Scout

Digital or Real?

Oh, I wasn't referencing SAO, it was more a disclaimer that the idea was inspired by something else and not entirely original. ^_^ I wouldn't take plot or world ideas from it, I was just giving the origin of the concept.

Hm... I think you're right too - but he's not keen on obtaining the rep, he's trying to just get ahead. Money, equipment, stealing the experience, etc. But I like your idea. ^^ I think I know the exact kind of trouble to put him in too, seeing as it's quite possible that he's been cornered somewhere in the fantasy realm by a group of Mechanics that he's affected, all claiming to have finally found him. He would be vehemently rejecting that he was the guy they were looking for, and then she would intervene - trusting that he was telling the truth and the other guys were all mistaken?

Far From Home

There's not a whole lot to see there, Nate O_O What does she look like without armour? Seeing as armour can be added via description later, we need to know what she looks like underneath. ^^

Until the End (Scout and Vena Sera)

Komada would smile brightly and give him a thumbs up in excitement for the day. Sure, she knew the danger, but she was also well aware that Hanta was going to be there with her. Nothing bad could happen as long as she wasn't alone, so she stayed close to him for a while. However, after she had gotten the skills down, she had to ask him to stop intervening. This world would only be more dangerous if she didn't train. Despite the real possibility of death, Komada felt safe in the environment, with Hanta so close and her levels rising at a surprising rate. They had been out there for a very long time, but she found herself truly having a good time. Coming from a person who had never even thought to hold a weapon before, the rapier had a surprisingly satisfying feel to it. Finally, she heard Ren approach and she turned to look at him curiously.

"Huh..? O-oh! Yes... Uhm... Yeah," She looked down and blushed. She hadn't eaten since she woke up and she put a hand on her stomach with a nod. "I'm actually really hungry... I don't think I've eaten since entering the game... But... We don't really have to eat, right? We feel hungry, but eating here wouldn't likely have any real affect on our bodies..." The girl rambled before shaking her head and trying to backpedal, looking a little grossed out. "N-nevermind... I don't want to think about that... Let's go eat - I still feel hungry," She noted before moving to leave with him. However, Hanta seemed distracted and her eyes scanned over to what he was watching and she smiled with a nod, "Yeah." The girl cupped her hands over her mouth and cheered, "Take 'em down!!" She cried out as the man slaughtered a boar. However, she hadn't noticed the other figures spawning around him... At first there were five, and they closed in. The girl's smile dissipated and she took a step back in feaer, "What..? That's.... That's not fair... Get out, get out," She started muttering to herself as she stared on, unable to move. But even after he was overwhelmed, more would continue to appear, and would likely hang around for twenty to thirty minutes before spreading out safely.

Her mind was lost as she stared... That couldn't be all there was to it. She hadn't seen anybody die yet in the game, but... They just shattered like that? Into a bunch of little blue pixels? And that was life - gone and never to be seen again. Theo nly thing that snapped her from her reverie was Hanta and she whipped her head over to look at him as he kicked off the ground. They had been training all day, and she'd been applying attribute points more to speed than strength, so she was able to outrun him, but he still could overpower her. She dove after him and knocked him to the ground from behind before he got very far, calling out his name. He would be able to get back up or push her aside easily, but the initial stop may have been all she needed.

"They won't stop coming, Hanta," She cried, resting on top of him and fighting the urge to cry. "The only thing worse than one pointless death is two of them... Please... don't go..." She pleaded, placing her hands on his chest as she squeezed her eyes shut. They had just witnessed a death... What would she do if it had been Hanta? She needed him - this world would swallow her whole if he went and died on Day One. She paused, blushing and fighting to get the words out, "I need you here..." She could understand that seeing something like that would set him off, but she didn't want him to forget that she was there too. Was it selfish? Very, yes, but she was willing to accept that if he stayed with her. They could both survive and get out of this game safely as long as he didn't leave her. She realized that she was straddling his ribs and blinked fearfully, giving a small squeak and scrambling away, looking down and away. "Please don't go," She repeated once more, trembling visibly.

