Units ===== Buildings ========= Story ======== # Heroes ## Nautilus Prior to the revolution, Nautilus was practically unknown. For one thing, he lived in the small frontier town of Cold Spring; but he was also marked by an unobtrusive personality. He never savored the limelight, and while he helped out with many of the town's affairs, he always sought to stay in the background. When the position of captain of the Watch became vacant, however, he was selected overwhelmingly to fill it. This surprised him somewhat, but he accepted the job without comment. In fact, his neighbors had gradually come to notice him specifically because he did not attract notice, and they appreciated that. He had also been trained in the use of a sword since childhood, and many of the townspeople privately thought him the best swordsman in the region. When the empire launched the fateful frontier expedition, the appointment as its head of Nautilus, a 'commoner', surprised some. In reality, the explanation was simple. Nautilus's great-grandfather had been a soldier, and during the uprising of last century, he had done those in charge of the empire a great service as a double agent. Those in charge of the empire took note, and it may be supposed that their file for Nautilus contained a note of whose great-grandson he was. It may also be supposed that the appointment of Nautilus, someone completely unknown to the political class except by the aforementioned circumstance, averted potential political objections to his appointment. Nautilus is a strong melee fighter. While proficient with a variety of weapons, both melee and ranged, his specialty is with the sword. He has no spellcasting ability, as the use of magic was largely foreign to Cold Spring. ## Icy Icy during her childhood could probably be best described as a dabbler. As the daughter of a prominent fixture of the imperial administration, she had access to a great deal of information and a great many experiences. Unlike most people in such positions, however, Icy took full advantage of the opportunity. By the age of seventeen, she was proficient with various weapons including the sword and the bow, knew a middling amount of miscellaneous magic, was fluent in multiple languages, and had become a good enough artist to be a mini-celebrity (though this was primarily because of who her parents were). She also came to despise the shallow, frivolous culture that pervaded the capital, and became increasingly estranged from her peers. Her brash personality, though it mellowed somewhat with time, didn't help matters. Icy is an agile, versatile fighter. She can use a bow at range and a sword in melee, and she has a collection of disruptive spells. ## Avo No one really knows where Avo came from; not even Avo himself. Nearly all his life before the revolution was spent in wandering the frontier. He mostly lived off the land, but from time to time he appeared in some city or other, where he picked up useful items as well as basic magic skills. Partly because of his isolation from society, he became during this time something of a philosopher, disillusioned with the degenerate state of humanity and in search of the solution. When by chance he stumbled upon the camp of the early rebels, he became convinced that their cause was right, and began aiding them as a scout. His extensive geographical knowledge, tactical prowess, and photographic memory were a great asset to the rebels, as were his incisive mind and calm personality — when heeded. Avo is primarily an explorer, but his combat abilities are not insignificant. He is familiar with the use of a sword, and he excels at hit-and-run and stealth tactics. He also has a small amount of magic capability. ## Rias Rias was always a rebel. His parents were well-to-do 'commoners', which allowed Rias the opportunities of a Guardian but with the scorn of his peers of higher rank. Rias, however, was of the type that thrives on adversity, and his education was far more successful that that of many of his peers, largely because he set himself to know more than them just to spite their higher rank. Rias never paid much attention to rules, and this attitude, combined with his sarcastic character, brought him very near to deep trouble on occasion. The result of these experiences, in his case, was an increase in cunning rather than an increase in virtue, and while his inclination wasn't generally toward harm, he became capable of very unscrupulous things. Because of his competitive disposition, Rias took advantage of the opportunities of the capital and became both a formidable fencer and a potent spellcaster. His skill was surpassed by few, which fed into his ego. As time passed, he became more and more antagonistic toward the perceived superiority of the Guardians, and took pains to embarrass them at every opportunity. This ultimately led the police force to begin targeting him, which led to his leaving the capital and founding the rebels to overthrow the Guardians. Rias is a powerful fighter on all fronts. He has a strong melee attack, but his spells are his greatest weapon. With a command of both offensive and defensive magic, his power and versatility are unmatched among the rebels. ## Macchi Macchi's origins date back centuries. At that time, there was a group of magi called Iron Dragon, who, like many before and since, pursued power so that they could rule the world. They were eventually defeated and scattered, but not before they set in motion their greatest experiment. Their leader's daughter was locked in a stasis chamber that would gradually feed energy into her, which would, it was planned, eventually become part of her and make her more powerful than any mage. The story was carefully preserved among the few descendants of Iron Dragon, where it eventually gained the status of legend. Macchi never really had the chance to realize her true personality before she was put in stasis, and the centuries of sleep largely erased what memories she did have. As a result, when she was found by Nautilus, Icy, and Avo, she was essentially a blank slate, very easily influenced. It is fortunate that Avo reached her before any remaining Iron Dragon loyalists. Macchi has practically no skill with physical weapons, but she understands magic instinctively, and centuries of exposure to powerful energies have imbued her with numerous latent abilities. Though her vast potential remains largely untapped, she is still a potent spellcaster. ## Violet ## Lyon ## Isabel ## Ross ## Kent ## Devourer ## ## Ensemble ## Ruby ## Canon ## Green ## # Part A: Rebels ## 1 - The Frontier Abstract: The empire wishes to establish a new fort near the small frontier town of Cold Spring. The captain of the local Watch, Nautilus, has been chosen to accomplish the task. The empire sends Lanai, a rookie Guardian, to assist him and gain experience. - Objectives: - Construct a command post, a mill, and a barracks. - Train 10 swordsmen, and build enough farms to support them. ## 2 - Rescue Abstract: It has come to the empire's attention that the daughter of an influential nobleman, Icelia, has been kidnapped and is being held in the Cold Spring area. Accordingly, Nautilus has been ordered to pause preparation of the fort and use his troops to free her. - Objectives: - Free Icy. - Nautilus must survive. ## 3 - The Ambush Abstract: Someone in the frontier felt threatened by Nautilus's new fort. While he and his troops freed Icy, an army emerged from the trees and blockaded the fort. This circumstance turned out to be fortunate, however, as Nautilus was able to send for reinforcements from Cold Spring. - Objectives: - Nautilus and Icy must survive. - Bring Nautilus and Icy back to the base. - Defend the base for 15 minutes until reinforcements arrive. - Destroy the besieging force. ## 4 - Reprisal Abstract: Nautilus had also (somewhat reluctantly) notified the Guardians of the attack. Sensing something amiss, the empire dispatched a force of knights, under the command of Ross, to investigate. Ross and Nautilus's scouts identified a sizable outpost of rebels deep in the forest, from which the attack undoubtedly came. Ross ordered Nautilus to destroy the rebel base, to punish them for their attack on an imperial facility. - Objectives: - Destory the rebel base. - Nautilus and Icy must survive. ## 5 - Deep Secrets Abstract: The rebel base was built above a large cave system, a portion of which collapsed during the assault. Numerous rebels were undoubtedly in hiding somewhere in the labyrinth. Ross ordered Nautilus to enter the caves and kill any stragglers that may be regrouping there. However, there is more in the caves than rebels... - Objectives: - Nautilus and Icy must survive. - Investigate the source of the magic in the caves underneath the rebel base. - Destroy the restraining mechanisms to free the prisoner. ## 6 - Loyalties ## 7 - ## 8 - ## 9 - ## 10 - # Part B: Guardians # Part C: Destroyers # Part D: Compromisers