VATROU

Create-A-Hero: A Superhero RPG Season 2- New Horizons (Closed)

I'm interested, but I'm never able to keep up with this type of stuff.

@Chaotic Chao

Neither has my lazy butt, but I enjoy writing and we're a friendly and helpful bunch, with a Discord even.

War Never Changes

Here's my nation application to this roleplay. Hope it's all good. :D

Confederate Tribes of Canada

Territory and Geography

---

Since Canada was never directly bombed the land of the tribes is lush and wild with might timbers, thick maples, and abundant wildlife and flora. The radioactive fallout they received from the bombings in the US did mutate animals and plants in their lands however, creating Wampus Mountain Lions, "Mega" Moose, Cactus Prairie Dogs, and more.

The vast majority of Canada also lacks a heavy amount of infrastructure due to the large amounts of wilderness and the deterioration of pre-war rounds and utilities. As a result traveling through Canada can be very dangerous to outsiders as the temperatures, creatures, plants, and terrain can make for a treacherous journey.

Natives and those trading with them have few issues with the land however as once you grow accustom to it the land isn't that dangerous.

The Confederate Tribe's territory stretches from one side of Canada to the other with only southern Ontario being left alone due to it's alarmingly close proximity to the US and dangerous raiders.

At the moment a lot of the populace is spread out across the territories with the main concentrations being in Prince Rupert, Edmonton, Northside, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, and Quebec City. While they technically control all of Canada they only project force in certain areas along roads connecting the tribes and the outlying borders of their lands leaving many areas untouched. However their reach grows by the day and one day their lands will entirely be their own.

• *British Columbia
• *Alberta
• *Saskatchewan
• *Manitoba
• *Most of Ontario
• *Quebec

History:

Before the Great War the nation of Canada was a peaceful, non nuclear country bordering the United States of America. Though they were much less advanced than their burgeoning, jingoist neighbor Canada saw a degree of peace. Even during the massive resource shortages at the time Canada maintained a large degree of stability and sought renewable means of solving their energy problems.

However the invasion of Alaska by the Chinese prompted the United States to invade Canada to secure supply lines and to ensure the ‘security’ of their nation. Since Canada was a non-nuclear nation at the time the US was able to do so without retaliation. Though Canada’s military put up a brave fight they were no match against the US military which was bloated, fat beast funded by half the opposing nation’s national income.

During its annexation countless Canadian citizens were massacred, executed on their knees with almost jovial casualness by the occupation forces. Thousands of people were put into internment camps and brutalized in horrid and unspeakable ways. Though a resistance movement formed it seemed almost in vain, as the energy weapon and power armor equipped US troops out gunned and armored them.

Then the unthinkable happened.

The world ended.

Nuclear bombs dropped across the US and countless places across the planet. Panic, mayhem, and countless destruction ensued. However Canada was spared as no one factored the non-nuclear nation into their bombing plans. Though they got plenty of fallout from the massive bombings in the US, the radioactivity and destruction in Canada was barely anything compared to the states.

Some of the US occupation troops tried to flee back to the states, but most stayed figuring Canada was the last place they could survive at. However the Canadian’s hatred didn’t go away and the dropping of the bombs only intensified it. For a time the troops managed to remain in control, but where they rapidly began to deplete the resources of their high tech weapons the Canadian’s constantly gained more and more violent vigor.

Eventually the internment camps and occupied towns exploded into violent, murderous riots that overran the troops. US soldiers were beaten, hung, crucified, disemboweled, and even castrated by the enraged populace. Power Armor troopers saw the worst of it and were killed and brutalized in especially heinous ways. One popular method had people trap the wearer inside a de-powered suit of power armor, pour flammable liquid down into the cracks of the armored suit, and light a match. Cooking the wearers alive inside their own armor.

The vast majority of the occupation troops and Canadian collaborators were slaughtered and those that survived escaped into the wilderness, eventually turning into brain dead bandits and giving birth to generations of Canadian Raiders.

With the violence done the Canadians were left figuring out what to do. Some struggled in the more urbanized area to rebuild civilization where many traveled out into the largely untouched wilderness to begin anew.

