//------------------------------// // Tribal // Story: Chassis // by LoosePartyCannon //------------------------------// Esther Minotaurian Islands Day 1, 7 P.M To say I was on edge as I followed the large group of over sized bull people into a unknown forest as night fell upon the world, casting the dense jungle in a dark shadow, would be the understatement of the century. Ovid, despite his intimidating physique and weapons, seemed like a gentle soul who wouldn't harm anyone without good reasons, but that didn't make me trust him more then I would trust a feral Avia. He was still a seven feet tall pile of muscle with horns and no amount of calming words could shake the idea of being gored on one of them because I looked at him funny. Despite all that I knew I was fine for the time being, my Chassis would make quick work of him if he did try anything. In all honesty, his stone weapons were quaint in comparison to the reactor powered metal war machine I piloted for a living. "Ovid, how much further till we reach this village of yours?" I asked, my voice bombing loudly from the speakers on the outside of the cockpit. "We will soon be in the safety of the village walls. Tell me Esther Leonas, are all the members of your race so tiny?" He asked curiously. chuckling a little I replied. "No, All though I'm considered tall for a natural human. Humans are a mix bag of talents, traits, religions, races and abilities, some are born taller or stronger then others and some are born with defects that can shape who they are or stunt them in development. Thankfully, most humans can fix their blights or hereditary illnesses thanks to augmentations." I explained trying to explain that most humans are completely different to others while also trying not to get into a long, diplomatic discussion about humanity in general. "Augmentations? As in runes? Yes we have those too, though they only work for weapons." He said as he took his giant stone ax off his back, looking faintly I saw strange inscriptions embedded into the dull stone edge. "Not like that no, but similar. Body augs, as some call them, are meant to be replacements or improvements for a human body, if someone loses an eye or arm in a battle then it can be replaced. Some style their augments with different alloys, paint jobs or different functions. I once heard about a man who replaced his left arm with a minigun, he got fired from his job because no one needs a civil engineer packing enough heat to take down a VTOL." I said, going slightly off course as we continued to walk down the large stone path. Surprisingly the dirt road had gradually being changing to a rustic stone path, must be getting closer. "Sounds impressive, though I imagine with all new ideas there are those who don't wish to change?" He asked, seemingly intrigued with the idea of fake limbs. "Yeap, more than a few political parties or outspoken members of nobility have tried to ban augmentation or deport Augs off of the Human Armada, but their laws never pass and their PR is run by a bunch of Old World conservative nuts who think we should close off all trade routes with other races, so their bound to get their asses whooped by any voter with a brain." I explained. "Your leaders sound conflicting at best, have your people ever revolted?" Ovid asked bluntly. "Not with our current Emperor, but there have been times in the past were riots and revolutions were a lot more common. As much as I love having discussions of human nature and culture with creatures who probably don't even know what a natural human looks like, I would really like to know where...Wow." I asked before I had to stop myself and take in the scene in front of me. "Beautiful isn't it? Welcome to my home; Thesia." Ovid boomed loudly as his chest swelled with pride and pointed out with his right arm, his body illuminated by the setting suns rays as his body seemed to shine with light. He then stood still for a few seconds, as if he was striking a heroic pose. The village itself was beautiful, surrounded on three sides was the jungle with a three hundred or so gap of open fields being guarded by a large, ancient looking stone wall that was about thirty feet high and if the constant movement was any indication it was heavily guarded. Aldo I could not see the buildings directly behind the wall, I could see the ones above the wall as the town was built on the incline of an enormous, almost shining cliff. The cliff seemed to rise up to a small Mesa with a large, white and red tent built atop it with a few surrounding tents and wooden huts. Most of the buildings I could see were either simple huts or basic wooden or stone house built larger than normal to accommodate the massive Minotaurs. The town was surrounded by beautiful flowers and trees that resembled every color of the rainbow and shifted in color and seemed to sway with a non-existent wind. The town was built out of a