Romero

Pro Patria Mori - A Tale of Sailships and Muskets (Still Recruiting)

"If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs, obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud. Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues, my friend, you would not tell with such high zest to children ardent for some desperate glory, the old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est Pro patria mori." -Wilfred Owen

Summer of 1800

2nd of April

It's people angry, and rightly so, The Redcliff Empire, under the personal request of King Marino, slashes the nation's tax rate's back down to their original rates. While some view this as attempting to paper over cracks already too wide, for the majority, it is a very welcome change. For now, the riots that had been consuming Redcliff like a wildfire draw to a cautious pause, the population watching King Marino's actions carefully. What they have seen so far, they begrudgingly approve of.

4th of April

After it's peace with The Echyan Empire, the war surrounding The Redcliff Empire draws to a close. The Conference, albeit of course absent of a Redcliff representative, convenes once more, and the concerned nations agree to withdraw their forces. Around the provinces of Centrix, Salid and Resdian, there is still some doubt, but for now, the war is over. The fleet of The Three City's Republic of Ianian makes it's return journey, the soldiers of The Akkadian Empire willingly following their allies and abandoning their siege of Avedua.

5th of April

The amassed fleet of The Empire of Attolia and The Three City's Republic of Ianian, under the de facto leadership of the Attolian Admiral Topi Valtonen, reach the waters in which the original expedition first encountered The Shuren Dynasty. Admiral Valtonen has a burning vengeance in his heart, remembering all too well the men that died under his watch, but the Shuren forces have had months to prepare, and they have not been idle. A huge fleet of 'war-junks', the ships of the Dynasty, sails out to meet their European counterparts. But the lightly armed and sluggish junks are poorly matched, and the superior strength and firepower of the Ships of War, and of the Frigates, tears apart the more rudimentary ships. The ships of the Shuren Dynasty hastily retreat, and the Attolia-Ianian fleet returns to the friendly harbors of The Jinje Kingdom, in high spirits after their easy victory, and awaiting further orders.

10th of April

With it's full military might returned home, The Redcliff Empire begins a long, and laborious re-modelling of it's armies. With the threat of war temporarily alleviated, it has become all too apparent that the Redcliff army, while an immensely powerful weapon, is cumbersome and, more importantly, almost unbearably expensive. What follows is a rigorous 'cutting of the fat'. Huge swathes of the army are released, allowed to return home and live out the rest of their days on pensions provided to them. Only a hardened, and formidable core of regulars remain, with thousands more placed in 'reserve', in case war should trouble Redcliff again. For now though, the budget required for the Empire's armies plummets.

13th of April

Although slightly bloodied, the soldiers of The Akkadian Empire are in fine spirits as they return home. Perhaps growing over-confident due to their own new alliance, old tensions flare up along the Akkadian border with The Republic of Oflua and, in turn, The Kingdom of Ilastiri. Armies begin the well-used pattern of increasingly scaled patrols along the border, and as has already happened several times across Europe, war becomes an increasing possibility.

17th of April

The force of The Kingdom of Ubren, fresh from conquering Inversen, and enjoying the current respite from the naval cannons of The Kingdom of Aontas, does not waste time. They begin the march north, their sights clearly set of the city of Hjorth. Unsurprisingly, the fleet of Aontas follows them, sailing north to defend their city.

18th of April

The Attolian East Asia Trading Company is born in the colonies of The Empire of Attolia. Unlike anything that had been seen before, the Company takes its Imperial Charter and quickly puts it to full use. The powerful, and wealthy, shareholders of the company, are wary of the unrest in the region, and dockyards, purchased by the Company, begin the construction of a private navy.

21st of April

The army of The Eternal Hadeen of Dashkatar pushes onwards, ever onwards. The city of Hodov is garrisoned by a tiny fraction of the forces that Dashkatar possesses, and their morale is badly broken by the death of their king, and the falling of their capital. None expect Hodov to hold, and if the capital province falls, then The Kingdom of Sescos will be forced to surrender. And so, Dashkatar continues it's march.

26th of April

The fleet of The Echyan Empire continues to hound and harass the fleet of The Eternal Hadeen of Dashkatar, trapping them in the Nalci Strait. Under the cover of darkness, or seizing the slightest opportunity, the Echyan ships carry out daring raids against Dashkatar, both her ships, and her ports. As the Dashkatar army continues to rampage almost unimpeded, these are the closest actions to victory in the ongoing Dashkatar war. Even with them, the balance is quickly swinging in Dashkatar's favor.

