Bartimaeus

Pokemon: Dream

Ripley Lennox

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Mentions: Clarissa (@Crusader Lord) Location: Byjerlfal City Industrial District

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Now this was more like home. As Ripley and his psychic companion ventured after the flock of Murkrow, they happened to travel into what one would only assume was a more industrial section of Byjerlfal - and that it was. The scenery transformed as they moved onward, turning into something more similar to the busy, machinated hotspot that was Rip's hometown, Rivenwall.

Eventually, they drew to a stop as the path ahead became not-so-clear. Their target seemed to have evaded them, but there were options. A set of friendly-looking alleys lay before, but so too did a cafe. The Wailord's Rest - seemed cozy enough. Ripley's eyes were drawn to Sir Lopsalot as the small rabbit-Pokémon gestured down the alleyway towards what they could only assume was their quarry. Or something like it. Ripley peered down the alley, looking for any sign of what may be waiting for them, to little avail.

He proceeded to listen as Clarissa spoke. He himself wasn't too concerned about the safety of the alley - how bad could it really be? They had their partner Pokémon to help protect them, anyways! Either way though, Rip was more than content with deferring to whatever path Clarissa wanted to take first. Afterall, there was a big journey ahead of them, and the first city they came across was not likely to be the most exciting bit of it. Plus, once Clarissa was busy with her super-star friend, Ripley would have the run of the place to himself to do whatever he thought he missed.

"Hmmmn.." He hummed, shifting a hip to one side. "The cafe sounds good to me! Who better to ask than a local, I guess!" He replied as he started to step happily towards the front of the Wailord's Rest. "Maybe they have something interesting on the menu, too!" Zorua's eyes gleamed in delight at the mention of food as it scurried around the duo of trainers in excited circles.

Recollections: Who Is Eleanor Black [CANCELLED]

Zeltzin Sandoval

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Mentions: None Location: Road to The Old Black Manor

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The notion of riding clown-car in Jen's van with the group of strangers she'd known for all of half-a-day was not an enticing one to Zeltzin. Unfortunately, the idea of her bike sliding off a bank and into some tarry-ass swamp-water, which would definitely fuck it up, was even less attractive. Begrudgingly, she had determined she'd rather leave her bike behind, waiting loyally for her in the Summit Motel parking lot.

As she sat in the furthest-back row of seats, the van cruising down the back-roads of the swamp, she determined her choice was both right and wrong. It seemed the weather had taken a swing for the worse, transitioning into a torrential downpour, which she would've been forced to endure unsheltered, had she taken her bike. The alternative was that she was instead forced to endure the stench of weed coming off one of her traveling companions - and she could only guess who it was. Mind you, she had done her share of recreational medicinals in the past - but weed was not one which she had grown fond of. Fortunately, she hadn't too much time to lament her decision - for the ride was pretty short, as promised.

Her gaze scanned their surroundings through the window as the van came to a halt, looking over the gate and the depths of swamp to either side. She started shifting around as they drew up to said gate, reaching back into the cargo space and retrieving the black canvas bag that concealed the hardware she'd brought along. Considering how calm the ride was through the swamp, it seemed a bit silly in hindsight to come as heavy as they had - but better safe than sorry, as cliché as it was. Either way, it was coming along.

The rain droned against the roof of the van as she checked what few things she had on her person, before reaching over and pulling open the door she was sitting up against. The shower immediately started to dampen her clothes as she started to step out, and it quickly became a drenching. Fortunately, Zeltzin's leather jacket kept her torso relatively dry, but her jeans were quickly wet-through, and her head was also swiftly soaked. Her heavy combat-boots - which she was fortunate to have worn here - dropped heavily into the mud as she hopped out and took a better look at the gate. Yep, no getting through that with what they'd brought along.

She rolled her eyes at the previous notion of them shooting through the lock - that sorta thing was movie bullshit, usually. And 'specially wouldn't work with a scattergun. A softer Zeltzin would've had a chuckle at the response elicited from Ophrenia though - she surely hadn't expected the irritated snapback from someone as chill as her. But she had other things on her mind at the moment.

She started to mess with her canvas bag for a moment before she drew across it in a long motion, pulling the zipper around its length to pull out the shotgun stored within. She was mindful to ensure she didn't flag any of her 'companions' with it as she ensured it was loaded and the safety was on, before she slung it over her back, barrel-down. She imagined there wouldn't be many people out in the swamp, so her wariness with wearing it bare on her back was gone. She tossed the bag back into the van before stepping away.

Her eyes once again fell upon the gate that laid before them. The talk of scaling it had her looking up its length skeptically, before she laid a hand on her thigh reflectively. It'd been a while since she'd scaled a fence - the last time she exerted herself over climbing something like this was when she booked a rock-climbing trip, of all things, when she was with Eleanor. She had a stubborn adventurousness to her back then, and would endure many things for her Eleanor, even if the other made a fuss about it. In truth, climbing something like this would've been significantly easier if someone were to help her up -- but she'd rather die, naturally.

She limped up to the gate and looked straight up before measuring in her head how much of a task it'd be. She took a bit of distance before she rushed forward and hopped up to grab the top of the fence. She threw her left leg up-and-over and started pulling herself up, before she began lifting her right leg too. The latter effort caused her body to shudder as she felt a sudden, sharp pain racking her body. For a moment, she faltered, her muscles twitching in protest as she vainly tried to hold back a loud howl of agony at the attempt.
"A-AHNgh-!" There was a moment where she paused in the pain, and it looked like she might let herself stall - but it itself was halted quickly as she drew her muscles back under her control and redoubled her efforts, managing to finally throw herself over the peak of the fence and fall to the other side.

