“Wow! Quite the bumpy ride we’re havin’, huh?” Dana asked with a giggle as she tightly grasped her cup. She was perhaps a little nervous, but she had confidence that their vessel’s sturdy construction would safely see them through to their destination.
Victoria swiftly departed as soon as the shaking subsided, leaving the five of them on their own. Penny was the first to break the short silence that followed, asking about their thoughts on becoming Ars Magi.
“I’m really lookin’ forward to it!” Dana announced with a big grin. “I think it’s gonna be really exciting and fun! And the best part is, once we’ve graduated, we’ll be able to help so many people with our new powers!”
Her grin broadened when Penny mentioned Divine Magical Maid Altea.
“So you like Altea, too, huh? My sisters were big fans of that show,” she explained, “so I ended up seein' a lot of episodes with them, but I kinda preferred Beautiful Guardian Gunslinger Alexis myself.”
“Golly wolly~!” MDP exclaimed after FanFan had introduced herself. “Your namey wamey is, like, sooo super duper cute~! (giggle!) And, like, Magical Dream Princess would just wuv to have a tea party with her new friends~! Oh~! And don’t you worry~!” she added after Leena had told her the most important thing to remember about the upcoming mission. “Magical Dream Princes knows that taking care of Mariettey Wettey is, like, totally wotally the most important wortant thingie wingie~! You can, like, totally wotally trust her on that~! (giggle!)”
Connie watched quietly, while MDP chatted away with the Beacon girls. She was still very nervous, but she did her best to stay calm and focused on the reason she was doing this. Her friend needed help, and several girls needed saving from a horror. If she could assist in any way, then she was going to do so, regardless of how much the situation terrified her. That said, she made especially sure to keep the glass side of her broken mirror facing away from her as she stored it within the folds of her robe. After all, even a broken mirror could still show your reflection…
Connie gulped when Ronin explained that it was certain that a trap would be waiting for them. She only hoped what Leena had said about being able to nullify them was true. After that, it was time to depart.
“Ready, little sister?” Gaia asked as she placed a comforting hand atop Connie’s.
“Y-Yeah, Mia,” she replied with as much confidence as she could muster. “L-Let’s do this!”
The next moment, they were transported into what seemed to be a featureless, black void.
“Golly wolly~!” MDP exclaimed. “It’s so dark and icky wicky in heresie~!”
“Y-Yeah…” Connie replied softly.
The masked girl couldn’t help but cling to Gaia, her nervous body beginning to tremble. No sooner had they entered than a voice that could only belong to Mariette addressed them. Alicia and Mariette went on to exchange a few words, before the latter informed them that they had arrived in the aptly named Void Room, a place where she sacrificed things to her Patron… Connie was on the verge of a panic attack, when Mariette activated a wind trap. Fortunately, Connie, Gaia, and MDP had chosen mirrors, instead of candles, but Ronin wasn’t as lucky. Although she really didn’t seem to care about that at the moment, as a bigger problem had made its appearance... Wasting no time, the small samurai had created a barrier platform, upon which Connie and Gaia soon joined her.
“W-What are those things?!” Connie cried in alarm as she used her own tentacles to fend of the ones emerging from the floor.
“They’re super duper icky wicky~!” MDP added as she blasted them with rainbow beams of sparkly energy from her wand. Having conjured a sparkly pink cloud for herself, the childish magical girl was now zooming around the void room, blasting the dark hands and tentacles as she went.
Ronin then mentioned that they needed to escape, and fast, something that seemed rather obvious, as far as Gaia was concerned.
“That certainly seems the most advisable course of action,” the verdant magical girl agreed, while firing a beam of emerald energy at one of the nearby tentacles. “Perhaps our space-warping ally can be of some assistance in that regard?” she asked, while directing her gaze to Tenebra.