29th of April

The siege of Batko continues to drag on, both nations tentative to act as they await the actions of their allies. They also delay the movements of their other forces, aside from The Kingdom of Claidor moving forces to sit in reserve, ready to come to support the garrison of Batko if the siege escalates. For The Kingdom of Vendsyssel, they call out for the aid of The Kingdom of Aontas, all too aware that their only allies are fighting a war of their own.

30th of April

The army of The Kingdom of Ubren reaches the walls of Hjorth. Again, the force of Ubren hugely outnumbers The Kingdom of Aontas garrison, but also again, the fleet of Aontas arrives with it's cannons, and begins to bombard the besieging army. The Ubren army engages the same tactics, digging trenches and tunneling beneath the cities defences, but the cannons of the Aontas ships still take a bloody toll.

🦄 Machiavellian Masquerade - Chapter 1

Justice Cobalt

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Location:Grand Vestibule (B7)
Skills: N/A
Hit Points: 6
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Cobalt's eyes followed the, he assumed, butler as he turned to the grand doors at his back. He heard the heavy click of a lock falling into place as the front doors were thrown closed, but he didn't look away from the doors that led further into the house. The tension he could feel in the air was almost electric, as if everyone was holding their breath, for all he knew they were. The man that finally stepped through the door was impeccably dressed, almost surreally so, as Cobalt had never seen fabric so little-worn other than clothing freshly-made. Cobalt almost found himself distracted by the clothing, the richness of the black and the sharpness of the crimson, as the man leafed through the invitations, but his voice rung like a bell across the room, shattering Cobalt's focus.

The man continued to speak, but the words were like a blur, as Cobalt felt every muscle in his body tense. He had foolishly thought that an escape from the guns and the dogs and the cold would offer some respite, but he was wrong. He was reminded of a fairly charming saying he had heard once that seemed perfect for their current situation. Out of the frying pan, and into the fire.

With the situation made crystal clear, and the threat all too real considering their experiences of the evening already, Cobalt's body was rigid. For not at least, the inviting form of Mauve at his shoulder was largely forgotten, his eyes leveled at the Lord of the Manor. The night had taken a turn, and the majestic walls and furniture of the house suddenly had taken on a sour note, the warm air a bitter taste. A cold sweat clung to his skin beneath his shirt, but he ignored it. He could hear several of the other guests quickly affirming their agreement, and Cobalt was not about to be the one who didn't. Speaking as clearly as he could, Cobalt spoke.

"Of course, my Lord. Perfectly understood"

MEGACORP [Cyberpunk Faction/Nation RP]

Phoenix Rising Entertainment

"Don't Settle for One Reality"

The System 1 had flown from the virtual shelves, grabbed by the consumers across East Asia like the hungry would snatch at a morsel of bread. But that hardly came as a surprise to Sakuma Katsumoto. This first wave had only been a glimpse, a taster to stir demand into a frenzy. He knew all too well that demand bred demand, and those who had missed the first wave of the System 1 were only more desperate for it now. And Sakuma would be all too happy to provide, already millions of them were being shipped, far and wide. It would offer a faint glimmer of hope, of joy, against the suffocating smog that filled the air and leaked into the lungs, the shadows that never left the streets, and the blaring of engines that drowned out even the memory of birdsong.

A perfectly white, crisp, paper envelope, resting on his desk caught Sakuma's and he reached for it, wincing slightly as he leaned forward. His hands closed around it, shaking slightly, and he opened it, pulling the small, plain note-card from within. His eyes took a moment to focus, and he read the short paragraph scrawled across the paper. A smile crept across his face as he read. Undoubtedly an asset, but not for now. Placing the note-card back into the envelope, he placed it in a drawer of his desk, before reaching for the headset again, already yearning for the escape.

🦄 Soulless Regency - Merged With T.S.

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William Fraser

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Location: Port Annan
Skills: Seduction (Court) and Seduction (Street)

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William's face was a smiling mask as his eyes moved across the members of the small group. The lady, Millicent, was clearly jumpy, although whether that was due to her supposed sickness, a weak temperament or something more... sinister, William couldn't be sure. Egerton seemed like a fool, too eager to please, and William dismissed him from his focus, at least for now.

