InfamousGuy101

Empire of the Clouds

James E. Carter

Zoe Spyrou

"Shall we lower the gun?" she suggested, her voice softly confident. She didn't feel confident, at all! She was terrified, but Zoe was also rather good at hiding that fact, "Unless you are a Revolutionary, we're all friends here. If you are, they might give you a medal for shooting -" she almost said 'me', but corrected at the last moment,"- an aristocrat. But then the Captain would riddle you with bullets and you'd be enjoying your medals from whatever pit of hell is reserved for the Godless."

@Dyelli Beybi

James frowned, his grip on the shotgun tightening as the woman stepped between him and the soldier. His instincts screamed that this was a reckless move, getting in the middle of something that could escalate any second. But there was something in her calm, almost calculated demeanor that gave him pause. The last thing he wanted was to hurt anyone, especially someone clearly unarmed. He let out a slow breath, lowering the shotgun slightly, though not completely aiming it down.

"Lady, I’m not in the habit of shooting women, no matter how crazy it is to get between two armed men," James said, his voice still wary but softer now. He shifted his stance, keeping his finger off the trigger but still ready, "I’m no 'revolutionary,' or whatever mess you Inburians have got this city tangled in."

He adjusted his hold on the shotgun, easing some of the tension in his shoulders but still watching the soldier carefully. "Name’s James Carter," he added, his tone firm but no longer hostile. "I’m with The Evig Traders' Guild. Came here to do a job, but I guess that’s out the window now. All I’m looking for is a way out before this whole place burns to the ground."

James glanced between the two of them, still keeping his distance but no longer looking like he was about to start shooting, "So, if you’ve got room on this here airship and it’s actually going somewhere safe, I’d appreciate not being shot at for hitching a ride."

Suddenly the clatter of footsteps and the sharp voice of a new arrival cut through the tense air.

---

Christina and Nikos

"Oy! Who let you lot on board?" he demands.

@Expendable

Arkadios Andreaou

He hadn't looked away from Carter, but it was clear the next bit was for him, "Lower your gun, Sir. If you aren't a Communalist and your pronunciation of Inburian suggests you might not be, we need to figure out how to get this ship moving before this place is overrun and we all wnd up shot or in prison."

@Dyelli Beybi

James regarded the soldier carefully, his hand still tight on the shotgun as the man issued his request. The guy had authority in his voice, the kind that made it clear he wasn’t asking twice. And, as much as James hated taking orders, he also wasn’t stupid enough to stir up trouble when the logic was sound. With a slow nod, James swung the shotgun up over his shoulder, letting it rest there.

"Fair enough," he said, his tone measured but without hostility, "You’re right. No point arguing when we’re all tryin’ to keep from gettin’ shot or worse." He shifted his weight, looking over toward the massive dirigible looming above them. "Now, as for gettin’ this thing in the air, you’ve got a point. We don’t get moving soon, we’re toast."

James stepped toward the control panel, his eyes scanning the array of levers, dials, and switches with a mix of familiarity and uncertainty. "I’ve flown my share of airships, but nothing like this beast," he muttered, half to himself. His fingers traced over a few levers before stopping at one clearly labeled for ballast control. "Looks like we’re gonna need to cut her loose section by section first. These lines’re keepin’ her tied down, and she’s not goin’ anywhere until they’re gone."

He straightened, turning to look at the others. "Someone’s gotta head topside and cut the lines—fast. This ain’t just pullin’ a lever and goin’. We also gotta start the engines, usually in the ones I've flown you they need to be started manually." His brow furrowed as he glanced around. "If we don’t get this bird in the air soon, we’re sittin’ ducks."

James took a step back from the controls, gesturing toward the gondola’s entrance, "If we split up we'll get it done quick. I’ll take a look at the engines if someone else can handle the lines. Sound good?" He looked at the soldier, waiting for approval.

