[OOC] ~ 1959: Into the Darkness ~ - Vietnam Dieselpunk [Open]

[Jeep Wrangler]

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In the measly year of 1959, the world was on the brink of yet another global conflict. At the heart of it all lies the solitary nation of Vietnam, brought to its knees by a vicious outcry for civil war. Ideology ruled the tides of battle, leaving many to drop dead in the harsh jungles of its once peaceful habitat. It became a struggle between the North and South: violent communist reformists battled against ruthless unitary presidential constitutional republic, backed mostly by international influences. With a taste for blood, the deployment of unimaginable machines saw warfare reach a turning point, highlighting the struggle between conventional engagement and unconventional means of battle. Nations all over the globe watched as the melting pot for chaos spiralled out of control, throwing global superpowers into the fray for personal gain and the suppression of opposing ideologies. Soon, the Vietnam War had been born, with thousands being swept up in its tidal inertia. Soldiers were brought in overseas to reinforce either the Northern or Southern combatants, training them, fighting and dying alongside them, only to see the horrors of war stain their cold, heartless skins. Men and women globally were no longer citizens, but killers, murderers and the juries of death itself. Every bullet became drenched in foreign and native blood. The jungles were set ablaze with fire; anguish ruled the streets of previously unheard cities. Fury became a language everyone understood, and suffering became one that everyone spoke.

Vietnam was not the same. As the Second World War ended in 1948, prolonged by internal and external battles beyond the crusade against fascism, the United States of America found itself in a precarious spot. Before the closure of the greatest conflict known to man, it had found itself a secondary adversary: the Soviet Union of Russia. In its waning years, the conflict saw the expansion of diesel, petrol and crude machinery built solely to destroy its opposition. Soon enough, vehicles were mounted onto varying chassis, brought with limbs and greater firepower. Harsh terrain was easier to overcome as battle tanks could simply clamber over them, one leg at a time. Firepower grew exponentially and the chants for further experimentation grew further. On the last month of the Second World War, a bloody engagement between the United States and Soviet Union broke out in Prague, disillusioned by their differences and urge to control previously German territories. Though it came to a close quickly, its legacy did not fade away. Politicians and citizens of America were now convinced the true enemy laid beyond the newly founded Iron Curtain, and soon the call to suppress the spread of Communism had begun. First came the swift belittlement of North Korea, maintaining an unstable democratic government on the peninsula. Yet in 1956, their fears spread to Vietnam, a once silent and oppressed member of the Allied Alliance. In 1958, military advisers were swapped out for trained soldiers, and battles between the Northern Vietnamese and the United States military soon became a reality. War had begun, allowing for a brutal showcase of unheard behemoths, mechs, infantrymen, aeronautical bombardment and death to take centre stage.

Welcome to Vietnam, how long will it take for you to break?

Notable Events

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1942
- Project: Landcrawler begins in the United Kingdom under Commonwealth funding, experimenting with alternative armoured mobillity and traversing technology. Primarily, the focus lies on mechanical limb-based movement. Initially created to tackle mountainous terrain. Once American funding comes through, the project begins to focus on breeding a new universal tank for deployment.

- The First Indochina Crisis begins, where an early revolutionary movement attempts to break french occupation, only for a larger Japanese force to replace it in its absence. Alternative ideologies begin to spread throughout the land.

1943
- Project: Landcrawler completes its first successful model of tank, known as the 'Spider Mk. I'. Based on the Churchill chassis, the vehicle reduced a lot of its armour for weight balance and mobility, making it less effective than the initial version it was up against. Live tests were soon conducted within Greece once a Commonwealth naval invasion succeeded. Its performance was mixed, allowing for decent coverage of terrain and fairing well against Italian Armour, however there was far too much that needed improving to make it combat effective everywhere.

- Project: Opposition begins in the Soviet Union under secrecy, hoping to exploit its ally's engineering for alternative armour production. Germany secretly launches its own project similar to its oppositions, this time looking to instead find a vehicle perfectly suited to battling armoured tanks more effectively.

- Captured British models sent to the German capital allow quick testing to go forth, creating a first prototype model of a light walking tank capable of greater mobility and lowering the crew count for the vehicle to operate. Testing proves that urban environments are perfect for these models, and plans to create an 'uberpanzer' are drawn up with the idea that one walker can fend off several conventional tanks through coordination, mobility and dexterity.

- American Walkers are quickly taken into testing, giving the United States more to work with in improving the British Model. Alternatively, the 'Spider Mk. II' is deployed into Greece and influences the push to Albania successfully.

1943
- With the help of American Marine divisions, a collaboration between the Allied and Indochinese resistance cells manage to slowly put an end to Japanese occupation by the end of Spring. Relations between the Indochinese and Allied forces soften for a while, with Vietnam becoming a focal naval coastline for ships in the near future.

- The Soviet Union manages to deploy its first walker model, maintaining the quadrupedal design first proposed by the Commonwealth. Though unreliable, the requirements and lower requirements for crew numbers allowed them to be pumped out, and at first they saw great success. Skilled Soviet Tank aces were reported to take on groups of three panzers at a time and still come out on top, utilising strafing and more fluid movement to better traverse the battlefield. Newspapers herald the Russian aces as 'Steel Animals'.

- America deploys the 'Stonewall' Walker, a refined and uniquely built quadrupedal utilising an original chassis and movement drive, allowing for more comfortable movement sideways, rearwards and with scaling uphill. Several are sent to the Chinese Front to create panic along the Japanese frontline whilst most are kept within island hopping operations. Equally, the British release the 'Spider Mk. III' and the 'Walcroft Mk. I', named after its creator, the first bipedal scout walker.

1944-5
- German Walkers are deployed in large waves across Europe. With several landings across Europe being made by the allies, the tanks become the greatest obstacle for its opposing forces. The birth of walker-to-walker combat is born, and skilled crewmen are born as celebrities for their adaptation to urban, forest, hilled, plain, arctic and mountainous warfare throughout the years. The frontline stagnates until late 1945.

- Confident in its airpower, the United States repurposes old airship designs to create an aeronautical aircraft carrier, testing its capabilities in China. Designed to hover over large landmasses and move along the developing frontline. Though the idea is heavily criticised, it proves somewhat useful in low-density areas for aerial warfare, allowing smaller aircraft to make greater journeys inland where foreign territory might not have airfields.

- The Soviet Union starts to focus on creating a quality-based walker, hoping to use it for stagnated frontline pockets. Tests are successful and it becomes a useful counter to the German Walkers, which are far superior in design.

1946-7
- Japan surrenders at the end of 1946 with the belated dropping of the atomic bomb. With the pacific clear, attention on Indochina diminishes and allows for a certain independence movement to gain traction whilst its authoritative masters' eyes were elsewhere. Soon after, the Chinese Civil War ends with the Communist Regime standing on top.

- French landings increase tenfold and the reliance on skilled fighters soon becomes apparent. Axis troops are equipped with more reliable walkers, this time focusing on armour as well as mobility. They are seen as a perfect defensive armoured vehicle, proving their worth across Western Europe. The Soviet Union pushes inward and relieves half of the once lost Polish territory. Italy still refuses to throw its towel in for the war and makes several successful assaults in Southern France.

- Specialised Walkers are first conceived by the Germans as varying models are deployed. Walking artillery platforms, anti-infantry flamethrower variants of older designs and even a heavily protected troop carrier are spotted across the frontline, diversifying the potentials for walker combat. Most successfully, anti-air walkers becomes pivotal for supporting large scale battles.

1948
- The final year of the Second World War sees the German Army collapse under two combined offences. APCs and Walkers, supported heavily by infantry, are sent to strategic locations, cities and frontiers to break down the army. The retreat into German territory begins. Italy collapses once Germany refocuses itself on the mainland.

- Indochina celebrates a year since its supposed liberation, truly believing that the European and Pacific powers were not to return to their homelands and exploit their position in the Asian theatre any longer. Unfortunately for them, they were wrong.

- During a siege in Prague, American forces clash with Soviet forces, cutting one another off from their supposed frontlines. A month long battle between the German army, Soviet battlements and American divisions creates what is known as the Prague Incident, permanently souring relations between both allied sides. At first, German forces used captured soviet vehicles to ambush American convoys, and vice versa. Though diplomacy from both nations relied on securing peace, many forces continued to fight one another out of confusion, anxiety or pure intrigue on whether their future oppositions would be weak enough to combat.

- The Second World War finally ends in 1948, with the collapse of the German Reich. Territories across central Europe are divided by the victors, creating the official separation of ideology and cultures. Forms of democracy sat on the West and to the East, the Communist curtain soon formed in their wake. Months later, concerns about their once great allies soon fell to distrust.

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1950-3
- With the Second World War finally over and peace settling in, immediately the relations between the West and the East sour as allies soon turn to clear rivals. Soviet expansion into the Middle East indicates their goal to further spread communism and secure its own future into a 'World Revolution'.

- The Korean Civil War begins, only lasting five months before ending in a Southern victory. However, disappointment lays on the victors as the government remains barely any different to its Northern counterpart. Contest between the Korean and Chinese borders drag on for years to follow, with America having only been involved in the war with intelligence and not physical involvement.