beautiful dark brown wood painted a wide variety of colors, though from where I was standing(a few kilometers away) I couldn't tell what they meant as it just looked colored spots on the walls. The town, though exotic and seemed to embrace nature with all the vines and plants growing inside the walls, was also built like a stronghold. The village had three large walls built so thick it would take siege weaponry to put a dent into it and the back of the town was guarded by a mesa with only one road up meant not only could snipers fire down upon invaders, but no one could get up the mountain without attacking the town unless they were willing to climb an almost completely vertical jagged cliff face. The villiage, despite showing signs of being harmonious with nature, it also seemed slightly industrial. "It's impressive, not gonna lie. Just going off a gut feeling, but I'm going to bet that this 'Priestess' you want me to meet lives in that big tent up there?" I asked while point the Chassis's left arm at the massive, tribal looking white tent on top of the rock formation. "Yes. She, along with a few other representatives of the people live atop of the mountain to protect against invaders." He said with a small bit as we continued down the rocky path, going down a slight incline into a flat, grassy field. "Trouble with the neighbors?" I asked, already knowing the answer but wanting to continue the conversation. "You could say that, or you could say we're constantly under threat from barbarians and roving warlords. They see our village as a cornucopia of resources, but instead of trading, they wish to raze our homes to ash and kill our kin. The wall and mountain have been invaluable to holding them off but the Priestess thinks we will soon need to look for aid. Personally, they're all a bunch of savages with no tact or strategy to their attacks. As long as we continue to outsmart them, victory is assured." He said with a strong, determined voice, his men seemed to share similar views as many of them cheered or shouted in agreement. We had been slowly picking up speed and were now in a slow jog towards the approaching stone wall of Thesia. "Not to rain on your parade, but what if their strategy does change?" I asked, playing devils advocate. "Rain on my parade? That's a new one, is that an alien phrase? As for your question, those knuckle dragging, honourless murderers don't have the ability to think beyond running, attacking and screaming." He said, his gruff yet calming voice shifting from confused to angered. We were almost at the gate and if the shadows shifting and running about in the small, stone and wood hut that was built atop the wall, Someone had noticed the platoon of soldiers and the large, ornate bipedal robot painted blue following behind them. "Halt Chieftain! What is that thing behind you?" I heard a loud, feminine voice shout. Unlike all the Minotaurs I had heard talk before, this voice was soft but not delicate and strict. Nothing like the gruff voices of the men around me, who sounded like they exercises their vocal cords by chewing iron. "This metal creature is being controlled by a woman who calls herself Esther Leonas, she says she came from the great battle in the sky!" Ovid shouted back into the hut. Aldo it was dark inside the hovel, I could see something small talking to a much larger shadow. "I'll be down in a second. Open the gates!" I heard the voice shout before I saw something blue sprint out of the building. Almost instantly, the large, wooden gate reinforced by metal started lowering down like a drawbridge without a moat. Surprisingly, I was able to fit through the open gateway but crouching down slightly after all the natives passed through first. The town itself was quite charming, the buildings all had a old world feel with their simple designs and tribal artwork(which upon closer inspection seemed to tell stories through artwork like human cave paintings) and the village was seemingly robust with activity as people ran about collecting things, running businesses or practicing their crafts like fighting, carpentry or forging primitive weapons made of what looked like a darker, glass-like version of iron...Until they noticed me of course. In an instant all stopped and stared at the new arrives, particularly me. Some seemed to be impressed by my machine, others scarred or readying weapons. Before either I or Ovid could speak, I saw someone new walk up onto the scene. "Ovid, please tell me you at least know whether or not if this thing is hostile." I heard the voice from before say. Another minotaur, though oddly this one had sapphire blue fur and black lines running along her body that seemed to form jagged, crude shapes with no coherent rhythm, until it reached her arms where it formed shapes vaguely similar to what looked like snakes with multiple heads. She wore torn. dirt brown cloth and metal armor that looked