Crowvette

Royal Rumble: Rumble over the Heavens

Alex

@KillamriX88

Alex had an uncomfortable realization.

After explaining everything, she was supposed to feel at least a little better. But she didn't. She had been away from Wolf for a while, but she could feel things were off. Just like Vera, he didn't seem right. It wasn't the exact same as Vera, but it was still wrong.

Alex sharply inhaled, the feeling in her stomach physically translating to trouble breathing. 'I don't even know what's wrong. Do I be more assertive? Do I give Wolf distance? Is it even something on my end?' Alex wracked her mind for options. 'Do I do the opposite of what I did with Vera? W-What were the exact actions I took with her again...? This isn't some stupid video game, that's not going to work at all!' Alex felt like if she acted naturally, things would progress to something... Something she didn't like.

She had to act out. Anything to break out of whatever was currently going on. She might scream into her pillow a year from now thinking about it, but...

"I entered that tournament with the name of an old character of mine. Actually, I kind of just played it as her entirely." Alex had to break eye contact for a moment, to steel herself for doing something embarrassing. "Do you remember? This one was just between us two, since Vera wouldn't have 'got' it..." She struck a pose - her arms crossed, one hand dramatically covering half of her face. "Andras. The demon who walked amongst the Rheans. Who broke the contract of light and dark, free to carry out her own whim." She intentionally lowered her voice to add effect, just as she had did years ago.

She relaxed her pose, and returned back to the timid Alex. "I thought winning the tournament would have been... Well, I wanted to come back with something awesome under my belt, since my gift-" Alex nearly froze in place as she realized she never explained to Wolf what her gift had become. "My gift completely changed!" Her cards flared into existence around her, each a flat, featureless square of softly glowing gold light. "It's... Uh... Complicated. Actually, the last part of my time in the hospital was moreso the therapists trying to understand how it worked... They kept saying it was unsafe and delayed releasing me over and over..."

Royal Rumble: Rumble over the Heavens

Alex

@KillamriX88

Alex wondered if she had found Vera on a good or a bad day. Obviously she would like to imagine it as a bad day, but the thought of the alternative ran shivers down her spine.

She wasn't keeping it together, either way. Wolf could tell she was withholding information. "Well, I ran into her at-"

Her voice caught in her throat as she called to mind the details of that night. 'Should I be telling Wolf that I made up a persona to enter illicit fighting competitions? Or that Vera is attending them too? ...And that we were all in serious danger when things got out of hand at that time?'

Alex took a step forward. "C-Can we go somewhere more private to discuss this?" She gave a shifty look around, seeing the various students walking past the gates to return to their homes.

...Alex had always wanted to say that. If the situation wasn't so close to home, she might have had a moment to think about how cool it was.

She quickly guided Wolf a block or two away from the school's gate, ducking into a secluded alleyway. Taking a deep breath, she took a few steps from Wolf and put together what she was going to say.

"So. I ran into her at the Midnight Tournament..." Alex was sure that Wolf knew what that entailed. "And we were matched up against each other..." She turned to look at Wolf. "She seemed happy at first to see me, but then during our match things got more heated."

She took a moment to collect her thoughts, before quickly remembering something. "W-We weren't the ones who caused that giant commotion! It was completely unrelated to us!"

Alex realized that Wolf may not have learned about the incident at the midnight tournament, but she had spoke too quickly to cover that up now.

"I tried to talk to her about everything, but it left off on a rough spot, and we had to leave quickly. So..." Alex sighed, crossing her arms and holding herself. "I don't know...

Alex's face was turning red, but she caught herself before she let out any tears. Going over it again only reminded her of how terrible it had all felt.

Tales Of Shizuyama (Far-Eastern Monster Girl RP)

Io

Io simply looked down at the defeated Varjans. "No need to worry about me." She briefly studied the warlock's body, trying to note anything of interest. She knew little about Varjan magecraft, but most of her experiences with it in the field exposed it as... unrefined. Unfortunately there was little to learn from the body either way. She gave a nod to her comrades. "Good work. But there is likely more work from here on out."

The enemies had been driven off, though Io knew that there was plenty for her to do. She turned to return to the battle line and called to mind her best restorative spells. In her body, there was the slightest twinge of something. Was it concern? Perhaps. Perhaps Io held a slight, tiny sliver of concern for the people she left at the battle lines. Human and mamono. 'I'll heal them if anything happened. There's no problem.' She brushed the unfamiliar feeling aside as she made her way back.

Tales Of Shizuyama (Far-Eastern Monster Girl RP)

Io

The Varjans had slain their own prisoners. It was a development Io had not seen coming, but given what she knew there were perhaps some explanations for what they did. It certainly wasn't the move she would have made - even if the prisoners needed to die, there were more practical ways to do so while still extracting use from them. 'The lich wondering why the soldiers prefer their allies dead than alive. How ironic.' Io dryly noted the irony, though she took no joy in seeing the outcome of the situation.

Io was frozen for a moment considering the new development, but the clashing of steel regained her attention. Takeshi had come to her aid - and not just the human, but also Skarsneek and the sisters Hangai. Takeshi had stopped the brunt of their first attack, and Io needed to follow up before the human was hurt.

"Get back, Takeshi!" Io called out as she directed her mists to focus around the two Varjan elites. Before they could understand what exactly was happening, Io activated the lightning charge, electrifying the elites and the very air around them. Io wanted to make sure they neutralized the mage, and taking care of his guards was a necessary step.

Tales Of Shizuyama (Far-Eastern Monster Girl RP)

Io

@PaulHaynek

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.

The Crow's Test

RWBY: Rostrum Corvi

"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

Hider

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.

Tales Of Shizuyama (Far-Eastern Monster Girl RP)

Io at Terauchi Temple

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.

Royal Rumble: Rumble over the Heavens

Alexandria

@KillamriX88

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.

Tales Of Shizuyama (Far-Eastern Monster Girl RP)

Io at the Battle at Terauchi Temple

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.

Royal Rumble: Rumble over the Heavens

Alyona

@Spin The Wheel

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.