A few onlookers had gathered around, but everythin gwas already said and done... There was no point getting vengeance on a group of emotionless NPCs and they were all tired. Komada looked around and wiped her eyes, trying to keep others from seeing her so out of sorts. The wolves had begun to disperse as well. "Let's... let's go eat something and get some rest..."

Digital or Real?

For the record, I posted my own CS to my first post as well. ^_^ I figure that his sidestory can have to do with finding something to live for outside the game, seeing as he clearly has nothing. :p

EDIT: For how they meet... I was thinking that over and it gave me the idea, actually, to have James be a different person in game than out of game. He seems like a much more friendly person, when in fact he's actually not. He's a bit of a thief and has quite the reputation for getting people into situations which he can get out of or safely endure, while endangering them. Very few realize that they don't have his username until after he's gone and even less know his face, because he masks it whenever he's doing something he shouldn't be doing. With more and more people in the Mechanic-side of the world becoming wary, he's started to expand his horizons and prey on the fantasy dwellers as well. So, he sees a girl who focuses on magic use... Which means in close-combat, she's vulnerable. Despite her low level as a Cleric, he offers to split the winnings of some battle or other if she's willing to act as a healer? Or something along the lines, I've not really finished hashing it out, but I figured it would be neat to make him one of those people on line who you go "Did he really just..? Oh, what a freaking douche." to. :p

Digital or Real?

2028 is a good time for the game to have come out. ^^ The level cap is high and leveling is very difficult. For the record, as far as those who use ranged weapons go, be it bow or rifle, their playstyle will be rather more difficult, as they have to actually aim their weapons and account for how they work. However, they get the benefit of range and speed. But for those who can just "run and gun" or anything, there's gotta be something to let others dodge if they're fast enough (not that it would be easy, by any means) but there's an idea in one of the SAO novels called a bullet prediction line - after somebody has fired once and made others aware of their presence, red lines show where their shots will hit once fired. It's not easy to evade them, but it does make it a little more fair. Also, I'm gonna make my guy a little farther ahead in time spent playing, but because the leveling system is so arduous, he won't be able to be too far ahead.

Until the End (Scout and Vena Sera)

Hayshi "Komada" Shiemi

Real Name: Hayashi Shiemi
Display Name: Komada
Age: 14
Gender: Female

Appearance:


Background: Shiemi grew up in Irie – a small, coastal town beside a forest in Japan. When she was very little, she made a lifelong friend in the son of a friend of her parents, Ren. The two were inseparable as they grew up in their small-ish town and eventually her parents grew tired of how much time she spent with him. Despite doing well in school, they wanted her to study more. Despite their best efforts to keep her in the house, she had managed to save a lot of money to get a copy of Sword Art Online and a Nerve Gear, after hearing Ren talk about getting it. Afterall, if her parents thought she was studying in her room, she could spend hours playing a game with him. Though she really didn’t know anything about video games, and their town had a very limited number of copies available.

Playstyle: One-handed rapier & leather armour.

Rose "Hana" & Lily Hendricks

Names: Rose & Lily Hendricks
Display Names: Hana & Lily
Age: 15

Appearance:

(Hana, left. Lily, Right.)

Background: The girls were born to a pair of English parents who had been living in Japan for several years before they had children. Lily and Rose were born on the same day with mere minutes between them. As they grew up, they found themselves separating in personalities and had stumbled across SAO merely by chance. It could be a great way for them to reconnect, even if they were different, it was something they could do together. So they joined in… Then Kayaba Akihiko had locked them within.

Playstyles:
Hana – Defensive sword and shield with heavier “light-metal” armour; defense build
Lily – One-handed curved sword and thrown weapons with leather armour; speed build

Until the End (Scout and Vena Sera)

The girl was grateful that he had come back... She thought that maybe he'd left her or he had never actually been there at all. She wiped her eyes, stopping the tears as best she could as her eyes remained on the floor. "N-no," She mumbled as she sniffled and attempted to keep herself from trembling. If Hanta could be strong, then she would be too - she couldn't be dead weight. After a few deep breaths, she looked up with still-red, finally tearless eyes. "Sorry... I-I just remembered yesterday... That's all..." The girl waved her thoughts away dismissively before replacing the once-fearful expression on her face with a smile, looking to her friend. "C'mon, let's make ourselves useful today," She suggested, "If we sit around and do nothing, we'll only feel worse." Komada wanted to do anything possible to distract herself from having to focus on their new reality. She swiped open her menu and her body flashed as she equipped her starter equipment. She thought to equip the cutlass, but then she looked a little more into the rapier's stats - now that these things would actually matter to her. It was a speed-based stabbing weapon and she debated for a few moments before equipping it. The girl had decided to abandon her initial favour to the curved sword for the pointed one.

