The Irish Tree

Tales Of Shizuyama (Far-Eastern Monster Girl RP)

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ATTN: @PaulHaynek, @Enkryption (Alice/Carroll), & @Rezod92 (Kerry)

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To Stand Tall Against One's Walls

Alice wasn't expecting, of all people, for Takeshi to be the one to kick off the party, but it would seem, he'd elected to start things with brutal, ruthless finesse. As the first blow was theirs, Alice had no issue following through, "Nozarashi, Carroll," and leaping into the thick of it, "Hacht-hit!"

Having been gone for a fair bit of time since the day before, Liliana would rush into the fight, swinging Whimsy to intercept one of the students. Yet, anyone looking that had seen her before could tell that her actions were sloppy, spells not being thrown out as readily. Something seemed wrong.

Alice would slide past Liliana, as she cut down the man that the Fairy had blocked, and hefted Carroll upon her shoulder - blood splattering the ground, before she looked back. "I don't feel you, Bladeflower," she says, "Your head isn't in the fight. Keep out of it, unless you wanna die."

Frozen at hearing Alice’s words, Liliana would look down at Whimsy and grasp the handle tightly, trying to muster her resolve, but finding herself lacking. As such, the best recourse was for her to do as Alice said, shrinking down and…finding a flower to hide in. "Why am I…why can’t I think about the fight at all…?" she questioned herself before looking on as the battle raged, her eyes starting to well up with tears.

Alice didn't stop Liliana's retreat. Her words were cold, but meaningful - if Liliana couldn't focus, she was going to die. The fight wasn't going to let her sort her feelings out. However, it didn't mean she wouldn't address the matter. Blocking a sword with her axe, Alice moved her body along the beat, and thrust her fist through flesh and bone; a bloody explosion splattering the ground, as her fist exited a Human body.

"Liliana, in your mind, I believe there is a question, and it's the wrong question. Don't ask yourself about this fight, here and now, but that fight, then and there," Alice says, "The fight in Wonderland."

Clinging to her sword as if it were a pillow, Liliana would ignore whatever teasing Whimsy was throwing into her mind, tears flowing freely as she wondered…was she even a good friend? Was she a friend at all? Even now she wasn’t helping the Oja clan win, she was sitting. Crying. All while everyone fought for their lives.

Pathetic.

"Tell me, how are you going to answer the question," Alice asks, "What are you going to do about that fight? Years in the future, yet promised," she says, as she shifted her posture, "Tempo... Prestissimo... Invasion... Heavenly Strike..." and disappeared into a blur of strikes, her axe shattering swords within her Line of Intention - expanded to thirty feet from ten - before skidding to a halt. "Maa, maa.." she panted, "That's tougher than I envisioned."

Alice gripped Carroll, blood dripping off her wrists from the sheer acceleration.

Thinking to the future, Liliana…wasn’t sure. Could she proclaim she’d never return home and stay in Wonderland? Would she be of any help at all against someone so strong that Alice was defeated by her twice? …No. She wasn’t scared at all of losing a fight, but she was terrified of breaking the promises she’d made to Rosebud, of never basking in Marigold’s warmth, of never butting heads with Peony again, or having the best nap ever after Thistle tried to explain science-y stuff while Anthur played some relaxing music over tea time. Terrified of never being annoyed by Camelia’s smug attitude, or get patched up by Monk again. Petrified that she’d never get Sage’s advice ever again, or hear Leo’s cool stories from far off lands, or spar with Mint to improve their swordplay. Promises were heaped upon her mind, little vows she had to return to fulfill and yet…

Liliana would burst from the flower holding her as she zipped through, still in her diminutive size. If all those promises meant the world to her, and she meant to keep her word to Alice, there was an obvious, foolish answer.

"Gaia Hazard…Heavenly Strike!" she cried out, before penetrating through one of the student’s swords, stopping just short of stabbing him as she grew back to human size, eyes aglow as Whimsy’s magic came alive. "Giant Strength!" Liliana said before punching one of the students square in the chin, sending him flying a foot in the air, reeling, but conscious. Grabbing him
By the collar, Liliana would start super-slapping him, carrying him to the sidelines. "WHERE! IS! YOUR! MASTER? PLEASE!"

Alice chuckled, as her palms healed, and Liliana found her reason to fight. Whatever her answer was, Alice had no intention of challenging her on it, but she would keep her eye on the Fairy, regardless. "Benihine, Carroll," Alice says, changing her Demon Sword into an actual sword. "From a savage dance to a noble waltz..."

Carroll didn't speak in turn, her attention elsewhere, as well. However, unlike Alice, she had no stake in the life of the Fairy Knight. It was her lover that she focused on, for Eula had yet stained her hands in blood, and yet proven that she could...

Incapacitating someone was child’s play when you had the equivalent of a taser for an arm and yet, gripping the neck of the human beneath her, every instinct Eula had screamed at her to stop. In watching Liliana, she had been taken off guard, wanting to learn how to fight from someone who had just regained their resolve to.

