Nian

"Hey! Oi!"

And no sooner did she leave her captain's quarters did her helm get taken away from her. The nerve of lowly stowaways! A glimmer of light that faded to black forged steel upon steel on the king's arms, that void oblivion, and with racing steps she'd nearly taken to fight for her right at the (vessel's) throne.

Yet, whatever the man seemed to be doing at the controls, it looked like he knew more -- and better -- than whatever stuck up fake-princess she'd seen on that other ship. And so, her figure only seemed to barricade the doorway as the monarch watched on, through the viewport, how they'd pulled themselves around the skies. Every close call, every stray shot missed was only a testament to the driver's (unwieldy) skill of flying the vehicle, and despite the shoddy work, Nian had to agree-- whoever this player was, he showed promise.

(At crashing the ship.)

When they parted the clouds in way of obscuring their vision of the Mothership, that was when she'd point it out to the man, striding to his side. Though it didn't seem as though the player needed instruction, for that was where their vehicle was being directed towards, anyway.

Efficient. Then he spoke.

"Uh, NIGHT? I suppose now would be a good time to point out that I have no idea how to stop this thing, and I dunno where the brakes are."

Sure, she didn't know where the other player he boarded with was on the ship. But knowing that they were about to--

"Brace for impact!"

--she supposed it was time for their shining champion to show her true might.

With one swipe of her arms, she slammed the driver away from the helm from his front. The impact would be powerful enough to knock him backwards -- a pittance, as compared to the pressure of being crushed into the outer hull of the Mothership. And a lunge, the ruler pouncing on the crumpled form of the other player.

"Stay still, wreck."

A weight that could kill lesser men crashed into the statue of god's will, as the ship tunneled its way into reinforced metal. And, through some miracle, not only did the vehicle not remain generally in tact, but once the two were able to peer from their ruin-prepared shelter, they'd been granted access to the interior of their destination.

Leagues and leagues above the sea of clouds.

If Nian had any reason for her depature's delay, it was simple: what in the world were the other morons in the sky doing, firing shots at other vessels?

The people upon them had to be players, she knew that much. If it'd been a simple discernment of ship upon ship, then the game would've made it obvious to the onlookers about such feedback. Unfortunately, though the chase seemed to be on, the king didn't have good eyes on the target, and it would be remiss for someone of such high importance to have gone into the crossfire without understanding.

That was until she noticed a couple of freeloaders boarding her 'Imperial', and the woman rose from her position to peer out the viewing port of her quarters. A couple of players? From their loose attire, veterans, perhaps?

The monarch grinned. After all, fashion had always been the true end game for players.

"--There was absolutely no reason for me to have driven, and therefore, there is absolutely no way I would know how to pilot this thing."

That wasn't a problem for Nian. With a push of a lever, she allowed the ship to rise, before retracting the stairs mid-flight. And as the woman shoved her companion around, she stepped out of her hiding spot, arms folded, wearing a look of disgust.

"You two have some nerve boarding my vessel without permission. Now, if you're so keen on staying, then get to the cannons, commoners!!"

The math worked out perfectly. Remove whatever imbecile was on the throne at the moment, with some crazy snot-nosed kid going after his head, and then eliminate the young-and-dumb threat. Easy, the royal thought, once she'd shuffled up behind the (still-yet-to-be-formed) crowd gathering by the prince's side. At least, for whatever reason, Lamont did save them from what strange affect he'd activated (or didn't) earlier, and it would do well to follow in his lead for the time being -- keep your friends and your enemies closer, after all. That, and the escape maneuver had earned the man some respect in Nian's eyes.

Just for a short bit, however.

Airships upon airships. It didn't seem rational for her to board another's this time, especially with the call out for procuring another's by force once the order had been issued. What experience she'd gained from her previous antics had her switch off of Roosevelt's module as she wrung the modifier from her armed claws, the player eying the aerial dots ahead of her with an abyssal calm. She wasn't going to yell... yet. The liege would bide her time.

[[ N I A N ]]

Lv. 14 | NIAN | HP: 280/280 | EN: 46/46 | DMG: 11 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 1 | MIT: 48 | REGEN: 5

Spoiler    equipment  Heaven's Decree +2 ACC +1 EVA STR + 3 DMG Fur-Hooded Down Jacket + 12 MIT + 5 REGEN    br.inventory  Cold Brew Coffee (5) | HP RECOVERY III | [link]    skills  Spoiler CLAWS | RANK 5/5 stamina, precision, ferocity aoe shift  COMBAT MASTERY: MIT | RANK 3/3    buffs  Spoiler -

If the king had willed herself to listen, dissatisfied, it was because of the lack of scavengable materials in their vicinity, despite her apt and cautious looking. "Ah," Nian commented dryly, eyes sweeping over the waves of green that ebbed as the wind gusted through and along the hills. "So to summarize it, you ran away from civilian life to chase a 'noble goal'." For a second, she glanced back at the plated armor still glimmering from the midday sun. Perhaps he really was roleplaying, after all.

