Io nearly clicked her tongue in annoyance - an ancient reflex that must have been drudged up from such an unpredictable situation progressing as it did. She attributed it to having to run on instinct from moment to moment - something unthinkable for a lich, but necessary to prevent inaction.
Io turned her attention to the Varjans moving after the prisoners. The last thing the defense needed was an unexpected flank to upset the precarious balanced that was currently achieved. "I will see to the Varjans in the backline." She called out, before taking off towards the prisoner's area.
The pages of her grimoire whirled as she called to mind offensive spells. She would need something to decisively handle a group - ideally before they could gain the upper hand. As she ran, the accumulating mist cooled her skin - and Io nearly smiled as she came up with a plan. 'Ah. Perhaps some repurposing is in order.' The mist swirled as she mouthed an amendment to her initial spell, following her in a cloud. The mist itself was harmless... But if the spell was altered with an electric charge it became anything but. It could happen with a single word from Io's mouth, and it was more efficient than a flashy spell of lightning.
Io finished her preparations as she neared where she knew the Varjan prisoners were. She would take a moment to let the mist creep in, as well as examine the force. Io planned to hold the mist until the right moment - or for when others may wise up to what was occurring, whichever came first.
"We will make our home here. Let it stand against it all as a testament to our resolve." -Founder of Rostrum Corvi
Background - Fiction
Rostrum Corvi is a hidden enclave in the far eastern reaches of Anima (a region historically referred to by locals as Corvus). Initially chosen due to its location being relatively sparse on Grimm (perhaps due to the inhospitable desert) and naturally protected by a large canyon carved by a long-dry river, it was essentially an outpost stationed at the edge of where the people of Mistral could reasonably survive. Historically a garrison used as a dumping grounds for those who drew the ire of the ruling class, it was often seen as the ultimate condemnation - to be sent to the Crow's Beak was to be never seen again.
That is all in the past, however. Rostrum Corvi soon saw more than just the upper class's rejects - the kingdom of Mistral grew and began to encroach upon the once-desolate area. Though still remote, it saw a relative increase in surrounding population - small towns and even a larger city named Dextra ala Corvi.
The garrison began a custom of training hunters and huntresses well before the start of this story, but its use has skyrocketed as the region of Corvus, once seen as relatively free of Grimm due to the remote location, has seen a significant uptick in Grimm activity - even approaching from the inhospitable desert, a place so desolate it was thought not even the Grimm could survive it. It has seen rapid development and attention from even the heart of the kingdom of Mistral as a result - leading to Rostrum Corvi becoming a modernized academy on par with others on Remnant.
Premise
This RP starts with the first formal class sent to Corvi Academy. While there were many huntsman trained here in the past, the training was never as formal as other academies and it has only now adopted many of their conventions (to the ire of a number of the staff). This class includes locals from the area of Corvus, but also a significant number of students from abroad - sent there for many reasons, such as casting a wide net to gain an initial class or even for its reputation of unorthodox training methods and harsh climate leading to some famously powerful huntsmen hailing from the area.
Between having to struggle with the new academy training and the uptick in Grimm activity, there is many an opportunity for huntsmen-in-training to hone their skills... Or make their own path entirely.
Rules
1. Don't be a meanie 2. I'll be the judge of pvp if it comes up. PvE will be more in the vein of classic rwby rule of cool, shred mobs all you want n stuff, come up with cool plans to kill the big ones. 3. Characters are coming in fresh (i.e. they should all be first years) so they shouldn't be too wildly competent already, just keep that in mind 4. There are only so many colors in the world so be careful with what you pick for names. I will be watching you. (names that aren't color based will be rejected)
Character Sheet
Name: Gender: [or whatever] Image Color: [required - your character's color motif] Semblance: [What's your characters' special ability? You can have them not really get it since they are just starting out, but it's best to have an idea. Try not to make things too powerful here, give room to grow.] Weapon: [Your weapon is your LIFE. It better be cool.]
