Future Arcana (IC)

[Chyoko]

Fair-sin's Jian swords stuck out from the pathetic human, blood dripping from the blades in a crimson paint. "You know, the best part of justice is that you can twist it into so many perceptions that it can benefit you. And when it's for a profit, well that's just damned dandy." Driving the swords even deeper into his shoulder blades, she heard a someone from behind.

"Um.. Ma'm sorry for interrupting but-" Fair-sin cut off the annoying person with a hiss.

"I'm busy as you see, and if you were sorry you wouldn't have done it!"

"But there is a summons from Olduiin." Now that perked her interest. With a sigh she crossed the blades over her captives chest, effectively killing the minor crime boss. Honestly, why would someone start up a business that she was currently in the running as queen bee? Turning on her heel she let out a ferocious smile, she could charm a snake or scare a bear, and right now she wasn't the charmer.

"Thank you for the information but... you bothered me." Grabbing him by the shirt collar, she pulled the messenger close, and let her tongue dart out of her mouth and stroke up his cheek. She smelled the burning flesh before letting go and walking away, a horrible smile covering her features.
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Fair-sin sat in room 96, most likely a pun against her strange predicament, but she didn't much care. Some liked to make fun, and as long as they laughed, and maybe donated to her charity she didn't much care. When the door opened to reveal the bugbear Leonard, who had led her to her room, she stood with a dashing smile placed neatly on her face.

"You are running a little late unfortunately, but your wanted in room zero." She nodded brightly before all but skipping from the room. She watched as people filed into room zero, jogging slightly to catch up she caught the door before it closed. She peeked in with a smile, then slid quietly into the room, an intoxicating grin never leaving her face.

[Gluttony]

Two dwarves joined the group shortly after Korgo had found his way outside of room zero. Ogres were tolerant of most races, but they took a particular liking to the stocky dwarves, for though they were small in stature they possessed a higher strength to size ratio than almost any other race. Plus they were funny. And made great booze. One of the dwarves was outfitted with an enormous battle-axe, one of the favorite weapons of dwarves. He had but a single eye, proof that he was either a seasoned warrior or mightily clumsy. Korgo assumed the former.

The second dwarf carried a crossbow. Korgo liked him already.

When they were finally permitted entrance into room zero, Korgo was met with a large boardroom occupied mostly by the large table in its center. At the head of the table sat a man who was not a man. Olduiin, the ancient dragon, in human form. He radiated a sense of superiority that none could contend with and upon seeing him Korgo immediately dropped to one knee and bowed his head. This was no small token of respect. Ogres rarely bowed. In fact, the action itself was barely part of their culture. There were but two occasions in which one would see an ogre bow: To accept the penalty of death by an executioner's axe, and in the presence of a being whose power was vast enough that they could not even entertain the notion of equality.

[FullM00n]

The two dwarves, after carefully inspecting the rest of Olduiin's visitors, entered the dragon's room alongside them.Yet they saw no dragon, just a human smoking a cigar.An old human too, that is.

"Dari, do your eyes see a dragon anywhere?Because mine, by the Stone, cannot." Orrim whispered to his brother as they glanced around the room in search of the mighty and legendary beast.The only one there seemed to be that man.

"Orrim, you mudhead, that's Olduiin!Dont you see the ogre bowing?He must have transformed or something." he replied to his brother before talking to the great dragon."Olduiin, I am Dari Stormbringer.Marksman and bard if I may say so.Before you announce your reason for calling us here, please tell us which one of our kind you invited.Me or Orrim?"

"And I am Orrim Stormbringer, inventor and proud member of the Legion.Tell us dragon so that we can die in peace." Orrim added and anxiously waited for Olduiin's answer.This subject was of great importance to the siblings since their honor was at stake.

