Modification Approved by [Deleted_User_Data]
— Establish Biologically Friendly Operation Center
"Biologically Friendly":: "Fitting for cold-fusion conditions.":: Definition by MRSA10ProjLead05
"Operation Center":: "Safe-zone on the artifact. Stable environment for human operations.":: Definition by MRS10ProjLead05
MRSA10ProjLead13 note:: "MRSA10ProjLead05 says that you will ask if you need a term defined. Please feel free to. Ask A915AF and A916AA, and any UNDEFINEDUSER(s) that have verifiable ORIGIN or MRS tags associated. Verify these tags independently if possible."

Directive Updates...
5%...
10%...
15%...
20%...
25%...
30%...
50%...
80%...
100%...

Directive Updates:
— “Rendezvous with ORIGIN tagged MOS Presence”:: “MOS = Maasym Orbital Station”:: Definition by OGFriend01, MRSA10ProjLead13
TAG Updates:
ORIGIN:: Friendly
MOSHUM:: AlertState
MAASYMENTITY:: ViolentState:: SecondaryDefaultTAG
UNKNOWN:: QuearyState:: DefaultTAG

A10-2022A stood at its post, watching data come in regarding pathing conditions. BH5 was preparing to slow to a complete halt and perform a full boot up of all of the androids on-board after dropping out of jump-speed. This was, for a plethora of reasons, not the best way to go about things. 2022A interrupted all systems momentarily and directed BH5 to follow instruction, which it did. When the vessel shook, and dropped into sub-light speeds it hurtled for a long moment towards the gleaming red demon that was Maasym. It slowed steadily.

A9-15AF ran the calculations to enter orbit, and took the helm. A9-16AA stepped away from its console and followed A10 as it stepped away from the primary controls and walked down a ramp, which lead eventually to the storage facility of the refinery. The fifteen B7 android bodies that made up 17094CL were partially sealed into the satellite, enabling them to breathe before launching as necessary. They remained offline, though 17094CL's primary computer built into the satellite had activated when the satellite entered the solar system. A10 took note of the condition of the various machines. It was running basic diagnostics on the top level, and thinking quietly to itself as it did so.

> Efficiency would increase “violently” if all other units of the 2022 branch were present.

That was itself a rather complex thought for the thing. It was not happy with the conditions of the mission or the parameters it had been given. What was it to do when one of the A9 machines ultimately chose a violent solution, or made conflict with their authority? Neither of their personality prints accounted for such a concern, however, and so A10 dismissed the anxiety regarding its companions as an artifact of its personality print. Concern where none needs to be found, was perhaps, where its desire for efficiency was so substantial. Ten seconds passed before A9 announced loudly on the satellite's intercom that they were in range to directly connect to the network of the Maasym Orbital Station. They were also in range of the three Origin battle cruisers.

"Announce the arrival of an MRS unmanned satellite to the battle cruisers. Contact the nearest."

A9-15AF refused to communicate over the network. Demanded verbal communications. The express exchange had occurred during the loading process, which the three A Numerical series androids had overseen together. A10 recalled the exchange rather spitefully, having tagged the relevant recordings for deletion during the next software-update. 15AF was concerned, of course, about corporate espionage. The loss of efficiency was considered a fair exchange.

"Contact established."

"Send to display 13."

A small communications log opened, recording audio, before two additional displays appeared. Some Origin communications officer with tired eyes and a slack jaw began to speak. Introductions. A10 deleted the information as quickly as it came in.

It spoke, and took note that its safety paint pattern had a scratch adjacent to its eye.

"Hello! I am a Mars Robotics and Security representative. I have been instructed to request that our operations in the exploitation shaft be carefully observed and measured. Have a good afternoon!"

A10 waited for a response, and received a similarly worthless series of terms, before nodding.

"Have a good day!"

The communications channel closed. 15AF spoke loudly.

“Have a good day! Aaaaaa-HAH. How sarcastic!”

A10 was not speaking sarcastically when it had delivered the line. That was the default statement assigned to leaving a conversation. 15AF’s confusion was registered as a flaw in its behavioral pattern and sent to the out-bound mission status logs as quickly as A10 could realize the interaction had occurred. This was not an action taken out of spite, but A10 was annoyed. The A9 models were both functional soldiers but far too talkative, and any authority it had over their personality prints had been overridden by one of the MRSA10 project leads. They wanted A10 to be bounded by other MRS properties. They were his council, and as such could overrule him and end the mission prematurely if they judged an action to be out of line with their behavioral defaults.

It was not difficult to avoid agitating either of the A9s in a vote, however. One defaulted to extreme caution and the other to ultra violence. Rarely did they call for a vote. During the training period, 16AA had demanded an unidentified biological in the testing environment killed, and it had been outvoted by A10 and 15AF.

A10 frequently recalled 16AA’s demands for violence with disapproval. Violence against a biological that was not inflicting its own violence was inefficient.

A10 frequently recalled 15AF’s demands for safety with disapproval. Risks must be taken to achieve higher efficiency levels over time.

The mechanical crew docked an hour later at the MOS, remaining silent the entire time. Without a human onboard attempting to make conversation they rarely spoke to each other. The A9s were happy to chatter whenever they felt their opinion was needed, and A10 was happy to deliver orders as per 15AF’s request for verbal direction, but they had explicitly decided during the first year of their training together that maintaining humanoid speech tags against each other would result in useless banter between them. In that vote A10 had called for the removal of banter tags between the three models, while 15AF had moved to maintain them to create the illusion of sentience. 16AA indicated that its intention was to vote alongside A10 because it was inclined, as it stated, to obey more capable authorities.

Each crevice and rock on the station was memorized and backed-up in the BH5’s environmental memory, and uploaded into the A-models. That was the key benefit, MRS had decided, of a mechanical crew. The BH5 satellite could operate with zero crew, and so its complex environmental sensors were compatible with other androids.

The seals engaged, and the ship looked to be several wasp-nest combs jutting out from the MOS station.

