Pacifista

One Piece: A Golden Age, A Dark Age - The Boozehound Chronicles

A ways away from the palace, a number of colorful cannons were wheeled into a small park, a road away from a view of the palace. There were a few about, some watching in avid interest, curious about the fireworks display, some inwardly questioning whether or not the fireworks would be visible in the daytime...

---

Saffron's nostrils flared as he took Marv's backhanded compliment on the chin, not exactly in the position to argue it. Ignoring his words, he simply joined Marv in the throne room, mulling about patiently as they waited for the two fold arrival with all the children about.

It was some time, when a smattering of applause was heard from within a nearby hall. Attention was shift, and without doubt, the King and Queen, both fairly young and spritely themselves, entered the throne room. Saffron's eyes widened, however, as he saw another with them among the bodyguards: a familiar girl with red hair and dark skin, exchanging words with the queen, the two of them smiling. The girl had been around right before he aimed to steal the Four Color Wine...and now she was in consort with the Queen? This threw a wrench in things: if she were to recognize him...

Unable to get a signal to Marv, he took his position, walking around, eyes peeled as if he were pretending to scout out the crowd while he positioned himself a bit closer to the thrones.

---

As the riots continued to break out, word moved to towards the palace, but never quite reached it, flashes of red stopping them in their tracks. As the ruckus was ongoing, few noticed a sea of red building, some with their weapons less concealed than others. And overlooking it all, managing those intending to take word back to the palace, Leader Vermillion stood atop a clock tower embedded into a plaza a good 20 meters off the ground. Every so often, his hand seemed to glow as he talked into his hand, the solider he designated quickly being taken out. As the riots began to get louder, he turned back to the palace, watching and waiting.

One Piece: A Golden Age, A Dark Age - The Boozehound Chronicles

In the late dusk of the Great Horn Archipelago, the bridges between the four islands were abuzz with those taking to the other islands for more festivities. On the largest of the bridges (or underneath it, rather), an out of the way tavern and restaurant attracted only the locals, or those well in the now, the darker area past the staircase at the side of the bridge feeling foreboding to the unfamiliar. An orange haired lad with a yellow vest casually strolled inside, a nod from the tavern keeper directing him to his desired room. Opening the door without as much as a knock, Saffron stepped inside, seeing his peers sitting at a table laden with various meats, breads, and cards.

Chadwick’s face shone bright as we swept hair out of his face as Saffron arrived. “Saf, brah! You made it bro! Ready to go do some biss’?” Marv was rubbing his eyes, a headache coming on as his dark eyes saw out through his fringes. “Hi.” He let out, focusing back on the cards. Chadwick was holding his cards nonchalantly, Marv could peer and see he had a pair of kings. “I fold.” He said as Chad looked over at him “Aw, what’s the matter Marvey? Not really up to play against the Chadmeister?!” His tanktop draped over his torso as tight as it could be, the “Reddical Dreadical” font going from one side of his chest to the other. He grabbed another bite of his sandwich. “Saff, sit down bro, you wanna join next game? Ya’ boy’s on quite a streak!”

A frown of irritation forming on his face, Saffron took his seat, stating, “I was hoping we could focus on the ‘biss’.”

Placing her cards down for a moment and scooping up another bite of food, Kobicha said, “Well, it was supposed to just be a time killer, but some of us don’t like to lose.”

“You mean you don’t like to lose,” Saffron noted. Kobicha didn’t deny it, as she refused to fold. ”All right, Chadman’s going all in. What’cha got Kobi?” Chadwick said with his trademarked grin on his face. River was flipped, the Two of clubs and four of hearts was added by a three of hearts.

Marv groaned. “He’s gonna win again, isn’t he?” He asked groaning as Chad’s face was as if stuck in a smile.

“Just a two pair, looks like,” Kobicha said, showing her two of hearts and three of spades. Growing even more disinterested, Saffron plated up a bit of food, eating politely. Chad’s smile faded for a second. “... That’s not very Redical of you.” He said, showing his one pair of kings and Marv let out a one syllable laugh. “HA!” The blue clad ninja laughed, leaning back in his chair. Chad looked at Marv and gave him his worst stare. “Fine, you win Kobibabe.” Chad told her with a less genuine smile this time.