She just managed to somehow land on her feet, even if her right leg gave way and she fell to one knee. She took an involuntary moment of pause as she felt the nerves in the right side of her body flare and tweak in pangs. She let out a frustrated grunt as she managed to stand up after a moment, her right leg quivering as she violently shrugged off any looks or attempts to ensure she was okay, should there be any.

In truth, the pain was near-blinding. Once she stood up, it took her a moment for her mind to find purchase on what she was doing before the sudden onslaught of physical torment. After a pause, her head managed to readjust itself to its surroundings as Zeltzin found herself standing in the downpour, her comrades in front and behind her. Fortunately for her, she was not the last of the group to scale the fence, and she'd at least have the reprieve of a minute or so as she waited for the rest of them to climb after her. In this meantime, Zeltzin would take the opportunity to dig a shaky hand into the inner pockets of her jacket, searching for something. She was quick to find a bottle and deposit a few pills into her hand, which she swallowed dry as she waited.

Once everybody was ready, Zeltzin followed. She took it upon herself to take position at the right-most side of the group as they moved down the muddy path towards the Black Manor. They walked for some time, led by Jen as her flashlight highlighted the countless raindrops that poured through the beam of its light. That was, until Lily came to an abrupt halt at the front. "... What. In. The. FUCK?" Zeltzin's hand was quick but smooth to reach down and grasp the barrel of her weapon, preparing to whip it up under her arm if they needed it.

Her eyes followed the beam of light that connected Lily's flashlight and the.. thing that sat in the swamp, silently, as if watching them. Her eyes landed on it and she felt a chill run through her flesh as she paused, her grip of the weapon on her back remaining as it was. The thing was.. unmoving. It was just.. there. It - whatever it was - was hard to make out. With the downpour came a misty depth-of-field as the rain spattered down into the putrid, stale water of the swamp around them. Whatever the shape was, it was weird, but.. Jen had the right idea. Ignoring whatever that weird effigy-looking thing was, it was better to keep moving.

Her readiness to pull her weapon eased as they continued walking once again. Although Zeltzin was far from the superstitious type, turning her back to such a thing made her feel.. uneasy. Where she'd normally have tossed a glance over her shoulder every-so-often, now she made sure to give their flank a scrutinous gaze pretty frequently as she continued limping along.

Akimitsu Academy Kendo Club [INVITE ONLY]

Shion Sasaki

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Shion

"Ya think so? Prove it, then!~"

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Name:

Sasaki, Shion

Age:

17

Appearance:

At passing glance, one would be forgiven for immediately thinking Shion a girl. Albeit his unkempt-looking hair is short, it is also quite fluffy and possesses a traditionally-feminine rosy-pink tone. His bangs are often prone to brushing into his face, occasionally covering the similarly-unique hue of his grape-purple eyes - which are often enhanced with his personal application of black eyeliner. Additionally, Shion's facial aspects are rather feminine; soft yet angular features and fair, clear skin accompanied by thin, expressive eyebrows.

Aside from his head, Shion doesn't have anything particularly special to note about him, physically. Admittedly, he does possesses a physique a bit feminine for most boys his age - being that he is rather petite at 5'4" and with no visible muscle. Despite his soft appearance though, he does have some musculature to him in the areas that are most manipulated in Kendo - those being the back, arms, core, and legs.

Personality:

Shion is a bit of a wildcard, some might say. In general, he's a boy of many facets - he is very-much-so an ambivert, and his day-to-day self flexes this duality often. He's not scared of being loud, nor of being unheard. He's fun-loving and animated, but equally capable of solemnity or aloofness that might seem off-putting coming from a bright, quip-cracking personality like his. He is a naturally competitive sort, and possesses the tenacity to compete against the odds in whichever field it is that he desires. He's more attentive than one might expect from a boy as air-headed as he can sometimes be, and is all-too-interested in learning specific fields that might seem a little random - like martial arts, or chemistry.

Bio:

Shion's life has been rather simple, if unfortunate, up to this point. Now living with his grandmother in an oddly large home for a Japanese citizen, Shion had been raised solely by his mother up until the age of 13. Until then, the two of them had lived alone, spending their days together as his mother, Aiko, worked from home. His life was one of normality and happiness - despite his father not being in the picture - and he would always return home from school to the waiting arms of his mother, who greeted him and treated him with all the love one could muster. But for some, fate deemed life would not be so blessed. At age 13, Shion lost his mother to a genetic disease with which he did not know she was burdened. From that point onward, he began to live with his grandmother Miu - a distant, if generous and benevolent, entity in his life.

He is, at least, a little fortunate in his inheritances granted by his mother. His closet is full of her belongings - memories of the only person who he was ever truly close to. Additionally, Shion seeks to carry on her legacy in Kendo. Aiko Sasaki was a world-competitor in Kendo some years ago, having to quit due to health. Shion keeps tapes of some of her competitions, watching them from time-to-time when he needs inspiration or comfort. It is her legacy in the sport that causes him to hold a deep respect for Kendo, and the drive to be the best than he can be - and better.

Kendo:

One might expect Shion's Kendo style to mirror his personality, and they would be right - though maybe for the wrong reasons. Where he is a rather balanced character who is equally prone to outwardness or reticence, in Kendo he is a defensive, counterattack-specialist. In shiai, Shion almost never deviates from the balanced Chudan stance, and develops a sharp eye and a reactive disposition - looking for even the slightest moment where his opponent's attack leaves them vulnerable to one of his own.

Not only is Shion's style one that takes advantage of the aggression of the opponent, but Shion is also a bit of a trickster when it comes to his own forms of aggression. Generally, the most common form of strike in Kendo is a cut, but Shion finds some success in a proclivity for thrusts - a faster and more deceptive, but more easily deflected, attack. Fortunately, this works well for him, as it is more difficult to articulate one's shinai during the recovery of a deflected or bypassed attack.

