Fantasy The Eco|Knights

[Autumn McJavabean]

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In the darkness, there is only the cold. In light, there is warmth. Together, they create life. That is the essence of pneuma. Master Bradford

In the beginning...
At the start, there was matter, anti-matter, and pneuma. Pneuma was a special type of matter, an amalgamation of anti-matter and regular matter. It could be formed, twisted, and controlled with skill.

Many eras ago, the world became divided, wrought b the evils that plagued the lands. No one knows what pneuma truly is or where it came from, but what they do know is that it's powerful. It's so potent. Even life can be altered as organisms fight for control over the pneumatic powers. It was the single greatest pneumatic mage, the first Eco Knight, Berthold Ravenhardt. His mastery over the arts and elements was so profound, and his skills prolific he needed no eco-gear to control it. However, he saw how hard it was to manage, only a few could take on the skill of pneumatic manipulation. To solve this issue and give humanity a fighting chance, it needed as pneuma itself cursed the wildlife and the other humans and creatures to the point they became twisted, enraged, bloodthirsty, and dangerous.

Ravenhardt took to forging a new type of technology to bring man and all creatures out of the darkness; this is where eco-gear originates. It allows the simple process of mind to matter manipulation of the pneumatic energy. Using his power, he herded the living to a single location, perfect for them to strive. This was where his isolated tower sat, just on the mountain, by the ocean and river passing through. Over time, humanity began to rebuild as walls were formed, houses wrought from the resources nearby, and the tower of which Berthold had lived and studied became the Ravenhearst Academy, where young kids would be trained in the arts and would eventually graduate, becoming an Eco Knight, the first and last defensive line for the capital and kingdom of Brothelm.

Berthold lived for many years, dying at the age of 257 years of age. His knowledge and projects had died with him. So, the statues were built across the city. The crest of the capital city of Brothelm would be that of pneumatic particles surrounding the side head of a raven. The symbol, the crest, and sigil of Berthold Ravenhardt.

The world became dangerous with Jaguars, also known as the demons. They ranged from beasts to humanoids with incredible power. Those creatures affected by pneumatic power, consumed or transomed, were known as Fauna. Fauna was extremely dangerous, wild, and roamed all across the unknown world.

The Eco Knights
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The Eco Knights are the elite soldiers of the kingdom, each with their own unique device to control pneuma. Each knight has a unique ability, greatly diversifying the ranks and capabilities.

Above the regular Eco Knight is the Grand Knight, members who surpass in rank and skill are the top of their class, the best of the best. They're the true elites, and few exist at a time, due to how difficult the power of pneuma is to control. However, they're not just knights. They are people who live comfortably near the center where the High Council meets, outside of the barracks, and are celebrity-like figures.

The Eco Scouts were elites in their own right. They would traverse the unknown world, exploring for months on end. They wore heavy gear, and while combat was not their strong suit, knowing the dangers, they had to be skilled, and only special people would be selected for the scouts. They normally had high mortality rates.



Then it happened...
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The great king died, and the kingdom's role fell onto the High Council, who, in truth, ran everything from behind the royal family. Only they knew themselves, and a select few individuals, that the royal family was not related to Berthold Ravenhardt, as no one believed he had any descendants. Up for the throne was the twins, and the debate started to occur as to who would sit next.

That's when attacks outside the wall, where few people live due to safety reasons, where villages have been attacked. A call to action has been made to alert all citizens to be careful and never leave the city, as villages left and tribalistic monstrosities ransacked right.

 

[Autumn McJavabean]

Chapter One
Two Sides of the Same Coin

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The touches on the wall flickered as a tall man in purple armor stormed through the halls with vigor. Several knights chased after the knight who had long, flowing brown hair and some facials hair on his face. They each shouted to the man to freeze before their command, but to no avail were their words affecting. In one ear, out the other.

“Stop!” One bellowed, gripping his polearm. “You don’t have authorization to ent…” but he was cut off.

The doors slammed open with a force that shocked all inside. “I demand to know why my troops have been sent to their death!” The commanding officer in purple shouted at the High Council. A few dropped their rolled tobacco that they smoked while others stopped drinking their tea.

“Commander Rylige,” one man said, sitting at the end of the table with his eyes closed and hands crossed over his mouth. “You have a lot of nerve to storm into the chamber of the High Council.”

“Don’t give me that crap!” Commander Rylige animated his hands by swiping his arm to the side in protest. “I know the game you play; you run the kingdom. That’s fine, but when you send my men to their certain death, I will step in!”

“No,” the man said, “you will not do anything. If we so chose, your power will be stripped from your being.”

“You dare threaten me?” Rylige was taken aback by the comment as he drew his longsword from his waist where it sat in the sheath. At the guard was an orb that began to glow a faint light blue color. “You haven’t the faintest clue how to use pneumatic devices, and you think you can threaten me Bulguard?”

