Psyker Landshark

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

Hours later, the Kirins reconvened with Zacharias, Cid, and Eve in a side chamber of the Cathedral where the Grovemaster had already been planning the defense. Rudolf had been here no small amount of time ago, and now they were all gathered around a table bearing a tactical map of Brightlam.

"Let's begin, then." Zacharias laid out a series of figures across the map, pointing to each in turn as he spoke. "In the interest of time, I will keep the parts less relevant to your duties brief. Suffice to say, Brightlam will be conducting a defense in depth from the treetops all the way back towards the cathedral. The outermost canopies will be only lightly manned in order to discourage bombardment, and the canopies below will slow the invaders as they attempt to land. Our first wave of defense will be upon the boughs, and from there, we will fall back to lower branches as needed until we reach our final defensive bulwark: Brightlam Cathedral itself."

"In the interest of drawing Valheim's attention, Zacharias and I will be on the front lines. Of course, we will require Ramuh and Leviathan's aid. Apologies, Esben, but the Levinfather will not be able to come to your assistance during this battle." Cid took this moment to interject. "Eve will also be embedded within the defenses."

"Ah." Izayoi made a noise of realization. "The defense is a feint, then. You mean to have us be the thrust of the counterattack."

"Your...experience serves you well." Zacharias looked as if he'd bit into a lemon, seemingly resisting from insulting Izayoi with great restraint. "Indeed. Leviathan will surge up from the rivers surrounding the city and ferry you into the midst of the fleet atop her back. You will find the leadership of this attack and cut the head off the snake while the Lady of the Whorl throws their airships into chaos. Objections? Suggestions? Name them now, we've little time otherwise."

"The plan is sound." Izayoi said, her only response to Zacharias's near slip being a slight tightening of her eyes. "Lest any of the others have a last-minute addition, I would suggest we prepare to deploy as soon as possible. How much time do we have until the Valheimr are in range?"

"One hour."

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

Ranbu no Izayoi

"RAMUH?!" Famfrit spluttered incredulously at the summon's presence. "YOU STRIKE AT A FELLOW SERVANT OF-" It cut off before speaking in a far more distorted tone once more.

"-RUINATION, ONSLAUGHT, ABYSS!"

Bolstered by Izayoi and Miina's efforts in maintaining the storm, Esben slashed straight through Famfrit with Ramuh's full force, revealing the corroded core of aether maintaining the guardian's link to the world. Raijingeki and Galahad's halberd toss crashed into the core next. As with Leviathan, both Rudolf and Galahad's combined efforts served to form a crack in the core, Eliane's fire peppering it to weaken the aetheric binding even further.

Forced upon its last legs, Famfrit desperately tried to gather up enough aether with the last of its essence to cast one final spell.

"THEN SLAY ME, AND DIE IN TURN! MAY THE HEAVENS DENY YOU PASSAGE, AND HELL'S MAW SWALLOW YOU WHOLE! DARKENING RAIN-"

As Famfrit attempted to unleash his spell, Chisato struck. Its core shattered, the guardian of the crystal sunk to its knees, blackened aether fading from its body in droves. Looking upon the Kirins with sober eyes for the first time in most likely years, the animated golem could only utter a few last words.

"WARRIORS OF LIGHT...I THANK YOU FOR FREEING ME...MAY YOU EVER WALK IN THE LIGHT OF THE CRYSTALS..." Famfrit murmured before collapsing completely, the rest of its body fading into aether not long after. Izayoi regarded the dusty remnants for a brief moment, bowing her head before reaching into a pouch and pulling out one of the crystals that Cid had given to each of them.

"Come, then. Remember what the old man bid us: raise the crystals aloft, channel aether through them, and purify the Crystal of Water therefore. Time is still of the essence."

Once each Kirin had their crystal raised, their combined light crashed into the central, corrupted crystal. Slowly but surely, their radiance washed away all traces of corruption within, leaving the structure shining brilliantly. With that accomplished, they set off. There was an invasion to repel.

___

Their return to the surface of Brightlam was met with restrained jubilation by those in the know. While purifying the crystal was undoubtedly a relief for the future of Drana Asnaeu, it would all be for naught should Valheim seize the city and march downward to the temple below.

It was a harried Zacharias that bade them to get some rest in the scant few hours that remained before the Valheimr were projected to reach the city, affording them a large side chamber in the Cathedral. Freed from her duties for the moment, Neve accompanied them, taking time to heal the wounds the Kirins had already accumulated while informing them that Cid was too busy making final preparations, though Eve had joined him within the grand hall of the Cathedral in prayer and meditation as well.

