RPC has moved! These pages have been kept for historical purposes

Capheira · **03-02-2016, 12:12 AM**

[ Operation Redwall ]
2nd March Update, 2016

After Ebonbrand received a tip off pertaining the trafficking of child slaves in the waters between Eorzea and the Doman Republic, the magitek militia gathered what information they could and set out deep into the shroud; a contact point for the exchange and the greasing of palms. With an encampment located, intel detailing uniform and mannerisms, Ebonbrand infiltrated under the directive hand of 'Slaver' Odette, and the assisting 'Slaver' Shilgen with several company members (Wawajo, X'aruela, Tahlani, Shark) providing themselves as slaves. Once past several checkpoints, children located and they themselves within the inner sanctum, the 'mercenaries' attacked with blade and poison both. Wiping out the camp's inhabitants, they found no sign of the group's captain whom was yet to return from business elsewhere. Moving swiftly, the children were gathered, soothed and emancipated from captivity, collectively being delivered to an orphanage in the mist. All save one, a young garlean boy with feral tendencies whom was revealed to be the son of their glorious leader, Septimus Nerva, taken back to Ebonbrand Headquarters.

This would not be the end, however. Naught but a week later, Ebonbrand sources revealed that this slaver captain, a pirate going by the name 'Redwall' had reared his head in an abandoned cathedral within the frozen slums of Brume, Ishgard. After a rocky planning session during the weekly meeting, Ebonbrand forces once more came together for a far more sensitive operation; given the elezen city's own military presence and dislike of outsiders. What they found themselves up against, however, was something no one could have anticipated. The man known as Redwall was unlike anything they'd encountered as a unit previously; somehow blessed with unnatural strength, moved with uncanny speed and mastered the art of short-range teleporation.

Returning to the Mists, licking their wounds and allowing time for recovery, discussion was held in the newly renovated war room with several key points made and further questions dragged to the fore. Just who was this Redwall, and what was it that gave him the ability to move as he did? Magitek, implants, and concentrated aether manipulation were all thought upon hypothesis. But how exactly would they be able to handle such a threat, one that inevitably labelled them? With a twenty foot sonic weapon fashioned by the magitek engineers of Ebonbrand weapons department, of course. Constructed in a design akin to a large horn with a targeted radius from it's dish, the weapon would emit a timed blast of sonic energy at a frequency pitched to inflict pain and disorient. The time drew near for confrontation...

Redwall was a difficult man to track, but not an impossible one. Regardless of prowess, all living things left an imprint in the world around them; be it eating, breathing or excreting. Thus, located in the deserts of Thanalan, their enemy had constructed a single man camp for himself. Waiting. Biding his time. It was nightfall when the Ebonbrand forces moved into position, under orders to bring back this 'enigma' for 'a friendly chat'. The weapon proved a success, despite it's slow recharge time, yet even with formulated earplugs our heroes themselves were not immune to it's effects. Blood spilled on the sand that eve, and it was not only the enemy who suffered damage when he burst from glass cocoon that caged him. With the severance of his leg, Redwall went down and was carted back to home base with the company wounded.

Following the events of "Operation Redwall", the company workshop has found itself a new 'visitor'. For a time, bound in rope and teetering on the edge of consciousness, the dark-haired midlander remained restrained in it's furthest corner to endure his injury. Blood stained the ground around his person, secured with chain to wooden chair with one leg reduced to a stump just above the knee and administered minimal treatment in preparation for the interrogation to come. Ebonbrand had a man for such, and he went by the name 'Frost'. Yet for all his experience, and despite the removal of two of his fingers, Redwall proved to have a flair for pageantry. At least up until the point his agonized screams echoed throughout the hold with the shatter of his remaining kneecap, marked by Keimo's bullet. Though they gained little that day beyond the ramblings that a traitor was within their midst, such was hardly ever revealed in the first session and their captive was left to ripen for additional days.

It seemed, however, that the brazen threats Redwall had made about leaving were more than mere bluffs. Somehow the midlander had found the strength to simply... disappear. Evidently, even should the man be able to walk it was near impossible that he would simply be able to move past secured holdings and stroll out guarded door. Could this perhaps have something to do with the man's penchant for acts of teleportation? Regardless of reasoning, it could not be denied that the captive was no longer contained and wherever he had gone, assuredly he was plotting and planning their downfall in the most poetic way imaginable.

So it was that members of Ebonbrand found themselves at the ruins of Qarn at the edge of the landscape that housed the refugee camp of Little Ala Mhigo. Redwall had been sighted within the rubble, and this time there would be no holding back for want of capture. With weapons drawn and at the ready, the small task force weaved their way throughout the crumbled ruins to close in on Redwall's position amidst the crackle of aetherical energy that clapped like thunder through the air. At the source of that visible, rippling power, one that grew stronger as they approached, was the man himself rooted to the spot and anchored by black ichor that dripped from lips and maw simultaneously. He spoke as poetically as ever before, accusing those present of being parasites that drained the world around them and infected life like a poison.

As Redwall invoked the power of an carving in hand, one that resembled an eye-like design, Ebonbrand made quick decision that the damage to the surrounding ruins would be worth the prevention of whatever it might be that had the possibility of being released then and there. Alas, with a flash of blinding light as the party moved to attack, Redwall was gone with naught but the carved rune left standing in his place. Such an important trinket could hardly be left there in the open.... right? So it was that Frost reached for the carving, daring to take it into Ebonbrand custody. At the elezen's touch, however, the eye itself was activated and one by one they found themselves succumbing to the grip of vaporous black tendrils that elicited overwhelming pain for several moments before fading to be absorbed into their bodies without a trace. Whatever it was that had tainted them was at this point unknown, but it certainly didn't bode well and only time would tell, exactly, how they would be affected...

With the rune encased in glass, the team were left reeling and in shock from the effects they had endured. Needless to say this, however, proved the perfect time for lurking enemy to strike. From across the ruins, gunshot sounded; bullet embedded into the stone wall a mere ilm from the head of Ebonbrand's leader, Septimus. It was truly one of those days for the militant task force whom scurried for cover from the magitek sniper. With several attempts on the life of their boss, the group united and swiftly took down the offending assassin. Leaving her alive as ordered by the man himself, the woman was transported back to Ebonbrand Headquarters, taking the place of the escaped Redwall in the holding cell.

More questions than answers were received that day. Just who was this silent assassin and what was her connection to Redwall? Was it purely coincidence, or something more? What was the mysterious tendril that had taken root in the bodies of those present? How exactly would they be affected by it, if at all?