"You say your work back in town would be for nothing." The player gestured as she spoke, losing her focus on the fields whilst she did so. "In the perspective of your psychology work; sure, perhaps. You're the expert in this field between the two of us. But that's not all that the refugees rely on to continue living in this game."

The emperor tossed a thumb backwards, in the general direction of where she believed the labyrinth on the first was. "If life is all about survival, then your 'dream' would be sufficient in 'saving' these people. But is life all about making through to another day? Charity work -- the sort of aid players provide to better the lives of hapless nobodies sitting on their asses in fear of what's to come next -- that in itself is still just as noble as the goal you claim to reach."

"So."

Heaven's favourite folded her arms, shifting her weight upon one foot. A once neutral and tense expression only melted to one of disbelief and further agitation, had it not already been present in the beginning. "If I were to call you a coward, it'd be running away from your post, civilian."

"But," royalty continued, after a brief pause. "If you really believe that's your goal, then be the 'coward' you think yourself to be. Act like it, in that suit of armor, and pursue the ones you 'sent off to die' at the very beginning of your journey."

The woman heaved a sigh then, pacing past Ranganok for a better vantage point over the starting grounds. "Well, c'mon," she spat, giving his armor a flick on the way past. "We still have a job to do, and Heaven only knows if you're 'complacent' still once you're staring down the edge of a blade."

ID202934 | LD10 | nothing found. (4/5)

Gifts from other players. She did wonder where any of them had gotten their own resources from, to be able to afford such dazzling armor. That, and if the man she spoke to did claim to be one to tend to the other refugees in the Town of Beginnings, she didn't think they would have much to spare.

Nian had squatted when Ranganok had spoken, plucking another shimmering leaf from its stem when the object had shone to life by her feet. She'd rise with an exhale, breath quiet, still perplex by the choice of gift. "Then it must've been cushy," she continued, returning the herb to her inventory. "But I can't see practical use of that armor to a nobody like yourself, given the work you do -- or used to do." An idle hand flipped a lock of her hair backwards. "So, what drove you out here? Because looking to put someone's good will to use, just for the sake of it on its own, sounds like a death wish to yourself."

ID202903 | LD15 | 4/5

So she found another. Scooped the item up in her hands. Three out of five was good progress, but if it was up to her, she would've been more than far gone with these starter quests. With Ranganok in the distance as an eye sore, sun shining upon him as though choosing a holy favoured, the woman couldn't help but mistake the player as a material from time to time.

And fair enough; she knew she'd been snappy, but let it not be spoken that the king had temper tantrums, nor that they didn't look after their followers. With a keen eye out for other pick-ups, Nian closed in on the other player. "Well? How's your progress?" Given a chance to answer, the emperor would follow it up with a query, eyes narrowed, and her arms folded. "Wait. While we're at it, tell me something, serf."

"What's with that get-up? Roleplaying?"

ID202901 | LD12 | 3/5

So... what? Autism? Or simply just a lack of socialization with others at a young age? Not that it was her responsibility to resolve knock-off R's situation. But with the adjacency of the topics, surely someone in his position must've picked up on useful mimicry behaviour.

Whatever. Nian scoffed once again as the man bowed, almost akin to an NPC back in town. Who even bowed these days? It seemed like such an ancient trope, almost dating back to Victorian ages -- ah, but then again, Ragna-eggnog did seem to portray himself the type of good-natured paladin. Down to the etchings on his armor in appearance, no less.

Had she given him a wide berth in her search for materials, it was because her interface hadn't picked up on anything that caught her attention. Strange -- and annoying. Every wasted second here was her burning daylight. There was more to this questline, dammit. Surely it wasn't that hard to farm for materials like the commoners were used to.

Like... Ranganok was used to, when the king glanced over to his position, the man already holding yet another shining herb in his hand. And Nian was in a position of envy, though she said nothing about it.

ID202899 | LD2 | nothing found. (2/5)

What an earful.