Years passed and the vast majority of Canadians formed tribes and began living off the land. Though they forgot many things they retained their history, keeping records and passing along verbal accounts of the horrors the US unleashed upon them.

Eventually though as the years clicked on, Canada began to change. Vaults built in Canada during the occupation began to open up and foreign visitors began to appear in their lands. Explorers, criminals, scavengers, and more all seemingly from the South...

Word spread amongst the tribe and everyone feared the worst.

America had survived.

The great beast that rent the world with fire still breathed, and those who lived within its wretched lands now pressed into their territory. Traveling far the chiefs of each tribe met in 2190 and discussed what to do. It was eventually decided that their tribes would unify into a Confederacy like their ancestors had before the coming of the bright fire.

From that day forward the tribes joined hands and slowly worked to regain what they had lost. They pushed into long abandoned urban areas, exploring far and wide for knowledge. Slowly they began to learn, becoming more literate, more knowledgeable, and more dangerous.

As of 2290 the Confederate Tribes of Canada is on it's way to becoming a proper nation. Though they have slowly become more ‘civilized’ they remain people of the wilderness at heart and have retained the powerful passions and elements of their tribal cultures that served to push them this far.

Word of activity along the borders, men in metal armor, whispers of horrid cults, and worse have pushed the Confederate Tribes into accelerating their progress. Believing it will soon be time to exact revenge on the Flag Bearers, the remnants of the US Army and Government that still perpetuate the evil of the 'great dead beast' of America...

Population:

Due to the large and supportive stretches of wilderness in Canada the populate of the Confederate tribes evens out around 900,000. The vast majority are humans, with some ghouls and the very rare migrated super mutant mixed in. Amongst their population are local mutants called the "Horned".

During the annexation of Canada the US took the opportunity to test a number of biological weapons on the populace. One of which had strange side effects after the exposure to fallout radiation and the consumption of mutated game meat by the after war populace.

People effected by the substance developed stronger skeletons with bone and keratin structures gradually growing from their heads. They looked like small, branching elk or moose horns, earning them the name "The Horned Ones". Beyond their horns they show little to no mutations or deformities allowing them to go unnoticed as their horns are often mistaken for tribal head wear.

Government/Domestic Politics:

The Confederate Tribes of Canada are lead by a group of chiefs made up of representatives from the six tribes of the land. One chief from each tribe forms the group with a single one amongst them being elected "Prime Chief" every 8 years. The Prime Chief makes important decisions regarding war, peace, and the progress of their people.

Though the Prime Chief holds the most say, he requires support from a winning portion of the other Chiefs to take action. Any decrees or plans put in motion by the Union of Chiefs are enforced by local rulers and carried out by warriors, wisemen, and Tribe researchers.

Though crude by American standards the system works quite well and so far has allowed even representation and proper leadership amongst the tribes.

Notable People:

Chief Rendrun: 38 years old and current Prime Chief. As a young man he was an explorer and ventured to many different places, east, west, north, and south. Returning home he was left wise and changed by his experiences. He now leaders Canada on a campaign of progress, with particular interest in research, manufacturing, and growing their infant economy.

He is a hands on leader, showing up in battle and showing up to important matters. A distinctive element of his outfit is a shoulder pauldron made from a suit of T-45 power armor that he took off a foreigner he killed in single combat.

Explorer Lendcetter: 19 years old and Chief Rendrun's personal explorer, scout, and warrior. Though young and the daughter of Rendrun, Lend is a bright, curious, and experienced young women who shows surprising capability on the field of battle. She goes where Rendrun cannot and represents him when he has other matters to attend too. She is a "Horned One" but files down her horns and typically hides them in her hair.

Wiseman Hospicer: 108 years old, advisor to Chief Rendrun and personal Wiseman. He is a Ghoul who is also a "Horned One" leaving him looking rather frightening with gaunt, broken, corpse like flesh and two curling horns sticking up out the top of his head. Due to personal reasons he remains in bandages looking like a mummy most days wrapped head to toe.