[Wolven1]

Hex sat in an empty chair, all around here were different creatures, different fighters and seemingly all of them had weapons. A small smile slide onto her face as she realised how challenging it would be to set the room alight. There was little fuel for a fire, it seemed Olduiin had thought out very carefully what room to set the meeting in. Though, Hex didn’t really need something to keep her fires burning, all she needed to do was place a small fleck of an ember on someone’s clothing and in no time it would spread.

Hex pushed away her amused thoughts and focused on the creatures inside the steal room. The person who summoned them all here, wasn’t speaking, everyone held their tongue in awe at the sight of him. Or so it seemed. Out of a nervous habit, Hex began twirling a tiny flame around her fingers, it was an exercise she had learnt to control the fires she created, and it soon became second nature for her to do it. Some around her were addressing the dragon, someone was bowing, but Hex was content not speaking and twirling her little fire.

[Soshi]

Deep within her meditative state, Seria floated within the dreamworld that was her mind, watching her mind's visual interpretation of time itself, streams of pure light that pulsed along their lengths, as if they were alive. It was a grand sight indeed to behold to witness the infinite nature of time. Suddenly, the very world around her began shattering into countless pieces as she felt a heavy hand on her shoulder shaking her awake. As her mind was roughly jolted back into reality, Seria vaguely heard the deep voice of something inhuman calling to her.

"You, woman. Are you alive or should I have someone carry you off?" The voice asked as Seria's eyes began to awake from hours of deep meditation. Her visioning returning to clarity once again, she saw that the voice came from a large, towering bugbear. Dressed in a suit, oddly enough.

"Is this it? Olduiin's ship?" Seria inquired while rubbing her eyes with one hand, while picking up her sheathed sword from where it lay beside her.

"Yes. You are also very late." The bugbear responded gruffly, his slight annoyance hinting at just how late she was. "You are to wait in room zero until Olduiin calls for you. Now, please." The bugbear said, motioning with an extended arm down the corridor to her intended destination.

Bowing slightly in gratitude, Seria gracefully made her way through the corridor. Being late already, there was no point in rushing things any further. That was her opinion on the matter, at least. Quietly pushing the door open, Seria let herself into the room, finding a few other individuals waiting there already. Of those gathered there already, the most peculiar was a woman who had both the characteristics of a fellow aasimar, but also those of a tiefling. Not knowing whether she should be friendly or apprehensive around this woman, Seria chose the only logical course of action: to do nothing.

[Vanilla Fire]

Olduiin watched as the pitiful number entered his board room. First, the gnome known as Azha Shimmersilt, a fine technological mind, but not important for his current needs. She was to replace his engineer, Brandon Cross, who has been killed in an unfortunate drive core explosion after he had publically criticised Olduiin about safety. Perhaps if he had performed his job better, Brandon might still be alive.

Secondly, a woman who he had wished to see existed, an amalgamation of both aasimar and tiefling. It was a remarkable read, but an impressive sight. He hoped the numerous aasimar and tieflings he invited would not kill her, if any showed up at all. Next to her was another fine oddity, an ogre with a favouring for ranged combat. But, like most ogres, respected Olduiin as a warlord, and Korgal Stick-Thrower bowed before him, making Olduiin blink in disbelief.

The dwavren Stormbringer twins entered, still bickering as their dossier mentioned they would. Both approached, asking who he had sent for, but still, Olduiin did not answer. He just remained where he was, smoking the cigarette between his falsifyed stained teeth. He would not say a thing until he was undisturbed for several minutes, enough time to analyse the situation.

An aasimar walked in, a blade to her back, and an almost curious glance at Fair-sin. olduiin had no time to ascertain which she was, as a drow walked in, a small jet of flame inbetween her fingers. Ah, Hex the Pyromancer.
He took his seat, and awaited for silence. When it had been granted, he opened his mouth, his hands connected together in a double-fist on the table.

