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R O R Y T Y L E R
R O R Y T Y L E R
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"You can mess with me... but I'm not gonna let you mess with them, man."
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C H A R A C T E R P O R T R A I T
C H A R A C T E R P O R T R A I T
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C H A R A C T E R S U M M A R Y
C H A R A C T E R S U M M A R Y
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Rory Anderson Tyler
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September3rd | 23 | Caucasian
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Single | Male | Pansexual
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Ottawa | Ontario | Canada
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Canis | Team 21 - Blackjack

C H A R A C T E R S T A T S
C H A R A C T E R S T A T S
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B U I L D || Average/Muscular
H A I R C O L O U R || brown
E Y E C O L O U R || Blue
H E I G H T || 6'0"
W E I G H T || 185 lbs
S C A R S || None
T A T T O O S || None
P I E R C I N G S || None
C H A R A C T E R C O N C E P T
C H A R A C T E R C O N C E P T
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Rory Tyler's life hasn't been particularly remarkable. He was the oldest child of three, his younger two siblings being twins named Will and Mary. All three were born the Hype-gene, which came as little surprise when considering both parents were hyperhumans. Rory's father was a hyperhuman working for H.I.T. by the name of Cole Tyler. Cole had met Julia Morse at PRCU decades ago, as they both went through the H.E.A.T. program. Cole was placed in the Enforcement and Response Division (fitting given his Dermal Armor power), while Julia was placed in Justice Services (fitting her Passive Persuasiveness power). They kept in touch, and eventually grew to love each other. That love expanded into a loving family.

Cole served in H.I.T. for most of his prime, leaving him absent for a lot of Rory's childhood. Rory's mother was heavily involved in politics, having a heavy workload. The byproduct of this left Rory alone and to fend for himself for a lot of his childhood, and to protect and support his younger siblings. Will and Mary are 3 years younger, and are both smarter than Rory could ever hope to be. Rory spent a lot of his free time getting involved in all sorts of sports and physical activities. His younger siblings were brainiacs, and have grown up to be perhaps more intelligent than their big brother. Rory, despite loving his family and being very protective of his younger siblings, couldn't help but feel inferior to most of his family and classmates. The only thing Rory truly enjoyed more than anything was wrestling, as he enjoyed the challenge and skill of it. Even then, Rory never seemed to be particularly good at anything. He always seemed to sort of fade into the background. It's only fitting Rory's power would develop to be an ability to only copy other people briefly.

Rory opted not to attend PRCU for collegiate study, as Rory's mother's work in trying to promote equal standards of living and education for humans and hyperhumans inspired him to study at a more traditional school. Rory blended into the background, as his younger siblings attended more prestigious boarding schools. Rory kept tabs on them, but mostly just tried to fit in where he could. His powers inevitably developed while living with his parents innocuously, and took some time for the family to register the situation. Rory started wearing an inhibitor immediately, only to find himself somewhat of a social outcast. The only arena in which he seemed to be comfortable and respected in was when he was wrestling in high school. He knew he was subjected to more stringent tests and accusations of cheating due to his status as a hyperhuman, but his teammates always had his back. He competed on a national level starting his freshman year of high school. And really only his freshman year. As once the pandemic hit, Rory quit wrestling. He was alone all over again.

Shortly after high school, Rory's father and mother, both of whom were forced to work in a more public capacity, were both victims of the pandemic. This uprooted Rory and his siblings, who were graciously adopted by their maternal aunt Lillian Morse. Lillian Morse is a staff psychologist for the students of PRCU, a hyperhuman in her own right with telepathic powers. She has been trying her best to help her niece and nephews settle into their new lives in the years since, despite having raised no children before and having limited contact with the children prior. Rory and his siblings were enrolled in PRCU, where they have been for the past few years. Rory was around for the Hyperion attack his freshman year, after which he became a bit secluded for some time. It wasn’t until his Sophomore year that Rory truly began to prosper.

Now, Rory is scrambling to finish his psychology degree while making sure to make time for his friends and keep an eye on his siblings. Soon, the twins will be on their own and Rory will have to make something of himself on his own. Until then… he’s got two semesters to make lasting memories with his friends. After that, he still isn't entirely sure what the future holds.