Empire of the Clouds

James E. Carter

James darted through the narrow streets of Inbur, clutching his Model II shotgun tightly. The city was a cauldron of chaos, sounds of rifle fire overhead, explosions shook the ground beneath his boots, and the stench of smoke and blood filled the air. This was supposed to be a quick job: arrive, collect the cargo and leave. Instead, he found himself trapped in a foreign city under siege, with his crew scattered and likely lost in the chaos. Now, alone and exposed, his only hope lay in reaching the military base he’d spotted earlier, the one where the airship still sat tethered.

Turning a corner, James found himself in a wide boulevard leading up to the base. Relief flickered briefly until he spotted a group of Inburian soldiers ahead. He approached cautiously, raising a hand to signal them, but his instincts screamed something was off. The soldiers wore red armbands, and their behavior wasn’t defensive, it was predatory. He watched as some of them forced their way into a large, ornate house, the kind that screamed nobility.

Taking cover against a corner, James hesitated. Screams erupted from inside the building, piercing even the din of gunfire and explosions. The shotgun felt heavier in his hands as he considered his options. Moments later, the muffled sound of gunfire from inside confirmed his worst suspicions. His jaw tightened as he looked back at his weapon, then at the scene. Could he do something? Should he?

Before he could decide, another scream echoed down a street besides the house, drawing the attention of the rebel soldiers standing guard outside the house. Seizing the distraction, James slipped past, his heart pounding as he kept low and fast. Guilt gnawed at him, but there was nothing he could do, he was a single man with a single shotgun, and survival was all that mattered now.

As he approached the gates of the base, he was greeted by an eerie sight: the gate was wide open, and no guards were posted. For a moment, dread gripped him. Had the base already been overrun? But then he saw it, the massive airship he’d spotted from the docks. Its imposing silhouette loomed against the chaos of the city, its lights glowing faintly in the smoke-filled night.

James cautiously made his way up the ramp leading to the gondola, his shotgun raised. The silence was unnerving, broken only by the distant sounds of battle. As he stepped into the gondola, faint voices reached his ears. Moving quietly, he edged toward the source, peering into the cabin.

Inside, he spotted two figures: a man in a military uniform and a young woman. He tightened his grip on the shotgun, not sure whether the soldier was loyal or a rebel. Slowly, he stepped into view, holding the shotgun at the ready, not directly aimed, but a clear signal that he was prepared to defend himself.

“I’m not looking for trouble,” James said, his voice firm but measured. “Just want to know—can I catch a ride on this thing?”

Empire of the Clouds

James E. Carter

Name: James E. Carter
Gender: Male
Age: 35
Nationality: Commonwealth of Ardell
Appearance:

My Hider

Personal Effects:
- Silver pocket watch
- Personal journal booklet
- Clothing he has on
- Model II shotgun (basically an M1898 shotgun)
- Harlan Arms Model 45. Pistol (ye old 1911)
- Pack of Loro Cigarettes he's never opened

Background:

What is your job: Merchant Airship Captain/Pilot
Backstory: James hails from the Commonwealth of Ardell, a nation across the Evig of sprawling plains, winding rivers, large forests and industrious cities. Raised on his family’s sprawling farm in the dust-laden plains of the West Fork he grew up knowing only hard work, clear skies, and endless fields. His life changed forever the day he saw the glide of airships over his small town of West Fork, the airships were ornate back then but the sight of them were a promise of a future far from the soil. From that moment, he knew his fate lay not in the dirt but in the boundless sky.

Upon coming of age, he eagerly joined the Ardellian Defense Corps, seizing the chance for adventure and the possible opportunity to some day pilot an airship of his own. When the Commonwealth sent a force across the river to establish a beachhead on Iktani soil, they were spotted by an Iktani observation balloons. It wasn’t long before the Iktani encircled them, launching a brutal assault to drive the Commonwealth forces back. Despite heavy losses on both sides, the Commonwealth troops managed to hold their position, though without advancing. To bolster the assault the Commonwealth finished building it's first bombing airship, the CBS-11, which came to be nicked "The Screaming Eagle" by the crew, and Carter was part of that crew which was dispatched to bomb a key Iktani city believed to be a staging ground for reinforcements.

