Zeroth

♦ A New Era ♦ - A My Hero Academia RP

@pkkenI'm not sure what category the Quirk I'm thinking of would fall into, but here's the gist:

The character is born with no arms, but has a metallic "base" where his shoulders should be--think something like the part of Edward Elric's automail that covers part of his chest--on both sides. When he reaches the age where Quirks start to manifest, he begins to create mechanical arms that attach to those bases. By developing his skill and control over the power, he'd be able to alter the arms. They would always be mechanical in nature, but the other qualities he could give them would depend on how far-reaching, powerful, etc the Quirk could be without getting too overpowered.

When I originally thought of this, it was more of a "mechanical" power than a "creation" one, and thus the alterations to the arms consisted of adding things like blades, weapons, grappling hooks, and so forth. But I don't think I'll end up going with that unless some of these other suggestions get denied, because as time went on he'd either have an answer for every situation like Batman's utility belt, or else his abilities would focus on pure firepower. Heroes in MHA tend to avoid lethal force and collateral damage whenever possible, so a hero bristling with guns and swords might not work.

In lieu of making it a more "creation" based power, I came up with the idea that he simply alters the number of arms and their structural properties: Four arms instead of two, arms that are much longer for reach, arms that are big enough to serve as shields or bulky enough to give more strength. But I haven't quite figured out the specifics of this "creation," (the only other Quirk that seems to come close is Momo Yaoyorozu's) and thus don't have a good idea of what its upper limits and weaknesses would have to be yet.

If you've ever heard of the game Asura's Wrath, this character would essentially be an MHA-level version of that game's main character--sprouting cyborg arms, punching stuff a lot, and so forth.

If you have any issues with this, please let me know. I'm also very open to suggestions for how to improve the idea.

Fire Emblem: Weight of the World

@AmbraForgot my header and had to edit it in, dunno if that messed the mention up or not. So just letting you know Gorou's talking to Rhea.

Fire Emblem: Weight of the World

_{G O R O U}

Greymont Castle - Banquet Hall > Main Gates

---

Gorou expected that, once Rhea opened the floor, there would be a great many questions at once. After all, they had so many people here, and the swordsman was beginning to doubt any of them really knew why they were here or what they would be doing. But as the conversation continued, his doubts began growing more and more into full blown anxiety. When the man with a mercenary air about him stood up, his armor scraping, and immediately asked if they were good to go because he was restless, Gorou became truly thankful for the fact that his mask would hide any annoyed glares he gave these folks. Were there any more preparations? This was preparation! Had he not paid attention to the fact that Gorou himself had just asked an important question pertaining to their tactics? It were as if the man held a one-sided conversation, speaking without listening, or reading without comprehending what was actually happening.

Another man slammed his armored fist into the table, and the sharp, resounding impact made Gorou reflexively push his chair a few inches backward. It was not out of fear--anyone who paid attention would see the placement of his feet and know that he had positioned himself to rise and lunge in one motion. But it turned out that the noise was not a sign of violence to come, merely this dark haired youth's juvenile way of getting attention. He announced that Maize would soon arrive--Maize, the Dauntless? Gorou became intensely interested in that information, but couldn't it have waited for a more polite timing, or at least stated in a way that didn't so rudely interrupt everyone else's thoughts and meals? Gorou hoped the young man wasn't like this all the time--he had the look of one with some kind of chip on his shoulder.

One of the women, the one whose robes were as distinctly cultural as Gorou's own--though if his guess was correct, she was from the horse archers of south Ibion, rather than any of the old lines of Estala--asked another question, but this one wasn't so rudely worded and didn't overshadow Gorou's own--rather, it added a helpful qualitive. How long was this journey expected to last? Indeed, they were expected to suppress the pirate forces...but were they meant to hold out until King Erigan could send reinforcements? Was this inexperienced Prince and only a rag-tag party meant to wage an entire war by themselves? The Estali were known as thinkers, tacticians and leaders--fitting for those who practiced the study of magic--but surely they had planned all of this out beforehand and had some idea of how long it would take, what strategies they would employ, how much supply they needed...

The little priestess also waited politely, and simply introduced herself. She seemed very timid, but then again, her place was to heal and not to fight. Gorou made a note to try and keep her within sight, once they actually had a battle to fight--failing to protect healers in war was like showing one's belly to the enemy. There was a saying that "A crippled soldier is worth three dead," that Gorou himself had put to use whenever he found himself facing too many opponents. If you killed an enemy, that was one down. If you cut his sword hand off or broke his leg, however, that meant it took one more man to haul him off the field, and a third to see to his wounds. Miss Arin of Avondale would hopefully keep that from happening to any of them.