D E T A I L E D A P P E A R A N C E & A E S T H E T I C
D E T A I L E D A P P E A R A N C E & A E S T H E T I C
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Rory doesn't pay too much attention in maintaining his appearance, and it shows. He focuses on comfort where he can. Rory tends to keep his hair cut short so he doesn't need to worry about styling it (and it prevents anyone from grabbing his hair when wrestling). Rory’s uniform is always worn just up to code. Whenever he doesn't need to be in uniform, Rory wears comfortable athleisure clothing. He is often seen in t-shirts, muscle shirts, basketball shorts, or sweatpants when he can dress down. Rory’s idea of dressing up out of uniform is a varsity jacket, a Henley, and black jeans. Rory has several pairs of sneakers he wears for all occasions. He doesn't dress particularly modest, though that is more of a byproduct of his constant physically activity and need to cool down.

M A N N E R I S M S & P E R S O N A L I T Y
M A N N E R I S M S & P E R S O N A L I T Y
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Rory is a loud, joyous, and personable golden retriever. He is loyal and protective of his friends, and strangers are just friends you haven't met yet. Rory has been the kind of guy to step in and take a punch for a friend or his brother, but tries to solve conflict without aggression or being mean. He is also very quick to notice when a friend is acting different, and makes a concerted effort to make space for them to open up if they wish. Rory does, however, have noticeable issues with focusing and staying still at the same time. He often has to drum his fingers on something or pace to focus. He is prone to get lost in thoughts or distractions when left without something to keep his body moving. An audio-book subscription combined with laps around the rec center have been instrumental in Rory's continued education at PRCU.

Rory would be the first to admit he's dumb sometimes, but it doesn't make it any less of a blow to his self-esteem when he is viewed as an idiot. His parents, siblings and aunt are some of the smartest people he's ever met, and Rory has always felt like the odd one out. While this has led to him overcompensating and trying to make tons of friends, it also leaves him feeling inferior when he doesn't get a joke or a reference or can't help friends with homework / studying. He has a hard time seeing himself as emotionally intelligent or useful outside of a sports environment. This makes Rory a great confidant, but Rory hardly ever shares his true thoughts and fears with his friends out of fear of being a burden.

Rory undergoes a significant shift in aggression when he gets competitive. If you put a trophy or accolade up for grabs in a physical or team-based challenge, he will put it all on the line for a scrap of glory. He is competitive, and will push himself to his limits to win any challenge he can. Every win helps prop up his self-esteem, and make him feel like he can stand toe to toe with his friends and siblings in some way.

The most noticeable quirk that has become evident to those close to Rory is an almost compulsive obsession with not "losing control." Despite being a frequent flyer at a number of parties on campus, he's never been seen drinking a drop of alcohol. He's also seemed particularly frustrated and iritable at the drawback of his hyperhuman ability.
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A B I L I T I E S, L I M I T A T I O N S, & W E A K N E S S E S
A B I L I T I E S, L I M I T A T I O N S, & W E A K N E S S E S
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H Y P E R H U M A N A B I L I T Y || P O W E R M I M I C R Y
__PRIMARY CLASSIFICATION || Esoteric
__SECONDARY CLASSIFICATION || Dynamic
__POWER SCALE || tbd
__THREAT CLASSIFICATION || tbd

Rory Tyler possesses the ability to steal a charged HZE ion from a nearby hyperhuman and subconsciously alter his own body's DNA to mimic that hyperhuman's esoteric or exoteric ability. When borrowing an esoteric ability, Rory's body undergoes practically the same physical shift as the host of the "borrowed" ion for up to a few minutes. His body essentially just "activates" the HZE ions already present, which are expelled through proportional use of his powers. When mimicking an exoteric ability, Rory is able to draw and increase the HZE ions he stores as other exoteric hyperhumans. This worsens his body's reaction to using the power, and severely limits Rory's "overload" limit when mimicking exoteric abilities. Regardless of which type of power Rory mimics, he currently only seems able to stabilize the use of this new power for up to 3 minutes, can only borrow one power at a time, and suffers an "intoxication" effect after using the power.