Giving a brief, coy smile, Kobicha put her cards down before taking another bite of food, before Saffron swallowed, asking, “Are we ready to get to real matters now?”

Kobicha started, “Chad can play some solitaire while we get things done. Now, some of my men have been watching the troop movements of the Antler Kingdom, but they haven’t been very effective. They’re just patrolling sites with other valuables: banks, nobleman estates, etcetra.”

“So useless, then. My scouts are keeping watch on the Antler Nobles. The King and Queen are safe within the palace for now, but in case of an attack, they have an escape plan - where their bodyguards will leave them to a tunnel, which leads to a nigh impenetrable bunker. “ Marv mentioned.

“My guys have been brewing ruckus down at the docks, harbor and marketplace. The people are just raring to get down with the reddical way.” Chad added, while he was shuffling the deck and went to play a round of solitaire.

“And the Quartz Company is get arms into the hands of our collected forces. There has been a brief wrench in our plans with that man, Chester, still being alive, but he hasn’t been deemed as a major threat. Goldenrod is handling him. That leaves our matters on dealing with Johannes and coming up with a way to capture the King and Queen before they get to their bunker so that we can demand surrender. Otherwise it all hinges on Cerulean to break it open, and his power is much better suited elsewhere.”

“Like breaking necks.” Chadwick said with a chuckle, piling the cards on top of each other. Marv smirked. “So, what are your individual assignments during all of this?” He asked, knowing full well that while the heads of the companies might be working together on this, their tasks would be in the nature of turning the situation to the advantage of their own company.

Kobicha began, “I”m not too suited for combat, so I’ll be manning mortars and the like supplied by the Quartz Company, keeping the enemy disoriented and scattering, along with sending out some general information. I could use an extra squad of information runners though: we don’t have enough crows to go around, and they’re too smart to like fighting anyway.” Looking over to Chad, she asked, “The Crimson Company has got more men than they can handle, right? Send some fast ones over my way.”

Chad smiled “Oh men? That’s no problem. We got fresh pledges by spades. Most of them are fast, bloodthirsty lil buggers, too! This here Antler kingdom’s got plenty of people who’s ready for a nice little barfight.”

“.. The entire capital city being the bar in this metaphor of yours?” Marv added and Chad nodded. “You know it Bro! What about you, Marvbert?”

Marv grimaced. “I’m to plant explosives and blow the gates. Then it’s deeper behind enemy lines, wrapping the King and Queen up quite nicely for the boss.”

Kobicha looked over to Saffron, wondering, “And you?”

Saffron admitted, “With the Quartz Company’s efforts dedicated to keeping reinforcements from returning to the palace, along with scattered support, there’s no room for me to command any troops personally. Which leaves me the option of either targeting a notable wildcard such as Johannes or Chester, or aiding in the kidnapping of the King and Queen, which would hopefully end the battle as shortly as possible.”

“If you’ll avoid being in my way, you can put your sword to the King’s throat if you’d like.” Marv told Saffron.

Saffron gave a slight smile. “I’m not one to disappoint.”

---

The day after, and the festival was in full swing. It was still a day or so from completion, but the weekend was traditionally the busiest period. The castle’s grounds were clear, short of the occasional troop patrol, but the city outside was positively bustling. A parade was set to come to its end in front of the palace this evening, but those in the know knew that it was not going to come to pass. Clad in the armor of a Balder knight Saffron made his way through several palace corridors, surprised at how bustling they were with soldiers. Was their intel wrong?

Putting it aside, intending to focus on the mission, Saffron went about the throne room. The King and Queen weren’t here, but that wasn’t the first step. Trying to avoid looking suspicion, he kept his eyes peeled for his contact, but nowhere did he see that familiar face.

One Piece: A Golden Age, A Dark Age - The Boozehound Chronicles

Letting Chester's odd use of terminology roll over him, Johannes considered his proposition aloud. "If we wait at the Palace...they'll be running amok elsewhere on the island, unchecked... But they shouldn't know that we understand their plans, so as long as we don't make it obvious we're lying in wait..."

Clenching his fist in determination, he said, "I think our path is clear. Let's make our way to the Palace!"

Finishing up his food, Macario said, "Those mooks are going to keep messing with our stuff though, since they're after something of ours."

Johannes stood, taking charge, "It shall be no serious matter. Set sail for the Palace!"

