Futuristic &nbsp; The Astra Veda [IC]

SP3CT3R

Graystone713 You have been invited to participate in the Diwali Ashvamedha, a special one-day event on the main festival night of the Diwali. Zoran and Rissa await you in the teams-only lounge. Maybe you and your team members already knew each other, or maybe you've never met; I encourage pre-IC relationships! Still we probably shouldn't keep your coaches waiting!

Graystone713 · Dec 27, 2017

Astika Rimbaud

Astika had never seen Diwali like this. In the lower levels of Arcadia, there were fewer lights, most of them being simple paper lanterns and cheap electric strings of lights. Additionally, nobody dressed so... extravagantly. Astika himself was simply wearing the thermal suit and armor he’d worn to his trials. It wasn’t even good armor, really. Just a simple vest, skirt, and guards made from a form of scale mail called ‘kikko’ along with a collapsible helmet and neck guards. However, his helm hung from his belt, and his one new garment could be seen: a hand-knit scarf that was meant to resemble a cobra. He ran his hand over its ‘head’ one last time before he walked into the team lounge.

Seeing the two coaches stand side by side, the contrast was stunningly visible. Had coach Rissa not approached him through the team network, he might have approached Zoran. However, Rissa wanted the serpent on her team. That had to count for something. Of course, the team was far from official, and he might not stay with Rissa, but he was here now. So he approached her, and spoke.

“Coach Rissa. I... I couldn’t be the first to arrive, could I? I would’ve expected someone else to beat me here.”

He said, studying her. She dressed like many of the people here, but he could tell her dress wasn’t a mere garment. And that she was impatient. She was ready for a fight, and couldn’t wait for it much longer. However, though her dress definitely reminded him that his coach was very high-class, it did fit in. He could only see one other figure openly wearing armor, and they looked to be wearing a very nice new suit of it. He could feel how out of place he was, and knew people were staring. He was trying to get used to it. He’d be seeing this sort of reaction a lot in the coming days.

Terrabreak · Dec 27, 2017

Lunara Taldarem

Watching the district of Ayodhya right now felt like gazing upon a starry sky. The lights all over the place alongside the music made sure everyone enjoyed this year’s Diwali and Lunara had plenty of time to see this thanks to her current predicament. “High heels, never again.” She complained to herself as she walked a few steps before resting upon a wall or window, repeating this process all over the building. Her once perfectly long dark blue dress now covered with multiple dust stains just like her bag carrying her combat clothes and her black heels with a similar amount of scratches from all the times she had almost fell to the floor.

Finally she reached the door and slowly leaned her head to the side of it to check if it was the correct room. “Rissa! Astika!” Lunara yelled waving her right hand as she walked towards them with her clumsy steps. Her knowledge about the pair was very limited, similar to most other astras and coaches but it wasn’t in her nature to let that stop her from being friendly with them. As she approached the group the girl let her bag hit the floor, grabbed one side of her dress with each hand and gave a polite bow to Zoran.

“Was scared I would be the first one to arrive. Thanks for the save.” Lunara said before giving Astika that tender smile the fans always spoke about. She turned her gaze now towards Rissa and felt an air of disappointment after watching her beautiful perfectly clean dress comparing it with her own. Regardless of her feelings she would just do what she did best; hide them behind a smile. “Oh my Rissa, you look amazing in that dress.” A small silence occurred before she continued. “You don’t mind me calling you Rissa, right coach?” She finished with a small giggle. As they talked Lunara moved towards the couches to sit and remove the bane of her existence at that moment: those damn high heels. “So... have any info about rules today or we are just going in blind?” The girl spoke as she stretched her legs with her feet now finally free from their physical curse.

Lucem · Dec 29, 2017

Akshath

He was caught in an endless sea of lights. A myriad of colors shined brightly for today's celebration, leaving no shadows behind as all of Ayodhya glowed. It was a real eyesore. He could already feel himself getting a headache from all the shiny stuff being shoved in his face at every corner. There was nothing like this near the bottom. He was only used to darkness and the people that lived there, rather than all the cheery faces he walked by. Honestly, he preferred it that way. Less light made it easier to steal.

Unsurprisingly, Akshath wasn't too impressed with the festival. Aside from how the scenery made his eyes hurt, the whole thing felt fake to him. Although, not being used to such a lively atmosphere, that was probably a natural reaction. Comparing himself to the rest of the people that had gathered, he stuck out for a number of reasons.

Everyone wore extravagant clothing, as was customary for events such as Diwali. Of course, Akshath didn't own any fancy stuff. Putting monetary reasons aside, that style just didn't appeal to him. His outfit contrasted with the radiant scenery, black from top to bottom. It had clearly been worn many times before, the dark jeans and shirt having small tears littered throughout the material. While not too damaged, his jacket hardly fit him anymore, barely covering his tan skin as the hem struggled to reach his waist. The only thing in pristine condition was the pair of silver earrings that dangled from his earrings. The accessories differed from the shadowy clothing that was well-suited for criminal acts.

Paying no mind to the wandering eyes of others, he continued his walk, nearing the place his team was meant to meet. He wasn't here to enjoy a lightshow. His presence had to do with the special Ashvamedha that was being held. If not for that, he'd still be at home. Even if he didn't find any enjoyment in being here, he would tough it out. If it would increase his opportunity for finding work or getting paid, he could suffer through a little get-together.

