Alright, so my character species is canon in this (Clone Wars yay) and is the Diathim, the "Angels" of which Anakin spoke of. However, her Force Tradition is a minor faction in the EU, the Disciples of Twilight from Dyspeth, in the Outer Rim. If that is not ok, I can always be a Jensaarai, which is from various EU sources. However, if Disciple, I was gonna dabble with Jensaarai and have their armor.
Ambrosio saw the battle and essentially threw caution to the wind when it came to how the children would react to him. He charged forward and used the momentum to throw his bardiche like a javelin at one of the thralls. His left hand now free, he formed his claw and actively guarded, planting himself by the boy that was likely Yazzy. "Looks like you need a hand. Get behind my shield if they shoot at you. I can provide cover."
He looked at the Euphoric Soldiers, his eyes narrowing. "If you take care of the thralls, I can handle the soldiers. Just let me get back my spear from whatever thrall just turned into a sheath."
The satyr growled audibly at the twofold cruelty. "I can deal with the rapist from here. Get down there and do your thing. I will check into the cave. I have a specific bone to pick with the fatty. They stole the food I gave that girl and are trying to kill her." From the cliff, he focused on the man about to rape the woman. He popped the cork on his bottle and seemed to magically draw up a couple ounces of alchool into a small neat sphere in the air between his clawed fingers.
"Those you love will cry, those you hate will laugh, join those of your ire and become what you never desire." His hand snapped closed into a fist, the alcohol dissipating into a sickly green mist, blasting the man with eldritch energies and causing his body to transform into exactly two things: a woman and the race he hates most. Then, Kistal took one look down the cliff, seeing footholds to use. He ignored the rope and took the expedient route, jumping along the cliff face, using his supernatural balance and jumping to get him to the ground. He angled his descent to the cave and ended by leaping off the face and dropping on top of the fat man, leading his fall with the spear to attempt to impale and kill the target of his hate.
Chihiro took her position, drawing two spears and settling her breathing. "One hundred yards, two shots...got it." She drew one spear and drew back her arm, aiming her throw with her thumb and index finger on the free hand. She didn't need magic to make the shot normally, so she opted to avoid it in case of over penetration. She let the first spear loose and immediately grabbed her second one, aiming it at the second archer. She let the other one fly shortly after.
Assuming nothing odd happened, the spears would hit their intended targets as it was well within her practiced range and far from the maximum range of her spears. Chihiro crouched low to see the results of her attempts, readying two more spears in case of something happening. She was also awaiting the signal of the infiltration party.
She is 8'3" and essentially made of lean muscles. She goes for strength, not tone.
Occupation: Monster Hunting Artificer
Reputation: A merchant often trading with her: "You want me to talk about that half-breed? Well damn, well she is great at hunting and making things, but we don't talk to her much. She keeps to herself for some reason. Sure, lots of people hate halfies here, but she could find a place. I think. On second thought, probably good she isn't around HERE, specifically. Maybe if she lived in the southern parts?"
Her mother: "I still love my baby girl of course and visit when I am not busy. She doesn't feel like she belongs, so she lives alone and hunts monsters and makes magitech for trade. I miss her gardens and that smile. And her eyes had such a fire in them. It must have been that Orc blood. She is passionate but still has that Blue Oni spirit. If you go see her, give her this Er Kuai. I know it's her favorite."
Guard Captain of her home town: "That wench better not come back. We don't need a halfie here to make people angry and nervous. Good riddance, I say."
Innkeeper of the town: "Lots of people were scared of her, you know? Orcs are supposed to be violent and angry. She was a sweet girl overall, but she spoke her mind and wouldn't back down from anything she felt was important. It made her a lot of enemies in the guard. She used to sell us the freshest vegetables and meats. Those years were some of the best times to cook for people. Now, no one here seems to be able or want to take up her mantle. I miss her, to be honest. She would have made a good friend if she stayed."
Man her age: "You would never get a better beatdown than from her. If you tried to hurt her or someone she liked, she would put you in the dirt. It was a great view, though, so I sometimes did it just to get a good look at her. What? Wouldn't you want to be around a pretty girl? It was worth a few bruises and bloody noses. I don't know much about her other than that."
Gravedigger of the town: "She could always be relied on to help out. If you asked her for a hand, she would get right on it. She wasn't afraid of getting dirt under her nails. And then, after that, we would have a good drink and some of the spiciest supper I have ever had. Death scares most folks, but she wasn't even fazed by it. It made her a unique and nice girl. She was one of the only people to talk to me outside of funerals. She never judged me for anything. I think how much people hated her blood made her happy to let people come as they are. But wow was she able to pack away the heat. I can still feel the burn from those meals. It was a good burn, mind you, but it would kick you in the face. Ah, I miss those days. Now, I am just an old, lonely gravedigger, picking at the ground. Give her this ring when you see her and say hi."
