Champions of the CorruptHere is where our story begins, in Riviana.
A place of corruption and filth. A place of sleazy dealings and under the counter payments. A place of sex, money, power, greed and secret agendas. In a place like this, even the most pure of heart can be swallowed by corruption. It only takes one moment of loose morals or weakened will to become the very thing they sought to prevent, a tool for corruption to spread itself with. Yet at the same time, in a place like this the most pure of us can become champions, forged in the bleakness around them, driven by their own will to break the vices around them. Champions who stand up to the darkness around them, and refuse to be used for it's gain. Champions who are not born with greatness, they do not have greatness thrust upon them, but
achieve greatness. Champions who are given the challenge of greatness, accept it, and meet it. Few can say they stood against the corruption of this foul city and won. Even fewer can say they did so without becoming corrupt themselves.
So when the time for Champions is at hand, will you answer the call? Will you achieve greatness, in the face of corruption? Will you best the odds, and turn down the power? Will you bring order to the chaos, and not be consumed by it? Make your will stronger than your greed, your morale's stronger than your corruption, and you faith more tempting than any other power, and you cannot fail.
Here is where our story begins.
*Sorry if the posts seem short. It isn't easy writing posts for 13 different characters.*
Adele:
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Adele hadn't even spent an hour in the city, and she knew one thing for sure. It was loud.
Adele had entered the city from it's Southern entrance, but as far as she could tell, it was the city's only entrance. The massive crowd surging to try and get in was overwhelming, a mass of angry people, shoving to get in. If it hadn't been for Adele's political importance or armed escort, she may not have gotten in in one piece, let alone at all.
Once inside, the scene outside could almost be considered calm. She had arrived at the Market District, and at it's peak hours. People were constantly moving, shouting, buying, selling, and generally being a large disorganized mess. Standing on the outside, she could see some form of order, having taken a long enough look. It was a giant square, with stands in the middle, and buildings making up the square's sides. Another thing she noticed, throughout the market were several figures, all wearing matching red robes. Some traveled alone, others in pairs or groups. None of them stopped to shop, or to even look. She even noticed three of these red figures, leaning against a wall to her right, watching her...
"Are you Adelphia Kvenya?" In front of Adele stood three men, each wearing white armor with gold decorations. Each wielded a white a gold shield, but seemed to be otherwise unarmed. Adele had been told she would receive an escort from the guards when she arrived, and she assumed this was them.
Dax:
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Dax was bored.
He found himself in the Housing District, sitting on a door step. He had just finished helping a couple move, and was paid for his efforts. A little more than he deemed necessary, but the family wouldn't let him refuse. Now with nothing left to do, he sat. And waited.
He had gotten used to the city's noises by now, and could tune them out. People shouting. Talking. Walking. The general clatter people made. The screaming. The hitting. The crying. It was all apart of his life in this city. There was no way to avoid it. The Gangs made sure of it. Even now, Dax couldn't avoid them.
"You. Give us the money, kid." Dax looked up. In front of him stood three men, each wearing some light leather armor. On their shoulders they wore a deep green arm band with a white mountain on it, the symbol for the local Earth Gang. Dax was getting mugged. In broad daylight, in the middle of the street.
Saeryn:
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People were beginning to stare at Saeryn.
Being a harpy, it wasn't like she blended in to the Market District very well. People gave her a wide berth, something very tough to do when packed into such a small area. The District was overcrowded, and Saeryn wasn't helping matters.
All around her, people were shouting. Screaming the price of their wares, shouting at each other, some even looked like they were about to fight. Words and noises passed around her, a crescendo of sounds crashing around her ears. It was hard to focus, and being in such a tight space made her worry. Even harpies suffered from Elemental Sickness, and it wouldn't be long before it set it on her. And with all these eyes on her, it certainly wasn't helping.
"What a freak..." She could hear a man say as her past her by, the man bumping into her as he passed. Although no one said anything, it was clear everyone agreed. Not an hour into her stay here, and already people were spouting hateful words against her...
Hermes:
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Hermes was wandering around the Back Alley District.
During the day, this place was pretty peaceful. Without anyone chasing her, and the smell of fish and sea water that constantly seeped from the area, she could almost relax. But with her weapons stuck in the hospital in the Heart District, and the fear of being captured by the Royal Guards, it's hard to relax.
She was wandering down the main street of the Back Alley District, although it seemed to be empty. It often was, during the day. The street always seemed to be wet, puddles forming in the cracks of the cobblestone pavement. Water Walkers, probably. Speak of the devils...
"You lost, little lady?" The voice came from behind. Three men, each clad in light leather armor, were following close behind her. They wore blue robes over their armor, showing their Gang colors: Water. Two of them flanked her on each side, and grabbed her arms. "Perhaps we can give you some directions, eh? It appears you've stumbled into the wrong part of town..."
Claire:
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Claire had wandered into a bad part of town.
Some where in the Back Alley District, Claire knew she was being followed. From the moment she had stepped into the District, a small group of blue robed figures had been following her from the opposite side of the street. Since the District was pretty empty at this time of day, it wasn't hard to notice them. Every time she turned a corner, they did too, until eventually, they crossed the street. Now right behind her, she could hear them, but now see them. There must have been about five or six of them....
Razajin:
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Razajin had been given a new contract.