Thus, they were free to recuperate where they could for the moment, though other distractions could be found for the more restless as well.

Falling Skies

CMDR SAGAN "VULTURE" KODOS

Sagan sighed, eventually giving the session up as a bad job and joining Sabine on the other end of the barracks tent as Johann sat as well. The offer of fresh coffee was gratefully taken, the commander eagerly pouring himself a mug before sighing at Sabine.

"Alright, no fucking with the support staff. First I know damn well we've all got a stash in our mechs. Hell, I'm pretty sure Commie's cockpit might as well be using the stuff as crash gel. And second," He let a mercenary gleam shine in his gaze, somehow visible through the aviators he wore while off-duty.

"Already reserved us a whole pallet. It's being stashed in the back of the mess tent." Entirely true. "Course, that was bought with the promise that you don't fuck with the guys in Procurement for a whole month. So don't make me a liar or you're getting triple the PT and sim drills." A complete fabrication. But if it got Sabine to fucking behave like a human being for a month, he'd take it.

A swig of coffee. Overly roasted char-blasted industrial crap that it was, it was still probably healthier than the Rip-Gels that every but Johann, Sagan included, were practically addicted to.

"Anyways, let's hope the Blackout gets repairs in time. After the last poor bastard to pilot it, god rest his soul, the techs must be in goddamn conniptions about it getting beat up so much more often. They get back to you on the Sparrowhawk yet, Rabbit? Been too busy setting everything up here to check."

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Renar Hagen

Renar very carefully continued to keep quiet during the next few exchanges. If Gertie wanted to gamble with her life trying to contract with the Moonlit Queen, she could do so freely as long as any consequences didn't blow back to the rest of the Iron Rose.

As for what happened immediately after...

He resisted the urge to groan out loud with all his willpower. Knowing their luck, they were about to be roped into yet another side objective on this ridiculous, inane quest. Shame on him for thinking they were almost in the clear. Goddesses forbid that they could have one ordained quest without some sort of ancient or dark magic at play. When had the last such mission even been? Bandit King Jeremiah? It had been one moon-damned thing after another past him.

Regardless, Renar continued to maintain dead silence, hoping against hope that whatever was going on with the queen this time had absolutely nothing to do with their party.

The Envenomed: Military Science Fiction Deniable Operations

Salvator Rasch

So it was like that, eh? Salvator took the information presented and quick ran through it in his head while maintaining his fire on the larger bastard, for all the good it did. A quick blink got him out of the way of its charge while he highlighted the hive-sphere within the creature's body on the squad's tacnet, the information now showing up in their assorted HUDs.

"Squad, concentrate fire!" He shouted over comms even as Ilshar's worm surged towards the intended target. "King has the corpses suppressed, focus on the biggest one's core!"

From there, he took his own advice, shifting his grip on his shotgun to one hand as he pulled out a frag grenade. The pin flicked off, and Salvator tunneled the grenade through the ethereal pathways he would normally use to blink himself, the frag reappearing into existence jammed right in the hulking mass's chest, practically touching the hive-sphere. Even as the grenade cooked, Salvator dropped to one knee, taking up a position for a more precise shot. Sight. Breathe. Fire. The last slug in chamber went hurtling out, straight towards the grenade.

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

Ranbu no Izayoi

"Tch!" Izayoi bit back the instinctual retort that that particular technique was useless in pitched combat. But he could have inferred that from last time. And tactically, he'd shown he knew what he was doing thus far. Fine. She'd play along.

"Hold tightly." She murmured to Eos, waiting for the fairy to latch onto her kimono before practically disappearing in a burst of speed. The samurai reappeared next to Miina, quickly snatching her Wind materia back and slotting it into her kote before dashing straight towards Famfrit this time.

Meanwhile, the guardian in question snarled as Miina's Slow took effect, though its sheer magical presence blunted the spell's effect. It slowed about as half as much as it should have, its movements at least somewhat sluggish as it attempted to fire again, only for Rudolf's Shield cast to block the water's exit from the ewer, causing the vessel to crack as the spell detonated inside. Galahad's halberd cut through the chain right after, causing the oversized jug to crash to the ground, and already cracked, shatter.

"YOU DARE?! BLASPHEMERS, HERETICS ALL! OH DANUBE, OH PURIFYING TIDE, GRANT ME-" Its voice cut off, twisting and corroding into a deeper, wrong tone.

"-DEVOURING DARKNESS. VOID UNENDING, CORRODING!"