Despite his appearance and age he's quite spry and incredibly intelligent, with an excellent memory and an aggressive desire to learn. He is essentially the head researcher for the tribes and often travels with Lend and Rendrun on important matters, especially those regarding technology.

Military:

The fighting men and women of the tribes of Canada are not soldiers. In their eyes soldiers are puppets. Men who throw away their souls and blindly follow orders to hurt and slaughter others at the behest of aging, idiotic leaders. That is why they are not soldiers. They are warriors.

Soldiers fight because they are told to, Warriors fight because they choose to.

Canada’s fighting force is just 10,000 strong with roughly 5000 others able to join the fight if needed.

They are trained and conditioned through trials and rituals that leave them proficient in melee combat (knives, unarmed, macuahuitl) and ranged weapons (guns, bows, crossbows, slings, crude grenade weapons). Abandoning 'modern' military training methods the Canadian Warriors have devised their own means of preparing their men and women for combat. Leaving them somewhat cruder and "undisciplined" in the eyes of most militaries, but immensely flexible with stronger wills and better individual decision making then those broken by military dogma.

All Canadians, thanks to their wild birthplace, are talented and well versed in the arts of Survival. Though they are acclimated more towards colder weathers they are adaptable people able to wrestle the wilderness of the most inhospitable of places.

Weapon wise the Warriors of the Confederacy are somewhat somewhat limited. They use anything they can make themselves, clubs, spears, bows, crossbows, blow guns, macuahuitl swords shaped like hockey sticks are popular, and whatever firearms, ammunition, and grenade weapons they can scrounge up or make by hand. Supplementing this warriors often used tamed, specifically trained animals from the Canadian wilderness in their battles. Attack birds, dogs, wampus cats, mega moose, and other creatures prove valuable resources in their fights.

Though lacking in technology the Canadians are very self aware of their lack of technical firepower. Since their foundings however they have taken preparations, examining ‘ancient’ suits of power armor and working to understand the weaknesses and limitations of the horrid weapons once used against them. Ensuring that even if faced with a superior foe, they will have a way to fight.

Their forces are highly mobile, versed in guerrilla warfare, excel in ambushes, and are given explicit training on how to take down men in powered armor.

Economy:

The Economy of the Confederacy is very, very weak. They lack a standard currency and largely rely on bartering for the exchange of goods and services. Their reluctance to use bottle caps comes from their fear of being weaker for accepting America's means instead of achieving their own. Though they are considering trying to begin using Pull Tabs (from the tops of soda cans) as currency they are hitting roadblocks due to their limited knowledge of economics.

Culture and Technology:

Years of living in the wilderness has turned the Canadians into a curious, earthen people. Though they are now driven by a desire for progress, advancement, and eventual revenge against the US remnants, their tribal lifestyle is still visible in many aspects of their life.

Though many have been moving into urban areas and repairing them, many more still live out in the wilds handling animals, hunting, growing crops, fishing, and doing woodwork. Since the opening of the Canadian Vaults all tribes are literate and somewhat educated, yet still have a fondness for rituals, dances, homemade remedies, wards against spirits, and exploring.

While their is a devout sense of unity and respect amongst the tribes, there is still a proud warrior culture amongst the Canadians. Though fighting amongst the tribes ceased after the unification and formation of the Confederacy, the warriors of different tribes still remained competitive. Honing their skills and knowledge of war against raiders, bandits, and madmen who pressed into their territories.

Even now with more civilized Canadians and Confederate warriors, collecting scalps is viewed as perfectly acceptable.

In regards to technology Canada had little of note. While they were technically equal to America in the conventional fields of science and technology (medicine, computing, robotics, metallurgy, manufacturing, est) they lacked their more marvelous breakthroughs such as power armor, advanced combat robots, and the more cutting edge energy weapons.

They did however have technology of their own with civilian and police use robots of their own design and some advanced computer tech. The most striking of which was the "Sinclair Wrist Mainframe" which was a portable computer that could fit on one's arm much like a Pipboy. It had a smaller screen, but a full tiny rubber keyboard making it better suited for more complex work on the go.