When the crew stepped out, the three A-models, they knew roughly where they were going. They were searching for ORIGIN-tagged humans on this “Mos” station. The A9s were boringly grey, and A10 was a rather bright work-site paintjob. As they approached customs they presented several documents, indicating they were property of MRS. It was a curious process for the customs agents.

“I don’t think we’ve had to handle just three androids before.”

“Hell no but the kids are gonna love hearing about this if their whore of a mother hasn’t beaten them to tears by the time I get home.”

“Sam, why does every conversation go back to your shitty home life?”

“What else am I supposed to talk about? We have procedures for property arriving and they met the standards for arriving as property.”

“They’re robots Sam. Smile for once in your life.”

Sam did not smile. A10 would have, had he a face, however. They had passed through customs at a higher than average speed, based on previous expectations as established with the mission briefing that had arrived as they entered the system.

> Ahead of schedule. Update minimum efficiency score accordingly.

The three mechanical men walked through the altogether dim space station carefully, in a well-considered walking order. A9-15AF took up the front and exercised his caution, with the A10 model in the middle of the single file line and A9-16AA at the back. They were a bleak oddity. They caught eyes. A man with a broad face, tagged HUMAN, UNKNOWN, attempted to speak to them. They marched on with no regard for the individual.

That individual gave way to a small crowd of disgruntled private contractors. A10’s hand caught the automatic plexiglass door before it closed, and the three androids waited for the crowd to pass. They received stares and side-eyes that they could not interpret from within the halls that they held no opinion of. A9-16AA exposed his cold-fusion core for the door sensor, which opened with the detection of the low warmth. A10 and A9-15AF entered and took note of the room while 16AA followed behind and closed his own stomach cavity.

Three cyclopes machines moved to the side of the doorway, staring boldly at the soldier, the lab-coat draped man, and the remaining independent contractors. A10’s coordinates were within acceptable distance to mark off the rendezvous condition of their new directive.

“He—” began the machine with the 15AF number painted in white on his chest panel and on the side of its boxy head. It stopped when the yellow and white machine raised its right hand.

“Hello. We are MRS property to be supplied to the, quoted from mission parameters, ‘ORIGIN tagged Mos presence.’” The yellow and white machine. “My name,” it said the word with what sounded like disdain as its voice buzzed black, “is A10-2022A.”

It buzzed, and cracked out three short bursts of audio that the two A9 androids responded in kind to.

“These other androids are my inferiors and are not suitable for reception of command. A10-2022A is best suited for reception of command. Please indicate names for tagging purposes.”

> Will the soldier respond or the other unnamed individual? They will not respond in the most efficient manner.

> A9-15AF > Please communicate using open channels as agreed!

> A9-15AF has been locked out of personal_record.log, A9-16AA has been locked out of personal_record.log, A10-2022A has been made ADMIN of personal_record.log

> Distractions have been removed from the personal_record that is to be kept as stated by MRS_StandardPractices.

“Please, those of ORIGIN affiliation please speak first, promptly.”

Sleep, Grand Automaton, That We May Plunder...

Martian Research & Security | A10-2022A "Buckaroo-2"

Name
> MRS-A10-2022A, Call-Sign “Buckaroo-2”, “Two—Oh-Twos”

Physical Description
> Non-Gendered, 8 Years Old, 6 feet, 340 lbs.
> A standard MRS-A10 Utility Operations Forman series humanoid robot. It possesses an industrial-yellow and white utilitarian chassis, with complex movement mechanisms and a cold-fusion self-regulating battery.
> It possesses a single “eye”: a narrow slit down the front of its boxy “head”, that detects both visible and invisible light. All non-kinetic sensory information is processed here and then moved into the main brain in the torso.
> Its chassis as a whole is boxy, and based on slight modifications to the MRS-A8’s Special Military Operations android that was briefly popular for its ability to function independently with an effective weight-to-strength ratio and an agility approximately equal to a high performing melee combatant human, though the A10 UOF model lacks some ranges of movement directly behind it that the A8 possessed.
> Reduced range of movement allows for greater output force capacity in the arms and torso, and allowed for the introduction of a series of secondary brains running alternate operating systems that serve to translate directly to the MRS Communication Systems brain.
> No digits on the feet, five digits on each hand.

Purpose
> Manage the Martian Robotics & Security mining operations at the Derelict as the on-site representative of the company and directing computer for the MRS harvest-dedicated robots.
> Control and operate the new MRS-BH5 satellite above the Derelict. Direct the android labor force.

History
> The MRS corporation designed and began training the A10 UOF series androids 8 years ago specifically for management of raw resource harvesting in environments not safe for human laborers, intent on using the machine systems to create a network of harvesting androids and refineries independent of having to rely on human maintenance.

> A10-2022A was selected randomly from a pool of successful trial androids that operated on an MRS property for its 5 year trial. During the 5 year trial it developed a rapid communication system to simplify orders being deployed to the drones under its direction. This behavior, while not unique to 2022A was one of the benchmarks used to indicate success in the developmental logic of the A10 UOF series.

> Independent thought and strong personality simulations are primary traits for any androids in the A Numerical series, and as such the A10 UOF series appears to be sentient and self-driven to most humans that interact with it. Personality software in the A10-UOF model is generally kept smaller and procedural so that it does not interfere with the raw data collection abilities and risk glitches in other more vital aspects of the model’s behavior. A10-2022A was above benchmarks regarding drive for efficiency and high performance, which resulted in the A10-2022A personality print being copied for future use. During its 3-year training period with the new MRS-Boring (B) and MRS-BeeHive (BH), and MRS-XenoDefenseFunctionalSubUnit (XDFSU) series robots it was made aware of the activation of A10-2022B, A10-2022C, and A10-2022D units which all possessed identical hardware and personality prints that were being deployed elsewhere for a wide-scale mining operation.

> It was noted that A10-2022A briefly tapped MRS networks, downloading information regarding the B, C, and D units during a low observation period. It returned its primary attention to the androids under its direction after 1.3 seconds, after which it deleted the raw information but did not delete or otherwise modify the fact that it had in fact looked at these logs and concluded that units B, C, and D would increase efficiency. As a result, B, C, and D were not informed of the existence of any other units, though A was not reset and the log not deleted for fear of creating a cascade failure in an otherwise successful personality print.