L I M I T A T I O N S ||

Rory's two primary limits come from the range at which he can "borrow" an HZE ion from another hyperhuman, and the time through which his own body's HZE activated HZE ions are able to keep his DNA altered. In terms of range, Rory must be within 3m of an esoteric hyperhuman to absorb an expelled HZE ion. For exoteric hyperhumans, Rory needs to make near physical contact with the hyperhuman to absorb an attracted ion. Once the ion is absorbed, it takes Rory seconds for his DNA to subconsciously alter itself. Once the DNA is altered, it is incredibly unstable and almost immediately begins to decay. Rory can maintain this altered state for up to 3 minutes, and his powers are limited in scope in accordance with the limitations and weaknesses of the host Rory borrowed the power from. Rory does not gain any specialized knowledge on how to use the power, or even what it does. Usage of this ability requires significant preparation and study in order to be effective.

Notably, Rory's power differs significantly from the Intuitive Aptitude possessed by Yakob Kowalski. His ability is far more restrictive than Hyperion's was... much to Rory's relief.

W E A K N E S S E S ||

The major side effect to use of Rory's powers, and what significantly inhibits his ability, comes from a strange interaction in the rapid change to his DNA structure and body after mimicking another power. In order to help stand the shock and minimize the pain felt after such a transformation, Rory's body depresses the central nervous system. In some sense, this ends up mimicking the physical effects of intoxication. This typically does not kick in until Rory has finished mimicking another individuals powers. This "intoxication" is sudden and strong, and is amplified significantly if Rory has borrowed an exoteric power due to the need to purge activated HZE ions. This intoxication effect can last anywhere between seconds and minutes, and seems to be influenced by the complexity of the power borrowed. The only temporary means by which Rory can forgo the intoxication effect is to borrow another power, assuming he has any dormant HZE ions in his system. This does exponentially worsen the intoxication effect when the subsequent mimicry ends (which can cause it to last hours), and abuse of this could lead to serious health complications or even death.

P L O T ( S ) & G O A L ( S )
P L O T ( S ) & G O A L ( S )
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There is a nostalgia as Rory's time in university is drawing to a close that has prompted one desire above all else within him: make as many memories with those he cares for before it's all over. Part of that, obviously, involves making memories with his siblings while they are at university with him... but Team Blackjack is an eclectic bunch Rory knows he won't be able to see as much once they get their diplomas. So, for his final year, Rory has a few subgoals: Make sure his teammates graduate without any regrets, get one more trophy under his belt for either his dorm or Team Blackjack, and finally connect with his friends enough that he can be open about his fears and insecurities. Unlike his freshman year, Rory doesn't want the year to end with a single thing left unsaid or action not done.
S K I L L S & T A L E N T S
S K I L L S & T A L E N T S
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S K I L L S
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E M P A T H E T I C R E A S O N I N G || Rory is much more emotionally intelligent than academically gifted. Rory doesn't win people over with reason, but instead focuses on connecting with everyone he interacts with to try and win them over to his way of thinking... and learn someone else's point of view in the process.

W E L L - R O U N D E D A T H L E T E || Rory has played nearly every sport he could sign up for since he was six. He has competed in a number of divisions and leagues over the years, and used to have a whole bookcase worth of trophies. Rory, by extension, has tremendous hand-eye coordination and a fundamental understanding of his body's limits. He was also in his high school's varsity wrestling team, where they won their championship two years in a row.

T A L E N T S
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P E R S E V E R A N C E || Quit is not a word in Rory's vocabulary. He has always had to work tremendously hard to pass his classes, and has pushed himself past his limits when it comes to sports for over a decade. No matter what is thrown his way, Rory never backs down and never gives up.
C H A R A C T E R A R S E N A L
C H A R A C T E R A R S E N A L
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A T T I R E
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O L D C A N I S S W E A T B A N D || One of the final gifts Rory's father gave him before he passed, Rory carries a well-washed and well-worn sweatband in his jacket when in uniform. When working out or competing, he proudly wears the sweatband in honor of his father.

I T E M ( S )
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T H E P L A Y B O O K || A collection of index cards stored in a forearm-strapped football playbook with the names, abilities, and general notes about various individuals Rory has met at PRCU. These notes include teammates, friends, rivals, and even some faculty.

T O O L ( S )
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S P O R T S B A L L S || Rory almost always has some kind of ball in his possession: football, basketball, tennis ball, baseball... you never know what Rory has accidentally left or stuffed into his backpack on any given day.