Finally arriving at the lounge, Akshath pushed open the door with the bottom of his shoe, preferring to keep his hands tucked inside his pockets. While he didn't recognize any of the other faces in the room, it didn't take long to spot the person he was looking for. The Deva had a memorable appearance, especially to Akshath.

When he first got a look at the older man, it made Akshath uncomfortable. Many of his features were strikingly similar to Modak's, particularly the light skin that his father once had. Although, in terms of expression and the atmosphere that surrounded him, they were far apart. Still, that didn't make it any less unsettling when he stared for too long.

Walking over to the experienced Astra, Akshath made no changes in his expression, speaking in his usual crass tone with half-closed eyes. "It's Zoran, ain't it?" Not seeing a point in standing around, he sat in one of the nearby couches, leaning his head and arms against the edge while his legs spread apart. It didn't take long for him to get comfortable. "So, when's everyone else showing up?"

Epiphany · Jan 1, 2018

Maia

Maia arrived with her eyes full of stars.

None of these lights ever made it down to street level in Ayodhya. She'd seen pictures of Diwali's light shows but absolutely nothing like this in her young life. And all she could do on her way to the lounge was gawk in unaffected reverence at the magical display.

By the time she joined the others, her star-filled eyes shimmered with unshed tears so deeply was she moved. With visible effort, she steeled herself, rubbed excess moisture away with the back of her arm and tried not to look completely out of her element. Given Maia wore a yellow dress whose greatest virtue was its cleanliness, her pretense didn't amount to much.

Still, the somber presence of her coach gave her something to imitate and emulate at least. Maia set the daybag she'd brought with a change of clothes for any competitive play onto the ground. Instead, she watched one of the magnificent holographic displays, more technology that she'd never laid her eyes on before.

Maia gave a casual head nod in Akshath's direction upon noticing him. Then she gave him a firmer look, spotting him and finally recognizing him. "Well, we're up to two," she said in answer to Akshath's last remark. He looked confident and cool with his hands tucked in his pockets. Maia vainly wished she had pockets of her own but, trapped in a dress, all she could do was wring her hands together awkwardly.

She was terrible at small talk.

SP3CT3R · Jan 2, 2018

Orion Bolida

Orion sat at a table right next to the windows overlooking the arena, watching the current battle both directly and through the giant screens that surrounded the stadium. On the losing team were two of Orion's childhood bullies, and as much as he hated to admit it, watching them get thoroughly pummeled by the other team's chronomancer was a welcome distraction from the fact that tonight could prove the most crucial in his career as an Astra.

Damn. I started thinking about it again. The illusion of everything being fine was broken, and Orion immediately returned to fretting over meeting his coach, who he'd only agreed to work with as a joint decision with a friend. The Astra of Radha had a reputation preceding her of being a fiery rebel who took shit from no one. Not to mention a mind reader. Orion hoped that his own reputation was positive enough for her to not try to replace him by the end of the day. Just the possibility of being kicked made Orion consider drinking his body weight in shots, but that would only make matters worse.

Orion perked up when he heard Lunara's voice. She spoke to an Astra who arrived before her - who Orion just realized might be another teammate - and made a beeline for the head coach. She was there since Orion arrived, but he hadn't been able to work up the nerve to approach her. Now that Lunara was here, Orion felt as comfortable as he'd ever be.

Orion crept into the restroom before anyone noticed he was there. Now that he wasn't out in public, there was no need to dress like some government agent. Orion folded his hat up and put it in his pocket. He flattened the collar of his coat pulled his arms out of the sleeves so that it rested on his shoulders like a cape. Finally, Orion rearranged his hair so that it covered the lower half of his face instead of all of it.

Now that he looked more presentable, Orion grabbed his drink and set it down on a table next to the couch he sat on a second later, which was across from the one his coach was sitting in. "Hi, um, I'm Orion." He introduced himself, quietly. "We haven't met in person, but I believe you're the coach for my team?"

BLUR · Jan 2, 2018

Ace Mazdan
It was not the first time that Ace Mazdan would stand so high into the levels of the Western District. In fact, he had been even higher up. But the young man had no detailed memories of his time in the middle levels, and so it was as if he had only seen them for the first time. 57 was nice. Well, that was an understatement. Compared to the dull and gloomy environment he was accustomed to, the 57th floor was basically a paradise. It was lively, colorful, and full of breathtaking sights.

Ace had lost a bit of time taking in these new surroundings, so he found himself rushing just a bit to find his team. Teamwork was something that came very easy to him, as he had spent almost his entire adolescence as a member of the Abyss Creatures gang. He had no doubt his experiences would help run things along more smoothly, he certainly didn't have any trouble working with others if their goals were the same.

