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Formerly known as Revenant.
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Sept 18, 2020 15:36:38 GMT
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Post by Nocturne on Jan 9, 2019 10:23:44 GMT
"...And so the Knights exist. Our purpose is 50% Exploration, 50% Warfare, but always remember that we are also 100% human. We honour the Knights that have come before us, that have fallen in combat, because it is the sacrifice they make, the sacrifice we all make, that will eventually allow humanity to reclaim our home. Never feel discouraged if your findings are meagre, and your kill count low, because any contribution you make will be remembered, will be used and will change something. Every single one of you is important. Don't ever forget that."
Albert Goldenrod, Captain of the Knights of Endeavour has been talking for a while now. He looks at all of you recruits firmly, but there is a mix of emotions in his gaze. Gratitude, anticipation, hope and more. Eventually it shifts to slight admiration.
"The Knights I'm going to mention now, are those who have excelled in our program, have shown valour, cleverness, and strength. As a result, they are going to be part of the early deployment group this year. May their progress be swift and their torch never fade. Stand up, Team 48BT-"
Earlier today, you were all given an ID code at the entrance to the Meeting Hall you're now in. That lady also specifically told you to watch out for the first four characters of this code being called out, as this would be the ID code of your team. You check once to make sure, then stand up in the midst of of hundreds of people, taking a good look at your chosen teammates.
"Team 32AC, Team 74AD, Team 59KR, Team 42ML and Team 26TK."
Captain Goldenrod pauses for a moment to clap, as do the rest of the assembled soldiers. "These soldiers will be starting their mission today. We all know the details of this mission. Search and destroy, rescue and investigate. The rest of you will also deploy this year in staggered groups as per regular operations. With this, you are dismissed. The now active Knights, you have two hours to pack for an excursion, get familiar and discuss which Sector you wish to investigate first. Head over to the Mission Hall to officially start your missions afterwards, and don't forget to have a new code name for your team ready." He smiles. "Life is too short for you not to give your team a cool code name. You need not deploy just yet, but you have to head out by noon, which gives you an additional hour to get ready and discuss whatever you wish to talk about."
He gives you a final nod. "Dismissed."
With this your group's first priority is to pack. You agree to meet up in the Mission Hall afterwards. The Hall itself is quite big, with many desks at which staff are sitting. There are several small rooms walled off with glass, available for people to recline in. That is where you can be found now, in one of the many small rooms that are available in the Mission Hall. The four of you share two benches.
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Post by ventix on Jan 9, 2019 13:40:57 GMT
Xatia looks around to her fellow teammates. I suppose this is where we should start with introductions...I'll start us off! My name's Xatia and I'm some sort of psychic kick boxer...I think? Xatia tries to say. What actually comes out of her mouth is: "Life's road is long and treacherous, but by knowing thou fellow travelers thou shall be more prepared to weather all storms. To that end, I am Xatia, and I have power over mind and body alike."
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644 posts
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The dice holds no love for me...
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Post by Rhewlif_Dewdrop on Jan 9, 2019 18:54:57 GMT
Vidya hesitantly stood as the ID code for her team was called but quickly overcame her sudden nervousness and held her head high. She was pleasantly surprised at being one of the Knights for early deployments. She had an inkling but she kept herself from expecting too much in case she was disappointed. But now that she was chosen Vidya was excited at finally heading out to the field and taking that one step closer to solving the mystery in her past.
After the assembly and gearing up, Vidya headed to the their meeting spot and was reclining against the back of one of the benches as she read over one of her books when the others arrive.
Using a finger as a bookmark, Vidya directed her attention to the vibrantly green haired girl her gaze almost glaring but not in a particularly hostile manner.
”...So a psychic then. I’ll let you know now that any mind reading won’t on me.
A pleasure meeting you. My name is Vidya Kulkarni I specialize in ambush or gorilla tactics using Ghost Anima. I also use augmentations I’ve built myself.
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Post by Joltz on Jan 9, 2019 20:19:55 GMT
A rush of adrenaline ran through Silver's body when his ID was called. He joined the squad with a big smirk on his face. He was doing his absolute best to stand out, like a peacock, standing up very straight, whilst also trying to remain cool and casual. A pure projection of macho masculinity and confidence. Although on the inside, he was also quite worried about what would come. The way this Goldenrod was talking made it sound like almost a guarantee that we would all perish. It made Silver even worry about having made the right decision. But there was no crawling back now. His pride wouldn't let him.