Her foot scuffed the ground awkwardly, "When I saw you fighting yesterday, you looked really good..." She said absently before perking up, "I mean! Like you were good at the game!" She corrected herself without hesitation, waving her hands in her attempt to explain better. "It's just... I don't know how to make my sword glow or do any of those moves... A-and... Well, I don't know anything. I don't want to be useless, so... Can you show me how to play?" The girl asked, looking down again as her hands held one another behind her back. She was still tired due to her poor sleep the night before, but she pushed the need to rest out of her head.

The two would head out to the field that day - along with countless other players. It was likely the safest day for training of any considering the number of players who were out killing the boars as quickly as possible. It was difficult to find a niche or any kills for oneself, but at least there was little danger in a monster killing you. Komada proved to be a rather quick learner, even f she didn't quite get the mechanics of the game right away. She even managed to level up in the droves of other players working to build their skills. She jumped with a bright, gleeful smile as she almost shook with excitement. Maybe she could do this. After all, she gained one level, what could kee pher from a second? A third? A fourth?

Last Embers ~Reboot~

Kassandra Relations

---- Kassandra's relationships to the others ----

Father Boris: Kassandra has no true resentment for Boris, but he seems to have something against her, though he seems to act that way to quite a few people – he’s rude, blunt, and a bit arrogant, so she just doesn’t really go near him often.

Father Mal: These two have a strange relationship… As Motya, one of Mal’s close friends, is Kass’ most common sparring partner and a good friend (though they aren’t extremely close, they are on rather good terms – as joking friends). Mal and Kass tend to argue and make pointed statements toward one another, having something of a “rivalry” with one another, they keep their tongues sharpened whenever they are near one another.

Father Motya: Being one of Kassandra longest standing sparring partners, Motya and she have grown somewhat close, though they hold no more significance than a couple of old, nostalgic friends. The two prefer to keep their discussions short and focus on the fights that they have very often. Their opposing styles and completely different body-builds make them an interesting round to watch. They commonly break even in their combat, constantly learning and observing how to fight another so different from themselves.

Mother Misha: For some reason, Kassandra never liked Misha. Perhaps it was the fact that they weren’t close early on in their priesthood, so there is no room in her heart for the softness that she believes she sees in the other girl, or perhaps it’s just one of “those things” that will never be explained… But, regardless of why she holds disdain for the other girl, it clearly exists. However, it seems rather one-sided, as Kass often gives her the cold shoulder and makes no attempt to hide her annoyance in dealing with the other priestess.

Father Maksimylian: Max and Kassandra have a history that only a few really know about, as it never truly got far. Sometime during their training, Kassandra wanted so desperately to prove to herself that, mentally, she was normal, and so she decided that, to prove this to herself, she would say yes when Maxi asked to be an item… It was more of a spur-of-the-moment thing for her, and they got as far as the first kiss before she left and, in her first moment alone, had her breakdown. To this day, she has managed to convince herself that she just felt nothing and would never feel anything for anybody. Life moved on, and while things between them may seem awkward at first, Kass holds no strangeness for their history and only hopes that Max has left it behind. They aren’t as close as good friends, but they aren’t on negative terms either.

Father Eldvanar: Kass and Eldvanar have been at one another’s throats for years now… Though not in a hateful way – their rivalry has become something of a tradition, and it’s a very comical relationship. It started during a mix-up several years ago, when somebody told Kass that he had been peeping on her… After she bloodied his nose, he explained that it couldn’t have been him. The two of them found the one who had framed him and gotten in a large amount of trouble for the beating they promptly delivered. The other boy was kicked from the school and reassigned, much to his dismay. The two became slightly acquainted friends during their punishment, but Kassandra never apologized for lashing out at him, and so their relationship became a series of “one-ups” on each other, almost like mischievous pranking. How they found the time for something like this is beyond me, but they did, and sometimes they really go out of their way to “get” one another. Max seems to be trying to get even, but Kassandra plays to win.