But now the Prince finally got around to answering them. As Gorou had thought before, what the royal said would give him a far better stock of just what kind of situation he found himself in. And the masked swordsman was...disappointed. He went pale as he looked at Gorou first, and simply answered that they would be "sailing." Sailing, yes, that had been expected considering they were going to fight pirates. But sailing where? To the North? Up the coasts? Were they attacking the pirate base directly, or would they cut off their supply routes? "Sailing" said about as much about battle tactics as "fighting" did! And on top of that, the Prince didn't even know how long the engagement was supposed to last? Gorou's disappointment redoubled, and the anxiety he had begun to feel earlier joined it in what could not under any circumstances be a pleasant combination. But now the Prince sat down and fiddled with something around his neck. Gorou saw him smile, the kind of small personal smile a person makes when they think to themselves "I did it!"

Thank the Goddess that no one could see his eyes behind the mask.

Then, he entered. The Dauntless, the man of the frozen north who had fought first against the Estalan, and who now swore his loyalty to them as a knight of the realm. The tales of his prowess from the arena, and as a knight from two lands, marked him with his moniker. Gorou could barely keep his hand away from the grip of his sword--he didn't want the movement to be misinterpreted. Would the Dauntless accept a respectful request to spar? How would the old ways fare against someone who had seen battle from both sides of the field, learned two schools of swordplay and ironed them out with experience?

But before he could ask anything, Maize urged them to wrap things up and prepare to leave. They would be heading to Port Sesta, but other than that once again the information was sparse. Did they expect this group to just...follow along, without knowing anything? A chilling fear dawned on Gorou that his mental image of the Dauntless might be shattered, much like his expectations of a competent Prince had been.

There was a slight hustle and bustle as everyone made ready. They were ushered out to the gates, where their horses and supplies had already been prepared. Gorou took a look around for any wagons or pack mules, hoping that he could gauge the answer to "how long will this be?" from the amount of supplies they were going to carry with them. As his gaze traveled, he also took note that Rhea was saddling up a Wyvern. His initial assumption about the scent on her had been correct, then.

Though she had let the Prince do most of the talking, it was Rhea who had opened the field to questions. She and Maize seemed cut from the same cloth, no-nonsense, but where Maize had rushed them out of the hall she seemed merely impatient, putting her own affairs in order and then waiting with an irked expression for the rest of them. Perhaps he could get actual answers from her.

@Ambra"Excuse me, Dame." Gorou approached Rhea, taking note of the wyvern and relaxing his body language in case the creature wasn't fond of strangers. "The Prince seemed somewhat flustered--understandable, of course--so forgive me that I ask for clarification from you instead. I asked whether we were heading directly north, or would be engaging the pirates in their outposts on the coastlines. And the lady of Ibion--Siran, I believe?--asked how long this engagement was expected to last. Neither were clearly answered. Can you please give us more specifics?"

♦ A New Era ♦ - A My Hero Academia RP

Potentially interested. Could you give more information about larger plot elements? Personally as much as I love MHA's setting, I've found in the past that high-school based RPs fall apart quickly if there's nothing to do besides slice-of-life type stuff with the occasional "mission" or whatever it is the superhero/magic/youkai/etc academy lets its students do. Will there be an overarching series of events to drive the players to actually do things besides "hang out" or show off their powers against fodder?

Fire Emblem: Weight of the World

@LordVoldemort@AmbraI think everyone's posted at this point, right? Will Eli or Rhea be making a response to the questions/introductions soon?

Fire Emblem: Weight of the World

The only problems I have with a post cycle are that if one person disappears without warning it can throw a wrench into things, especially if that person is in a position where whatever their response would be can't be temporarily passed over, and it makes getting a character's two cents out a bit more tedious and less likely to be noticed in some situations because they're either writing long posts responding to everyone at once (which other players are likely to skim) or by the time it's their "turn" the response they wanted to make is obsolete in the chain of events.

Speaking of turns, will this post cycle have a certain order of initiative?

Fire Emblem: Weight of the World

_{G O R O U}

Greymont Castle - Banquet Hall

---

Before Jauna could answer his question about her sword, the Prince announced that the group would be breaking their fast with him before they set out. The bard became jubilant at this, announcing something Gorou didn't understand in one of the Ibion dialects, and played an uplifting tune on his lute. He was certainly skilled at his craft, even attracting a red songbird from the windowsill. Gorou idly wondered if the other bird in attendance, the one with the timid girl in white, would share in the music.

Jauna let their conversation end there, though with a polite reassurance to continue later on. Along with the others, Gorou moved into the banquet hall and sat at the behest of one of the many butlers and maids. For now the plates were empty, but no doubt the servants would bring whatever had been prepared posthaste. Gorou gulped softly; as a wanderer and only occasional mercenary, it was rare that he ever had more than enough for a simple meal at a tavern or a few loaves from the markets. A warrior needed food as badly as he needed weapons and armor, and who knew when an opportunity to eat royal fare might come again?