“Remove him from this chamber at once!” Bulguard commanded. The guards nodded as they drew their sword, pointing them to Rylige’s neck from all around him. Rylige began to sweat as he stared at Bulguard. It was merely a test, who had the power, and who had the gull to do what was needed?

“Tsk…” Rylige grew angry, partially at himself as he sheathed his blade and stormed out. “Out of my way,” he demanded to the guards as they lowered their weapons.

After exiting the chambers where the High Council deliberated on the current issues, Rylige slammed his fist at the stone wall. “Damn it! Damn it! DAMN IT!” Thinking back, he recalled the events when it all began.


The warmth of the summer breeze blew from outside and into Rylige’s office while he sat there writing on a parchment piece. He was making a letter for his wife, having been estranged since their child was born several years ago. No matter what, he could not escape her from within his mind. To this day, he had missed her immensely. He wanted nothing more than to embrace her. To smell her sweet scent, or to brush his hand through her hair. To add to his pain, he wanted to see his son, to raise him, and send him to the academy to become an Eco Knight like his father. None of this would seem to occur for the middle-aged commanding knight.

He stopped writing, though near the end he simply couldn’t finish it. He was unable to focus. He decided it best to withhold the letter as a sudden knock came at his door.

“Come in,” Rylige commanded. The person behind the door stepped through, it was a young Eco Knight who recently graduated from the academy with flying colors. She was Sally Melbourn, and while she was youthful, pretty, and sweet, his heart remained with his former wife and child.

“Sire,” Sally began as she bowed and handed a roll of paper with a red wax seal on it with a symbol of the kingdom. The symbol was that of two polearms surrounded by four particles and the side of the raven’s head. “Letter from the capital.”

“Let me see it here,” Rylige said. She handed the parchment. He used a tool to remove the seal as he rolled it open. The letter left him silent, and angry.

“Should I leave sire?” Rylige said nothing. She took his silence as a heeding warning from him and left, closing the door silently as she left him be.

It is with stark reverence that we, the High Council, are sad to announce the expansion of the Scouts, but the mission they will be forced to go on. We will be annexing most of their troops in an attempt to quell the attack on outer-city villages. All powers are to be stripped from their respective commanders and given to the High Council in an emergency response.

Commander Rylige, you have done nothing but honorable service to your kingdom, but your troops will be sent out to combat this unknown force fro the outer tribes. You have no say in the matter.

Take care and with sincere hope for the best,

High Councilmen and Mister Bulguard
326 A.D.

With haste, Rylige pulled out another letter, a parchment that remained blank. He with much speed to his writing skills, sent a command out to central command before the others got word of the High Council's treasonist letter and grab at power while the debate for the next in line for the throne took place. This letter would go out to all troops, all knights would be ordered to come to central command at once. There he would deliver his remarks, but first, he was to address the High Council in the meantime.

 

[Autumn McJavabean]

Sophie
The sunlight brightly shone its rays through the window while Sophie tossed and turned. Then there was the sound of the birds. Sophie's eyes fluttered open as she sat up, rubbing her eyelids. Letting out a yawn, she looked around to the mannequin in the room that wore her armor. She looked to the window and opened it wide, getting a good look at the location of the sun.

"It's still morning," she said. Sophie got out of bed, wearing her white gown she walked over to her armor and gazed at it. At the center of the chest that protected her breasts lay a small orb, this was for her pneumatic manipulation to bold with her body. That's when she looked over to the sword in the display case on the wall. It was a unique sword with an eco-device at the guard. It was an old relic, said to predate even the capital itself. Her family was traditional, with unknown roots. She lost her family in a tragic event, leaving only herself.

Spoiler

After taking a bath, Sophie began to brush her hair, looking in the mirror are her red eyes as she continued brushing. That's when she heard the kids outside playing with sticks. She walked over to see them playing jovially. It reminded her of her own past, but now she was a knight, serving the kingdom and the High Council to the best of her ability.

After a few minutes, she began to clad herself in her armor, grabbed her blade and placed it on her back as she left. Today was the day she would get to venture out of the walls and see the world for what it was.

 

[Dante Verren]

Claus Kharlon​

The early morning light shined off the knights weapon and armor as he swung the heavy maul through the air. Despite it still being morning Claus had already been training for several hours. Sweat pored from his head down the rest of his body and his muscles roared as he swung the heavy weapon through the air. His enhancement abilities were already in full effect making his training that much more strenuous, but also that much more realistic. Orders today were to set out from the wall. He wasn't sure if they were doing reconnaissance or if they were doing something else. Those details weren't something he kept track of until it actually matter and mission briefings usually happened before they set out anyway. With a final huff he slammed the Maul onto the ground with a satisfying Crunch. Morning training was over.