As Steph continued to observe from her hiding place, her attention was drawn to the sky, where what appeared to be a harpy was also taking note of the battle. Based upon the creature’s screeches, it was very much in favor of beasts, and by the looks of the local terrain, chances were that it was the one who had brought them here. She was momentarily taken aback when a spike of mountain blasted out from one of the buildings, impaling a beast attempting to claw its way inside. It appeared the villagers did have a protector of some kind after all. Even so, Steph knew that they would need help if they wished to fend off this attack, especially with that harpy circling overhead…
While this was transpiring, Steph’s nanites had returned from their search and informed her that while there were indeed numerous sources of metal from which to craft a weapon, she would have to venture out from her hiding place to make use of it. That didn’t seem like a good idea, and even if she could somehow escape notice, she doubted a simple sword would be all that effective against these creatures, especially a flying opponent, like the harpy. There had to be another option, something closer…
It was then that Steph remembered the cryostasis chamber. It was easily the most advanced thing here and she certainly had easy access to it. Her nanite swarm was only programmed to manipulate metal, but if anyone could modify its programming, it was Steph. After all, she had reprogrammed her first robot at the age of five. Reprogramming the nanites to reassemble the cryochamber into a weapon was well within her capabilities. After hastily tapping away on a holographic display, Steph was ready to let the cloud of tiny machines go to work. After only thirty seconds, it was complete- a cryostasis rifle. It would only be good for five shots, six at most, but Steph knew that if she could make those shots count, then the village would surely be saved.
Once more taking up position at the pagoda’s entrance, Steph waited patiently for the harpy to come into view. Once the creature had done so, she placed her finger on the trigger, took careful aim…
“Oh, uh, for about a year, I guess,” Dana replied to Victoria’s question. “It’s really not all that amazing, though,” she added with a sheepish grin, feeling a little embarrassed by Penny’s astonishment at her abilities. “I mean, I haven’t exactly ‘mastered’ anything yet. I can only patch up minor injuries and stuff. So, yeah,” she finished with a nervous giggle. “Nothin’ really special…”
“But those lighting powers of yours are pretty sweet!” she told Penny, hoping to take the focus off of herself for a bit. “And don’t worry! I’m sure once you get your Ars Armgaus and learn to better control your abilities, you’ll be able to do all kinds of cool stuff!”
Sirens blared, warning lights flashed, and, even this far below ground, the hardened complex shook violently.
“Hurry, Stephanie!” her father implored urgently as they ran down the shuddering corridors. “We don’t have much time!”
Stephanie had never seen her parents look so frightened before, and that sight scared her far more than any other aspect of the cataclysm raging around them. It had all happened so fast… One moment, she had been working in one of the labs, the next, and the entire complex had exploded into complete pandemonium. Dozens of voices chattered at once, adding to the already cacophonous wailing of the alarms. Someone had said that Harbinger had gone insane and was now attacking the planet it had been created to protect. Others relayed reports of thermonuclear strikes, supervolcanic eruptions, and the formation of massive hypercanes all across the world. Stephanie had struggled to keep up with the rapid flow of information, even as her parents spirited her away to the deepest, most secure recesses of the complex. What happened next was a blur of hastily applied genetic enhancements and cybernetic augmentation, after which Steph found herself before a prototype cryostasis chamber.
“Get in, Steph,” her father instructed. “Quickly, now! There’s not a moment to lose!”
“W-What’s going on, Dad?!” Steph asked, her shaky voice filled with a mixture of fear and confusion. “W-What even is all this?! A-And, what about you and Mom?!”
“I’m sorry sweetie,” her mother apologized as she helped her into the chamber. “There’s no time to explain, but I promise that we’ll tell you everything when you wake up.”
Steph could see that her mother was trying her best to sound reassuring, but she couldn’t hide the tears in her eyes.
“Y-You mean you and Dad also have cryochambers? B-But, I only saw this one… Where…?”
“Just trust us,” her father told her with an encouraging smile. “I promise you that everything will be okay.”
He was crying, too.
Steph was beginning to feel increasingly frantic now.