'Welcome to all of you,' he began, and eyed everyone with his soulless blue eyes, 'as you are all undoubtedly aware, I am Olduiin, and yes, ' he shot a glance at Orrim, 'I am in human form. Normally, I would seek you all out myself. Unfortunately, I did not have time'

He rose from his chair, pulling down a holographic panel, which shimmered and revealed a small holographic image of Loth, the homeworld of the drow, and Estuary, a well-known mining planet of the dwarves.
'Both these planets have dropped from contact, and I have reason to believe they have been attacked, as this small video log from Loth suggests'

Olduiin's fingers darted over the panel, and a small drow girl with what appeared to be a distorted spider teddy, tears streaming from her amber eyes, as she panickly recounted events.

'Hello, I'm Mino, and we're in trouble. I live on Loth with my moother and father, and Creep, 'she lifted her spider as an explosion was heard outside, 'big, metal men have attacked and they killed my father. My mother is outside fighting, and, 'antoher explosion, 'I'm scared. I shouldn't be, but I don't want to die. The metal men have big guns, and big robots. There's a human with black wings outside, I saw him. He-'

The video cut out, and Olduiin sighed.

'This was the only video we recieved, and I can see the fear in those eyes of youth. I have called for the best and brightest of every race to come together and fight whatever this is'

Olduiin smiled to himself, and started walking around the table.

'I have chosen all of you, all,' he glanced at the dwarven twins, 'of you. I do not want your praise,' he smiled at Korgal, 'and I want you to pay attention,' he put out the flame in Hex's hand by snorting it into his nose. He blew it out above, and smiled again, 'I will provide anything you need. A ship, fully staffed, awaits in the cargo bay to take you to Loth. Estuary can wait as it is not a colony. Leonard and Rapture will be accompaning all of you'

Olduiin stopped, thinking about his invitations.

'As I know not all can arrive on schedule, I have installed a teleporter in the science bay, which shall be manned by Azha Shimmersilt. The rest of you are the one I need on the planet. Any questions?'

[Chyoko]

"Well I don't know about the others," Fair-sin grinned, "but I'm in this for the pay, comfort, and killing. So as long as I get that then I'll do as you ask." She nodded at Olduiin, moving to the door. She opened the door, turned around and bowed keeping her eyes situated in front of her. One of he reasons she survived so long is her lack of distrust, and on occasion, the finesse she rarely exhibited.

"It was a pleasure meeting you dragon." Fair-sin knew she would be getting off on the wrong foot from her blatant disrespect for the old dragon, but she was highly intolerant of being in groups she didn't know. Also her room number pissed her off, there wasn't even that many doors on the ship, and who's ship was it exactly? Hell if it had been anyone else she probably would have stabbed them by now, but she wasn't that much of a fool to try and stab a great dragon.

She walked out of the room, staring at the metal corridors to make sure no one attacked her from behind.

[Wolven1]

Hex watched the video of her home planet in total shock, she hadn’t noticed when Olduiin had put out her tiny flame or anything else he had said, nothing registered after that video. Hex clenched her fists trying to control her Pyromancy. It was connected to her emotions, all of her magic was, but her Pyromancy was the strongest. Before she knew it she had engulfed her hand in a flame. These flames were dangerous when summoned by complete rage, she knew that, that is how fires get out of control. She realised her grip and the flames died. Burning down this place wouldn’t help, it would only cause more harm. She stood and began walking to the door.

“What ship is it?” she snarled, her red eyes glowing. Although she had no family she knew of on that planet, it was still her home and she would fight for it.

[Soshi]

The sight of the frightened holographic girl sent chills through Seria's core, knowing that the child in the recording was most likely no longer alive. In a strange way, the little girl reminded Seria of herself when she was younger, gradually losing each of her friends one by one as they died of old age. Although the guilt of being alive was silenced through her meditation, the long-buried memories of her suffering still lingered in the depths of her mind.