It was Rutherford that seized William's attention. He was a man of contradictions himself, so he was all too familiar with the clashing of emotions that flickered across Rutherford's face in an instant. There was a darkness, and a cruelness to the man, but there was love there, or at least tenderness for Millicent. His offer to attend their wedding had a duel purpose. He certainly relished the opportunity to perform, but something un-nerved him about this pairing, and some half-forgotten emotion of empathy and chivalry stirred within his heart. The bruises he could glimpse across Millicent's arms and face only further cemented his decision as he waited for Rutherford's response.

MEGACORP [Cyberpunk Faction/Nation RP]

Phoenix Rising Entertainment

"Don't Settle for One Reality"

The System 1 was the pinnacle of everything Sakuma Katsumoto had dreamed of since he was a child, decades before, but as he pulled the headset from his face, blinking slightly against the bright lights of his office, his dreams only got more fantastical. Despite the smile playing across his face, the adrenaline pumping through his veins, some part of his dream alluded him. Just moments before, he had been walking in the shade of forests, listening to the calls of species long extinct, before that he had been fighting in the pouring rain against a warrior whose armour and weapon had seemed as real to him as the desk in front of him now. The System 1 didn't just offer a second reality, it offered thousands of them, but thousands weren't enough, not for Sakuma, not for his vision.

While other's pedaled drugs, or weapons, Phoenix offered dreams, memories of a time before the skies clouded over, before greed became the only emotion people could feel. Pressing the intercom button inset into the arm of his chair, Sakuma spoke softly, and the reply came quickly. He smiled again, turning his chair so he could look out over the glittering lights of Tokyo, spread out beneath his office like an outlandish constellation. The people craved an escape, and like the Phoenix, he would help them raise from the ashes.

ALTERNATE BEGINNINGS OF HUMANITY

@Ferrettouch While I'm not the authority on it, I think you're going to need to provide a bit more information to really coax people in. Take a look at other RP's currently running, or other past RP's, and see what their opening post's look like. Take them as examples of what works.

Pro Patria Mori - A Tale of Sailships and Muskets (Still Recruiting)

"If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs, obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud. Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues, my friend, you would not tell with such high zest to children ardent for some desperate glory, the old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est Pro patria mori." -Wilfred Owen

Spring of 1800

1st of March

King Lucious, of The Redcliff Empire, is dead. The exact circumstances of his death are never entirely clear, but the news is spread to every corner of the Redcliff Empire, and to every corner of Europe as well. The throne passes to his nephew, the newly crowed King Marino, acts quickly. His uncle is barely cold before he issues his first commands, all too aware of the dire situation which the Redcliff Empire finds itself in. His first act is to issue a declaration to The Echyan Empire, ensuring an end to the hostilities and dropping the crusade for reparations, even issuing a public apology for his predecessors actions. Unsurprisingly, Echya accepts this, and the tension along Redcliff's eastern borders quickly cools.

3rd of March

The Empire of Rubrus takes a controversial and radical step. The universities scattered across the nation are ordered, by the Empress herself, to open their doors to female students. This is an unheard of step at such a scale. While there has been a scattering of female's passing through universities, in some cases dating back centuries, opening all universities to both sexes is a old stroke. Unsurprisingly, this is met largely with staunch protest from the established patriarchal communities, but they can hardly argue against orders from the Empress. University is still an expensive prospect that only the elite can afford, but a slow stream of young, ambitious women begin to seize the new opportunity.

6th of March

Outside of Europe, The Republic of Toubres continues to colonize almost relentlessly. With The Western Territories of Toubres established and thriving under their new relative independence, Toubres continues to follow the tried and tested methods. A colonial expedition embarks from Toubrian Getares, sailing west and founding the new colony of Toubrian Valente with no difficulty.

7th of March

Continuing his slew of new policies, King Marino, of The Redcliff Empire announces a controversial symbol of goodwill. Sending a ragtag merchant and civilian fleet as transport, the King summons all of the Redcliff colonists, and the remaining Redcliff garrisons of the colonies, back to the homeland. With this gesture, he abandons Redcliff's empire, knowing that the newly formed nation of The Naziim Kaliphate will quickly move in to take control of the new land. He also outlaws slavery, freeing the handful of slaves that Redcliff still own. Through this action, he ensures at least the relative safety off his people, and although it weakens Redcliff's international renown, with far more pressing issues at home, few complain.