Additionally, Shion's interest in martial arts and swordsmanship as a whole leads him to have developed a taste for.. innovating. While being mindful of what maneuvers fit within the rules of a competition, Shion likes to include a number of techniques that aren't something a Kendoka would teach you. Stuff like techniques from European or Italian manuals - exotic things like that. Of course, these techniques can be hard to find uses for in practice, and aren't hammered into him for weeks by an instructor - so they could cost him.

Finally, there is Shion's behavior within Kendo. In all his flexibility, Shion's demeanor during true shiai is one that is very-much-so at odds with what people know of him. Were one to watch Shion closely, they would notice the very moment he reaches first sonkyo, any modicum of a smile, smirk, or really any emotion, vanishes. He eyes lock onto his opponent, and he develops an aura of seriousness that one can almost feel. The only reaction that one could distinguish from Shion's visage, in that moment, is the movement of his eyes as they flick from detail-to-detail, scanning his opponent in almost machine-like fashion. One could become so engrossed in the the polarity of the change that they could very well be startled by the curt, powerful burst of vocals that are Shion's kiai.

Shion is an exceptional Kendo student in his own right, but he does have his flaws. While he obviously isn't incapable of aggressing a defensive opponent, Shion's specialty lies in his eye for counter-attacks, and he is much more comfortable in that field of use. Additionally, he has been known to lose practices due to his use of the aforementioned exotic techniques - as his level of exercise with some of them is lacking, compared to normal Kendo maneuvers. This has gotten him scolded on more than a couple occasions by whichever sensei was teaching him at the time.

Other:

Nothing, for now!

Akimitsu Academy Kendo Club [INVITE ONLY]

AKIMITSU ACADEMY KENDO

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Akimitsu Academy is known amongst its peers as a young and flowering institution wholly devoted to the educational enrichment of all enrolled students. Hosting attendants between the ages of 16 to 18, the academy delivers the full experience of a three-year high-school term to its students - who are notably international in makeup. There is something special about Akimitsu, though. It is further known amongst its peers as a cultivator of many-a highly-talented Kendo students, several of whom graduate from the academy's dojo and advance to admired careers in the arts and traditions of Kendo.

This proclivity for producing quality Kendo practitioners has caused Akimitsu Academy to grow popular amongst parents and other benefactors who wish to send children or students to a school that could enhance their growth in the sport. However, the academy is one of great integrity and finds its enrollments untouched by the esteem of potential benefactors - instead, it views each student in their own light, and accepts those which it does with its own verdict. This has led more than a few competitive Kendo teams, backed by aforementioned denied benefactors, to develop a grudge against Akimitsu's teams.

And on Akimitsu Academy's Kendo team is where you find yourself. The academy actually has a few teams, comprised of the junior Kendokas, the intermediate Kendokas, and the advanced Kendokas - the latter two of which are incorporated into the academy's competition teams. You hold a place on one of Akimitsu's several competition-teams, and as such will be one of the intermediate-to-advanced Kendoka of 16 to 18 years-of-age - a student that displays significant skill in Kendo, but evenstill possesses their own notable flaws.

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Yo! Here it be, your Kendo-Club SoL RP! So yeah, we gonna be a buncha goobers in a competitive Kendo team, attending school together, and whathaveyou. I've a few plans in terms of arcs for competitions and such whenever those happen, but overall its a lil malleable world for us to all work with centered around the school, so any arcs and ideas you got, throw em out there! For now I'll include some info on the school, but I'm not gonna make the initial thread post too thicc.

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INFO
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Akimitsu Academy POIs

• Akimitsu Academy

Akimitsu Academy, while well-funded, is not an institute of extravagant appearance. It has an appeal to it in its clean, simplistic design that one can hardly deny -- and while it may not possess fancy fixtures, profligate ornaments, or particularly impressive architecture, it possesses more than enough resources and space than is necessary for the uses of its students and staff.

• Academy Courtyard A, "Red"

Akimitsu possesses a couple smaller courtyards, but Courtyard A is its largest by a decent margin. Courtyard A is a broad, bright courtyard that acts as a popular hang-out spot for many students between their academic responsibilities. Students have grown to moniker this specific courtyard as "Red" due to the red benches sprinkled throughout it, something that differs from the smaller yards. The courtyard is surrounded on three sides by wings of the main building, and has a nice little fountain.

• Akimitsu Cafeteria

Akimitsu's Cafeteria is one of decent size and excellent quality. It has many seating options and appreciable scenery, with a few plants sprinkling the space. On one side is a wide fixture of steps leading up to various halls for departure to classrooms. On the opposite side of the area is a set of doors and large windows; portals directly connected to Courtyard A. Betwixt the aforementioned sides is the cafeteria's serving counter, where staff dishes out luncheons to its students that would put many other schools to shame. Not only are Akimitsu's lunches very healthy, but they are equally savourable and variable, to boot.

• Akimitsu Gym

Akimitsu Academy's gym is one of serviceable size, featuring a wide basketball court that provides space for whatever activities are required during the course of the day. Aside from Kendo, which never sees the gym, Akimitsu does have a basketball team as well - but no other official teams, yet.

• Akimitsu Academy Dojo

As seen from the rp banner, Akimitsu's Dojo is a dedicated space that offers a bit of a different atmosphere from the rest of the campus. The dojo is separated from the main building of the campus, requiring students to travel to the back-side of the schoolgrounds, to a different structure, to enter. The dojo, as opposed to the bright, clear colorations of the main building of the campus, possesses a mellow, more traditional palette that enhances the air of respect that the place seems to demand of itself.