As he walked through the halls with long strides, Ace made a note that everyone around him was dressed very elegantly. He knew enough about Diwali to recognize that their attire had everything to do with the festival of lights. However, Ace himself didn't have the means to worry about what he was wearing. Rather than trying to make himself look nice, Ace was prepared for competition. Over a plain, black t-shirt, he wore a brown, padded vest, a gift from his mother and sister who had apparently decided to save money just so they could afford some form of protection for him for the events to come. A purple bandana was tied around his left bicep, a design choice that symbolized membership in the Abyss Creatures gang. He wasn't worried about anyone knowing about it though, only the lower levels would really have any knowledge of what it meant. Other than that, he wore a regular pair of blue jeans tucked into black combat boots. Both items were clearly not new, but only had some minimal wear and tear, meaning that Ace was at least conscious of the fact that he was supposed to wear newer clothing. Since he didn't have much of that, he made sure to at least wear clothing that gave the impression of being fresh.

Finally, Ace had arrived to the lounge area. He spotted the tall deva that was to be his coach, Zoran, instantly. As he walked over to him, he also noticed that two others had already arrived. He recognized Akshath from his encounters with him in the past. He did not recognize the red-haired girl by appearance, but it wasn't difficult to guess that the young woman was Maia, the genius manu of the ground floor in the Western District. He had heard many things about her, as he did of Akshath, despite both of them being so low in the social ladder of Ayodhya. In fact, the three teammates were something of a legend in Ayodhya already. He heard from his sister Alyra that some people were calling them the Ayodhya's "Miracle Trio." That they managed to all be grouped up as part of the same Ashvamedha team definitely wouldn't help to quell those sentiments. It was already rare to have an Astra among the population. Then, even if one was found, they had the greatest chance of being part of Kumbh, for whatever reason. But the in the next generation of Astras, three were found in Ayodhya, and all three belonged to the lower levels, one on the ground floor and one just above it. With this came a ton of pressure. Ace had no doubt the elitist snobs at the top would be rooting against them every step of the way, while the citizens in the lower levels would be looking up to them as their heroes. He couldn't help being excited about all of it.

"Ay! Sorry I'm late. I dunno how you guys didn't get lost in all this," he said walking up to his group with his hand behind his head. A wide grin embellished his face. Oh yeah, he was really excited.

Lexielai · Jan 3, 2018

Rissa

“Seems you were,” Rissa said to Astika, the first to arrive. He was in his combat armor already, which looked a little awkward on his lean, almost skinny, form. He was a rookie with talent. Analysts liked to gush about him, but all she saw was a young guy who felt more than a little uncomfortable being here. Fair enough for his first time.

Soon after Lunara arrived, rushing into the room ungracefully in her high heels and dirt stained dress. “Thank you,” Rissa said when Lunara complimented her. “Do call me Rissa, please. Or Coach. I like both.”

Lunara was another member of her team. Rissa thought she was cute, and the girl seemed fairly sociable and easy-going. “Right, so about the rules…” Rissa began to say, only for yet another of her team to arrive.

“Oh, Orion. Great to see you,” she said with an amused smile. His comically long hair was wrapped along the side of his blue face, covering the glowing white freckles which dotted his skin. He looked a little nervous as well. What was with these rookies? It wasn’t like she was going to murder them...unless they did something really dumb. Then she would consider it. “Yes yes, I am Coach Rissa. We are a team. Welcome.”

She realized she probably sounded a little irritated. “Sorry. I’m just a little impatient. Here, how about we get going now that you three are here? Our last member texted me that they would be a little late, so I’ll sub in for now. Since...”

Briefly glancing at the time on her datapad, Rissa continued, “...we got a match set up in about five minutes.” She enjoyed the looks of surprise, shock, amusement, or maybe even horror, for a moment. “We can get to the arena through the elevator. Let’s go!”

Rissa beckoned her team to follow as she proceeded to the single elevator by the center of the lounge, briefly waving to Zoran as she went. It looked like his team had arrived too, and he was giving them another one of his boring lectures. Yikes.

As soon as they were all in the cabin, she maneuvered through the holographic interface and tapped the only option: down. Immediately the elevator glowed from a soft blue light emanating from the circular floor of the elevator cabin, signalling their descent.

“So, as I was saying, the rules are a little looser than a normal Ashvamedha. Safety regulations are the same, but gameplay is a bit different. They like to try out new rules for these kinds of festival games,” she said.

Zoran

One by one, you approach your coach. Zoran gives each of you a nod, but does not answer your questions. His eyes are closed, and he is seated in quiet meditation, his calm features as still as stone.

“Welcome,” he finally says, just before the pause becomes really awkward. You see his hard gray eyes look into each of you. “It’s good to see you.”

His voice is gravely deep. It is weathered like he, but it easily catches your attention. “I hope you have enjoyed Diwali so far. And I agree with you, Ace. It has been some time since I’ve seen a display as beautiful as this,” he says, gesturing out towards the window. You wonder for a moment how he saw anything with his eyes closed, but he continues, “But I’m afraid we’ll have to spare our pleasantries for later. We have a match in five minutes.”

His eyes seem to glint with a hint of something like amusement as he takes in your expressions. But you’re not sure. It’s hard to tell with Zoran; in the brief time you’ve known him, he has been one of the hardest people to read that you’ve ever met.

“Now, I know you’re excited,” he says, pointedly looking towards Ace. “But be patient for a minute. Today is important, but not because of the result of the match. We are here to learn, and grow. You three must learn to work as a team to succeed here.”

This time his attention switches over to you, Akshath. And you know he is talking to you. He then sit ups in a motion so fluid you are unsure if he stood so much as floated, and beckons you to follow him toward an elevator.