A D D I T I O N A L N O T E S
A D D I T I O N A L N O T E S
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P O S T C A T A L O G
P O S T C A T A L O G
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P E R S O N A L P R O M P T S
P E R S O N A L P R O M P T S
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E N T E R I N G I N T O Y O U R F I N A L Y E A R, W H A T A D V I C E D O Y O U H A V E T O A N E W S T U D E N T?

Rory clicked his tongue as he stared up at the ceiling, swaying his upper body back and forth as he thought for a moment. Suddenly, the thought came to him and he stared the interviewer down intensely. "Hyperball is a marathon, not a sprint. It's not about starting strong, it's about pacing yourself until that final whistle is blown."

W H A T W E R E Y O U R A S P I R A T I O N S W H E N Y O U S T A R T E D H E R E? W H A T C H A N G E D, W H A T S T A Y E D T H E S A M E?

"I started off kind of... aimless, my first year. I didn't really have any plans or goals... just doing what seemed right. Or maybe it was more that I didn't have anything else to do?" Rory readjusted himself in his seat, his fingers drumming on his thighs as he thought for a moment. "It took me a while to figure out the kind of person I wanted to be here. I think it was my first psych class, and the professor was talking about working with hyper-human children and how lost they felt in some of the early years... that changed everything. Helped me figure out that I could be the kind of person I needed when..." Rory's voice trailed off, before he just shook his head and smiled in anticipation of the next question.

I F Y O U C O U L D M A K E O N E C H A N G E T O Y O U R T I M E A T P . R . C . U ., W H A T W O U L D I T B E?

"I wouldn't have told Banjo my gym lock combo Sophomore year... he said he lost his old one, wanted to borrow mine. Took me three months to figure out it was him stealing my clothes and leaving only a speedo." Rory chuckled, until the light left his eyes and he stared at the wall. He cleared his throat and looked down at the ground. "Actually... probably my freshman year... not shutting down after Hy... the attack, that is. I lost out on a lot of opportunities then... and I wish I spent more time with my friends then."
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S U P P O R T I N G C A S T
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"I saw that coming, Dick."
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W I L L I A M T Y L E R || B R O T H E R
W I L L I A M T Y L E R || B R O T H E R
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Younger brother to Rory Tyler, Will is a Freshman at PRCU in House Strigidae. His Hyperhuman ability is Calculated Prediction, and he is a genius even without his powers. He has a particular fondness for mathematics, with aspirations to continue study in this field in the future. He is somewhat cold and pretentious when interacting with others, often getting himself into messes that Rory inevitably has to clean up. Rory and Will often butt heads, with the later tossing calculated insults at the older sibling and Rory having to just take it.


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"I swear, I'm fine, Rory... yes, I did get the breakfast bars, thank you."
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M A R Y T Y L E R || S I S T E R
M A R Y T Y L E R || S I S T E R
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Mary Tyler is the most extroverted of the siblings, and the most popular. She doesn't slack when it comes to her studies, finding a great interest in the arts and humanities over the hard sciences. She is good at practically any skill she picks up, with it being unclear if that's due to her intuitive aptitude power or just raw talent. Mary's calendar is always overbooked, and she hardly has time to take care of her basic human needs.


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"Now... how does that make you feel?"
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L I L L I A N M O R S E || A U N T / G U A R D I A N
L I L L I A N M O R S E || A U N T / G U A R D I A N
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Lillian Morse is one of the school psychologists at PRCU to provide the students and faculty support. She is the maternal aunt and was temporary guardian of Rory and his siblings, having taken them in following the death of her sister and her brother in law. Lillian Morse has been at PRCU for over five years, and has little time through the school year to check in with her niece and nephews. She pulled some strings to let Rory help with her intake forms and administrative work as part of his community contribution, so he can start getting some practical training in the day to day of her line of work. Lillian is incredibly welcoming to all who stop by her office, but tends to refrain from sharing many details about herself to keep things professional. She is a hyperhuman with the power of telepathy, but is only able to share/read images from one's mind through physical touch.