The Canadian military was armed with largely conventional weapons but did import a small number of railguns and plasma weapons from Germany before their annexation by the United States.

After the bombs fell Canada largely fell into tribal lifestyle, neglecting urban areas and largely forgetting about many facets of modern technology.Over the past 100 years they’ve slowly been regaining their knowledge and are now perfectly literate, with a good grasp of many modern concepts regarding science, literature, and history.

They are incredibly hungry to learn more and have a wealth of researchers call "Wisemen" who are eager to grow the knowledge of their people. The tribes are fully away of how being technologically inferior makes them vulnerable and do not wish the paste of their people to repeat itself...

Religion:

Though they have no single official religion many Canadians are still highly spiritual, practicing various forms of animism and worshiping spirits local to their tribes. Religious disputes are fairly rare and for the most part the Canadians practice a large degree of religious tolerance save for the rare instance of particularly meaningful rituals being slandered.

However that tolerance largely relates to local religions and are immensely intolerant of foreign religions. Missionaries believed to have originated in the US are often turned away, with the stubborn ones beaten and the ones who refuse to leave killed (though are given warning and plenty of chances to leave.)

@Crosswire

Okay bring your population down a bit and you're ready to post.

Note to all Nations, you all can slowly bump up your numbers eventually, as better healthcare, agriculture and technology allow more people to live longer and new children to be born. Nothing crazy but a small percent every year perhaps around ten percent or less of your current pop, also if you want to shrink a bit due to famine and or disease you are more than welcome to go through those plot lines as well to add some interesting elements. Course if you want to grow you'd need to write what you are doing to improve lives and keep yourselves out of wars as you'll lose more than you'd probably gain yearly.

War Never Changes

@Crosswire I'll see if anyone has an issue with your CS in a bit. But it looks good, I'll ask and if no one has any objections you're in.

Create-A-Hero: A Superhero RPG Season 2- New Horizons (Closed)

@LordDeadpool The font is really hard to read as Byrd said. Maybe someone can find a good red that shows up better.

How Would You Have Made Skyrim Better?

The quests and guilds are rather dull, unless they make a picking random flowers guild than you being guild master will never make sense. There are good quests sure but none of them have any real impact. Slay Alduin and most won't even notice a difference. Have the NPCs react to what you do even if it's major milestones. But don't worry mods will fix everything wrong with the game.

War Never Changes

Let's try to get posts out at least once a week. I know I'm not the best example of this but I'm gonna try and be more productive.

Create-A-Hero: A Superhero RPG Season 2- New Horizons (Closed)

Hey there, Lord Deadpool hear, quick little question: Can a character have more then one power if they are powered?

@LordDeadpool

Depends on the powers, as long as it's not any of the banned powers, like mind control or reality manipulation you can pretty much have anything as long as the GM accepts it. Though giving good reasons for infinite powers would be a difficult one, but yeah. We got guys with quite a few powers to play with, even got a Shazam type guy, Pantheon.

War Never Changes

Alaskan Federation @2sky11 @Andronicus23 @Tiberius67 @Wampower

Once Mr. House had greeted them and allowed anyone to take the floor and propose ideas Titus Crassus addressed the delegates asking them to denounce the New California Republic for their actions during these supposed peace talks.

"While their actions were certainly wrong it highlights the short sightedness of their president who clearly lacks a strategic mind to comprehend when he should strike. If his attack upon the Legion had actually accomplished something we'd be having a different atmosphere in this room, striking the head of your enemy while he attends a peace summit would be an effective and unforeseeable action. However instead of assassinating anyone, Kimball made a fool out of himself where he could have garnered support by letting peace talks fall through and propping himself as the victim." North spoke as the other delegates listened in.

"Now." He said sipping a leather flask. "He has extinguished all support he could have garnered from this meeting, had he sat back and played the victim Alaska might have come to his aid as would others who view your culture negatively. As for Alaska, this is your problem. The west is logistically of no concern to us and even if you requested supplies I sincerely doubt we could accommodate you in any meaningful way given our great distance. Not that I personally have any interest in stepping in save only to act as a mediator which given the Republics' current actions seems unlikely to bear fruit."