> A10-2022A passed all relevant, modern self awareness tests, which indicated its print was promising for a self-driven artificial entity. When the personality print used by 2022A was copied and printed into B, C, and D they were not immediately given directives. All immediately entered their low-power state and did not formulate any goals. They activated and began functioning once their directives were created.

> A10-2022A and the MRS-HB5 satellite, the latter of which was dubbed Buckaroo-2 before launch, are currently enroute to the Derelict as of 3030 CE. A has been instructed to make contact with the Origin forces in the system and make a show of its intelligence before reconnecting to the MRS Father digital network using the Orbital Station’s network, after which it will receive orders to begin operations while maintaining a closed network so as to not risk interference from any technologies waking up on the surface of the derelict.

“Personality Prints” A Problem Of Interface & Function
> MRS designed their personality print system with the intention of introducing variability into the behavior of each of their androids, with the intention of creating androids that humans can more easily interact with. It allows for strong social bonds to form from a human onto an android, that increases the sale value of replacement parts for their older models. One cannot simply buy a new C5 series android, because 99015 behaves slightly different from any other C5 series, as each one is fed a random personality seed. These personality prints are seed-based and easily transferred onto other models of even different series given the brain-capacity for it. Hence most MRS social machines run the same personality prints when used by the company, but random personality prints are sold on public markets. The deployment of A10-2022B, C, and D into the private sector is actually a new project selling high prices for the best trained and most capable personality prints for use in public fields.

The MRS Expeditionary Mining Force
> A10-2022A commands one MRS-HB5 Satellite vessel, which acts as the command station for the mining forces. It possesses 18 docking “combs” where vessels can land and transfer goods directly into or out of the refinery on-board. It possesses basic life-support functions to maintain the cold-fusion breathers of the A10 and A9 series androids onboard. Two of its docking combs are dedicated to MRS-H3, “Harpy,” androids, which act as a light defensive interceptor. The satellite is fitted with a jump drive, but maneuvers poorly.

> A9-15AF & A9-16AA are two A9 class humanoid security androids. They run on an upgraded, more agile A8 frame with software dedicated to the preservation of MRS property. 15-AF’s personality print is preferential to a low-risk behavioral pattern, while 16-AA’s personality print is preferential to high-profit behaviors that result in the net-gain of more MRS property. The two androids were selected to serve as A10-2022A’s security and external council.

> H3-99B and H3-99C are identical interceptor class androids. They are rather common, small, and easy to construct, and are primarily a melee starfighter. Their design model is based on the stonefly’s nymphs, and they are primarily an anti-biological defense system. Their primary defensive function is to grapple and disable hostile vessels, or to peel back hull plating. When a threat is at distance they will make use of the flak cannons on their front face. They lack a jump drive and are not particularly intelligent on their own, often being commanded by a central computer. In this case A10-2022A acts as their command computer. Their cold fusion reactors require them to breathe every forty minutes.

> Fifteen B7 series resource harvest androids launch from the HB5 satellite. Each one is connected to a shared wireless network and is the physical extension of a singular entity collectively referred to as B7-17094CL. The CL personality print is quick to submit to superior personality prints, and excels at team-work and multitasking. Hence its selection for the DERELICT mission. A10-2022A micromanages the 17094CL personality print and rarely allows it to problem solve without first checking its work.

> The five MRS-XDFSU1 series androids are modeled off of the emperor scorpion, and possesses no personality print. They are each under the direct command of the A9s and A10, with A10 itself having the ultimate vote. The XDFSU1 model was constructed using alloys recovered from the upper levels of the derelict’s exploitation shaft, and the entire MRS mission on the derelict serves to test their ability to function as a new model of security android. Their claws are high powered industrial clamps, and their tail releases batrachotoxin which the XDFSU1 can produce on its own by breaking down biological components and using a secondary cold fusion reactor to generate materials it otherwise lacks. Its primary cold fusion reactor breathes in modest amounts of material at a time, and the XDFSU1 can hold its breath for six hours if necessary. Compare this to other MRS products, which generally cannot go more than ten minutes without breathing before they experience forced shutdown.

Sleep, Grand Automaton, That We May Plunder...

I played with the idea of a corporation attempting to send out a semi-autonomous android for experimental purposes, intent on using an unmanned force to harvest resources from the derelict. Hopefully this falls within the range of, "Non-Terminator," threat levels and stuff. It's a machine that simulates personality and can be a character through that. Let me know what you think. @Circ @Ashgan

Martian Research & Security | A10-2022A "Buckaroo-2"

Name
> MRS-A10-2022A, Call-Sign “Buckaroo-2”, “Two—Oh-Twos”

Physical Description
> Non-Gendered, 8 Years Old, 6 feet, 340 lbs.
> A standard MRS-A10 Utility Operations Forman series humanoid robot. It possesses an industrial-yellow and white utilitarian chassis, with complex movement mechanisms and a cold-fusion self-regulating battery.
> It possesses a single “eye”: a narrow slit down the front of its boxy “head”, that detects both visible and invisible light. All non-kinetic sensory information is processed here and then moved into the main brain in the torso.
> Its chassis as a whole is boxy, and based on slight modifications to the MRS-A8’s Special Military Operations android that was briefly popular for its ability to function independently with an effective weight-to-strength ratio and an agility approximately equal to a high performing melee combatant human, though the A10 UOF model lacks some ranges of movement directly behind it that the A8 possessed.
> Reduced range of movement allows for greater output force capacity in the arms and torso, and allowed for the introduction of a series of secondary brains running alternate operating systems that serve to translate directly to the MRS Communication Systems brain.
> No digits on the feet, five digits on each hand.

Purpose
> Manage the Martian Robotics & Security mining operations at the Derelict as the on-site representative of the company and directing computer for the MRS harvest-dedicated robots.
> Control and operate the new MRS-BH5 satellite above the Derelict. Direct the android labor force.

History
> The MRS corporation designed and began training the A10 UOF series androids 8 years ago specifically for management of raw resource harvesting in environments not safe for human laborers, intent on using the machine systems to create a network of harvesting androids and refineries independent of having to rely on human maintenance.