R E L A T I O N S H I P S H E E T
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NEUTRAL || FRIENDS || BEST FRIENDS || § TENSE § || CRUSH || ENEMIES
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"TBD"
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T B D , T B D || T B D
T B D , T B D || T B D
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TBD












Use as many or few of the above symbols as needed to balance this cell with the cell containing the image.
Huo



Flying is just controlled falling. It is an art of airbenders to manipulate the currents of wind around them to lift them high into the air, flipping and gliding as seamlessly as a bird in the sky. Huo had always found the birds of the swamp to be the most graceful of creatures, and what little envy lived in his heart was reserved for those who could ride those currents of wind and sail high enough to truly observe the world as it was.

Huo was falling without an ounce of grace as the winds had betrayed him... no, an airbender. A nonviolent nomad using violence. Huo had not been expecting the sudden shift in behavior, a sudden enemy he had failed to notice. Huo must have missed something... had the airbender not just launched two of the earth kingdom soldiers into the ocean? Did he believe Huo to be working for the soldiers? No, even he knew that didn't make sense. He must have missed something, clearly. Was the nomad trying to abscond with the residents of the fishery with the swordswoman? It seemed unlikely, given his warning. Though he was offering a kindness to her that was denied to him... perhaps he had trouble hearing in the chaos? It could explain why the soldier had ignored the waterbender's plea. He'd have to work on projecting.

All of that was a less immediate concern, as Huo smacked into the rippling waves of the sea. The force had knocked the breath out of his lungs, filling the vacuum with water. Huo's eyes shot open with sudden panic, before instinct took control. A simple wave of his arms, and Huo pulled a swell of water under himself to shoot back up to the surface. His head bobbed up for air, and he spit a stream of water out of his mouth like a stone fountain. He was facing away from the shore, staring at two earth kingdom soldiers who were just regaining their own senses after meeting a similar fate. Huo sighed as he addressed them. "Y'all aren't very welcoming around here, y'know that?" Huo lifted both arms quickly and slammed them back down on top of the water, launching two streams of water to blast the soldiers farther into the sea. Last thing Huo needed was more surprises. The two streams of water jetted Huo backwards towards the shore at a slower rate, before he twisted his body and waved his hands in the water to swell a small wave to slow his approach. About five feet from the shore, Huo simply breastroked until he could stand and walk out of the water.

Huo stood at the very fringes of the fight, not far from the Tao the bag of rice, dripping with seawater. A bit of seaweed was tangled in his unkempt mane. He watched for a moment as the earth kingdom soldiers formed a wall around Ryschi and the airbender assailant Tianshi. Huo took a pause to catch his breath, lifting his hands to his chest to help center himself. With a spin and a flicking of his arms, Huo shot a concentrated whip of water out from the sea towards the nearest soldier. Huo took a step back and pulled the arms back, just as the whip coiled around the soldier's leg and yanked him off his feet. The soldier slammed into the earth face first, and the whip of water floated near Huo. He took a defensive stance, the water nearly licking his heels as he was ready to make full use of his environment this time around. Unlike Chi, Huo had at least one person ready to fight by his side.

Huo called out in a very loud voice, clearly overly projecting to make sure his friend could hear him. "Ryschi, can you tell yer friend in there to cool his gourd? The water round these parts is mighty cold and salty."

@Hero@Kronshi@Achronum
Huo



"If you know where our contact is, we need to go find her quick. Otherwise, we may want to leave town for a bit and return when things calm down."

"Shunon is likely finishing up a shift, so he's probably at the port. If you can't find him, I'm sure his sister or his friend know where he is, they all work for Old Man Bido over at the Knotweed Fishery."

Huo's blood ran cold as he listened to the bartender, putting together the pieces of where this Shunon probably was. The figure who had run out the tavern earlier probably had some kind of connection with him, and the sudden attention towards the fishery meant that things were bound to spark momentarily. Part of him wanted to just stay at that bar and continue playing his banjo, laughing and singing with the patrons. But a quick look to Ryschi and taking his former words into account, Huo knew now wasn't the time to sit around. He gave a nod of thanks, put his leaf hat on his head, and walked out the front door of the Black Eel Inn. He looked back to Ryschi briefly to mutter, "The storm is already here. Best we follow the tracks now 'fore they wash away."