“I know the three of you don’t know each other very well,” he says as you enter with him. As he taps the holographic interface, the elevator doors close and the inner floor of the cabin begins to glow with bright red light. You feel yourself begin to descend even as Zoran continues. “So consider this a get-to-know-you exercise. You will need to put your trust in your teammates, and trust that they trust you.”

You see him look seriously at each of you. “Now, today’s match is interesting. We’ll be playing by some unusual rules...”

Rissa and Zoran

As your team descends lower, out of the main structure of the lounge, the walls around the cabin turn transparent. The sight outside is breathtaking. Like the level around, the arena glows with light. Hundreds of thousands of little beads of light glow from the stands, an innumerable number of seats and aisles arranged along the inverted cone which makes up the interior of the arena.

And at the very bottom is the battleground. It glows like a sun that washes out all the other lights. You see that it is split into two sides, one red and one blue. On the blue side, you see, is a fortress. It is arranged in a triangle, with three slanted sides forming a barrier around the inner core. Around it is a mix of forest and open ground leading up to the red side, where there is instead a single tower of sleek, dark metal which rises high into the sky.

The roar of the arena, even muffled by the barriers of the elevator walls, is loud. An amorphous entity composed of hundreds of thousands of spectators, cheering louder and louder the closer the elevator approaches the arena floor. You may even begin to pick out bits and pieces from the crowd, and the many dozens of screen throughout the arena. Pictures of you, and your name plastered across holographic displays. You almost think you hear them cheering you on.

Rissa

“Today we’ll be playing something interesting. It’s an asymmetric attack and defense scenario. Our opponents will start off on the opposite side of the field while we play the defenders. Our objective,” she said, holding out her datapad so that the holographic projection of a large, bulky metal cylinder could appear, “is to prevent the opposing team for delivering this object to the center of our base, and hold them off for twenty minutes. The package is heavy, and unwieldy. It will be a burden for whoever is carrying it.”

She paused for a moment to close the projection, taking a minute to shift her eyes from Astika to Lunara and then to Orion. “Now, listen. I know you probably feel a little nervous. Don’t,” she said. Her lips slowly curled into a smile. “This match is just for fun. Whatever happens here doesn’t matter. Besides, this is a blind match, so we won’t know who we’re up against until just before the game begins. No points in worrying about it. That said, I’ll be on the field with you guys too.”

“Lunara,” Rissa said. Her attention was solely pointed towards Lunara now. “I want you to take the lead today. Orion and Astika, we’ll follow Lunara’s calls. And don’t worry, I’ll be right by your sides.”

Rissa had hopes for Lunara. She couldn’t always be there to lead her team. It just wasn’t allowed in the rules, so someone had to step up. Rissa believed Lunara could be the one. “Any last concerns?” she said cautiously. “We’ll have a minute to switch into combat gear as soon as we touch down, but now’s the time to bring up any issues.”

Zoran

“We,” Zoran says, “will be playing an asymmetric attack and defense scenario. We will be playing the attackers on the red side.”

You see him pull a holographic projector from the inside of his robes, which he hands to you, Akshath. From it appears the 3-D projection of a large, bulky cylinder. “Our objective is to deliver this package to the center of their base, and place it inside a small blue circle there. I expect heavy resistance from the defending team.”

Then he attentions turns to you, Maia. “I will be on the field as well as a substitute until our fourth arrives for the next game. That means I’ll be in a supportive role, at most. That’s why I want you to lead this one, Maia,” he says. You see his somber expressive turn into a small, but warm, smile. “Try your best. I’ll be by your side.”

“Any last questions?” he says after then turning to look at all of you again. “This will be a blind match, so we can’t be sure who we’re up against. And we will only have a short period to prepare once we reach the arena.”

GM Comments

Graystone713

Terrabreak

SP3CT3R You will be playing on the blue side as the defenders.

Epiphany You will be playing on the red side as the attackers.

Terrabreak · Jan 5, 2018

Lunara

Lunara laughed and stood up in front of Orion, one of the rare moments when she was taller than him “Looking rather stiff, aren’t you? You should be relaxing, that’s what Diwali is all about after all.” It was a bit uncomfortable to move around barefoot but anything over the high heels that she had already put back into her bag. She had hoped to have more time to interact with her new teammates but Rissa’ sudden announcement destroyed the chance while also causing Lunara’s face to show a confused look. “Wait, what?” Were her only words before they were forced to move into the elevator.

The girl appeared a little nervous as they descended but this quickly went away the moment the arena came into view. So many people, they were all that mattered to her. All that she was, all her self-worth was in the hands of the public and the fact that she already had some fans must say something, right?

Hypnotized by the spectators Lunara almost failed to see the battleground below; a large area with two structures that dwarfed the forests around, each one of them in one colored side of the field. Based only on what she could see the girl was able to tell her coach was right, this was indeed going to be an interesting ashvamedha. As they went down she listened carefully to her coach’s instructions about the match and how they should take it easy for today. Lunara knew it perfectly well but there was still something at stake; regardless if she won or lost she had to look great for her fans while doing so.