The dojo itself is a medium-sized building with several ancillary rooms and structures connected to it, each with their own special purpose tailored directly to the needs of the dojo. Entering the dojo from the front, one is greeted with a wide hall in which they can then move to the various preparation rooms, changing rooms, storage rooms, etc. At the end of said hall rests a final, wide sliding door that opens up to the dojo itself. As opposed to the rest of the school, where practices are more internationalized for ease of the student body, regular shoes are not allowed in the dojo building and must instead be exchanged for slippers at a traditional genkan.

Akimitsu Academy Staff

• Education

Homeroom teachers

Hikaru Juno

Hikaru Juno

Hikaru Juno is your homeroom teacher. Generally, homeroom teachers receive the same students year-after-year of highschool - so during this time, they are held responsible for you personally. As a result, a homeroom teacher and their students will more than likely form a relationship -- whether it be one of trust and welfare, or one of reluctance and badgering, is to be decided by teacher and student alike.

That said, Hikaru is a bit of an oddball among teachers. Most students meet him and immediately develop the sense that he's.. well, weird. With a tall, lanky visage accompanied by dark hair and dark eyes, a scar across his cheekbone, and a voice that comes across almost like a snake's hiss, one wouldn't be frowned upon for finding him at least a bit odd. But Hikaru, as an educator, is nigh-unmatched. His dedication and thorough efforts to upbring and develop his students is held to a measure which one could only imagine. He is known amongst his peers as the go-to teacher for bringing students back from the brink of expulsion - he has a way with inspiring and engaging students like no other, and is unending and selfless in his efforts to do so. It is not something that he speaks about - just something he does. In truth, it seems at times that Hikaru is entirely unaware of himself or his own health, and instead possesses a sense of tunnel-vision that rests only upon helping his students.

This, however, doesn't take away from his peculiar person. In fact, Hikaru is strange in most-all senses of the word. One moment, he can exude an off-puttingly bright disposition, commending a student on their work and progress -- and in the next, bearing down upon another with the heat of a thousand suns for not putting their name on their homework. It seems, at times, that even other teachers fear the unpredictability of his wrath.

Aso Ren

Aso Ren

Aso Ren is a homeroom teacher, but he is not yours. Like Hikaru, he is a Japanese-American teacher that operates in your home-wing of the school - one of the two who do so, the other being Hikaru, of course. Mr. Aso is a simply good teacher who naturally seeks to improve his students, and holds a mystified respect for Hikaru's dedication to you and your peers. He is a much more mellow personality than your homeroom teacher, but despite that, has become one of Hikaru's only close friends amongst the staff.

Maths

Pik Numan

Pik Numan is your math teacher - and is considered a conventionally-exceptional instructor when it comes to the subject. He possesses a talent for breaking up math in ways others would take much longer to manage, in order to explain it to students. His brain seems to work almost instantly when met with virtually any math problem. Unfortunately, Mr. Pik's dull and monotone demeanor means that most students find themselves completely unenthused by his teachings and dread the atmosphere of the class itself.

Sciences

Avus Mann

Avus Mann is currently the only teacher currently employed at Akimitsu Academy that has no roots in the nation of Japan, instead hailing fully from the Americas - and he is your science teacher. Avus is an older, respectful gentleman who holds a never-ending delectation for the sciences. Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Environmentals, and Astronomy are some of his favorites, as he says.

He primarily teaches the first listed three, for purposes of curriculum, but will take any opportunity to share knowledge on any of them, no matter how small. Avus is considered a stellar teacher, as his delight when dealing with the sciences can be pretty contagious to the right audiences, and he makes it his life's work to inspire a younger generation to indulge in the fun that the sciences can be. Admittedly, Mr. Avus finds joy in simply talking about the sciences, and doesn't really think about teaching them in a way that could engage the students that are more.. slacking. But, maybe he could be prodded to..

He is also a fan of dad-jokes.

• Kendo

Akimitsu Academy

Toga Endo

There are several Kendo instructors within Akimitsu, but Toga leads the lot of them as the oldest and most-experienced Sensei. Sensei Toga has been committed to Kendo for over two decades, and despite his age is still very-much-so committed to the traditions and arts of the sport. Sensei Toga is a renowned and respected Sensei in the world of Kendo, and although he has his enemies, he is never openly trifled with -- at least not to his face.

Sensei Toga generally doesn't directly teach students, but he has been known to rarely visit their practices. He always attends competitions of his students, though.

Tomiko Dango

While there are several instructors in the dojo, Sensei Tomiko is yours directly. Tomiko is a middle-aged Japanese woman with around a dozen years of Kendo experience. She is a woman who takes the sport seriously, and seeks to spread the joy which it brings her to the generations after hers. She holds a great respect for the sport and will stand for no tarnishing of its name, or the sacred place that is the dojo.

However, she is not a straight-laced as one might think from her thorny exterior. She has her playful and understanding sides, as well. She is among the best sensei in the dojo when it comes to connecting with students and uplifting their true potential. She can be harsh sometimes, but that harshness can come with a surprisingly soft touch, too. Don't let her true compassion fool you, though - her spicy attitude isn't just for show; she's known to rip trouble-makers a new one.

• Other

Principle

Toka Sato

Toka Sato is the principle of Akimitsu Academy. She has an oddly nervous and fidgety demeanor, but a truly kind heart - she likes to personally check in on classes, occasionally. Her anxious nature, oddly enough, seems to falter when it is most convenient.

Cafeteria Staff

Susan Nakamoto

Susan Nakamoto is the head lunch-lady at Akimitsu Academy. She occasionally serves the cafeteria, and is in charge of the menu and supplies for the cafeteria.

School Nurse

Sato Kubo

Sato Kubo is the school nurse. Her services are not usually needed, so she most-often tends to manage scrapes n stuff that the basketball team suffers. Aside from that, she tends to get bored and wander the school in search of entertainment. Despite this, she always seems to have an odd way of being where she needs to at any particular moment..
She seems to have a particularly bashful nature, especially around specific other staff members.