- In 1951, the French reoccupy Indochina, sparking the Second Indochinese Crisis. Ho Chi Minh leads the uprising and successfully drives the French occupants out by 1953, allowing indochina to form three new nations: Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. However, disagreements immediately split Vietnam into two sides by the end of 1953, and a republic opposition was formed to combat the spread of communism, backed mainly by the United States. Further distrust for the American government spreads in Vietnam.

- Tensions rise in Europe, and under an act unprecedented, the United States President John C. Ackingworth grants the Berlin split to the Soviet Union under the pressure of the communist threat. Ackingworth is criticised for the rest of his presidential career over the act, which he justified by stating it helped soften the relations with their global allies. Many cited his act as the same mistake of Chamberlain's "Appeasement" strategy prior the Second World War. Ackingworth's chances of reelection are scattered.

- The American Military finalises most of its equipment, maintaining the use of Walkers in both Battletank and Scouting roles. Four aeronautical aircraft carriers are constructed and updated to the current technological standard and investment into remodelling the armed forces is quickly approved.

1954-6
- The Republic of Vietnam suffers an Officer's Coup from sympathisers to Ho Chi Minh's regime, killing its President and igniting the Vietnamese Civil War. The ARVN is pitted against the NVA, as well as serf militias following strategies previously used to oust the French overlords years before. America sends volunteer advisers to indirectly grant strategic superiority to the South whilst China and the Soviet Union secretly do the same to the North. It becomes clearer that all the major powers are supplying equipment to their favoured side.

- 1956, a new President is elected. Jeremy Richmond gains major popularity in his anti-communist ideals, seeing the spread in Indochina as a major threat to the balance of the democratic world. He vows to continue support for the Southern Vietnamese and ARVN, sending instructors and training equipment to their favoured ideology. Several ships are stationed near vital ports defensively, though no direct involvement in the war begins. Richmond vows to escalate American involvement if necessary.

1957-8
- American Airbases are constructed within the South of Vietnam, hoping to provide reconnaissance and intelligence-based support for the Republic of Vietnam. Four instances of American aircraft being shot down raise the call to arms further, and the recruitment drive in the United States increases for preemptive insertion. Walker Production is increased and many soldiers are briefed for an inevitable conflict soon to come. Women are granted equal placements within the United States Military, further bulking their numbers after a disappointing increase in recruits.

- Through careful diplomacy, the American Government believes that it will not face military opposition from the Soviet and Chinese forces, stating that its war justification is granted by NVA assaults on American property. Advisers and garrison units are killed in the 'Fort Broom' assault, in which 130+ American servicemen were killed and a further 20 were captured.

- February, 1958, the United States declares war on the Northern Vietnamese Army, hoping to aid the South physically. Soldiers are sent over in large groups, beginning the American Intervention to the Vietnam War. The war would continue into the present day, 1959, where unconventional warfare, new devised machines and tactics not yet faced on a grand scale demonised the frontier that had forged miles away from American soil. Several nations would send their own forces to assist the Americans, such as the Australian and New Zealand forces, increasing the fighting capacity of the United States.

Hello, ladies and gentlemen, to 1959: Into the Darkness, a dieselpunk Vietnam experience focusing on the troubles, victories, triumphs, horrors and dissonance of war. Relying heavily on that juicy alternative universe excitement, we'll be entering the frontlines of Vietnam, beginning on the American/Coalition. Things are subject to change, but that's for the characters to figure out overtime. The story we're going to tell isn't going to be an over-arching one, at least not for now. Starting with skirmishes, big battles or simple behind-the-line off duty life, the characters will adjust to their new environment away from American soil. As discussed in the interest check, the "plot" will be dictated by us to begin with, before eventually cultivating into a larger and more unifying story later on. Character interactions and relationships are key throughout the story and to keeping the journey fresh and spicy. Here, we'll detail the journeys of several men and women serving in the military, whether as infantrymen, pilots to a walker, mechanics, or other unique roles that can be granted upon request. I look forward to branching out and seeing where this setting takes us, and how far we go down the rabbit hole of insanity in these dark jungles.

As you will have noticed, the dieselpunk setting is a bit weird to try and narrow down the technological wonders introduced into our scenario. I've tried to keep a somewhat moderate approach to it and will sometimes deny technology that doesn't suit the designs of our characters. After all, we are not to be playing overpowered protagonists to the war, but simply protagonists to our own personal stories and tales of involvement in the conflict. As the story goes on, there will be more opportunities to become a more important figure in the grand scheme of life, but for now we will remain amongst a sea of thousands sent to fight a war they do not understand. Some may accept it, or even encourage it, whilst others may dislike and detest the war in its entirety. All these differences in personality, race and more defining characteristics will bring together and separate the characters as people, alternatively allowing for some greater interaction opportunities.

The focus won't always be on combat. Hopefully, by introducing a collaborative environment, you have the choice to spend as much time away from the frontline in Vietnamese cities, forward operating bases and more if you desire, as well as setting up patrols, ambushes, battles and small engagements across the lands you've been placed within. With that being said, I think it's at least wise to drop the character sheet below:

Character Sheet

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An image of the character could go here. Ensure this is heavily detailed as well in the appearance segment too.

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Name
Should be simple enough

Gender
Ditto

Age
Years and date of birth. All characters are required to be above the age of 17, with 18 being the minimum, especially if they are military based. Civilian secondary characters have more freedom, however, to go beyond those boundaries.

Sexuality
Not required, but can be implemented if you wish

Nationality
Whilst most of the characters, I presume, will be of American descent, other nationalities are available, such as Vietnamese, Korean, Australian, Kiwi and all other serving people of the American military. If any nationality seems out of place but is still desired, do ask the GM or Co-GM about this. State location of birth as well to narrow down their origin.

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Appearance
Description of how they look, physically as well as in their uniform. There are differentiation in the army's clothing when it comes to both their role and personality, meaning that some are easily identifiable based upon their additional adjustments to their uniform. Mention these as well.

Height
Easy enough

Personality
What kind of person are they usually, both on duty and off duty?

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Rank
Ranks are going to be requested in most cases. Most American military characters will be based around Private and Private First-Class, but more experienced characters can request slightly higher positions like Corporal and Sergeant. Crewman ranks are a bit more lenient however, seeing as their command can be limited to their armoured platoons alone. Other character types, such as pilots if requested, again can move to a more accurate rank.

Role
Their role signifies what they specifically do within Vietnam. If they are an infantryman, you have reign over a lot of combat roles, from basic riflemen to machine gunners, grenadiers, flamethrower operators, marksmen etc. For armoured roles or specialised roles, these are also flexible.

Equipment
Their equipment will mostly depend on what role they serve and acts as their usual "on-hand" tools, weapons and gadgets when they are on-duty. Equipment can also include some more personal items, charms and whatnot to single them out from other soldiers, as long as it isn't some sort of overpowered nuclear dispenser. Unique special gear and weaponry should be requested just to make sure it doesn't overstep boundaries.

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Biography
The account of who they were before the war, their life growing up and how they became to be who they are now. Involve their eventual inclusion into the military, including the vital reasons why.

Affiliations
Who are they families, major friends or life-impacting individuals with prior to the war's beginning?

Relationships
An optional segment that can be updated as it goes along, though most of the time this can just be merged into the affiliations tab.

Character Theme
Not necessary, but can be used if wished.

All of the Character Sheets can be edited and designed in whatever way you desire, as long as it includes the necessary information. Feel free to add additional headers and information tabs to your sheet. Make sure to post them into the OOC for review before you submit it to the character tab in case there's any changes that need to be made. If there are problems with a character sheet, I'll try to work around and find alternatives in order to make it fit, though on a rare occasion we might have to, of course, deny it. Make sure to message myself or the Co-GM if you have any requests about the character prior to making the sheet, just to make sure you don't use your time on something that may not be applicable to the story.

Now, to help with some character building, especially with equipment, I'll at least make a simple list below of some expected US Equipment to be used. Again, specialised gear can be requested to me that fall outside of these categories, or are not included. Depending on what it is, and how I think it suits the RP setting, I'll either accept or deny the equipment you choose to bring in.

Common Equipment

Reminder, this is just some of the most common equipment and vehicles seen in the war, and things not on this list can be used if necessary. Also note that for the firearms, this is more of a guide as to what sort of weapons are used and will be used by most NPCs. Most are real with some unique diversions from reality in unused ones. If you are using special attachments, make sure to let me know, such as scopes, optics, and magazine changes etc. Also keep in mind, there are more types of vehicles, weaponry and gadgets found in this war, so do suggest new arrivals if you need/want to add more to the mix.

Standard Issue-Firearms
M16
M14
M21
M40
M21A2
Tampara Special Purpose Shotgun
M029 Carbine
M60
M63 LMG
M1911A1 Service Pistol
M1917 Revolver
Gyrojet AP-Grenadier
M79 Grenade Launcher
M2 Flamethrower

Mechanised Walkers
M1957 'Stonewall' Heavy Walker
M100 'Paragon' Armoured Command Vehicle
M501 'Stalker' Medium Bipedal Tank
M101 'Chariot' Scout Walker

Armoured Vehicles
M350 'Musketeer' Light Assault Vehicle
M351 'Beetle' Light Transport Car

Aerial Vehicles
UTP 'Hardy'
UH-1 'Huey'
F-140 Ground Attack Aircraft
F-162 Reconnaissance Fighter

With this being said, I'd like to thank you for reading and potentially taking interest in this Roleplay scenario we have set up. I may not have covered everything that you'd like to know in the OOC Thread here, so do not be afraid to ask any questions towards me or @Lady Selune, our Co-GM. I would love to see how far we get into this story and the creation of many side plots with our characters. Whether you're likely to take more time in the city, watching the soldiers on and off-duty move in and out, interacting and focusing on simply living there, or whether you're going to take an investment into the combat (or both) I hope you enjoy yourselves as much as I will! Feel free to list your interest below if you haven't already and we'll see you in the jungles, ladies and gentlemen.