> A10-2022A was selected randomly from a pool of successful trial androids that operated on an MRS property for its 5 year trial. During the 5 year trial it developed a rapid communication system to simplify orders being deployed to the drones under its direction. This behavior, while not unique to 2022A was one of the benchmarks used to indicate success in the developmental logic of the A10 UOF series.

> Independent thought and strong personality simulations are primary traits for any androids in the A Numerical series, and as such the A10 UOF series appears to be sentient and self-driven to most humans that interact with it. Personality software in the A10-UOF model is generally kept smaller and procedural so that it does not interfere with the raw data collection abilities and risk glitches in other more vital aspects of the model’s behavior. A10-2022A was above benchmarks regarding drive for efficiency and high performance, which resulted in the A10-2022A personality print being copied for future use. During its 3-year training period with the new MRS-Boring (B) and MRS-BeeHive (BH), and MRS-XenoDefenseFunctionalSubUnit (XDFSU) series robots it was made aware of the activation of A10-2022B, A10-2022C, and A10-2022D units which all possessed identical hardware and personality prints that were being deployed elsewhere for a wide-scale mining operation.

> It was noted that A10-2022A briefly tapped MRS networks, downloading information regarding the B, C, and D units during a low observation period. It returned its primary attention to the androids under its direction after 1.3 seconds, after which it deleted the raw information but did not delete or otherwise modify the fact that it had in fact looked at these logs and concluded that units B, C, and D would increase efficiency. As a result, B, C, and D were not informed of the existence of any other units, though A was not reset and the log not deleted for fear of creating a cascade failure in an otherwise successful personality print.

> A10-2022A passed all relevant, modern self awareness tests, which indicated its print was promising for a self-driven artificial entity. When the personality print used by 2022A was copied and printed into B, C, and D they were not immediately given directives. All immediately entered their low-power state and did not formulate any goals. They activated and began functioning once their directives were created.

> A10-2022A and the MRS-HB5 satellite, the latter of which was dubbed Buckaroo-2 before launch, are currently enroute to the Derelict as of 3030 CE. A has been instructed to make contact with the Origin forces in the system and make a show of its intelligence before reconnecting to the MRS Father digital network using the Orbital Station’s network, after which it will receive orders to begin operations while maintaining a closed network so as to not risk interference from any technologies waking up on the surface of the derelict.

“Personality Prints” A Problem Of Interface & Function
> MRS designed their personality print system with the intention of introducing variability into the behavior of each of their androids, with the intention of creating androids that humans can more easily interact with. It allows for strong social bonds to form from a human onto an android, that increases the sale value of replacement parts for their older models. One cannot simply buy a new C5 series android, because 99015 behaves slightly different from any other C5 series, as each one is fed a random personality seed. These personality prints are seed-based and easily transferred onto other models of even different series given the brain-capacity for it. Hence most MRS social machines run the same personality prints when used by the company, but random personality prints are sold on public markets. The deployment of A10-2022B, C, and D into the private sector is actually a new project selling high prices for the best trained and most capable personality prints for use in public fields.

The MRS Expeditionary Mining Force
> A10-2022A commands one MRS-HB5 Satellite vessel, which acts as the command station for the mining forces. It possesses 18 docking “combs” where vessels can land and transfer goods directly into or out of the refinery on-board. It possesses basic life-support functions to maintain the cold-fusion breathers of the A10 and A9 series androids onboard. Two of its docking combs are dedicated to MRS-H3, “Harpy,” androids, which act as a light defensive interceptor. The satellite is fitted with a jump drive, but maneuvers poorly.

> A9-15AF & A9-16AA are two A9 class humanoid security androids. They run on an upgraded, more agile A8 frame with software dedicated to the preservation of MRS property. 15-AF’s personality print is preferential to a low-risk behavioral pattern, while 16-AA’s personality print is preferential to high-profit behaviors that result in the net-gain of more MRS property. The two androids were selected to serve as A10-2022A’s security and external council.

> H3-99B and H3-99C are identical interceptor class androids. They are rather common, small, and easy to construct, and are primarily a melee starfighter. Their design model is based on the stonefly’s nymphs, and they are primarily an anti-biological defense system. Their primary defensive function is to grapple and disable hostile vessels, or to peel back hull plating. When a threat is at distance they will make use of the flak cannons on their front face. They lack a jump drive and are not particularly intelligent on their own, often being commanded by a central computer. In this case A10-2022A acts as their command computer. Their cold fusion reactors require them to breathe every forty minutes.

> Fifteen B7 series resource harvest androids launch from the HB5 satellite. Each one is connected to a shared wireless network and is the physical extension of a singular entity collectively referred to as B7-17094CL. The CL personality print is quick to submit to superior personality prints, and excels at team-work and multitasking. Hence its selection for the DERELICT mission. A10-2022A micromanages the 17094CL personality print and rarely allows it to problem solve without first checking its work.

> The five MRS-XDFSU1 series androids are modeled off of the emperor scorpion, and possesses no personality print. They are each under the direct command of the A9s and A10, with A10 itself having the ultimate vote. The XDFSU1 model was constructed using alloys recovered from the upper levels of the derelict’s exploitation shaft, and the entire MRS mission on the derelict serves to test their ability to function as a new model of security android. Their claws are high powered industrial clamps, and their tail releases batrachotoxin which the XDFSU1 can produce on its own by breaking down biological components and using a secondary cold fusion reactor to generate materials it otherwise lacks. Its primary cold fusion reactor breathes in modest amounts of material at a time, and the XDFSU1 can hold its breath for six hours if necessary. Compare this to other MRS products, which generally cannot go more than ten minutes without breathing before they experience forced shutdown.

Sleep, Grand Automaton, That We May Plunder...