Mother Ottilie: Kassandra and Ottilie were roommates fairly early on, being assigned to one another. Ottilie always seemed so frail to Kassandra, who would work harder than even most of the others in the school – stuffing extra hours into her combat skills and working to hone her reflexes and stamina. Of course, she had to find ample time to pass her magical classes… Ottilie is Kass’ second closest friend, after Mother Alina, which to most would be strange, but they bonded during one of Ottilie’s early-year breakdowns while she was writing to her parents for release. Kassandra took her under her own confident, priest-bound wing to teach her more about fighting. She helped Ottilie to hone herself (at least a little better) emotionally for the trials of the Red Seminary. In exchange, Ottilie would help Kassandra with whatever she needed in regards to learning about her ether. The two of them, with Alina, are rather closely knitted, and in the end, Kass would do anything for Ottilie if she was in danger.

Father Elias: Kass and Elias are not extremely close, but the two of them click rather well. Him being married and her having absolutely no chance of being in a relationship makes them a rather awkward pair, but they have a somewhat funny relationship as well. The two flirt, but only because there is absolutely no sincerity behind it. While Kassandra has never been a happy-go-lucky or joking type of person, for some reason, around Elias, she feels comfortable enough to break away from that comfort zone if only for a bit. Of course, she isn’t always fun around him, it just happens that she often shows traits uncharacteristic of herself while they are in conversation.

Mother Alina: These two are like sisters. Alina and Kassandra met in the very first days at the Red Seminary – during the orientation stage, while everybody was still learning the schedule. They clicked well and the two have been pillars of support throughout all of their training. They tell each other everything (though, still, nobody knows of Kassandra’s attractions) and know just about all there is to know about one another. Despite their friendship, the two rarely spar, they prefer to just enjoy their time together as friends, and Kassandra has enough people to spar on a daily basis, as her strange falchion & bracer combo attracts a bit of attention in the ring (as many will underestimates her efficiency with the weapons).

Last Embers ~Reboot~

I think a small push forward would be fine ^^ Avery, I'll send you what we have on our collab so we can get going again. If I have it in my computer, that is. :3

Kassandra

Name: “Mother” Kassandra Xenos

Age: 21

Height/Weight: 5’6, 142 lbs

Appearance: Kassandra has a rather sharp build to her. Her hair has always been short to maintain her modesty as well as practicality. It is smooth and has a silvered tinge to it – a trait she received from her mother’s side of the family. She covers herself as well, even when not in uniform, she dresses in clothing very similar to the common apparel of a priest. Her weight is distributed as lean muscle throughout her body, but she isn’t a brute by any means, relying more on speed than pure strength. Her hazel eyes are soft and her cheeks are rather flush when compared to her lighter skin and hair.

Note: I couldn’t really find a “real” image to use and I really wanted to avoid using a picture with modern clothing.


Personality: Kassandra has a sharp tongue and a cold attitude, or at least that’s the impression she gives to most. Those who she actually shares a bond with, like quite a few of her fellow priests/priestesses, know that she is loyal and even, to some degree, caring. However, when in battle, focused on a mission, or around those she is not very familiar with, her cold, calculating attitude returns. Despite her slightly below-average height, she is confident and protective, despite being quiet in unfamiliar situations.

Kassandra wasn’t an ambitious youth, nor would one consider her to be as such while an adult. However, due to her circumstances, she has never shirked on her duty and strives to be the absolute best at whatever she is tasked with. Of course, this is still not to be confused with ambition – her entire life has been spent with having this idea of being the best drilled into her. Kassandra did not have a natural desire to climb the ladder of success, it was merely that her entire life has revolved around being the most respected, strongest figure she could be.