As soon as he stepped outside, the chaos was already immediate. A stranger ran past, being called after by a couple soldiers shouting about a fugitive. Huo lowered his head slightly as they passed, not making eye contact with them. His fingers flexed reflectively, his body ready to call forth the nearby waters... but he restrained himself. The sight of an erected wall in the direction of the fishery and the sound of boulders crashing and the dull thuds of impacts captivated Huo's attention. He needed to do something. Anything.

So, Huo began to push against the dispersing crowd, finding himself getting pushed back with equal measure. He looked to his left, towards the shores upon which this fishing village was built, and an idea crept into his mind. He pushed himself laterally towards the docks, until he was at the edge near the water. He took a deep breath, lifted his hands into the air, and dove into the cold water. The shock was different than he was used to back home. It was much colder, and it stung his eyes. It wasn't nearly as bad as the water in the Southern Water Tribe, but this would suffice. While sinking into the water, Huo whirled his arms around himself, pulling the water underneath and behind him in a consistent motion. The water obeyed his commands, swirling and crashing around him. Within moments, Huo emerged in the open waters riding atop a wave. He rode it down the length of the docks, to the border of the wall. He briefly looked towards a young man in flowing blue and white attire, hoisting a large bag of rice in his arms. He didn't appear to be an aggressor.

Huo's eyes shifted up towards the 9 soldiers and the two figures that stood in opposition. The more aggressive of the two was familiar, a patron of the inn who had left in a hurry only moments ago. She seemed to be more akin to a local, and seemed to be holding her own. The other Huo only recognized as seeming to dress a little similarly to Ryschi... most likely a fellow air nomad. The small wave carrying the waterbender lapped up onto the dock enough to deposit Huo, where he stood with his arms at the ready in a defensive stance. His eyes scanned the fight, watching the various soldiers as he arrived.

The nearest soldier turned to face Huo, boulder already hovering in the air and ready for a strike. The soldier hesitated at the arrival of another interloper, and Huo spoke softly. "Woah... woah... I think things round here are getting a bit out of hand, feller. I'm sure we can talk things-"

A singular movement cut off Huo's attempt at diplomacy. He recognized the shift in stance from his last encounter with soldiers at the shore. His heartbeat shot up, and his body acted on instinct. Two quick motions, and water seeped up from behind Huo in a tendril-like whip. Huo took a step forward, flicking his arms towards the soldier. The whip obeyed the command, blasting the earth kingdom soldier in the chest and knocking him into his ass. On the inside, Huo's panicked heartbeat echoed inside his head. His breathing remained surprisingly steady, and Huo took a step backwards. He pulled his arms back, and the water returned and flowed through the air between his open hands. He moved his hands to keep the water contained and at the ready, turning his gaze towards the soldiers. His mind focused on the faces of the scared citizens he had been pushing against seconds ago. "Please... leave the people here alone. Is this really worth it?"
Huo



Among the laughter and joy in the Black Eel Inn, a young man rested on a stool not far from the entrance, head leaned back against the wall as his fingers strummed an old banjo furiously. He did his best to match the tempo of the lively conversations in the room, a small leaf hat bent into a cup-like shape rested at his feet as those with a spare copper or two tossed a pittance to their makeshift performer. Most seemed to enjoy the novelty of the situation, but even Huo recognized the harsher stares. He knew the looks of suspicion... his cousins in the Southern Water Tribe shared a similar gaze when he had first arrived. These strangers would soften too, certainly. No one could resist a good song.

Huo clocked the shift in atmosphere as the sounds of footsteps outside reached his ear. His gaze turned briefly outside, to the earth kingdom soldiers. His fingers stopped strumming suddenly, sending a few confused stares his way. But Huo was too preoccupied with a sudden paralysis that overtook his system. The reality of Huo's situation had begun to solidify itself. He was a fish out of water here... and he had come to this village with a purpose. Starting trouble wouldn't help Huo find his contact... and he wasn't exactly confident in his ability to deal with an entire band of soldiers even if his newfound companion Ryschi had his back. So even as he heard the soldiers begin to order demands, the waterbender instinctively moved away from the source of the noise. He needed to follow the lead he had been given.

He needed to trust where the wind was blowing him. It had guided him this far.

