Oblivious Orbit ONE (OOC/PG-16/Accepting/Not Started)

[yui]

One day, in New Eridu's Vulcan Quarter, a rumor began to spread.

"Somewhere in the Hollows, where nobody has found it yet, there's a treasure worth more cash than there is in the world."

Well, as rumors do, it began to spread. Some dismissed it as a ploy to lure gullible idiots into the Hollows where they'd get shaken down for all their stuff, but others, for one reason or another, chose to believe that it was true. Although, the exact nature of the treasure was a point of debate. But be it a superweapon, a priceless artifact from the Old Civilization, research notes that laid bare the nature of Hollows and ether itself, or any number of other holy grails to quest in search of, the important thing was that whatever it was, whoever had it could single-handedly change the world. Naturally, such a lucrative rumor has attracted no small amount of attention, and once word started leaking outside of Inter-Knot, the competition only grew greater. All manner of Hollow Raiders, Proxies, and other criminals & established businessmen alike all sought to get their hands on this so-called "Hollow Grail."

And then there's you and your ragtag group of misfits.

You are part of a small group of Hollow Raiders for hire, not that anyone can really tell. Between your general lack of work, let alone work worth talking about, and the general lack of respect you get even from other raiders, it's not uncommon for others to be surprised that the (unfortunately more successful) business your company runs as a front is just a front. Despite this, you and the rest of your merry crew of nobodies has refused to call it quits or go legit, for whatever reason suits each of you individually. With the potential prospect of this new treasure, however, it's time to start diving into the Hollows once again. If you can find it before anyone else, assuming the rumors are true, at worst you could all retire young and live like kings for the rest of your days.

But surely you wouldn't do that, right? If you were just in it for the cash, you would have stopped by now. No, while the treasure is great and all, you've got something else that needs dealing with along the way before you can retire.

RULES

Spoiler

1. I'm host, if I gotta step in to resolve something, I've got final say.
2. Just don't be a dick, basically, and at least try to post consistently.
3. We have a Discord. Joining it isn't necessary, but I'd very strongly advise it, for many reasons.

APP STUFF

Spoiler

Name:
Attribute: For combat. Physical/Fire/Ice/Electric/Ether. This is mostly just for flavor, but hey maybe it'll come up in the future?
Specialty: Also for combat. Attack/Stun/Anomaly/Support/Defense. Again, mostly just for flavor, but in some exceptional cases, I might let you get away with stuff you otherwise wouldn't depending on your choice here.
Appearance: Spoiler this
Personality: Spoiler this
Biography: I implore you to consult me for this part. I'd like to give everyone's bio a good hook into the overall story of this RP, and the best way to make that happen is to work together for it. Also, spoiler this.
Misc: Whatever else

 

So, that asterisk from earlier. We need a (singular) Proxy. For the unfamiliar, a Proxy's job is to help navigate the unusual space of a Hollow, making them essential to the operations of Hollow Raiders like our little crew. While I can fill this role myself, I'd rather... not. If you want to take a stab at being the Proxy, there's going to be a few things we'll have to discuss behind the scenes, but in the RP itself, you'll have an overall different function from the Hollow Raiders around you. Basically:

1. I'd be passing information about where the gang's heading and other Hollow-related info over to you where nobody else can see. How you use that intel is for you to decide.
2. As our Proxy, you wouldn't have already been part of the gang. Rather, you found a commission on Inter-Knot saying this crew of nobody Hollow Raiders was looking to find the Hollow Grail, and for whatever reason, you chose to take the job.

This is a role that's crucial to the Hollow-side functions of the RP, so it's not a responsibility I'd hand out lightly. As for why I'd rather not do it myself... well, I figured it may be nice to find ways to slap a sticker on my players to help each one feel more like an important part of this barely-running little machine.

SETTING STUFF (about the setting of Zenless Zone Zero, since I almost certainly have a couple people in here unfamiliar with the setting)

Spoiler

Host Note: While I did try to include plenty of surface-level info in a format that's easy to digest for people unfamiliar with ZZZ, this is still an entire-ass setting of an established piece of fiction. I don't expect anyone to read it all in one go, but in return, please understand that this is not an exhaustive databank of every available piece of information. If you need information that isn't present in here, I encourage you to ask about it or otherwise give the wiki a visit if need be. If you want some reading material catered to those unfamiliar with the city of New Eridu itself, please refer to the New Eridu Settler's Guide.

NEW ERIDU

Spoiler

As of present, New Eridu is the last city in the world. So-named as this is where the survivors of the fall of the Old Capital - Eridu - fled after the latter was consumed by a Hollow of unmatched size just ten years ago. Despite its age, New Eridu is a thriving metropolis of considerable size, with a bustling population, well-planned infrastructure, and no shortage of places to go and things to do. This is thanks in no small part to technology that allows officials to take etheric matter from Hollows and use it as an extremely potent source of energy. New Eridu is also home to a robust police force in PubSec, as well as both the HIA and HAND to deal with Hollow-related incidents.

The events of the official game take place primarily in Janus Quarter. This RP does not. We're in Vulcan Quarter, of which no information exists other than it exists. Which is great because it gives us plenty of room to make shit up.

THE OUTER RING

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Although New Eridu is "the last city in the world," one shouldn't confuse this with it being the last foothold of civilization. Albeit sparse, there are people who live beyond the city's walls. This unwelcoming desert is referred to as the Outer Ring. Lacking New Eridu's means of converting ether into electricity, vehicles out here still rely on diesel fuel, and while it's not an uninhabitable hellscape by any means, the general quality of life and technology is still a noticable step down from within the city. However, the Outer Ring is also a place that offers far more freedom than New Eridu.

The Outer Ring is largely self-governing from one place to another, but where the city has forces like PubSec, the Outer Ring is presided over and protected by its myriad biker gangs, who may themselves come into conflict with one another from time to time.

PEOPLE OF NEW ERIDU

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New Eridu, bustling city it is, has quite a diverse population. Not just from humans either. New Eridu (and the surrounding Outer Ring) is also home to Thirens, a humanoid race with varying animal features. Not only that, but you may even meet an automaton or two whose AI is advanced enough to pass the forbidden fruit test, thus proving it is intelligent/"alive" enough to be considered "a person." Not only is the city home to all sorts of diverse walks of life, their backgrounds as just as varied! Truly, New Eridu's got it all!