“Lunara, I want you to take the lead today.” Those were the words that snapped her out of her thoughts. If there was something she always avoided was to lead any kind of team, she just felt that others were better suited for it than her however she also realized that Orion would have even more trouble doing so and Astika was probably on the same boat. With her well known tender smile on her face she looked at Rissa and spoke “Got it, I’ll do my best!” Once they reached the bottom they would probably have little time between spreading to switch clothes and entering the battleground to discuss any strategy so the girl decided that now it was a good a time as ever to get started. “Alright, listen up my friends! Based on what we know the delivery is too heavy to attempt a sneak rush with it so I assume they will aim for a slow march directly towards our base. Orion you will be our frontline with Astika as your direct support, you two will be our main force of attack. If I were in their shoes one of them would stay away from the group and attack from the flanks, that’s where you come in Rissa; Make sure that doesn’t happen. If they were to all move as one unit then your job will be to focus on Zoran. I’ll stay way behind you guys and use long range attacks to support the three of you. Like I said, we don’t need to worry about them sneaking past with the objective so we will move to find them first then retreat slowly towards our base if we see the need.”

As they went over the strategy the elevator finally reached its destination, a lobby on the same level than the battleground. “Leave any complains or comments for me to before we enter the stage!” Lunara said before rushing towards the women’s changing room. The girl knew they didn’t have much time and wanted to look as good as possible for this event. She carefully fixed her hair into a large ponytail and went on to change her clothes. Lunara was the kind of fighter who mixed battle purpose and style into her clothing so for her only two things mattered. Her elegant black shoes and her long cloak of the same color, everything below those didn’t matter much to her so she just went with a regular white blouse and some dark blue silk pants. As she was placing both her daggers in the leather sheaths at her back Rissa arrived into the room and began to change as well. “If I were a melee fighter we could be the dark colored duo or something.” The rookie said with a little giggle after noticing her coach’s choice of color for her outfit.

Lunara finished and waited outside for Rissa to be done as well before moving together to find the rest of their team. The hybrid girl broke the silence between the two of them with a small comment alongside a somber smile “I really hope you are right about me being the leader”. It wasn’t long before the pair found Astika and Orion near the exit to the arena, both ready for the battle. Lunara gave the later some very soft punches on the shoulder in rather unorthodox way to ask if he was prepared for the match but anyone could easily tell it was her own way to relax for what was about to come.

Graystone713 · Jan 5, 2018

Astika Rimbaud

So he had been first. Apparently that spared Lunara... The awkwardness, he supposed? And she gave off that bright smile, the one he could only respond to with a weak smile of his own, probably showing just a little bit of fang. As Orion arrived, he saw the team as a whole. And he felt like he didn't belong. It wasn't a new feeling, but it was... More powerful, here. This was supposed to be his team. Only a glance at Zoran's team, and he felt that they were more appropriate partners, but... No. He had to stop thinking that. This was his team tonight, and he'd do his best to serve it.

Before Astika could pull his head out of the clouds, it was go time. Rissa hurried them to the elevator, explained the rules, and put Lunara in charge. At first, Astika wasn't sure. But he'd read a little bit about the team's abilities online, and what he read on Lunara's... Mud powers made it seem like she'd either have or need a lot of situational awareness to use them effectively. He might've been wrong about that, but if she spread the mud across the battlefield to use later, it'd be a vital skill. Lunara seemed like she knew what she wanted in her basic plan. It wasn't a very detailed plan, but it made sense. In the plan, Astika would probably either be on crowd control, or keeping key players entangled in a fight with him. In a direct fight with Orion on his side, though... He'd have to be very careful. He could be pretty precise with the serpents, and they could alter their trajectory to some degree, but even one friendly fire incident with the Vipers could leave Orion badly poisoned. So... The Anaconda would be his tool. He had one last comment before they hit the bottom.

"Coach, can we handle the... Package? If the rules let us take it and play keep-away, that changes the game considerably."

He then tensed for... A lobby. With armor and weapons. Astika didn't say anything, but he felt a little silly. Until he saw the armor. Nothing quite fit the 'medium armor' point he was looking for, and looking at their Nunchaku left him with no regrets. All of theirs were primarily wood, and the one metallic set wasn't as heavy, and used nylon cords. Nope. He almost gave up hope when he saw combat boots. They had shoes! Of course, the high-risers probably didn't OWN boots like these! Unfortunately, most of them were well-worn, but he eventually found a pair that fit well, and replaced his worse-for-wear work boots with the not-quite-as-worn combat boots. He'd have a hard time giving these back. So, with the only thing to do being to equip his collapsible helm and put his scarf in a locker, he walked to the exit, checking his armor one last time to ensure it was secure. It was. His Kikko would protect him well. Orion, on the other hand... Well, he could probably form his own armor if he tried. He assumed. He really wished he'd read up a little more on his teammates' powers, but knowing the basics was enough. He hoped.

Epiphany · Jan 11, 2018

Maia

The silent serenity of their new coach, Zoran, put Maia at pause at first. Serenity isn't something she's used to seeing. She opens her mouth four times to speak and shuts herself up each time. The last attempt ends a second before he finally responds, leaving her even more awkward than she already feels.

Zoran's greeting at least makes her relax a little. Until news of an impending match knots Maia's shoulders with tension.