Poor girl: "She gave Mommy tons of food! We never went hungry with her around, but the guard made her leave. It wasn't fair. She was really nice and made me a bunch of toys, too! She even played with me when all the other kids wouldn't let me play."
Disgruntled woman: "She was unladylike. She would never make a good wife to anyone. It was that Orc blood. Her mother was a drunken whore to get knocked up by some sweaty Orc. I'm glad she is gone. She was an eyesore on our community and brought dishonor to us all."
Town guard at the gate: "If you ask most people, she was some demon because of her Orc blood. I think it made her better. She could see both sides and helped everyone. If you had an argument, she could get you to a compromise. If you needed a sparring partner, she would work you till you dropped. I even asked if she could pretend to be my date to a couple family gatherings. She was happy to help keep my family off my back about getting married. There were a few times with bandits that she just appeared and help me out. You could rely on her to watch your back if you needed it. Everyone else could run away and she would still keep fighting by you. She saved my sorry skin so many times that I named my daughter after her."
Lorekeeper of the town: "She was always quiet if she didn't have anything to say. There was always something going on in her head. She would take to me at least every other day about something she wanted to try and make or a new thing to do to help people. She was a problem solver and a thinker. She was a dreamer, too. It rubbed a lot of people the wrong way since she was trying to take tradition head-on and make changes she thought could help us be better. I liked that about her. You don't find many gems like that here. She was a warrior with a head and a hunter with a heart. You are going to meet her later? Give this gourd to her. It's full of my homemade sake that she liked so much. My old bones keep me from visiting her much, so she is probably out by now."
Affiliation: Hiyuki (formerly)
Backstory: "Alright, so you want to know about me? Gotcha. Well, it all started when Mom got smashed with some Orc guy. They decided that a night of bed breaking was a good idea. She told me the chief was not happy when she and his son destroyed his tent. Anyway, she got pregnant with me and came back home. A while later, I pop out. She was a good mom. She took care of me and loved me. I didn't feel weird around her. Home was safe. The people around us were some weird mix of pity, admiration, or hatred. People either loved or hated me. The ones that hated me always talked about how my Orc side is ruining my prim and proper Blue Oni lady side. It bothered me. I couldn't just be me around a lot of the town. There sure were a few people that liked me, so I stayed and tried to make it work. Eventually, I couldn't take it. I felt so bad and out of place. I left and went to the Southern edge of Hiyuki. I found a temperate forest with good soil and set up."
She sighs and takes a sip of the sake we gave her.
"Ohhhh, that's the good stuff. I don't know what that man does to make it so good, but he has a gift. Anyway, where was I? Ah yes, I set up camp, eventually made a house, and then made my way selling off things I made, hunted, or the stuff I grew. It is cozy out here. I am usually pretty alone, which gets to me a lot, but it is better than feeling like at any moment someone might snap and try to kill you for something you can't change. Mom visits a lot. Wait, I smell her cooking. Gimme! Yes, Er Kuai! Uh, back on subject, that is basically my life. I got into a lot of fights over stuff I thought was important. I helped a few guards out when bandits came along and the spineless guards ran away. The gravedigger sure got his job done when I was around. He always got done early. There was this one really cute little girl that I played with. I felt a kinship with her. The other kids were mean to her since she was poor. Her mom worked her ass off at two jobs but got paid almost nothing. I gave them a bunch of stuff I got from my garden and hunts. The mom was so grateful and always said she would make it up to me. I did it for free. I expected nothing from it, but she gave the best hugs each time I brought a box of food. It felt warm when she did."
She takes another sip and a bite of the food.
"I heard from a couple merchants about some big job looking for hunters. I figure I will check it out and see if it might give me a good adventure. I could use a change of scenery for a while. Mom talked to my aunt. So, my aunt is sending my cousin here to live in while I'm gone. Said she needed to have a quiet place to get away to. I figured there are worse things than letting your cousin keep your house tidy. So, I'm gonna head out in the morning for that. Any more questions? No? Alright then, how about that mandrake root you were talking about earlier? I have a bunch of fresh ones I got yesterday."
𝕌tility
Skills: Carving Gardening Playing Shamisen, Erhu, and Taiko Metallurgy Smithing Engineering Tinkering
Magic:
None. All her magical aptitude is tied to making gadgets and items.
