[spoiler]Damn... I don't know if you still have the app... It's been a year. I just want to say thanks. Despite my less than detailed posts and logic, you still RP'd with me. I just hope one day you can come back.[/spoiler]

[b]The soft sound of a truck's stopping tires on solid, hard cement alerted the guards over at the local prison that the daily mail had arrived. It was the norm for a lot of prisoners to get packages from their loved ones every once in a while. They were all thoroughly scanned and checked, of course.[/b] [b]But today, a package arrived for prisoner 484. The prisoner's records showed that it was his first package in two years--something uncommon..[/b] [spoiler]Open to all.[/spoiler]

[b]Frieden sighs, content, his legs crossed and his hands cupped over his knees, resting upon a medium sized boulder, in the middle of a large garden surrounded by cherry trees, a large house in the background. After a few moments he frowns, becoming slightly annoyed with his apprentice, Wirr, squirming besides him.[/b] "Master, we've waiting here for so long, when can we leave? I'm so booooored." [b]Frieden glances over to the 5 corpses of the households original owners, dead for the past 30 minutes. He then looks at her and makes several hand gestures.[/b] "Yes, I'm sure I tripped the silent alarm, but the authorities are tak-" [b]He silences her with a sharp hand movement, and returns to his original position.[/b] [spoiler]open...to I guess who ever can be considered the authorities[/spoiler]

She shadow that had infiltrated the city in a rather mundane fashion had been out of sight of the people tracking it for a week or so now, seeking refuge in the other shadows around it as it continued it's journey to an unknown target in an undetermined area of the city. Peace was still in the city but the shadow had left trails of carnage and chaos where certain areas were afraid of something known as the 'Soulless Knight,' a new urban legend that was spreading like a wildfire. Villagers and Tourists had started going missing only to turn up later mutilated, beheaded and all kinds of different wounds inflicted on their corpses. The villagers aware and still alive could only pin this on the urban legend, which was based solely off this one shadow that was spreading its evil crimes throughout the city as the death count slowly started to rack up. There was no doubt the military would have had their suspicions about who or what was the source of their crimes and since Aster had been reported missing after the 'battle' that had gone on outside the city itself, he was a likely suspect at this moment in time, with his mysterious disappearance being on a similar date to the beginning of the urban legend that had become horrifyingly real not so long after. All the shadow was waiting on was some unlucky military goons to show up and become part of their death toll, allowing for easier movement around the city without detection. [spoiler]Open. See who can track it down.[/spoiler]

[i]Faith, Charity, and Hope. They are three dead angels. My throat is taunt against the rope, choking off words and air; death sits on my shoulder like a crow, whispering the sweet relief of end. All night I hang in the cold wind; I would like to say my hair turned white overnight, but it didn't. Instead it was my heart, bleached out like meat. Also, I'm about three inches taller. Dawn finally comes, it sheds its warmly wings across the darkness. They finally return to cut me down like a used prop. Tough luck, folks...I know the law: you can't execute me twice for the same crime. I have died twice and will have three deaths.[/i] Wyatt McCoy's hanging startled the entire population of Plymouth, a small backwater settlement in the southern deserts of Elysian. Word of a man who cheated death spread like a wildfire in a dry forest. Only two days later, the word finally slithered its way to the great city of Victorian, as the Hanged Man himself remains in stalemate with the residents of Plymouth. In the town's open court, Wyatt stands on a wooden platform that had been pushed in front of the Mayor's home. The majority decided to hold an open outside court against Wyatt. Hysteria began to seep its fingers through the minds of the people, as they had never gone through such a situation before. They screamed and shouted words at Wyatt, to which he didn't care one bit. The people needed true authorities to intrude the situation... (Open to Ruby.)

[spoiler][i]sansa[/i] The wolf[/spoiler] [b]the happy clink of glasses and cutlery rang through the cafe as people are there breakfast while they chatted or read the morning news. The hound and Sansa had walked in looking for a meal, Sansa had settled for a round of toast while the hound had went for a rather large fry that he was eating rather quickly.[/b] [i]"so are you going to do it?"[/i] [b]sansas voice was worried and frightened as she brought up the promise that the hound had made to stop her from getting hurt. The hound glared at her for a second, not liking her attitude or the way she handled the situation when the deal was made.[/b] "I made a deal and I'm going to keep it." [i]"when are you going to do it?"[/i] "We're not talking about this here." [b]the wolf drank some coffee before going back to his meal while Sansa sipped some orange juice leaving her half eaten piece of toast toile there. [/b] [spoiler]open[/spoiler]