At least she enjoys the ride down, marveling anew at a view someone from Ayodhya 1 never sees. Maia had played in her share of improvised arenas but this...it would be an honor to play here no matter how badly she did. Just being here was the greatest accomplishment, not only of her life but of every life of every person she'd ever met in her nineteen years of life.

The discovery of being made team leader sets her back and her large eyes go wide. She glances at her other teammates to gauge their reaction. Then she narrows those blue eyes of hers and rises to the challenge.

"I guess my basic questions are...what can everyone do? What talents do we each bring to this? And what can we bring on the battlefield?" Maia glances at Zoran's experienced face in hopes of answers. "I'm strong, even for an Astra. Carrying the package will be no problem for me. So the obvious way to play this is to have me sprint for the goal and have you three watch my back. The thing is, it's kind of obvious."

"So if one of you guys is fit enough, especially if you have the means to evade an opponent, I'd rather have one of you carry it. Looks like we start in a tower of metal and, since they're playing defense, they'll probably wait for us to come to them. I could use that time to rip up a part of a battlement or wall or something and make something the same size and shape as the package. The audience has cameras but the other team doesn't; they'll have to get in damn close I suspect to spot the substitution."

"At the risk of an over complicated plan, I'm up for drawing their fire as the obvious Astra toting the package if one of you can sneak the real deal past them."

"We only have a few minutes. Thoughts?" Maia abruptly grins, deliberately smiling to swallow down the nervousness she feels. "If someone's got a better plan, I'll make that happen. Otherwise, let's kick some ass together!"

Lucem · Jan 13, 2018

Akshath

Doing his best to ignore the muffled roars of the crowd, Akshath looked around the elevator to get a good look at the people he'd be working with. Aside from Zoran, he was somewhat familiar with the members of his team. Just like him, they were poor souls from the lower levels of Ayodhya. He had met each of them personally, but neither encounter involved a lot of friendly chit-chat. The first time he met the woman called Maia was when he was still a kid. Like with most others, that meeting ended with him robbing her. Although, it would be more accurate to say that he stole from her workplace. He didn't think much of that event and likely wouldn't have remembered it if he hasn't crossed paths with her on other occasions.

His initial meeting with Ace was a bit more memorable than most. While this was partly due to it being more recent, it was also one of the few times he had gotten involved with a gang that hadn't ended in a fight. Of course, the man's name was always in his ear due to rumors floating around Ayodhya. The same went for Maia.

He may have been familiar with his teammates, but it wasn't as if they were close. He definitely didn't consider himself as part of this so-called "Miracle Trio" either. Still, he didn't have anything against two.

Running his thumb over the device that had been handed to him, Akshath paid attention to his coach and new leader as he filtered out noise from the other side of the elevator. After hearing Maia's plan, a small smirk appeared on his face. Although, the reason for the expression wasn't exactly positive.

"Obvious, huh?" Akshath's words trailed off a bit, as if he was unintentionally voicing his thoughts. "As much as I'd like to believe that the other team will be a bunch of idiots, I don't think they'll be dumb enough to fall for that," Raising the projector a bit to emphasize his point, Akshath turned his head to face Maia. "Especially if they have one of these things. If they have a coach on their team like us, they'll probably notice faster. Even if they do need to be close to spot the difference, who's to say they don't have someone with a good pair of eyes."

There was no malice in Akshath's voice, but his usual tone gave the words a certain punch. "Ah, but don't get me wrong. If you somehow manage to create an exact replica before the match starts, I'll take back what I said. Just ignore me and go with that." He was being genuine when he said that, but the man clearly didn't care to phrase things in a delicate manner.

"If you can carry that thing so easily, just do it. If you wanna talk about what we can bring to the field, then that's what you can bring. Play to your strengths." It was clear that Akshath didn't think too highly of the plan. Even if it was considered obvious, having Maia carry the package seemed like the best option. If everyone else would have a harder time being in that position, it would just be a liability for the team. Having two members carry separate cylinders also handicapped them by reducing the number of people that could fight properly.

"But I'm not the leader here, so if that's what you want to do, I'll get it done. I make whatever I touch intangible. I can also just get rid of something's weight or visibility, so I can carry it no problem." Despite his opinion about the plan, and reluctance to reveal his abilities, being stubborn wasn't going to help anything. He didn't care about getting along with his teammates, but he did care about winning. To avoid jeopardizing his chances of victory, he'd play a bit nicer than usual.

"But I can't hold it forever, so I'll need some backup. It would be a problem if I got crushed, so I'd be counting on you guys to help me out and get to the goal as fast as possible. We'd need teamwork. Ain't that right, Coach?" He ended his words with a quick look to Zoran. He hadn't missed what the man said to him before. Akshath had a feeling that dealing with the Deva would be problematic for him in a lot of ways.

Epiphany

BLUR · Jan 15, 2018

Ace Mazdan
Ace's brow furrowed when Zoran told him to be patient. He quickly got the sense that his coach was going to be a huge stick in the mud. After all, how many people were lucky enough in the world to be able to experience the extravagance of the Ashvamedha. Ace looked over at the other team that was in the lobby with them, and noticed that their coach seemed way more lively, heck she was a prettier sight than Zoran too, that was for certain. He definitely felt that he would've been more compatible with that kind of coach, but he would have to deal with where he landed. Ace realized that what was just a cool adventure for him, was a chance at an entirely new life for many others. Ace was simply on a quest for knowledge, and if this amazing detour opened some opportunities for him, awesome. If not, it wasn't the end of the world, he would just work that much harder to get his degree and work his way up the ladder to become a top ecologist. So for the sake of his teammates, he would be diligent, and he would be patient, listening intently to what his coach had to say. Besides, a stick in the mud as a coach means that he would be grilled into achieving whatever his potential holds in store for him, probably.

