Welcome to Beacon: Rising

3rd of Tempestas

It was the day many young people were waiting for. It was the day before the first day of the school year, at the beginning of Tempestas. Now, this was not usually a cause for celebration, but here in the Kingdom of Vale, this particular school was something....different.

Beacon Academy, the legendary school famed for producing mighty Huntsmen and Huntresses.

One of the newest trains in Vale, a result of collaborative innovation with Atlas, pumped out steam as it moved through Forever Fall. The elected initiates were separated by kingdom in their cars, but they could move from car to car. The car for students Vale sat in the front, followed by the Atlesian car, the Vacuoan car, and the Mistrali car.

One such initiate, Wayne Eisenmann, was sitting in a window seat in the Atlesians' car as he read the City of Vale's newspaper. A full set of armor sat next to him, Iron Thunderbolt, to prevent anyone from sitting next to him. However, this barrier didn't preclude the people sitting in front of him from turning around or the people sitting behind him to lean forward and try to talk to him.

"Hmph," he scoffed as he turned the page. "Vale..."

edited 28th Mar '15 6:40:07 PM by Insano

The First Aurion

A rather muscularly built Atlasean man was sitting in the seat right across from Wayne. Despite appearing to be rather unintelligent, he was reading a book on weapon forging techniques. His name was Tempestas Aurion. He had been rather quiet throughout most of the ride.

"Hmm...this shall come in handy later...", he said while reading.

Vale Car

Ovid started awake at a bump in the train's movements but relaxed back when he saw that nothing of note had happened. He cracked his neck to work out the kinks before looking over at the others who shared his railcar. "How long have I been asleep? Are we almost there, don't particularly fancy other nap in here."

Vocaunese Car

A young fox faunus sat in her seat, awaiting the train to reach its intended destination. Nearly all her focus at the moment however, was prettying her self up before arrival, carefully grooming her hair, making small tweaks to every bow on her body, a dedication to appearance that most hunters would find asinine.

To her however, it was not, she was a showpiece of her clan, a pinical of beauty and war, yet "handicapped in both", a failure at either point meant she had failed at her role, leaving her a tool to be discarded.

Train

In a corner of the train by himself, a heavily armoured young man sat as far away as possible from those he was sharing the train with as possible. For the most part, Gerhart was keeping an eye on those around him, lest they attempt anything that might require him to follow his oath.

As Ovid awoke and asked his question, Gerhart responded by glaring at him and shaking his helmeted head.

edited 5th Mar '15 1:04:14 PM by Eachiunn

Vacuo Car

Within the third car a vaguely masculine figure looked through the window, watching the train carry them to their destination.

Their face clad in an iron mask fashioned to look like an impressively-moustached man, they were dressed in shades of brown, a wide-brimmed hat adorning their head full of blond hair, straight to the collarbone, than knotted into a giant braid. A rather big case for armor sat by them, alongside a masterfully crafted broadsword.

Nemesis Vickers hasn't paid much attention to the other people in her car. Well, not until the Fox Faunus started primming herself as if she was going to a ball rather than to a prestigious Hunter school. She said nothing, merely letting her eyes - left one light blue, right one dark green - speak for her in a disdainful glare directed at the Faunus in question.

edited 5th Mar '15 1:12:34 PM by FergardStratoavis

Vacuonese Car

The occasional shake of the car was the only way Ahyan could tell how many times he had failed to get to know his fellow countrymen. He nervously tapped his right knee, right before the armor started.

I've got to do it now.. I have to know... They've probably got some interesting tales to tell!

Ahyan cleared his throat. He raised his hand in greeting at whoever would turn their head toward him in response.

"Good morning. I take it we're all here with the same desire to become great hunters, yes?" he began. "I was just wondering what made you want that sort of job."

The blonde turned to look at the other human in the car. "Duty." She spoke, the mask changing her voice enough to be perceived as either a low-tone female or high-tone male. That Vickers' figure appeared chestless only added to the confusion. "Per prophecy, I am to finally clean the family name off the infamy that surrounds it and no way is better than becoming a Hunter just like my ancestors did." She spoke with little emotion. Her voice, while polite, seemed to just... lack something humane.

"I am afraid that..." Nemesis set her cold, stingy glare upon the fox Faunus again. "not all wish to do as you and I however."

Mistrail Car

Verna isn't to be found inside the car.

Vale Car

Nor here.

Vacuo Car

Nor here.

Atlas Car

Nor here.

Was she late? Did she miss the train?

Mistrail Car's Roof

Ah, here she is. She has a firm grip to the roof, her Semblance having allowed her to freeze her finger tips to the car's roof. She's been crouched here grinning for several minutes enjoying the cool air in her hair.

I should probably head into the car, soon. I can't avoid meeting new people forever. She sighs mournfully, And, no matter how it may feel, this isn't betraying my old crew. People get new crews all the time. I just need to get over this and meet them. Maybe we can, like, rob some pompous rich guy for bonding or something.

With that thought in mind they use their fire to melt the ice and swing down to the side of the car, peeking in through the window, then opening it and swinging in once she sees she won't be hitting anyone, landing softly crouching with her feet wide and one hand on the ground. She looks up and scans the room as she slowly stands.