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CHARACTER SHEET
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Your CS doesn't have to look like mine, but it must have the included sections in it. Style however you like!

Akimitsu Academy CS

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Name/Nickname

_{(anime-style image)}

"Quote quote quote"

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Name:

Last, First

Age:

(16-18)

Appearance:

Appearance text
(OPTIONAL)

Personality:

Personality

Bio:

Short biography of character.

Kendo:

Short descriptor of their Kendo style and/or tendencies.

Other:

Anything else you wanna mention like quirks, proclivities, miscellaneous details, etc.

Tyrant Shell: The Answer of Rain [CANCELLED]

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Mentions: N/A
Location: The Beach

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The drawn hiss of The Nest's hangar doors slowly pulling open sounded through the deployment bay as the crew was briefed on their impromptu sub-mission. Each pilot made the final preps and diagnostics on their shells in their own rights, and the Ossifrage was no different. Said pilot listened to the rear hatch of her shell close behind her with its own sibilation. The silver-haired pilot took her position in the cockpit and began interfacing with the systems of her shell immediately, the internals of which began to flicker to life smoothly.

The briefing was short, and their deployment was just as much. Each shell dropped from the bay at their own intervals, falling or gliding to the ground before taking their preferred positions in preparation for the arrival of the Murakumo Robotics forward-team. Luckily for them, such a party would, in likelihood, prove to be a fairly easy one to conquer. General operation for setting such footholds was to send a small, lightly-armed party that was likely to go unnoticed, so as to establish a zone for larger deployments while chiefly unhindered. But, of course, one always ran the risk of being driven out summarily should they be apprehended with such a small force.

But in this age, it was easy to underestimate a force that could possess hidden firepower. Should they allow themselves to operate complacently, being blindsided by an unforeseen cast of shells - however unlikely - could surely spell failure.

And this was why the Ossifrage took every operation as seriously as the last - diagnostics immediately being ran on the environment as they descended to the earth. The heavy deluge that befell said environment made it more difficult to gauge their surroundings than usual, but it worked equally in their favor, providing a layer of coverage that would serve very well in an ambush - which it seemed they were primed for. Ossifrage was fond of ambushes - they were efficient, effective, and demoralizing to larger forces - and they were especially well-suited for agile shells such as hers.

Ossifrage took survey of the battlefield as her shell took measured steps over the rusting and decaying carcasses of shells-past. Would they have arrived under different terms, a part of her would feel a pull to inspect the wreckages more closely in a curious attempt at putting together the proverbial pieces of wars-past and conceiving an idea of what had happened here who-knows-how-long before their arrival. But now was far from a time for reflection on such things.

The Ossifrage scanned its comrades, determining which of them she would directly support for the time being -- in theory, being that they were prepping an ambush, none of them would need too much direct support - but one could never tell how an op would unfold. Her eyes fell upon the darkened-red exterior of King Gizzard as his comms read through her ears.

Her eyes flicked momentarily to a panel in front of her as one of the lights ignited, signaling an input into her comms system. The feminine voice that registered into the comms systems of her comrades would sound squarely neutral in tone, even if there was some lightness to it.

"Ossifrage reading, Vultures. Systems typical. Supporting King Gizzard's position." She spoke in brief, informative sums, even as her shell moved into position, as promised.

Normally, the Ossifrage's visage was one of light colors. An ashen pallor constituted most of its paint, with a few outlying spaces that were hued brick-red. However, due to the densely-vegetated nature of their locus operandi, Ossifrage took it upon herself to touch-up the palette of her shell a few days in advance, and darken the colors by several measures. At least for the duration of their stay in New Zealand, this paint-job would serve to better camouflage the Ossifrage where needed - in situations just like this.

Now that the shells were all drawing towards their positions, it would be time to wait for their soon-to-arrive target. Ossifrage's eyes scanned the sky-line as she interfaced with her shell, reading a smooth, constant feed of diagnostics on her and her comrades as they waited.

Pokemon: Dream

Ripley Lennox

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Mentions: Clarissa (@Crusader Lord) Location: Camphor's Lab > Byjerlfal City Commercial District

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Ripley celebrated internally as he was accepted onto the adventure by his new comrade. In truth, he was a bit relieved to have another trainer at his side for such a grand undertaking. He had never really thought out how such a journey would track out in his head - so the fact that it was happening now was kind of surreal - and he had always imagined he would have to start it alone, with just his Zorua. But now he was feeling a touch more confident.

"Awesome!! We'll be happy to travel with you, then!" He replied cheerfully, with Zorua performing a short few hops of joy at the event.

It looked like the two trainers would be alone for the time being - no telling whether someone would join them after they left or not - but it seemed a good a time as any to get started on what would be, for Ripley at least, an exciting new branch of life.

---

They wasted no time, shortly leaving Camphor's lab and finding themselves thrust into the unknown - Byjerlfal City's Commercial District.

Despite the complete newity of Byjerlfal's densely-populated, bustling streets - and the various areas and sights - within the Commercial District, there was an outlying sense of familiarity to Ripley, somehow. Maybe it was the fact that Rivenwall was a place that lended itself well to workaholics - the atmosphere there, in some places at least, was one of bustling minds and bodies - and perhaps this was the case here, too. It, at least, seemed most people here were similarly occupied with whatever it was they were each up to. This sense of absorption in so many people in one place, along with the buildings that climbed above them, watching over them as they all went about their days, had Ripley feeling said sense of familiarity. Well, except for the fact that Byjerlfal, being a more centralized and supported city, was a bit more modernized with all its digital billboards and stuff - but he wouldn't be the one to complain.