Then the introductions started and Silver was pulled out of his concerning thoughts. "Long and treacherous?? What are you going on about woman?" He looked at his teammates with his eyebrows frowned to see if anyone else found her weird. Then Vidya introduced herself and he thought "Well all right, ambushes and guerilla tactics ... that might come in handy."
"We're a team now, so we gotta be family, we gotta trust each other with our lives." Silver spoke very seriously with a deep voice and piercing eyes, he was meaning this. "I'm Silver, from what's now called the Steel Sector. I worked the infrastructure for 10 years here, yeah ... I know ... that's a long time. But I'm here now, trained my ass off, and am ready to make a difference." He punched his words in with power, passion and self-convinced body language. "First order of business is choosing a name for our group. It has to be something cool. Whatever we choose, it should be cool. Something like Bladecallers or something cool like that ... you know." He nodded as if the matter was already settled. "Second order of business, which sector we should target first. We shouldn't go in cock and balls, guns blazing. You know ... we gotta think about it. Make the smart move." He looked at his team members ... waiting for their smart suggestions ... hoping that they would have smart suggestions.
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Post by raventhefree on Jan 9, 2019 22:58:16 GMT
Roxanne was not ready for this. Not in the slightest.
The night before Captain Goldenrod addressed the Knights-in-training, Roxanne laid in bed, Acanthus nestled beside her with his head on her right collarbone. She stroked the smooth feathers on his head, eyes and mind distant. Most knights, whether they suspected they’d be selected for early deployment or not, spent the evening before preparing. Roxanne was not the same way. While she did have the foresight to buy a sleeping bag and a tent and all the other odds and ends she might need during traveling, they were strewn across her dormitory or stuffed into her locker.
It was funny, because Roxanne did suspect she would be selected for early deployment. If someone had asked her, she would have laughed and said something along the lines of the fact that it was just a feeling. Whoever she would have been talking with would have given her a hard look and rolled their eyes before saying that it was never ‘just a feeling’ with Roxanne.
They weren’t wrong. Roxanne knew she was going to be picked. Instead of packing, she spent the last night before her deployment in peace. She didn’t know when the next night like it was going to come.
Roxanne woke up early to compensate for her restful night. She finally packed her bags and set them on the floor next to her bed, collecting them so she would not have to rush later. She made her way down to the hall, nodding briefly at the woman who gave her a new ID code. When she sat, she stared at the card as Goldenrod spoke. When she was very young, she learned that it was never a good idea to make facial expressions during the speeches of a commanding officer, so she kept her face blank. Inside, she chuckled softly at his words. I really don’t think I fit the bill of 50% exploration, 50% warfare, she mused to herself. Much closer to 80/20.
When he called the first ID, she looked down briefly at the slip of paper she had been given before standing up. She smiled as she looked at the other three Knights that stood up. Two girls with green hair--one a striking beauty, something Roxanne never quite got used--and a man who had several inches and quite a lot of muscle mass on Roxanne. It was at least a moderate comfort that the rest of her group appeared quite a lot more competent than her.
Filed out of the hall and jostled in the crowd of recruits, Roxanne finally made it back to her dormitory and grabbed her things before making it back to the Mission Hall.
Arranging her hair to hide her worst features, Roxanne smiled as she approached her group, listening to each of them as they introduced themselves. The neon-haired girl spoke as strangely as she looked, while the other girl was the bookish sort. Roxanne could appreciate that at least. It was the man Roxanne was most skeptical about, with his put-on machismo. Not intent on alienating anybody in her group, she nodded and smiled along as he spoke.
“I’m Roxanne,” she said. “Nice to meet all of you.” She crossed her arms as she looked over all of them, assessing them with an eye that wasn’t truly critical, but might have been perceived as such if not for her smile. “I specialize in scouting and investigation. I tend to get visions of things in the future and past, silly as that might sound. Anyway, it sounds like we have a nice array of recruits here. I think we'll make a good team.”