Lina frowned, wondering to herself quietly, "Who's in charge around here?"

---

Despite a bit of quarreling on the chain of command, the Breeze left the docks of Stagio, heading far out to sea before starting to curl around in the darkness, eventually coming to the royal docks on the Antler Kingdom's palace, turrets decorated with carefully grown trees, streamed with colored ribbons in celebration. As word spread to the Heads of the fled Grog Warriors, Johannes' authority allowed the 'shipping vessel' to enter without further query.

Gangplank lowered, Johannes turned to the others, beginning, "I'll send a message to my forces to have the lieutenants on the field gather here, and we'll discuss strategy with them."

Not sure who he was referring too, Lina said, "Er, I'm no good at that kinda stuff though."

As they started to move into the sheltered docks, mulling with prim looking dockworkers and guard, Johannes said, "I only need one of you to relay plans back and forth, though if you have an idea of how you can help in the meantime, I have control of my men to offer at your discretion."

One Piece: A Golden Age, A Dark Age - The Boozehound Chronicles

"WE were gonna steal that wine."

Lifting her wooden spoon from a pan of rice, meat, and veggies cooking together, Lina's eyes widened. Chester...Chester didn't know anything, did he? She'd keep her head down for now...

Johannes waved his hand, "You said nothing about stealing wine."

"We totally did!" Chester retorted. Macario bit his lip to keep from laughing.

"Regardless," Johannes said more forcefully, beginning, "The troop movements are ertainly strange... Extra men...there's more to it then just the Meet, that has to be certain."

"What fencing around the palace did the Reds rough up? Seems pretty out of place. Though the Crimson Company is basically a joke as far as I can tell."

Honing in on that, Johannes pondered for a moment, before noting, "If that's the one that's out of place...it may be the most important, n-" Holding his tongue, Johannes suddenly went quiet, before suggesting, "If...if they seek to regain face, then...taking over the palace, the country..."

Macario nodded along. "Yeah, the fence, building extra forces, causing the occasional chaos... Hell, the Reds were trying to force us into their group so they might be recruiting too."

"The Verdant Company!" Johannes exclaimed, suggesting, "They may be trying to make connections with the archipelago's existing criminal element." Punching his fist into his gauntlet, he said, "I think we've got it!"

As Johannes returned to his thought patterns, Lina tasted her food. Satisfied, he dished it out, finally taking a seat herself, stirring it around to cool it off while she listened in.

Macario said, "So, we know what they're going to do. I guess the question now is how we're gonna kick their asses..."

One Piece: Brave New World

Wincing as a few splinters from Axe's assault found their way onto the deck, some brushing against the Vice-Admirals face, she glanced around, muttering, "No one's gonna stop it? We only half half a dozen officers on board..." Letting out a reluctant sigh, Fryeja tapped her foot to the ground, realigning her shoes, before taking off in a blur, leaping off the deck. One arm gripping the side of the ship, fingertips weaseling their way in between a pair of boards, she found a position that she could only hold for a brief few seconds. That was all she needed. With her other arm, she drew her sword, taking a breath as the prow hurtled towards the Marine vessel.

Holding her blade horizontally, shrouding it with Haki, she braced herself as the Scrapyard vessel collided with her. Freyja's back elbow ran against the hull of the Marine ship, Haki protecting her as she took the brunt of the force, wincing as she strained herself to keep the Mirana from taking too much damage. There was a loud groan from the Scrapyard ship as it came too it's sudden halt, some unprepared underlings taking a tumble from the slightly quicker than expected stop. Their momentum was halted, for the moment, but as her body was under duress, Freyja wasn't exactly in the position to give the order for counterattack.

The first response did come quickly, however, the cannon team unleashing on the seemingly stunned Scrapyard Pirates. But as predicted, the more experienced members on board had no trouble dealing with the volley, but any advantaged they'd planned from their ramming tactic had been rendered null.

One Piece: Brave New World

Among those who taken up the task of informing the officers of the present situation, Seaman Jo Joe Josie had come from the Commander's Quarters confused and a bit lost. The recent reassignments meant that about a quarter of the 2nd Patrol's men were new and rather unfamiliar with the quirks and quandaries surrounding those at the top, and adjustment was...a work in progress.