All-in-all, this led Ripley to feel oddly secure despite the new scenery. Moving alongside his new partner-trainer, luggage rolling behind him as Zorua trotted along next to their feet, Ripley's Pokedex wouldn't leave his hand. As they walked, he would scan every Pokémon they passed by - even if it was one with which he was familiar, whether through meeting or reading. Each pop-up on the screen led to a further increase in dopamine as he regarded each one excitedly. Some of the scans were taken in chains as they passed by several Pokémon he knew little of - but those he'd get to save to read for later, once they were idle or something.

Clarissa speaking broke him away from the his excited-ingrainment in their surroundings, pulling him back to his senses. He turned to regard her as she spoke, offering a couple options for them to partake in. He thought for a moment, picturing said options. His eyes flicked to her for a moment and he felt a sense that she was really interested in seeking out the Murkrow. From what he knew, Murkrow were Dark-type Pokémon with a penchant for stealing and mischief - his eyes lowered to glance at his sidekick Pokémon - just like Zorua. Well, who was he to deny such a wish?

"Hmmm." He hummed, one hand moving to tap his chin as the other rested on his hip lightly. "Chasing Murkrow seems like fun! I'm cool with whichever choice, but I reckon you're more excited to follow them birds more than anything, huh? If that is the case, let's do it!" He replied, his features bright as usual. He took it upon himself to start walking in the direction his psychic partner gestured to, half-turning back to motion her to come along. He turned to look ahead once more as he mused aloud, stepping forward with a casual pace. "I wonder how easy it is to catch a Murkrow.. we have 'em back in Rivenwall, too, but I've never tried to catch one." In reality, he wasn't sure if he really wanted to catch a Murkrow himself, but the thought was worth having. Matching Pokémon with his new travel-buddy could be fun, but he wasn't sure. His hand shifted down to his jeans-pocket. Inside were two of the five pokeballs they'd each been given - the rest he had stored in his suitcase for the time being. They had a few pokeballs, so depending on how lucky they were, they'd be able to catch a Pokémon or two with what they had. There were techniques for making such captures easier, but for now those were probably out of their reach considering their lack of experience..

Either way, his eyes scanned the horizon and the various perches above as he looked for any sign of the Murkrow that had been flicking around through the air moments ago.

Tyrant Shell: The Answer of Rain [CANCELLED]

Shell: Ossifrage-80

HEIGHT: ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ Eleven meters WEIGHT CLASS: ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ Light SPEED: ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ High ROLE: ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ Scout, Disruptor, On-site repair

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ DESCRIPTION: ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ Ossifrage-80's frame stands eleven-meters tall, close to minimum for a standard operable shell. It is a slim, light shell with little ancillary armor to speak of. This allows the shell to maneuver and operate at very high paces - sacrificing safety for sharper work. This, combined with its armaments and devices, enable it to be a supportive menace on the battlefield. One would think a device of such speed and maneuverability would be relegated to a weapon of direct attack - but the Ossifrage instead takes on a disruptive role. Its directional shields allow it to intercept attacks or maneuver with more safety than would be usual for such an unarmored machine. Additionally, its mid-field repair apparatus can prove to be a huge boon to shells that are just-barely rendered inoperable in the field of battle. Though, one would be mistaken to underestimate the shell's offensive capabilities, too. Equipped with the EMA, Ossifrage is a shell that can close a distance, attack, and retreat much faster than one would expect, even for a shell as light as it is. This can be used to devastating effect with the shotgun-esque weapon with which the Ossifrage is equipped - something which, while it has little penetration, as mainly a weapon used to maim operative pieces of shells and render them unable to counter-attack. ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ ARMANANTS & EQUIPMENT: ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ G1 Cranegun - The Cranegun is a rather light-weight weapon when compared to the majority of shell weaponry. It is visually and operationally reminiscent of a double-barrel scattergun. The weapon fires a semi-tight, if slightly unpredictable, spray of superheated plasma, which is rather effective at burning through shells. The weapon has very poor penetration when it comes to piercing armor, so much so that even light armor is a hurdle, but is designed to fire in a wide-enough cone that it is likely that the spray will hit an unarmored location - which it is very effective at eating through. This weapon is designed for super-light shells that cant sacrifice much weight, but still need to retain combat effectiveness -- in return, a weapon such as this isn't great at taking down shells head-on. Instead, it is used to maim an opposing shell's joints, hands, or other facilities so as to disable use. It is also a great weapon for disabling external devices such as antennas, anti-radar paints, exposed weapons, etc. E.M.A. - The E.M.A. (Explosive Movement Array) is one of the several devices the Ossifrage uses to great effect in combat. The purpose of the system is simple. Through an array of ports situated all over the Ossifrage, it is able to consume bursts of fuel - from a subsidiary fuel-supply - to engage thrusters that enable explosive, super-quick movements for very short periods. This system alone allows the Ossifrage to wield the most speed on the battlefield at any one time - but one must manage their fuel carefully. Directional deflectors - An array of directional shields which can be engaged through the Ossifrage's hands or feet. These deflectors appear as a barely-visible, rippling, bluish screen of energy roughly three-meters-by-three-meters, making them rather small - meaning the operator has to be very accurate. Normally, the diminutive nature of such a shield would render them ineffective against explosive weaponry, but the shields in question possess a specially disruptive function which disrupts impact-detection and allows the wielder to deflect such weapons, should the pilot possess enough efficacy. M.R.A. - The M.R.A. (Mid-field Repair Apparatus) is a boon upon any squad in which it is deployed. This device, which is transported in a backpack-esque method on the rear of the Ossifrage, is a removable rig that can be placed on a damaged shell to perform on-site repairs. The reparative capabilities of the apparatus are only just-sufficient, generally due to the lightweight nature of the device's fuel supply, and can extend only to mechanical and electrical repairs -- any digital restoration is up to the shell and the pilot themselves. Despite this, these devices have proven many-a-time to be potentially life-saving, as they can turn a barely-inoperable shell into one that can safely evac, or support its comrades further. Notably, this device is powered by its own connected fuel supply, or can be connected to an adjacent shell to siphon fuel from. One must be mindful, as mending too much damage can drain the device of its personal supply if not managed well. High-power magnet array - The Ossifrage possesses a simple array of powerful magnetic tools, with key points situated on various locations across its frame. These magnets are nothing too powerful, generally used to pull or push objects or fallen allies when moving them by-hand would otherwise be inconvenient or impossible. The magnets can also be used in short bursts with more power, which could be used to feasibly stumble a medium-class shell if used wisely. When used in these short bursts, their range exceeds no more than roughly ten meters. Miscellaneous tools - The Ossifrage is otherwise equipped with a wide array of supportive tools and apparatuses - as long as they're lightweight, the Ossifrage probably has it. Blowtorches, chaff and flares, various minute reparative instruments, etc. ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ OTHER: ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ Nothing, for now. ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ .................................................................................................................................................