[i]Creaaaaaaaaak..[/i] [b]Stratos' house wasn't exactly the.. Safest, of all houses. He'd settled in a rather old fire lookout tower in the middle of the forest. Nobody could bother him there, all he heard every day was the relaxing whistles of the wind coupled with the wood creaking. It was nice, he had a full view of the city and of the forest. The soft lights inside made for a really comfy and nice house.[/b] [spoiler]Imagine the house above but made out of wood.[/spoiler] [b]He had been relentlessly working to get his prosthetic limbs fixed, it only took him about a week--it wasn't the first time he'd had to fix them.[/b] "Ah, all working perfectly." [b]Stratos stood up from his chair and went out for a hike around the forest, to test out the limbs. It was a favorite hobby of his to walk around the forest, it was surprisingly relaxing to hear the slow swooshing of the treebranches, the melodies of the birds, and the watery sounds of the river crashing against rocks.[/b] [b]About three hours later and about at noon, he got back to his lookout tower and rested for a while.[/b] "Hmm.." [b]Stratos sat on a large sofa that he'd moved inside, it was perfectly lined up with a parallel table in which the small cylinder with the crystal rested on.[/b] "..Might as well try and see if that scientist I heard about can make sense out of that.." [b]He stood up and put the cylinder in a pocket inside his armor, then he walked down from his tower.. The wood squeaking with every step he took down the staircase. After a few minutes he had finally made it to the shop he heard about.[/b] [b]Stratos knocked on the door a few times, then walked inside.[/b] [spoiler]Closed to Ruby.[/spoiler]

Over the horizon, a giant mech began to come into view, then a few more, followed by smaller mechs and a crowd of armed soldiers behind them following towards Victorian. The machinery was quite loud and could be heard from the outskirts and there was a sense that something was going to happen drifting through the air. [spoiler]Open.[/spoiler]

[b]Coffee. Coffee all day, all night. He was addicted, he jested, and might be confused with a hyperactive squirrel if it weren't for being a man with silver hair to rival a rebellious teen drumming out in the basement. For all of Arthur's ability to remain calm and professional in any and every circumstance, Cinder found her father quite emotive when he wanted to be. He takes another sip beside her on the park bench, calmly watching the birds as a content silence befalls the pair previously conversing. A man, accessorized cane beside him, and his daughter, bronzed Hoplon and blade on her lap, sitting in the middle of the park, an odd sight to see in different circumstances - a politician and a stylistic warrior, just sitting there casually. The park drifted with chirping birds from healthy trees, a light breeze on a sunny summer's day, and to complete the image: The playground behind them bristled with the childish antics of the youth, and their parents milling about nearby. It was peaceful, friendly, a good day and a good place for a stroll. That was the reason why they decided to have such a stroll in such a park, peace and a welcoming air. Though Cinder longed to spar, she appreciated the time more. It was, in fact, a decade after her mother had died. She remembered that moment, when she was just a child when her life was shattered with grief and regret of what could have been. The intense sadness that, at the time, she never understood. The years passed and the lesson Cinder learned after acceptance was to cherish what family, what things in life that were dearly beloved. Her thoughts always came back to that one single thought whenever she wanted to interrupt or to leave, to find an excuse to put more work in for the day. Love needed to be appreciated while it still could be, a sentiment that Arthur understood in much the same way, as he also mirrored her reaction in many ways. Though, the idea of sparring with her father came into her mind after a few moments, she quickly shook it off with a grin. Arthur swishes the java in his cup around before taking another sip. He watches a sparrow shift from tree to tree as Cinder hears the light footwork behind her rest. She waits until it gets closer, then turns to spring her trap... ...and make a 'Boo!' face at the young boy trying to impress his friends by sneaking up on her. He jumps in surprise that she heard him at all, thinking himself clever and quiet. Cinder laughs lightly. [/b] "You made it [i]pretty[/i] far, next time you'll get me..." [b]She turns back around as he runs off to brag to his pals, a smile adorning both Cinder and the boy. Arthur glances over after another sip to chuckle to himself. Always making new friends. Peaceful and friendly, something to be loved, something to be cherished.[/b] [spoiler]TL;DR: Cinder and Arthur sit on a park bench[/spoiler]

[spoiler]sansa [i]"italics"[/i] The wolf "normal"[/spoiler] [b]The wolf and Sansa had resumed there search for somewhere to stay for a while. Last night they had slept in a cheap hostel that was cold and damp. They had taken to walking the streets the wolf keeping a watchful eye while Sansa looked around in curiosity and wonder seeing as she had not been around this many people or in this big of a city before.[/b] "I hate this place, people stare at me , they stare at you, it's unnerving." [i]"stop being so pessimistic. It's a nice place always busy so full of life."[/i] "Life kills other life you saw that yesterday when we were attacked." [i]"well yes but let's just forget that."[/i] "Easier said than done when the person that attacked you ate a piece of your arm." [b]they continued walking around looking more for a place to stop and eat rather than a place to stay at this point as both were getting hungry and the wolf had quite an appetite.[/b] [spoiler]open[/spoiler]