Famfrit let a cry of rage loose, the corrupted aura around its figure darkening. Chisato's burning kunai and Eliane's explosive rounds detonated against the aura, dimming it slightly before Famfrit burst into action. It reached out, orbs of corrupted, blackened magic materializing around its form before shooting out indiscriminately in all directions, aiming to overwhelm the Kirins in sheer volume.

Izayoi screamed in pain as one of the orbs crashed into her body, but grit her teeth and didn't relent on maintaining the storm while rushing Famfrit, Eos doing her best to heal her and purge any lingering darkness from her body.

"Damn this wretch! Miina, with me! Help me maintain this storm until Esben is prepared!"

Pokémon: Ascendancy

Charles Ackerman

"Careful, now. Underestimating your opponent is the surest path to a loss."

​

NAME: Charles Ackerman

AGE: 62

GENDER: Male

BIRTHPLACE: Wyndon

GYM TYPE: Normal

APPEARANCE:
Stands at 6'3. Still stands tall and is remarkably fit and well-muscled despite his age. Hair is mostly grey, and his mustache and goatee are well trimmed.

Typically wears button-down shirts and slacks, with a sport jacket on top.

PERSONALITY:
A quiet, thoughtful man that prefers to listen before speaking. When he does speak, however, his speech is honest and blunt, though with a rather dry wit. Is old enough and has seen enough that he tends to take most things in stride, not seeming surprised by much.

Charles enjoys working with and mentoring younger Trainers, seeking to pass on what he knows to the next generation. Despite his patience, however, he has no tolerance for willful ignorance or excessive pride and tends to look down on those who do display such traits.

As a veteran Trainer and a former Champion, he has a wealth of knowledge, but is entirely willing to learn from the modern age. Actually, he delights in watching and researching new training and battling tactics, as well as modern advancements in general. Keeping up with new technology is an interest of his, and he makes a point of acquiring and using the latest consumer electronics in order to avoid looking stodgy or out-of-date.

BIOGRAPHY:
Born in Wyndon nearly a lifetime ago, Charles was the middle child of a pair of blue-collar workers. Out of both a desire for adventure and wanting to reduce the number of mouths his household had to feed, he set off on his Pokemon journey at a rather young age. Back in those days, the Gym Challenge hadn't been as formalized or as massive of an event as it is now, but he still made a good accounting for himself, making it all the way to the Champion before being defeated.

Though disgraced by defeat, Charles found that he'd had a knack for this Pokemon training thing, and stuck with it, having formed genuine bonds with the Pokemon he'd trained along the way. Despite still being a teenager, he left Galar for several years, traveling the world and taking part in the tournament circuit to support himself, sending money back to his family when he could. A decade later, he returned a full-grown man and swept the Gym Challenge before defeating the Champion, taking the title for himself.

Charles's reign as Champion lasted a good number of years, his popularity bolstered by his everyman, working-class origins. During these years, he'd married, had children, and subsequently gotten divorced in short order, with both parents sharing joint custody. Eight years into his title reign, he was finally defeated, but took it in good grace, firmly beliving that his replacement was a solid choice as Champion.

Over the next few decades, Charles faded from the public eye, investing his winnings from his Championship to open up a bar in Hulbury called the Cliffside. He spent the years managing his business, keeping his Pokemon in good shape, and raising his children when he had custody of them. About ten years ago, with his children full-fledged adults and out in the world, Charles was searching for something to occupy his time. Eventually, he decided to make an attempt to get back into the game. In truth, Chairman Amaranth was rather shocked to see his old friend simply applying for a Gym Leader position. Still, Charles's credentials were impeccable as an ex-Champion, and in truth, he'd kept his skills sharp for long enough that he'd outclassed most of the other applicants that year looking to occupy the vacant position.

Thus, Charles has been a Gym Leader in Hulbury for a decade, being content to integrate it with his existing business. Thus, the Hulbury Gym is located in a rather unassuming side street just off of the coast, serving as a Pokemon Gym by day and a bar by night.

---

LEAGUE PROFILE

Type Specialty: Normal

League Ranking: TBD

League Placement: TBD

Gym Location: TBD

Gym Description: TBD

---

POKEMON

League Team

TBD

Main Team

Hunter: Stoutland
Rush: Tauros
Scarlet: Staraptor
Maxie: Obstagoon
Tiki: Oranguru
Android: Porygon-Z

All of them are rather old, irritable towards strangers, and rather sedate, having been with Charles for decades. Hunter, his eldest companion, was even on Charles's team as a young teenager during his first Gym Challenge. Android, as a Porygon, had been a gift from his daughter when he'd initially opened the Wyndon Gym, claiming that he needed some form of modern Pokemon to keep up with the times.