Pokemon: Dream

Ripley Lennox

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Mentions: Clarissa (@Crusader Lord) Location: Camphor's Lab

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Ripley was instantly enthralled by the sight and promise of these "special" pokedexes. He'd always wanted to set out on the world, pokedex and partner at his side to see what the world have to offer. So, as one was put towards him, he immediately took it and booted it up, diligently taking in what it had to say.

"Ahaha, it's so cute!" He commented aloud to the group, barely being able to tear his eyes off it as he pointed to it in its novelty.

He was, immediately after its info drop on his beloved partner, finicking with the screen and any buttons he could find, filtering through the various apps and settings in an excited exploration of the new technology bestowed upon him. He was never much of a techie himself, but countless young souls thought of a pokedex as a dream-tool for any aspiring trainer. It was truly invaluable. And this one was even playful, to boot! His thorough inspection of the device was interrupted only by the delivery of a small carepackage, containing a couple potions and a few pokeballs, to his person. Which he accepted gratefully, a smile on his face as his head dipped lightly in thanks.

After that, he tuned back into Camphor's dismissal of the group, offering them the last bits of info they needed. Hopefully he wasn't forgetting anything important that he needed to ask - though, there was so much to think about for such an expansive and unknown journey that it was likely he indeed was. Either way, if he really needed to ask something, there was always Camphor's number on the 'dex. The consequences of using it, well.. hopefully he wouldn't have to find out. It was probably something like eight-million pushups..

Either way, once they got back to reception it seemed everyone would be thinking about their next steps. As they walked, Ripley couldn't help but feel energy buzzing through his legs. He was brimming with a desire to get out there. But, if one thought about it.. where was the rush? He and Zorua had all the time in the world to explore wherever they wanted. So maybe they could take it a little slower - after all, he never even left Rivenwall, and all 'the sudden they were in Byjerlfal, of all places! As the others debated their next steps, so did Ripley, internally, as his companion skittered about.

Said companion seemed to be doing its own exploring as it paddled about beneath the other trainers, examining them each briefly and managing to catch their plans in the process. Nobody could really tell what was going through the creature's mind, but Pokémon had their own way of thinking that led them to gravitate towards whatever it was they gravitated towards. And in this case, it seemed an offer from one of their fellow trainers interested the little thing. As Ripley stood not-at-all still, thinking as he flexed his calves subconsciously in anticipation of their departure, Zorua pattered up to him and nudged him to draw his attention.

The boy's attention shifted downward towards his companion and drew the conclusion, based of its gestures towards her, that it wished to accompany.. Clarissa, was it? in her offer. Ripley had heard the couple-of offers so far, and was currently taking them into account as he tried to decide what their first course of action should be. He had yet to decide - but if Zorua wanted to go down a particular route, well.. what reason had he to deny her? His gaze shifted back upwards and towards Clarissa. Hmm. Well, she didn't seem like a stickler for fun, at the very least! ..He hoped. But, it seemed she was interested in scoping out some more urban-based Pokémon - and he was definitely not going to scoff at that!

In truth, he himself had never really planned on what sort of companions he had been hoping for, in terms of Pokémon - he more-so just expected certain Pokémon to.. make their way into his life, if ever a thing were to happen. He knew there were trainers who treated the capture of Pokémon more like a collection of sorts, and he supposed he could see the gratification in that. But he wasn't the sort of person to limit himself in such ways. That is not say he was not the type to not have a type - he had some ideas in his head, in terms of Pokémon-interest. Really, who wouldn't? Living in Rivenwall, he had seen many-a 'mon brought to fight in the tournaments they held there. Some of them more exotic - but the ones that were domestic to the area were those with which he could grow to appreciate the profile of, being as knowable as they were. Being that they were mostly urban Pokémon in Rivenwall, and he had never owned a pokeball to catch them, it was only natural that Rip was just dying to get his hands on at least one of them - so he might have plans parallel to the pink-haired girl himself.

But for now, he'd see about addressing the matter at hand. Breaking out of his thought bubble, Ripley took it upon himself to approach the offer casually, walking up to Clarissa until her attention visually shifted to him. His features rose as he offered a smile in greeting. "Heya- Clarissa, yeah? I wouldn't mind waitin' around for a day if you're lookin' for a partner or two!" He spoke, looking down to his side as Zorua skittered up between the two trainers, eyes affixed upwards towards Clarissa in hopefulness. "Pa's always said I need to cool my heels when it comes to making big decisions, so maybe that day could be what I need for the journey-ta-come. Well - if you'll have us, of course!" He finished, a hint of considerate hesitation creeping into his last few words. He'd understand if someone as.. loud as him was unappreciated as a partner - he had been confronted with such scenarios before -- but it'd never stop him from trying. Even if he was denied, he still had Zorua, and that was more than enough for him, in the end.