Jo's wanderings took him down to the engine room, where a worker tending a burned face pointed him to some more experienced superiors, who sent him down to the cargo hold. Jo passed by the brig, face twisting into a grimace of confusion and disgust as he watched men with long spears, tips dull and rusted, poking and prodding as the tried impale caged pirates caught more than a week ago, laughing about how the unpolished weapons will hurt more when they go in. Keeping his head low and slipping by, he finally reached the hold, and by following grunts of anticipation and calls of low or high, he came across a group of Marines huddled around a pile of cards, bills, and coins. One Marine held a card from his hand out out, over a pile where a 6 lay, while the one sitting opposite of him pondered with a hand on her chin, before finally stating, "Low."

Her opposite dropped a Jack on the pile, leaving Vice-Admiral Freyja to let out a groan, throwing her free hand to slap her forehead as her opponent chortled, the witnesses joining in as the pot was taken back. Reaching to grab a few bills as she looked over her cards again, Freyja separated one, holding it up, before finally taking notice of Jo. "Yo."

Jo stared blankly. "Ma'am...we're under attack!"

"Don't call me ma'am. I'm not some old fart like Colt."

As if on cue, there was another quake, and the ship rocked to one side, Jo managing to brace himself up against a crate, while the sitting gamblers had no issue, instantly dropping their hands to keep the cards in place.

"It's an emergency!"

Freyja waved her hand, "Chill out, kid. It's probably just Pop Brine. Happens all the time around here."

A bit lost, Jo elaborated, "There's a ship! It could be the Scrapyard Pirates!"

Freyja clicked her tongue, muttering, "Gross..." Letting out a sigh, she threw her cards down before letting out a yawn. "Better give it a look," she stated as she stood, grabbing her coat from behind her and throwing it over her V-neck shirt and slack gray pants, blades at her hip. One thin, the tip practically touching the ground from its length, and one wide, the hilt shaped like a scaly curled tail and seeming to twitch at the movement.

---

Going from the dank and mildewy hold to the fresh salty spray of the sea air as another thunderclap rang out, sending a wave of water to the deck as the warship rocked lightly. "Evasive action? Smart. Or whoever's attacking us is shit at adjusting their aim." Seeing some men fumbling with cannons, Freyja called, "Double time on those!" without making a move herself. She spotted the Scrapyard Pirate flag: a mishappen metallic skull with sharp teeth dripping black oil into the background of the sail, dark clouds of billowing smoke trailing behind the ship, dancing in front of the sun and casting shadows on the patrol division. The cannons were just a formality: against any crew of note in the New World, they were an annoyance at best...

One Piece: Brave New World

Awesome, i think a zoan fruit would work well, the idea being he became a cyborg after he ate the DF and the robotic components were crafted to shift with him? or just a normal paramecia that works on his still remaining human parts?

@Vetis

I don't think the robotic components would shift with a Zoan completely. Like, a robot arm wouldn't turn into a robot wing just because the user became a bird. It might shift position slightly to match but it wouldn't outright change unless it was built for it, and more advanced cybernetics would require more effort to justify through the rest of the sheet, but that's up to you.

One Piece: Brave New World

Still waiting on more of them sheets!

One Piece; Brave New World

OOC is up!

One Piece: Brave New World

Vice-Admiral Freyja

Freyja

| B I R T H N A M E: | Freyja

| E P I T H E T H: | "Tranquil" Freyja, "Loafer" Freyja

| R A C E: | Human

| A G E: | 34

| F U N C T I O N: | Vice-Admiral, Commanding Officer of G5's 2nd Patrol Unit

| A P P E A R A N C E: | While the picture above might display Freyja relaxing after a training session, she generally goes about in a turquoise V-neck with slightly loose gray pants that hang to her shin, all under her often worn Justice coat, if not something similarly casual. When it comes to appearances, she has a dark green suit with a black tie that's more fitting of the Vice-Admiral position she holds.

| P E R S O N A L I T Y: | Once full of a youthful bluster and passion, Freyja is more like a burned out husk these days. She seems more engaged in gambling away her excess earnings or checking out the local eateries than actually performing justice. Her patrols are whimsical, and her direction is easily swayed by the suggestions of her subordinates. Though she only barely meets her quotas, she'd never been assigned an objective she'd failed to meet until being sent to G5. And, despite rumors sprouted from her unseemly nature, no division of hers has yet to fail an inspection, surprise or otherwise.