Shortly after the Governor of New Houston inquired as to how the nations gathered would deal with the Cult of Ug-Qualoth to which Titus responded.

"I would like to add too," He continued, "That I cannot speak to the atrocities of The Cult, as their actions in the east are unfamiliar to us. Which is why Caesar has ordered that a representative from The Legion be sent east to ascertain the full story of what dangers they might pose to us all. Furthermore, I would say that while you may calls us heathens, know that Caesar has done much to protect your faith in his lands, offering sanctuary in the Zion Valley and allowing missionaries to travel in absolute safety throughout Legion territory. Where previously there was tribal war parties and raiders roving the land, now there is order and stability. Sometimes, bringing order to uncivilized peoples requires brute force and an uncompromising position. Our methods may be harsh to someone of your sensibilities, but they are necessary. Perhaps, in time, they will no longer be needed. It is the hope and goal for Caesar to bring a great many changes to his Legion, transforming it from the nomadic band of warriors that it was, to a well organized, stable, and modernized nation, dependent not on conquest but on economic and political ties with its neighbors. It is unfortunate that you would be quick to condemn us to fiery damnation, before allowing Caesar's vision to come to fruition. After all, do not all nations go through periods of trial and tribulation? Is there any nation here which can honestly say they are bloodless in their actions at all times? That they have never brought misery or fear to anyone? If not, then we ask for time, nothing more."

"I too have no information on what the Cult may or may not have done. It will be a matter we will look into and could change our perspective of them and our prospective relationship. For now things stand Ms. Ashur."

Create-A-Hero: A Superhero RPG Season 2- New Horizons (Closed)

And

In

The Birdcage and the Canary

Leading down into the depths of the sewers Sewer Gator had shown Eva to the entrance of the Hero Diner, a place owned by Rosie the Riveter. Taking off to meet up with another hero Sewer Gator bid his farewell as he debriefed Rosie in his usual if eccentric way. “The Legions of villainy have been laid low this day under the mighty weight of justice and her hammer of virtue! For I am the chip at the bottom of the bag that is still crispy, the leafy greens your parents tell you to eat that make you stronger! For no matter where evil rests the sandwich of justice will be there to serve a heaping of tuna!”

Eva stared he made no sense, a man who could easily be mistaken for someone right out of Street Fighter with the outrageous costume choice to match. Sewer Gator’s pose and subsequent departure happened faster than she could process with a wide smile and simultaneous salute.

“So. Covering the basics you’re a would be hero. Who is not as helpless as we were led to believe.” Rosie spoke up as she sat down a glass jar full of coffee on top the wooden tables lining the rather pleasant underground diner. “According to Gator might have had a hand in the Pacific Point event that was all over the news.”

Stick-It note kid who had until now been washing plates spoke up himself. “From what we got maybe the caller just didn’t know too much of the details. But maybe you should lay low for now, we aren’t a target we’ll see about collecting info from the caller. Maybe trace the call bring in the Blue Beagle for that if he’ll stop trying to eat the scraps on the tables.”

”Look, I can handle myself. It’d be nice to find out why someone tried to kill me though.” Eva said as she took a seat.

“Well miss, what was it. Pendragon. I know asking personal information is difficult in our line of work.” Rosie said gruffly her age showing through her voice and mannerisms. “But since you do have abilities of sorts we can rule out regular revenge schemes, as the assassin was for normal humans.”

“So.” Stick-It note kid said. “You must be someone important to somebody, pissed off regular folks with money. And I doubt it was for texting and driving.”

”I’m not important no more, just someone trying to make sense of this world.”

“But it sounds like you were, so. If I may ask can we start from the top?” Rosie said as she set down a plate of appetizers.

Eva sighed as she eyed the old clock on the wall then began to reveal as little about herself as she could. Things she hoped would help but still keep some privacy, after an hour or two their questions had stopped and all that remained was what to do now.

“Even if you don’t bleed bullets hurt. These are trained assassins, and it seems more will come. Stick-It note is correct, laying low or getting out of town would be better.” Stick-it Note Kid spoke as he munched on a cold fry.