like a dirty, stained set of armor missing a helm, leggings, arms and half the chest with the elbows, shoulders, knee caps and feet being covered. The parts of her body that weren't covered by ancient, burnt looking armor were simple cloth clothing that covered her body, making sure she looked protected and intimidating. She didn't seemed armed but if the impressive, veiny muscles and the steel bands covering her knuckles, which were wrapped in leather, being held in her beefy hands were anything to go off, she didn't need a real weapon. She had one very long and sharpened hone that was almost umber in coloring, but the horn on the right side of her face was torn off halfway in development which gave it a jagged and broken look. She had long black hair that ran down her back and a few loose hanging dreadlocks with various beads and pieces of gemstone of all the colors of the rainbow stuck in her hair. "Trust me, Esther Leonas here is a kind women with a hardened soul. I wouldn't have brought her here if I thought she was a monster of some kind." He said, assuring the stranger that I wasn't a direct threat. "...How exactly can you tell that that thing is a women? Its tall enough to bring down the mesa!" She exclaimed, surprised and probably confused. Deciding Ovid had spoken for me enough times today, I decided to pick up the conversation. "It's kind of easy to tell what gender I am when I actual show myself." I spoke casually, startling many of the people who had started to crowd us. "huh, interesting. A giant machine used to protect a smaller creature. Tell me Esther Leonas, how did you build this monster of steel and obsidian?" She said, mumbling stuff under her breath about ores and 'magic'. As I looked around, it seemed the whole village had gathered around us, the crowd making up various shades of blues, browns, blacks and dark green colors. Many of the locals seemed to be either looking around unsure of how to react or preparing for a fight. "Firstly, Esther is just fine. Squadron Leader Leonas if you want to be overly formal, and secondly, I didn't build this Chassis alone, well, most of it at least." I answered honestly. "Well the Esther, if Ovid the oaf thinks you're trustworthy then I might as well see if what he says holds any merit. How about we talk face to face so I can see if you really are someone we can have faith in." She said, suspicious as to my true intentions. Seeing as how there was nothing to lose aside from my life, I begrudgingly commanded the Chassis into a kneeling position and opened the Chassis cockpit. Ovid This was now the second time I would lay eyes upon Esther Leonas as she commanded her steel beast to lower down to the ground so she could exit it, and she was still as strange as the first time I saw her. The head of the monster opened up, reveling a small room with a few glass panels of some kind and boxes built into the wall with blinking lights giving the strangely dark room a cool, blue glow. Before she got out of her chamber, she pressed a button and on of the glowing boxes built into the wall slid open, and out came a strange metal stick with a small box built under it and a telescope of some kind built into a small out sticking piece of metal on top of the weird thing. Attached to the object was a leather sash of some kind with two boxes also strapped to it, which Esther grabbed and placed on her so the metal stick was on her back and the sash went over her torso in a vertical line. Getting up and out of a strange white and black seat with various odd looking contraptions built into it, she steeped out of her mechanical animal and onto the moist dirt and hardened stone roads of Thesia. She wore a strange, skin tight, clean white suit that had shinny metallic armor placed over key areas like the torso, legs, arms and shoulders. the suit had a few glowing parts around the legs, arms and neck which seemed to serve some kind of function, but what that function was I did not know. She wore an odd looking helm that resembled the beasts head. A blue glass covered where her eyes would be and probably allowed her to see, the helm had metallic armor and a strange blade jutting up from the helm, a possible sign of power to her clan or people? I also noticed a few strange devices attached to her. She had a small, rectangular device strapped to her back, under the metal staff, that seemed to be glowing a pale yellow color. Near her left hoof was a small, oddly shaped box with a long tube that was completely silver in color. Strapped to her sides on a black belt was a bizarre blue cylinder with a flame painted on it and had a black pipe sticking out of it, and a otherworldly tool that looked like a cross between the small thing strapped to her leg and the box on her back. "Bah, you're small and scrawny, now I see what Ovid thinks you're no threat." She said dismissively as she gave Esther Leonas the once over, seemingly