“Mom, Dad, please!” she pleaded, tears streaming down her own cheeks. “I-I don’t want to do this! I-If we stay together, m-maybe we can work this out, fix whatever’s wrong with—”
“I’m sorry, Steph,” her father said softly. “This is the only way.”
“We love you, sweetie,” her mother sobbed as the chamber was sealed.
“Mom!” Steph cried out as the cryostasis system activated.
Steph awoke feeling groggy and disoriented. The last thing she remembered was her parents, her mother saying that she loved her. And then….
“Mom!” Steph tried to call out, but her throat was so dry that her attempt came out as a hoarse croak. Needless to say, there was no answer. In fact, the chamber had yet to even open. She felt a pang of fear at the thought that she might be trapped inside her chamber, with no chance of escape, doomed to die a slow death by starvation, but her attention soon refocused on the faint, almost musical voice calling out to her. Calling her name. Telling her to wake up.
“Mom…?” she inquired uncertainly, her voice slowly beginning to return.
No, this wasn’t her mother. The voice belonged to what appeared to be a holographic fairy. The fairy introduced itself as Asra, said it was sorry, that there was no time, and then… Nothing.
Was she simply imagining things?
Everyone’s sorry… Steph reflected bitterly. And there never seems to be enough time…
She heard a hissing sound, and her attention was drawn to her pod’s lid, which was now slowly beginning to open. Once it had done so, Steph carefully stepped out and took a moment to get her bearings. To her shock, the room she found herself in was not the most secure lab of an ultra advanced underground complex, but an ancient pagoda-like structure. No one seemed to be present, and there were no signs of advanced technology anywhere. Well, aside from her cryochamber, of course.
Looking back at the now horribly out-of-place device, Steph was momentarily startled as a cloud of nanites emerged from an opening on the side of the machine. The cloud rapidly coalesced into a form-fitting suit, which glowed with streaks of neon, much like her current outfit. Stepping up to it, she allowed the suit to mold itself to her body, the nanofluidic garment feeling like a second skin. After a moment, the suit formed a small holoprojector on her wrist, which promptly activated, displaying an image of her parents.
“Dearest Stephanie,” her father began. “It is our sincerest hope that we will be able to explain all this to you in person when you wake, but in the event that we are not, we have recorded this message.”
“Please try to understand, Stephanie,” her mother continued. “Your cryochamber was the only one in full operational status at the time, and we needed to use it to ensure your survival. Our own pods should be ready soon, and, if at all possible, we’ll use them to join you. But, if not…”
“We never wanted to leave you alone, Steph,” her father told her firmly. “But you needed to survive. You are one of the few who are capable of restoring the world to its former glory. We have no idea what condition the world will be in when you awake, so to aid you we have enclosed this suit of nanofluidic armor in your pod. It will supplement the increased vitality and protection provided by your genetic enhancement, as well as allow you to camouflage yourself in order to better fit in with those you encounter. Your cybernetic implants should already provide you with full knowledge of your enhanced body’s various abilities, as well as those of the nanite swarm the implant allows you to control. Of course, the complex also contains a supply of weapons and useful equipment, but there’s no guarantee any of that will be available to you when you wake.”
“E-Even if we can’t be with you, there are others who were placed in cryostasis just as you were,” her mother told her between sobs. “Try to find them. They’ll help you in rebuilding our world.”
“We know you can do this, Steph,” her father assured her. “You are a true gift to this world, and we are so very proud of you.”
“We love you, Steph!” her mother called out as the image began to flicker. “Never forget that!”
Steph felt a tear roll down her cheek as the image faded away.
So her parents were really gone. Or, at least, had been moved elsewhere. She felt a small glimmer of hope at that thought, but she forced herself to clamp down on it. She needed to focus on her present situation. She was alone, in a strange structure, with no idea of how long she had slept. The first thing she needed to do was acquire some information, and for that, she needed to find someone to provide it. Making her way to the structure’s entrance, Steph was momentarily left breathless at the sight that greeted her.
"Where am I...?"