[b]As the night falls upon the city's street, the very same unknown figure that only a few people had actually managed to spot during the day, was now sitting at the edge of a rooftop which was part of a circle of rooftops that had a small fountain on the middle. The relaxing sounds of the water in the fountain splashing as the figure threw rocks inside were the only thing filling the lack of sound during the night..[/b] [spoiler]Open to all.[/spoiler]

[b]it was a strange sight. The Wolf and Sansa had always made a strange sight. A near seven foot tall man clad in heavy armour with a sword and rifle strapped to his back walking around behind a seemingly normal girl. It didn't matter to them though The Wolf would protect her at all possible times he could and I don't think either of them knew why.[/b] [spoiler]wolf-[i]"italics"[/i] Sansa-"normal"[/spoiler] "Where are we going Sandor?" [i]"Somewhere with food and a bed to sleep in."[/i] "Ok." [b]after arriving in Victorian not too long ago they had taken to wandering the streets looking for a place to rest up.[/b] [spoiler]open[/spoiler]

In Ishgria, Aster continued working on his 'project.' He had gone down quite a few levels each containing a separate copy of the same Mech, each being worked on by its own team of engineers. Sparks of electricity flew everywhere and the sounds of blowtorches, drills and various other tools rang out throughout the whole structure of the tower and far below. Outside this tower, lived a peaceful, thriving town, full of houses, shops and one or two markets dotted around the area. There were many armoured men and women walking around, going about their lives and others patrolling around, looking out for any unacceptable activity. The place was surrounded by a forest that stretched out for a while where people went to hunt for food to feed them and their families, or to sell to others.

[b]Yule, Jess in tow, walked up to the mayor's house, and did a loud knock. Everything seemed normal, except for one minor detail. Yule's hand was covered in blood, a large gash in his arm, reaching the bone. [/b] Hey! Anybody home? [spoiler]open, pref. Ruby[/spoiler]

[b]Kevin had been having a usual day, milling about the streets but that was about to change it was about to become one of his worst. He had been in an alley picking through trash looking for any useful scraps of metal that he could use before he heard a now familiar shout of angry voices.[/b] "What now?" There's the rat! [b]a dozen of the gang members that Kevin had usual run ins with had came round the corner filling up the alley, this number was quite shocking to Kevin he had only ever seen three or four at a time even when he was at their own place stealing from them. So he started backing up but as he did another half a dozen came in behind him.[/b] "Ok I think I will give you your stuff back now." Too late for that kid. [b]the speaker was seemingly the leader of the group. He was large strong and deadly and at this moment he carrying a very large blade. Kevin having no idea how he was going to get out of this got a worried look on his face.[/b] "Can't we just talk this out?" Never was something you wanted to do last time so why start? "Because I don't have a choice." Yeah you don't we're going to beat the shit out of you no matter what you do. [b]both groups had closed in around him forming a tightly packed circle around him. The first brick came flying out of nowhere and hit Kevin straight in the head knocking him to the ground. He managed to get one of his gauntlets to extend out into its shield form which helped protect his head from the rain of stones bricks and scraps that were now pelting down on him. He closed his eyes hoping for it to end while the crowd cheered,jested and laugh at his despair. It went on for what felt like hours but in reality was no more than a minute.[/b] Get him up I need to give him something that he'll remember. "W-what are you doing?" [b]kevin was on the verge of tears as a man lifted him up causing him excruciating pain.[/b] "No! No!" [b]the person who lifted him up held his arm out at a right angle to his body while the leader of the group aimed a strike at his shoulder with his blade. The man struck at Kevins shoulder as he cried out in pain but the man kept striking until all that was holding his arm to his shoulder was a piece of flesh and skin. They let Kevin slump to the ground his voice gone from shouting. He just lay there whimpering a pool of his own blood forming around him. The group quickly dispersed after their foul deed was done and Kevin remained. [/b] [spoiler]open... Wow I made this longer than expected and a lot darker too....[/spoiler]

A day had past since Aster and his men had surrendered the base, and yet they were still seen quite often in the village, walking around, and occasionally guarding other buildings. Aster had been busy with his plans, not particularly evil, but not entirely good either. Sparks of electricity could often be heard whereever he went. [spoiler]Open.[/spoiler]