Appearance: [Text or picture or whatever.]
Personality: [What are they like? Also throw in background. Or vice versa.]
Relationships: [Team members and impressions of others at the academy]
FAQ
Q. But that's not in RWBY! A. Then I guess this is an AU? I'm gonna rule 0 a lot of stuff so sorry if it contradicts what is canon. Q. What about the canon RWBY characters? A. They're still around but I'll be honest, this is set in a faraway location for a reason. Don't expect canon characters to ever show up. At best they'll be mentioned in passing. Q. Actually in Vol 4- A. But there's only two volumes??? Q. What about catgirl racism? A. Honestly don't care for it much, the people of Corvus have too much on their plate to hate on a potential extra set of hands that could be helping. Outsiders trying to bring it to the area will have to deal with it Q. Who is the cutest love live? A. Rin.
Fire. Io was never much of a fan of it, though she conceded its importance in the cycles of both nature and magic. It was truly an antithesis to what she desired, being chaotic, spontaneous, and short-lived. Whether or not she liked it, Io was used to it being used as a wanton tool of destruction. She had no trouble deflecting the fireball away from her into the air, where it burned away in a mimicry of a falling star. It only took a simple, precise magical barrier - elegant and controlled, unlike the fire that was clumsily cast towards her.
Unfortunately the effects of the fire extended beyond Io. The village itself was also being targeted with the attack. "I will handle the fires." Io quickly signaled to the task force members. It would only take a moment - they would be able to hold the line for the time being. She hoped.
Io did not have time to make a particularly neat spell to combat the fires. She could only maintain so many things at once, after all, and the wall holding back some of the Varjan force needed to stay. She thrust out her arms, quickly calling forth a heavy mist using an incantation in her secret language. A dense fog condensed around the wooden buildings, coating them with water and snuffing any fires that may have started from the attack. A mist was easier on her to summon than a full-blown wave of water, especially to cover multiple buildings, and it had a similar effect. She would need to be efficient - she couldn't afford to run out of magical energy so early into the battle.
Alex's heart nearly jumped out of her chest when Wolf took out his phone. "Um... Ah..." She was torn. Maybe having Wolf around would help, but maybe it was too soon. Maybe it was best to give Vera some space. But then again, maybe not. Alex was utterly unable to predict how Vera would react to anything after their last meeting. She didn't doubt that Wolf and Vera both had missed her - it actually made her feel better to hear it - but it was clear that there were other things going on that made Vera act the way she was.
Or maybe it wasn't another thing. Maybe it was Alex herself.
"S-Speaking of, how has Vera been...?" She had to ask. "Like, uh."
Alex found herself unable to word her question. '"Has she been punching you too?" isn't exactly something I can ask...' Alex thought.
"Has she been stressed out?" Alex blurted out. It revealed perhaps too much about their meeting, but Alex had to ask. If it was something simple, maybe she could help, and make up with Vera.
Something told her it wouldn't be that easy, though.
Io was certain that Kazenosuke wasn't lying, though the potential double meaning of what he said amused Io. Of course, this was no time to explore wordplay. She simply gave him another wink as she moved on.
The two forces met, the difference in numbers being clear within the first exchange of blows. Io tried her best to focus in on specific areas - leaders, skilled warriors, those who would rally troops. Destroying them was important to reduce the effects of the numerical advantage. Before long one such Varjan made an appearance - some kind of brute that charged without a second thought.
'She is strong, no doubt. But compared to Gringor...' Io had confidence it was something the high orc could handle. What was important was keeping the rest of the Varjans from following in her wake and overwhelming the Shizuyaman defenses. Her reckless charge was something Io could exploit.
Io weaved a spell to cut off the warrior from the main force. It would give Gringor a fair arena to fight in and create a chokepoint for the Varjan forces behind them. The spell conjured a crude wall of blight magic, one that would harm living but not undead - a commonplace spell for necromancers. Any Varjans that would try to cross it would likely die trying. Io hoped that plenty would learn the hard way before they regrouped and dealt with the change in the lay of the battlefield.