Arrayed below her was a rather primitive village, seemingly located high up in the mountains. But that wasn’t the most shocking thing. The village seemed to be under attack by a number of monstrous beasts. Steph had never seen anything like them before, and it appeared that they were far more than the village’s inhabitants could hope to handle. Steph knew that with her enhanced physical abilities she was the best hope the villagers had of fending off the beasts, but she was understandably hesitant to rush into things. She was still a little disoriented from being in cryostasis, and even with her increased physical prowess, she was still only one person. Could she really hope to take on all these creatures and win? Escape seemed the most logical option, but she needed answers, and she didn’t want the death of an entire village on her conscience. Not if there was a chance that she could help save it.
But how to go about doing that? For now, she resolved to simply observe, intently studying the creatures and trying to discern any potential weaknesses. Meanwhile, she instructed her suit to adopt the appearance of a typical villager’s attire, while instructing her nanite swarm to locate some nearby sources of metal to form into a weapon.
There really wasn’t any other way to describe it. For the first time in her life, Dana was aboard an airship, and an exceptionally cool one at that! She had always known this was going to be the adventure of a lifetime, but it hadn’t really sunk in just how amazing that adventure would be, until she was watching the monolithic spires of Norba dwindle away, before dark clouds of Nox blotted out her view. She had been somewhat disappointed that she couldn’t meet any of her fellow students, but just being aboard an airship took her mind off of that minor setback (although she still hoped none of the others were feeling lonely or homesick...). For one thing, the food was quite delicious, even if she did have to eat it alone. Her cabin may have been small, but Dana liked to think of it as cozy. And nothing could beat the view…
Shortly after boarding the Laurus, Dana had discovered that she had been lucky enough to get one of the cabins with a larger-than average viewport. The world’s surface may have been lost to humanity, but, for the most part, the skies were immune to the Nox’s malign influence, and Dana had passed the many long hours of her journey to Palmyra gazing out at the majestic cloudscapes. She had always had an active imagination, and she now employed it to visualize all kinds of fantastic stories playing out across the ever-changing skies through which she traveled. Depending on the weather and time of day, the various cloud formations could be imposing and fearsome slate grey fortresses, assailed by fleets of swiftly moving silver airships, while at other times, they might resemble fields of fluffy white cotton, upon which dozens of wispy creatures bounced and frolicked in blissful contentment. Heroes, monsters, strange vehicles, and impossible structures, all made their appearance at some point during the journey, and Dana found the stories the skies inspired easily equaled anything she had read about, or seen on television.
Eager to get an even better view, Dana had repeatedly asked the crew if she could be allowed out on the ship’s balcony, hoping that perhaps she might encounter some of the other passengers in the process. Sadly, everyone she spoke to refused to grant her request, but that didn’t stop the cheerfully persistent girl from continuing to ask. She also asked about the ship itself, but those questions often went unanswered as well. Not that she was particularly offended by the crew’s gruff and taciturn demeanor, of course. She just wished they could be a bit more personable, that was all. Finally, just as Dana was beginning to feel the pangs of loneliness herself, there was a knock on the door. Opening it, she was met by a crewman who informed her that their host had requested her presence.
Jumping at the chance to meet a potential new friend (or several), Dana followed the man as he led her to one of the airship’s larger chambers. Upon stepping inside, she was greeted by the sight of four girls around her own age, seated at a small table. They all seemed friendly enough at first glance, (even the more aloof, aristocratic-looking pair) and Dana couldn’t wait to get acquainted with each of them. Also in attendance was their host, who promptly introduced herself as Victoria Glass. She also seemed quite friendly, Dana noted, if a little on the serious side. It was also pretty awesome that she was a member of the Wings of Justice, too, and Dana couldn’t wait to talk with her. The table they were gathered around boasted a small collection of drinks, sandwiches, and snacks. After permission had been granted, Dana took a plate and filled it with a sample of each of the various offerings, before gabbing a glass of ice tea and taking her seat. Then it was time for introductions.