| A B I L I T I E S: | Freyja is incredibly capable in both Observation and Armament Haki. She carries two swords but only fights with one at a time, having amazing precision and dexterity, backed by a scary amount of raw strength. Her movements are often subtle and deliberate: it's said that she could cut a straw, and the deed wouldn't be noticed until it fell off when someone went to drink.

| S K I L L S: | Though her lax nature makes her skills harder to discern than they should be, Freyja is the type of person who works best when pushed into a corner. She can boast a commanding voice, and she's rather sharp, having the sense to come up with decent ideas and plans on the fly. Call it good direction, as she also has a sense for navigation. Though her best skill of all may be her ability for bullshittery: most of her reputation comes from the reports of men who worked under her. To many of her superiors, she's only ever been a regular, stand up Marine.

| B I O G R A P H Y: | "For Justice!"

For so many of her years, that simple mantra was Freyja's code. Her meaning. Her way of life. It wasn't something she could put into words, and while her attempts satisfied whoever wanted to know, it never satisfied her. But if she couldn't put 'Justice' into words then it would have to be actions. She trained in combat and naval scholarly reading, often holding a book as she did simple exercises. Her diet was bland but efficient. She even got training from some local veterans, who were impressed with her diligence. By the time she was 16 she'd been admitted into Officer Academy, graduating one year early at age 19 as an Ensign. Promotions quickly shot her through the ranks, and she was eventually assigned to the Grand Line.

And that's where things began to change. As Freya was being challenged by stronger pirates, not even her actions seemed to be doing her ill-defined mantra the justification she felt it might deserved. Then, after a nasty strike cut her from cheek to shoulder, she spent much of her medbay visit wondering 'why'? She'd seen 'pirates' who fought for their families with as much fervor as Freyja ever had, and she'd seen Marines engage in dealings that would make the average thief blush. Freya had been helpless when it came to trying to put Justice in to words or actions, but now she couldn't even figure out what it felt like. What finally broke her was a sad incident where she engaged with a pirate crew that had been responsible for some great atrocities, and upon battling with their captain, she discovered that he was a Marine, acting undercover in a mission that seemed bafflingly poor in its planning. Some of the supposed atrocities were faked, but not all, yet the Marine still got off scot free.

At this point, Rear Admiral Freyja already had enough of an income to support herself and her now distant family, so her leadership became sluggish, her actions achieving the bare minimum. With her crew getting discontent, having been used to the more active leader she once was, she was reassigned. Then again, and again. Yet, despite her more reserved nature being ideal for base watching duty, when she met with superiority, she did so with the gusto she once had yet didn't display to her men, insisting that she be in a patrol division despite her lack of affinity. After some time of this, she was finally given what she wanted in an environment where no one would complain more than usual, as she was given a promotion and assigned to G5. And so she's commanded a patrol ship there for some months, her desire for relaxation becoming a struggle against the nature of that ocean so unfriendly to the brave and bold Marines.

| M I S C. N O T E S: | Freyja is in possession of two swords. Her most balanced one is Taranzia. The Skillful Grade sword is a rather long shirasaya with a white hilt and scabbard, the blade within being curved slightly at the end, the edge bitterly cutting. It has gotten Freyja through all too many fights.

Her other sword is a bit more...moody. G'nash is a heftly dadao (the same type of sword that Johnny and Yosaku use), the machete like blade looking odd when paired with Taranzia, the scale patterned hilt looping around for a grip like that of a cutlass. It's moodiness comes from that fact that it is also a crocodile. G'nash was looted from a pirate after having before been fed a Devil Fruit, the Croc Croc Fruit, allowing it to change into fat, 15 foot long man eater of a beast. Freyja's quite fond of him, though most wouldn't find him endearing unless you put aside the long maw of razor sharp teeth, blood red scales, and hard green eyes that look like gemstones without the sheen of a soul. Usually, the beast is lazy, like its current master, the two often lounging in the sun together. But when riled up, it likes to snap at whatever it feels like, usually trying to eat Freyja (and never getting close), and having wounded a few of her men in the past. However, she has also been able to weaponize this on a good day, using his transforming abilities in combat to increase her range and leathality. G'nash's half form possesses sharper teeth, front claws, and three blades running across the top of its long muzzle.