Discord

[Jeep Wrangler]

My Character sheet will be up momentarily, boyos

[Jeep Wrangler]

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Sgt. Whittaker

	Lucas J. Whittaker 'Lighter' 5'11" | 83kg | 24 Years | Heterosexual Birthplace: Ambler, Pennsylvania Sergeant - 13718599

Profile

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Appearance

Standing at a levelled 5'11" in height, Lucas doesn't hold any out of the ordinary traits for any servicemen stationed in Vietnam. Though as well built as many of the other soldiers he's surrounded by, Lucas has at least the endurance and energy to maintain himself in his year long service. Though his documented military photograph above shows a clean shaven fellow, Lucas has since grown out a small amount of facial hair. Lucas currently has short, light brown hair bordering a golden orange tone, as a result of a ginger mother and brunette father. His eyes are a natural dark green, blending into his uniform rather fittingly. Behind what are usually tired eyelids lies a commonly stressed and exhausted gaze built up from the months of fighting. Like most unfortunate soldiers, grime and dirt builds up on their skin overtime. No matter how many times Lucas washes it off, it always finds its way back, as it does to every soldier.

On the topic of uniforms, the on-duty attire of Lucas hasn't been tampered with too much, but its grime and grit is far from its original self when he first wore it. Lucas prefers to roll up his sleeves and at least give some air into his body, loosening his shirt and fighting more lightly than he previously would have. As a potential Squad Leader, he is burdened by the equipment and webbing that comes with such a role, forcing him to ensure he has the energy and strength to carry the gear placed onto him. Atop of his helmet, familiar scribbles and jargon of a tired man can be seen all across it. Scribbles such as crossed out months, all leading up to December, remain etched into the flanks of it, whilst the back simply reads "Let me Sleep!" A small old vietcong flask is strapped to the other side of his helmet, differentiating from the usual matchbox look adopted by his comrades. Off duty, he still retains his military fatigues, simply stripping down all the gear, webbing and additional baggage on top. Occasionally Lucas will don a military cat, though only to shield his eyes from the scorching heat.

Personality

Lucas has been described by his peers with a single adjective: Drained. Having been amongst the very first to set foot into Vietnam, the Sergeant has seen the full extent of the war. Vietnam has become his second home, and he tends to keep his eyes on his surroundings at all times, regardless of how safe or far from combat he really is. That being said, Lucas isn't broken. He attempts to maintain his once cheerful outlook on life, knowing full well that a smile on one's face was always enough to brighten the worst of situations. Wandering around aimlessly has led to some of the strongest individuals breaking in the loneliness of the Vietnamese jungle. So, simply to appease his friends and higher officers, Lucas tends to tell himself that the war isn't as bad as people make it seem. Regardless on his morality, anger and distress had built up over the years to come, clouding his judgement on occasion. Yet despite this disfigurement of decision-making, Lucas has been described as a reliable NCO with an affinity for exploring different opportunities until there weren't any left. A testament to the common veteran, he seemingly hasn't snapped and still remains considerably capable of following orders given to him, as long as he could make some sort of logical conclusion out of why they were given. Eagerness has always been a strong feat of his own, yet cautiousness is just as vital to his own survival. The year in Vietnam has taught him not to let his mind wander, lest he were to fall to one of the thousands of traps set for him.

Indefinitely, Lucas is nothing like his former self. Before he was sent to Vietnam, he held a strong vocal pride for his home, his comrades and his superiors. The textbook soldier was his quota to fill. It made him easy to ignore, one of the hundreds of thousands; he wasn't unique. When deployed, the way the war has shaped Lucas has led to him developing more of a personal view on the world, one that has taught him the importance of keeping his allies close and his enemies closer. Without a doubt, he's still quite the conversationalist and does enjoy joking around as a means to numb the agony of war, but overconfidence and the allies around him that take their safety for granted have occasionally bashed heads against his own, as the same has happened with his Commanding Officers. Staying in the peaceful, yet bustling, cities nearby has always been a pastime used to cope with a crippling hole within his heart - the family and friends he left behind in America. However, on a lighter note, it isn't rare to see Lucas making small performances with the Platoon's acoustic guitar or writing down his notes and journal entries on occasion, just to jog his mind back into the realm of sanity.

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Rank and Role

Sergeant - Squad Leader / Fireteam Leader (Varying)

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Biography

Born in Ambler, Pennsylvania, in 1935, Lucas J. Whittaker was the youngest of two brothers at the time. Quiet, though not introverted, he led a typical lifestyle as any boy did. He spent most of his childhood going to school, playing around and listening to the progression of a war beyond United States soil. At the age of 9, in 1944, his father joined the United States Army as a Tank Commander, eventually fighting in both the Pacific and European theatres before the war came to a conclusion. Separated from his father, for the next four years Lucas set his focus to education and maintaining a close connection to his mother, who still remained distressed by the fact her husband had gone to serve. Any time an ounce of bad news came back to the United States, she dreaded the worst and suspected her own lover had been killed in action, regardless of him being anywhere near the battle. Her woes were somewhat wasted as she eventually reunited with him in 1948 upon the war's conclusion. Life became rough immediately after. Though only 13, Lucas noticed the changes in his father quickly, how he became tiresome, found it difficult to adjust to life outside of the military and even spoke to his family in a formal dialect commonly found in the war. Lucas' older brother fell out with his father more so than often, making family life hard to properly adjust to. However, Lucas himself maintained a strong and steady relationship with his father, sitting down and listening to his incessant stories of war. Eventually, his talk about friendship struck a small nerve in Lucas. He had no real aspirations beforehand, other than his small interest in music. Once he finished school at 18, Lucas was granted permission from his parents to enlist into the United States Military in 1955, just as the tensions of the world were reaching undesirable heights.

Life in the military was exciting, though for all the wrong reasons. Past training and never-ending drill sections, the grim reminder that a war could break out at any moment struck a pain in the hearts of every enlistee. Constant news about a foreign civil war in Vietnam became the talk of every soldier's mind. New candidates for the following year's election would always make promises about the threats of communism, and for a long while Lucas rolled along with their ideological crusades. On the second year of his service, Lucas was sent to several garrisoned islands in the pacific, as well as sometimes being called for assistance in training new recruits abroad. One such assignment saw him go to Vietnam for the first time, where everything seemed peaceful and beautiful. During his stay, he never saw the war as it was, nor did he know whether or not he'd participate in it in the future. President Richmond's policy to help contain communism lay in providing their allies with the necessary tools to do so. Alongside his platoon, Lucas acted as an assistant to training ARVN soldiers, all who seemed lacking in strategic value upon first glance. He never understood why he was there, only that he had to be there because someone had ordered him too. Within a few months, he was sent home with the rest of his platoon, eventually being granted a promotion from Private First-Class to Corporal for taking the time to help breed the new world of democracy. All in all, it was an over-exaggeration of what his platoon had truly done, but the new chevrons were a lovely addition to his clothing. During his "peacetime" service, he'd picked up the acoustic guitar to pass the time, giving himself a new tool to mess with.

Come 1958 and the news finally broke out. War had been declared on the Northern Vietnamese movement, and so within days Lucas had to pack his bags and brace for his first real assignment. Just like his brothers and sisters in arms, all who had received the information at the same time, he felt confident about the upcoming engagements ahead. The United States of America had been the talk of the world, many bloating its influence and capabilities through the news and common international relations. Armed with new weapons and a slight urge to put his training to use, Lucas joined the first wave into Vietnam, thinking to himself that he was prepared for the journey ahead of him. And as he hadn't expected, the reality was far from his expectation.

1958 was the year that began to shape Lucas for who he really was. Patrols weren't a boring assignment anymore like they were back in the States, here they were the difference between life and death. One moment, he'd be talking to a friend he'd known for years, only for them to fall into a pit of punji spikes. Stress layered on top of him, and over the course of the year Lucas partook in several skirmishes and two major operations. Every battle was fuelled with bloody rage. Ammunition flew in every direction, cleanly piercing both friend and foe. Sometimes the now infamous Vietcong were their adversary, other times the NVA. The jungle became not only a place to fear, but a state of mind. Anxiety toyed with its victims in the jungle, tying them to trees of horror and plunging their hearts into pits of insecurity. Everyday he saw someone, either hurt or mangled, shot or blown to pieces. Every day he became slightly less trustworthy of those around him, be they enemy soldiers or simple villagers looking to make their way in the world. He saw people he knew snap, break apart and fall into strange underworlds of chaos. One day it'd be a guitar serenade to keep his allies happy, other days it was heading into the depths of the jungle to retrieve the pilots of a downed helicopter. He stopped writing home to his parents, instead getting someone else to do it for him. It told them he was still alive, even if it wasn't him saying it. Eventually, he found yet another promotion come his way, putting him in command of fireteams and occasionally an entire squad. Missions became more about his perception and ability to remain headstrong, meaning he forcefully whipped his mental state into one of practicality. His fears were now a mantle for his will to keep his men and women alive.