10th of March

The Republic of Toubres continues it's militarization by launching a recruitment program. With the recent resounding success of Toubres against the historically military powerhouse of The Redcliff Empire has been greeted with celebration across the Republic, and the patriotic fervor that has consumed the Republic leads to thousands of men signing up. With colonies across the known world, and already an intimidating naval force, this swelling of the Republic's ranks is a clear sign of intent.

13th of March

Finding themselves at the mercy of The Kingdom of Aontas guns, the invading force of The Kingdom of Ubren begin constructing a series of trenches, attempting to give themselves some cover from the bombardment while tunnels are dug beneath the cities defenses. Despite the naval attacks, the Ubren army still hugely outnumbers the garrison that faces them, and before long, the city falls. With the Ubren flag raised, Inversen becomes a refuge for the Ubren forces while they plan their next move.

15th of March

Across The Empire of Attolia, a sweeping social policy is adopted. With the influx of new immigrants, citizenship is freely given in exchange for an embracing of Attolian culture. The stream of immigrants does begin to slow, citizens of The Redcliff Empire tentative as they wait to see the further actions of their new king, but in the newly-seized province of Centrix, this exchange is well-used, the people keen to embrace their new rulers culture.

16th of March

Larymnas falls. With it's walls breached, and the citadel standing as the last bastion of defiance against an overwhelming enemy, there was little hope for the defenders of The Kingdom of Sescos. Like his father before him, King Pieter Mátyás dies defending his people. He is finally gunned down, deep in the heart of the citadel, with a musket clutched in his hands, and valor burning in his heart. With the Sescosi capital in The Eternal Hadeen of Dashkatar hands, the Kingdom of Sescos is suddenly on the brink of surrender. Only one city remains in the capital province, the city of Hodov. If Hodov falls, then so does Sescos.

17th of March

Diplomats of The Three City's Republic of Ianian travel to The Republic of Oflua, seeking to offer assistance for their payment of reparations to The Kingdom of Sescos. However the recent developments, and the seemingly imminent downfall of Sescos, makes Oflua hesitant to engage in any economic scheme for payments, so the diplomats return home empty-handed.

19th of March

Across the territories of The Three City's Republic of Ianian, the Ianian Foreign Legion is formed. The force, operating largely independently from the bulk of the Ianian army, quickly takes on a romantic ideal, seemingly promising a life of adventure across the globe, and to rub shoulders with men from all across Europe, and the world beyond. Several thousand men quickly sign up, seizing the opportunity before them, and undergoing the rigorous training.

21st of March

Continuing to strengthen their hold in the far east, The Empire of Attolia sends colonists on the short journey south-east from New Caledonia, and settle the new colony of Java. There is an undeniable sense of trepidation in the air, as the combined fleet of Attolia and The Three City's Republic of Ianian draws ever closer, it's arrival expected within a month.

25th of March

The city of Avedua is quickly proving itself an imposing obstacle. Marines of The Three City's Republic of Ianian join the offensive, supporting the army of The Akkadian Empire, but The Redcliff Empire garrison is resolute. The Ianian Marines begin organizing night attacks, inching through the darkness and using explosives to damage the walls of the city. This is certainly successful, but wherever the walls are damaged, soldiers of Redcliff willingly fill the breach with their bodies and muskets. This will be a long siege.

26th of March

With it's borders threatened, The Redcliff Empire recalls the army of Melezio Parenti. Relieved to be returning home after their bitter defeat, the army makes quick time, The Echyan Empire giving them passage as a sign of goodwill. With all of Redcliff's forces returning to the Empire's homeland, their position is steadily growing stronger, as they still possess one of the most powerful forces found in Europe.

28th of March

The Kingdom of Vendsyssel siege of The Kingdom of Claidor city of Batko continues. With neither side having allies rally to their call yet, both armies are tentative, and the siege becomes more of a waiting game than a prolonged conflict, as both are wary of committing their forces too soon. However armies are still being raised in their respective homelands, and the conflict is on the verge of escalating into a maelstrom of war.