When Silver brought up sectors, Roxanne went silent for a moment. “I’m not too sure on a name yet,” she said, trying to let him down gently, “but I think we have a few options for our first sectors to explore. Since it seems like we have a lot of Psychic presence--my Pokemon, Acanthus, is a Xatu--as well as a member of the party with a connection to the Ghost Anima, it may be a good choice to approach the Fighting sector. Poison wouldn’t be a bad choice either, and neither would Grass--especially seeing as a lot of them are also Poison-types.”
She went quiet for only a moment. “Of course, I’m happy to go anywhere. And--before I forget--when we have time, I’m happy to mentor any of your Pokemon. I know a thing or two about that, so just holler.”
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Post by ventix on Jan 9, 2019 23:35:46 GMT
In response, Xatia releases her own Xatu. So embarrassing...What did I do to deserve this annoying curse? She thinks, as she digs a pen and notepad out of her satchel, writing down a message before holding it up for the others to read. "Sorry about my introduction. Due to circumstances beyond my control, I am unable to speak as I wish. On a related note, as long as I get to kill the Psychic King with my own hands by the end, I do not care which section we start with, though I would like to start looking into the Flying sector myself. I have a... special reason to study the Flying Anima, not to mention my tribe's home is beyond the Flying sector's walls. By the way, this is my Xatu, Giya." The note reads.
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The dice holds no love for me...
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Post by Rhewlif_Dewdrop on Jan 10, 2019 19:51:10 GMT
Vidya attentively listens to the others talk albeit with a rather dour expression on her face. As she took each bit of new information about her team Vidya gently taps her book against her knee as she thought about how to utilize each of their abilities without taking any consideration of her personal impressions of them. Certainly, while apparently much older, Silver seems to be the exact opposite of herself; a childish muscle-head. Deciding their team name was the least of her worries let alone how 'cool' it was.
Listening to Roxanne, Vidya mentally made a note to herself to check her psychic print as well as Xatia's. There was some good suggestion from the seer and seems very observant backing her claims as a scout and investigator. Turning her attention toward Xatia as she held up a notepad, Vidya arched an eyebrow at unusual method of communication but waited until she had finished reading what the girl wrote. Enlighten, Vidya gave a single slow nod then slaps her knee with her book as she stood.
"While I understand that it is not how you wish to speak, anyone that have ever read a book should be able to understand you and we will unlikely be able to wait for you to write things down while in the field... Vidya pause as she adjust her hips stachel and bag, the book still in hand.
As for sectors the Flying and Poison Sections will require preparation we will most likely be unable to finish in time for departure. The flying type are notoriously for using aerial maneuvers to stay out of reach of attacks. Perhaps Xatia's Giya could reach them but we'll stand a better chance once everyone is equipped with range capabilities. Poison means preparing Antidotes... which I myself have none prepared. Fighting type is an option I suppose but while ghost types are immune to their attack so are they immune to ghost. If we engage with them I would not be able to contribute my full strength to our excursion.
Which leaves the Grass Section. While they are capable of afflicting a number of status effects I believe it is the sector we are best suited for investigating out of those suggested. My marowak, Manas is a Fire/Ghost Type and the pokemons we find in there should prove useful in investigating other sectors. I'm statisfied with investigating the Grass Sector if no one else have a better suggestion we can do some warm ups with our Pokémons before time of departure. Vidya started heading toward the exit but but came to a stop as she recalled their need for a name.
I do not care about names but base on what the Captain said we might as well call ourselves "Martyrs". Vidya let slips a dark smile and wait for the opinion of her teammates.
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Post by Joltz on Jan 10, 2019 20:19:53 GMT
When Roxanne spoke of her reluctance to adopt Bladecallers as a team name, Silver frowned at her and then his eyes showed an aha-moment. "Oh apologies, of course you don't like Bladecallers ... you're carrying a gun. I would also find it weird to be called Gunslingers. Yeah I totally get that. We're a family now, our name should be applicable to everyone." He nodded.
Silver was confident about all of the suggestions being brought forward on which Sector to tackle. He wasn't very knowledgable about Pokémon. He wasn't stupid, he could sense that there was some sort of reason for them to suggest certain sectors based on what they were good at, he just couldn't figure out what that reason was and was a little too embarrassed to ask. Didn't wanna look like an idiot. "You guys make some good points. I agree ... mm hmm." Even though he didn't read the note that silent girl held up.