1959: Yet another countless wave of soldiers were soon to head their way. It had been over a year since the war had started, nearly a year and a half. It was hard to tell who was winning and who was losing. Ground meant little to Lucas, only results from each battle. Taking territory was about as important as knowing which toilet the local Captain had pissed in. He kept his friends close and attempted to maintain relations with all those around him, unaware that the next potential wave may have held more than he'd experienced beforehand. And at the end of it all, he yearned for the sweet relief of stress, hoping to finally settle beside a comrade and spend a day leaving his woes aside for happiness.

Equipment

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Field and On-Duty

• M21A2 Service Rifle - Nydar Reflector Sight and Bipod Emplacement
• M1911A1
• M7 Bayonet
• M18 Smoke Grenades
• M19 Binoculars and Navigation Kit
• Standard Issue Webbing
• Leather Journal

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Theme

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Posting it here in case anyone needs inspiration with their own characters!

[Sanity43217]

I was wondering if I could create a character who wears an Exo Rig, although I’m pretty sure the more accurate term would be having an Exo Rig installed. Kind of like the suits in the movie Elysium or the Surge games.

[Jeep Wrangler]

I was wondering if I could create a character who wears an Exo Rig, although I’m pretty sure the more accurate term would be having an Exo Rig installed. Kind of like the suits in the movie Elysium or the Surge games.

@Sanity43217

Exo-Rig was something I was going to introduce very much later in the story arc, so for the early parts of this RP I'd think of alternatives to that. However that doesn't lock you off from piloting or crewing the walkers by any means.

I recommend joining the Discord so we can discuss it more fluently!

[Enigmatik]

After a bit of consideration, I’ve decided to play a medical huey team- focusing on the pilot with the medics and co-pilot as lesser seen NPCs, would that be allowed?

[Jeep Wrangler]

After a bit of consideration, I’ve decided to play a medical huey team- focusing on the pilot with the medics and co-pilot as lesser seen NPCs, would that be allowed?

@Irredeemable

It would indeed! Originally pilots were only going to be allowed as secondary NPCs but now I've changed my mind and am allowing heli pilots, as long as you don't get locked off from interacting with other characters. I would love to have this team of NPCs on board as well!

[FalloutJack]

Profiles are unfinished, but progress has been made.

Elliot Gratsky

---

---

Name

Elliot Gratsky

Gender

Male

Age

24, September 30th

Sexuality

Heterosexual

Nationality

An American from Boston, Massachussetts

---

Appearance

Elliot is about 6 feet of well-formed body, the product of a man who takes his physical training seriously, and therefore paid attention in basic. He is a caucasian disaster of a man, with signs of minor nicks and scars from work or training-related incidents that he brushes off as nothing fancy, no worries found. Some of these looked like they'd been knife fight wounds, the kind you tell people "You shoulda' seen the other guy.". He is something of a wild black-haired man, with some beard and stubble not quite hiding that he's something worth looking at, with those hazel eyes and that expression that shifts from serious to laid-back and back again fairly quickly, as the need arises. He has the air of a man who'd rather be effective than worry for appearances, and that happens to be what works out best in places like this.

Army attire is generally something in a dark shade, like gray, for blending in with the background. He's kinda' picky, like if you're sending him into grassland, he'll drop that preference he has for something a little more green. Generally, he likes it dark and if the camou pattern fits the area, all the better, although he will get it dirty and/or muddy when he gets the chance for two reasons. One, because a uniform looking less uniform and more natural will blend in better, and two, because it gets hot out here and mud is generally cooler. That said, he tries to armor up because he knows he is in it for heavy combat and he wants to live long enough while shooting at the enemy.

He's a workhorse of a man, so he can carry alot, but chances are alot of that is going to be ammo and ordinance. As a smoker - not a severe habit, but it's there - he tries to keep his matches and packets in like a breast pocket, rather than strapped to his helmet, which he'll likewise fuss with mud, because he's fairly-certain the enemy can spot that and ping him from in hiding. Despite all of this, however, he's trained well for both surging attacks and keeping quiet to lie in wait...though the latter may be hampered by whatever's on his person. Also, Elliot has a habit of removing the upper-portion of his uniform down to the sleeveless undershirt when not in a contested area but still on-duty. Fucking hot out here.

Height

As stated, 6-Foot Height

Personality

Well, to start with, Elliot is something of a Dwayne Hicks kind of a guy. You remember him from Aliens? The guy that, while not in charge, both had it together and could bring it together in a pinch? That's him. Elliot is a man who knows his own abilities and limitations, applying them as best he can without losing his cool. He knows this is a bad situation and he accepts that, but there's work to be done and they're not gonna get out of it sooner by pitching a fit. To that end, he is very well competent at his job. If something has to be taken care of and there isn't an immediate better idea, he's probably on it. Even if he's not, he's always considering the right angles in a situation to get through it, out of it, whatever. When he's not in charge, he's likely to give the guy IN charge a word or two about what's about to go down, in case he feels something was missed or a question needs to be asked that others are feeling, but not saying. He doesn't mind laying it on the line, for the men or to get them to shape up quick.

Now, that isn't to say that he doesn't have his brighter side. Hicks wasn't incredibly sociable, but Elliot has his moments. He is a habit smoker, here and there, same with drinking or another vice that - in moderation - wouldn't destroy him. He'll get into a game, bet on a match, compete with a challenge - all that good stuff. He also has a decent sense of humor, which you may or may not end up at the expense of, depending on the situation. Very few things could possibly get him angry enough to shout, however, so if you manage to get him shouting mad, you are in trouble, like...in a very permanent fashion. You would probably have to violate something that Elliot really cares about to do it, though. Other times, he would rather swiftly knock someone out if they piss him off. Not like Commanding Officers, say, but you can expect anybody taking a swing at him to benefit directly from his training. He has about as much patience for bullshit that is reasonable, and very little after that. Ultiamtely, he's a decent guy, which is why you don't take advantage of him. His kindness is not a weakness. You can bet your last dollar on that.

---

Rank

Corporal

Role

Heavy Infantry, trained in all anti-personal weaponry

Equipment

M60 - Belt-fed heavy machine gun.
Remington 870 - NOTE: This shotgun has been sawed off for easier carry/fire.
Ka-Bar - Leading competitor to the M3 fighting Knife.
Standard Issue Webbing - What? It's standard.
Zippo Lighter
Cigarette Pack(s)
'Secret Codebook' - A small booklet full of gibberish to confuse Vietnamese soldiers if ever taken.
Grenades Optional

---

Biography

In Elliot's case, it's important to know who his father is before getting to know the man, himself. Knowing where and what he came from sheds a great deal of light on the man, maybe far enough to even see some of the shadow cast by Grace, but we'll get to that later. We start, therefore, with Dwayne Gratsky, Elliot's father. Dwayne had been born too young to enter into the first World War, but he felt he should go to war and fight in order to stop 'The War to End All Wars'. Back then, the World War was just THE World War, the greatest conflict ever faced by man, and you're damned right that plenty of people - even those too young to be a part of the military - would go out there. However, Dwayne's father - already a Captain - forbade him and explained that the drafting offices already had him on file, and that they would turn him down because of his age while he himself went to war.

That was the last he saw of his father. A couple of years in, the letters stopped. About a month after that, his mother received a letter that went 'Dear Mrs. Gratsky, it is with our deepest condolences that we must report...', well, you get the idea. Dwayne was furious. His father had beeen killed in the war and he was powerless to even help anyone, let alone the notion that he could've been there for his father. Frustrated, he watched as the war carried on...and then ended before he could properly enlist. The World War was over. The enemy was defeated. Of course, the results of said war would lead to problems...as forcing Germany to make reparations to the victors and the victims left it in a position that shocked the world... By the time that had happened, though, Dwayne Gratsky had enlisted, trained, and was ready to fight. The Second World War was his battleground, and he fought a battle that was much different than any his father ever did.

However, we must pull back for a moment, because it was - strangely enough - a good thing that events had occurred as they did. Elliot was born in 1935, rather unexpectedly and during The Great Depression. If Dwayne had enlisted with his father, he might've died in a trench-bombing like his father, and thus never made it back in the first place. His frustrations led him to enlist willingly at about the onset of the Roaring 20s, long before the Depression began. With an army commission and, in fact, bases to live on as he moved about, the Gratsky family was less-damaged by the failure of the Stock Market, the Dust Bowl, and so on. Before the war even started, Dwayne was a Corporal, like Elliot is now. By the time he'd shown his his stuff in combat when the US Government joined WWII for a couple of months, he made Sergeant after his own company Sargeant was killed in action. By the end of the war, he was a Major who insisted on fighting alongside the men, in or out of a an armored vehicle. He fought hard, fueled by years of tempered anger towards a foe that reared its ugly head again, a sense of duty, and a need to support his family back home.