MEGACORP [Cyberpunk Faction/Nation RP]

Phoenix Rising Entertainment

"Don't Settle for One Reality"

CEO Name & Age: Sakuma Katsumoto, 63
Headquarters: Tokyo, State of Japan
Major Industries: [Virtual Reality]
Minor Industries: [Media] + [Artificial Intelligence]
Starting Trait:
- Private Wealth: Company starts as a Close Corporation and with +1d50 Billions

Brief History & Description: Sakuma Katsumoto is undoubtedly a genius. A creative spirit since childhood, Sakuma was always striving to create his own fantasy worlds, desperate to immerse himself in a world far away from the harsh realities of real life that he saw around himself. As he grew older, Sakuma continued to try and create a fantasy world for himself, but after inheriting his father's cast fortune, he found that he suddenly had all new tools to build this world with. What initially began as a personal project, as his dream began to realize itself, Sakuma found himself with a burning desire to spread this new-found joy that he had found. It is from there that Rising Phoenix Entertainment was born, as Sakuma attempted to create a Second Reality, so that other's can escape the real world, even if only for a few hours.

Pro Patria Mori - A Tale of Sailships and Muskets (Still Recruiting)

"If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs, obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud. Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues, my friend, you would not tell with such high zest to children ardent for some desperate glory, the old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est Pro patria mori." -Wilfred Owen

Spring of 1800

2nd of February

The Eternal Hadeen of Dashkatar, while it's armies continue to wage war abroad, begins an intense industrialization process. Perhaps inspired by their neighbors to the north, The Akkadian Empire, Dashkatar attempts to abandon it's old, traditionally agriculturally founded industry, and instead invest heavily into the most modern technologies that their Engineers are able to get their hands on. It quickly becomes clear that every nation is attempting to embrace the new century, abandoning the ways of old.

5th of February

The outer walls of Larymnas are breached, the forces of The Eternal Hadeen of Dashkatar flooding into the city itself. Somehow, King Pieter Mátyás rallies the remaining garrison, fighting ferociously for every inch, and making a desperate last stand in the solidly build citadel. The capital of The Kingdom of Sescos burns, and the guns of Dashkatar pound relentlessly on the one surviving strong-point, but the thick walls of the citadel, and the iron will of the defenders, continue to stand resolute. For now. The nation cries out desperately for aid, from any who will listen.

6th of February

The defending army of The Holy Territories of Edoniras, still bracing itself in the province of Salid, has it's ranks swollen. Thousands of fresh troops, proudly marching under the flag of the Holy Territories, make the journey west. The position of Edoniras is greatly strengthened, any counter-attack quickly becoming more and more daunting for The Redcliff Empire.

10th of February

General Andrei Obnizov, marching at the head of the force of both The Republic of Oflua, and The Kingdom of Ilastiri, takes a moment to compose himself, before moving in pursuit of the army of The Redcliff Empire. Although the enemy is broken, Redcliff still possess a sizable force, and one that cannot be allowed to linger on the borders of the Republic. The sizable army begins it's slow chase.

13th of February

Continuing to promote their self-founded European Trading League, The Three City's Republic of Ianian extends an invitation to The Echyan Empire. Unsurprisingly, due to the two nations already sharing a strong bond, Echya accepts, and the League's influence, and power, only continues to grow.

15th of February

Once more, the Nalci Strait becomes a battleground of roaring spray and cannon fire, as the fleet of The Eternal Hadeen of Dashkatar and The Echyan Empire collide. The Echyan's are outnumbered but they fight with a burning fury that shatters a sizable portion of the Dashkatar fleet before they can bring their enemy can bring their numbers to bear. The Echyan fleet fades away as quickly as they appear, leaving the damaged ships of Dashkatar to limp back to safe ports.

18th of February

In the first battle of the war between The Kingdom of Claidor and The Kingdom of Vendsyssel, it is Vendsyssel that strikes first. Rallying an army, General Kobus Lennips marches from the province of Rogosz, over the border and into the Claidor province of Lahoya, calling on their allies The Kingdom of Aontas to support them. The army has only marched a few miles before they collide into an army of Claidor. Although fairly evenly matched, the men of Vendsyssel are fierce warriors and, spearheaded by their legendary cavalry, shatter the Claidor army. The province opens up before them, and they march for the nearest Claidor city, Batko.