"If you will excuse me for asking the obvious," Seria asked with hesitation, as she felt she already knew the grim reply that would come. "Surely we are not the only ones to respond to this crisis? What of the defense forces of the other planets and what will they do to help in this matter?" As she finished speaking, Seria suddenly felt powerless to help the people of Loth. She was just one woman with a sword, what good could she possibly hope to do against an unknown enemy capable of such destruction?

[Whoami]

The dark compartment of the small pod was quiet, save for the hologram of a dark elven girl crying and explaining the situation. The low blue glow of the hologram lit the otherwise pitch black pod. Once the hologram faded out, a gloved hand came from the darkness and switched off the projector, a sigh could be heard inside the pod.

"Hologram logged..." a digital female voice stated.

The pod was silent yet again. Suddenly, some dim lights switched on which lit the pod vaguely. The silhouette of a woman could be seen, her breath left behind a white cloud of steam as it mixed with the frigid air. The woman flicked a switch on the right side of the pod's compartment, a pitch black window fade to transparency. Outside the window, was space. The planet Loth was the centerpiece of the vista. Still, the system's star could be seen over the horizon of the planet. The dark side was lit by orange glows of fire and explosions.

"Status..." the woman spoke, the familiar steam trailing her voice.

"You have been in cryo suspension for one month, and thirteen days, Kade." the digital voice replied.

Kade raised her hand into sight and clenched her first, the cybernetic assisted muscles were slow at first, but as they warmed up, her clenches became stronger and much more fluid. "Oxygen stores?" Kade inquired.

"Oxygen stores low, you have approximately twenty hours left before emergency oxygen tanks are activated."

"And Olduiin's team?" she added.

"Change course by five-five degrees of Loth's West."

Kade take a hold of two handles, one on each side of her. She pressed a button on the left handle, which spread small stabilizers on the pod. She then activated her right boosters to turn the pod, directing it to the angle her adjutant spoke of. Kade pushed the handles forward, making the rear boosters of the pod propel it forward.

As she traveled in that direction, a beep was heard and the HUD on her pod's display flickered white on the left side. "Kade, I have indicated a Nav point. This is the designated landing site for your team. It is recommended that you go planetside before oxygen levels are depleted."

Kade nodded, "Take me there then, adjutant."

"Complying." the digital voice responded before taking controls of the pod.

Kade clenched her fists again, though it has been years since she was augmented, it never felt entirely right to her. She sighed and laid her bead back, it seemed that her moment alone in the pod was going to be her most relaxing moment for the next long while. She felt the pod shake as it entered the atmosphere of Loth; she didn't fidget. Once the pod stopped shaking, she saw white and black clouds which she quickly descended through. Soon after, the view of the planet was available to her. Kade saw explosions, fire, combat in places. Even magic was being flung around to try and stem the tide of an unknown enemy.

Kade used her enhanced eyes to zoom in on a particular area, she saw a robot chasing after a small family of elves. Her expression was blank, though her mind was disgusted. The robot stopped and armed it's weapon, firing a volley at the family and leaving none of them alive. Kade shook her head, "Adjutant, take pictures, send the data to Olduiin and my team. They need to see what I'm seeing."

"Relaying now, stand by... Done." the voice quickly said. Then it spoke up shortly after, "Landing site confirmed safe."

The pod began a rapid descent and deceleration. Moments later, it had touched down. Kade undid the straps holding her and pressed a few buttons to open the pod. The front of the capsule hissed open and Kade, already in her combat armor, stepped out. She looks around, she saw no threats, but definitely heard them from the explosions and screaming. Kade turned and walked to the side of the pod, pulling a lever which opened a small compartment. Inside was her assault rifle and pistol, as well as three magazines for each and four grenades, two of which were EMP grenades and the other two were flash grenades.

"Adjutant, when is my team arriving?"

"In approximately forty minutes, Kade."

"Send them a message, I am planetside and waiting on them to arrive."

The adjutant was quiet but Kade knew it was at work. While it was doing it's job on scanning the area and setting up a perimeter, Kade had her rifle tight in hand and ready for any sudden surprises.