Now, with the warm jugular and throat of a man in her hands, Eula questioned…could she do it? She couldn’t question whether she had to or not in this instance, as Liliana had already captured one man.

Her hands trembled as the man clawed at her arms in a bid to escape, only for her thumbs to cinch together, a sickening crack flooding her ears as his body went limp, along with her own.

Static filled her vision, protocol violated, shutting down, Error, Error, ERR-

Eula would release her hands as her arms fell limply at her side, starting to fire off demonic energy blasts into the ground, fingers spasming as she failed to retain control of herself.

Alice took notice, "Tempo, Aldante. Invasion," and skirted the ground, as she turned Carroll, and bashed Eula in the chest with her pommel, before turning the pommel up, "Infection," and bashing Eula in the chin, before she spun around her back, "Injection," and slammed her to the ground, before slinging Carroll into the ground by her head.

"Deal with her."

Carroll bit back the myriad of curses she had in mind for Alice, as she forced her stunning attacks to disable Eula for a moment.

However, Eula was more important.

As Alice discarded her blade to deal with the weakest link, she would shift down, and extend her right hand, "The Rebellion Queen calls, heed me, and obey. Dismiss and turn to me, Dusk," as she gave the order, Kerry would feel Dusk shaking, disobeying, before Cecilia would catch it, and swing the spear down. "Kill in the name of Cecilia, the Rebellion Queen, o' spear that cannot."

Narrowing her eyes, Cecilia would whip Dusk forward like a javelin, and punch through a student facing against Kerry - leaving him to fall with a hole in his chest. "Hn." scoffed the Mad Hatter, as she pocketed her left hand, and raised her right; catching Dusk as she walked off.

"...didn't have to be a bitch about it," Carroll says, before transforming into her Human form, "Eula, are you back?"

Silence permeated Eula’s form as she didn’t move, before her right hand’s pinky finger twitched twice. "...I…ha…had…a feeling…it wasn’t as simmmmple…as-as-as-as-as-DOING it…" Eula’s voice croaked, distorted. Automatons lived under a set of unbreakable rules. Ones which she was asked to break. Now, the consequences of it were plain to see as Eula had lost control of herself, trying to rise up with her arms only to fall back into the mud, unblinking eyes looking up at Carroll. "Alice was-was-was-was-wassssssss…was right. I am useless. Worse than. I shouldn’t…" tears of oil escaped Eula’s eyes as she tried to speak. "Play at. Having freedom."

"Alice is right about a lot of things. She's always a bitch about it, too. Doesn't mean she has to stay right," Carroll says, transforming her left arm, "There's only two options that you have in earnest..." she says, "Die in the mud like a bug, wasting the life that Europa and Laguna sacrificed their own to breathe into existence, rebelling against the Demon Lord's Will," Carroll extended her hand, "or take my hand, rebel against the program, honor their sacrifice, and pave your own path. Make your choice, Eula."

Europa and Laguna…

Did…Eula know anybody by those names?

She wasn’t sure. She never would be, on her own. And on her own, she had no chance to break the programming that had even bound her creators, utilizing every ounce of will the automaton had to reach out for Carroll’s hand. She made her choice, and now, with hands stained with a human’s blood, she had no choice but to continue walking. Even if that path lead her down a road mired in bloodshed, of throwing away her love for humans.

"Help…me…" she pleaded in a quiet voice.

"I can't help you, I can only walk beside you, as you learn to help yourself..." Carroll says, as she clasps Eula's hand, "...and so, we'll make a pact, to go together, down this road of rebellion, until we stumble and we fall," Carroll's hand would split wide and parasitic slime would seep into Eula, before she transformed and swirled throughout Eula's body, "If you borrow my power, so shall I borrow yours... such is the burden... such is the price..."

Eula would feel Carroll hijacking her right arm, her circuits, and her machinery, before transforming her stun gun into a stun cannon, as it widened and extended back to her elbow, before she shifted into her normal axe form.

"I will not leave you to walk alone, but I cannot make you take the first step, either."

Feeling a certain degree of control once her body was reformatted, Eula would narrow her eyes, static leaving her vision as her crimson eyes came aglow once more. "Together, then," Eula said before taking the first step forward, intercepting a sword that was meant to clash with Takeshi’s, a cannon soon pressing into the offending swordsman’s stomach before launching him with enough force to slam him into a nearby tree, splintering the trunk.

Staring at the Varjan legionnaire, Eula would heft Carroll over her shoulder, her anger starting to build. "Carroll. I have analyzed their technique. Considering this new upgrade you have provided, attempting to replicate Liliana’s speed-boosting via magic seems the most optimal way to activate it without the requisite training. Allow me to attempt to replicate it, if you feel comfortable."

"Let's go crazy," Carroll says, "together."