All of this influenced Elliot, of course. He was born, as stated, in the middle of The Great Depression, and his childhood was a little rough. Let's start with what it means to be a military brat. First of all, if your dad is often busy, the times you see him are limited, and if you live on the base - like Elliot and his mother did - then you get to know alot of his fellow soldiers about as much, which can be both good AND bad, dependent on what you want out of it. It made Elliot not as concerned for his old man - The Big Daddy destroyer of the German Reich - and a bit more personable around men with guns, finding it all cool, of course. Kinda' had to gravitate more to them and similar army brats, because people outside the base when he was a child...didn't understand. You get this all the time. There's no war, but the military engine is being meticulously maintained, and now the entire country is facing a series of crises that threatens many, with the haves and the have-nots always in disagreement. Kids wouldn't associate with Elliot's lot. They'd fight their parents' battles with their aggression over how the military's useless and does nothing but eat their food while they go hungry. Honestly, Elliot felt bad, but what're you gonna do? Oh, and calling his dad a leech? That's a nose-bleeding, right there. You just can't live with such people...

Fortunately, or unfortunately, they moved around to other bases as his father had to be assigned elsewhere. You see, Dwayne never turned down a chance to train others in what he knew and experienced, what he could give in order to make sure that men get out of battle alive. He wasn't obligated to, but he wanted to, and he even shared things with his son, though Ellen never openly approved. As he began to grow and World War II started, he saw his father off, wanting to follow in his old man's footsteps, though he didn't quite have the hero worship that Dwayne did of HIS father, It was more the latter reasonings, that it was the right thing to do and it was a living. This was good, because by the time Elliot was ready for college AFTER the war, he was able to fast-track his way into the ROTC program and learn his stuff. Armies have gotta be, and Gratskys are good for the army. He was able to get his education paid for by the military, which would pay for his living. He made the reserves and was ablee to continue on unabated until...

Well, until that inevitable day when the country decided to join in the Vietnam conflict, of course. Elliot wasn't sent over until the Third Wave, when the US had already established itself into the South Vietnamese area, senting its forces north for several months. Eventually, he was sent over, and that was when he met Grace...

Affiliations

'Big Daddy' Dwayne Gratsky - Father
Ellen Huxley-Gratsky - Mother

Relationships

Grace Hart - Partner in Crime?

Character Theme

Grace Hart

---

---

Name

Grace Hart

Gender

Female

Age

19, May 17th

Sexuality

Not Stated

Nationality

Difficult to say because she's Albino, but assumed an American/European mix.

---

Appearance

Whereas Elliot is the strong man, Grace more lithe and agile, a quick and flexible person by general build. She has a slim build of young adulthood, not formally trained, but that her body reflects a number of years effectively engaged in well-honed athleticism for the sole purpose of survival against any person who would attempt to take from her whatever she needs to live, her life in particular, her virginity, etc. That last part is not specifically stated, but Grace would tell you unflinchingly that people have attempted to screw around with or even force themselves onto her and...they'll never be doing that again. She is light-skinned by nature, generally not one to stand out by any other means than general appearance because of her experience in hiding, stealthfully sneaking around, ambushing from perfect stillness, and so on. She tends to stare with brown eyes that are light and like fire with their intensity, though that is mainly during serious moments or when wary of attack. Grace isn't that physically durable, made more to avoid damage to her person than being durable. She does the best she can, and that tends to do, because she takes no chances as one who has made herself singularly deadly when she has to.

When not being a danger to any who would threaten her, Grace is often quiet and only soft-spoken when ever speaking at all. She simply does not raise her voice, as though loud noise equals death, and...well...in this frame of reference, it might. It's a trait that she'll have for life, and that's a fact. Her body language is like that of one who's been both predator and prey out on the streets. Lately, she has adopted a more passive sort of mannerism. She tends to look up to Elliot, often looking to him for some sort of indicator on what's right in a social situation, or if there's a strategy she needs to act upon. Her atttire is usually light-weight, as she is shorter than Elliot and less muscular than him. She gears for stealth and being ableto move quickly and the least-inhibited as possible. There is always a blade on her, and very rarely is there some sort of explosive. You will find her made for doing what a number of the Vietcong themselves do - sneakier action, sniper-y action, cutthroat-y action.

Height

5'7"

Personality

You ask the question, 'How long before you break?', and I tell you that Grace may've done so, already. Not by the war, but due to the abandonment she has suffered. She doesn't talk about it, but one thing that's clear is that she has no desire to find her parents, and it's likely that 'Grace Hart' isn't even her real name. She is often soft-spoken, as said before, but she does get more stern in reference to things like her parents or ever talking about her past life. She simply refuses to speak about it, will clam up entirely if you press on. Certain facts, such as her age, are some of the few facts that Grace ever owns up to. She simply has no interest anymore in who she was, because it isn't who she IS anymore. If asked more about this, her reply will be "Elliot understands. Why don't you?".

It's hard to say what she thinks about Elliot. Whether it's mutual respect or hero worship on her part or even something more intimate (Elliot swears on his last pack of cigs that he hasn't done anything like that and Grace backs him up, as it is apparently the truth.), it's impossible to tell because even if she gives you what sounds like a straightforward answer, there's another issue: It's ALSO difficult to tell where Grace is lying or telling the truth. Her indicators are all strange. She follows Elliot's lead because is seems like he's accepted who she is and has taught her things that further help her out in survival, increasing her skills to a fine razor's edge. Now...fortunately, this has included a friend-or-foe policy, and in fact will work her damnedest to support those of whom she's with in a fight. This means she won't kill her allies for making poor decisions, but she will still deliver harm if you make the wrong move at her. That's practically hard-wired, so it's a good thing that Grace can take a joke, just that...she's not use to having anyone laughing and having a good time around her. She often seems lost in situations that are not readily defined, so it's hard to imagine how she'll live outside of the war. This is her place, for now.

---

Rank

Private

Role

Sniper and Stealth Specialist

Equipment

M40 - Scoped Marksman/Sniper Rifle.
M3 Fighting Knife - AKA the M3 Trench Knife, mass-produced over the Ka-Bar for being slightly cheaper to make.
M1911A1 Service Pistol - Back-up pistol.
Basic Bandages
Other Stealthy Items Optional

---

Biography

Grace had no choice in the matter. Reality had shifted against her, and she could only move with it or die. That was the truth. She does not speak of what actually happened, the fullness of it, not ever. The most she has ever spoken about it was with Elliot, and even then... No names, no details, no answers that would lead to any sort of real closure. She did not like the past. She did not want the past. If anyone were to ever show her the family that did what they did to her, she would more than likely kill them and continue on as she was. That is why she would never tell anyone anything real or truthful about herself. Because if anyone learned these facts and had the capacity to act on them, they might try to send her back. That was never going to happen. She would disappear into the dust and gloom first.

Years ago, Grace was abandoned here. Yes, here of all places. You could read between the lines and say that she might've been unwanted, that she could've been a child of the previous war from one wild night that got someone from here pregnant and whatnot, but Grace is having none of that answered, so all you get is supposition. It is a fact that she was abandoned, and that it is likely that she is Euro-American, although her albinoism does make that hard to pin down, properly. She does state that she was expected to die, as the act was so abrupt and with no recourse or help to be given out here that starvation or being killed by someone for any number of reasons - before or after getting violated - was a high probability.

It didn't take.

Grace has some level of education, either from times prior or whatever she's picked up or both. She was naturally flexible and quick, and so she adapted her life to steal for a living, with almost no moral fiber above the need to survive expressed for several years. She did not justify or pontificate or anything like that. She accepted that reality was pretty harsh for her, and that if she did not act accordingly to survive, she would not. That is primarily why, during the years here, she learned to kill almost without question, by instinct even. She would weigh the odds of a death coming back to bite her in the ass - so, nobody important would be subjected to this unless she had little choice but to go that route - and determined the best course of action. Conflicts were regular, even before the war, and she was already in the background, a scavenger and a thief, sometimes a killer. It didn't matter. This was what had to be done. Nobody was going to make her a better offer. Nobody.

Then, somebody did.

The appearance of US Soldiers made things a bit easier for her. She did not get greedy. Greed killed in these parts. She survived, only survived. Never took too much or more than she could transport easily, so as not to be caught. And if she did, she abandoned what couldn't be moved so that whoever was after her would be occupied with it and not her. She knew this country, knew its people, and knew that she was not one of them or really one of anyone. Being an outsider in a place you know intimately well was a terrible thing, but sadly...it was life. The soldiers, though... They were careless. Food and other things she needed, or at least things that could be traded, came easily. Catching her was near-to-impossible. She was gone long before anything was noticed...at least until Elliot arrived.

Elliot was different, aware, only careless when he allowed himself to goof off. He was no one's fool, including hers. Had he caught on and simply not acted the first few times a scrap of food went missing? Had he caught onto her from the start and never said until the night he caught her? Even the way he did that was unexpected. He did not report her or anything you'd expect. He must've figured out one or two of her hiding places. That was how he came to be sitting there, wanting to talk. Imagine living this life, wary that you could be attaced or brought in to face punishment, but this soldier just wants to sit and talk and understand. No, she wouldn't tell him everything. Even someone like him, someone who wanted to give her pointers, didn't need to know, although he DID mention being impressed about how she'd ended that one guy with a blade to the nuts.

In the end, Elliot ended up training her, explaining things to her, and she felt...she wanted to help him, to stay with the first and only person to approach her like this and help out, no strings attached. It was shocking how she felt about that, and to discover how lonely she actually was. She had no real social skill to speak of, although one thing Grace COULD do was speak Vietnamese fluenty, as well as English. Over time, Elliot decided that if she really wanted to work alongside him, that he'd let her...but it wasn't exactly up to him. She needed a commission, first, and after some convincing, Elliot managed to get her field-drafted into his unit as a company sniper and guide in country, Private Grace Hart.