Benched Pokemon/Gym Roster

Ditto, Stantler, Castform, Kecleon, Diggersby, Bewear, Dubwool, Braviary, Dodrio, Rattata, Maushold, Sawsbuck

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

Ranbu no Izayoi

"Acknowledged!" Izayoi cried out in response to Esben's order, charging forward the moment Rudolf's smokescreen and Galahad's throw gave her an opening. She surged forward, taking advantage of Famfrit's distraction and it swinging its jug-flail around to meet Galahad's jump to unleash a battojutsu cleave against its legs, Chisato's kunai and flash bombs crashing into its upper half as she did so.

The guardian wasn't as much of a golem as she'd feared, and her strike found some measure of purchase, forcing Famfrit to stagger back as Eliane's shots pelted it. The bullets deflected off the chest and found only slight purchase in the limbs, but the sole shot to the head that landed caused the corrupted guardian to stagger again, roaring.

"THOSE WHO WOULD PREVENT ME FROM PERFORMING MINE SACRED DUTY WILL. BE. EXPULSED! GRAVIGA!" It abandoned its original, massive spell, though the accumulated aether was seized up and instantly reformulated into a lesser one, orbs of raw gravity materializing around each member of the party to attempt to crush them within.

For her part, Izayoi snarled and whirled around in a spin, her strike shattering the Gravity orb that had been forming around her. Any counterattack she would have made was stymied as her eyes widened and she dove to the side to avoid the sphere of water firing out of Famfrit's jug like a cannon, the ewer now held up on its shoulder as it fired sphere after sphere of water at several Kirins to follow up on the Graviga.

After Era Mythos

Phoebe Lunetta when she's not Elpis the Maiden of Hope

@Digmata

Normal summon Blue Tang send Sea Horse link 1 Blue Slug

Pokémon: Ascendancy

Fiona MacConnell

”Yer here for a battle, aye? Fine, fine. Then let’s see if ye can keep up wit' me in the open sky!”

---

MAIN PROFILE

Name: Fiona MacConnell

Age: 25

Gender: Female

Birthplace: Freezington

Appearance Information:
Stands at about 5’8”. Skin is fair, long blonde hair, has a lithe build. Somewhat toned musculature, moderate bust.

Typically wears casual clothing such as plain T-shirts and jeans, but makes the token effort of putting on a fashionable jacket. Always seen with a pair of flying goggles around her head, for use in the skies.

When the occasion calls for it, has a full Sky Trainer glider suit for both Sky Battles and official appearances as a Gym Leader. Wears her Dynamax Band on her right wrist, with a Key Stone mounted into the opposite side of the wristband from where the plate is.

Personality:
A free spirit by all accounts, Fiona prefers not to be burdened by much outside of her Pokemon and her Gym. She’s relaxed and lackadaisical, unconcerned with what others think so long as she’s satisfied with her own performance. She’s a wanderer at heart, spending much of her time outside of League-mandated Gym battles soaring the skies of Galar atop one of her many Flying Pokemon.

Despite her carefree nature, or, as some would believe, because of it, Fiona is a hard book to read. It’s difficult to accurately get a handle on what she wants or is thinking, and she tends to just go with the flow much of the time.

Of course, that isn’t to say there isn’t a brain underneath all the laziness and aimless wandering. She’s a quick wit when she’s forced to be, and aims for efficiency in what she does, so as to better get things over with and go back to a state of relaxation.

Short Biography:
While born in the icy southern town of Freezington, Fiona only spent a portion of her early years there. By the age of nine, she moved with her family to Kalos for a number of years on account of her parents’ work. It was in Kalos that Fiona saw her first Sky Battle, inspiring a love of Flying Pokemon and the open sky itself that she carries to this day.

During her stay in Kalos, Fiona became a certified Sky Trainer by her teenage years along with her regular schooling before her family returned to Galar. Upon finishing high school, Fiona immediately set out on that year’s Gym Challenge, wanting to explore the homeland she’d spent most of her teenage years out of. She won her eight badges handily enough, but was knocked out in the semi-finals of the Champion’s Cup.

Losing didn’t particularly bother Fiona. Hell, she’d gotten further than she’d expected herself. And being Champion was a burden she wouldn’t have really wanted anyway. Interviews, public appearances, actual duties? No thanks. So with a smile and a shrug, Fiona decided to continue her journey, spending the next few years traveling from region to region, learning about different varieties of Flying Pokemon while exploring all she wanted to. She didn’t let up on honing her battling skills, either. Fiona took part in the professional battling circuit across the world, from Mt. Battle to the Frontier.