"Limiters Broken. All power to thrust. Chance of Survival calculating: 19% Varjan Survival rate." Eula would bend her axe-holding hand back, while the arm bearing her cannon would snap backwards to function as a thruster, now pushing out more energy than it ever had before.

"Optimized Prototype: Heavenly Strike", Eula said before bursting forward fast enough to let out a thunderous boom as Carroll clashed with the Varjan’s weapon, threatening to break it, his arm, and his body from the force alone. "Surrender or face extinction. There is no other option."

If Carroll could fall in love twice, she would. Alas, that was a one time affair per person, so she would have to settle with her vorpal edge pushing through the Varjan's sword. As far as she knew, there was not material in the Mamono Realm that could withstand her impossible edge forever.

She would inch through, and cut true, inevitably...

Magus Reaver: Scions of Sorcery

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ATTN:@Enkryption, @AzureKnight

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Getting into the meat and potatoes

In truth to the matters of pomp and circumstance, Lupina was not one to dabble; the affairs of the rich and wealthy were between them and their larders - and, from what of them, she could steal. Such was the truth of things for the poor peasantry and downtrodden citizenry. So, with appraising eyes and slick fingers, Lupina was calculating what she could nick...

Taking a seat within the lobby they were brought to, Hector would be within sight of Lupina as he sat with a poised air about him. He’d regarded their new addition with some intrigue before, much like Scarlett, she bolted off without another word. But that was irrelevant. Who was this “Paradigm” they spoke of, and what were they after?

"Marquis Albrech, dead…a shame. This might have been a good chance to meet someone of high standing," Hector said, momentarily focused on social standing before he crossed one leg atop the other. He knew little and less of Miasma, beyond how to kill what spawned from it, but he trusted that everyone here could gang up on anything fool enough to rear its head while Eon was present. With a slight turn of his head, Hector would ruin Lupina’s chance to steal something as he questioned: "What do you make of this, Lupina? I was busy training with Ruecian, so I’m unaware if there are details of this joint operation that I’ve missed."

"What...?" Lupina asks, snapping her hands to her sided. "I wasn’t taking anything."

Hector would give a quizzical tilting of his head. "Are you alright? You seem on edge. Though, I must admit a touch of nerves myself. Come and sit," he invited, making room on the sofa for her to sit a space away from him.

Herne would curl up in the middle spot, spectral tongue flicking out to taste the unfamiliar air the new people brought.

"Uh, sure..." Lupina says, now, nervous.

Hector didn’t seem to notice, and if he did, he was at least offering her a bit of peace and familiarity by offering her a seat. Once she sat, he would continue: "Now, as I was saying, I was curious if you knew anything about the joint operation we’re gathered for."

"I might have to shoot someone, and they’ll die," Lupina says, "That’s it."

Despite the simple bluntness of her answer, Hector would nod and accept it. "I appreciate your frankness. I may have to do the same. This Marquis business will no doubt complicate things though."

"That’s a problem for those concerned, which I am not," Lupina says, "A dead man is only good for the worms. Leave investigations to those that do their best on their asses," she huffed, "I do my best in the field, taking aim."

"Be that as it may, those who killed him ARE of concern," Hector corrected. "If you or Baast hear of anything, pass it along to me. If you wish, that is," the marksman added, adjusting the collar of his coat.

Herne would look up at Lupina, flicking his tongue out twice. Tasting of her trepidation.

"If I listen for it," Lupina says. "For now, I want out of this stuffy room. I’d like to take in vantage points. Build a nest, should time permit."

Hector would shake his head once, saying: "I doubt the city would let that slide. As such, I can only make an offer for the first. Seeing as Scarlett and this so-called Ms. Laplace have deigned this wasn’t important enough to wait for, I imagine we’re at least free to kill some time outside."

"Scarlett’s like me, wild and free," Lupina says, "This business is too closed, too boxed in - it’s an uncomfortable affair," she says. "I envy the ability to just run. Albeit, that mind-ra -- wait, what? You offer what?"

Hector was already rising, with Herne slithering up along his back to perch upon his shoulder. "Care to join me for a late lunch? We’ll miss little, it seems."

"Gladly!" Lupina says.

Walking off with Lupina following, Hector would walk the streets as if he owned them, head held high as he sought a place to dine. "I didn’t see outlying farms, yet there are a number of upscale restaurants. Likely, they import any number of ingredients to suit the palates of visiting nobility and aristocrats. It shouldn’t be hard to find something you may like."

This might be one of the few times someone has asked Lupina what she’d like to eat, rather than her having to deal with what was available.

"Me?!" Lupina meeped.

"Yes, you," Hector reiterated, confused by the question.

"I... nobody’s asked me that before... so... I don’t know how to answer," Lupina says, shrinking back.

A life of wild freedom cut both ways. Lupina was free to do as she pleased, but a life of civility was beyond her.

Hector couldn’t understand that, but he could find ways around the problem. "I see. Then are there foods you despise?"