BANGBOO

Spoiler

Bangboo are small, round, semi-intelligent robot assistants, usually with rabbit-like ears sticking out the top. This approachable appearance isn't all they have going for them, either. Bangboo are a staple of New Eridu life, and are manufactured for all manner of functions and purposes. While they were originally invented for the purpose of Hollow evacuation, they've since filled many more roles in society as well. Whatever job one may be able to think of, there's almost certainly a Bangboo somewhere that was built for that job. There are even services that let people order custom Bangboo!

Although they aren't strictly recognized as New Eridu citizens, Bangboo seem to have a society all their own that runs alongside that of New Eridu at large.

NEW ERIDU PUBLIC SECURITY

Spoiler

Whether you call them Public Security, New Eridu Public Security, NEPS, or PubSec, the name summarizes the role quite well. PubSec is New Eridu's police service, which handles both administrative and law enforcement matters within the city. There are various departments of PubSec, each with their own distinct role, but the overarching goal is the same: Protect the city and its civilians, maintain order, and weed out criminals. As this is an RP in which the player cast is Hollow Raiders, making them criminals by default, it would be wise to not let PubSec know what exactly we do around here.

 

HOLLOWS

Spoiler

Hollows are a type of supernatural disaster that visually appear as a large, black sphere that swallows up a given area. Inside a Hollow, space gets distorted and bent, such that it can be easy for most people to get lost as they try to go down one path, but the Hollow's space "teleports" them to an entirely different area. To complicate this matter, remaining inside a Hollow has a corrupting effect. While there are serums and protective gear that can help bypass this, the flipside of this silver lining is that there is no known cure for ether corruption. Worst of all, should one's corruption reach a critical point, the victim will undergo a painful transformation into an Ethereal, from which point all that can be done for them is to kill them. It is because of the Hollows that the old civilization fell, save for Eridu.

ETHEREALS

Spoiler

Monsters that are born within the Hollows, made of living ether mutated from local flora & fauna. Ethereals lack intelligence, and will indiscriminately attack anything that isn't another Ethereal. It's very possible for humans, Thirens, and even sufficiently-advanced AI to suffer corruption, and eventually become one of these monsters. Symptoms of ether corruption include bodily pain, distorted senses, and the appearance of ether crystals on the body. While some people have naturally higher ether aptitude than others, letting them resist the effects of a Hollow for longer, nobody is truly immune. The only surefire way to avoid an Ethereal is to never enter a Hollow in the first place, as they're unable to exist outside of their boundaries.

Try not to become one of these.

HOLLOW RAIDERS

Spoiler

Although Hollows are dangerous, the etheric matter inside is very valuable, and selling it can be quite the lucrative business if you're brave and skilled enough. Thus was born the Hollow Raider, a career built on doing precisely that. Hollow Raiders themselves can vary in demeanor, though stereotypically, many are thuggish brutes, greedy bandits, and glorified bullies. While not all Hollow Raiders are like this, it's not a reputation that was born out of nowhere. While this can be quite a profitable business, diving into Hollows to extract its contents, without the authorization of an officially-sanctioned group like PubSec or the HIA, is strictly illegal.

 CARROT DATA

Spoiler

The distorted space of a Hollow may leave one with a critical question. "If space doesn't work normally in a Hollow, how do the officials navigate them so well?" Enter stage left, the humble Bangboo, originally built for exactly that purpose! Bangboo use a special type of data called a Carrot to navigate the Hollows. This is a special type of data that allows the Bangboo to understand the layout of the Hollow and guide people through it. Because of this vital function, Carrot data is highly valuable to both official channels like the HIA, as well as more "under the table" groups such as Hollow Raiders.

PROXIES

Spoiler

Simply put, someone who's made a career out of guiding others through a Hollow. Proxies collect commissions from clients that involve delving into a Hollow for a living, often taking jobs that are too risky or shady for the officials to handle. However, it must be stressed that, much like the life of a Hollow Raider, Proxy work is very much against the laws of New Eridu. Proxies connect with one another, and occasionally their clients, through Inter-Knot, which is not to be confused with the internet.

HOLLOW INVESTIGATIVE ASSOCIATION

Spoiler

An official organization within New Eridu, tasked with Hollow disaster response. The duties of the HIA include evacuating citizens out of areas that have become a Hollow, as well as hunting the Ethereals within to contain and eventually disperse the Hollow in question. Hollow Investigators who work here regularly delve into Hollows for this purpose, but while they do come quite prepared, one still shouldn't join the HIA if they're looking for a low-risk career. The HIA also has various career clubs established throughout New Eridu, in which people are free to not only learn more about Hollows, but engage in highly-immersive VR combat to see if they're capable of fighting the good fight and taking to the field themselves.

HOLLOW AFFAIRS & NEUTRALIZATION DEPARTMENT

Spoiler

If the HIA were to be summarized as "the Hollow police," HAND would likewise be "the Hollow SWAT team." HAND is a smaller, elite organization deployed to deal with especially dangerous Hollow situations. Their primary goal is the continual containment of Hollow Zero, but that most certainly doesn't mean they'll ignore critical situations that might come up within New Eridu.

 

 

 

Edited March 8 by yui

[Strange Bird of the Moon]

Sounds fun, i'm in.

[Saikazo]

Interested

[Doggo]

Cant wait to miss the 50/50.

[Skaia]

sure why not

[yui]

aaaaaaaaaand we're an OOC! complete with a slightly more detailed version of the original blurb, some database stuff in case anyone needs a primer on the setting, and the usual fittings of an OOC. if you've expressed interest, be it here or privately, you've also been sent a link to the rp's discord. i encourage clicking it.

[Saikazo]

The Starlight Glows Bright

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Name: Reuben Southworth
Attribute: Fire
Specialty: Stun
 

Appearance

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In uniform

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Out of uniform

Spoiler

 

 
Personality

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Reuben looks like a stern, strict man. His imposing size and stone face would cause those that didn't know him to assume he was a joyless workaholic. This could not be further from the truth. 