Taking his equipment back with him Claus returned to his quarters to quickly freshen up, wiping away all the filth and grime that had built up on him during his exercise. Feeling refreshed and energized and re-donned his armor and equipment. Inspecting it each time he put on a new piece to make sure that it was properly maintained. Once he was done and satisfied he left his quarters to go to command to get his new orders. Whether it was the fact he was leaving the wall or something else was going on he didn't know... he just felt a bad feeling hanging in the air.

 

[FabulousTrash]

Aria Skylar


From a high balcony, Aria looked down to the open area that was the training grounds. Many young students were practicing basic sword techniques with one of the other instructors. Because of her high title, it was rare for her to teach a lesson personally. Instead, she mainly oversaw the other instructors and gave direction when necessary.

She was dressed in her usual apparel and both of her swords were with her, sheathed. Her arms were crossed infront of her chest and her hair was tied up. She continued to watch what was going on below, but her mind was on a different subject. Earlier today, Aria had received word that she would be sent out past the wall. It was rare that she was sent out. The last time she was occurred a year ago, for only a short duration. However, when she inquired how long she would be sent out, the messenger had no answer.

Something is wrong...

Before Aria could dwell more on the subject, a voice spoke up from behind her.

"Excuse me, miss?"

Aria turned to look behind her. Standing in the doorway of the balcony was a young Eco Knight. Aria didnt know his name, but greeted him with a friendly smile.

"Did you need something?"
"No, but your presence is requested at central command, ma'am."
"I see...Thank you, I'll be there shortly."

The Eco Knight nodded, giving her a slight bow then left. Aria turned back to look down at the training grounds. The students had finished the current exercise and were taking a rest. Some were grouped together with friends, others sitting alone. She sighed softly, walking off the balcony and into the halls of the academy building and proceeded to her next destination.

 

[Lazaro1505]

William Lionhearth & Fergus​

Another day.... and like any day, was the start for this duo, a lawman and his faithful beast - a bond forged by battle and bloodshed, preparing for any duties that lie ahead of them. Within the kitchen of a house, William was preparing breakfast, like any other day, in order to provide both him and his hound energy for the meeting at central command today. But right now, he finished putting the finishing touches for two plates, one having a small cut slices of meat on it while the other held food for William himself, as the man grabbed both plates, putting the one meant for Fergus on the floor next to the small table he uses daily, along with a accompanying call “Fergus! Breakfast is ready....!” as William finally took a seat on his own chair, laying his own plate on the table. A quick series of thudding on the floor can be heard from outside of the room, as the Irish Wolfhound ran inside the kitchen, quickly slowing themselves down near the plate, before beginning to chow down on the plate.

William would only chuckle at this as he began to eat his own meal as well, but once in a while, his eyes would occasionally stare at the letter on the other side of the table, sitting there. The man already read the letter, but something that needed all the knights and soldiers to group up in the central command made him think quite a bit about what may be going on. But enough thinking about that, as the plates were finished, and put away for later use, as William began putting on both his equipment and gear, along with putting Fergus’s collar around the dog’s neck, and attaching the small metal leash on it, but before exiting the door of his house, he forgotten one thing, as he said an order to his dog “Fergus, stay here, I will get something quickly....” as the dog obeyed, while William went through a small hallway, before entering a door branching into the side of said hallway. The room was a pretty comfy bedroom, with a nightstand right next to a recently cleaned bed, as William went to the small nightstand, before opening it, as he took out something important he always grabs before leaving. Along with the Crudgel he brings to combat with him, but a small silver locket, one that held many memories, both old and new, within, as William puts the locket around his neck, and hid it underneath his scarf, before leaving once more.... the memories within the locket, motivating him to continue on with this duty.

Reaching the front door, he said to the obedient hound “Ok Fergus.... time to go now....” as the Irish Wolfhound went close to him, William grabbing the leash and finally leaving his home, and out into the outside world, where his next job may be his last, and while he knew that it would take a lot to catch both him and his agile hound, he reminded himself, that overconfidence is a slow and insidious killer.

 

[Autumn McJavabean]

Sophie
Exiting her apartment, she locked the door as Sophie then grabbed her bag and slung it over her shoulder and began to walk off. She began to notice the amassing knights rounded up in the area. She was a recent graduate, so she was just fodder. But the idea of being of aid to the kingdom was astonishing. Thinking back to just a few years ago, she garnered respect as a scholar, brandishing the typical clothes of an academy student. Now, she was an Eco Knight and took a turn across the corner to find a battle-ready squad of troops with a podium set up for Commander Rylige who would speak to the troops. No one knew why they were called here, but she had a bad feeling deep inside of her.