Affiliations

Grace will not admit to any such persons, familiel or otherwise.

Relationships

Elliot Gratsky - ?????

Character Theme

[Jeep Wrangler]

Profiles are unfinished, but progress has been made.

Elliot Gratsky

---

---

Name

Elliot Gratsky

Gender

Male

Age

24, September 30th

Sexuality

Heterosexual

Nationality

An American from Boston, Massachussetts

---

Appearance

Elliot is about 6 feet of well-formed body, the product of a man who takes his physical training seriously, and therefore paid attention in basic. He is a caucasian disaster of a man, with signs of minor nicks and scars from work or training-related incidents that he brushes off as nothing fancy, no worries found. Some of these looked like they'd been knife fight wounds, the kind you tell people "You shoulda' seen the other guy.". He is something of a wild black-haired man, with some beard and stubble not quite hiding that he's something worth looking at, with those hazel eyes and that expression that shifts from serious to laid-back and back again fairly quickly, as the need arises. He has the air of a man who'd rather be effective than worry for appearances, and that happens to be what works out best in places like this.

Army attire is generally something in a dark shade, like gray, for blending in with the background. He's kinda' picky, like if you're sending him into grassland, he'll drop that preference he has for something a little more green. Generally, he likes it dark and if the camou pattern fits the area, all the better, although he will get it dirty and/or muddy when he gets the chance for two reasons. One, because a uniform looking less uniform and more natural will blend in better, and two, because it gets hot out here and mud is generally cooler. That said, he tries to armor up because he knows he is in it for heavy combat and he wants to live long enough while shooting at the enemy.

He's a workhorse of a man, so he can carry alot, but chances are alot of that is going to be ammo and ordinance. As a smoker - not a severe habit, but it's there - he tries to keep his matches and packets in like a breast pocket, rather than strapped to his helmet, which he'll likewise fuss with mud, because he's fairly-certain the enemy can spot that and ping him from in hiding. Despite all of this, however, he's trained well for both surging attacks and keeping quiet to lie in wait...though the latter may be hampered by whatever's on his person. Also, Elliot has a habit of removing the upper-portion of his uniform down to the sleeveless undershirt when not in a contested area but still on-duty. Fucking hot out here.

Height

As stated, 6-Foot

Personality

Well, to start with, Elliot is something of a Dwayne Hicks kind of a guy. You remember him from Aliens? The guy that, while not in charge, both had it together and could bring it together in a pinch? That's him. Elliot is a man who knows his own abilities and limitations, applying them as best he can without losing his cool. He knows this is a bad situation and he accepts that, but there's work to be done and they're not gonna get out of it sooner by pitching a fit. To that end, he is very well competent at his job. If something has to be taken care of and there isn't an immediate better idea, he's probably on it. Even if he's not, he's always considering the right angles in a situation to get through it, out of it, whatever. When he's not in charge, he's likely to give the guy IN charge a word or two about what's about to go down, in case he feels something was missed or a question needs to be asked that others are feeling, but not saying. He doesn't mind laying it on the line, for the men or to get them to shape up quick.

Now, that isn't to say that he doesn't have his brighter side. Hicks wasn't incredibly sociable, but Elliot has his moments. He is a habit smoker, here and there, same with drinking or another vice that - in moderation - wouldn't destroy him. He'll get into a game, bet on a match, compete with a challenge - all that good stuff. He also has a decent sense of humor, which you may or may not end up at the expense of, depending on the situation. Very few things could possibly get him angry enough to shout, however, so if you manage to get him shouting mad, you are in trouble, like...in a very permanent fashion. You would probably have to violate something that Elliot really cares about to do it, though. Other times, he would rather swiftly knock someone out if they piss him off. Not like Commanding Officers, say, but you can expect anybody taking a swing at him to benefit directly from his training. He has about as much patience for bullshit that is reasonable, and very little after that. Ultiamtely, he's a decent guy, which is why you don't take advantage of him. His kindness is not a weakness. You can bet your last dollar on that.

---

Rank

Ranks are going to be requested in most cases. Most American military characters will be based around Private and Private First-Class, but more experienced characters can request slightly higher positions like Corporal and Sergeant. Crewman ranks are a bit more lenient however, seeing as their command can be limited to their armoured platoons alone. Other character types, such as pilots if requested, again can move to a more accurate rank.

Role

Their role signifies what they specifically do within Vietnam. If they are an infantryman, you have reign over a lot of combat roles, from basic riflemen to machine gunners, grenadiers, flamethrower operators, marksmen etc. For armoured roles or specialised roles, these are also flexible.

Equipment

Their equipment will mostly depend on what role they serve and acts as their usual "on-hand" tools, weapons and gadgets when they are on-duty. Equipment can also include some more personal items, charms and whatnot to single them out from other soldiers, as long as it isn't some sort of overpowered nuclear dispenser. Unique special gear and weaponry should be requested just to make sure it doesn't overstep boundaries.

---

Biography

The account of who they were before the war, their life growing up and how they became to be who they are now. Involve their eventual inclusion into the military, including the vital reasons why.

Affiliations

Who are they families, major friends or life-impacting individuals with prior to the war's beginning?

Relationships

Grace Hart - Partner in Crime?

Character Theme

Grace Hart

---

---

Name

Grace Hart

Gender

Female

Age

19, May 17th

Sexuality

Not Stated

Nationality

Difficult to say because she's Albino, but assumed an American/European mix.

---

Appearance

Whereas Elliot is the strong man, Grace more lithe and agile, a quick and flexible person by general build. She has a slim build of young adulthood, not formally trained, but that her body reflects a number of years effectively engaged in well-honed athleticism for the sole purpose of survival against any person who would attempt to take from her whatever she needs to live, her life in particular, her virginity, etc. That last part is not specifically stated, but Grace would tell you unflinchingly that people have attempted to screw around with or even force themselves onto her and...they'll never be doing that again. She is light-skinned by nature, generally not one to stand out by any other means than general appearance because of her experience in hiding, stealthfully sneaking around, ambushing from perfect stillness, and so on. She tends to stare with brown eyes that are light and like fire with their intensity, though that is mainly during serious moments or when wary of attack. Grace isn't that physically durable, made more to avoid damage to her person than being durable. She does the best she can, and that tends to do, because she takes no chances as one who has made herself singularly deadly when she has to.

When not being a danger to any who would threaten her, Grace is often quiet and only soft-spoken when ever speaking at all. She simply does not raise her voice, as though loud noise equals death, and...well...in this frame of reference, it might. It's a trait that she'll have for life, and that's a fact. Her body language is like that of one who's been both predator and prey out on the streets. Lately, she has adopted a more passive sort of mannerism. She tends to look up to Elliot, often looking to him for some sort of indicator on what's right in a social situation, or if there's a strategy she needs to act upon. Her atttire is usually light-weight, as she is shorter than Elliot and less muscular than him. She gears for stealth and being ableto move quickly and the least-inhibited as possible. There is always a blade on her, and very rarely is there some sort of explosive. You will find her made for doing what a number of the Vietcong themselves do - sneakier action, sniper-y action, cutthroat-y action.

Height

5'7"

Personality

You ask the question, 'How long before you break?', and I tell you that Grace may've done so, already. Not by the war, but due to the abandonment she has suffered. She doesn't talk about it, but one thing that's clear is that she has no desire to find her parents, and it's likely that 'Grace Hart' isn't even her real name. She is often soft-spoken, as said before, but she does get more stern in reference to things like her parents or ever talking about her past life. She simply refuses to speak about it, will clam up entirely if you press on. Certain facts, such as her age, are some of the few facts that Grace ever owns up to. She simply has no interest anymore in who she was, because it isn't who she IS anymore. If asked more about this, her reply will be "Elliot understands. Why don't you?".

It's hard to say what she thinks about Elliot. Whether it's mutual respect or hero worship on her part or even something more intimate (Elliot swears on his last pack of cigs that he hasn't done anything like that and Grace backs him up, as it is apparently the truth.), it's impossible to tell because even if she gives you what sounds like a straightforward answer, there's another issue: It's ALSO difficult to tell where Grace is lying or telling the truth. Her indicators are all strange. She follows Elliot's lead because is seems like he's accepted who she is and has taught her things that further help her out in survival, increasing her skills to a fine razor's edge. Now...fortunately, this has included a friend-or-foe policy, and in fact will work her damnedest to support those of whom she's with in a fight. This means she won't kill her allies for making poor decisions, but she will still deliver harm if you make the wrong move at her. That's practically hard-wired, so it's a good thing that Grace can take a joke, just that...she's not use to having anyone laughing and having a good time around her. She often seems lost in situations that are not readily defined, so it's hard to imagine how she'll live outside of the war. This is her place, for now.

---

Rank

Ranks are going to be requested in most cases. Most American military characters will be based around Private and Private First-Class, but more experienced characters can request slightly higher positions like Corporal and Sergeant. Crewman ranks are a bit more lenient however, seeing as their command can be limited to their armoured platoons alone. Other character types, such as pilots if requested, again can move to a more accurate rank.

Role

Their role signifies what they specifically do within Vietnam. If they are an infantryman, you have reign over a lot of combat roles, from basic riflemen to machine gunners, grenadiers, flamethrower operators, marksmen etc. For armoured roles or specialised roles, these are also flexible.