Reuben is a man that believes in helping those around you, to always reach out a hand to people. He's always ready with a word of encouragement, or to be a steady hand that pushes people forward. This is only exemplified further when he dons his suit. In his suit, his enthusiasm rockets up to the level of a cheesy Saturday morning hero. It's a heart of gold doused in a layer of cheese. 

He is especially polite to fans of his. He'll often stop to talk to anyone who recognizes him or a character that he plays. He's always willing to sign something or pose for a picture, no matter how silly it may be. To him, the smiles on his fans' faces are worth more than even his own dignity. 

Biography

Spoiler

Reuben Southworth used to be a household name. In fact, there are many fans of him still, even despite the fact that he faded from the limelight. That is because he was an actor on a famous show in New Eridu. He was the original Red Starlight Knight, doing both the suit work and the acting outside of the suit. People loved him for the bold attitude he presented while also having the chops to deliver some of the show's most emotional and touching moments. 

However, all good things come to an end. After 3 seasons of the show, the studio wanted to use new actors, ones who would charge less for their services. He was ultimately pushed out, although he got to choose the one that replaced him. He graciously handed over the title of Starlight Knight to the next generation, and moved on to other projects.

Except those other projects never came. 

Despite his fame, or perhaps because of it, people couldn't imagine him in other roles. He was constantly rejected for other shows and movies, as people would only see the Red Starlight Knight. The only acting jobs he ever received was coming back for Starlight Knight anniversary specials and movies.

Because of this, he decided to try and use his skills to better use. And so, began his trial to try to join Pubsec. At first, everything seemed to be going well, but he soon realized that Pubsec wasn't taking him seriously. He passed their tests, sure, but he was still a very famous public figure, one that could be exploited to boost Pubsec's rep. So instead of going out and helping people, like he wanted, he was paraded around like a cop idol. While he didn't completely mind, as he knew it was far easier to have kids listen to their hero rather than a stuffy old cop, he felt unfulfilled. 

This all came to a head when he was given a new assignment. Pubsec got a costume of their mascot, Officer Mewmew, and he was the one to wear it.

This lasted for about a month before he finally quit, unable to take it any more.

With nowhere else to turn, he decided there was only one solution. While he was a cop idol, he saw many cases of people needing help, but the cops being unable or unwilling to help. So, he would help them. He donned a new costume, and became a Hollow Raider. He promised himself to become one that would help people, that would blaze across the skies and carry hope to those who had none. An ally of justice, a blazing comet in the night sky. 

And thus, the "Comet Knight" was born. 

Misc

Spoiler

Theme Song

Am I about to completely spell out his kit if he was in Zenless Zone Zero? You bet your ass I am!

Gameplay Kit

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Core Passive: Burning Vigor
Every Defensive Assist Reuben performs, he gains a Comet Tag. He can hold a maximum of 5 Comet Tags. For every Comet Tag he holds, the enemy's Fire RES and Electric RES is reduced by 3%. For every Comet Tag he consumes, his attack raises by 6% for 10s.

Basic Attack: Comet Combo
Press [Attack] to activate:
Perform up to five forward strikes, The first two dealing Physical DMG and the last three dealing Fire DMG.

Basic Attack: Blazing Comet Kick
Hold [Attack] to activate:
Leaps high into the air before crashing down on the nearest enemy, dealing Fire DMG. Consumes every Comet Tag Reuben holds upon use. 

Special Attack: Comet Armor
Press [Special] to activate:
Reuben stomps the area in front of him, dealing Physical DMG.
Anti-Interrupt level is increased while using this skill.

Special Attack: Blazing Comet Armor
With enough Energy, press [Special] to activate:
Reuben stomps,  causing flames to engulf him and the area in front, dealing Fire DMG.
Upon activating this skill, gain one Comet Tag.
Character is invulnerable while using this skill.

Ultimate Attack: Blazing Comet Destruction
When Decibel Rating is at Maximum, press [Ultimate] to activate:
Consumes every Comet Tag Reuben holds. Dashes forward ahead to grab the opponent then leaping into the air before pausing, and then slamming opponent into the ground, dealing massive Fire DMG.
Character is invulnerable while using this skill.

Thoughts on Teammates

Spoiler

Vincent
Vinnie's kinda rough around the edges. I don't think I see eye to eye on everything with him. Not that I condone his way of life, but I could never live it. We need someone with his sharp mind though, lord knows I could never run a business. I trust him to have my back, and I'll have his. 

Ashley
Call it an actor's intuition, but they seem to be a fan of me. Still, kid seems nervous. Keeps to themselves despite being social. Reminds me of Starlight Knight Pink, to be honest. I have an autographed photo ready for them, I'm just waiting for their birthday to hand it over to them.

Soleil 
The new kid on the team. She's very important as our Proxy. She seems to have a wandering mind, I only hope this doesn't lead to problems with the team. Also, I think she's putting me in a position where I'm the one who's going to have to keep up the repeat clientele. 

Khulan
Seems to be a good kid. She can definitely ride a motorcycle better than me. Not that I was anything special, but the stunts she can pull could get her a show. I appreciate her being so straightforward, it matches my energy well.

Rosemary

 

 

 

Edited March 17 by Saikazo

[Mr. Hyde]

Blood in the Water

Spoiler

 

 

Name: Vincent 'Vinnie' Sindona 
Attribute: Physical
Specialty: Attack
Appearance: 

Spoiler

Personality:

Spoiler

Vinnie is a business man at heart, always trying to make deals and taking things way too seriously.  Getting him to laugh is a true task to undertake, but one that is worth the undertaking.  Once you've made him laugh once, you've been adopted into his 'Family'.  However, now he'll only think of you as a means of laughter, so don't go screwing up your new job or you'll find yourself swimming with the fishes.  He's a smooth talking, silver-tongued con artist who will put you in the dirt the moment you irritate him enough. 

Loyalty means a lot to Vinnie, and once you have him in your corner he's there for life.  Vinnie will fight for those in his handmade family until his dying breath.  He likes to make sure that those around him are well taken care of, even if it's against their wills.  

