chukklehed

Etheric Winds (A spacefaring adventure)

Do you have more information on the setting at hand, like known factions/nations/countries, or is it more of a sandbox type of thing? What about the Wind Riders--how did they become a thing?

@Kuro

For now, most of the information about setting will be kept under wraps (Especially on the origins of the Wind Riders), I can say there are three major factions in the galaxy, two fairly typical government type factions, and one faction entirely based on outlawing magic.

Etheric Winds (A spacefaring adventure)

Own ship each or as a crew?

<Snipped quote by chukklehed>

So where will we be based? I’m guessing these don’t have beds and aren’t made for long distances?

@Dark Light

I'm kinda handwaving interplanetary travel, just gonna say the ships are fast enough to make long distance trips on their own. This is gonna be less like super-realism scifi and more like 90s cartoon scifi.

Etheric Winds (A spacefaring adventure)

honestly I'm usually pretty lax with length and rate, as long as you carry your own side of the action and you let me know if you're gonna be gone for a while, I'm good. I'll just poke someone if I think they're lagging behind.

Etheric Winds (A spacefaring adventure)

You each get a ship of your own design, and you get to decide how and why it works.

They're all single occupant ships, like fighter craft.

Etheric Winds (A spacefaring adventure)

Adventure awaits those willing to take the first step.

Welcome to the Wind Riders. Here, your past doesn't matter, as long as you're willing to put in the work and protect the people who need us. Our mission is to go where the wind takes us, helping those folks who need it and putting a stop to those who would prey on the weak. If you've got a ship, a heart, and an urge to lend a hand, we want you.

---

In this story, you are a member of the Wind Riders, an intergalactic band of self proclaimed 'heroes of justice,' determined to lend a hand wherever they find it's needed. You have a ship, and for whatever reason, you decided the best thing to do with it was fly around the universe and butt into other people's business. Regardless, in this story:

-Magic is real. Every species in the universe has its own methods of using it, and not every member of each species can, but with the technological ability of hundreds of space faring races, there are now even handheld devices capable of producing magic using electricity, although not as powerful as when cast by a mage.

-You will have your own ship, capable of interplanetary flight. How you got it, how it works, how you pilot it, those are all up to you (within reason).

-You are the good guys. Sorry, no exceptions.

Santa Celia: Coast to Coast

Nicole

---

Time of day: Morning
Location: Nicole's bedroom, above the Woven Roast

Nicole woke slowly, keeping her knees pressed against her chest and her face buried as far down as it would go. She didn't want to get up, to face the day all alone. If she stayed put and didn't open her eyes, she could pretend to hear her mother making a racket in the kitchen, or maybe she was still in college and her roommate was just across the hallway. As long as she stayed where she was, she could pretend that there was someone waiting for her to wake up.

But that was all a lie. Slowly, the illusion lost it's power and she was forced to face reality again. She had to get up and do the work she had promised people, but maybe she didn't have to do it wallowing in her own worries. Rolling out of her bed, Nicole went through the motions of getting ready for the day: Teeth brushed, body showered, clothes worn, etc. Throughout all of that, though, she had her mind focused on a new project. Archie's clothes. She didn't know exactly what he would need, since she hadn't seen him change yet, but she figured the major problem was that he grew. The clothes he brought her were always torn at the waist and seams, but that was the majority of the damage, so she would start with that problem.

Finding herself already standing at the front door as her attention returned to her own body, Nicole took a deep breath and let it out in a huff, putting on her best smile and taking the normal 'open' sign down, instead replacing it with a more personalized one.

"Today is a slow day, please be patient"

---

It wasn't too much longer before the door opened for the first time. Nicole looked up from the thin belt of cloth she was experimenting with behind the cafe counter, recognizing the customer. He had walked in one day and asked for something apparently on a whim, and she had had to make something up on the spot. Apparently he had liked it though, because-

“Hey, can I get a large Blue Suede Brew? Black, please.”

He was still asking for it. Nicole pushed her work to the side and started working at the coffee machine, dropping a premade sachet into the filter. It was mostly normal coffee, but she had crushed in various sweet and neutral spices on a whim. It probably wasn't great for the machine, but she had bought a new one just for this so she figured it would be fine. She placed the finished drink on the counter just as the man returned for it. It must be a slow morning for him because he decided to stop and make smalltalk with her.