Equipment

Their equipment will mostly depend on what role they serve and acts as their usual "on-hand" tools, weapons and gadgets when they are on-duty. Equipment can also include some more personal items, charms and whatnot to single them out from other soldiers, as long as it isn't some sort of overpowered nuclear dispenser. Unique special gear and weaponry should be requested just to make sure it doesn't overstep boundaries.

---

Biography

The account of who they were before the war, their life growing up and how they became to be who they are now. Involve their eventual inclusion into the military, including the vital reasons why.

Affiliations

Who are they families, major friends or life-impacting individuals with prior to the war's beginning?

Relationships

Elliot Gratsky - ?????

Character Theme

@FalloutJack

Looking good so far, as per our talk! Can't wait to see them completed

[Jeep Wrangler]

Update - Discord link is now in the OG OOC post at the end for anyone still interested in joining

[Enigmatik]

I think unfortunately I will be withdrawing my interest.

[Jeep Wrangler]

I think unfortunately I will be withdrawing my interest.

@Irredeemable

Ahh, fair enough. Good luck on your endeavours elsewhere!

[Jeep Wrangler]

I'll be potentially working on a second character soon, if not after the start.

[Jeep Wrangler]

Note to anyone reading through and wondering why it's silent, we're talking more in the discord than here for simplicity.

[FalloutJack]

@LetMeDoStuff Heyo, profiles are donezo.

[Jeep Wrangler]

@LetMeDoStuff Heyo, profiles are donezo.

@FalloutJack

Will give 'em a quick read now!

[Jeep Wrangler]

Profiles are unfinished, but progress has been made.

Elliot Gratsky

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Name

Elliot Gratsky

Gender

Male

Age

24, September 30th

Sexuality

Heterosexual

Nationality

An American from Boston, Massachussetts

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Appearance

Elliot is about 6 feet of well-formed body, the product of a man who takes his physical training seriously, and therefore paid attention in basic. He is a caucasian disaster of a man, with signs of minor nicks and scars from work or training-related incidents that he brushes off as nothing fancy, no worries found. Some of these looked like they'd been knife fight wounds, the kind you tell people "You shoulda' seen the other guy.". He is something of a wild black-haired man, with some beard and stubble not quite hiding that he's something worth looking at, with those hazel eyes and that expression that shifts from serious to laid-back and back again fairly quickly, as the need arises. He has the air of a man who'd rather be effective than worry for appearances, and that happens to be what works out best in places like this.

Army attire is generally something in a dark shade, like gray, for blending in with the background. He's kinda' picky, like if you're sending him into grassland, he'll drop that preference he has for something a little more green. Generally, he likes it dark and if the camou pattern fits the area, all the better, although he will get it dirty and/or muddy when he gets the chance for two reasons. One, because a uniform looking less uniform and more natural will blend in better, and two, because it gets hot out here and mud is generally cooler. That said, he tries to armor up because he knows he is in it for heavy combat and he wants to live long enough while shooting at the enemy.

He's a workhorse of a man, so he can carry alot, but chances are alot of that is going to be ammo and ordinance. As a smoker - not a severe habit, but it's there - he tries to keep his matches and packets in like a breast pocket, rather than strapped to his helmet, which he'll likewise fuss with mud, because he's fairly-certain the enemy can spot that and ping him from in hiding. Despite all of this, however, he's trained well for both surging attacks and keeping quiet to lie in wait...though the latter may be hampered by whatever's on his person. Also, Elliot has a habit of removing the upper-portion of his uniform down to the sleeveless undershirt when not in a contested area but still on-duty. Fucking hot out here.

Height

As stated, 6-Foot Height

Personality

Well, to start with, Elliot is something of a Dwayne Hicks kind of a guy. You remember him from Aliens? The guy that, while not in charge, both had it together and could bring it together in a pinch? That's him. Elliot is a man who knows his own abilities and limitations, applying them as best he can without losing his cool. He knows this is a bad situation and he accepts that, but there's work to be done and they're not gonna get out of it sooner by pitching a fit. To that end, he is very well competent at his job. If something has to be taken care of and there isn't an immediate better idea, he's probably on it. Even if he's not, he's always considering the right angles in a situation to get through it, out of it, whatever. When he's not in charge, he's likely to give the guy IN charge a word or two about what's about to go down, in case he feels something was missed or a question needs to be asked that others are feeling, but not saying. He doesn't mind laying it on the line, for the men or to get them to shape up quick.

Now, that isn't to say that he doesn't have his brighter side. Hicks wasn't incredibly sociable, but Elliot has his moments. He is a habit smoker, here and there, same with drinking or another vice that - in moderation - wouldn't destroy him. He'll get into a game, bet on a match, compete with a challenge - all that good stuff. He also has a decent sense of humor, which you may or may not end up at the expense of, depending on the situation. Very few things could possibly get him angry enough to shout, however, so if you manage to get him shouting mad, you are in trouble, like...in a very permanent fashion. You would probably have to violate something that Elliot really cares about to do it, though. Other times, he would rather swiftly knock someone out if they piss him off. Not like Commanding Officers, say, but you can expect anybody taking a swing at him to benefit directly from his training. He has about as much patience for bullshit that is reasonable, and very little after that. Ultiamtely, he's a decent guy, which is why you don't take advantage of him. His kindness is not a weakness. You can bet your last dollar on that.

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Rank

Corporal

Role

Heavy Infantry, trained in all anti-personal weaponry

Equipment

M60 - Belt-fed heavy machine gun.
Remington 870 - NOTE: This shotgun has been sawed off for easier carry/fire.
Ka-Bar - Leading competitor to the M3 fighting Knife.
Standard Issue Webbing - What? It's standard.
Zippo Lighter
Cigarette Pack(s)
'Secret Codebook' - A small booklet full of gibberish to confuse Vietnamese soldiers if ever taken.
Grenades Optional

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Biography

In Elliot's case, it's important to know who his father is before getting to know the man, himself. Knowing where and what he came from sheds a great deal of light on the man, maybe far enough to even see some of the shadow cast by Grace, but we'll get to that later. We start, therefore, with Dwayne Gratsky, Elliot's father. Dwayne had been born too young to enter into the first World War, but he felt he should go to war and fight in order to stop 'The War to End All Wars'. Back then, the World War was just THE World War, the greatest conflict ever faced by man, and you're damned right that plenty of people - even those too young to be a part of the military - would go out there. However, Dwayne's father - already a Captain - forbade him and explained that the drafting offices already had him on file, and that they would turn him down because of his age while he himself went to war.

That was the last he saw of his father. A couple of years in, the letters stopped. About a month after that, his mother received a letter that went 'Dear Mrs. Gratsky, it is with our deepest condolences that we must report...', well, you get the idea. Dwayne was furious. His father had beeen killed in the war and he was powerless to even help anyone, let alone the notion that he could've been there for his father. Frustrated, he watched as the war carried on...and then ended before he could properly enlist. The World War was over. The enemy was defeated. Of course, the results of said war would lead to problems...as forcing Germany to make reparations to the victors and the victims left it in a position that shocked the world... By the time that had happened, though, Dwayne Gratsky had enlisted, trained, and was ready to fight. The Second World War was his battleground, and he fought a battle that was much different than any his father ever did.

However, we must pull back for a moment, because it was - strangely enough - a good thing that events had occurred as they did. Elliot was born in 1935, rather unexpectedly and during The Great Depression. If Dwayne had enlisted with his father, he might've died in a trench-bombing like his father, and thus never made it back in the first place. His frustrations led him to enlist willingly at about the onset of the Roaring 20s, long before the Depression began. With an army commission and, in fact, bases to live on as he moved about, the Gratsky family was less-damaged by the failure of the Stock Market, the Dust Bowl, and so on. Before the war even started, Dwayne was a Corporal, like Elliot is now. By the time he'd shown his his stuff in combat when the US Government joined WWII for a couple of months, he made Sergeant after his own company Sargeant was killed in action. By the end of the war, he was a Major who insisted on fighting alongside the men, in or out of a an armored vehicle. He fought hard, fueled by years of tempered anger towards a foe that reared its ugly head again, a sense of duty, and a need to support his family back home.

All of this influenced Elliot, of course. He was born, as stated, in the middle of The Great Depression, and his childhood was a little rough. Let's start with what it means to be a military brat. First of all, if your dad is often busy, the times you see him are limited, and if you live on the base - like Elliot and his mother did - then you get to know alot of his fellow soldiers about as much, which can be both good AND bad, dependent on what you want out of it. It made Elliot not as concerned for his old man - The Big Daddy destroyer of the German Reich - and a bit more personable around men with guns, finding it all cool, of course. Kinda' had to gravitate more to them and similar army brats, because people outside the base when he was a child...didn't understand. You get this all the time. There's no war, but the military engine is being meticulously maintained, and now the entire country is facing a series of crises that threatens many, with the haves and the have-nots always in disagreement. Kids wouldn't associate with Elliot's lot. They'd fight their parents' battles with their aggression over how the military's useless and does nothing but eat their food while they go hungry. Honestly, Elliot felt bad, but what're you gonna do? Oh, and calling his dad a leech? That's a nose-bleeding, right there. You just can't live with such people...