Equipment:
Furēmusherukirā (Flame Shell Killer): A large caliber rifle with simple sights able to account for ballistics up to 150m, this weapon is designed and usable by only her. Anyone else attempting to work its mechanisms and fire properly will at best be confused and at worst harmed by the lack of training. The projectiles it fires are large armor piercing bullets, and the rifle has a 4 round internal magazine. (equivalent to a 23.3 mm for caliber, a 6 gauge for shotguns as a reference) The method of firing involves a crystal of an explosive element firing from behind the bullet, causing it to fly down the rifled barrel and into the chosen target.
Nyūbō meisu (Pestle Mace): Wielded as a simple heavy club, she uses this to crack armor and deal heavy internal damage. Its weight is huge, so anyone not of orc or oni strength would be unable to wield it well if at all.
Janggeom: Single-edged sword reminiscent of a katana but with a straight blade. The blade is 4 feet long with a foot long hilt and can be used both one and two-handed for both stabbing and slashing.
𝕄iscellaneous
Favorite Foods: Gan guo, Saliva Chicken, Er Kuai, Chongqing hotpot, Hot and Sour Fish Soup
She is 8'3" and essentially made of lean muscles. She goes for strength, not tone.
Occupation: Monster Hunting Artificer
Reputation: A merchant often trading with her: "You want me to talk about that half-breed? Well damn, well she is great at hunting and making things, but we don't talk to her much. She keeps to herself for some reason. Sure, lots of people hate halfies here, but she could find a place. I think. On second thought, probably good she isn't around HERE, specifically. Maybe if she lived in the southern parts?"
Her mother: "I still love my baby girl of course and visit when I am not busy. She doesn't feel like she belongs, so she lives alone and hunts monsters and makes magitech for trade. I miss her gardens and that smile. And her eyes had such a fire in them. It must have been that Orc blood. She is passionate but still has that Blue Oni spirit. If you go see her, give her this Er Kuai. I know it's her favorite."
Guard Captain of her home town: "That wench better not come back. We don't need a halfie here to make people angry and nervous. Good riddance, I say."
Innkeeper of the town: "Lots of people were scared of her, you know? Orcs are supposed to be violent and angry. She was a sweet girl overall, but she spoke her mind and wouldn't back down from anything she felt was important. It made her a lot of enemies in the guard. She used to sell us the freshest vegetables and meats. Those years were some of the best times to cook for people. Now, no one here seems to be able or want to take up her mantle. I miss her, to be honest. She would have made a good friend if she stayed."
Man her age: "You would never get a better beatdown than from her. If you tried to hurt her or someone she liked, she would put you in the dirt. It was a great view, though, so I sometimes did it just to get a good look at her. What? Wouldn't you want to be around a pretty girl? It was worth a few bruises and bloody noses. I don't know much about her other than that."
Gravedigger of the town: "She could always be relied on to help out. If you asked her for a hand, she would get right on it. She wasn't afraid of getting dirt under her nails. And then, after that, we would have a good drink and some of the spiciest supper I have ever had. Death scares most folks, but she wasn't even fazed by it. It made her a unique and nice girl. She was one of the only people to talk to me outside of funerals. She never judged me for anything. I think how much people hated her blood made her happy to let people come as they are. But wow was she able to pack away the heat. I can still feel the burn from those meals. It was a good burn, mind you, but it would kick you in the face. Ah, I miss those days. Now, I am just an old, lonely gravedigger, picking at the ground. Give her this ring when you see her and say hi."
Poor girl: "She gave Mommy tons of food! We never went hungry with her around, but the guard made her leave. It wasn't fair. She was really nice and made me a bunch of toys, too! She even played with me when all the other kids wouldn't let me play."
Disgruntled woman: "She was unladylike. She would never make a good wife to anyone. It was that Orc blood. Her mother was a drunken whore to get knocked up by some sweaty Orc. I'm glad she is gone. She was an eyesore on our community and brought dishonor to us all."
Town guard at the gate: "If you ask most people, she was some demon because of her Orc blood. I think it made her better. She could see both sides and helped everyone. If you had an argument, she could get you to a compromise. If you needed a sparring partner, she would work you till you dropped. I even asked if she could pretend to be my date to a couple family gatherings. She was happy to help keep my family off my back about getting married. There were a few times with bandits that she just appeared and help me out. You could rely on her to watch your back if you needed it. Everyone else could run away and she would still keep fighting by you. She saved my sorry skin so many times that I named my daughter after her."