The bombing mission was chaotic. From the altitude required to evade anti-air defenses, it was impossible to gauge where the bombs would land, but Carter knew they weren’t hitting the intended rail yard. The mission left him feeling conflicted and disillusioned, as he sensed that innocent lives had been lost without clear military gain. The Iktani's reaction was immediate and fierce, swelling their ranks with reservists who had lost homes and families in the bombardment.

The Commonwealth troops fought to preserve the beachhead but were soon overwhelmed by the wave of Iktani reinforcements. Forced to retreat, the Commonwealth began negotiations, ultimately withdrawing their forces and suing for peace. As The Screaming Eagle headed home, it was caught in a storm it wasn’t built to withstand. Fire spread through the vessel, sending it crashing into the Gulf. Carter was one of the few survivors, rescued days later by a Nordisle patrol. Returning to a hero’s welcome in Ardell, he felt only grief and guilt. Requesting discharge, he left the military to join The Evig Traders' Guild, a merchant company offering steady work far from Ardell.

Carter spent years with the Traders' Guild, shipping goods across the continents. His journeys took him from the rugged (rumored to be haunted) mountains of Bayn Alain to the icy reaches of the northern seas of Brendahl, where the airships had to navigate treacherous winds and frigid salt spray. He has traversed jungles, deserts, and even the mysterious islands of the Southern Archipelagos where he witnessed skybeasts and all kind of otherwise fantastical creatures most couldn't even fathom. Yet, despite the thrill and freedom that the open skies brought him, he found little peace. The memories of the war, the fallen friends, the burning wreck of the Screaming Eagle, and the lives lost from his own actions followed him wherever he went, a weight on his conscience that no distance could lift.

Through it all, he led his small crew with a steady hand, navigating his ship through occasional ambushes, violent storms, and encounters with beasts that haunted the southern seas. Despite the money and respect he had earned the sense of unease gnawed at him, a reminder of the past he couldn’t fully leave behind.

Carter and his ship now find themselves in Inbur, a city under siege. Originally, he’d come here on a rare but necessary assignment for The Evig Traders' Guild: transporting high-value artifacts and essential supplies from the embattled Inburian forces as they braced against the Calarian advance, the only reason why he accepted this task was the company offering to pay him double the bonus, triple if he brought everything unscathed. Inbur’s Imperial Palace held a trove of relics and important documents, treasures deemed too valuable to risk falling into enemy hands. The mission was simple enough; arrive, load the goods, and leave before the Calarian forces could fully encircle the city.

But the situation has spiraled faster than anticipated. Enemy forces have pushed through the defenses faster than anyone had expected, cutting off traditional supply routes. The Inburian command is in disarray and scrambling to evacuate its highest officials and essential personnel. As the city’s defenses crumbled, the military base near the palace was abandoned in the rush to withdraw. In the chaos, Carter's airship was targeted by Calarian artillery, now with his airship burning and his crew missing Carter must make his way back to the homeland he's avoided for years, how he will do that only fate may tell, for now though the large unattended airship in the imperial palace seems to be his only hope for escape.

Empire of the Clouds

<Snipped quote by InfamousGuy101>

Generally a pretty good app, there are one or two little details I would like you to change in the backstory though.

1. Around the war you've written with the Iktani. I've written there has been no frontier movement in the last 50 years, so since before Carter was born. I don't mind having a war, but perhaps write it as something like this. The Commonwealth send a force of a few thousand troops to make a beachhead on the far side of the river but are spotted by an Iktani observation balloon. The Iktani then surround the beachhead and assault it, with heavy casualties on both sides but without dislodging the attackers. Carter's airship is sent to bomb an Iktani city where they believe the Iktani are massing troops to send to the front. From the height it's impossible to figure out where the bombs are landing but he's pretty sure it's not on the rail yard...