Fortunately, or unfortunately, they moved around to other bases as his father had to be assigned elsewhere. You see, Dwayne never turned down a chance to train others in what he knew and experienced, what he could give in order to make sure that men get out of battle alive. He wasn't obligated to, but he wanted to, and he even shared things with his son, though Ellen never openly approved. As he began to grow and World War II started, he saw his father off, wanting to follow in his old man's footsteps, though he didn't quite have the hero worship that Dwayne did of HIS father, It was more the latter reasonings, that it was the right thing to do and it was a living. This was good, because by the time Elliot was ready for college AFTER the war, he was able to fast-track his way into the ROTC program and learn his stuff. Armies have gotta be, and Gratskys are good for the army. He was able to get his education paid for by the military, which would pay for his living. He made the reserves and was ablee to continue on unabated until...

Well, until that inevitable day when the country decided to join in the Vietnam conflict, of course. Elliot wasn't sent over until the Third Wave, when the US had already established itself into the South Vietnamese area, senting its forces north for several months. Eventually, he was sent over, and that was when he met Grace...

Affiliations

'Big Daddy' Dwayne Gratsky - Father
Ellen Huxley-Gratsky - Mother

Relationships

Grace Hart - Partner in Crime?

Character Theme

Grace Hart

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Name

Grace Hart

Gender

Female

Age

19, May 17th

Sexuality

Not Stated

Nationality

Difficult to say because she's Albino, but assumed an American/European mix.

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Appearance

Whereas Elliot is the strong man, Grace more lithe and agile, a quick and flexible person by general build. She has a slim build of young adulthood, not formally trained, but that her body reflects a number of years effectively engaged in well-honed athleticism for the sole purpose of survival against any person who would attempt to take from her whatever she needs to live, her life in particular, her virginity, etc. That last part is not specifically stated, but Grace would tell you unflinchingly that people have attempted to screw around with or even force themselves onto her and...they'll never be doing that again. She is light-skinned by nature, generally not one to stand out by any other means than general appearance because of her experience in hiding, stealthfully sneaking around, ambushing from perfect stillness, and so on. She tends to stare with brown eyes that are light and like fire with their intensity, though that is mainly during serious moments or when wary of attack. Grace isn't that physically durable, made more to avoid damage to her person than being durable. She does the best she can, and that tends to do, because she takes no chances as one who has made herself singularly deadly when she has to.

When not being a danger to any who would threaten her, Grace is often quiet and only soft-spoken when ever speaking at all. She simply does not raise her voice, as though loud noise equals death, and...well...in this frame of reference, it might. It's a trait that she'll have for life, and that's a fact. Her body language is like that of one who's been both predator and prey out on the streets. Lately, she has adopted a more passive sort of mannerism. She tends to look up to Elliot, often looking to him for some sort of indicator on what's right in a social situation, or if there's a strategy she needs to act upon. Her atttire is usually light-weight, as she is shorter than Elliot and less muscular than him. She gears for stealth and being ableto move quickly and the least-inhibited as possible. There is always a blade on her, and very rarely is there some sort of explosive. You will find her made for doing what a number of the Vietcong themselves do - sneakier action, sniper-y action, cutthroat-y action.

Height

5'7"

Personality

You ask the question, 'How long before you break?', and I tell you that Grace may've done so, already. Not by the war, but due to the abandonment she has suffered. She doesn't talk about it, but one thing that's clear is that she has no desire to find her parents, and it's likely that 'Grace Hart' isn't even her real name. She is often soft-spoken, as said before, but she does get more stern in reference to things like her parents or ever talking about her past life. She simply refuses to speak about it, will clam up entirely if you press on. Certain facts, such as her age, are some of the few facts that Grace ever owns up to. She simply has no interest anymore in who she was, because it isn't who she IS anymore. If asked more about this, her reply will be "Elliot understands. Why don't you?".

It's hard to say what she thinks about Elliot. Whether it's mutual respect or hero worship on her part or even something more intimate (Elliot swears on his last pack of cigs that he hasn't done anything like that and Grace backs him up, as it is apparently the truth.), it's impossible to tell because even if she gives you what sounds like a straightforward answer, there's another issue: It's ALSO difficult to tell where Grace is lying or telling the truth. Her indicators are all strange. She follows Elliot's lead because is seems like he's accepted who she is and has taught her things that further help her out in survival, increasing her skills to a fine razor's edge. Now...fortunately, this has included a friend-or-foe policy, and in fact will work her damnedest to support those of whom she's with in a fight. This means she won't kill her allies for making poor decisions, but she will still deliver harm if you make the wrong move at her. That's practically hard-wired, so it's a good thing that Grace can take a joke, just that...she's not use to having anyone laughing and having a good time around her. She often seems lost in situations that are not readily defined, so it's hard to imagine how she'll live outside of the war. This is her place, for now.

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Rank

Private

Role

Sniper and Stealth Specialist

Equipment

M40 - Scoped Marksman/Sniper Rifle.
M3 Fighting Knife - AKA the M3 Trench Knife, mass-produced over the Ka-Bar for being slightly cheaper to make.
M1911A1 Service Pistol - Back-up pistol.
Basic Bandages
Other Stealthy Items Optional

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Biography

Grace had no choice in the matter. Reality had shifted against her, and she could only move with it or die. That was the truth. She does not speak of what actually happened, the fullness of it, not ever. The most she has ever spoken about it was with Elliot, and even then... No names, no details, no answers that would lead to any sort of real closure. She did not like the past. She did not want the past. If anyone were to ever show her the family that did what they did to her, she would more than likely kill them and continue on as she was. That is why she would never tell anyone anything real or truthful about herself. Because if anyone learned these facts and had the capacity to act on them, they might try to send her back. That was never going to happen. She would disappear into the dust and gloom first.

Years ago, Grace was abandoned here. Yes, here of all places. You could read between the lines and say that she might've been unwanted, that she could've been a child of the previous war from one wild night that got someone from here pregnant and whatnot, but Grace is having none of that answered, so all you get is supposition. It is a fact that she was abandoned, and that it is likely that she is Euro-American, although her albinoism does make that hard to pin down, properly. She does state that she was expected to die, as the act was so abrupt and with no recourse or help to be given out here that starvation or being killed by someone for any number of reasons - before or after getting violated - was a high probability.

It didn't take.

Grace has some level of education, either from times prior or whatever she's picked up or both. She was naturally flexible and quick, and so she adapted her life to steal for a living, with almost no moral fiber above the need to survive expressed for several years. She did not justify or pontificate or anything like that. She accepted that reality was pretty harsh for her, and that if she did not act accordingly to survive, she would not. That is primarily why, during the years here, she learned to kill almost without question, by instinct even. She would weigh the odds of a death coming back to bite her in the ass - so, nobody important would be subjected to this unless she had little choice but to go that route - and determined the best course of action. Conflicts were regular, even before the war, and she was already in the background, a scavenger and a thief, sometimes a killer. It didn't matter. This was what had to be done. Nobody was going to make her a better offer. Nobody.

Then, somebody did.

The appearance of US Soldiers made things a bit easier for her. She did not get greedy. Greed killed in these parts. She survived, only survived. Never took too much or more than she could transport easily, so as not to be caught. And if she did, she abandoned what couldn't be moved so that whoever was after her would be occupied with it and not her. She knew this country, knew its people, and knew that she was not one of them or really one of anyone. Being an outsider in a place you know intimately well was a terrible thing, but sadly...it was life. The soldiers, though... They were careless. Food and other things she needed, or at least things that could be traded, came easily. Catching her was near-to-impossible. She was gone long before anything was noticed...at least until Elliot arrived.

Elliot was different, aware, only careless when he allowed himself to goof off. He was no one's fool, including hers. Had he caught on and simply not acted the first few times a scrap of food went missing? Had he caught onto her from the start and never said until the night he caught her? Even the way he did that was unexpected. He did not report her or anything you'd expect. He must've figured out one or two of her hiding places. That was how he came to be sitting there, wanting to talk. Imagine living this life, wary that you could be attaced or brought in to face punishment, but this soldier just wants to sit and talk and understand. No, she wouldn't tell him everything. Even someone like him, someone who wanted to give her pointers, didn't need to know, although he DID mention being impressed about how she'd ended that one guy with a blade to the nuts.

In the end, Elliot ended up training her, explaining things to her, and she felt...she wanted to help him, to stay with the first and only person to approach her like this and help out, no strings attached. It was shocking how she felt about that, and to discover how lonely she actually was. She had no real social skill to speak of, although one thing Grace COULD do was speak Vietnamese fluenty, as well as English. Over time, Elliot decided that if she really wanted to work alongside him, that he'd let her...but it wasn't exactly up to him. She needed a commission, first, and after some convincing, Elliot managed to get her field-drafted into his unit as a company sniper and guide in country, Private Grace Hart.

Affiliations

Grace will not admit to any such persons, familiel or otherwise.

Relationships

Elliot Gratsky - ?????

Character Theme

@FalloutJack

Gonna accept these two bad boys, all the new updated stuff seems spicy and adds some future flavour for the campaign. Will be weird to see how they react in social situations together and apart, so looking forward to that.

[Nyxira]

I am interested in joining, if it is still possible.

[Jeep Wrangler]

I am interested in joining, if it is still possible.

@Nyxira

It is indeed still possible! Join the discord link in the first OOC post and we can discuss characters there!

[Nyxira]

I could not be happier to learn that there is discord connect to this!