Lorekeeper of the town: "She was always quiet if she didn't have anything to say. There was always something going on in her head. She would take to me at least every other day about something she wanted to try and make or a new thing to do to help people. She was a problem solver and a thinker. She was a dreamer, too. It rubbed a lot of people the wrong way since she was trying to take tradition head-on and make changes she thought could help us be better. I liked that about her. You don't find many gems like that here. She was a warrior with a head and a hunter with a heart. You are going to meet her later? Give this gourd to her. It's full of my homemade sake that she liked so much. My old bones keep me from visiting her much, so she is probably out by now."
Affiliation: Hiyuki (formerly)
Backstory: "Alright, so you want to know about me? Gotcha. Well, it all started when Mom got smashed with some Orc guy. They decided that a night of bed breaking was a good idea. She told me the chief was not happy when she and his son destroyed his tent. Anyway, she got pregnant with me and came back home. A while later, I pop out. She was a good mom. She took care of me and loved me. I didn't feel weird around her. Home was safe. The people around us were some weird mix of pity, admiration, or hatred. People either loved or hated me. The ones that hated me always talked about how my Orc side is ruining my prim and proper Blue Oni lady side. It bothered me. I couldn't just be me around a lot of the town. There sure were a few people that liked me, so I stayed and tried to make it work. Eventually, I couldn't take it. I felt so bad and out of place. I left and went to the Southern edge of Hiyuki. I found a temperate forest with good soil and set up."
She sighs and takes a sip of the sake we gave her.
"Ohhhh, that's the good stuff. I don't know what that man does to make it so good, but he has a gift. Anyway, where was I? Ah yes, I set up camp, eventually made a house, and then made my way selling off things I made, hunted, or the stuff I grew. It is cozy out here. I am usually pretty alone, which gets to me a lot, but it is better than feeling like at any moment someone might snap and try to kill you for something you can't change. Mom visits a lot. Wait, I smell her cooking. Gimme! Yes, Er Kuai! Uh, back on subject, that is basically my life. I got into a lot of fights over stuff I thought was important. I helped a few guards out when bandits came along and the spineless guards ran away. The gravedigger sure got his job done when I was around. He always got done early. There was this one really cute little girl that I played with. I felt a kinship with her. The other kids were mean to her since she was poor. Her mom worked her ass off at two jobs but got paid almost nothing. I gave them a bunch of stuff I got from my garden and hunts. The mom was so grateful and always said she would make it up to me. I did it for free. I expected nothing from it, but she gave the best hugs each time I brought a box of food. It felt warm when she did."
She takes another sip and a bite of the food.
"I heard from a couple merchants about some big job looking for hunters. I figure I will check it out and see if it might give me a good adventure. I could use a change of scenery for a while. Mom talked to my aunt. So, my aunt is sending my cousin here to live in while I'm gone. Said she needed to have a quiet place to get away to. I figured there are worse things than letting your cousin keep your house tidy. So, I'm gonna head out in the morning for that. Any more questions? No? Alright then, how about that mandrake root you were talking about earlier? I have a bunch of fresh ones I got yesterday."
𝕌tility
Skills: Carving Gardening Playing Shamisen, Erhu, and Taiko Metallurgy Smithing Engineering Tinkering
Magic:
None. All her magical aptitude is tied to making gadgets and items.
Equipment:
Furēmusherukirā (Flame Shell Killer): A large caliber rifle with simple sights able to account for ballistics up to 150m, this weapon is designed and usable by only her. Anyone else attempting to work its mechanisms and fire properly will at best be confused and at worst harmed by the lack of training. The projectiles it fires are large armor piercing bullets, and the rifle has a 4 round internal magazine. (equivalent to a 23.3 mm for caliber, a 6 gauge for shotguns as a reference) The method of firing involves a crystal of an explosive element firing from behind the bullet, causing it to fly down the rifled barrel and into the chosen target.
Nyūbō meisu (Pestle Mace): Wielded as a simple heavy club, she uses this to crack armor and deal heavy internal damage. Its weight is huge, so anyone not of orc or oni strength, much like her axe, would be unable to wield it well if at all.
Janggeom: Single-edged sword reminiscent of a katana but with a straight blade. The blade is 4 feet long with a foot long hilt and can be used both one and two-handed for both stabbing and slashing.