unimpressed by her strange armor. "Say what you will about me miss, but I guarantee I am anything but 'scrawny'." Esther replied, a hint of defensiveness in her voice. "Bah! You couldn't harm a blind Cockatrice! My name is Enyo little one, now tell me why you are here. Ovid might believe whatever lie you could of concocted but I am not so easily fooled." Enyo demanded in a condemning tone. "Do not think I am a child miss Enyo, I would wager I'm older and more experienced than you. As for why I am here in this village; Ovid seems to think some Priestess wants to meet me." Esther said honestly. Aldo I could not see her eyes, I imagine she was staring Enyo dead in the eyes and I assume by Enyo's hardened gaze, the way she was staring down in Esther's helm and the way she was readying her fists for a fight that she thought so as well. "What makes you worthy of seeing the-" "ENOUGH! Enyo, you have every right to be suspicious, but if what we both fear is true then now is not the time to burn bridges with allies we haven't even earned. Esther, walk down that path until you reach the mountain path and wait for me, I won't be long." I shouted as I shoved my way in-between the two angered women, forcing them to calm down. Without a word, Esther slowly turned and walked in the direction I had pointed, her machine following close behind, the crowd splitting in two and forming a wall around the store fronts and huts that lined the well trodden dirt roads. "Ovid you fool! You would have that mutt walk our roads unguarded?!" Enyo shouted in my face, shifting all her anger towards me. "En, if she were to do something, how do you think the village would react? There's a reason no one but the insane have attacked our home, we're prepared for any threat, from this world or beyond." I said self assured, En though, did not share my confidence. Looking around, the few people that had stuck around to watch us instead of following Esther were nodding their heads in agreement or stomping their hooves to the ground in a loud, rhythmic beat. "I am ever thankful the gods did not give me your foolhardiness, she will bring nothing but disaster I know it." Enyo said, her cold, angered expression an indication that this argument was a stalemate. "I will personally escort her to the Priestess and guard her with my live, do not fret for her or my safety." I said, smiling softly as I laid my hands on her shoulder, her vexed expression softening a little as she sighed heavily and brushed my arms of her shoulder. "I must go now En, don't want to keep our guest waiting!" I said aloud as I walked away, waving to her. "You will lead this town to its ruins Id, and I'll have to be the one to pick up the pieces." En shouted with a huff as she walked back to her post guarding the gates. "So says you, stay safe!" I shouted as I jogged off down the worn way leading to the mountain. "As will you I pray." She shouted back. As I swiftly walked, I could hear people murmuring words of spite ranging from calling me dense or brainless for bring a potential threat right to our doorstep, or praising my courage and meddle for swaying a warrior to our cause. I know the latter to be true, she will help us in our time of need, she is pure of heart and will stand by us...I hope for all our sake. Esther It had being only a few minutes since I had separated from Ovid and the raging bull known as Enyo and as I stood in front of the large, grassy incline leading up the jagged cliff already the entrapping crowd was starting to get to me. The sound of constant murmuring was starting to get on my nerves and the natives did not seem to care. They stared at me like I was some kind of freak, paraded around for their amusement or fear. "What is it mommy?" I heard a loud kid ask from somewhere in the crowd. "An alien child, Ovid said to give it some space, do not disturb it." I heard a woman's voice reply, disgust clear through how she spoke. "Can I go near it?" "What did I just say? Don't ask such foolish things child." "It looks so odd, where is it from?" I heard another voice ask aloud, the annoyingly grating voices starting to wear my patience thin. "Probably the Griffin mountains, you know how those birds love to make weird metal beings." "Yeah, but this one looks like it's worth something in a fight, not like those brass cannons they flaunt around in battles." Another voice said, a bit too loudly for my liking. 