"Hold on though ... Martyrs?" He pondered for a bit. "That's actually quite cool if you think about it. We're putting our livelihoods on the line for humanity. That's what Martyrs do ... Yeah I like it! Good one Vidya!"
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Post by ventix on Jan 10, 2019 23:52:35 GMT
Xatia writes another note. "Actually, Fighting Types aren't immune to Ghost type moves, only Normal types are. Additionally, I won't be using the notepad to communicate in the field, as I'm fully aware of the impracticality. And, Silver, martyrs are specifically people who have died for a cause and been hailed as heroes because of it. As such, I would like to veto it. A name like that implies we intend to die out there fighting, but I intend to have a life after the war, thank you very much. Personally, I would like to recommend Ragnarok, a word that pertains to the fall of gods, but I feel like whatever we call ourselves should be unanimous."
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Post by raventhefree on Jan 11, 2019 0:47:20 GMT
"I do think that the Fighting-type sector might be our most promising option. As Xatia said--er, wrote--ghosts are immune to Fighting-type damage while also being fully capable of striking back. That gives at least three of us a pretty significant advantage against them. Besides," Roxanne continued. "If Xatia wishes to return to the Flying sector, going to the Fighting sector first will allow us to potentially pick up some options to deal with Ice- or Rock-type Pokemon, who will be super effective against Flying-types. This is especially important because as far as I can tell, we don't have a whole lot of options for them otherwise. Fighting can also deal with Steel-types, which it sounds like only Manas will be able to deal with right now."
She paused, smiling as she finished her assessment before looking at her teammates. "Ah, sorry. I promise I'm not always so dense. You know what, scratch that. I definitely can't promise that." She grinned. Letting the others discuss among themselves, Roxanne nodded along, tapping her foot to a song nobody else could hear as she followed on with their conversation. None of the names were jumping out to her, but she wasn't too bothered. Of all things, Roxanne was certainly not one to find the true names of things.
"Hmm," she considered as no conclusion was reached. "Well, what are some things we have in common? Everybody here has lost something--I'm not even talking about you all in particular. I haven't seen my home in ten years and my parents in just about that long. 'The Lost' seems a little pessimistic, but we could perhaps go as 'The Found'? Or, more to the point, something about the fact that what unites us is a single goal--'Ardent Purpose', perhaps? As fond as I am of 'Finem Regum,' that's a bit of overconfidence, I would think."
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Post by Joltz on Jan 11, 2019 6:23:50 GMT
Silver came closer to read the note. He squinted his eyes and bowed forward to properly read ... such a long note ... "Who said you had a veto silent girl?" His whole energy changed in that one sentence. An intense stare coupled with direct and powerful intonation of his words. Although ... she did have a point ... Martyrs was a bad idea.
He turned to the group again. "Guys guys ... we're gonna be world famous. These complicated names ... they're not gonna work. The common folk should also be able to relate to us. Who likes ... Quest Love?"
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Post by ventix on Jan 11, 2019 19:49:55 GMT
"Hmph" Xatia says, unfazed and unimpressed with Silver's intense stare and words. She quickly writes another note and shows it to Silver. "I get a veto because I'm a part of this team, stupid boy. Speaking of which, I'm vetoing Quest Love. It just sounds like the name of a drummer of some band. If we're going with simple and relatable, how about we just go with Guardians? It's short, sweet, and to the point."
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Post by Joltz on Jan 12, 2019 10:42:55 GMT
Silver grabbed the note in order to read it properly, his back was starting to ache from arching forward. He raised one eyebrow at Xatia, remaining his intimidating energy for a few seconds. Then he bursted into laughter. "Hahahaha I like this one. Guardians it is!"
He looked to the clock that was hanging on the wall. "It's almost noon." He said to the group. His eyes phased out for a moment, when reality sank in. Then Silver snapped himself out of it and a smile on his face appeared. It was time to prove to himself who he really was. "Everyone ready to enter the Fighting Sector?!"
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644 posts
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The dice holds no love for me...
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Post by Rhewlif_Dewdrop on Jan 12, 2019 10:59:31 GMT
Vidya nods along as the other talk about the sector they should investigate, agreeing to go to the Fight sector with a murmur. She sighs however as the rest of her team continued to debates on a name. ”This is not getting us anywhere...”