Huo quietly slid the strap of his banjo over his shoulder, scooped his tips into a pouch on his belt, and began molding his handmade cap back into a wearable form as he meandered up to the bar itself. He found himself a spot in between two groups of individuals while waving in a friendly manner to the bartender. As soon as he has the bartender's attention, Huo's voice oozed with an infectious accented optimism. "Well howdy there, slim. I hate to bother ya... I was looking for a friend of mine, their name's Shunon. Would you be able to steer me in the direction I could find 'em?"

@Achronum
Edmund Silvaine



One would think, based on his fondness for literature and poetry, that Edmund would be thrilled to have found himself in an esteemed location filled with the written word. It seemed, somehow, Doumerc had managed to find a way to spoil even the usual thrill that would come with such an excursion. He had done some reading on the way in, and had put Maya's security team to task in gathering some basic information regarding the location and any of its staff. Everything in the report reeked with self-importance that bristled his spine. Blowhard braniacs were not high on the list of Edmund's preferred company. Combine that with a pompous prince, an acquitted apostate, and a megalomaniacal model-to-be, and you had a personal hell designed only for Edmund.

Of course, their trip had to begin with a wild goose chase. Edmund remained quiet through the comments and questions, his head on a swivel as he stared down every passerby intently. He didn't like being this public and this open. He felt some level of safety when it came to castles, as royals tended to have a healthy paranoia. Edmund did not trust they would show the same caution. So he walked, two steps behind Maya the entire way. He followed her as she asked around about Rhaveus, up until she suddenly jumped back into him and clutched at his sleeve. Edmund's left hand instinctively reached for the holster of his revolver as he stepped beside Maya, taking his own brief peek around the corner. The site of Kaudians sent a flurry of thoughts in his mind. Even he had to agree their presence here was suspect, especially given they were expected here. Edmund's confidence in the doctor's reliability to relay accurate information was immediately tanked.

As Renault approached, Edmund instinctively lifted his other hand to press against the wall in front of Maya. He kept this guarded stance as Renault rounded the corner and made his presence known to the Kaudians. He sighed, looking down at Maya. Even he knew her enough to tell why she had suddenly been startled. He spoke softly in the direction of the other Templars, hoping to be drowned out by Renault's greetings. "It might be best if her holiness and I hold back and listen from here until the Kaudians pass... the last thing we need is an international incident." He turned his gaze to Maya, praying for once she would heed his advice.


@webboysurf The only appearance question you need to answer is if Huo committed to the leaf loincloth life


As much as I would love to for the bit, I think he will be more clothed. The leaf loincloth will be reserved for any inevitable beach episodes.
EDIT: It is ready to be ripped apart.

Edmund Silvaine



Edmund's gaze turned between the varying conversations as the debate over war continued. His eye twitched slightly at the prolonged debate. Justinian seemed to have an even enough understanding of the situation, keeping his opinion on the matter subtle... and quite frankly, attempting to move the conversation to its true purpose. While some were royals in the room, only one of them held real sway. The other two acted like children, and one of them had an excuse to. The Templar of Gravity's attention was diverted to Theobald when he chose to weigh in. His argument was the closest to persuasive, but he could see past the metaphor. Underestimating others was a strength of his: failing to understand the point seemed to be as well.

The newest Scion's arrival soured an already unpleasant mood for Edmund. He found his teeth gritting slightly, his hands flexing into balled fists at his side. An apostate in all but name, chosen by the goddess herself. Edmund silenced the growing chorus in his head screaming that there must be some mistake: but the goddess doesn't make mistakes. Somehow, Renault fit into her plan... just like Lucas and Maya. But a man of the church like the Templar of Gravity was not going to dare trust Renault as far as he could throw him. It was even more disgusting when Renault dared to agree with postponing the war, planting a semblance of doubt in his mind. Tyler had already speculated these heretics could steal the powers of Scions... was Renault one of them? Was he a plant to take them all down? Background checks had shown him clearly rooted in Doumercene politics, and a brief chat with a newer recruit in the security team who worked for a former noble in Doumerc confirmed that Renault was a menace.