And knowing she'd just stood around listening to the commoner ramble -- ugh! The things nobility had to put up with for the betterment of their people. Honestly, said emperor was stuck trying to keep vile down as faux-Ragnarok went on about his life or something.

He was new to this. And it was painfully obvious to see.

"Yes, yes. That's fine and dandy," she uttered, clapping her hands as though it would hurry the beginner up on his speech. "Really, if you're so well-versed in people as you said, then surely you'd know how to speak with them, too. You are lucky to have met a patient and dignified person such as myself. Now, we really must be moving along..."

It was only after he'd sent the request that the king continued on her expedition. She couldn't rely on a novice to even understand how to send party requests if he was, heavens forbid, monologuing, and neither did she prefer his steps trailing along hers for no discernable reason. If anything, having a paladin-esque meat shield meant all-out affairs on the quests to come.

She'd just wish she was able to find the plants she needed to advance, first.

Nian she remained quiet, even after the other had prompted for a title -- the interface would display it with a small transition by the side of the screen.

"Just holler if you find anything."

ID202872 | LD1 | nothing found. (2/5)

Good. Another sparkling herb. Expedient searches meant she would get to other parts of her day sooner.

It was only when she'd exhausted her immediate area of foreseeable resources that she straightened her back out. And the sound of footsteps on dirt could only mean one thing. Except, the emperor hadn't expected the goof to offer a proper introduction.

A whirl around, and she stared back cautiously at the would-be stalker.

"Ranganok," Nian iterated, a grating disbelief highlighting her seared tone. "What is that, a bastardization of Ragnarok? That world ending event from Norse mythos?" She gave the man a look over, and then another snort. Compared to Plini, at least this would-be looked less likely to be a might-have-been than her arbiter.

"Partying up's fine. But this isn't a quest you do with others, and neither would it benefit from any amount of efficiency from two people." The king then squinted once more, examining his almost baby-like expression. "What are you, new to this?"

ID202863 | LD18 | (2/5)

Sorry. Was this man... stalking her?

Everyone wanted attention of the one true ruler, it seems. But rightful ranking aside, even if the other player had been prudent about how best to proceed, clueless about the continuation of their quest, there would be no handouts for commoners under heaven's rule. A squint was all she was willing to give, the other man bowing to showcase his goodwill.

Nian was out in returning the sentiment, at this hour.

With a growl, she brushed past him all the same, hastened steps leading her to the outskirts of town. And had that serf the nerve to bound in her wake, surely the monsters would prove that test of heart to all adventurers, aside from the emperor's own leading coat tails that he'd been riding on the entire time.

She gave the streets behind her glares over her own back, while she walked. Only stopped once her boots had reached dusty sands of the trodden path ahead, beyond the safety of the Town of Beginnings, when her knees had finally rustled tall grass. And, with the aid of red vanity silk gloves that sparkled to reality upon her finger tips, she began her search for that missing 'five materials of ever-worldly want' for her fool's errand.

ID202846 | LD14 | (1/5)

No response? What an oaf. But it was better for bystanders to remain so rather than being struck up with conversation.

If only the man would learn how to keep his eyes to himself...

When Nian tossed a look his way, all she caught on his face was a grin. And that was enough for her own expression to sour, albeit slightly, the royal throwing her gaze towards the destination of the alchemist she was tasked to find. Zachariah was less likely to be out and about of his workshop, and thus with raced steps the emperor took off against the streets once again, taking only cursory glances of the signs that passed her by in blurs.

It was there, somewhere in the southern yard of the city that she found his shop, in wanting for new adventurers to fuel his unproductive quest for one experiment or another. Zachariah only opened his mouth for a beat as the king arrived, hand pushing the door to his abode wide. And before he could make an introduction, a line, in a gesture, pulled from left to right by her idle hand would zip the man's mouth shut, beckoning the prompt for the quest's continuation to form ahead of her.

Her tap, less agitated this time, would cue her majesty to be off yet again... if a familiar face hadn't shown up to catch her attention, or block her way just as well.

<<tfl>>

How much time did one need to think about people they've seen around town before?

Really. To Nian, this was no question, but rather an obstacle, by nature of the system. For some reason or another, quests loved to list and delist themselves in her completion log, and this was one of the afflicted names in her menus. And on such occasions, she'd confront the man at his source, his office... or cabin. Today was no different.

Or it would've been... if he didn't up and walk out on a patrol route out of the randomness of Aincrad's heart.