... Keep the crash in if you want, but switch the Iktani response from surrender to 'they are really, really, really pissed off' (this is generally the effect that terror bombing of civilian targets has - think the Zeppelin raids on London and the Blitz). Commonwealth troops try to fight their way off the beachhead and fail. Iktani are arriving in large numbers. Commonwealth withdraws troops and sues for peace.

This is a bit of a change but elevates the Iktani threat level to about where I want them to be - they are intended to be a major power in the RP.

2. Small change to the Screaming Eagle... call it something like the 'CAS17' (Confederate Airship 17 it's boring, but vaguely based on how the Germans named there's, which incidentally gives a good incentive for the crew to give it a better name), which he and his crew nicknamed the Screaming Eagle.

@Dyelli Beybi

You got it boss. All adjustments done.

Empire of the Clouds

Name: James E. Carter
Gender: Male
Age: 35
Nationality: Commonwealth of Ardell
Appearance:

My Hider

Personal Effects:
- Silver pocket watch
- Personal journal booklet
- Clothing he has on
- Model II shotgun (basically an M1898 shotgun)
- Harlan Arms Model 45. Pistol (ye old 1911)
- Pack of Loro Cigarettes he's never opened

Background:

What is your job: Merchant Airship Captain/Pilot
Backstory: James hails from the Commonwealth of Ardell, a nation across the Evig of sprawling plains, winding rivers, large forests and industrious cities. Raised on his family’s sprawling farm in the dust-laden plains of the West Fork he grew up knowing only hard work, clear skies, and endless fields. His life changed forever the day he saw the glide of airships over his small town of West Fork, the airships were ornate back then but the sight of them were a promise of a future far from the soil. From that moment, he knew his fate lay not in the dirt but in the boundless sky.

Upon coming of age, he eagerly joined the Ardellian Defense Corps, seizing the chance for adventure and the possible opportunity to some day pilot an airship of his own. When the Commonwealth sent a force across the river to establish a beachhead on Iktani soil, they were spotted by an Iktani observation balloons. It wasn’t long before the Iktani encircled them, launching a brutal assault to drive the Commonwealth forces back. Despite heavy losses on both sides, the Commonwealth troops managed to hold their position, though without advancing. To bolster the assault the Commonwealth finished building it's first bombing airship, the CBS-11, which came to be nicked "The Screaming Eagle" by the crew, and Carter was part of that crew which was dispatched to bomb a key Iktani city believed to be a staging ground for reinforcements.

The bombing mission was chaotic. From the altitude required to evade anti-air defenses, it was impossible to gauge where the bombs would land, but Carter knew they weren’t hitting the intended rail yard. The mission left him feeling conflicted and disillusioned, as he sensed that innocent lives had been lost without clear military gain. The Iktani's reaction was immediate and fierce, swelling their ranks with reservists who had lost homes and families in the bombardment.

The Commonwealth troops fought to preserve the beachhead but were soon overwhelmed by the wave of Iktani reinforcements. Forced to retreat, the Commonwealth began negotiations, ultimately withdrawing their forces and suing for peace. As The Screaming Eagle headed home, it was caught in a storm it wasn’t built to withstand. Fire spread through the vessel, sending it crashing into the Gulf. Carter was one of the few survivors, rescued days later by a Nordisle patrol. Returning to a hero’s welcome in Ardell, he felt only grief and guilt. Requesting discharge, he left the military to join The Evig Traders' Guild, a merchant company offering steady work far from Ardell.

Carter spent years with the Traders' Guild, shipping goods across the continents. His journeys took him from the rugged (rumored to be haunted) mountains of Bayn Alain to the icy reaches of the northern seas of Brendahl, where the airships had to navigate treacherous winds and frigid salt spray. He has traversed jungles, deserts, and even the mysterious islands of the Southern Archipelagos where he witnessed skybeasts and all kind of otherwise fantastical creatures most couldn't even fathom. Yet, despite the thrill and freedom that the open skies brought him, he found little peace. The memories of the war, the fallen friends, the burning wreck of the Screaming Eagle, and the lives lost from his own actions followed him wherever he went, a weight on his conscience that no distance could lift.