It wasn't until Belle and Sonia's disagreement that he was able to snap from his stupor. His eyes locked onto Belle, and then Sonia. More bickering, more idle chatter about how sending others to their death would keep them safe. He nodded at Sonia's words, but turned his gaze back to Theobald as he spoke loud enough for those gathered to hear. "I believe your metaphor is either abhorent or mistaken... you are not a hunter this time, your holiness... you are prey. By methods we are still trying to wrap our heads around, they managed to corner all of us at once and abscond with a Scion. This is not a cunning fox we are hunting, we are chasing ghosts." His gaze briefly turned towards Belle and Sonia, before turning his gaze back to Theobald. "Sending others to die in your place to create an illusion of strength does not change that you are prey, and that we still do not understand what we are fighting. Sending forces to fight the Kaudians would leave us weak." Edmund's blood was hot, his voice low and biting in unexpected indignation... and a surprising confidence. He had been worried that he had been the most fearful and paranoid of the church's chosen, but now that they were all gathered together and speaking about the deaths of thousands like it was good for their image, the first of many walls cracked slightly. He looked briefly down at Maya in her seat, before looking up with a scowl to Belle.

"We are here for the divinely appointed of Incepta to hide behind: that is our purpose. From what I remember of that night, it seems that some of the most open to war here were the ones who cowered the most."

Edmund Silvaine





Edmund was subdued when he groggily opened his eyes, naturally waking before the sun had even crested the horizon. The dreams were getting more vivid. It wasn't until twenty minutes into his morning run through the gardens of the castle that he pieced together his dream was more of a nightmare. It took him another ten minutes to reconcile it was just like all the other nightmares since the new year. By the time he was in the bath, he had moved on to more important things. He reviewed the travel itinerary carefully, alongside a map of the region. He had annotated it to hell, making note of ideal ambush locations. As he dressed himself, he dared to look at his reflection in the steamed mirror. His beard had gotten longer, and more unruly. His hair was a matted mess, his bangs just barely dipping into his field of vision. He stalked through his bedroom, grabbed his hunting knife, and cut off the offending strands of hair. It was choppy and uneven, but he was never one for appearance. He popped three caffeine pills in his mouth and dry-swallowed as he put on his crisp uniform. He took a moment to look at the small programs from the funerals, reciting a prayer under his breath. He was practically dressed for war by the time he stepped out into the hallway at the sound of Maya's stirring that morning. He had enough bullets on his belt, and lining a bandolier strapped across his chest, to invade a large village.

Edmund was even more quiet than usual that day. He barely seemed to even look at Maya, but was never more than five steps away from her the second they left Veradis Castle. He kept his revolver in his lap the entire ride, his hand gripped on the hilt. When he holstered it on their approach to the castle, an imprint of the grip left red marks on his hand. He hardly noticed as he followed Maya up. He stood by with bated breath as Maya tried to gain entrance for the security detail, but there were some miracles even the queen of duplicity couldn't perform. Their denial of entry confirmed to Edmund what he already assumed: Lucas knew something, and the last thing anyone needed were prying ears. So Edmund followed a seething Maya, preparing to intervene when she decided to let that rage boil over in another's direction.

Upon entry to the dining room, he was less than enthused to find the conversation already escalate into discussions of war. Salome's mocking tone rang in his ears, and he could only watch in disgust while hovering over Maya's shoulder. Sir Ivanov had taught him chess at a young age to explain his experience in his limited engagement in war. But now, as Edmund watched the pieces move across the room, he couldn't help but feel like they were all just pawns. At least some of the pawns were offering protein and carbs, but he didn't have much of a stomach for either. His eyes caught Tyler as he spoke against war, and Edmund simply gave a small nod of respectful agreement.

“Our casus belli was an open attack on the Goddess’ Chosen, and bloodshed has always been a perfectly acceptable price for defending Her honour. Preferably less of ours, and more of theirs.”

"Going to fight the war on Instagram?" Edmund's comment was soft yet biting, barely audible if not for his close proximity at Maya's side. It oozed with a disdain that had been built up over years in her service. It took him half a second to realize he had muttered it out loud. His gaze turned towards Tyler, then Lucas, and then Belle. He refused to look at Maya, even out of the corner of his eye. He quickly spoke louder to fill the pause, choosing to pretend he hadn't made the insult. "We still do not quite know the enemy who attacked us. I am only confident in their wish for the Federation to go to war with Kaudus... and I am not partial to fulfilling the wishes of heretics for an illusion of safety and justice."

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