Razajin was never really at a loss for work now a days, what with the Gangs trying to claim power over the city. As long as two people are left, you can bet someone is going to want somebody dead. So here he was, back on the job. He had cornered his mark into the Market District, but the only problem was... He was in the Market District.
The place wasn't all that big, but it was busy. A mother could lose her child in there, and not realize until she was home. He didn't have much information to go on about his mark, too. All he was told was that his name was James Veega, he was a fire Walker, and has a tattoo of a dragon on his right shoulder. Also, he may or may not be apart of the Fire Walker Gang. And being in the Market District, he had all of his Fire Walker buddies to back him up. Great. But Razajin couldn't pass up the pay, and James wasn't going to find himself in that crowd...
Kiku:
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Kiku was wandering the streets again.
Kiku found herself in the Back Alley District, which wouldn't be so bad, since it was day time. The Water Walker Gang never really bothered people during the day. But the streets were soaked, evidence of a recent fight. Perhaps the attackers were still around...
Up ahead, Kiku noticed a small crowd of people. Most were wearing blue robes, meaning they were a part of the Water Walker Gang. Shouts could be heard from the group, and random spouts of flame shot up from the center. Seems they had gotten their hands on a Fire Walker...
Kiku could only imagine what they were doing to the Walker in the middle. She had heard stories of what Gangs did to the others, and to know it might be happening right in front of her... But before she could even do anything about it, a man from the group turned and saw her. Breaking off from the group, he made is way to her. His face was covered by his blue hood, but he was much taller than her, and imposing. His voice was deep and gruff. "Hey. Listen, me and my boys here are just having a little fun, see? You didn't see nothing, y'undtersatnd? Be a shame if we had ta bring you into this mess..." Behind him, shrieks of pain and laughter could be heard, occasionally interrupted by spouts of white hot flame shout upwards.
Rayn:
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"Arctis" was being chased.
After trying to stop a mugging in the Back Alley District, The two Earth Walkers Arctis had disturbed had gotten back up, and were now on the offensive. A group of five were now chasing her, each wearing a green bandannas to signify what gang they belonged to. No gang really liked Arctis, being a form of vigilante, but she had focused on the Earth Gang, and had there for pissed them off the most. Now with them chasing her like this, she could tell just how angry they had become.
"There she goes!" "After her!" "Don't let her get away!" There were only five of them, maybe Rayn could take them in a fight... Her Element would best them, but five at once...? To her right, she saw an alley way she could try to escape through, or hide in. She couldn't keep running forever, and the Earth Gang surely wouldn't let her get away easily. So what will it be, 'Arctis'? Fight, or flight?
Shelby:
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Shelby was given a choice.
In her workshop, in front of her stood three men, each wearing a deep green bandanna with a white mountain on it: the symbol for the Earth Walker Gang. They had approached Shelby with a business venture: Make tech for their gang, and she'll get protection. Protection was a hard commodity to come by in Rivianna, with the Gangs running amok. And the tech they were asking for was simply, really. Just some concealable blunderbuss', a simple task for her. The question wasn't if she could do it or not, but could she live with herself, giving a dangerous force her tech?
"Well? What'll it be?" The leader of the three spoke up. He seemed impatient, eager to be somewhere else... He outstretched his hand, waiting for Shelby to shake it and seal the deal.
Jormag:
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Jormag was being mugged.
In a side street of the Market District, three figures clad in red robes surrounded him. Members of the Fire Walker Gang, they had gotten his back against the wall. No one outside the alley seemed to see him, and it didn't look like they would help any time soon.
"Alright, hand over y'er money, kid." The middle one spoke up. His face was hidden bu his hood, but Jormag could tell he meant business. They Gangs had become more and more bold as of late, each fighting for control over the city and each other. One wrong move, and this alley may be the last thing Jormag make ever see....
Garian:
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Garian was alone.
Or at least, as alone as you could get in the Market District. With all the people there, it would be hard to say anyone could be truly lone. But no one paid Garian any mind. That is, until a small man in a red jacket approached him.
"H-hey man. Wanna but some Stache?" Stache. A highly powerful, highly illegal drug. Incredibly common, but with some nasty side affects... Anyone caught even holding the drug could get up to a year in jail. To be selling the stuff on the street, this guy must be mad... But the real question is, are you mad enough to buy some?
Ty:
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Ty was in a fight.
Having pissed off some Water Walkers in the Back Alley District, Ty had gotten himself into a fight with one of them, thanks to his loud mouth. Around him people watched, making a circle, closing him in with his opponent. The man was about his height and size, but seemed a little more muscular than Ty. He had a blade in one hand, and wore some light leather armor. With the crowd egging him on, the Water Walker was sizing Ty up, trying to make a plan. Some one pushed Ty forwards, hoping to jump start the fight. What does Ty do?
Garth:
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Garth had been given a package.
The package was given to him in a side street in the Back Alley District, already a bad sign. The person giving it to him was robbed, hooded and guarded. Another bad sign. And the fact he was to deliver it to The Phoenix Nest, the biggest night club in the Market District, being run by the Fire Walker Gang? Another bad sign.
But the pay was good, and he had already accepted the job. Too late to pass it up now anyways, as his employer had fled. But now standing in the Back Alley District with the parcel in his hands, he had to make sure he got it out of there without getting caught. The Water Walker Gang was notorious for killing any courier they caught, even if they had no idea what was being delivered. As long as another gang doesn't get it, all the better for them.