So she near barged past the man speaking to Dorian when she spotted him. Like the emperor had time to entertain other players whilst they lounged about with their hands stuck to their chins. "Shove it," was all she hissed at the man, before glancing at the mayor with nothing more than a glare on her face.

It was by miracle that, without prompting, the quest window revealed itself to her. By miracle, the interface could close, after an acceptance, without breaking from the aggression displayed by the young, 'noble' king.

[[ N I A N ]]

NIAN | HP: 60/60 | EN: 24/24 | DMG: 5 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1 | MIT: 12 | BLEED8+: 12 | PRLYZ

Spoiler    equipment  Heaven's Decree +2 ACC +1 EVA Roosevelt + 12 BLEED [8+] + PARALYZE Fur-Hooded Down Jacket + 12 MIT + 0 REGEN    br.inventory  Cold Brew Coffee (5) | HP RECOVERY III | [link]    skills  Spoiler CLAWS | RANK 2/5 MARTIAL ARTS | RANK 1/5    buffs  Spoiler -

"What."

She'd wanted to howl fie, for noticing one of the commoners brazenly strolling up to her side, grubby hands shifting with effort the dial under that sigil that she preferred. And, not to mention, that old-person stench wafting from that under-handed individual. There was something about thinking to be said -- not that the Emperor was intent on listening, too focused on how the dial was affixed to the wall the moment his fist slammed upon its front-end.

"I'm gonna try this!" 

And then it popped back out.

The king erased all traces of confusion on her face with a shake of her head. With another light shove -- she wasn't going to be responsible for broken bones with STR upon her fingers -- she ushered the other player away and turned the dial in his stead. Two prongs twisting steel and slotting it back into the wall.

Now it would be her work underneath the stag symbol.

[WEST DIAL -> 1]

Correct answer. Please continue.

And no sooner after she'd finally come to terms with the layout of the room did the walls start closing in upon them. Ridiculous! Nian had half the mind to test the strength of her gauntlets on either of them, had there not been another way out of the trap. She sneered at the looks of furniture, toppling over one another in the shift of spaces, hard places threatening to crush all that stood within it.

The emperor dove through that hatch, claws without, the first of the lot to hit the floor in a tumble. And it was to her annoyance that the ceiling, while adequate to her height, was still a wince shorter than rooms she was used to. Claustrophobic indeed. The symbols didn't help any.

Well, Nian was one to not help any, either.

It was with metal strapped to her hands that she twisted the dial on the west to the fourth. Not that she believed it meant anything, though one shouldn't pardon the lack of wit being demonstrated by the royal herself. Out of all the others, that signal was the coolest looking etching by far.

The fourth? 

It made sense to delay their deaths to the very end.

[WEST DIAL -> 4]

Incorrect entry. Puzzle reset.

-- And had there been a crater that threatened to swallow the players, surely the king would lie unaware of the danger she had personally been placed in. Because a little fall was of no consequence to the royal, the ruler.

Instead, it was the world to the onset of castle guards that had flooded the hallway she'd taken them into. And she'd have to thank her arbiter for that.

"This looks straight-forward. The target will just slip out of this place ala James Bond villain while we?"

Plini fell, like the target he'd surmised. And Nian almost halted herself, half working into a guffaw, had the effects of that sink-hole not made themselves immediately available to her in the seconds afterwards. All at once, the crowd of chasers broke empty, and what scattered few at the front and the back of the herd had failed to continue their pursuit, distracted by the howls of their comrades. Each of them turned to look towards the darkness that almost, just barely failed to swallow them whole.

With two metal palms to strike the ground, Nian made sure the pit's work wasn't in vain.

A shockwave, powerful enough to unsettle the edged participants over the brink. Before the rest of the guards had regained their awareness for the castle criminal, their new emperor had already knocked them downwards, pushed them into their holding cell. Charged with treachery. Where her claws were too much to pick off the sentries, a quick sweep of her legs and a foot to their chest was enough to send their forms into the unforgiving abyss.

Perhaps, this too was 'James Bond'-like. Though, the woman didn't know who this mythical figure of mention was.

When only a handful were left, a number sufficient enough to count on one's fingers, the emperor wondered at the silence beyond the walls she made sure to seclude herself within. Surely the people hungry to toss their leader off the throne would've been noisier than this.

And, just to satiate a biting curiosity, she believed she should figure what happened to that right-hand man of hers.

One scoff, and a shoulder-shove of another figure into the pit. She leapt down after it, sticking close to the edges of their descent. For a moment, the person was there, and the next that jet sea swallowed them up.