[b]Marshes and swamps were fairly easy to see as a place where criminals adored residing. They were perfect places to bog down their pursuers, quite literally, with a passively hostile environment. As such, many of the less reputable sort flocked to the markets of The Mill in the east of the Elysian continent. The Mill literally sprouted up around an aging, sunken sawmill, which was placed in the worst possible place in terms of transportation for some strange reason, likely why it was abandoned before long by its real owners. Thus, quickly it became a hideout for smugglers of dangerous goods, and later formed a fluctuating community of such like-minded folk. Eventually it came to be a number of soggy wooden inns and market sheds, separated by wood planks that served as sidewalks. Heavy merchandise came via small hovercraft, cushions of air keeping them from sinking into the marshes along their trip. It was a place without any particular sense of order, as such, everyone had a weapon of some sort under their thick coats and shady attire, and their unsaid pacts of familiarity with the surrounding crowd were likely what kept them docile. Everyone kept their heads down, everyone minded their own business, mostly for the fact that they didn't want their business across the mud either. A full drab cloak was the fashion of the day. Rain pounded heavily across the Mill's residents' hoods, soaking anything that didn't have a cover of its own. The wind howled every other minute, there was a thunderstorm on the horizon. Shoppers and merchants alike sped to find a quick place to hole up for the night and protect their wares. Relatively few didn't seem to be in any rush, among those few were the trio. Of the three, two were very obviously an old model of security bot. They were each of a blocky humanoid shape, weathered by rust and time, both walked without a cloak, which showed their large rifles magnetized to their backs as they stomped along. Caring about appearances wasn't particularly in their playbook, but then again, there were bots of similar configuration in similar instances within the stalls they walked between. The first, however, was much smaller, and flanked by the two basic security bots, it was their master in a sense. Oddly apart from the predatory criminals their master was much younger, in her teens if anything. Under the hooded olive cloak could only show her icy eyes and nearly matching hair, with the latter of which assuming a dirtier snowy shade naturally. Her expression lay blank, and her focus seemed to never waver to anything around her. The girl almost glided through the masses on her path. None, however, regarded her any strange looks. Frankly, it wasn't strange to them in the slightest, and even if it was, they wouldn't get involved unless it was a larger issue. However, certain individuals, Stratos or Yule in particular, might recognize the iced over demeanor and features of the same girl that they glimpsed on their expedition, which took the lives of all three of their employers, and if they hadn't retreated, them as well. Her brutal companion from before wasn't present however, just her and a light escort of unremarkable manufacture. The trio make their way through the crowds and into one of the warehouse-type buildings, one of the largest in The Mill. A place where they sold the more [i]exotic[/i] merchandise. [/b]

[b]kevin runs through the streets 4 men chasing after him while cursing and shouting.[/b] get back here! "Lads can't we just talk about this?" [b]the reply he got was a bullet whizzing past his head which caused civilians all around to run in panic. The reason these 4 very simple minded but athletic men were chasing a 16 year old kid through the streets was for the same reason that this 16 year old kid had always been chased through the streets. Kevin stole something from them. Well not something more somethings and those things included, food, a pistol, a knife, a few scraps of useful metal and a strange blue glowing object that could be used as quite a strong power source.[/b] i will blast your brains all over the streets! [b]another shot is fired and it makes contact with one of Kevins heavy gauntlets but pings off harmlessly.[/b] "Yeah my brain isn't in my hand." [b]this seemed to infuriate the main guy chasing him this was shown by him emptying a whole clip but fortunately for Kevin he had darted down an alleyway all of the bullets missing him[/b] [spoiler]open[/spoiler]

[i]Daniel walks toward the city gates after moving from his small village his clothing and gloves hiding his robotic arm and his large sword on his back[/i] (Open)

Aster Stevens guards his HQ, after reappearing from a mission, and looks around, surveying the area for a moment. He sees nothing of interest, but keeps alert. [spoiler]Open[/spoiler]

[b]kevin walks around a market all the smells from the open stalls made his mouth water, he hadn't eaten in two days. Not something that usually happens but every once in a while it goes on for that long or longer. He resisted himself from picking the pockets of unsuspecting passers by and instead chose to look on like the food would magically float into his mouth.[/b] [spoiler]open [/spoiler]