Biography: 

Spoiler

Vincent Sindona was born the son of third-rate Hollow Raiders with fourth-rate equipment.  This being the case, his life has always been intermingled with the underbelly of New Eridu, and it's various criminal organizations.  While his parents earned a decent living, Vincent couldn't help but idolize the lavish lives some of those his parents did odd jobs for.  Of course, he would do side gigs for those same scallywags as well.  He'd deliver packages here and there, and maybe even take out the trash for the local casino.  Whatever it was about this lifestyle, Vincent couldn't get enough of.  However, there was an element to this seedy world that he wasn't fond of, and that was the violent side of the activities here.  If there was one thing Vincent couldn't stand, it was a low-life kicking someone down on his luck.  He saved up every penny from every gig until he was able to start up his own operation.  His specialty?  Loans of course!  

Vincent ran a tight ship with his crew.  He ran it with respect and decency for cohort and customer alike.  You were late on a loan payment this month?  Sure, get it back to him next month with just a smidge of interest, or refer a friend to his business for a bit of street credit.  He was well liked by the community around him, so much so that his family's dealings were able to take off a couple of years after his first venture.  Vincent started trying to put his hand into as many jars as possible, but his most lucrative endeavor was sponsoring Hollow Raiders.  Raiders covered with his insurances and equipment would in turn give him a share of the spoils of his raids.  He couldn't help but feel like he was helping the whole of New Eridu through his practices, improving the economy by leaps and bounds.  Soon enough, the New Eridu Street Sharks were the biggest syndicate in New Eridu.  

This came with detractors though.  Some other families didn't see eye to eye with Vincent's generosity, and his strict least-violence-as-possible policy he stuck to.  Vincent was a businessman at heart, and he was good at it.  He had no need for the darker side of Mob Jobs.  That's why when the N.E.P.S. came knocking his door down, he was quite perplexed.  He had obviously butted heads with law enforcement in the past, but it wasn't anything he couldn't slip out of.  This time however, the cops had a warrant out for his immediate arrest and incarceration.  His blood had been found at the scene of a heinous murder.  It was all too clear that a rival gang...or perhaps a member of his own crew, had double crossed him in an attempt to oust his position as top of the food chain of New Eridu.  That's just how things were in this part of the city he supposed.  He went willingly with the police, complying with each and every command, despite the pleads of his comrades to do the opposite.  

"Only one Shark is going under tonight.  Any one of ya jumps in and I'll pile the number high!"  With a toothy grind, and in hand cuffs, Vincent Sindona was taken away.  10 years had passed, and Vincent was released due to good behavior, and some old friends in the legal system.  However, when he returned to the streets, he noticed that the Sharks of old had turned heel.  They were a small, bloodthirsty gang of ne'er-do-wells that he had no intention of rejoining.  As if they'd let some old time gangster back into their midst anyways.  But rejoining a gang wasn't in the cards for him...he had a different goal in mind.  Start fresh...and take this city back from the scum who now falsely claimed the throne.  The only way to make money now was to start from the beginning.  He thought back to his parent's gig as Hollow Raiders, and figured he'd follow in their footsteps.  After all, it wasn't as if he had zero experience of Hollows anyway, he had interacted with a plethora of Raiders during his dealing days.  Naturally the raiders would talk about there ventures, and information was really all Vinnie needed.  Maybe he inherited a better knack for the stuff than his parents had.     

Misc.:

Spoiler

Theme Song

Weapon of Choice: a pair of spiked Brass Knuckles

Ether Aptitude: 79

The Crew?

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Reuben?:

Spoiler

I can't believe I'm workin' with a friggin' celebrity here!  The damn Red Starlight Knight?!  He's a badass, even without the suit.  But I'll never let him know that!  I respect the hell out of his ethic, too.  I can rely on this guy to do his job.  Maybe I can get his autograph without letting him know I'm his biggest fan.  

Ashley?:

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Can't help but feel like I've seen this scamp running around the dirtier side of New Eridu...not that it was an uncommon occurrence.  But they're sweet.  They might've caught me blushing at their comments once or twice, but I try my best to ignore that stuff.  I'll protect them, no matter what.  

Soleil?:

Spoiler

What a downer this chick is, am I right?  Head's always in the clouds...I just wanna shake them out of it.  Wish they'd crack a smile every once in a while.  There ain't no shell that ol' Vinnie hasn't been able to crack!

Khulan?:

Spoiler

She's got some spunk!  I know she doesn't like me much, but I can't help but enjoy that fact!  Easily my ride or die in this rag tag group of Hollow Raiders!  And that ain't lip service!  She's smarter than she lets on too.  A guy like me can appreciate someone who hides their cards.  I've got Khulan's back until the day I sink to the deep, even if she hates my guts!  

Tobias?:

Spoiler

The guy is way too hoppy and trigger happy, but he's got a good heart.  I try my best to keep up with his antics, and reel him back in when necessary, but dealing with this kid really shows me how old I've gotten.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 22 by Mr. Hyde

[Doggo]

My Miyabi Looks Weird

Spoiler

Name: Ashley Todd
Attribute: Electric
Specialty: Anomaly
Appearance: 

Spoiler

 

 

5'7"/170 cm
Not pictured: big brown eyes.
Known to wear color contacts and dye the natural brown fur wildly different colors on as often as a weekly basis. Bit of a litmus test how serious things are closer they are to natural colors.

Personality: 

Spoiler

Ashley leans into first impressions people make of them which naturally tends toward being overly cutesy. While not insincere there's a clear practice to the affectation accompanied by flirting with just about everyone. It is his preferred form of teasing and he uses it proactively to keep people guessing around him as a mode of establishing some form of control in social situations. Genuine compliments and insults alike easily slip into the play letting him backpedal if he hits a nerve with someone.

Naturally it's tiring to always be acting but Ashley remains something of a theater kid even in more relaxed situations. While not forward with it there's definitely some brightness behind the eyes. Despite claiming to be a real people person the split on correct "soul reads" never strays too far from fifty-fifty. Though the data is skewed by paying the fox any kind of complement which easily flusters him and wins him over. While very open about being safe for others to vent around they almost never reciprocate, preferring to focus on other people in conversation.