Merlin watched, carefully planning when to butt in. It was about time Eva met Salamander and his protege and this was a perfect excuse to do it. Perhaps I have something.” Merlin said floating down from the ceiling as if she could pass through walls.

”Merlin. Course you’d show up now.”

”I am Merlin, well one of them, that is more complicated than I wish to fully explain, but her getting out of town is what I want right now. I have some people I want you to meet.”

Rosie was not thrilled to have this half naked street walker enter her diner, but she and Pendragon knew each other. And had some degree of trust. “Your manner of dress is highly inappropriate.”

”And I find this establishment lacking. If one could call this dingy place a restaurant.”

“If you have the means to leave the city it might be best to spend a few days away while the rest of us look into this matter, Pendragon you’re young. Fighting alongside Icon and the playboy knight although impressive hasn’t prepared you yet. Come back after a few days. We’ll give you some pointers.”

”I. Yea might do that. But Merlin you had something.”

”After me.” Merlin said as the doors to the hidden diner opened to reveal an expansive library.

“Does anyone understand what’s going on?” Stick-it Note Kid said. “When did doors to libraries open up down here, or ever?”

“You see odd things, teleporting is often the strangest kid.” Rosie said lighting a cigarette.

---

Berenice made a corkscrew turn in the air, causing Sunheart to scream yet again, they had been doing this a good hour already, and while the siren was having her usual fun, she could tell her new friend was not enjoying the flight time.

“Are you not used to being off of the ground so far?” she asked, aiming her mouth somewhere near her waist.

Her response was to feel a warm spot growing along her thigh. Sunheart had let go of the contents of her stomach. So she swooped down as fast as she could(something her tiny compatriot did not approve of) and landed on the beach below her nest, carefully washing herself without drowning the girl.

“You know, you are going to have to get used to this if you are going to accompany me any length of time.”

”I know!” said the girl, scrubbing her chin with the water beading on Berenice’s thigh feathers. “But perhaps the lessons can be slowed a bit> I have never been away from the ground at all except for climbing walls!”

Berenice grinned at her little friend. “Maybe think of this as a very high wall that moves around?”

She was rewarded with only a grunt of disapproval, so she decided to sit and wait for Sunheart’s stomach to settle before taking off into the evening sky again.

---

”Welcome to the ass end of nowhere. Where biting insects are the least of your worries. We’ll be going up a bit farther.

”Great. And me without my bloody bug spray.”

The two entered the forest where Salamander and the unknown Siren waited up ahead soon spotting a clearing where the sea breeze struck Eva in the face and the sight of the run down and nearly destroyed shack remained as the only reminder anyone had once lived here. Trees thinned out as few toppled over while the wild grasses grew unchecked by even nature herself.

”So who lives here that we have to meet?”

”Some interesting folk. Ah.” Merlin said as she spotted Salamander leaned against a tree. ”Here is one now. Meet Salamander. A acquaintance of sorts.”

Salamander grinned as the two moved up near him. “Seriously? This is the one the blade chose?”

The clearing echoed with laughter. And in the human’s ears, the laughter echoed off of itself, so that it became an endlessly repeating and building crescendo, bouncing off of the edge of perception and back until it was so loud her teeth vibrated. At the same time, Salamander's body split into a thousand crows, who flew so low and fast past her face that she probably couldn’t see anything but black shiny feathers. And then suddenly, without warning or transition, everything was back exactly the way it had been, and he was laughing normally, though now, instead of his old travelling clothes, he was wearing a torn denim vest, ripped up jeans, and sporting a mohawk of violently iridescent purple. He was still laughing, although it sounded normal now.

“This is going to be fun,” he said, in between chuckles. “If the bird says it’s fine, she can camp here. It’ll probably be safer than anywhere else for the moment.”

”NO, nope, no. Bloody hell and god save the queen and that fucking jazz.” As Eva snapped out of whatever Salamander had done to her.