After the Deva explained the game and assigned Maia as captain, Maia had a turn to speak. She described her thoughts on what a proper strategy for the game would be, and Ace had no problem with anything she said. Akshath, on the other hand, didn't seem to share those thoughts. He countered much of Maia's plan with his own thoughts on the matter, and seemed to think Maia would be best fit to carry the package. It seemed to Ace that Akshath wasn't much of a people person, the way he so ruthlessly brushed off Maia's ideas. It was starting to become much more clear why he immediately turned the Abyss Creatures down in their attempt to recruit him. Being his teammate was probably going to be a pain in the ass.

"Look I'm not great with strategy and all that, honestly I'm not great with anything that makes me use this," he said, knocking his fist on the top of his head. "I'm a role player, whatever y'all decide on I'll get it done. I have four skills, but I can only use one of them at a time, and for a very short time. I get to mimic the defining characteristic of a certain animal, which lets me choose between being strong, being fast, being agile and acrobatic, or being tough. I can carry that the package, but I won't be able to hold it for long, so I should be considered a last resort."

Ace recognized that he was probably the weakest Astra on the team. His overall lack of mastery and control on his skills made it so that he couldn't spend a meaningful amount of time in any one form, so even if his Strength of the Beetle would've been a handy weapon in this game, the short duration of the enhancement meant that he would only be useful for a few moments before being reduced to any ordinary Astra.

It is what it is, he would think. He would make the most of the gifts he had been lucky enough to be born with, and they'd pull out the win one way or another. Not that it really mattered, they were simply in a warm up match to learn each other's strengths and weaknesses. Ace was just ready to have some fun with the whole thing.

"Well anyway, whatever you need me to do boss, count me in. I'll be your sword and your shield," Ace smiled, giving a thumbs up to Maia.

Epiphany

Epiphany · Jan 16, 2018

Maia

The redhead stiffens when Akshath implies her plan would only work if the other team was dumb. It was hard to pitch an idea on the spot. She'd always been more of an action girl, and the matches she'd played in growing up were in the usual (if improvised) arenas where repetition of play meant innovative tactics and long-drilled practice were the keys to victory. An unknown terrain, one she'd never seen or played through before, put her out of her comfort zone. As did relying on, and playing with, people she hadn't spent years playing with.

So Maia took a breath. And listened. And realized his critique wasn't actually that damning, and her plan really did have its own risks.

After Ace revealed his abilities, along with Akshath, Maia frowned and considered their coach, Zoran. "Given we're the offensive team, we don't actually have a lot of offense in us, do we. I mean I'm strong, but we've got intagability and adaptability and your powers are...um..." she searched her memory for what she'd heard of or seen records of while growing up. "You make those around you better, yeah?"

"It sounds like I'm the only one who can carry the package and go the distance. But pretty much everyone else can handle it too, as long as it's not for long periods of time. So that's fine, I can run it from our zone to theirs. But if the defending team has solid offensive abilities, we're going to need to switch it up on the fly."

Maia met Ace's eyes. "Focus on watching my back and adjusting to whatever the defenders throw at us. Don't worry about the package; worry about keeping the other team off of me as best as you can."

Then she looked back at Akshath. "If you know how to use intangibility or weightlessness against another team, awesome. Like you said, play to your strengths. Unless you've got something to add, though, it sounds like the best thing you could do is run ahead. Get as far into their zone as possible. And if...when they put me under enough pressure, I'll throw the package to you. Well, in your direction because I don't want them intercepting it so it's gonna be a full force throw and you don't want to be in the way of whatever it hits. But if you can pick it up from there and just run it in by going weightless or intangible or whatever, that'll score us the win."

Last, Maia returned to Zoran. "Any suggestions for where to fit you into this plan, Coach?"

Lexielai · Jan 17, 2018

Zoran

Zoran nods, his face still as stone. As your discussion continues, you realize that the elevator has nearly reached the arena floor. “There has been a small change in plans,” he announces, and you notice the datapad now in his hand. You clearly see the arena level outside now, teeming with grass and trees interspersed with red, glowing lines across the ground. It begins to slowly fade from sight as you descend below the surface, and the scenery outside the transparisteel windows shifts from bright greenery to gray metal. The roar of the crowd outside dulls, still active, but muffled as the elevator slows to an eventual halt.

“Our last member will be joining us here,” he says as the elevator doors slide open. Beyond the doors you see a long room, extending several meters to either side of the doors. Along the two adjacent sides you see lockers and several doors, each labelled by signs with the words ‘changing room’ written in bold print. But you notice those second, for as soon the doors open you see a veritable armory of weapons and equipment, hanging on the rows upon rows of equipment racks lining the room. You see armors and weapons of every conceivable design and size, each with well-worn marks of wear and tear, yet even with a cursory glance you can still recognize that the equipment here is unmistakably high quality.