Through it all, he led his small crew with a steady hand, navigating his ship through occasional ambushes, violent storms, and encounters with beasts that haunted the southern seas. Despite the money and respect he had earned the sense of unease gnawed at him, a reminder of the past he couldn’t fully leave behind.

Carter and his ship now find themselves in Inbur, a city under siege. Originally, he’d come here on a rare but necessary assignment for The Evig Traders' Guild: transporting high-value artifacts and essential supplies from the embattled Inburian forces as they braced against the Calarian advance, the only reason why he accepted this task was the company offering to pay him double the bonus, triple if he brought everything unscathed. Inbur’s Imperial Palace held a trove of relics and important documents, treasures deemed too valuable to risk falling into enemy hands. The mission was simple enough; arrive, load the goods, and leave before the Calarian forces could fully encircle the city.

But the situation has spiraled faster than anticipated. Enemy forces have pushed through the defenses faster than anyone had expected, cutting off traditional supply routes. The Inburian command is in disarray and scrambling to evacuate its highest officials and essential personnel. As the city’s defenses crumbled, the military base near the palace was abandoned in the rush to withdraw. In the chaos, Carter's airship was targeted by Calarian artillery, now with his airship burning and his crew missing Carter must make his way back to the homeland he's avoided for years, how he will do that only fate may tell, for now though the large unattended airship in the imperial palace seems to be his only hope for escape.

Empire of the Clouds - A Zepellin Crew RP

Def interested.

Wild Beasts of the Earth (Gothic Horror)

Ernst Heller

---

Ernst had been sitting quietly, observing the room and its occupants with a mix of skepticism and intrigue. His eyes remained sharp beneath his furrowed brow as he listened to the idle conversations, all while nursing a cigarette. The smoke curled lazily upward, adding to the haze that already cloaked the dimly lit cellar. This meeting, with its strange symbols, unusual characters, and cryptic promises, felt almost absurd. Yet, there was a sense of purpose here—a whisper of something meaningful, buried beneath the eccentricity.

As his gaze drifted across the faces in the room, he couldn’t help but notice the diversity among them: a British man, a Japanese woman, and even an archbishop. It was unusual, to say the least, to see foreigners involved in a matter supposedly aimed at confronting the enemies of Germany. Ernst was not particularly fond of the idea of outsiders playing any role in such affairs, but he also recognized that his was not the time to draw attention to this discomfort. If the Nachtwache truly held answers that could serve his broader goals, he would tolerate their presence—for now.

The uncertainty gnawed at him. He knew his comrades had been murmuring about something big, something imminent. He didn’t know the details, but he understood that he was meant to play a part. The idea of leaving now, returning to his fellow patriots, and taking his place in Germany’s resurgence was tempting. After all, Germany’s redemption required action, not idle talk in a cellar.

Still, the allure of the Nachtwache lingered. There was something about this “Night Watch” that beckoned, a sense that it might align with his cause more closely than it appeared. Ernst couldn’t help but wonder if these people held answers he hadn't even considered yet, answers that could prove useful in a fight against the nation’s enemies—both human and otherwise.

Adam Temple

As a large portion of the group took off, Temple sat down at one of the tables, his glass of port before him, reaching into his jacket pocket for a silver cigarillo case, plucking one of the slender brown stems from the case and lighting it up. He took a puff, "Well, I hope our intrepid friends do not run into any difficulties at the graveyard. Regardless of who or what may be hunting people in the vicinity, the streets are not the safest at the moment."

He paused, taking another puff from his cigarillo before asking the assembled group, "Well since we are still here, who would care to hear a story?"

@Dyelli Beybi

He reached a decision. Stubbing out his cigarette in a nearby ashtray, he stood, adjusted his coat, and made his way toward Temple with calm teps. Reaching the table, he ordered a glass of schnapps from a passing server, as the glass was placed before him, he glanced at Temple’s cigarillo and the calm but calculating look in the Englishman’s eyes. Ernst finally spoke.