Claws worked their magic, between the echoing of that horrible, ear-piercing sound of edge on plane, metal on rusted plates, slowing the ruler's fall from what only serfs and cops had to feel, the unlucky bunch. And when some light returned to her vision, Nian spying a number of colors amidst the grey dark, she was quicker to cling to the walls and pay attention to what her objective might be.

A persons-pyramid. The top figure reaching for something in the wall, from an angle she couldn't see.

And Heaven's chosen put all her bets in that leap of faith, slinging herself into that gap where she believed one to be, once she was within two feet of appearance to the pyramid staff. Wordless and graceful, with all the confidence of a wildcat, she slunk into a room brighter and well furnished than what could've been in that hollow pit below.

Had Nian be one to question the sequence of events leading her up to this space, this point in time, she would not have stayed quiet in her recognition of everybody from before, especially that dumb blonde from earlier, and Plini found safe and sound in these cushy quarters. Rather, the only realization to push her into a growl was finding something harsh stuck to the joints of one of her claws. One arm vanished just to yank out the interloper, and it fell to the carpet, bouncing upon the feet of some player else.

A key.

Not that Nian was going to bother with it.

ID202775 | LD18 | keyblade master. (#1)
Passing it over to @Lilik.

Gross.

It was decent time that the stupid, ugly infidel got off of her before she even had a chance to swipe the devilskin and rip an orange cursor into her. The king snarled, whipping up from her furled lump on the floor, letting out another war cry before her choir was matched with the destruction of property. On terrible grounds such as these? They might as well.

And then watching that damned shitty woman rush forward only to turn back and -- what? Let people in? As though the guards wouldn't be on her ass within seconds flat -- "Seriously, it's like nobody knows how the fuck to handle chaos around here," she snarled, almost pausing her rushed movement to scan the grounds for Plini. Nian found nothing. It was as though he was captivated by that random other blue cyst that appeared out of nowhere and left them for dead.

Ugh. She couldn't trust Nobody, here. Fine.

Without hesitation she launched herself into the building, clutches of her tempered claws pulling her lanky form forwards. Almost on all fours she darted into the hallways -- if the color of red and the size of her weapons weren't enough to signal to the confused security of the danger of the player, then perhaps the snarl of heaven's chosen would've been enough to tell them to make way. Or else.

One rounded corner, claw marks indenting the marbled flooring. She understood not why some locations featured checkered tiles and others a more regal swirl of neutral tones, from grey to black. Ahead seemed to be a staircase, spiraling upwards in the main hall -- and sure, the infantry were making their way downwards, spears in hand and at the ready to seize the incoming civilians.

Read: Civilians. The monster within was much more of a threat than most mild-mannered strongarms were expecting to manage on this fine, downside-up sort of day.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!"

She must've barreled into them, slamming three of the line up into the tower's walls, knocking over a pedestal in all of its finely-crafted stone glory, alongside the ornaments that had decorated the auxiliary aesthetic. With a fling, she'd sent their stunned bodies into the next room, crashing through a hollow doorway and denting infrastructure -- a pillar, most likely. Nian hadn't the mindset to check. And what more patrol teams lagging behind their comrades flooded the circular room, making a beeline towards the emperor's position.

With a sharp snarl, the king fled through the doorway, a grip on the frame, tear lines indicating where there might've been danger, guards following through on that promise.

ID201937 | LD9 | --> storming the castle

PROGRESS | 90/150

And they were getting close! Her new residence, right in the midst of what looked like the border along heaven and hell. Cut off from the rest of the world, it earned a right moniker, her definition of what she'd consider an ivory tower.

If there were any signs of disgust on the emperor's face, her presence would've been long gone before a second look were up to confirm it. Because--

"Argh, blast it! This control is stuck, and the Airship is on a crash course!"

--Honestly, she couldn't stand the helpless, sometimes.

Perched on one of the sides of the Hand of Heaven, her eyes were trained on the patrolling of guards down below. Slow maneuvering, and she would've had the patience to wait for their routes complete too, had they not been hurtling through space at rocket speed, or if they had under the discerning control of the people's king, permission unto her without objection.

C'est la vie.

There was a statue in the middle of the courtyards. Once Nian had caught notice of the sheet of marble against the flat lawns, the player rose from her squat, feeling her footing give way off the edge of the vessel, and--

she

plummeted

down

into

the

abyss.

Claws out. Only a resolve crafted of vanta steel and eyes of burning red were all the specks of detail that one might make from on high down to the ether below. And the royal was non-hesitant, turning around from her look back towards the ship facing down towards her landing point. She was going to make it to the spot of white.