Meanwhile Merlin sat floating above the ground simply relaxing.”Yes yes, it was just a few seconds. You’re fine. Now yes Excalibur chose her. She’s not even used to such parlor tricks barely wet behind the ears I'm afraid. Now where is your girl? I don’t suppose she’s more house trained than this one.”

”Standing right here.”

Salamander stuck two fingers in his mouth and blew what should have been a shrill but normal whistle. What came out was a hawk’s hunting cry, and it had that same echoing quality, though this time it rang about the clearing as if it had a mind of its own and it was looking for something. Out of the evening sky came an answering call, though clearer, and out of the gloom came a fast-flying feathered menace that would make most furred mammals run for cover.

As Berenice came in to land, she wondered half-heartedly why she had answered so readily to that call, but that thought immediately left her mind as she landed on a nearby tree stump, talons gouging out chunks of bark to reveal bright white wood beneath. She shifted a bit to fold her wings behind her, then folded her arms to try and look authoritative. After all, this was her nest. The overall effect, however, was more like a five year old trying to assert dominance in a room full of adults. She might have been serious about it, but no one else was buying it.

”That. I. Um, Bollocks, big bloody bollocks. On one hand I’d like to say, Birb lady. SHE’S A FREAKING BIRB! On the other. You are um. God you smell like you took a bath in the Hudson. Soap, lady it’s a thing.”

”She is more pungent than I imagined.” Merlin said erecting a barrier to mitigate the smell between herself and Berry one the Siren would likely fail to notice.

”Well this is all fine and good but why are we meeting?” Eva said as she held her nose.

”Perhaps we thought you could use some practical experience. And help this, speci, um. Lovely creature here explore what she is truly capable of.”

Berenice stared at the two newcomers. While her eyes were mostly human shaped, they were still the great golden-black orbs of an eagle, and had somewhat more intensity than most would expect from a human head. Then again, the rest of her body detracted from ‘expectations’ to begin with.

“I know what soap is! What is a Hudson, though?”

Salamander put his palm to his face and shook his head before glancing over at Merlin. “Shall we put that at one for yours, then? I’m afraid mine is a bit younger than normal. You can feel the power, though, yes? My old apprentice may have overdone himself.”

”Throbbing with power. She does have potential. More so than what I am currently working with.”

”Have you considered a nice bubble bath, or I could just have Dickens lick you clean. He won’t eat you promise.” Eva looked towards Merlin and said. ”You plan on tossing us into trouble aren’t you?”

”Not trouble, heroics, a test. A trial of your abilities, honor and likelihood of dea, defeat. A guideline and Berry needs a good influence. And the Hounds need stopping.”

”She plans on giving us trouble, first time she dropped an alien on my ass. Um big creature. Yeah. And the Hounds are bad people, killing good people and destroying lives, mages, sirens like yourself and anyone we like.”

Salamander looked at Berry. “It will also give me a good idea of where I need to start with you, and where your capabilities lie, so that I can teach you more effectively.”

Berenice nodded throughout all of these statements, though she gave off the sneaking suspicion that she might be nodding more because she thought that’s what you were supposed to do rather than because of any sort of actual understanding. And then she bent low, folding one wing over herself, looking like she was after an elusive itch somewhere. After several moments, she came back up. She smiled at Eva, displaying her unusual mouth of teeth.

”Okay, We will do this...whatever it is you are talking about. And you can get me some soap, maybe.”

”I skipped out of tracking my own assassin for this. Fine. Just. Can we get you washed up first? You smell like someone threw up on rotting meat.

”I do have a bath, although that is not the smell of rotting meat.”

”I will regret asking won’t I?” Eva said as the four of them stood in the middle of the clearing as Berry perched herself on the stump with the cabin behind her. Eva held her face with her right palm before swaying to her side back and forth. ”Gah! Weird things keep coming, why can’t this world be normal. Take out meals and tv dinners with games on the weekend. But fine. Fine. I’ll play your dumb game, take your tests.”

”For a legendary hero in training you while about the simplest things. And this is what I get for dealing with children always wanting to be pampered.”

War Never Changes

Right. Gonna try and work on something here. North has a bit to say on the current political climate.