Vidya murmurs her patience wearing thin. ”I apologize if my little joke made you uncomfortable Xatia. But very few Knights retire and my own parents had perished looking for answers about the demeses. We would not be here without their sacrifices.
Now I don’t care to dwell on names much longer. If everyone would think of a name between 1 and 18 the person closest to the number I am thinking of gets to pick the name. If a majority, not one, Vidya pointedly looks at Xatia.
Wish to veto the name then we’ll will repeat the process and some will pick another name.
(OOC: I think we can do the number picking and choosing the name in the discord. If we go along with this plan that is.)
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Post by raventhefree on Jan 12, 2019 14:00:57 GMT
Roxanne frowned as Silver and Xatia got into a bit of a row. "Hey, hey--can we please not insult each other? We need to be a cohesive team, and I really don't think it's productive to outright insult each other or lash out at our teammates." Roxanne's eyes lost their normal brightness for a moment as she looked between Silver and Xatia. "If this is really how you're going to react to just choosing a name, what will happen when we have to make a more important decision in the field?"
She waved her hand as if to dismiss the previous conversation. "Honestly, I'm not too picky about a team name. Unless Vidya has an objection, Guardians is fine with me. A little simple for my tastes, but easy to remember and easy to say." Roxanne stood up straight, running her hands along her uniform to smooth it and shaking her head. Her usual, easy grin returned. "Okay. Is there anything else we need to address before we head out?" She ran through the list of Fighting Pokemon she was aware of and ultimately decided there weren't anything in particular they needed to do to prepare for the sector itself, but there may be things they needed before venturing out for the first time.
"The only thing I can think of is that someone else here might know something about the Fighting King. It sounds like we might not have a lot of time to talk to the others, but let's not forget to ask the person giving us our assignment about any potential intelligence they have about the region--I've never been there myself."
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Post by ventix on Jan 12, 2019 19:40:21 GMT
"The unprepared are the favored prey of the unknown. Those that would fall alone may triumph together." Xatia says while holding up her bag, suggesting that they also take inventory of everyone's equipment.
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Post by Joltz on Jan 12, 2019 20:05:06 GMT
Silver waved Roxanne's concerns away. "Just getting to know each other. Very important when you're family."
Then Xatia spoke again in what he perceived as jibberish and Silver shrugged.
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Post by ventix on Jan 12, 2019 20:08:53 GMT
Xatia gives a small sigh and writes a quick note before passing it to Silver. "What I mean to say is that we should make sure we have the right equipment before heading out and that we should take stock of what gear the group as a whole has."
After passing the note to Silver, she pulls out the contents of her satchel to show everyone. A tent, a sleeping bag, some rope, a some books.
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Post by raventhefree on Jan 13, 2019 14:15:46 GMT
Not wanting to disrupt the contents of her own bag by digging through it, Roxanne tapped her chin as she recalls what's in her bag. "Normal stuff. Tent, sleeping bag, a lighter, a flashlight, a water filter, some rope..." she paused, trying to come up with anything else that was in there or if there was anything she should have grabbed but missed. "Some medical supplies. A handful of Pokeballs. Oh, and a gas mask. I'm afraid there will be nasty gas leaks or other areas that aren't traversable without it. Someone else could always use it if need-be, too. That and my gun," she said, tapping the side of her backpack. "Not that I'm really any good with it."
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Post by Joltz on Jan 13, 2019 16:39:29 GMT
Silver took the note from Xatia, read it, and did nothing but say "Seriously though, I'll treat you as my own sister and protect you with my life, but do you have some sort of speech disorder?", accompanied by a dry tone and one raised eyebrow.
Speaking of his sister triggered him thinking of her. His memory twirled back to this morning. He was outside with Azzurra, preparing her for a potential excursion. When Layla came running at him from the house, in tears. She was having a hard time accepting that she might lose the only family she had left. Guilting Silver in his selfish choice of joining the Knights.
Silver phased out in front of the group and sighed. "I hope she can find a way to understand and accept that this is my path."
Then he looked to all the equipment on the floor. "Yeah sure, sure, got it. I'm ready."
OOC: Nocturne I'm ready to head out.
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