The redhead started things off, introducing herself as Nicole Cognoscenti, from Hasta. If Dana remembered her geography correctly, that was one of the Venus cities, located near where the old world city of Paris had once been. Nicole then kindly offered to take them all shopping at some point, and while Dana had never been particularly crazy about that sorta thing, she still looked forward to the opportunity such a trip would present for socializing, and she gave the redhead a big grin and a thumbs up.
Next up was a bespectacled girl who looked rather nervous. Dana gave her what she hoped was a reassuring smile as the girl told them that she was Penny Grenoble, from Siscia. That city was on the same continent as Norba, Dana reflected, albeit in the sphere of a different house. That meant that, so far, she was from the city closest to Dana’s home, and the idealistic girl hoped that the two of them could share a particularly close friendship because of it. The chance to initiate that process soon presented itself, when Penny accidently smashed her forehead into the table.
“Yikes! Are you okay?” Dana asked as she got up and made her way over to where the bespectacled girl was rubbing her head. “Here,” Dana offered, placing a hand over the girl’s forehead. “Let me help ya with that.” A soft golden glow began to emanate from Dana’s palm, and within moments, Penny would feel her pain begin to fade away. “That feel better?” she asked, giving Penny a friendly smile.
Around this time, another girl introduced herself, the raven-haired Astrelle Lennox. Then, it was Dana’s turn…
“Hiya, guys! I’m Dana Noel, from Norba City!” she began exuberantly, giving them all a cheery smile. “It’s really nice to meet ya, and I hope we can all become great friends!”
Steph is an average looking fifteen-year-old girl, if a bit on the small side. She has short, black hair and piercing blue eyes.
Personality:
Steph is usually quiet and soft-spoken, preferring to silently observe a situation, rather than impetuously rush into the unknown, a trait that should serve her well in her current circumstances. When it comes to her areas of interest (science/technology/learning about the stranger facets of her new world), she can get very intense and focused. She is also quite inquisitive, but she never allows her fascination with something to compromise her sense of caution. She has always loved computers, robotics and technology in general, and is very skilled when it comes to working with it. Naturally, she is very distressed by the current, primitive, state of the world. She is very much a fish out of temporal water, and this has a major impact on how she views the world and interacts with its inhabitants.
History:
The brilliant daughter of two equally brilliant scientists, Stephanie’s genius was recognized at an early age, and by the time she turned fifteen, she already had her first doctorate. She routinely assisted her renowned parents with their work, and was well on her way to becoming one of the world’s brightest minds. Unfortunately, that world would soon come to a cataclysmic end… As the world of science and progress crumbled around her, Stephanie’s parents hastily worked to ensure her survival. She was given a series of highly experimental genetic enhancements, coupled with an equally experimental cybernetic nanotech control system, and placed in a cryonic stasis chamber. Since their facility was located deep underground, and hardened against even the strongest forms of attack, her parents hoped that she would be safe until the world was once again hospitable to human life. Promising Steph that they would join her in stasis shortly, her parents sealed her chamber and hoped for the best.
Abilities:
Enhanced Physical Attributes- Besides her genius-level intellect, Steph has received extensive genetic enhancement, making her stronger, faster, and more resilient than a normal human. Her senses are also much more acute.
Nanite Swarm- In addition, she has access to a small swarm of nanites, which she can control with the use of a cybernetic implant. These nanomachines are limited to performing minor to moderate healing on herself or others (only one person at a time), as well as providing information and manipulating anything made of metal (although in the future, they may be able to expand their capabilities further). The inhabitants of this backwards time will probably consider this to be magic.
Equipment:
Steph was sealed in her cryochamber with nothing other than the pictured outfit.
There was a rather large supply of advanced weapons and survival equipment at the complex in which Steph’s cryo chamber is located, but the state of them after the indeterminately long amount of time she has been asleep is anyone’s guess…
Steph has also acquired a suit of nanofluidic armor that can disguise itself to match the clothing of anyone nearby.