𝕄iscellaneous
Favorite Foods: Gan guo, Saliva Chicken, Er Kuai, Chongqing hotpot, Hot and Sour Fish Soup
Allanon's question betrayed a bit more klnowledge of magic than he first seemed to have, so Kistal clapped his hands together. "Well, the biggest hurdle we have is an item attached to one of those at the camp. Any sort of item they carried would suffice. Or, if you would prefer, any sort of bodily item works too. If they got hair on you and you have it, I can use that. After that, I just need enough space for a good old dance and enough booze. Most scrying sessions take about 5 minutes to get going and allow for a very nice view." He got nostalgic for a second, whispering to himself. "Ah, the time I spent watching her..." He shook himself out of it and smiled again. "So, that is entirely possible given those parameters and the desire to know more about our foes."
Kistal's preparations were light. He simply stocked his booze and walked with his spear. His expression was stony except his eyes. They stared at the camp, alight with barely contained rage. He would keep quiet but anyone Calabris would be eliminated to sate his bloodlust. His right hand's claws dug into the wood of the skiff, reenacting his thought of that being a Calabris throat. The relatively cordial and cheery satyr from before was gone now that a mission came along. There was one chance and lives on the line. He couldn't risk messing this up.
Chihiro was more chipper than Kistal, but she was still focused. She checked her flail before returning it, not intending to use it. She then drew what seemed to be two engraved metal blocks. Soon enough, their purpose was unveiled as she flicked them open into two feathery fans. To the casual observer, they seemed like ornamental fans. To a naga, it was a rare sight to see one wielding fighting fans. Most naga used longer weapons, sometimes very heavy ones. Chihiro preferred to make intimate takedowns, being able to use the body of her opponents to her advantage, so short and unexpected weapons styles were her forte.
Ambrosio, before taking the items, made sure nothing else would spring and then took them, leaving the room. He reset the trap as best he could and closed the door, leaving no trace of his intrusion. "Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints...the old urban explorer's credo." He chuckled to himself. It was a surprisingly good credo as footprints were a dime a dozen and pictures could be anonymous if you kept out of frame.
His next step was to find a way up and back onto the proper path. Sending a group of thralls was common, but he might be able to find survivors or a different group of thralls to link up with for a better shot at survival. With his newfound insight into the trapper's methods, he was able to move a bit faster, keeping his eyes and nose peeled for anything out of the ordinary.
Kistal listened to Allanon and Dorran, letting them make some decisions. He settled on checking his booze stocks. They were still very much intact and ready to use. Anyone watching would see him switch the mostly empty bottle with a new full one and stock a second one to spare. His spellcasting needed to be at its peak. "If we need some insight and anyone has something from the Calabris that would be there, I could scry out at least some of the camp. I forgot to mention that I can be a diviner as needed." He straightened back up and let out a hmmm as he went to the mouth of the cave. "I am restless. For what they did to me, my allies, and innocent people, I wish to make the sands run red with their lives."
Chihiro's smile darkened and a small, nearly inaudible hiss came from her. "If they are indeed beyond redemption, then I shall end them. There is no value in letting evil survive if one can stop it." She gave a flourished spin on one foot, polymorphing back into her travel attire. She pulled her hair back into the usual loose ponytail. Grabbing her hair in battle would be a hard thing to do in a normal fight, let alone when she decided to give her dance of death everything she had. There was no chance she would let them go without facing her full strength.
Allanon's question was absolutely a good one. After all, a unit must be cohesive enough to do their job. "While I normally work alone, I have done team operations before. Assuming we all know the capabilities of the group, I imagine we can get by." He gave a bit of a flourished bow, smirking. "I am Kistalfionnis, scandal maker, spy, chef, boozemaker, sometimes assassin, and curse inflicter extraordinaire. I have a particular hatred for Calabris, borne of more than one source." His little display done, he straightened back up and gave his spear a quick spin in one hand.
"So, myself and our dear duelist over here seem capable as sneaks. Are there any others here who would like to join us?" His eyes scanned the group. Most seemed to be frontline fighters. Maybe Chihiro could sneak, but Kistal doubted her temperament to doing so. If Sahale weren't leaving, he likely could do it assuming he could keep his mouth shut.
Chihiro let the others speak their mind, her arms never letting go of the cute woman in them. "I would rather not sneak behind. I will move in from the front. Trust me, it will cause a massive distraction for the second group. My dance of death tends to attract many eyes. Besides, I need to find something among the ruins. And, if what our newcomer says is true, take that artifact from our foe. Power of that level should be kept safe and out of the hands of people."
She smiled wide, letting slip that she had fangs in place of normal canines. "I have a bone to pick with this particular group, especially after they attacked Valia and then launched an attack on innocent citizens. If they surrender, I will offer redemption, but until then, they will not live past this day."