It was on a break from her journey back home in Galar that Fiona was approached to become a Gym Leader by one of the current Leaders looking to retire. While initially resistant to the idea of being tied down in one place, she was eventually worn down by persistent arguments and the knowledge that she could always quit if the responsibility really was too much. Of course, the salary and job stability didn’t hurt either. After all, maintaining a career as a professional battler was an uncertain thing at the best of times. So with yet another shrug, Fiona stepped into the next chapter of her life.

She’s been at the job for three years now, and has performed rather admirably despite her own doubts to the contrary. Fiona’s attitude isn’t always appreciated, but she brings in ratings with her battles and contributes decently to the community outside of the challenge season, both patrolling the Wild Area for incidents and helping to train the Flying Taxi service’s Corviknights.

Likes:

• Goofing off
• Flying on Pokeback
• Tonic wine
• First-person shooters
• Cooking for others
• Finger foods
• Lattes

Dislikes:

• Working
• Journalists
• Sailing
• Elaborate fashion
• Cooking for herself
• Cleaning
• Workaholics

Quirks:

• Speaks with a Scottish Crown Tundra accent
• Spends more time and brainpower figuring out ways to get out of doing her job than it would take to actually do her job
• Has petitioned the League Chairman to allow Mega Evolution (and Z-moves by proxy) in the League for the last three years running. Has been unsuccessful for the last three years running.
• Maintains correspondence with Gurkinn and Korrina of the Tower of Mastery, as she trained under them to learn Mega Evolution.

Misc:
Battle theme

---

LEAGUE PROFILE

Type Specialty: Flying

League Ranking: Major League

League Placement: TBD

Gym Location: TBD

Gym Description: TBD

---

POKEMON

League Team

TBD

Main Team

Raptor: (Gigantamax) Corviknight
Fiona's starter and her oldest companion. Stoic and resolute, she watches over the rest of the flock and can be counted on to mediate disputes among the crew. The strongest Pokemon on the team by official League metrics, thanks to her Gigantamax form.

Lightning: Noivern
Wild, hyperactive, and mischievous. He has a need for speed and loves to show said speed off, always eager for a battle or a race. Causes problems with his eagerness and energy, but not on purpose.

Flanker: Gliscor
Relaxed and cheerful. The one closest to her own trainer's temperament on the team. Likes nothing more than to laze about and sleep. Tends to go along with whatever the rest of Fiona's team is up to, humoring the other members whenever they get too energetic or aggressive.

Berkut: Talonflame
Egotistical. Preens a lot. Has a tendency to show off during battle and be the most visually spectacular among Fiona's team. Doesn't take being upstaged in style well, and picks fights with other showoffs.

Hornet: Yanmega
The quiet one. Doesn't interact much with the rest of the crew, but mostly out of nervousness due to being Fiona's newest addition, and due to the Bug type's inherent weakness to the Flying type.

Felon: (Mega) Salamence
The true ace of Fiona's squad. Arrogant and bloodthirsty, but still loyal to Fiona and his fellow Pokemon on the team. Picks fights with everyone else. Unfortunately, never gets the chance to show off his real strength in Galar League battles due to a ban on Mega Evolution and the League's preference for Dynamaxing.

Benched Pokemon

Rafale: Togekiss
Surprisingly for one of its species, perpetually frowning and irritable. Always seems to be cooking up one nasty plot or another in his head. Mostly brought onto Fiona's team to troll Hestia during the Cup.

Fulcrum: Aerodactyl
Somewhat of a space case. Outside of battle, has very little idea what is going on most of the time and prefers to just idle and perch out of the way of everyone else. Is the exact opposite in battle, being hyper focused and aware. Would be capable of Mega Evolution if Fiona could actually get her hands on an Aerodactylite.

Barge: Gyarados
A holdover from Fiona's challenge and adventuring days, Barge regards most situations and Pokemon with an eye of weary experience, having seen it all at this point. She's still kept in shape enough to be substituted in for the Cup, but is more often called on when Fiona needs water transportation for some reason.

Other

Blackjack: Honchkrow
Another one of Fiona's original party, having had to suffer an early retirement due to an improperly-healed wing. Has taken to being a house Pokemon well, preferring to hop around Fiona's penthouse and enjoy the perks of a domestic life.

Mimsy: Furfrou
The MacConnell family pet since their days in Kalos during Fiona's teenage years. Has come into Fiona's possession for the time being, as her parents have gone off on a year-long retirement cruise.

---

RELATIONS

TBD