The priestess uses her faith and focus to avoid confronting any conflicts within herself that may go against her beliefs… Not only the temptations of drink or other pleasures, but those desires buried even deeper. By focusing on her work, she will never have to face the fear she holds – the fear of those desires being true. She’s found herself never able to connect beyond friendship with any man… And only has she felt attraction toward other women; these thoughts are the ones that she buries the deepest in her soul, locking them away so that not even she knows of them.

Talents/Abilities: Mother Xenos, like the others who have been accepted into priesthood, has become rather experienced in combat. Her own specialty lies in a falchion, which she wield in her right hand and keeps strapped to her back and, upon her left hand, a lightweight cestus of metal with small spiked plates near the knuckles. With the cestus, she wears a bracer that is a little on the heavier side, when compared to the common armour of the other priests, in order to help deflect and block attacks without the need for a shield, though it does lack the strength and durability of one.

On the magic side, Kassandra was slightly less blessed – she found difficulty in grasping the concepts she was taught and, while she tried her best, only managed to gain power over the most basic of abilities in the field. She has found, however, that her reflexes have a nearly sixth-sense feel to them, which is actually why she chose a falchion and cestus combination for her weaponry – a pair that is very rarely seen. It was also the reason she chose the bracer over a shield.

Background: Kassandra was never able to meet her biological mother. Her father rarely spoke of it before his own death, and her family is always very quiet whenever she would ask. However, the very little information she was able to collect told her that when she was young, her mother was actually kidnapped while alone in a nearby city and sold into human trafficking for a high price. Being of a lower noble family in La Nostre, as well as being rather attractive, she fetched a high price. The family, while esteemed in their small area, was not well-known throughout La Nostre and they were unable to pool the resources to look into what happened or retrieve her… It is likely that, by now, her body has been worn down into a laboring slave.

Mr. Xenos, Kassandra’s father, passed when she was young as well, but she was almost ten, so she can still clearly remember the man… He was kind and always warm-hearted. However, her memory does not serve her well always; there were nights where he would come home and not even acknowledge her presence… He smelled of spirits and would saunter to his study, lock the door, and not come out for hours… sometimes he would spend nearly two whole days in that room – coming out for perhaps a meal or two, or to search the cupboards for a fresh bottle. He never hit her, but Kassandra remembers having to care for herself on those days. He died in that office of what was later considered as some form of alcoholic overdose.

Life after that was much sterner, and Kassandra changed completely. She moved in with her grandmother and aunt. While her grandmother, Megaera, was not always capable of caring for herself and Kassandra’s aunt would help her, it seemed that the elderly woman held some form of disdain for her own daughter. Kassandra did not understand, but assumed it was because her aunt did not marry, despite being a grown woman. After Megaera’s death, Kassandra noticed that one of her aunt’s friends seemed to come to the house far more often, though perhaps it was just to help care for the young girl.

Her entire family had been instilling patriotism for La Nostre and the goddess that once guided them all… Even when she was young, she was resilient and steadfast in her own opinions, which were molded by her family, and her affinity for physical battle, she believes, comes from her devotion to that goddess. Of course, because of the time that had passed, no matter how short, it was undeniable that Varyan society had mixed with that of La Nostre, and so she still believed in the strength of Lord Varya.

It was more her aunt’s decision for her to go to the Red Seminary, but she was also told of the glory and the strength of character that came with becoming a priestess… Though Kassandra never told her aunt about the thoughts that had slowly been becoming part of her mind, she honestly believed that by becoming a priestess, she would be cleansed and could find herself… “fix” that part that she so desperately fought and locked away. Besides that,she knew that by becoming stronger, she would never be cursed with the fate that her mother was… The harder she worked, the farther she went, the stronger she became… All of these things would protect her, and more importantly, those around her… She couldn’t let somebody else be taken due to their own weakness. This was a burden she brought on herself after her mother’s death; her father’s passing as well, when he gave in to the temptations of alcohol and wallowing in his own depression; and finally, her grandmother, a bitter old woman who passed full of regrets which she could never express as well as a disdain for her daughter which, ultimately, caused the woman to stop taking such close care of her… All fates that were caused by weakness and which she had been powerless to stop. Never again would the priestess feel so weak and unable to control that which tore her family apart.

Quote: Weakness lies not in the mind, but in the soul. In order to crush it, you have to strengthen every part of your being.