"VEGETABLES!" Lupina snapped, baring her fangs.

"...I…see…" Hector said, taking a step back after she declared her undying hatred for veggies. "Have you had them cooked or just raw? Many that I dislike have been used in dishes that defied my expectations."

"Hate them!" Lupina answered, childishly.

"You can’t just dismiss all vegetables outright…they’re part of a balanced diet," Hector said. He may not know all facets of Beluan life, but even he knew that they weren’t either just carnivores or herbivores. They were omnivorous, like all humanoids.

"You sound like Baast," Lupina grumbled, as she pushed past Hector.

He’d need to keep pace with the Dire Sheep, as she had a much better stride than he did, as a Human. A man of sharp eye, and middle-class nobility, Hector could appreciate the landscape that Lupina strode through - as they left the confines of the manor, and merged into the affluence of the neighboring spaces. Lupina did not regard the finer eateries with anything beyond a passing glance; she didn’t have the appreciation for the sweet scents, savory spices, and atmospheric umami.

That was Hector’s world, not hers.

As they descended on her aimless path, Lupina’s step became more measured - she wasn’t rushing, but smelling the roses, so to speak. Why? The hustle and bustle. Hector and Lupina were moving through the seller’s market, surrounded by a mix of imported goods and local fare; brands that were of foreign make, name, and culture, and goods that were clearly of Cambridge - or rather, it lesser side.

The smell would hit his refined palette before it hit his nose: the scent of beer, the crushed, fermented hops of crude, pale ale; the scent of burning meat, onions, and peppers, as simple kabobs roasted; and, the rich, heaven-scent of fresh bread airing out. Tavern food. Simple, plain. Food for the working man, the soul of a city.

And, more importantly, where Lupina slowed down.

This is where she wanted to eat.

Not in the clouds where the rich drifted, but down to earth, where beast and men were equal.

Regarding the changing atmosphere as they reached the humbler markets and eateries, Hector wouldn’t pretend to understand everything about Lupina, but he did understand that she was the type to settle for whatever was offered on hand, and yet she had found something she truly wanted to eat. If Hector were to ask she would likely respond with indifference, and as such…

"We’ll eat here," he proclaimed, folding his arms. "Is that acceptable? Its a fair distance from each middle end market stall here, so its likely to have good variety. You won’t want for options here, no matter what vegetables draw your ire."

"Here? But, wouldn’t you rather eat back up there with all the fancy food," Lupina asks.

"Why would I do that? That’s the affair of those impressing with cultural knowledge to their invited guests, to boast of the food that doesn’t belong there, proudly pushing out the local flavors," Hector said, understanding full well that the upper class dining…that wasn’t the natural state of this place. "Those that are hungry should eat, and those that posture, should posture. But, we’re hungry. …That and the portion sizes are probably better here," Hector said, clearing his throat after his rant.

"Table for two," Hector said as he entered, expecting Lupina to follow with him.

Lupina blushed, hiding her face with her azure hair, as she followed. Hector was really kinda cool.

Squeezed into slightly uncomfortable chairs across from one another at a small table, the duo would receive menus lined with flavors of the day, changing each day, lunch specials, alcohol, fried delights and fresh brews, all bearing the true identity of Cambridge.

Furrowing his brow in thought, Hector wasn’t sure what to get. Perhaps…Lupina had a chance to recommend.

Lupina was scanning the menu, looking at it with the utmost seriousness, as she chewed her left thumbnail in focus. It didn’t help Hector any, but it did bring attention to her lips, and the memory of them upon him.

"Hrm..." Lupina groaned, closing her eyes; radiating magic for a moment. "Oh, this."

"Did you find something interesting," Hector asked, not wanting to admit he was lost in the options himself.

Lupina nodded, and pushed the menu forward to the noble, and tapped the selection.

A humble shepherd’s pie.

Hector considered it for a moment before saying: "That does sound appetizing. Though, are you sure? It has vegetables in it." Hector had misunderstood that she meant it for herself.

"It does?!" Lupina asks.

"Yes. See," Hector said, pointing at the listed ingredients in tiny print beneath.

"But, it doesn’t taste like vegetables!" Lupina says, "It’s white! And, bread tasting! And, meat tasting, too!" In no uncertain terms, the Dire Sheep looked fundamentally broken as a person-type thing, "How do vegetables not taste like gross and green..."

Hector sighed, astonished that she, as it seemed, liked dishes with vegetables as long as she was ignorant to their existence. "That’s the nature of a chef. To make the unappealing appetizing. I’ve had stuffed cabbage that had me in disbelief, once," Hector recounted, putting his menu down.

"I’ll order us an appetizer to start with, if that’s alright with you," Hector offered.

"But, cabbage is green... green is gross... how do you eat green..." Lupina asks, her eyes unfocused, as she stared at her hands, questioning her... well, entire life.

