srwug_alpha_rp | 01: To Grow and Learn, As a Bondsman Becomes a Brigadier

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01: To Grow and Learn, As a Bondsman Becomes a Brigadier

[1]

Matthew should be happy. He has risen from the status of bondsman to become a Mechwarrior again, proven himself to his new clan in combat twice, and acquired many potent (well, zany) comrades and allies. His star is truly on the rise, even more so because the Gurren Brigade is a small group.

And yet, he finds himself troubled: by moral quandaries, elaborate philosophical dilemmas, the conflict between the traditions he came from and the urgings of his heart.

More immediately, though, he is troubled by his Nova, which is...wrecked. An arm blasted off, the armor is pitted and cored, and the gyro system half near pretty much melted.

He notices certain techs in the hangar bay glaring at him.

"Ah..."

[2]

Matthew has organized a discussion group in one of the lounges, for a very specific group of people: former Jade Falcon Clansmen taken as bondsmen. The topics on discussion are varied: how people are settling in, what interesting things have happened, gossip about the more infamous members of the Chalice...and culture shock, of course. The massive culture shock. And the shouting of attack names: what's with that?

There are refreshments of course. And booze. And cookies.

Matthew chats with a few fellow former Falconers. He really perks up, however, when Trothkin from his former Star show up.

[I figured this would be a good way to develop plot related to all the Clanner shenanigans, as well as explore characters both pc and npc. Anyone who has/is connected somehow to a bondsman, feel free to come over. And everyone else, too. There are cookies.]

[3]

Matthew walks down the hallway, whistling a merry tune.

Then he stumbles midstep, his eyes widening as he realizes the awful truth.

"I...I uttered a contraction in the midst of battle!" He cries out.

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"Ah. That is good to hear: I worried that repair and maintenance would be difficult with so many models, especially..."

He nods to the the Paragon's currently crimson mech.

"The magical ones."

He pauses.

"Stravag. I cannot believe I have grown so comfortable discussing magic like this."

I don't think any of these robots are actually magical. They just use rare or alien technologies.

Paragon is similar. The core machine is an ordinary Mobile Suit. What gives it its special power is the Tome of Wisdom.

[Apparently Paragon can refer both to the pilot and the mech. That won't get confusing!]

"I have yet to be convinced that your Tome of Wisdom is not an artifact of magic. In all the old tales, books of magical provenance were referred to as Tomes, quiaff? You yourself have taken on the persona of a magical warrior of justice."

I don't wield any magic on my own, though. The Tome enhances my strength and skill, but that's all.

I'm not entirely sure what is the nature of the Tome of Wisdom. With its many special powers it could be magical, or it could be unknown ancient technology. It's a very mysterious book, and one that's very important for me at the same time.

Matthew stares at you thoughtfully. He plops himself down on a nearby crate.

"Then tell me your story, Paragon Raynor Joz. Tell me the story of your quest for righteousness. The story of the Tome of Wisdom!"

If you want to, but that story might end up disappointingly short. My quest has only started recently. What's much more important is what's written in the Tome.

"Aff." Matthew agrees. "But all the great stories, the truly great ones, begin in humble circumstances and in quiet locations. We admire our heroes and champions all for the fact that they started from the very bottom and worked their way up, quiaff?"

There is audible passion in Matthew's voice.

"Tell me of your quest up to this point, and I shall hear more of your tale later as your perform more deeds of bravery. And feel free of course to tell me of the Tome if you wish!"

Well, let's start from the beginning them.

I used to be a Federation cop. And not a normal patrolman either; I were a part of a special force that used Mobile Suits to contain large-scale threats. Sounds good on paper, doesn't it?

We almost never saw action. Too much red tape, too much corruption. We were mostly just tools used by wealthy politicians. I didn't like that job.

One day, I found an ancient tome in a dusty bookstore. It was written in a strange language that nobody could read. I couldn't either, but somehow, I could understand what's written there. It described eight Virtues, and a path towards self-discovery and mastering those virtues. The one who would manage to do so would reach enlightenment.

Curiouser and curiouser. Matthew's ears perk up.