'Oh, if only you knew you ignorant waste of genetic material...' I thought darkly. Either they thought I couldn't hear them and had missed my conversation with the bull before, or they simply did not care. "Wow, look at the size of this thing! Its big enough to crush a hut! Much more impressive than that freak over there, smaller than a babe it is." I heard another voice said in a loud whisper, assuming I couldn't hear them. "Shut up you fool! Do you want to anger the monster?" I heard another person mutter, fear evident in his quivering voice. As I stood there, ignoring the comments ranging from awed and excited to scared or insulting, I contemplated my situation. Tribal natives were rarely worth noting when it came to galactic civilizations as it would be a long time before they would effect the universe in a major way but it would still need to be said that they are aware of our existence, and I was to blame for it...I would accept the punishment deemed necessary for breaking a universal law of such magnitude but it was hard to think of getting out of this situation without either damaging the planet or accidental accelerating the growth of the various species. 'If I'm held responsible for an accidental Ascension-' "Esther?" shouted a questioning voice, which snapped me out of my mental questioning. I turned and noticed as Ovid parted the crowd and walked towards me. "Are you alright?" Ovid asked as he quickly rushed up to me and tried to reach out and touch me. Reacting instantly, I slapped his hand away in a defensive and harsh way. He seemed shocked by the strength behind my blow as he no doubt assumed I was weak, but did not seemed offended. "Y-yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry about me." I said with faux confidence. In reality, my muddled mind was having difficulty coming back down to earth and my chest felt a heavy pain, like my augs were suddenly rejecting my body and shutting down my heart. "If you need a moment then-" "I said I'm fine, the sooner we can get this meeting with your Priestess over with the better, it's already past sundown." I said, looking up into the now violet and orange skies, staring at the haphazard clusters of stars, losing myself in its ever glowing radiance. "Fine, we shall move onward." Ovid said as he walked past me and started hiking up the mountain at a rapid pace. Following after, I managed to keep up. "Sorry about before, the people of Crete aren't very trusting of newcomers, so you can imagine how you and your machine companion arriving can cause quite a stir." Ovid said, trying to alleviate the stress and tension I was feeling. "It's fine, if I wasn't used to natives I wouldn't have joined the corps. I'm going to assume Enyo doesn't like me?" I asked, faking ignorance to carry the conversation and also steer it into a different direction. Looking around, I couldn't help but admire the land. The mountain sparkled as the evening light hit it, sharing its natural luster with the native inhabitants below in the small yet exotic town guarded by walls made by man and nature. The mountain wasn't large and it would only take a few more minutes give or take to get to the top. "Ha, don't mind her she hates everyone. Enyo inherits her mother's beauty and her father's anger. Her family has always looked after the town and some people see her as a community leader, so it's hard for her to not think of the negative ramifications for the tribe. Still, I hope she at least tries to play nice, don't know how long you'll be staying here, hate for you and her arguing to become a daily problem." He said with a small chuckle, but all his words did was hit home how isolated I was. I knew not where my squad is, or if their even alive. I have no way of contacting the fleet to call for back up and my supplies weren't going to last forever. Aldo I hate to imagine living off bugs, unprocessed food and unhygienic water, the reality is that without some way to know what the world is like or where to start looking for my crew, I was alone with no real goal. The walk continued in silence as we made our way up the mountain side, the only sound joining the breeze being the rhythmic stomps of my Chassis. Once we reached the top, I was finally able to take in everything. Crete was a beautiful island, sandy yellow beaches protecting the lush, dark green jungles from the clear blue ocean which seemed to stretch on for miles, only breaking the illusion of isolation with the occasional shadow of an island on the horizon. Hearing Ovid talk, I turned around and half listened as he gave me the rundown of the plateau. Guarded by a small crew of Minotaurs wearing ornate, steel armor with decorative jewels embedded in the helms and chest plates. The armor wasn't anything over the top or powerful like the armor worn by C.Os or Captains but it was clearly a cut above the common gear, shinny, polished, pure white armor with gold inscriptions around the neck and waist, leather greaves and gloves offered decent protection, mobility and a firm grip on their weapons of choice, their leggings were completely metal with a few loose areas around the joints to allow mobility to be impaired somewhat less than normal gear but also provide more protection then the simple cloth armor I've seen other Minotaurs wear. Unlike the others though, they wore simple gold necklaces with a gem of their choosing placed in the pendent