Steph used her nanites to convert much of her cryostasis chamber into a cryostasis rifle, then a sword, and, currently, a liquid metal backpack.
Steph was given the Earth Sword by Minoc.
RP Notes:
Steph's story is one of coming to terms with her new world and finding her place in it. She is (at least initally) completely alone in what seems to her like a primitive, alien world. At first, she is understandably overwhelmed by her situation, seeing the inhabitants of this new world as little more than backwards savages, but as she begins to learn more, she starts seeing them in a better light, and eventually comes to greatly respect them and the civilization they have built.
While at the start, she might look down on the People of the Realm, she doen't do this out of hatred, but out of a mixture of pity and dissapointment. She hates the fact that the world is so primitive, and wants to do her part to restore at least some of the technology of her original time. Despite this unintentional air of suprioirity, Steph is still a kind person at heart, and one who is always willing to help others.
Steph is an average looking fifteen-year-old girl, if a bit on the small side. She has short, black hair and piercing blue eyes.
Personality:
Steph is usually quiet and soft-spoken, preferring to silently observe a situation, rather than impetuously rush into the unknown, a trait that should serve her well in her current circumstances. When it comes to her areas of interest (science/technology/learning about the stranger facets of her new world), she can get very intense and focused. She is also quite inquisitive, but she never allows her fascination with something to compromise her sense of caution. She has always loved computers, robotics and technology in general, and is very skilled when it comes to working with it. Naturally, she is very distressed by the current, primitive, state of the world. She is very much a fish out of temporal water, and this has a major impact on how she views the world and interacts with its inhabitants.
History:
The brilliant daughter of two equally brilliant scientists, Stephanie’s genius was recognized at an early age, and by the time she turned fifteen, she already had her first doctorate. She routinely assisted her renowned parents with their work, and was well on her way to becoming one of the world’s brightest minds. Unfortunately, that world would soon come to a cataclysmic end… As the world of science and progress crumbled around her, Stephanie’s parents hastily worked to ensure her survival. She was given a series of highly experimental genetic enhancements, coupled with an equally experimental cybernetic nanotech control system, and placed in a cryonic stasis chamber. Since their facility was located deep underground, and hardened against even the strongest forms of attack, her parents hoped that she would be safe until the world was once again hospitable to human life. Promising Steph that they would join her in stasis shortly, her parents sealed her chamber and hoped for the best.
Abilities:
Enhanced Physical Attributes- Besides her genius-level intellect, Steph has received extensive genetic enhancement, making her stronger, faster, and more resilient than a normal human. Her senses are also much more acute.
Nanite Swarm- In addition, she has access to a small swarm of nanites, which she can control with the use of a cybernetic implant. These nanomachines are limited to performing minor to moderate healing on herself or others (only one person at a time), as well as providing information and manipulating anything made of metal (although in the future, they may be able to expand their capabilities further). The inhabitants of this backwards time will probably consider this to be magic.
Equipment:
Steph was sealed in her cryochamber with nothing other than the pictured outfit.
There was a rather large supply of advanced weapons and survival equipment at the complex in which Steph’s cryo chamber is located, but the state of them after the indeterminately long amount of time she has been asleep is anyone’s guess…
RP Notes:
Steph's story is one of coming to terms with her new world and finding her place in it. She is (at least initally) completely alone in what seems to her like a primitive, alien world. At first, she is understandably overwhelmed by her situation, seeing the inhabitants of this new world as little more than backwards savages, but as she begins to learn more, she starts seeing them in a better light, and eventually comes to greatly respect them and the civilization they have built.
While at the start, she might look down on the People of the Realm, she doen't do this out of hatred, but out of a mixture of pity and dissapointment. She hates the fact that the world is so primitive, and wants to do her part to restore at least some of the technology of her original time. Despite this unintentional air of suprioirity, Steph is still a kind person at heart, and one who is always willing to help others.
FaithfulMuse
The World
Majoraa
twave
CitrusArms
Shinny
Lime
Villamvihar
Shadow Dragon