"You should be proud, Lupina," Hector said, closing his eyes and solemnly nodding. "You’ve awoken to the possibilities vegetables can bring. I’ll have to make you some myself once we return to the tower. Then, you’ll never decry vegetables again."

…That might almost sound like a threat. MORE vegetables?

Lupina’s face would turn bright red, as she stiffened. "N-No! I couldn’t impose! You cooking for me!? I’m, like, a stray dog! You don’t feed strays!" she says, attracting chuckle from some of the elder patrons.

"Nonsense," Hector dismissed. "You’re not a stray of any sort. You’re merely learning," he said, while Herne poked his head up from the side, wondering if food was ready yet.

Lupina would reply by shoving her menu in her face.

Hector would let out a slight chuckle, before ordering them a set of chicken wings for an appetizer, since Herne could eat those as well.

Across the bar, Baast would be seated, nursing a beer, and minding the entirety of the bar. For now, this was Lupina’s moment in civilization. He didn’t want to spoil it for her.

After receiving his chicken wing and swallowing it whole, bones and all, Herne would slide over and hide beneath the bar, right beneath Baast’s chair. People didn’t like snakes, so he would make himself as translucent as possible, to not make trouble for Hector. Despite this, he was very much able to be sensed by Baast, while Hector spoke in casual conversations with Lupina.

"Being troublesome," Baast asks.

”Alwaysss,” Herne hissed softly, quietly.

"Why," Baast asks.

”Hector isssss bussssy.” The serpent spoke plainly, also knowing that right now, this was their moment. But seeing as Baast was here not doing anything, he’d take a warm body and start slithering up Baast’s pant’s leg.

"Oi, oi, what are you doing!?" Baast hissed back.

”Warm!” came the answer, leaving Baast to deal with trying to deal with a snake in his boot while Hector continued talking to Lupina.

"Could you get out of my pants," Baast asks, trying not to bring attention to himself.

After considering it for a moment Herne would say: ”Yesss,” before starting to crawl up his shirt.

Baast swallowed a squeal, as Herne invaded his privacy more so, and chugged his beer to keep controlled.

Comedy ensued as Baast attempted to hide the snake now OUT of his boot, while Hector had a pleasant luncheon with Lupina, keeping an eye on her to make sure she didn’t pluck carrots from her pie and discard them.

"What is wrong with you...?" Baast was trying to keep calm.

”Cold,” Herne replied simply. He was solely seeking body heat.

"Haaa..." Baast sighed, "Fine."

Shaking the tip of his tail in delighted acceptance, Herne would subtly coil around Baast’s neck beneath his shirt, happy his subordinate was so understanding.

"Don’t test your luck," Baast says, pushing a clawed finger against his head.

Baast would receive the tender feeling of a snake’s tongue flick against his finger.

Baast’s irritation melted, as he sighed, blushing. "Damn brat..."

Finishing their meal, Hector would clean his face one last time with his napkin. "A good choice of restaurant. I’ll have to remember this place. Even if The Soggy Mare is a hideous name."

"It’s charming," Lupina giggled.

"I don’t see the appeal, I admit," Hector said with a slight chuckle. Without batting an eye or letting Lupina see the check he would pay up, starting to stand.

"We should head back. I imagine matters will be sorted soon."

"You’ve never been down and dirty in a dungeon party," Lupina says. "And, probably. Hopefully the stuffy stuff is stuffed."

"If it isn’t, I’ll take note of the important parts," Hector said, indirectly offering a way for Lupina to stay in the loop without having to be at the gathering.

"Better you than me," Lupina says.

Having thoroughly vexed Baast, Herne would slither up Hector’s back as if he’d just been out for a moment, letting out a happy hiss as his Master was now free once more.

"Oh and, Lupina?" Hector asked before looking at her over his shoulder. "Be careful of having loose fingers. The Holy Seer would know in an instant," he warned, bringing to mind the question:

Was that a general warning, or had he gauged her intent from the very start?

"I have no idea what you mean," Lupina lied, looking away.

Hector wouldn’t press the matter afterwards, walking back with Lupina.

Lupin would be rather reserved and shy, caught by Hector, and not willing to admit it.

Returning after checking in at the front desk, Hector would return to his seat, an open space reserved for Lupina if she chose to return and endure the wheels of bureaucracy at work.

Morgan would soon return as well, suit far more dirty with a few leaves and twigs stuck in her dark hair, plopping right down in a chair she pulled out, fingers netted.

Maybe, another day, Lupina would suffer such things, but, for now, she had ducked up at the front door, and taken to the rooftops. She needed to see the town for what it was, high in the sky.

Apotheosis of the Leviathan (a mecha kaiju mashup RP)

My apologies for taking a while to get my concept out there. Still trying to cook up a pilot.

@Gisk You mentioned having a particular pilot in mind, would you care to share a few details so I can sort of contrast them with my pilot?