and a helmet that covered their whole head, only leaving openings for improved sight, breathing and to let their horns out. The guards either used a giant wall of steel that was apparently used as a shield,some who used them had spikes, symbols or strange script welded onto the defensive side, and they also used a sword that looked like it was carved straight from the mountain and chiseled into a blade. If they weren't using greatly oversized swords and shields then they were using some kind of staff and smaller, but still massive by human standards, shields of a similar model to their larger brothers. The tent they were guarding, was immaculate and lavish. The tent was off white and, like most of the buildings, was decorated in tribal symbols and glyphs, though these were on a much larger and grander scale. The symbols depicted scenes of war, peace and harmony but as I looked closer, I couldn't help but notice that some of the symbols were...glowing? They seemed to radiate a faint, slightly brighter hue then the color of the glyph but as I starred in amazement at the odd sight, I couldn't help but wonder if it was just a trick of the eye or I was actually seeing something real. The tent had a small opening in the front, a cut in two flaps that were guarded by two of the shield and sword wielding natives, who seemed content with staring at me in what I could only assume was open hostility. The best thing about wearing helmets in the military was you could glare at your C.O without them knowing how much you wish to shot them in the kneecap. Surrounding the tent were what looked like small barracks made of wood and stone and had a small wall guarding them, possibly the sleeping quarters of these well dressed grunts, though I don't see the point in them getting an exclusive barrack, unless they need every single guard in a moments notice, it seems like a waste of space. Then again, what else would they use this small area for? "This is the home of her holiness, the High Priestess. Before you meet her I feel you should know a few things; don't joke around her guards. Their ancestors guarded the Priestess before them and their kin will do the same, they take their jobs seriously and will not hesitate to incapacitate you if you step out of line. Also, the Priestess is a bit...eccentric." Ovid quickly said as he walked me towards the tents entrance. Seeing as how the guards seemed ready to tackle my Chassis to the ground, I ordered it to stand guard at the mountain path so that it was close enough to assist me if this was a trap and far enough that the guards won't attack it. "What do you mean by 'eccentric'? I'm not a fan of vague comments." I said, questioning him. "Well, you'll see when you meet her. Good evening, I have someone the-" Ovid said to me then the guards, before one of them interrupted him. "I know, Her Holiness has been awaiting Miss Esther since her decent into our world. If you will follow me Miss Esther, we shall see you in. Ovid, please remain outside." One of them, a old man by the sounds of his gruff and wise voice, said. It seemed Ovid was going to argue about awaiting me, but decided against it as he instead bowed and stepped back. Hesitantly, I stepped forward inside as the guards parted. As I walked in, so did the old guard and his staff wielding partner. When they stepped through the tents threshold, they closed the tents door and shutting off my access to the outside world. The inside was surprisingly cozy, the floor was covered in a fine lining similar to the walls and was decorated here and there with what looked like carpets. Unlike the outside, the walls weren't a pale white color, but a warm, light brown/red color. The center of the room was home to a few large couches that stood on the ground slightly on wooden struts and were made of fine, red fabrics and a small fire pit with rocks and other insulators surrounding it, giving the whole tent a warm, inviting temperature and also casted an orange glow over everything. On the other side of the room, on a slightly elevated level sat a large bed, big enough to fit a small car, decorated in lavish and fine blankets and pillows that looked both tribal and foreign. Along the walls were the odd bookshelf full of tombs, scrolls and other books, a few tables with strange green lights and words emanating from them. All in all, this was a well made and lovely room, fit for royalty or a fleet captain. "Your grace, Miss Esther the Harbinger has arrived." The guards partner said, clearly a young, inexperienced guard by his nervous tone of voice. "Thank you, please, can you give me and Esther some privacy?" I heard a surprisingly soft, gentle and feminine voice say, it was at this time I saw someone rise from the other side of the couch. "As you wish, your Holiness..."The old guard said, both him and his partner bowing before walking out of the tent. Alone, I looked back at this 