19th of February

The two nations of The Empire of Attolia and The Empire of Rubrus announce the opening of naval trade lanes, hoping to establish a closer relationship between the two. However the threat of war between Rubrus and The Kingdom of Aontas casts a shadow over this agreement, as those same naval lanes could quickly find themselves closed by Aontas ships.

22nd of February

The fleet of The Three City's Republic of Ianian, ferrying the army of The Akkadian Empire, quickly finds itself facing it's first hurdle. The only path to their destination of The Redcliff Empire lies through the Nalci Strait, a war-zone stalked by ships of both The Eternal Hadeen of Dashkatar, and The Echyan Empire. While Echya has openly sided with Ianian, and Dashkatar with Akkadia, it is the reverse that is not so clear. Will Echya allow Akkadian soldiers to rampage through Europe, and will Dashkatar allows European ships to sail, unobstructed, through their waters. What follows is quite possibly a diplomatic marvel, as the two nations cease their skirmishes to allow the Ianian fleet to sail through the Strait. Perhaps some clandestine meeting ensures their safe passage, or perhaps it is simply an unwillingness for any of the involved parties to make more enemies than they need to.

24th of February

The Kingdom of Aontas, faced with an overwhelming force of The Kingdom of Ubren literally at their gates, is forced to react. Still possessing a powerful navy, Aontas brings it's full arsenal to bear. Even while the Ubren army throws itself against the walls of Inversen, the Aontas fleet begins a relentless bombardment of the besieging army. With no navy of their own, the Ubren forces have little to counter this new threat, forced to instead continue focusing on attempting to break the cities defenses.

27th of February

The army of The Kingdom of Vendsyssel reaches The Kingdom of Claidor city of Batko. Both sides dig in for a long siege, cannons roaring out a thunderous crescendo. But the balance of the war is tipped in favor of Vendsyssel, for now. How the two nations allies react may well decide the very fate of the war.

28th of February

With their path cleared, the forces of The Akkadian Empire land in the province of So Tren. But for once, the garrison of The Redcliff Empire is prepared to defend their homeland. Although they are once again outnumbered, they are unbroken, well supplied, and determined to clear the name of the Redcliff Empire, and cast the invading heathens back into the sea. The Akkadian's attack the Redcliff coastal city of Avedua, an imposing port that dominated the Mediterranean Sea in a bygone era. They are faced with well built defenses, and iron-willed defenders.

🦄 Machiavellian Masquerade - Chapter 1

Justice Cobalt

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Location: Shadowell Manor: Front of Manor Outside -> Grand Vestibule (B7)
Skills: N/A
Hit Points: 6
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The atmosphere of the group changed in an instant. The armed guards had put Cobalt on edge since the moment he'd arrived, but he'd assumed they were simply there to ensure the safety of the guests from whatever horrors stalked the shadows of the forest, and ward off any unwanted visitors. But the threat laced into their greeter's booming voice was clear, and the distinctive sounds of gun hammers being pulled back, cutting through the still air, made it crystal clear. The snarling and gnashing dogs at his back, and no doubt several fingers stroking gun triggers, was all the motivation that Cobalt needed. Forcing a smile, Cobalt could only hope that Madam Mauve had taken his arm as he strode forwards, towards the manor house.

Several other of the guests had already climbed the short flight of stairs and stepped through the heavy wooden door, but Cobalt didn't concern himself with being first. He was focused on not being the last. His entire body was coiled like a spring, ready to react at the first crack of a gunshot, or the first cry of pain, or tearing of dogs teeth into flesh. If Mauve had taken his arm, his grip is gentle, but firm, ensuring that she did not lag behind.

Stepping through the doors, and into the manor proper, Cobalt allowed himself a slight sigh of relief, but he did not relax. It was clear that their hosts had no qualms with slaying those who would fall behind. The 'accident' of the train suddenly took on an even more sour note, and Cobalt carefully glanced around the room, although he didn't see anything out of place. Glad to be out of the cold at least, he made his way across the length of the impressive room, until he stopped a dew feet from a blazing fire, burning in an ornate pearled encrusted fireplace. He turned to face the figure that had led them inside, feeling the heat of the fire beginning to thaw the chill that has clung to him since he had first set foot inside Shadowell Forest.