I'll be posting a character sheet momentarily for review/general viewing. I'd like to ask what level artificial intelligence has reached, though. @Ashgan @Circ

The Elder Scrolls: The Infernal Library

Caro trundled along the air, moving with the group as they moved on through the Imperial facility. He was distinctly aware of the presence of eyes on him, but he had made a point thus far to ignore it. No need to go about causing troubles with what was presumably his newfound team of delinquents. Each of the three seemed fitting to take command, though each was clearly of a distinct caste. The social hierarchies here were odd, to say the least.

Take, for example, the Dunmer. He would be a useful tool and a clever mage himself surely. They had locked him away in much the same way they had locked Caro, accounting for their distinct tool-sets and weaknesses. He stood out, though. For two reasons. Anyone who was anyone knew thoroughly that Dunmer came in two variants: the men and the women. Beyond those variants they were all the same, red eyes and ash skin. These were their distinct traits. The amethyst eyes, however, made this one special. Someone of Barenziah's bloodline was here, and that would prove valuable if ever one were to hypothetically align themselves with the Peoples' Blades. They need an Emperor to rally folk behind whether they support the current one or not. If he fancies himself a mage then he can put on magic tricks and perhaps even learn that dragon language everyone seems to love so thoroughly.

And this handsome young woman that wouldn't stop staring. She was an oddity too. Where the Barenziah-Bred dunmer and the lich fell into distinct categories that made sense for any task of perhaps an illicit nature, the knight did not. And in truth he couldn't help but feel off-put by the recognition that she seemed to carry, that Caro himself did not. Was she the sister of one of the bandits whose soul he shredded to pieces? Perhaps.

The lich took little time to be weary of his environment or the lycanthrope that had just raised hell carving through the room.

He donned his robe, his boots, his wrappings. His helmet. He raised his staff and he redistributed his magicka patterns to gently activate his enchantments. He turned his attention towards Havfyg, half surprised to instead find Veta paying him the greatest measure of mind once again.

She was worthy of an interrogation

It was at this point even in the midst of her burgeoning conversation with the Emperor that the lich approached, bowed, and greeted them both in a courtly manner.

"My Liege, My Lady. If I might humbly inquire as to who you might be, Ma'am, and what of my nature is so intriguing I'd like to do so. I take kindly to being stared at, but I question your intentions. Pardon the interruption, My Liege."

"My name is Heir Presumptive to the Chorrol County, Reyman Caro. My namesake is our beloved God of War, Reyman." As he spoke this he directed his body and head towards Veta. He managed to casually hold himself about his staff, as though he were weightless and tied only to the object.

"I do hate that this business of being wrongly imprisoned and forced to do the bidding of a man I'd willingly serve to the ends of our Empire has distracted us so from what should be a rather pleasant meeting of fine folk of well-plotted bloods. It is your Day, after-all, My Liege. Talos."

The air that peeled away from the Lich was rotten, and dry. Caked sand and blackened ichor. Though portions of his face were wrapped in linens his teeth were still clearly visible, as his lips were missing altogether. The result was something like a man baring his teeth as though they were fangs, though his were rather normal and fang-less. His gums were grey and old, however. This creature was clearly of a physical disposition that demanded careful tending. Even as he had bowed he had braced his back with his other arm. Even as he spoke vague pulses of magicka would ripple off of the thing as it undid its own rot and maintained its corporeal form. To call it heinous would perhaps disrespect it, but it was surely an oddity and a great discomfort. Where so many had died Caro had decided, of his own accord, that he should live.

Was it worth it?

The Elder Scrolls: The Infernal Library

Freja Dogeater, Called By Hircine

Name

• Freja Dogeater
• Namira’s Reach-Stalker
• Hircine’s Hide-Bearer
• The Black-Bear Of The Markarth Watch

Birthsign

• Sign Of The Serpent

Race

• Nord/Reach-Man Half-Breed

Age

• 29

Appearance
As a half breed, Freja displays physical traits common in Nords and Bretons. Her height, musculature, and body-type are all inherited from her mother who was of similar stature, though a bit taller. Strapped with muscle, thick sinew, and powerful structure, she is a force to be reckoned with.

Broad shoulders seated on strong ribs, that delve into a respectable waist on top of a powerful set of hips. It is clear on basic inspection that this individual is used to hardship and manual labor, as visible by the scars and muscle development. One could perhaps guess towards her being a werebear based on her physique.

Her black hair and brow-cheeks-jaw ratio are distinctly breton in nature, however. She wears the black hair as a mid-length undercut that is allowed to rest however it pleases. She often wears war paints when traveling or working.

She is heralded as the Black-Bear Of The Markarth Watch due to having become, over the years, well acquainted with Hircine’s mark and employing it in her patrolling of Markarth City. When she shape-changes she becomes a large she-werebear with a black pelt.

She stands 6’1, 194 lbs.

Background
Freja Dogeater’s mother was a Nordic woodsman and werebear that kept largely to herself in the hills of the Reach. During the dragon crisis she became friendly with a small group of Forsworn, and aided their assault on Markarth that united the region as an independent Reach.

Despite her kind-treatment of the Reachmen, they ultimately devalued her. A savage worshipper of Dibella and Hircine engaged upon her in less than enthusiastic circumstances, and she birthed her daughter, Freja Of The Reach. Freja Of The Reach was a spritely little girl that lived solitarily with her mother and learned their family’s ways. Hunting, tracking, and living off of canis root and mudcrab stews during the worse off seasons of the year.

At around the age of ten her father returned to lay claim to the daughter, having heard rumors of a she-werebear and a younger werebear stalking the hills. The fight that ensued was bloody, and was ended when Freja planted a hatchet into the spine of her father who stood above the butchered carcass of a werebear.

Hircine appeared to her as an apparition, and commanded her to skin her own mother and receive his token of the hunt. By slaying her father, a great hunter in his own right and a servant of hircine, she had proven herself a strong potential. So she did. That skin would become the new Savior’s Hide.

That name had more meaning to the young girl, however: it truly was the skin of a savior for her.

She followed her instinct and raised herself for the most part in the hills. She took up the hunting implements of her mother, a multi-purpose ax and throwing hatchets, and began fielding the hills just West of Rorikstead. As she reached her nineteenth year she extended her territory to the edge of Markarth and was called to Madanach’s court to dispute her territory, being that it was wider than most of the other Reachfolk clans. She used this time in Markarth to appeal for a position on the city watch as a means of reducing the territory that she would hunt in.