'Priestess' and was shocked at what I saw. Unlike the brutish and violent looking natives I had seen before, this one was very demure and graceful in appearance. She was small for a native, a few inches taller then me, and had long, flowing locks of silver hair that cascaded down her back like a waterfall of light. She had soft, pale yellow fur that looked freshly washed and clean, quite the juxtaposition to the hairy, sweaty masses of fur the others were. Her face was small with womanly features like high cheek bones, thin cheeks, small, soft and smiling lips that looked like they had never frowned once, a delicate nose that curved gently with her face and a small parting fringe framed her face perfectly. Her body was clad in a long, flowing white dress with pale green accents. Around her waist was a small, golden sash with rubies woven into it, giving it a luster rarely seen in native attire. Her feet were obscured by her dress, but if I were to guess then she was bare foot(or hoofed I suppose) like most of the other villagers. She didn't wear gloves, instead choosing to accentuate her slender arms with small silver bracelets. Her most noticeable features though were her horns and eyes. She had small, white horns which only just parted her long, velvet like hair, which also looked surprisingly sharpened. And lastly; her eyes, all though holding a hint of their once vibrant, golden hue, were now pale and milky. She was small, graceful, beautiful and down right girly, quite the contrast to the warriors I had encountered thus far. "So, you are the Priestess I've heard so much about. I have to admit, I was expecting a wise, old lady or a head strong brute." I said honestly, which must have been funny to her as she responded by laughing. "So says you and every other traveler coming to seek guidance. Tell me Esther, who am I?" She asked, her smile never fading. "Pardon?" "What do you think I em?" She continued, seemingly being needlessly vague. "You're an elegant young native, who seems to know more then she should. How do you know my name? I haven't told you and I doubt any of the villagers ran ahead to tell you. Furthermore, how did you know I 'descended'?" I answered bluntly then asked, genuinely curious. "I know your name, and how you came to this world for I foresaw it all; your people arriving in this plain of the beyond, your sworn foes arrival, and the valiant sacrifice your people made to save mine. I knew all this for I em mystic." She said to me, the last two lines with a bigger smile and a softer voice. "I have a hard time believing you knew all this before it happened, psychics are all a bunch of con artists who should be conscripted or jailed. If you really are a mystic, prove it." I challenged, not buying any of it yet despite the fact there was no other way she could know. "I know that your name is Esther Leonas, you're a Chassis Pilot for the Royal Armada Defense Corps who, under orders of your captain, Vectis, you were meant to be deployed with a science team to study this planet because it was a 'scientific fuck up' as you so eloquently put it to your friend, Elizabeth. You're a tall women of the human race, you have naturally red hair that many assume dyed, you have blue eyes, you have a well toned body with a few wounds, scarred limbs, a surprisingly good dental record, you keep a stuffed teddy in your Chassis, and just recently you almost assaulted Enyo, a decorated Beserker..." She said without blinking as she stared me straight in the eyes through my visor. "H-how, how did you?" I sputtered out, shock covering my hidden face. "I told you why, take it or leave it. Now then, to why I called you here." She said casually as she then shifted into a serious demeanor. "Your peoples arrival into this world, though caused by the best of intentions, will soon scar this world. Your arrival here will soon cement the trust of the villagers and even our rivals, but the actions of your comrades will have a much different effect on this world. The Pariah is now deep in the heart of darkness, though the Pariah will not see it as such. The Traitor will find himself or herself allies he/she can depend on and will soon become loyal to their cause. The Instigator has set up all the actions leading to the beginning of the end and lastly, the Loyalist has begun the hunt for you, the Loyalist may one day become the only person you can trust. The board has been set, and the pieces have fallen where they must, it's ultimately up to you, your friends and the leaders of this world how the game will turn out..." She said all with a small smile on her face as she walked around the tent preparing two cups of tea, sanguine to the grim future she has foreseen. The whistling of the kettle she had set over the fire while she had been speaking broke the silence of the oppressive atmosphere of the now freezing tent. "One lump of sugar, or two?" She calmly asked.