Vale Car

"I do not think so," said a young man sitting a couple of seats away from Ovid. "Then again, I have not been paying much attention to the ride myself."

A closer look showed the young man was writing in a journal of sorts. He wore clothing that, while simple, were fine enough to give away his Nobleman status. Oddly enough, he also wore a cape — purple with a black border — that obscured his back from view.

Vocau

"Honour" the fox replied shrugging off the disdainful looks the masked figure keeps giving her "I was chosen by the Kosetsu-Shi to showcase our prowess, and my master told me that there was no better way to do so then to become a huntress renowned the world over"

"Why is that you prepare for festivities rather than battle then?" Nemesis retorted, her glare easing up a little. At the very least they weren't that far away in motivation.

edited 5th Mar '15 2:34:42 PM by FergardStratoavis

Atlas Car

Tempestas then finished his book, and looked around at all the others in the car.

"So, what brings you all here on this fine day?", he asked his fellow Atlasians.

The fox looked down at herself, then back to Nemesis as if the question was self answering. "I am our showpiece, and a woman, what use is a woman who is not presentable enough for producing heirs? If you were a smith, and attempting to sell your wares which one would you choose to showcase, the same sword that every other smith can produce, or the guided one that maintains its edge? One serves only one function, one serves two. One can be produced by any one, one takes a smith of great skill. I think the choice of which to display is clear"

Vacuo Car

Easily antagonistic I see.. could be difficult, but they could also have a reason for it.. an interesting reason..

"Is it not more important what one does with the sword than who makes it?" Ahyan replied, pulling out his sword as I'd to reiterate his point. He turned it over in his hands.

"It's the person who makes the sword famous after all. But I suppose, as a swordsmith myself, I have to admit it helps To have a good one."

"If such is the case, you might have boarded the wrong train." Nemesis scoffed, looking away from the fox girl. "You were sent to become a Hunter, yet you speak of looking presentable, of producing heirs. Your superiors and you seem to forget that this is not a brothel or a parade."

"Using your example with swords..." Vickers' gloved fingers traced the flat part of Raivo's blade. "Would you rather use a blade decorated with riches of kings that breaks upon its very first hardship or a drab and ugly one that serves you well through the years?"

She nodded at Ahryan's words. "To wield a weapon, one needs to have skill necessary for it, just like with any other tool. But, as you yourself said, having a good one helps such a warrior live long enough to achieve feats they wish to achieve."

edited 5th Mar '15 2:45:06 PM by FergardStratoavis

"For the purpose of showcasing what one can produce, you would go for something inbetween", the fox replies, before looking too the other person there. "In that case I can only hope my master knows what they were doing"

"Except then you will go neither here nor there." Nemesis shook her head. "You do not achieve mastery by being average in all potential categories."

Vacuonese Car

"Friend, when you reach mastery you can do both and still excel in your craft." Ahyan replied with a laugh.

He had a tendency to call people who he hadn't become acquainted with friend, even if they probably weren't going to end up with that status.

"True mastery is learning how to blend styles, and yet create wholly singular masterwork."

Atlas Car

Sitting near Tempestas was a young man with raven black hair, who, at the moment ,was asleep. Next to him was a blue trident, prongs deadly sharp.

"While this might be the case, we musn't forget what we are here for." The blonde-haired figure sighed. "And that is not preening feathers, but protecting the people from the threat of the Grimm."

edited 5th Mar '15 3:07:21 PM by FergardStratoavis

Tsukiko quietly stood before she contined talking, never stoping with her subtle ajustments various items on her.

"That is untrue, it simply takes more effort to produce a tool the more you want out of it. And in my case, I have been groomed for this role since I was naught but a pup, while little boys were playing with frogs, I was learning the ways of war, while the other girls were playing with dolls I was learning how to present myself.... Judging that a blade must be dull or brittle because it is ornate, without considering the effort the smith might have put into it is a quick way for one to loose there head", without much visable trace one would find the empty seat next to nemisis with a new cut, and Tsukiko's hand on her hilt.

edited 5th Mar '15 3:13:36 PM by Imca

"It seems we are kindred spirits then." Nemesis let out a coarse, mirthless chuckle, not at all phased by this sudden draw. "But just like an ornate blade can be a good weapon, it doesn't necessarily have to. Same with a drab one."

"The difference is that making an ornate sword that is good takes longer time than it does making a drab one that rivals it in quality." She traced her fingers through the flat side of her broadsword again. "And with Grimm lurking just behind city walls, we have hardly any time to be such ornate weaponry. I do not think the beasts appreciate one's beauty anyway." She quipped, her tone dry as a desert.

Vale car

Ovid placed his feet up on a conveniently placed bench. "Well isn't that special. Stuck on a train car with nothing to do for who knows how long. Why the hell is this place out in the wilderness? There must have been other places to build it." He leaned back in thought. "Then again, if Grimm attacked us now, at least I'd be able to have some fun."

Vacuonese Car

"Yet... Isn't beauty the opposite of the Grimm? They are savage, mindless, and coarse. While we-" Ayhan added, tapping his sword to cause a gentle tinkling sound "Are just the opposite."

"Everyone has their reasons for being a Hunter. Not all reasons are pure, but they're all important in their own way."