Taking up the mantle of the Markarth watch and settling inside the city limits she began to practice her various skills on the criminals in the city. Her most charming memory is of a time where, from the steps Understone Keep she was able to plant a throwing hatchet into the skull of a criminal in the market square. Others recall the evening that she was on duty and changed shape, defending against a vampire attack in the night.

It was at twenty-two that she began to raise hounds and began to consume the criminals that she caught and killed. This cannibalism was a dualistic worship of the daedric princes Namira and Hircine, the latter of which appreciated the hunt and the former of which appreciated the taste of death on her breath. The wolfhounds she kept began to be one of her trademarks, along with the children’s songs she would hum while on duty. The result the creation of the The Black-Bear Of The Markarth Watch. A folktale formed around her, and she became loved with the very same folk that had slain her mother.

When Hircine began calling for her to come to Cyrodiil, she obeyed.

She and several other Reachfolk set off towards Cyrodiil and arrived together in the Imperial City, before dispersing. They have been biding their time since, waiting for their Master’s call to fruit into a grand hunt.

Personality:
Having lived most of her life in the solitary expanses of Western Skyrim’s hills, she has developed a sort of disposition away from populated environments. Only in recent years has she truly acclimated to life in Markarth, and only due to her being of the favored sort there. A worshipper of Hircine, a werebear, and a skilled huntress. It prepared her for an easy social life among the Reachfolk. Having left home, however, she has come to realize that the tight city streets and bustling crowds invoke a sort of claustrophobia in her, and an anti-social bent. This stress however is being put to good use. Rather than forcing herself back out into the wilderness she has begun to feed her adaptive nature with frequent city-wide walks. This is reflective of her general approach to problem solving: exposure yields results. One such tool for handling stress she developed while in Markarth. Old Nordic skald-stories and Reachfolk chanting rituals have melodic tones that are easy to reproduce, and so one often hears Freja humming.

Typical Equipment

• The Savior’s Hide — The thick magical pelt of a werewolf, harvested from a werebear. Its wearer becomes resistant to magicka and poison. Freja typically wears it like a half-skirt, tucked under her belt, that falls to just below her knee. It looks rather mundane and has been heavily modified, but it is still bloated with Hircine’s essence.
• Survivalist’s Garb — A thick wool sweater worn with overalls, with the former generally rolled up to the elbow and the latter generally rolled up to the ankle. Freja prefers not to wear boots or shoes, as they disrupt her ability to feel the ground and she finds them hazardous to remove while shape-changing. She wears an old Markarth flag around her waist. It is tied and kept as a personal trinket.
• Stolen Imperial Soldier’s Bandolier — A thick leather bandolier is worn over her chest and back. She generally runs light, due to her familiarity with her natural environment. The back of the bandolier has a loop that her multi-purpose ax can be slipped into.
• Multi-Purpose Ax — A well-crafted birch helve with a steel ax head. It is about three-and-a-half feet, and is well balanced. It is just as good at skull chopping as it is at wood chopping.
• Throwing Hatchets — A set of three throwing hatchets. They are worn looped to the bandolier.
• Ring Of The Hedge Mage — This ring is worn by the head of the Dogeater bloodline, a Reachman family. The ring was taken from the corpse of Freja’s father. The wearer can consume plants and body parts that they may not normally be able to metabolize, including toxic materials.
• Elk Head-dress — A head dress made from an elk skull. It obscures her face and shoulders, and makes her seem larger than she truly is.

Why you are in the Imperial City.
Freja has answered Hircine’s call, and has come with her dogs to the city as a hunter selling pelts in the local markets. She has kept her true intentions hidden thus far, but plans on joining her lord in his Great Hunt when the time comes.

Skillset
Freja learned the ways of living in the wilderness from the day she could walk. Her entire life has been dedicated to mastering the harsh environments around her, and she has carried that survival knowledge forward with her. Skilled as an ax wielder and thrower, skilled at butchering and using animals, and even just moving around her environment. She is a force to be reckoned with in an investigatorial and martial sense, as well as a general physical sense. Strength and agility seem to come easy to this Reach dweller, though it is clear enough that she is unstudied in the ways of Imperial standard living.

Spells

• Totemic Hedge Magic — Freja constructs bone totems that act as passive magicka seeves. They are each enchanted with a unique effect and have a limited effective radius of about 2 miles.
• Bind Wounds — A minor restoration spell that stops bleeding and prevents infection.

Dogs

• Broli, 3 Years Old, Skyrim Wolfhound. A large, grey dog that wears a collar and harness with a bone charm on the front. He is reasonably obedient, but often needs chastising.
• Breja, 2 Years Old, Skyrim Wolfhound. A medium-sized, black-grey dog that wears a collar and harness with a bone charm pinned to the left shoulder. She rarely listens to commands, and remains on a leash at all times.
• Bjorn, 2 Years Old, Skyrim Wolfhound. A medium-sized, black dog that wears a collar and harness with a bone charm pinned to the right shoulder. He listens more than his sister, but is still kept on a leash.
• Briarheart, 4 Years Old, Skyrim Wolfhound. A large, grey dog that wears a collar with no harness. He is strictly obedient, and craves human flesh.
• Bramblefoot, 5 Years Old, Skyrim Wolfhound. A large, black-grey dog that wears a collar with no harness. She is strictly obedient, and craves human flesh.

The Elder Scrolls: The Infernal Library

Freja Dogeater, Called By Hircine

Name

• Freja Dogeater
• Namira’s Reach-Stalker
• Hircine’s Hide-Bearer
• The Black-Bear Of The Markarth Watch

Birthsign

• Sign Of The Serpent

Race

• Nord/Reach-Man Half-Breed

Age

• 29

Appearance
As a half breed, Freja displays physical traits common in Nords and Bretons. Her height, musculature, and body-type are all inherited from her mother who was of similar stature, though a bit taller. Strapped with muscle, thick sinew, and powerful structure, she is a force to be reckoned with.