The Prince, of course, sat at the head of the table. Rhea took the seat at his right, and the bard stood to provide the music. The others would likely seat wherever they pleased, though Gorou himself had once again chosen a place near a window and with the widest view of the room. Their royal employer encouraged them to speak freely, get to know each other, and ask any questions they had about the mission. Rhea was the first to do so, formally introducing herself...and, ever so subtly, encouraging the present company to keep their focus on the journey that lay ahead. Gorou appreciated that the Prince's personal adviser behaved fittingly, as the lad himself seemed to have a woefully lacking sense of his surroundings--or, perhaps not entirely. Now that Gorou thought about it, there had already been a few actions and words by the Prince designed to diffuse the oppressive air...but maybe he was overthinking it.

@LordVoldemort@Ambra"Your Majesty. Dame Rhea." Gorou stood, again inclining his head. "I am Gorou, merely a wanderer. Some time ago I was traveling the coast and became involved in a few skirmishes with pirates. Captain Aiden of the village of Jonsferry, recruited me--the report I brought from him was submitted yesterday."

Hopefully, either Eli or Rhea had read this report already. Gorou hadn't, merely carrying the sealed letter to its place of delivery on his way to the capital, but within the report Captain Aiden had made specific note of the swordsman's skill in dispatching the raiding party at Jonsferry. Perhaps more importantly, it also contained recorded routes and activities of pirates in the area--where they had been seen coming and going, what locations they had attacked and how each militia had fared against them, and little inklings of information gained from prisoners.

"I was told," Gorou continued, "that I would serve as a field guide and, once we have encountered pirates, to offer any advice possible--as well as fighting, obviously. I do so gladly, but I must ask: Will we be marching directly to the northern islands, or campaigning along the coastlines?"

To go directly north would be to engage the pirate fleets on their home turf--to strike the seat of their power and cut off the serpent's head. However, ships did not sail on empty holds. The pirates had enough manpower and ships to raid all along the continental coasts, but traveling so far even by the fastest vessels meant weeks, sometimes months, at sea. They had to have many hideaways and hidden coves along their routes, so that they could resupply with fresh food, water, and other necessities. Any shanty-towns in the vicinity would provide a place for desperate men or fugitive criminals to be recruited, and for different crews to meet up and swap information.

Even if they went north to destroy whatever powerful groups or individuals had brought most of the other pirate gangs under their thumb, if the vermin had a nest to return to elsewhere the problem could start all over. Or worse, the pirate fleets would become even more spread out without a central command, and thus the conflict would shift from "war" to a chaotic search for pockets of "insurgency" that could be anywhere at any time with little predictability.

Depending on who gave the answer to Gorou's question, and what the answer was, he would be able to take a better stock of this unusual group in which he found himself.

Fire Emblem: Weight of the World

_{G O R O U}

Greymont Castle

---

The young lady greeted him cheerily, but seemed somewhat flustered. She apologetically admitted that she hadn't even known the garment's name, but seemed interested in learning more. Her smile and curtsy were controlled and deliberate...and after a moment she offered him her hand. Beneath the mask Gorou's eyes darted to one side. He could already feel the slight tension in the air, as Lady Rhea narrowed her eyes at him. There was no killing intent there, but Gorou could understand her suspicion. And given the way this Jauna lass had been looking at the Prince...

@Mistiel"I am sorry, Miss Jauna." he said quietly. He bowed deeper, actually bending at the waist somewhat, but he made a point of not taking or kissing the offered hand. "I am not of noble birth, and would not wish the gesture to besmirch your reputation." It might be considered rude to refuse, especially when the offer came from grace rather than being required by a formal event, but the dishonor would fall solely to him--rather than "how scandalous, for her to offer him her hand!" it was instead "how dare a commoner refuse the courtesy offered to him!"--and Gorou had no problem with that. At the same time, it would hopefully keep him out of whatever was brewing between these two ladies of the court and their Prince.

As he stood straight once more--though now he wondered if he had been too forward from the start, and should have stayed silent--he continued from earlier.

"As to the kimono, it is of no concern. You wear it well, and I'm sure the fashions of the court are hard enough to keep up with without the burden of history." He gestured to his own robes. "Not many outside the old clans still wear these garments, or use swords like mine. I was merely curious."

His gaze fell upon her sword; its dimensions were usable, but not custom fit to Jauna's own hands. A noble lady carrying a blade was a thing of itself, but why one that seemed secondhand? Had she simply bought it from a merchant, rather than directly from the smith? Despite feeling that he might be overstepping himself, forcing conversation like this when he would rather sit and observe, he asked another question.

"Again, if I may ask, Miss Jauna," he began, "your sword is of excellent craftsmanship. Whence did you come upon it?"

Fire Emblem: Weight of the World

@MistielMercurial's got it. When I started thinking up ideas for a Myrmidon I looked through the different countries, but none of them had a Japanese/Far East kind of "Fantasy Counterpart Culture." So when I wrote Gorou's backstory I just winged it and put in some stuff about Estala having a small subset of that culture before the kingdom as it is presently known was founded. Based on what's been said about the Estali royal line and such, this would have been hundreds of years ago, so they're still "Estalan" instead of "foreign," they just have somewhat unique traditions.

Fire Emblem: Weight of the World

I feel like I might have written way too much, let me know if I'm being too much of a windbag.