"I've cut her off! Now is your chance!" Io shouted to the Task Force members on her side.
Io narrowed her eyes as she noticed the corpse the warrior carried. It was clearly meant to be some kind of intimidating message, but she kept that detail in her mind should she need to help Gringor. It was not common for the dead to be a factor in a battle, but any battle with a lich was uncommon to begin with. Io would wait for the right time - both with this particular warrior, and the growing number of dead within the battle as a whole.
Alyona almost felt a pang of regret seeing the boy fumble around after being drained. Almost. Despite everything, he tried to keep up a cool facade. Alyona could respect that. If she truly wished him the best, Aly would wish she never sees him again. Maybe he'd come to reflect on this time as the moment he learned not to trust everyone he met. Or perhaps that was Aly projecting her own view on the world with such a thought.
"It's a big city. But who knows, maybe we will meet again. Fate is like that." Truth be told, Aly wasn't sure if she was joking or not when she said that. She gave him a last wave as she turned to leave. "[Goodbye.]" She added in Yekaterinan, the farewell hopefully being clear even without a translation.
After she had made some distance from Jeremy, she couldn't help but notice a lightness in her pockets. As she checked, Alyona realized that the fighting from earlier had torn a hole in them, and she had dropped a significant number of her Yekaterinan candies... Most likely right where she stood talking with Jeremy. 'That kid better notice them. I'm definitely not going back to get them.' If his taste was as bad with candy as it was with sodas, maybe the Yekaterinan candies would actually be agreeable to him. Apparently, what was considered a treat in Yekaterina was nothing like a treat in Rhea. If they ever did meet again, she would have to see if he liked them.
In the face of planning one attack, another ensued. The Varjan attack came right upon the heels of Eula's warning. Io needed more time, but it seemed like she was not going to receive it. The barrage of Varjan artillery threw the entire village into chaos, the sounds of confusion amidst the war horns in the distance.
Before Io joined the Task Force to meet the Varjans, she quickly worked out some calculations in her head, taking a look at the temple. It would be a hasty estimation, but protecting the temple from attacks from afar seemed as important as from Varjans on the ground. She dashed inside the temple with unnatural speed, her grimoire flying open as she put together a spell in her mind.
Using the same enchanted ink that she used to craft her scrolls, she quickly scrawled an incantation of deflection upon the foundation of the temple. Subtly and slowly, a dome of slightly visible energy formed around the temple. It would divert projectiles that may otherwise land on the temple. Io would have wanted to protect more, but it was all she could manage at the moment. She needed to use her reserves of magic efficiently, given the fight she was about to join.
"The temple should be protected from their artillery now. Take refuge there if you cannot fight." Io gave out the order as she barged past anyone inside the temple. "I will fight with the others."
Io rushed to join a group, forming up with Kazenosuke, Gringor, Skarsneek, Kikyo, and Yurine. She reached out, the enchanted scrolls wrapped around her moving as if they were alive and obeying her commands. She quickly passed by the defenders, giving them enchanted scrolls to aid their fighting power.
"Strength enhancement." She curtly said to Gringor as she gave him the scroll.
"For your speed." She gave the dexterity-enhancing scroll to Kazenosuke.
"It improves your endurance." She handed the toughness scroll to Skarsneek.
As she passed by the others, her robe became more loose as she distributed her scrolls which (apparently) held the time-worn garment closer to her body. Gently glowing tattoos over areas of her skin showed that she, too, had her own enhancements ready and activated. "I have warded the temple from projectiles. We must defend it from the ground." She gave her fellow defenders a quick nod as she fell into position in the back line.
Io did not have time to call her zombies to her side, unfortunately. Though they were not skilled warriors, any extra hands would help. 'Perhaps I should try to enhance them to help in a fight.' As another war horn sounded, Io had to add to her own line of thought, 'After winning this battle, of course.'