Broad shoulders seated on strong ribs, that delve into a respectable waist on top of a powerful set of hips. It is clear on basic inspection that this individual is used to hardship and manual labor, as visible by the scars and muscle development. One could perhaps guess towards her being a werebear based on her physique.

Her black hair and brow-cheeks-jaw ratio are distinctly breton in nature, however. She wears the black hair as a mid-length undercut that is allowed to rest however it pleases. She often wears war paints when traveling or working.

She is heralded as the Black-Bear Of The Markarth Watch due to having become, over the years, well acquainted with Hircine’s mark and employing it in her patrolling of Markarth City. When she shape-changes she becomes a large she-werebear with a black pelt.

She stands 6’1, 194 lbs.

Background
Freja Dogeater’s mother was a Nordic woodsman and werebear that kept largely to herself in the hills of the Reach. During the dragon crisis she became friendly with a small group of Forsworn, and aided their assault on Markarth that united the region as an independent Reach.

Despite her kind-treatment of the Reachmen, they ultimately devalued her. A savage worshipper of Dibella and Hircine engaged upon her in less than enthusiastic circumstances, and she birthed her daughter, Freja Of The Reach. Freja Of The Reach was a spritely little girl that lived solitarily with her mother and learned their family’s ways. Hunting, tracking, and living off of canis root and mudcrab stews during the worse off seasons of the year.

At around the age of ten her father returned to lay claim to the daughter, having heard rumors of a she-werebear and a younger werebear stalking the hills. The fight that ensued was bloody, and was ended when Freja planted a hatchet into the spine of her father who stood above the butchered carcass of a werebear.

Hircine appeared to her as an apparition, and commanded her to skin her own mother and receive his token of the hunt. By slaying her father, a great hunter in his own right and a servant of hircine, she had proven herself a strong potential. So she did. That skin would become the new Savior’s Hide.

That name had more meaning to the young girl, however: it truly was the skin of a savior for her.

She followed her instinct and raised herself for the most part in the hills. She took up the hunting implements of her mother, a multi-purpose ax and throwing hatchets, and began fielding the hills just West of Rorikstead. As she reached her nineteenth year she extended her territory to the edge of Markarth and was called to Madanach’s court to dispute her territory, being that it was wider than most of the other Reachfolk clans. She used this time in Markarth to appeal for a position on the city watch as a means of reducing the territory that she would hunt in.

Taking up the mantle of the Markarth watch and settling inside the city limits she began to practice her various skills on the criminals in the city. Her most charming memory is of a time where, from the steps Understone Keep she was able to plant a throwing hatchet into the skull of a criminal in the market square. Others recall the evening that she was on duty and changed shape, defending against a vampire attack in the night.

It was at twenty-two that she began to raise hounds and began to consume the criminals that she caught and killed. This cannibalism was a dualistic worship of the daedric princes Namira and Hircine, the latter of which appreciated the hunt and the former of which appreciated the taste of death on her breath. The wolfhounds she kept began to be one of her trademarks, along with the children’s songs she would hum while on duty. The result the creation of the The Black-Bear Of The Markarth Watch. A folktale formed around her, and she became loved with the very same folk that had slain her mother.

When Hircine began calling for her to come to Cyrodiil, she obeyed.

She and several other Reachfolk set off towards Cyrodiil and arrived together in the Imperial City, before dispersing. They have been biding their time since, waiting for their Master’s call to fruit into a grand hunt.

Personality:
Having lived most of her life in the solitary expanses of Western Skyrim’s hills, she has developed a sort of disposition away from populated environments. Only in recent years has she truly acclimated to life in Markarth, and only due to her being of the favored sort there. A worshipper of Hircine, a werebear, and a skilled huntress. It prepared her for an easy social life among the Reachfolk. Having left home, however, she has come to realize that the tight city streets and bustling crowds invoke a sort of claustrophobia in her, and an anti-social bent. This stress however is being put to good use. Rather than forcing herself back out into the wilderness she has begun to feed her adaptive nature with frequent city-wide walks. This is reflective of her general approach to problem solving: exposure yields results. One such tool for handling stress she developed while in Markarth. Old Nordic skald-stories and Reachfolk chanting rituals have melodic tones that are easy to reproduce, and so one often hears Freja humming.

Typical Equipment

• The Savior’s Hide — The thick magical pelt of a werewolf, harvested from a werebear. Its wearer becomes resistant to magicka and poison. Freja typically wears it like a half-skirt, tucked under her belt, that falls to just below her knee. It looks rather mundane and has been heavily modified, but it is still bloated with Hircine’s essence.
• Survivalist’s Garb — A thick wool sweater worn with overalls, with the former generally rolled up to the elbow and the latter generally rolled up to the ankle. Freja prefers not to wear boots or shoes, as they disrupt her ability to feel the ground and she finds them hazardous to remove while shape-changing. She wears an old Markarth flag around her waist. It is tied and kept as a personal trinket.
• Stolen Imperial Soldier’s Bandolier — A thick leather bandolier is worn over her chest and back. She generally runs light, due to her familiarity with her natural environment. The back of the bandolier has a loop that her multi-purpose ax can be slipped into.
• Multi-Purpose Ax — A well-crafted birch helve with a steel ax head. It is about three-and-a-half feet, and is well balanced. It is just as good at skull chopping as it is at wood chopping.
• Throwing Hatchets — A set of three throwing hatchets. They are worn looped to the bandolier.
• Ring Of The Hedge Mage — This ring is worn by the head of the Dogeater bloodline, a Reachman family. The ring was taken from the corpse of Freja’s father. The wearer can consume plants and body parts that they may not normally be able to metabolize, including toxic materials.
• Elk Head-dress — A head dress made from an elk skull. It obscures her face and shoulders, and makes her seem larger than she truly is.

Why you are in the Imperial City.
Freja has answered Hircine’s call, and has come with her dogs to the city as a hunter selling pelts in the local markets. She has kept her true intentions hidden thus far, but plans on joining her lord in his Great Hunt when the time comes.