Biography: 

Spoiler

A sad but not uncommon story, Ashley and their older brother Rory were orphaned very early in their childhoods by the sudden appearance of a hollow that claimed the lives of their parents. Ashley too had been caught up inside it but due to an unnaturally high ether aptitude for his family the young toddler survived long enough to be rescued by PubSec. Rory basically raised his little brother as the two bounced through orphanages and foster homes with little hope of ever being adopted.

Eventually as teens they tried to strike it out on their own as many try to. Open up some kind of shop and dabble in the illegal side of New Eridu. While Ashley had varied interests, modeling and high fashion being the main far off dream, Rory was single-minded in his pursuit of Hollows and learning all there was to know about them. With no real resources to their names from their struggling shoe store this meant they had to haphazardly take hollow raiding into their own hands. Rory had every intent to be the main raider and train Ashley to be the proxy but their ether aptitudes being what they were, the reverse situation became mandatory. While he didn't especially enjoy raiding, he could never turn Rory down when he came knocking with bad raiding ideas.

The two drew other Hollow Orphans as they were called to their group, getting some more people who could actually enter the hollows. Rory brute forced learning things about computers to function as the group's proxy to mixed results but into early adulthood there was a real brotherhood growing between them. With more combat minded individuals around Ashley found more time to slip away from the raids to pursue some of his own interests. With no connections to the industries they wanted, the fox found themselves at work as a stripper and eventually an adult film actor for a few years. Almost all the money went to the raiding efforts as time had never dulled Rory's obsession.

At the height of their confidence the entire group entered a hollow together one day some years ago, even Ashley who had been infrequent. It was their most profitable commission ever and could have established Rory as a real proxy on InterKnot. Calculations were faulty, poor routes were planned, rash decisions were made and more powerful ethereals than were known to be present were awash in the hollow. All of the group were corrupted and transformed into monsters except the siblings who barely managed to escape.

Devastated, the two withdrew from any attempt at raiding for a time. But to Ashley's alarm Rory went missing for three days straight. They combed every inch of New Eridu they reasonably could only for Rory to appear at their home unannounced just as he'd left. His brother was cold and cruel when Ashley expressed his concern and tried to learn anything about where he'd been. An argument so bitter over all of their frustrations broke out ending in Rory wishing Ashley hadn't been saved all those years ago.

The two have not seen each other in the intervening years. But it set Ashley on a new course. Rory's behavior was so different, the argument so unlike anything they'd ever experienced even in their roughest patches that he became convinced it wasn't his actual brother. Something had happened in those three days. Something in a hollow. And if they were to ever find out what, they were going to have to devote themselves to hollow raiding. That presented a unique set of troubles as he could take care of himself but funding equipment for raiding or proxy work was a cut above his pay. Still he knew what he had to do and as rumors of the Hollow Grail spread Ashley became convinced that was his ticket to finding and saving his real brother.

Misc:

Spoiler

• Age: 26
• Pronouns: He/They (but collects pronouns and will respond to anything you care to refer to them as)
• Weapon: mechanized tennis racket and balls, big zaps at high speed uses electricity to retrieve ammo, blade in side of racket for a pinch
• Ether Aptitude: 84 on average
• Crippling coffee addiction despite thiren caffeine intolerance
• Has a decent social media following and does still run a members only account for less family friendly content
• Theme: Puppet in the Dark

Kit Memes:

Spoiler

Core Passive: Full Service
Begins battle with 5 stacks of Service.
When consuming stacks of Service, increase Attribute Proficiency and Attribute Mastery by X, up to a max of 10 times.
At max stacks enters Service Break state.
While in Service Break increase party ATK by X% except self and ally attacks on Shocked enemies can trigger Shock damage 1 additional time every 2 seconds.

Basic Attack: Forehand +
Press [Attack] to activate:
Performs up to 5 racket swings, each dealing Physical DMG.
While stacks of Service are available each swing consumes one stack to launch an Ampball dealing Electric DMG.
Ampballs orbit the last target they strike.

Basic Attack: Backhand -
Hold [Attack] to activate:
Recalls all deployed Ampballs and gains one stack of Service per Ampball retrieved.
Returning Ampballs deal Electric DMG and deal increased Daze to Shocked enemies.

Special Attack: AC Fault
Press [Skill] to activate:
Deployed Ampballs activate, dealing Electric DMG once to all nearby enemies.

EX Special Attack: DC Double Fault
With enough Energy, hold [Skill] to activate:
Deployed Ampballs activate, generating a field around them for 10 seconds.
Inside, enemies take continuous Electric DMG and their DEF decreases by X%.
Triggers Quick Assist.

Ultimate: Kilowatt Hour Service Ace
When Decibel Rating is at Maximum, press [Ultimate] to activate:
Gains max Service stacks then consumes all of them to a launch a Mega Ampball at enemies, dealing massive Electric DMG.
While Active Mega Ampball launches Rally Lightning at a single enemy every .5 seconds dealing Electric DMG to it and up to 2 additional targets nearby in succession.
Mega Ampball is active for 5 seconds before splitting into 5 Ampballs.

Team Tweet Drafts:

Spoiler

Sucks having to keep these in the drafts but what's a boy to do when the squad's existence itself is illegal? My followers would totally eat these up too... All the cute selfies gone to waste.

Khulan:
OMG I thought she was a catgirl for a second! I wanna headpat so bad... Sounds like a faux pas. Might bite me if I tried anyway. God I wish I could pull a see-through top off like that.

Reuben:
Don't meet your heroes? Girl I'm simping. A starlight knight! Kid me would have exploded! (Adult me still might) I'm gonna end up saying something stupid I know it.

Rosemary:
Those ears! Aaaaa I'm so jealous! You wouldn't guess but she's super funny. Definitely a quality over quantity type. Just hope I can help keep that cute smile on her face a bit longer when it shows!

Soleil:
New Proxy! How do I get her to laugh guys? Throw it all at the wall and see what sticks I guess. She has to be the cutest when she cracks I can feel it!