Recollections: Who Is Eleanor Black [CANCELLED]

Zeltzin Sandoval

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Mentions: None Location: Webb Family Coffee House / Summit Motel

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Zeltzin audibly scoffed - not purposefully, but reactionarily - at the mention of silver bullets and ghosts. She set her mug to the side on a small singles table next to her as she shook her head at the notion. She had heard about enough of what she needed from this meeting - it seemed they were all serious about heading into the swamp. She wasn't sure if it was the right path to their end goal, but really it seemed nobody did, so she might as well try it. It couldn't hurt - or, at least probably wouldn't.

The notion of acquiring protection from the swamp's elements was an appealing one, and she was pretty sure she had seen a small gun shop at least once as she rode through the town. But there was something else itching at her as she planned our her route. So far, there were a lot of warnings and contextual signs that would naturally lead one to believe the swamp was more dangerous than just gators - they alone were unlikely to harm humans. Sure, cry wolf and all that. But there seemed to be too much crying for there to be no ground for the claims to stand on. Maybe there was something in that swamp - maybe some fucked-up buffalo-bill character - or some super-gator or some shit - who knew? Zeltzin didn't plan on getting flayed by anything, be it gator or serial killer, so she'd make sure to be prepared even if it meant wasting a bit of green to do so.

She didn't stick around for lengthy goodbyes, leaving her mug on the table and making off through the front door to reconvene with her motorcycle.

---

A short bit later, Zeltzin rolled up to the Summit Motel, her bike rumbling beneath her as she drew it into a spot and disengaged it. In the hour that it'd taken the lot of them to collect themselves, she had taken a trip to a local gunstore and made a quick transaction with the owner - a bit of an older guy - that was honestly rather painless. She'd scraped together any money she'd brought with her, totaling to a few hundred dollars in cash, and found something that would be suitable for gators, at the least. Resting on her back was a lengthy, black canvas bag. Inside it was a side-by-side breach-loading shotgun - not brand new, but in solid condition - something that was definitely serviceable for any mundane tasks they might have to undergo, like clearing a gator off a path or something. Assuming the swamp even had any paths leading to the manor.

She wasn't sure what preparations the others had made, but she only really accounted for herself. After she dismounted the bike with a restrained grimace, she popped open one of the saddlebags and plucked out a drawstring bag weighted with a couple water bottles, a box of assorted shotgun shells, and all her knives packed inside.

Looking around, it seemed a handful of them were already reconvening with one another. Her eyes were drawn to the silhouette of Ophrenia, a bare shotgun slung over her shoulder as she arrived. A part of her felt a little queasy about the idea of trusting the girl with a gun. Either way, she didn't exactly expect another of her party to bring a long-gun along, but she could've never known what the others would think of. It seemed a bit redundant, assuming all they would be trouble by was gators - which Zeltzin very-much surmised would be the case - but, if they split up for any reason, at least it would be useful in that regard.

For the time being, she took it upon herself to rest her butt against the seat of her bike as she sat back against its side and waited for the rest of their squad to arrive.

Recollections: Who Is Eleanor Black [CANCELLED]

Zeltzin Sandoval

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Mentions: None Location: Summit Hotel / Webb Family Coffee House

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Waking up with Ophrenia already gone was, honestly, a blessing. It meant Zeltzin could handle her morning routine alone and without interruption. Said routine started with her sitting up in bed and thinking over the events of yesterday, the thoughts turning in her head as she shook it in a measure of disappointment. Why couldn't this just be something simple?

There was a moment of pause as she sat there, legs hanging over the side of the bed, before a sharp grimace developed on Zeltzin's face. She was quick to reach over to her suitcase and wrench one of its zippers to the side, digging into a pocket in search for something, with the faintest hint of a tremor in her hand. It was a moment before the rattle of a bottle-of-pills made itself apparent. She was quick to dump an unidentifiable number of pills into her mouth, dry. For a moment after, she sat with a grimace as one hand woefully massaged her right thigh. After a time, the agony calmed and she took it upon herself to stand up, and get ready for the day.

She did so somewhat slowly, as was usual, but unlike every other day, there was a hint of purpose to her morning regimen.

After a bit, she was ready to take her bike and join the other at the Webb Coffee House, where she did little more than listen and offer what little 'info' she and Ophrenia had gathered at the Black Mining Co. Office.

Nothing that was said at the congregation was much cause to raise brows for Zeltzin - it all seemed to fit within reasonable quotations. Neko's suspicion - Jen's suspiciousness - all in likely course. Zeltzin had to admit, Jen might've seemed suspicious in certain lights - but she didn't fully trust anyone here anyway. So it was really all the same. But Jen did manage to explain herself some, at least.

Going into the swamp wasn't something she expected them to plan though. She didn't mind too harshly - she was more accustomed to swampy environments than any present city-dwellers - but losing her other leg to a gator or her life to a Cottonmouth didn't seem exactly ideal. Though, thinking on it, it was far from the worst way to go.

The topic of weapons did pique her interest, notably. She did like weapons. Unfortunately, she hadn't the need of a firearm for a long time - Eleanor had made sure of that - and Zeltzin had never found it necessary to acquire one after her disappearance. Her mind flicked to the saddlebags of her bike, where she carried a small armory of large knives -- for recreational purposes. Obviously, a firearm would be ideal if one had to defend themself from a gator or clear out a snake, but a nigh-foot-long blade was better than nothin'. She had mind to maybe search for a piece from a local store, but she wasn't sure if she'd even brought the green to do so. If she recalled correctly, Louisiana didn't require a permit, so she'd have to take a look around.

She took a long gulp of the hot coffee from her mug as she watched the proceedings of her.. comrades from a slightly-distanced chair.