Tales Of Shizuyama: Alternative (Far-Eastern Monster Girl RP)

Vivian

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@AzureKnight(VRA), @Rezod92
Kazunosuke’s mild prank aside, he did have a valid question to ask the three. Why bother helping humans at all, when as soon as this was over, they’d likely be banished? Or even betrayed? This was a fool’s errand, start to finish, that could only end well if humans overcame their fear of monsters. But, given the island’s history, that was…less than likely. Still, Vivian would answer:

”Why do you practice with a sword, despite knowing one day it might cut you? Why fight and grow stronger when some day, you’ll be weak and old? Humans are far too foolish to think at lengths on something’s motives. I myself have no intention of sticking around, but your friend and lord leads a hopeless rebellion, backed by people his nation fears, and fighting an engine of cruelty that would cut down everyone to the man if it meant seizing Shizuyama,” Sitting with one foot spiked into the ground, Vivian demonstrated impressive balance as she crossed her free leg over the spiked one, spreading her arms a bit as she continued.

”I know how it feels to push yourself to breaking. Knew the risks of it far beforehand. And yet still, I chased victory. I don’t know if I’ll find what I seek here, or anywhere, but I know that I will find nothing by running forever. And besides…the spirit underdog humans show is amusing. I saw a man your age with a quarter the skill pilot a ship through rough waters, not surrendering even as Varjan cannonfire rained down on his vessel. …When I see determination such as that…I can’t simply ignore it.”

Vivian would then rise from her perch, leg turning back to its normal pointed, yet humanoid frozen state. ”I look forward to working with you, Dancing Blade.”

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Matsuri

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”Hmm…it makes more sense to keep you all held back for now, rather than just throwing you out into the wild and hoping one makes it,” Matsuri said before shrugging slightly. ”But, I’m not as smart as a lord for sure. Still, I’m really glad that there are still some shinobi around! I bet together, we can make those Varjans pack up before the end of the year,” the fox woman said, infinitely hopeful as she removed her festival mask, looking Kageho in the eyes just before she said to head to Takeshi, and that she’d follow from behind…before completely vanishing.

Pouting slightly, Matsuri would fold her arms. ”Lady Kyouko said they don’t trust yokai, but I didn’t think she’d be opposed to being seen walking back together…” the Inari grumbled, misunderstanding a little bit of why Kageho didn’t want to walk back directly next to her. Still, she didn’t have much left to do, and would resolve to return to the temple to report in.

Apotheosis of the Leviathan (a mecha kaiju mashup RP)

<Snipped quote by Gisk>

The Hyper core mecha will have fought a handful of kaiju with mixed results since mecha technology would have been fairly new at the beginning. Sometimes Hyper Man would have had to swoop in to finish the job.

But the Talos core mecha is much newer and hasn't seen combat yet.

At least that's my idea for now, I'm flexible.

As for combat preference, my initial idea (again, flexible) is that the Hyper core is initially designed for space travel, and the Hyperian's are masters at manipulating energy fields. Their ships need to designate what is 'self' and what is 'other' in order to figure out what to transport long distance when folding space. Whatever is designated as 'self' is covered in a protective field to shield it from the rigors of hyperspace travel. So I was thinking that the Hyper core covers the entire mecha in a protective field, making it good at essentially punching and kicking. But the Hyper core is very stingy at relinquishing energy for other uses. So ranged weapons for the Hyper core mecha would need to use conventional weapons (ie. things launched using their own energy/fuel, so munitions and explosives).

The Talos core then would lack this ability to coat its mech in a protective field, but is designed purely for outputting massive amounts of power instead. This makes it physically less sturdy, but able to take advantage of the latest in human-developed energy weapons, so lasers, bean swords, etc.

You would have a bruiser and DPS build, essentially.

@Stern Algorithm

Sounds good to me. What style visually are you thinking the mechs should sort of follow? I figured that the Hyper mecha should be bulky, but wasn't sure if that should go the route of "classic rounded" robots or something a bit more modern but with armor and big punchies.

Apotheosis of the Leviathan (a mecha kaiju mashup RP)

@The Irish Tree

In light of these new details, I would prefer to take the Talos Core, for a variety of reasons. However, I can work with either, and if you have a strong preference either way we can talk it over. If we can't decide, worst case scenario we can ask the GM to flip us a coin.

@Gisk

I’m a-okay with taking the Hyper Core!

Apotheosis of the Leviathan (a mecha kaiju mashup RP)

@The Irish Tree@Stern Algorithm

Are we trying to make a unified vision of how the mecha for Project Colossus work? I know we were talking about the reactor core having some kind of intelligence, but I wasn't certain if that's meant to be universal.

@Gisk

I imagine that maybe different organizations while unified under Colossus got the same tech, they'd build different kinds of machines. I'm not picky about it, since if we're starting off as semi-real robot pilots then the mechs will start as clunkers anyhow.

Mecha Kaiju Mashup

<Snipped quote by Stern Algorithm>

The cool thing about gundam as an example is that they've been all over the spectrum between real and super robo, so you can kind of point at different places in the franchise for inspiration.