And she wasn't going to land without a yell.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

One swift sword art, the woman's trick to disobey Cardinal's laws. The type of movement to reset her velocity, stop her momentum mid-air and have her drop onto the shoulders of the Imperator's image, feet spread wide apart, ear-to-ear, as Nian readjusted herself so not to lose balance upon disgracing His Majesty. Another howl -- as though the first hadn't been enough to capture the attention of her fellow subjects from the gate to the doors of the castle -- before she stopped entirely, taking a deep breath from the gust of wind that blew straight towards her, fresh, the scent of flames and fortunes on that breeze.

She swallowed. Exhaled. Kept her cool, the flutter of her shawl thrown upwards as a promise of something better, as someone important. Talons, edged and sharpened, clinging onto metal from a world unbeknownst to reality rested upon her hips. They gleamed in dark prismatic hues, Heaven's Right in her presence.

"Listen up you ingrates!"

(A pause for dramatic effect.)

"Your new ruler is here now! To lead you all into a new age of glory! Of power! Of everything you could ever want and more! Where is your god now, that you demand for what you deserve, and The King stands missing, hiding away from his people, when he owes you what you are due!"

The true sovereign threw a fist to a side, fury of a thousand suns seething through from an unlocking of her jaw.

"You do not deserve that! And hence, I am here to take charge!"

ID201898 | LD3 | --> i should stick to rolling normally next time.

PROGRESS | LD 3/150

Physical. Force.

Of course. Only the uneducated would resort to such things at a moment's notice. Forget that their emperor had literally understood the controls with a look, pulled up the navigation wheel and read the speed for an upcoming boost. Crashing into Plini was the least of her problems.

Going at top speed might just be the least for her rowdy rabble, too.

Claws out. The steel of her weapons carried her to lean on one foot from their positioning, and with a jab of the other she wasn't piling her weight against, the king dully flicked the shift stick, sending the airship into top gear.

"Up top, blondie."

And with further STR, she aimed to lock that shift into place -- a click to the side ensured the stick's positioning, with any luck.

What else was needed on the main deck, again?

"You know," the king shot back while easing her way out the crime scene. "You're lucky I hadn't registered that as an offense against me, commoner. You go around pushing people into others yourself?"

"See that you don't run orange, idiot."

And with that, she took her leave.

ID201877 | LD18 | --> power

PROGRESS

Navigation: 113/100
Power: 109/100
Supplies: 73/100

"Move over, despicable."

The blonde serf had somehow snuck her way into the control room whilst she was waiting on her right-hand man. All she seemed to take was a glance at the board; even then, the king was less than satisfied at the woman's lack of progress. Talk about incapable. Nian found position at the very front and center of the chamber, in direct view of the oncoming storm.

Lame.

"Milord, there must be a button here that might make this thing go faster."

"Is that so?"

She didn't need to take long to figure out which periphery it was, particularly the one that resembled a joystick with indicators by its side. Within range, marked with a gear icon, one of the buttons were meant to pull up the steering wheel -- that, or it was just the Emperor's luck on her guess with the click of her claw. A few steps back once she felt the ground beneath her tap against her feet, and immediately the claws faded out of view, a sparkle in the king's eyes when they fell upon that wooden crownsmaker. Checkmate.

Then, the side levers on its stand were... Well. She would figure it out as they went.

"Plini," she commanded, eyes still set on the grey clouds ahead. Her hands rested on the rungs of the helm. "Check on the quarry." Nian glanced towards the bar beside the lever -- a gauge that was nearly full, but wasn't so completely ready to shift drives just yet. "Want this meter at it's max before we take off for good."

ID201873 | LD14 | --> navigation

PROGRESS

Navigation: 96/100
Power: 85/100
Supplies: 73/100

Damn these serfs nowadays. That they couldn't recognize a leader when they saw one spoke leagues of their incredulity in higher power. Nian was right on her way out of the lower decks of the ship when one of the rabble made way en route towards her. And to say that the ruler wasn't impressed by her questioning was an understatement.

"Obviously it's yours truly right here," the king stated, the front of her iron fist bumping into her own chest. Without any further questioning, said ruler swept past the blond while keeping a great berth to her movements; her claws were often an obstacle, and she didn't want them slated across a commoner's figure, lest they muddied her power with their presence. Instead, she ducked right out of the underhold and into the broad daylight once again.

To no more than additional ruckus from the incredibly miserable choir.