Skillset
Freja learned the ways of living in the wilderness from the day she could walk. Her entire life has been dedicated to mastering the harsh environments around her, and she has carried that survival knowledge forward with her. Skilled as an ax wielder and thrower, skilled at butchering and using animals, and even just moving around her environment. She is a force to be reckoned with in an investigatorial and martial sense, as well as a general physical sense. Strength and agility seem to come easy to this Reach dweller, though it is clear enough that she is unstudied in the ways of Imperial standard living.

Spells

• Totemic Hedge Magic — Freja constructs bone totems that act as passive magicka seeves. They are each enchanted with a unique effect and have a limited effective radius of about 2 miles.
• Bind Wounds — A minor restoration spell that stops bleeding and prevents infection.

Dogs

• Broli, 3 Years Old, Skyrim Wolfhound. A large, grey dog that wears a collar and harness with a bone charm on the front. He is reasonably obedient, but often needs chastising.
• Breja, 2 Years Old, Skyrim Wolfhound. A medium-sized, black-grey dog that wears a collar and harness with a bone charm pinned to the left shoulder. She rarely listens to commands, and remains on a leash at all times.
• Bjorn, 2 Years Old, Skyrim Wolfhound. A medium-sized, black dog that wears a collar and harness with a bone charm pinned to the right shoulder. He listens more than his sister, but is still kept on a leash.
• Briarheart, 4 Years Old, Skyrim Wolfhound. A large, grey dog that wears a collar with no harness. He is strictly obedient, and craves human flesh.
• Bramblefoot, 5 Years Old, Skyrim Wolfhound. A large, black-grey dog that wears a collar with no harness. She is strictly obedient, and craves human flesh.

A Man Is No One's Fighter VS Parz1vol's Monster — The Banking District (Quarantined), Omira City

Parz1vol’s Monster — “Smog Ghost” — Quick Reference Information

A black magic organism inside of clothing, or in this case a diving suit. It moves by manipulating air pressure in gas pockets in its body, and so is limited and disabled only when limbs are severed. Its decentralized nervous system sees to it that it is no weaker at its head than it is anywhere else, though its eyes can be wounded and its vision hampered.

Traits: Jerky Movements, Decentralized Nervous System, Major Strength, Low-Light Vision, Bioluminescent, Weakness to severing
Skills: Jury Rigging, Unarmed Combat, Precision Agility
Personality: Programmed to seek and destroy Alphonso Tallo, instinct-driven to defend self and convert humanoids into Smog Ghosts.

[Reference Image WIP]

Gas Traits: The thick gas produced by Smog Ghosts is fine particulate from the magical realm that the Smog Ghost is conjured from. It is a dull orange color, and clings to clothes and skin. It causes stinging and internal bleeding when breathed in.

A Man Is No One's Fighter VS Parz1vol's Monster — The Banking District (Quarantined), Omira City

Writing up introduction of my monster. Shouldn't take more than an hour. It'll go up, then we can begin properly.

A Man Is No One's Fighter VS Parz1vol's Monster — The Banking District (Quarantined), Omira City

Omira City, Capital Of The Confederacy Of Freehold

The Banking District, Quarantined

21:30

Omira City. The gleaming jewel in the crown of the Confederacy Of Freehold. Its head of state, Alphonso Tallo, was elected by the Council Of Kings. A representative from each of the 19 states in the Confederacy voted for him to take on the role of Dictator. The position is absolute, but the Dictator can be removed from office by a simple majority in the Council Of Kings. The High Lord Morlat is the head of the military. Both of these men are native to Omira. They are popular with the people, and are considered loyal to the Council Of Kings as a whole, rather than to any individual state. Briah, the northernmost state, is unhappy with recent policy changes. They are known as the Witch State, and terrorists from Briah have begun to strike at Omira City to punish Morlat and Alphonso for recent decisions in the federal government.

The Banking District Quarantine was rather small. By the time the Briah Beast had been conjured there the walls had been put up to keep the creature in. Eighty feet up into the air rose the steel, wood, and bronze that had been built by the Omira Teamwork Corp., a manual-labor organization operated by the state.

The outer Banking District was outside the wall, and contained smaller private banks.

The state bank was trapped inside the walls, with two other mercantile buildings. An inn with foreign lettering, the Northwest structure. It was two stories. The first story had a door facing East, into the main street. That same floor had two East facing windows. The first floor had a front desk by the door, to the left of which was a staircase leading upwards. To the right of the front desk were several tables with chairs. Under the stairs was a kitchen. The second floor had three East facing windows that looked down on the street. Walking up the stairs on the first floor took you to the second floor, which opened up into a hallway to the right. Three doors for three small rooms with a bed, a bucket, a desk, and a window each could be found.

The Northeast structure was an identical floor plan. The three rooms on the third floor were a bedroom, a surgery room, and a cold room. Our bottom floor was a space dedicated to boxing and exercise, with a raised square in the center. The bedroom and the stairs and the front of the building were torn open by rubble, with a horseless-carriage burning at the bottom of the gash in the building. It looked as though it had been thrown through the building. Its driver’s seat was shredded, and the leather torn open. The inside of the vehicle dripped red with blood, and many of the jagged metal bits had flesh still hooked onto it. The corpse was carefully butterflied open with its guts strewn out. The skeleton was kept in place in such a manner that the red flesh and innards seemed to have been carefully removed and picked away without actually disrupting the corpse from where it had landed. This single body painted most of the stone on the street red.

The actual banking facility in the southern section of the quarantine had a large staircase leading up to it from the road. Nine horseless carriages were parked to the side of the staircase, six to the left and three to the right. They were recent, pricey models. Their doors were torn open and each had a carefully vivisected body like the crashed vehicle just across the cul de sac. At the top of the steps were four trees, carved from marble. They were each ten feet apart. Between the center two were iron doors, smashed open, leading into the bank. It was a tall building with a tiled roof, but the building itself had only one floor. The center room was round, and a fractal design was printed onto the floor. There was a locked, steel door directly across from the entrance. To its left was a desk, locked down and closed up, and to its right was another desk similarly locked with a sliding steel plate. Bank notes are still scattered across the slick floor.

@A Man Is No One