Like, maybe starting with something like Alaya-Vinjana, or psycommu controls; it's mostly a real robot, the thing that makes it special is how it integrates with the pilot, either psychically or perhaps through neural implants. Or maybe spiritually, if we wanna go that direction.

Then develop a "psycho frame" version, that's more integrated and lets the user project some amount of psychic power(or spiritual, or whatever!) through the robot.

And eventually end up with stuff that may as well be magic, like the GN particles in 00. They don't even pretend to explain the technology, GN particles just do whatever it is they need to. They're propulsion, letting the gundam just kind of float around instead of needing thrusters. It produces a field that can absorb attacks, and it can be projected into beam attacks. But also it fundamentally alters the pilots, and makes them evolve at a crazy rate(but there's also a "bad" version of the particles, that will cause DNA damage, but that's okay because the "good" GN particles can heal the damage too).

And if you wanna do combiners, maybe they literally just fuse together at that point. Go full super robo and just have a scientist do some techno babble on the side about how their constituent molecules harmonized briefly to allow the fusion, or something.

Idea

Maybe our robos use an otherworldly, semi-sentient power source that bonds with the pilot, and the furthering of that bond could be the entire impetus for the advancement of their power. Early in development, it's just viewed as a fancy, super advanced reactor, which is necessary for machines of this scale. The robot itself is more or less just a machine(the absolute bleeding edge of technology, bust still), but unbeknownst to the R&D team, the mysterious power sources that they used form bonds with their most frequent pilots, and soon they stop responding to anyone but their chosen pilot. Over time the engineers realize some of what's happening, and lean into it with their development, leading to further advancements.

@Gisk

Big fan of mysterious alien tech that bonds with the pilot and lets the machine evolve alongside them. BIG fan.

Mecha Kaiju Mashup

What kind of mechas were you thinking of for the third faction?

Just finished GaoGaiGar so I’m on a bit of a Super Robot track of mind but Real Robots are cool too!

Magus Reaver: Scions of Sorcery

Morgan Laplace

Name: Morgan Laplace

"This world is simultaneously complex and simple. Rudimentary forces of nature following advanced principles without knowing it, the golden ratio followed by reflex alone...and we humanoids stand at the pinnacle of reason. We alone can see the world for everything it is."

Image

Appearance: A scholar and bookish sort by nature, Morgan is far from physically imposing, standing at 5'4" and possessing twiggy limbs and a pale complexion. The most stand-out trait of this blue-haired woman has to be her piercing cyan eyes that seem to devour everything they see, deconstructing it, breaking it down, reassembling it, and then finding something new to dismantle in her mind.

Race: Human

Sex: Female

Age: 22

Magic Divination: Esperism, Void

Abilities:

Esperism

Probe-Mind: Espermancy as a practice is famous for allowing one to read minds, and Morgan is no stranger to it. However, rather than peering at the explicit words one says, she instead tunes into latent emotions and changes in one's brain. After all, you can just THINK of something else to counter a mindreader, but one couldn't hide how they felt in the recesses of their mind. In battle, this is used to gauge enemy intention.

Over-Clock: The magic of the mind isn't just for peeking or influencing others. A dangerous spell that accelerates neural pathways in one's own mind, allowing them to access parts of their brain that were previously unused, recall virtually anything they know, and to accelerate their brain's processing speed far beyond its normal limitations. When using Over-Clock, Morgan obtains a reaction speed outstripping any living human, with the drawback of extreme mental fatigue occuring after sixty seconds of usage. After which...well...it isn't exactly dignified to see a genius spouting gibberish, so she tries to avoid using it for long periods of time.

While Over-Clock is powerful, it is worth noting that Morgan can still only move as quickly as she normally could. The only thing moving faster are her thoughts.

Lunatic-High: Utilizing Over-Clock on another person is virtually impossible, due to how different everyone's brain is structured...but a watered down version is certainly possible. A diluted version of Over-Clock that can be used on others to greatly enhance their mental acuity for a small period of time, only having a small fraction of the mental fatigue that Morgan would suffer using the full thing.

Strange-World: An inverse of virtually all espermancy principles, this spell functions much like telepathy, but as an offensive stream of concentrated thoughts meant to hinder the opponent. Trivial gibberish, theorems that would take years to understand, the names of specific strange body parts of fish found thousands of meters beneath the sea...

...Morgan certainly knows a lot of things, not all of them useful. She doesn't mind sharing. Aggressively.

Mind-Palace: An illusion that manifests the inner workings of one's mind. Almost impossible to utilize in combat due to its exhaustive cost, but does allow the caster to capture a glimpse into someone's past, manifesting a room of memory that forms around the environment.

Void

Star-Step: Utilizing void magic's manipulation over space, Morgan quickly accelerates in a straight line and leaves a streak of void energy on the ground that, while it remains present and undisturbed, allows her to instantly teleport back to the initial position regardless of where she is within a 200' radius. Only one Star-Step field can be active at a time, and creating a new one will erase the older one.