"The Tome of Wisdom seems a fascinating read. I wonder if it resembles in form the Rememberance?"

He takes out a pocket book from within his jacket, and flips through a few pages.

I could show it to you after I'm done with the story. See if you'll be able to read it - only those who are unhappy with their current state of being and seek spiritual enlightenment are able to understand what's written in there.

What's the Rememberance? Some kind of Clan code?

"It is the legacy that all the Clans hold in common. Our history, our moral primer, our heritage to live up to surpass all in one!"

He holds up the pocket edition proudly.

"It tells the story of our origin, of how the Great Father Alexander Kerensky, led his followers in the Star League Defense Force away from the wreckage of civil war, away from those who would try to exploit and manipulate them in their games of thrones, and into deep space. How he brought them to new worlds, resolving that we would one day return and restore the glory of the Star League. How Nicholas Kerensky his son quelled disunity and reforged into a peerless society of warriors, and gave us the doctrine of the unending test–"

He breaks off and blushes. "My apologies. I have chattered on far too long. In a position where you were unable to fight for justice, you stumbled across an ancient tome filled with moral codes."

He leans forward, rapt. "What happened then?"

It's okay, it sounds like you're dedicated to your principles. That's good.

Reading the Tome of Wisdom made me realize what I want from my life. I bought the book, and quit my job the same day. I had enough money saved to buy a used Mobile Suit; it was an old, barely-fuctioning mess, but that was all I needed. I worked day and night to modify its cockpit, using my technical knowledge and instructions I found in the Tome of Wisdom. And when I was done and input the Tome into its slot, the whole machine changed.

[Raynor glances over his shoulder, at the giant mechanical knight.]

I went on my journey soon after that. A few days later I met Shadow Knights for the first time, and White Chalice the same day. You know the rest.

"The Tome contained technical specifications?"

Have more leaning forward.

"And these Shadow Knights you speak of: what are they?"

It describes how to infuse an object with its power. Doing so with a robot was tricky, but I managed.

I know very little about the Shadow Knights, actually, and I'd like to learn more. They're evil creatures filled with the desire for destruction. Normally they're immaterial, like a shadow, but I found out that loud noises can make them temporarily solid. The best way to accomplish that is to play music at them.

I suspect they're related to the Tome of Wisdom in some way, because I have the ability to sense when they're near. But it doesn't mention them at any point.

Matthew listens to Raynor's lecture on the nature of the Shadow Knights.

Then he scowls suddenly.

"Stravag savrashi smug Wolves-In-Exile..." He mutters to himself, upset at the fact that arch-nemesis Resnick, with his classical music-spewing speaker-pod equipped Timber Wolf, has a combat edge on him.

Huh?

[Confused knight is confused.]

"Resnick of the Wolves possesses a Mech custom built to fight these Shadow Knights...and he does not even know it!" Matthew seethes to himself.

Then a sudden grin stretches across his face.

"I shall have to remedy this."

He turns to face Raynor.

"What do you know of decadent classical music?" He asks.

Decadent...?

I'm not a big classical music fan, but I know some of it, and I have a few disks with it. Chopin, Mozart... Depending how you look at it, all of it can be called decadent.

Matthew types the names you mention into his tablet.

"Chow-Pin...Most-art..." He enunciates carefully as he does so.

"And which of these decadent musical composers is louder?" He asks.

Mozard. But overall, I'd say Bach is the loudest from the well-known ones.

...Just what exactly is crossing your mind right now?

"Bach." He pronounces the name carefully...and correctly for once.

"I picked up a few skills from my time as a bondsman–"

Not as much as he thinks.

"So I intend to install a set of sonic weapons on my Nova. If I encounter these Shadow Knights, I shall decimate them with the power of Bach!"

That'll be a spectacle to behold, I'm sure.

Do you have real sonic weapons? Ones that can damage things with sound alone?

"If I acquire the same weapons as Resnick has..."

Cheap amps from the electronic store.

"...they should prove quite effacious!"

Against just Shadow Knights, or everything?

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01: To Grow and Learn, As a Bondsman Becomes a Brigadier

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