In the center of it, standing directly by the door, you see a shapely, woman-like figure wrapped in thick brown cloths. Her gender and race are difficult to determine, and her only visible features are the blank porcelain mask under her hood, and a few strands of long brown hair.

“This is Diana” Zoran introduces with a gesture. “Also known as Incognita. She will be replacing me as your last teammate for this match.”

His eyes meet yours, Maia, ready to answer an unspoken question. “We cannot always predict how circumstances will change, and often must adapt with little time to prepare. It is the duty of the leader to make quick decisions when it is time to adjust,” he said grimly. “Nonetheless, the other team will be expecting me. Perhaps this change will gain you the element of surprise.”

Zoran then steps gracefully into the room, almost seeming to float across the floor. He turns to address all of you, hands folded behind his back. “Today, I will not interfere more with your preparations. I wish you to see the results of your own labor, and to see for myself where our weaknesses lie. Diana, Maia will be leading our team for this match. Follow her orders and her strategy. When this is all over, we will then evaluate the results of the match and your strategy together.”

He then steps back, tilting his head towards the direction of the equipment racks. “For now, select your weapons and armor, if you so wish. Good luck.”

GM Comments Team Zoran, you have been joined by Diana, AKA Incognita! You are now in a large locker room with such an assortment of weapons and armor that you can probably find and wear anything you want. Just remember that you have to give it back afterwards. Zoran has also taken a hands-off approach with this match, and has decided to allow you to see the results of your own strategy and skill. How well that will turn out you are unsure, but he has promised to help you analyze your failings, if any, afterwards.

Epiphany

Lexielai · Jan 24, 2018

Rissa

Rissa laughs. “You can certainly try,” she says to you, Astika, with a cheeky smile. “I’m sure you’re very familiar with handling big packages,” she adds suggestively.

When you reach the bottom, Rissa quickly gestures for you to exit the elevator. “Pick your share of any gear you want and get ready. Meet back here in a couple minutes,” she says curtly, before following Lunara into the women’s changing room. To your surprise, Lunara, she simply leans against the door as you begin to switch into combat gear.

She shrugs when you notice. “This outfit will do,” she says, despite being in a dress with heels. The thought of wearing such elegant clothing to a battle seems contradictory at best, but she just throws you a confident smirk in response to the unspoken question.

As you leave your final comment, Lunara, Rissa playfully pushes you. It has no force behind it, and she chuckles. “I don’t know if I’m right,” she admits, “But that’s what we’re here to find out. Besides, if you fuck up then I’ll know where to set you straight.”

When you meet up with Orion, he shrugs as you ask him your question. He continues putting on his armor, leaving no further comment, but you recognize the beads of tension in his form. Rissa nods at you, Astika. “Don't like their stuff?” she comments knowingly as her eyes glance over your still modest nunchuck and armor.

Then her attention turns to all of you as you form into position by the exit elevator on the opposite side of the room from where you entered. “Alright everyone,” she says, idly pulling a sword from a rack seemingly at random, “Just remember that Lunara’s in charge today. I’ll watch your backs, but don’t go looking for me to solve all your problems.”

Her face twists into a grimace. “That means I’ll just be playing a supportive role,” she says regretfully. “But it’s important that I don’t babysit you guys. This is an opportunity for us to quickly get to know each other. Afterwards we’ll figure what we need to work on, yeah?”

Not a moment later, the red light above the elevator doors blink green, and they open. Rissa steps inside with the rest of you, and a knowing tension creeps into the air. The match is about to begin.

GM Comments

SP3CT3R

Terrabreak

Graystone713 The match is about to begin! Rissa has made it clear: she has no intention of being a definitive leader for this match. Instead, she says, she'll be fulfilling a supportive role to permit you the independence needed to demonstrate both your strengths and weaknesses. Perhaps sensible, but you get the impression she doesn't like not being the central figure. It also appears that she also believes fighting alongside one another is an effective way to bond with teammates; whether she is right or wrong is yet to be determined.

Epiphany · Jan 25, 2018

Maia

The phrase "There has been a small change in plans" immediately makes Maia want to groan. She doesn't but it's a close thing. Instead, she glances out the elevator when Coach Zoran informs them of a new member. And then stares at the armory and all that's afforded them.

With effort, Maia tears her attention back to the porcelian masked form of Incognita. "Hi Diana, I'm Maia," she says with a lifted hand by way of a greeting. She even tries a smile. Most people here seemed serious but if there was one thing you learned being poor, it was smile when meeting strangers. They were slightly less likely to take advantage of you that way. "We don't have a lot of time to finish strategy but the basic play so far is I'm going to run the package, since I'm probably stronger than anyone. Ace over there is going to watch my back, keep defenders from dropping me if possible. Akshath right there can pass through things so I'm trusting he'll use that mobility to get in close to take out defenders as well, probably from ambush. I'd pass him the package but it's heavy enough, I don't think anyone else is going to be running with it. Let me know where you think you can fit in, what you can do, and I'll upgrade the gameplan accordingly. Sound good?"

As the group spread out through the armory, Maia elected for a suit of armor. With her strength, a little extra durability would go a long way and the weight wouldn't slow her down much at all compared to most Astra. Even with that package to haul.