Arbiters gained more of her respect that the others who hadn't proven their worth. "Don't need to tell me twice," she responded, calm and steady eyes fixed towards Plini. Then there was the cut of some hothead that appeared, squeaky-toned chew toy. All Nian shot her way was a bored look, and spiked claws attempted to grab the commander's clothes in order to pull her in close.

"I said I was king."

And they were the only words that made it out of her throat untouched by helium's earnesty. In the chaos of the world, what emphasized better her own speech was the burning hues of the skies, flames reflected within her own -- and the ruby-drenched wench within reach of a punch.

^{"If you wanted to call yourself queen... Be my guest."}

Nian spared the other with a shove and a snort. Then a glance to the ignoble's kin, the monarch deliberately ignoring some Nobody, waving her fingers around after she'd raised them. "Help, help. As your supreme, I know better. Now." Her glance was shot towards her right-hand man after she'd spied around the main deck and found the hub of the ship, that castle which housed controls. "Arbiter. Are you staying behind with the lowlifes or what?"

ID201844 | LD12 | --> navigation

PROGRESS

Navigation: 59/100
Power: 47/100
Supplies: 44/100

With the rate they were progressing towards the skyport, there had been a question lingering in the player's mind. Namely; what was the point of requiring an airship for whatever they were going to do next? Hijacking a vehicle was one thing. It wouldn't be ruled as such under her law, for one, and for another, all creations were due to the one true king (Nian) over Aincrad. So what vessel they would take was hers, by way of her judgement. But her claws were keeping up their work, and they were reaching, reaching out towards the clouds by now.

Plini said it would be faster with a ship of their own. And the monarch huffed, not taking it lightly. It was only when her eyes rested upon the ship that her subject was looking upon that she knew it had to be hers.

An unspoken-of, sleek hull painted black and accented with earthen hues on its interior. A blossoming bladder; white, and only slightly deflated, and powerful propellers that kept it upright at its back. Whirring, noisy. That wasn't the best they could've stolen -- they must've stolen it, the rabble -- but there was a crew ready, first and foremost.

Lost sheep needing their shepherd.

"Milord, surely you wouldn't shoot an airship that isn't headed there if you're the commanding officer right? After all, these guards or soldiers are doing their best to hinder anyone who tries."

The royal snorted, pulling a grin almost-evil. "They stop our advance," she replied, watching the ballista go off as a skirmish took place in the far distance. "One with power must do what they must to progress."

Giant sentinels then let the arbiter out of their grasp, and she watched him take off in a dart towards the voyager, his figure almost scrambling up the ropes. Typical. Scrawny. Nian's appearance would be even more than that.

A slide of her back foot, claws dragged behind her frame. Sharp angles dug into the shining paneled flooring when she lunged forward, throwing her body forward with ferocity and speed. Like a beast towards its prey, she flung herself forward at the edge of the docks, one steeled arm outstretched to the side of the vehicle.

Wood must've crushed under the pressure of her weight and damage. She never felt it, however, and the ship hadn't excruciated an error in her landing when she scrambled up the side of their vehicle. Amongst the crowd, she must've been the shortest player on board. And yet, most likely, the only one who was larger than life.

So she started howling, a weight of black lifted towards the air.

"Everybody listen up! This vessel is under the Emperor's rule now! All hands on deck to get The Hand of Heaven up and running! No slackers will be allowed onboard! Got that?!"

The monarch didn't need to wait for an answer. A quick sweep over her new territory told her just how unfamiliar she was with the properties of an 'airship'. Nothing like she'd ever seen in real life. But her lack of knowledge wasn't going to stop the king from her vigilance over the rule of this ship. With one turn, her short cape flapping behind her by the wind's grace, she stormed down into the ship's hold, red eyes speeding between items to gather as much information as possible.

(Oh, and her mere appearance unto the vehicle lends it more Power than it previously had. Obviously, that's how this works.)

ID201801 | LD14 | --> power

PROGRESS

Navigation: 28/100
Power: 33/100
Supplies: 31/100

The corners of her lips curled into a cruel smile.

"Fitting last words."

And all of her STR was mustered into the pult with a swing of her body. She launched the man into the air, in a direction upwards if not towards this 'skyport', whatever that was. One dip of her knees, too, and she brought herself skyward -- freefalling wasn't about to excuse her second-in-command from leaving her side, either. As king, she had responsibilities over her subjects.