"Captain Temple, you mentioned a story," he said, his tone steady, almost neutral. "I’d be interested to hear it," He lifted his glass, as if signaling his commitment not just to the drink, but perhaps to whatever came next.

Wild Beasts of the Earth (Gothic Horror)

Name: Ernst Heller
Gender: Male
Age: 35
Nationality: German
Appearance:

Personal Effects:

1. Luger P08 Pistol: A standard-issue sidearm for German officers during WWI, retained by Ernst for personal defense. It's kept in a worn leather holster under his coat.

2. Pocket Watch: A brass heirloom from his father, engraved with the Heller family crest. It holds sentimental value and serves as a symbol of his family’s former status.

3. Leather Wallet: Contains a few Reichsmarks, identification papers, and a photograph of his parents and younger sister from before the war.

4. Cigarette Case: A silver-plated case with a few hand-rolled cigarettes, a habit Ernst picked up during trench life.

5. Small Flask: Filled with schnapps, carried more out of habit than necessity. It provides warmth and a sense of familiarity during moments of uncertainty.

6. German Army-Issue Folding Knife: A practical tool that Ernst keeps for utility, but which could double as a weapon in close combat if necessary.

7. Notebook and Pencil: Used to jot down notes, information, or names of potential allies and contacts.

8. Rosary Beads: A keepsake from his Catholic mother, carried not for religious devotion but as a quiet homage to his family's past.

9. Brown Leather Gloves: Worn during cooler months or when he expects to get his hands dirty, either literally or figuratively.

10. Matchbox: For lighting cigarettes or providing quick illumination in dark or cramped spaces.

Background: Ernst Heller served as a junior officer in the German Army during the Great War, where he gained extensive combat experience on both fronts. Currently, he works as a notary in Munich, using his legal skills to navigate post-war bureaucracy while maintaining ties to his nationalist organization.

Backstory: Born into a prominent Munich family of industrialists, Ernst Heller enjoyed a privileged upbringing with a strong sense of national duty. When the Great War broke out, he enlisted with zeal, eventually serving as a junior officer. Ernst’s combat experience was marked by brutal trench warfare on the Western Front and grueling campaigns on the Eastern Front. His military career was distinguished by tactical skill, but he also witnessed the devastating costs of war, leaving him hardened and deeply cynical.

After the war, Ernst returned to a Germany on the brink of collapse. His family’s business suffered as the economy spiraled, and the Hartmann wealth dwindled rapidly due to reparations and inflation. Ernst, embittered by the outcome of the war and the subsequent chaos, joined the Freikorps—paramilitary units that fought communist uprisings in German cities. He played a direct role in suppressing the Bavarian Soviet Republic, engaging in brutal street battles that shaped his perception of communism as a mortal enemy of Germany.

Now part of a clandestine far-right organization seeking to restore Germany's strength, Ernst’s political activities have grown more intense. While the group speaks of taking decisive action soon, Ernst’s exact role in these plans have been ambiguous to him as he awaits for them to be set in motion, though he sees himself as an instrumental figure in Germany’s resurgence.

Ernst is strategic and methodical, with a sense of honor born from military discipline. While he is slow to trust, he is fiercely loyal to those he sees as kindred spirits. His bitterness towards Germany’s political landscape drives him, but beneath the hard exterior is a man seeking meaning beyond mere vengeance. Ernst is both drawn to and wary of the darker forces that seem to be rising around him, unsure whether they are tools to be used or threats to be confronted.

Late one evening, Ernst received a letter delivered to his modest flat. The handwriting is unfamiliar, but the contents mention a meeting of the “Nachtwache,” supposedly recommended by an unnamed acquaintance. Intrigued and believing it might be connected to his political movement — perhaps a covert recruitment meeting or an opportunity to network — Ernst decides to attend. The venue, a notorious cabaret, struck him as an odd choice, but he assumes it’s a necessary cover. With his Luger hidden under his coat and a mix of curiosity and cautious optimism, Ernst makes his way to the meeting, unaware of the true nature of the group he’s about to join.