Tobias:
I know the eyepatch is giving bad boy and I love that for him. But... guys. You wouldn't believe how cute he is! Is it weird if I call him a puppy of all people? Love you dog thirens out there! (Think Toby might have you beat)

Vincent:
Dadd- sorry, Daddy! Gah! The muscles! Thank god someone one the team has a sense for money I'd be buying all the dumbest stuff if it was up to me. Slaying it doesn't do much in a Hollow after all.
 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 22 by Doggo

[Skaia]

The Stranger

Spoiler

 

Name: Soleil 
Attribute: Ether
Specialty: Anomaly
Appearance: 

Spoiler

Art done by Woonight

Personality: 

Spoiler

 

Comes off as aloof and generally uncaring due to a combination of her expressionless face and tone of voice, her generally concise and spacey way of talking and her propensity to just wander off at times. The truth is that she definitely feels a wide array of emotions she just has trouble expressing or emoting them to anyone. Generally quite perceptive and curious about her surroundings, especially in Hollows, leading to a tendency to wander. She tends to come to her own conclusions fairly quickly and thinks rapidly, though struggles with actually speaking and letting others verbally know what it is she's thinking, though somehow expects people to understand her. She understands that people think she is strange, or worse, but has a hard time understanding why people think that way. While she can understand general moods a person might be going through, unless explicitly stated she has an issue figuring out why they feel the way they do which can sometimes lead to her jumping to and acting on wrong conclusions about them. 

Very action oriented as a result and very serious about her job. In spite of her role as a navigator and Proxy, or perhaps because of it, she has no issues being on the frontlines with other Hollow Raiders and fighting alongside them. Even if she can't verbally direct someone, she knows what her job is and will always execute her mission to the best of her capability, sometimes even having to physically pull, push or guide someone through a Hollow. Professional though struggles, or rather doesn't even attempt, to form relationships beyond the specifications of a job including sticking in contact with repeat clientele. Is a person who always thinks about paying back her debts, no matter how small or if the person she is repaying thinks of it as such, and has a hard time accepting charity. 

 

Biography:

Spoiler

 

Soleil originally lived in the old capital before its fall to Hollow Zero, though most of the memory of her childhood was lost when the cataclysmic disaster struck. Her memories of that event are, as well, fragmented barely remembering anything beyond the destruction, carnage and horrifying sight of people turning into Ethereals right before her very eyes. Though most of her memories are a blur, the one thing she remembered clearly is the feeling of awe and wonder she felt as she was gallantly saved from an oncoming ethereal and escorted out of the hollow by an HIA investigator. It was revealed to her that she had been in the hollow for an exceedingly dangerous amount of time and was very lucky to have not turned by that point. 

The investigator in question had taken pity on the young, now orphaned, girl who barely had the means to communicate with others. And so, after some discussion and legal proceedings, custody of Soleil had been given over to the investigator's sister. From then on, Soleil had been very thankful to both and felt incredibly indebted, often times wanting to help out either with whatever worked they had, regardless of how young or incapable she was. This peaceful life of hers continued on until one day a hollow had opened up near the girl's new home. Made curious about it and no proper restrictions set up at the time of onset, Soleil ended up finding herself wandering into the hollow. Fascinated by it the girl wandered and explored it, and through a combination of sheer dumb luck and her generally high ether aptitude the girl had found her way out. Though she had gotten a stern talking to, Soleil's bizarre fascination with hollows had become readily apparent and realizing that they were a thing she could potentially explore herself it became clear that she had intentions to go back in again. However, more than that, she realized that if she could work in the same line of work as her savior then she could find some way to pay her back for all of her help.

Between her inability to properly communicate with her colleagues and her seemingly not caring too much about rules and regulations she left much to be desired for in an investigator, yet her incredible ether aptitude, capacity to learn and physical prowess made up for it in some way. This new found profession of hers didn't last all long however. Once the "Hollow Grail" had come into existence, the HIA had naturally gone to investigate it. And, being something of a senior investigator themselves, Soleil's savior had gone to look into it themselves. That first mission to go find it, however, was the last time that Soleil had heard from them. Naturally, she attempted to go on an investigation herself but was barred from doing so. And so it was that Soleil had decided to take matters into her own hands. Quitting the HIA she went on to become more of a freelancer, putting her skills in combat and navigating hollows to use with those that would need it. 

To be a savior to the person who saved her. To complete the work that they had started in case she couldn't. And for personal curiosity about the Hollow Grail herself. All of these reasons propel Soleil deeper into the Hollows to search. 

 

Misc:

 

Spoiler

 

• Here's my Hoyo rambling enjoy 
• Soleil wields a sword and a scabbard. She is able to take the the "First Night's Light" stance, wielding only her sword in hand, or the "Twin Star's Flight" stance, wielding both sheath and sword at the same time. When the sword strikes an ethereal and when it causes corruption it gains charges of "Broken Starlight" into it. After attaining a number of charges of "Broken Starlight" the sword can be placed into the sheath, entering the "Falling Heaven's Blight" stance during which period the sheath projects a large blade of ethereal energy from it. 
• In addition to her work as a member of the HIA and now recently her more illegal work, Soleil works at the book store that her foster mother runs from time to time. 
• Finds her work as a freelancer equally as fulfilling and natural to do as her work in the HIA. 
• Has an Ether aptitude of 97. 

Opinions:

Spoiler

Vincent
Big...lots of teeth.

Ashley
Hm...Bright. Fluffy...like static? 

Reuben
Also big...Hm...Like star? 

Khulan
Loud...Hm? Like, boom. 

Rosemary
Hmm...Hm?...Hm. Sharp. 

Tobias
Also loud...Like, wild. 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 23 by Skaia

[yui]

BANG BANG!

Spoiler

Name: Khulan
Attribute: Physical
Specialty: Stun

Appearance:

Spoiler

Personality:

Spoiler

For better or worse, Khulan is very much a girl of the Outer Ring. The things she does, she does with sincerity and enthusiasm. Once she's deemed someone a friend, she'll throw her life down for them if she has to. When she speaks, she means every word she says, and doesn't waste time beating around the bush. When she fights, she treats every scuffle with the same all-out attitude as if a simple street brawl were a heroic last stand. Some have said she can be a bit much, but to that she says that it's New Eridu's fault; "if city folk weren't so caught up in pointless crap like their image, then maybe they'd see I'm not some noisy brute. I'm just me, and they should get to be just them without worrying what everyone else says."