[b]An unknown figure walks on the high rooftops amongst the night. It's metallic armor reflecting the moonshine in a perfect way, it's red visor giving off a subtle yet visible glow. Light rain droplets carefully slither through the plates on his armor. His direction doesn't seem to be anywhere since he just takes random directions with every step on different rooftops, he moves to the edges of the rooftops from time to time. Staring down at the crowded streets filled with people hastily attempting to make their way to their homes before the climate worsened. Barely anybody would be able to notice him, as most people were just diverting their full attention to their paths. Only those with a keen eyesight would actually be able to notice the figure. [/b] [spoiler] This is more of a post to develop "???"'s backstory/reveal his identity than to continue the Solar Hawks plot. Since the plot would only go further now when Yule does something noticeable. So anybody can reply to this post.[/spoiler]

[b]Yule stood on a roof top, messing with a small device[/b] [spoiler]open[/spoiler]

"[i]Arthur, you're not listening.[/i] This is a subject that needs tending to. It needs a real team of professionals, not some... Some [i]girl[/i] who thinks she's a-" "-You would do well to remember that the one in question, whom you harbor such doubts of, is to both the city's residents, and I." [b]The governor cuts in, a solid, stubborn backing to his tone, not angry, just stiff.[/b] "Cinder will do it with or without the bloodhounds, I see no need for them to be taken from active assignments and deployed for a role they can only hope to complete halfway." [b]General Reece, a tall, chiseled man with a fairly dark complexion and regulation grooming, kept ramrod straight in his grey officer's uniform as he stood before Arthur Silvana's desk, but it was obvious that he was fully braced. The governor, understandably, was quite protective and prideful in his daughter. Reece realized his slip-up the moment it came out, thus, he braced on instinct. Frustratedly blurting out such things to his superior made himself cringe. Arthur, fingers intertwined over his desk, stands calmly the and turns to the window next to the pair. He peers out as he speaks next, watching life past the wrought iron gates of the historic dwelling he called home for as long as his name had held office.[/b] "Jim, I understand that you only try to do what you think is right for us all. You're intelligent, good natured, and a talented soldier, but you can also be impatient and brash." [b]Arthur extends his hand to gesture outside, then glances to the general.[/b] "Tell me - what do you see?" [b]Reece takes a step to stand beside him.[/b] "....I see people. I see Elysian residents going about their lives." "I see our heart, our soul, a very fragile balance between the hope of prosperity and the fear of another threat on the horizon. Bringing in such a fabled group to conduct a domestic pursuit for an assassin for hire would only incite the latter." [b]Arthur bows his head, a slight sigh escaping his visage.[/b]"A guardian is a symbol of hope and protection. Let that symbol fly free. Send the Bloodhounds you recalled back to their stations, set up Cinder for the role through the official channels." [b]Jim Reece, Arthur's friend, and in some respects his partner on the political field, nods after he finishes. He was silently glad that his superior was the sort to explain his reasoning, rather than order him about, and that Silvana hadn't chewed him up one ear and out of the other. Reece respected him dearly, even though he harbored doubts of the young Marshall.[/b] "I'll attend to it immediately." [b]Arthur turns to face the general fully as the man starts to depart.[/b] "And General?" [b]Reece stops and looks back.[/b] "Yes?" "It's always chipped at my thoughts since the day she was appointed, but I've always felt you would explain at the right time on your own accord. I am curious, however, if you would tell me if I asked. Why don't you believe in her?" ----- [b]Cinder sits up from her bench in the gardens and stretches. They should have finished talking already, time to go see what they had decided. Her father had told her that he would call for Reece upon hearing her findings on the issue of the masked man. Explosive concoctions, murder, a masked man with connections. If what Marie said was true, he also had a child with him at one point, offering a distraction. Word traveled that a masked man matching the same description had sailed with a scientific expedition, but never came back. It wouldn't be far off to assume that the man was the reason they never came back, another three bodies to the list of known victims. Reece called upon one of his irregular units, this particular one being the Bloodhounds. As with their name, they employed various tracking technology and tactics, but as a whole had little-to-no experience under their belt, and seldom left their posts of exterminating lesser Outrider nests for small settlements' gratitude. They were wildcards in terms of combat effectiveness, and their skills could be better saved and used for more appropriate instances, Arthur had explained. Taking on an assassin, or assassins, with which they knew little to nothing was an enormous risk. It felt similar to politics, Cinder thought. Cinder didn't like politics, her nature was mainly what gained her friends in high places. She stands up, surrounded by various flowers and ferns, trees and shrubs that made up the plot of green, the area was a delightful sight with its roses galore. Taking a short catnap in a sea of beauty was rather poetic in a way. Cinder navigates through the maze of ancient-looking statues, that families past had added, and between the eternal flora at every corner to be released once more to the main courtyard, and to the front door.[/b] [spoiler]TL;DR: Cinder walks through the main courtyard of the Governor's house in the city.[/spoiler]