“So, business been keeping you busy ‘round here?”

"Busy enough to keep the store open," Nicole hedged with a grin, "Most of what I sell people consider luxuries though, and with the city the way it's been..." She trailed off, a worried note creeping into her voice. She wasn't scared about her shop, since she was fairly certain the different thread-based security measures she had taken were enough to keep her safe. She couldn't say the same about other people though, especially with people suddenly using their powers in the open. Archie and Nat seemed like good people, but she was sure it wasn't just good people who had been given unfair advantages.

Santa Celia: Coast to Coast

Nicole

---

"I see how it is."

Nicole stepped up to the girl's table, placing her drink in front of her. "I have to spend weeks digging the truth out of you, but as soon as I do you turn around and start sharing with the world?" Despite her words, Nicole's eyes were nearly sparkling. It had been a long time since she was genuinely happy for someone, but in just the last few minutes Archie seemed to have gained a support base he desperately needed. Maybe he would stop looking so gloomy all the time, and even put away that flask she sometimes saw him with.

Looking over her shoulder, Nicole made sure nobody else was about to wander in from the cold, then turned and stuck her hand out to the other girl. "Hey, I'm Nicole. I've seen you around a couple times, but we've never really talked." She was building her way up to an offer she wanted to give both of them, but she felt like it needed to come up naturally. She was worried about scaring Archie off, now that she had finally gotten him to open up, and she wanted to start trying to help him work through his problems. In this city, people might call her a bleeding heart or a fool, but Nicole could never have stopped herself from reaching out if someone was suffering right in front of her.

@Silver Carrot@JunkMail

Santa Celia: Coast to Coast

Actually if you fight him one on one you fight TWO guardians the way you've said it. He has one he can summon then an extra for each enemy. Just saying.

Santa Celia: Coast to Coast

Nicole

---

Nicole gave Archie one last smile and patted his arm before moving back to the counter. Normally she would have closed up already by now, and she briefly considered doing that anyway, but she decided she was in a generous mood and wouldn't be running the shop tomorrow either way, so she could stay up another few hours. She busied herself at the espresso machine, keeping an eye on Archie to make sure he was still okay, then turned her smile to her other customer. She had seen the other girl in the cafe before, but had never really interacted with her that much. She was quiet, keeping to herself and barely saying anything. Still, today seemed to be a day for firsts, so Nicole decided to try and start a conversation.

"It's a little late for everybody to be drinking so much caffeine. Is there something going on tonight everyone needs to stay up for?"

Inwardly, Nicole wondered how she had gotten this far in life with such lousy social skills.

Santa Celia: Coast to Coast

Nicole

---

Nicole silently walked back around the counter, balancing two steaming mugs in her hands as well as a small pitcher of cream and another with sugar. She carefully placed her burden on the table, pushing one of the mugs at Archie, then lowered herself into the chair opposite, studying him carefully.

"Do you mean like metaphorically? You have an anger problem and... holy shit, you're being literal aren't you?" Nicole stared at Archie dumbfounded for a moment, then slumped backward in her chair. "I mean, I knew people with powers were showing up, but I didn't expect someone to actually show up on my doorstep."

Nicole stared atArchie for a long moment, then came to a decision of her own.
"I suppose since you told me your secret, it's only fair that I show you mine." she closed her eyes and reached out to the work table behind her, finding what she was looking for sitting just inside her range. She pulled at. The torn piece of clothing, feeling the frayed edges and broken seams. The entire article floated off the table and into her hands, the threads twitching like snakes as they sought to rejoin the breaks.

"I know it isn't the same," she said leaving the cloth to settle again as she returned her attention to Archie, "My power doesn't change who I am when I use it, I never hurt people without meaning to. I cant say I understand how you feel. Still, I hope that knowing there's someone else who isn't completely normal will help you somehow." Nicole smiled at Archie, a rare, actual smile, "I want to help if I can. Don't worry about the clothes, I'll take care of them, and if you ever need to talk, I'll be around."