Iris shook her head at the mage's questions. "Ah, well, the beds at the temple were always better served for anyone older that really needed them..." She put a finger to her chin, following a train of thought aloud, "And the younger ones always wanted the beds, too, so I let them use them whenever the elders weren't using them..." In reality, Iris basically excused herself to the bottom of the priority list for the beds at all times. It made everyone else happy enough that she didn't mind.
Iris frowned after explaining herself. It seems like there was a touchy subject uncovered - she would never have mentioned it if it brought up something uncomfortable. Before she could apologize, a new student introduced themselves, thankfully changing the subject of the conversation. "I come from a town in the north known as Macefield." She quickly remembered something her mentor told her to say, and added, "Named after the spice, not the weapon." She didn't quite get it, but for some reason there was always confusion about the name. Iris didn't even know what a mace was, other than the spice.
Alyona had got that question before too. "Luckily for you, it doesn't work that way." It was definitely one of the top things people asked in the situation. The thought of permanently inflicting her curse on someone else made her smile, but the idea primarily existed in the realm of fiction. Much like her smile.
Of course, the boy had agreed, and Alyona was even nice enough to assure him that she wasn't contagious. It was time to seize the opportunity before he developed second thoughts. She reached out with her right hand, focusing intently for a moment.
Alyona had perfected the art of leeching from a willing victim after lots of practice. A lance could easily pass through the entire body without issue, draining from everything it touched, causing all sorts of issues. That was what happened in a fight, and it was fairly good at disabling someone. Working on someone willing took more finesse. Just draining from a single point with a deep lance hit would concentrate the negative effects in a single area, and oftentimes left the donor feeling rather irate at her when their arm suddenly refused to work. It had taken a long time for her to learn exactly how to project lances that were small and numerous to take from many spots at once. It was harder than actually learning how to encase her teeth in lances (something she did to sell the vampire angle more, but retired for... so many reasons), but it was worth it. It did require close contact, but that was almost a given.
She grabbed Jeremy's arm, each finger projecting a thin lance that went right through his clothing as if it wasn't there. She leaned in close and wrapped her free arm around him - the same arm also running draining lances across his back. "There's no biting, either. So be glad about that." She whispered. She was hoping more to mess with his focus and draw attention away from what she was doing than actually attempting to inform him.
The lances did their work well, and almost instantly Alyona felt the rush of her stolen energy. As always, the desire to push further was there, but she pulled away after only a few moments. She didn't have the luxury of making a bigger scene than she already was making. She aimed to drain enough to make inflict soreness, perhaps the tingling of an asleep arm for some time, but not anything more.
"Haah... I think I can at least walk home now." Alyona stretched, visibly becoming more steady on her feet in the moments since leeching energy from Jeremy. "You're a lifesaver, kid."
Aly didn't like it when they asked further questions. She was hoping he'd get the idea, but she WAS keeping things vague on purpose. She would just have to suck it up and commit to the act. "I don't just heal up like normal. I need to take it from others." She took a small step forward. "That's a way you can help me. It won't leave a mark on you at all, I promise." She let her voice waver as she proposed the idea - adding in perhaps a tinge of desperation might help, though it was mainly just because of the various bruises she had protesting her movement. She didn't have the best read on the boy, but she was banking on looking hurt being the ticket for getting his sympathy. He at least seemed innocent enough not to ask for something weird. It would have been just her luck to get a middle schooler who would ask for a kiss in return or something.
That last part she said was actually true, though Aly was careful not to guarantee it was painless. Her lances didn't break skin or cut through anything, so there would be no mark from being drained. However, from firsthand accounts, she knew that it wasn't exactly pleasant to be hit by one either. From her end, though, she thoroughly enjoyed the sensation of leeching energy from people. Alyona never put much thought into describing it - she wasn't a poet and didn't intend on becoming one any time soon.
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