While this sort of shameless, loud personality might sometimes be associated with duller minds, it would be foolish to assume that applies to Khulan as well. On the contrary, she's quite perceptive, and enjoys conversations putting her quick wits to use both in a fight and in a conversation. She isn't much of a planner, but tell her what to do, and she's quite good at following instructions and improvising her way through the gaps in them. In fact, perhaps because of her particular lifestyle and personality, Khulan tends to have trouble seeing the bigger picture or longer term in a lot of cases. As far as she's concerned, the future is future her's problem, and present her is better off dealing with the present.

Biography:

Spoiler

A native of the Outer Ring, Khulan grew up wild and free under the desert sun. Even by Outer Ring standards, her hometown was rather isolated, and as a result, most of the people who lived there were part of the local biker gang that protected and presided over the town. Khulan herself used to be a member, before eventually setting out for New Eridu. Her time as a biker hardened her into who she is today, and at her trajectory, she could have easily become the gang's champion if she kept at it.

However, as evidenced by her presence in New Eridu, she didn't keep at it. One day, not even a year ago, Khulan packed her things and left home, without saying a word, and cut off all contact from everyone back home. Immediately, she took to the life of a hollow raider within New Eridu, stating when asked by her peers that she had something important she wanted to do with the money, and earning it by lawful means would take too long for her needs. And now she's hoping the Hollow Grail just might be the big break she needs.

Misc.

Spoiler

• Ether Aptitude: Untested, but it seems quite high
• Outside of her hollow raider work, Khulan mostly seems to work as a delivery girl for hire.
• Theme
• In combat, Khulan uses a double-barrel revolver shotgun that fires custom-made 40mm shells. However, she only makes slug rounds and shrapnel rounds due to material costs. The shrapnel rounds hurt a lot more, but the slug rounds are excellent for disabling targets.

Combat Yapping

Spoiler

Core Passive: Double Barrel
After activating Basic Attack: BANG BANG! or Special Attack: POW POW!, press [Attack] or [Skill] to activate Special Attack: BOOM BOOM!, which deals Physical DMG to enemies in a cone in front of Khulan and gains additional effects depending on the button pressed. Pressing [Attack] will cause enemies damaged by Special Attack: BOOM BOOM! to scatter shrapnel around them, dealing Physical DMG to enemies around them. Pressing [Skill] will increase the Daze inflicted by Special Attack: BOOM BOOM! by X%.

Basic Attack: BANG BANG!
Press [Attack] to activate:
Fire a shrapnel shell, dealing Physical DMG to enemies in a wide cone in front of Khulan. The DMG taken by enemies suffering an Anomaly is increased by an additional 30%.

Special Attack: POW POW!
Press [Skill] to activate:
Fire a slug shell, dealing Physical DMG to enemies directly in front of Khulan. Enemies hit by Special Attack: POW POW! while suffering an Anomaly take Disorder DMG equal to X% of Khulan's Impact.

EX Special Attack: KA-BOOM!
With enough Energy, hold [Skill] to activate:
Fire an explosive shell, dealing Fire DMG. Character is invulnerable while using this skill. A Quick Assist is triggered when this skill hits an enemy. The Agent that uses a Quick Assist following EX Special Attack: KA-BOOM! has their Anomaly Buildup increased by 25% for 5s.

Ultimate: Buck Wild
When Decibel Rating is at Maximum, press [Ultimate] to activate:
Khulan reloads her shotgun, and gains six stacks of Buck Wild. When pressing [Attack] or [Skill] under the effect of Buck Wild, Special Attack: BOOM BOOM! is activated, dealing increased DMG and Daze, and applying the respective extra effects of Basic Attack: BANG BANG! and Special Attack: POW POW! to enemies suffering an Anomaly. Character cannot be interrupted while under the effect of Buck Wild. Stacks of Buck Wild last for 10s or until character is switched out.

Thoughts on Teammates

Spoiler

Ashley: Cute! Definitely a far cry from Outer Ring Thirens. Which isn't to say we don't have cute Thirens out there! It's more like, he definitely wouldn't make it out there. Uhh, come to think of it, I don't know a lot about him. Less than the rest of the team. That's weird. I could've swore with how sociable he is, I would've picked up something worth talking about by now. I wonder what would happen if I fired his tennis balls from my gun?

Reuben: At first, I thought Reuben was just some old guy. Maybe our sponsor? Turns out, he's actually a Starlight Knight! I never watched the show that intently, but I've met a guy or two in New Eridu that has. Apparently he's a pretty big deal, even among Starlight Knights! Reuben's a bit hammy sometimes, but I'm glad to be on a team with him. Anyone who doesn't stop being a hero because the camera stopped rolling is good in my books!

Rosemary: Mmmm, I dunno... it feels like it's kinda tough to get a read on her. She needs to be more open with people, I think! All that bottling up is bad for you, y'know! It would be good for her to learn to put her foot down, puff out her chest, and get assertive! But I'm a pretty bad teacher. And that's not something you can really teach. I wish I could read her mind, so I can tell what's going on in her head.

Soleil: Every Hollow operation needs a Proxy! I haven't had the chance to talk to her much yet, but I've got a lot of respect for a Proxy who's willing to get her hands dirty in a fight! Note to self: Write down her Inter-Knot info somewhere so I can keep it for future reference.

Tobias: We're practically kindred spirits! He comes off as a bit more rogueish than I am, but that doesn't make him a bad person on its own. Pretty secretive about his past, but I get it, we've all got stuff we'd rather keep buried. Though I'll admit, that makes me want to know what his deal is even more.

Vinnie: Ugh. Businessmen. I hate them. And loan sharks are the worst ones of all! I'd rather starve to death than owe one of them money! So, basically, I don't like Vince very much. He's a city type through and through, and that means I've got trouble seeing eye to eye with him. Still, him and his knack for making Dennies are valuable parts of the team, so I at least try to keep it civil with him. But I've got a few shells with his name on them if he tries anything fishy!