Wild Beasts of the Earth (Gothic Horror)

<Snipped quote by InfamousGuy101>

Looks good to me

@Dyelli Beybi

Splendid.

Wild Beasts of the Earth (Gothic Horror)

Name: Ernst Heller
Gender: Male
Age: 35
Nationality: German
Appearance:

Personal Effects:

1. Luger P08 Pistol: A standard-issue sidearm for German officers during WWI, retained by Ernst for personal defense. It's kept in a worn leather holster under his coat.

2. Pocket Watch: A brass heirloom from his father, engraved with the Heller family crest. It holds sentimental value and serves as a symbol of his family’s former status.

3. Leather Wallet: Contains a few Reichsmarks, identification papers, and a photograph of his parents and younger sister from before the war.

4. Cigarette Case: A silver-plated case with a few hand-rolled cigarettes, a habit Ernst picked up during trench life.

5. Small Flask: Filled with schnapps, carried more out of habit than necessity. It provides warmth and a sense of familiarity during moments of uncertainty.

6. German Army-Issue Folding Knife: A practical tool that Ernst keeps for utility, but which could double as a weapon in close combat if necessary.

7. Notebook and Pencil: Used to jot down notes, information, or names of potential allies and contacts.

8. Rosary Beads: A keepsake from his Catholic mother, carried not for religious devotion but as a quiet homage to his family's past.

9. Brown Leather Gloves: Worn during cooler months or when he expects to get his hands dirty, either literally or figuratively.

10. Matchbox: For lighting cigarettes or providing quick illumination in dark or cramped spaces.

Background: Ernst Heller served as a junior officer in the German Army during the Great War, where he gained extensive combat experience on both fronts. Currently, he works as a notary in Munich, using his legal skills to navigate post-war bureaucracy while maintaining ties to his nationalist organization.

Backstory: Born into a prominent Munich family of industrialists, Ernst Heller enjoyed a privileged upbringing with a strong sense of national duty. When the Great War broke out, he enlisted with zeal, eventually serving as a junior officer. Ernst’s combat experience was marked by brutal trench warfare on the Western Front and grueling campaigns on the Eastern Front. His military career was distinguished by tactical skill, but he also witnessed the devastating costs of war, leaving him hardened and deeply cynical.

After the war, Ernst returned to a Germany on the brink of collapse. His family’s business suffered as the economy spiraled, and the Hartmann wealth dwindled rapidly due to reparations and inflation. Ernst, embittered by the outcome of the war and the subsequent chaos, joined the Freikorps—paramilitary units that fought communist uprisings in German cities. He played a direct role in suppressing the Bavarian Soviet Republic, engaging in brutal street battles that shaped his perception of communism as a mortal enemy of Germany.

Now part of a clandestine far-right organization seeking to restore Germany's strength, Ernst’s political activities have grown more intense. While the group speaks of taking decisive action soon, Ernst’s exact role in these plans have been ambiguous to him as he awaits for them to be set in motion, though he sees himself as an instrumental figure in Germany’s resurgence.

Ernst is strategic and methodical, with a sense of honor born from military discipline. While he is slow to trust, he is fiercely loyal to those he sees as kindred spirits. His bitterness towards Germany’s political landscape drives him, but beneath the hard exterior is a man seeking meaning beyond mere vengeance. Ernst is both drawn to and wary of the darker forces that seem to be rising around him, unsure whether they are tools to be used or threats to be confronted.

Late one evening, Ernst received a letter delivered to his modest flat. The handwriting is unfamiliar, but the contents mention a meeting of the “Nachtwache,” supposedly recommended by an unnamed acquaintance. Intrigued and believing it might be connected to his political movement — perhaps a covert recruitment meeting or an opportunity to network — Ernst decides to attend. The venue, a notorious cabaret, struck him as an odd choice, but he assumes it’s a necessary cover. With his Luger hidden under his coat and a mix of curiosity and cautious optimism, Ernst makes his way to the meeting, unaware of the true nature of the group he’s about to join.