An arm wrapped around Plini's waist and she ushered them towards a roof-top, albeit one she'd abandoned earlier to get a closer look for her revelers. Landing on her feet, she pulled up her companion to ensure he did the same. A fierce frown, nose wrinkled, and her head thrown backwards slightly. "What's this about a skyport?"

Nian didn't need to look too far to see a vessel fit for a ruler. The shadow passing over head was well enough to shut her up, if not her companion, and the monarch eyed it with voracity, teeth gnashed together. Desire-- and outrage. She wasn't going to be out-done, heavens blocked out that the sun wouldn't shine on her.

After a beat, still kept in the dark, she looked to the other player. "Direct me," she started, before clearing her throat, restoring her voice. "Rather; lead your emperor down towards victory. And..."

Her fingers curled and relaxed in a wave.

"Try to keep up, underling."

@Plini

"Milord!"

And what commoner was speaking to her now? She was busy, couldn't they tell? Nian squinted, searching through the crowd midair, as she made a land towards the nearest rooftop. A peep over the ledge as she made her stop; she couldn't even be faulted for keeping up appearances tucking a long lock of hair behind her ear. Just to hear better.

"Nian-- Oh shit, milord. The skyport!"

It was at the identification of the other player within the masses that her scowl deepened. So *that* was the source of the noise. Of course, her frown faded away quickly, with the king slipping down to a safe area from her heights; a lower ledge, her grip tight from the obsidian claws, and she extended her metal arms towards @Pliniwhen she made sure, up close, she had the right man.

"Arbiter," she greeted him with a nod. There was command in her voice, a strict stupor awash her expression, almost. "I assume you don't want to be in the losing lot, do you? Come, take my hands. You're not afraid of heights, are you--?"

ID201748 | LD19 | progress: 99/125

rare opportunity? for what?

oh, a rebellion. she hadn't been to that floor before, but a ruler wouldn't mention a lack of otherworldiness to anyone but themselves. still, though. the term rebellion should've put a chill into her bones...

...if the term had actually been used against her. which meant that the ruling powers of that particular region had disintegrated. seconds after reading the message, nian understood all there was to know about her necessary attendance at the forefront.

"make way! make way!"

and follow the little red dot around the circumference of the city, the woman trying to weave herself into the crowd of infidels and auxiliaries, annoyed grunts pressed out of her when people around found themselves shoving and pushing their king around. so annoying! with one burst, a shove outwards to the rabble against her, and two pitch pillars were summoned, sleek stoic figures cutting through the daylight, the last rays of sun fallen upon her exact position caught in sheens of her authority. and the monarch yelled, pushing herself off the ground just as she had been so used to, before the torrent could collect themselves back upon her position.

no, she wasn't going to trap herself here, here, with the lowlifes, before seeing this to its conclusion.

so she couldn't cut a path amongst the people. too bad. a light landing upon a building's rooftop was then followed by a heavy settling of metal, thick and unwieldy, upon ancient and sturdy brick. red eyes squinted towards the distance. following the direction of the crowd. a landmark. the central tower.

"bingo."

claws sank into the gaps between metal rungs, and the system complained, as though acknowledging the str in her fist. and likewise, nian hissed at it. so much for cardinal if it were to complain under a bit of pressure.

within bounds overhead, the king flung herself over towards her destination point.

forging one's own direction had always been the way of heaven's favourites.

[[ N I A N ]]

NIAN | HP: 60/60 | EN: 24/24 | DMG: 8 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1 | MIT: 12

Spoiler    equipment  Heaven's Decree +2 ACC +1 EVA STR + 3 DMG Fur-Hooded Down Jacket + 12 MIT + 0 REGEN    br.inventory  Cold Brew Coffee (5) | HP RECOVERY III | [link]    skills  Spoiler CLAWS | RANK 2/5 MARTIAL ARTS | RANK 1/5    buffs  Spoiler -

There was an element to distributing one's stats in an efficient manner. Nian knew this, after watching commoners in the past perform this check and observing the differences between their agility and strength. Hence, her concern: the king wasn't worried about her frontrunner. Nay, she was concerned with the backline instead.

Blueberry had no combat prowess. Judging from that manner of speech, it was entirely likely that their lowest common denominator of a serf would only drag the party down with her speed. She eyed the player with a glare over her shoulder, then bounced it back to the man ahead. "Start brisk walking. The party should still be open for entry even as the services are partway through. As long as we make it before the end of the next hour."

"Besides," Nian added with a sharp smile, teeth bared. Speaking from experience. "The most important guests of the night always make a late entrance."