 

 

 

Edited March 23 by yui

[Strange Bird of the Moon]

Spoiler

Name: Rosemary Eldea

Attribute: Ether

Specialty: Anomaly

Appearance:

Spoiler

151 cm

Personality:

Spoiler

Quiet and unemotive, Rosemary often come off as aloof and cool-headed. She tend to speak in a soft, almost hushed tone, and generally doesn't like to put attention onto herself. This, however, did not mean that she was meek in any way. In truth, Rosemary is a very emotionally charged person that simply chose to keep her emotions to herself due to her experiences. She is good at hiding her feelings for the most part, but when her emotions bubble beyond a certain limit, it will erupt openly. 

That said, she is actually someone with a functional sense of humor, and while it is not the main reason she chose to remain unemotive, she enjoys seeing people make assumptions of herself before surprising them, or to perform practical jokes and pranks on others and seeing them take a while to realize who did it because she always remain so unassuming.

Still, in truth, she is someone genuinely tired on a lot of things in life, that outside of quick and temporary fancies and amusement, simply lives her life from point to point. She yearns for meaning to what she went through, but neither it nor direction ever graces her.

Biography:

Spoiler

Rosemary once was just an orphan living for herself, one among many that had been beaten down by life. She never remembered who her parents were, and for all she knew, they probably abandoned her from she was very young after a fling or something similar. She lived her day entirely from one day to another, just surviving because she just didn't want to die, without really having anything to look forward to for her future.

One day, however, she ended up being picked up alongside many other orphans by a certain organization. With promise of a food and shelter, Rosemary had no reason to refuse, even if she was skeptical about the reasoning they gave. Her skepticism proved to be right not even too long after the organization took her in. She was experimented on alongside the other orphans they picked - she overheard things such as "creating someone immune to the corruption of the ether" or something like that, though those words meant nothing to her at the time.

Eventually, only she, as far as she knew, survived these experiments. It was then that the organization became much kinder to her, and she was soon deployed as a field operative for them after some combat training. She proved to be quite effective at it, and so the next few years went by like this.

However, everything still rubbed Rosemary the wrong way. She began to have thoughts of escaping the organization, and one day she chose to sneak out of the base. She managed to avoid detection for the most part, until near the exit, where she saw the leader of the organization. She thought of ways to sneak around him, or perhaps to just give up her exit attempt for the day, but then...

She noticed that he saw her. Rosemary froze as she realized it, but oddly enough, he soon went to pretend that he didn't see her and walked away, allowing Rosemary to leave. She always thought that it was an oddity, but only much later did she realize why he did that.

She spent years after going from one group to another, trying to find one that she could feel a sense of belonging towards. Even if she could feel the eyes of her old organization continuing to watch over her, she pretended that they didn't exist, and she never told anyone about her old allegiances. 

And thus, she joined this group with that same mindset too. Wanting to find home, yet remaining distant.

Did she hope that with the same approach she could eventually find the right answer? 

Miscellaneous:

Spoiler

• Rosemary fights using the blades floating around her, as well as a sword.
• Has an Ether Aptitude of 100, at the very least.
• She prides herself as a freelancer and problem-solver. As long as you have the money, she can do basically anything.
• Theme Song: Fading Sky

Teammate Opinions

Spoiler

Reuben: You look a little scary... hm. That can't be further than the truth. I'm glad you are as reliable as in your show, even if I hadn't watched any of it yet.

Vinnie: Your loyalty is admirable. I'm... jealous of it, even. I wish I can find people that I would do the same for towards. 

Ashley: ...Always so vibrant... I wonder, can I be the one to dye your fur next week?

Soleil: Haha, my wings are bigger. But... ah, it's nice to see someone like me around here.

Khulan: Those eyes of yours... can't help but wonder why she always see through my prank attempts. Heh. It's a fun challenge.

Tobias: Some distance, please. Next time, I might hit you with my wings by accident.

 

 

 

 

Edited March 23 by Strange Bird of the Moon

[(o ×)]

[Wild Card, Bitches]

[Name:] Tobias
[Attribute:] Ether

[Specialty:] Attack

[Appearance:]

[Height:] 5'9" (175 cm)

[Personality:]

Forever a free spirit, Tobias is incredibly friendly with both strangers and compatriots alike. He is quick to act and slow to consider said actions, which has on more than one occasion led him to trouble, but he has an habit of finding his way away from it of it just as easily. Like a child who hasn't quite gotten burned yet, he perpetually reaches for the stovetop. His maintains a high energy, often approaching manic, and shows little respect for personal boundaries. Regardless of the difficulty that he causes, it is apparent that he means well, and is more of a pest than an actual problem.

As if to make up for his easily annoying nature, Tobias is very helpful toward nearly anyone who asks him for help, perfectly content to spend his afternoon helping someone with menial tasks as long as they don't mind him talking their ear off. His actual interests seem to lie entirely in satisfying his own curiosity, as he wanders into dangerous areas of hollows just to see what he can find. He has a habit of taking things apart, though his success in putting them back together is mixed. It wouldn't be fair to call him stupid, but that is often the conclusion one would draw by monitoring his behavior. 

[Biography:]

The one thing Tobias doesn't talk much about is his past. He typically dismisses attempts to learn more about him, claiming that what happened before is much less interesting than what he has going on now as a Hollow Raider. That being said, bits and pieces have been gleaned from casual conversation.

• Tobias belonged to a wealthy family as a child, but an "uninteresting turn of events" led them to rags, and quickly had Tobias fending for himself from a young age.
• Tobias received an injury while exploring on his own during this time, and has alluded to chronic pain related to this trauma. This injury resulted in the loss of his right eye.
• Through grit and wile, Tobias has managed to become financially independent as a fixer. Despite this, he has no interest in retiring and living comfortably.
• His gear, consisting of a metal canister tightly fastened to a harness, is stolen goods, and the group he stole it from may or may not be looking for him. While he has not yet made direct use of this device in mixed company, the seams between panels seem to glow faintly when he is within a hollow.