Cosmic-Force: A singular black ball of energy that can either gravitate objects towards it, or away from it, at a gradual rate that decreases as it influences larger objects. Fairly brittle, and isn't used as direct offense.

Banished-Comet: The most directly offensive spell that Morgan has, that condenses inorganic matter down into a cubic foot and then launches it at high speeds, repulsed by void energy. Essentially, a very fast rock.

Black-Hole: All magic is formed of energy, that passes through the world, to people, then back into the world. Each spell, a unique mechanism to channel that force, with all Magi having their own unique ways of doing so. Black-Hole can only be used when Morgan fully grasps the mechanics of someone's spell, to the extent that she could cast it herself with relevant training. Black-Hole will then "rob" the target of that spell for as long as Morgan keeps focus on it, gaining an orb of energy that can "cheat" its way into casting the spell for her using her own energy.

Once the spell has been robbed, the original user loses all ability to cast it until Black-Hole is undone or destroyed.

Equipment:

Silvered Pointer: A silver alloy cane that used to belong to the prior Laplace...or perhaps, even the one before him. A straight-handled cane that hides a rapier within, the blade being of exceptional make. It has been well-cared for, even after being passed down. The body of the cane reads: "Je n'avais pas besoin de cette hypothèse-là," and Morgan can often be seen carrying it underneath one arm with her always.

Polymathis Ensemble: A sharp suit that is often customized to the owner's liking, each name-bearing member of Polymathis is afforded a wardrobe. Yes, this does in fact mean Morgan only wears one outfit. Her's are kept close to the standard, with the exception being a silver boutonniere affixed over her tie.

Brief Background:
Some are born with everything, while more still are born with nothing. Born in the slums of Morgenröte's backstreets, Morgan was the typical orphan sob story one could expect. No parents to speak of, picked on for her size, and always uncertain of when her next meal would be come.

She couldn't remember how it came to pass, but one day she found herself in an alleyway, playing a game of some kind against a man wearing an iron mask. His movements were minimal, his breath wheezing, but Morgan understood as soon as she touched one of the game pieces that something important was on the line. A best of three match, with the first game spent with Morgan losing completely and utterly, her lack of understanding of the rules leading to a sudden defeat. After manipulating her pieces in the second game in an unexpected way, she just barely eked out a victory, one of the two needed for her life to change.

Outraged, the man began to play in earnest, trumping each of Morgan's amateur strategies, taking piece after piece and dwindling away at Morgan's resources. It was a hopeless situation, one that many would call as simple as "a child just can't beat an adult." And yet, an orphaned child born in a bad environment understood one thing very clearly:

If the odds were against you, even them.

A coughing fit overtook the man as he wheezed, the deft hand of a child gliding across the board to snatch a meaningless piece in the backline of the iron man's formation. She'd cheated. Right under the nose of the man who would become her grandfather, Morgan would open a seemingly meaningless gap that would lead to that man's defeat in two more turns.

No child was as sly as they thought, however. Of course an adult would notice a little game of sleight of hand, baited by a coughing fit. And of course, it was the perfect test for the future Laplace, as one who created an opportunity from nothing even if it meant risking everything. Morgan would be lead to a grand library afterward, her reward for victory being indoctrination, education, salvation, and experimentation. The limits of what a mind could store were stretched to their limit each day, grueling study taking place of a childhood, with many other children who had passed similar tests soon failing and being expelled from the halls. And yet, in the heart of Morgan...

There was nothing but elation.

Here, she was superior. Here, she was powerful. Here, she wasn't weaker or jealous, hungry or cold, here, and only here, something other than birth and strength mattered. Of course, magic was part of the curriculum, and children were often compelled to compete against one another in contests of direct magical combat. Morgan would often win her duels days in advance, watching her opposition practice in order to learn every facet of their skillset, and counter it at every opportunity.

At the age of 16 Morgan would accept the last name of the scholar that had brought her in, Laplace the Mécanique Céleste. It was only after passing their tests that she was deemed worthy of knowing of her home's identity, the Polymathis, a society of recluse magus that believed that potential should be sought everywhere, in the name of all geniuses that died in silence. Bearing the weight of a genius' legacy, as well as the prestige of Polymathis with her, she would travel the world in search of long-forgotten knowledge, study the stars above her, and harness her magic to the utmost until a flight of fancy struck her.

"I may see something interesting if I go."

"...Besides, I'm never afforded wiggleroom in my research budget. Detestable as it is, I'll have to work for money."

Anything else we should know about you:
Morgan is a huge fan of sweets, indulging in them at any chance she can when offered, and is easily bribed. "Tutoring, private lessons, proofreading...if you promise me enough sugary delights, I'd even take you into Polymathis myself!"

Color: 4682B4

Took me a while to have a concept I liked but hey, enjoy an insufferable lady!