Threads 1, 2, 3, 4, 5: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Halo:%20Spartan%202%20War%20Reports
Active Spartan Roster: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12PTTzwcNVbQbIC101lrcrQQZKWhK3myTLWEQ0A1ybj8/edit?gid=0#gid=0
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Sven-033's Qualities: [Special] Giant, [Special] Spartan-II, Maverick, Officer [Lieutenant], Wunderkind, Inspiring.
Sven-033's Advancement Paths: Brawler: Open Hand: 5/10 Bulwark: Unbreakable: 5/10 Grenadier: Plasma Wiz: 5/10 Shotgunner: 1| Diplomat 1/6 Infiltrator 2/6 Scrounger 2/6 Tactician 2 /6| Jotun 1/4
Sub objective Progress: Artificial Artisan 3/?| Blade Breaker 1/?
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UNSC Skidbladnir (Razor Class Prowler)
UNSC Skidbladnir Crew Qualities: Eclectic
UNSC Skidbladnir Officers: Sensor Operator: Ensign Sonar Kobal, COM Officer: Ensign Kon Kiyomi. Navigator: Lieutenant Junior Grade Marisa Deluna, Weapons Controller: Lieutenant Junior Grade Valerie Faure. Pilots: Warrant Officer Bari Cook & Cadet Bernetta Coste
Spartans Aboard: Sven-033, James-005, Jorges-052. Nesta-097, Shika-108, Daisy-023. Naomi-010, Solomon-069, Malcom-059, Anton-044, Illya-077, Cal-141, and Soren-066 (Inactive/ Washout)
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<span class="mu-s"> Current Mission: Mission 5: Operation: HVITSERK....Pending Completion/Result Calculation </span>
<span class="mu-s"> Primary Objective 1: Destroy the Einherjar Fleet and prevent any ships/ systems from falling into Covenant Hands...Success </span>
<span class="mu-s"> Primary Objective 2: Confirm the termination of or Capture and Secure the Einherjar General Codenamed "Whiteshirt"....Success </span>
<span class="mu-s"> Secondary Objective 1: Retrieve UNSC property from Einherjar Hands, if the opportunity presents itself....Success </span>
<span class="mu-s"> Optional Sub Objective 1: Win the battle with minimal friendly casualties (Less than 25% of the Squadron/ 5 ships). 3/5 (UNSC Shinigami, UNSC Dogfish, UNSC Uppercut)....Success </span>
<span class="mu-s"> Secret Objective 1: [File Decrypted] . Capture Whiteshirt's Halcyon & Experimental Exo-Skeleton Power armor </span>
<span class="mu-s"> Secret Objective 2: [File Decrypted] . Reach the Bottom of the [???] Ruins and bring back a souvenir, or several </span>
<span class="mu-s"> War Effort & Personal Rewards + advancements to Preferred Candidate Sven-033's Diplomat, Infiltrator and Tactician Advancement paths pending Mission After Action Report </span>
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The smell of dried blood lingered on your upper lip as you laid flat and prone against the medical table, eyes tracking the numerous programs flashing above your eyes as the AI Rita ran what amounted to a diagnostic scan of your head, checking your brain activity and neural patterns for any abnormalities or damage. Checking yourself and Shika in to the medbay was the first thing you did once you'd been shuttled over from the Lawrence of Arabia to your own ship.
Cont

All preparations are over. No more distractions. You gotta get the plan underway. The main objective is to drag the head of the mafia (Gianluigi Youhao) out of his own little bunker. Thrust him into the spotlight his men are creating, and let the law enforcers do their job. This is the only way he’s going to face justice before he moves to a safer place. No other window of time. No other opportunities.

The first part of the mission is to go through the hidden passages in the sewers that lead directly to the Youhao Clan Headquarters. Celia knows the way through these catacombs, and the base like the back of her hand.

“Hey, hey, who died and made you queen? You’re not coming with us, are you?” Celia slips out of Lydie’s friendly arms. The eccentric fan club leader ended the last thread holding you both.

“Haven’t you noticed?! We’re divided into two teams. We need our beautiful flame wielder!” Lydie points at you and Rora. “Our intrepid yet sneaky thief!” Lydie points at Crossbill and Celia. “And the wildcard with exceptional athleticism!” Lydie points at herself and Matilda. “You know, the essentials!”

“So, we are, like, me, Crossy, and Mat?” Aurora is doing the math. You can tell she’s serious since she’s using her fingers.

“Count me in.” Matilda is so ready to kick some butts.

“Sounds arbitrary, but eh, there’s no idea I can’t make work. Welcome to the best trio, Mat.” Crossbill sees no issue.

“Your trio has nothing on us.” You get competitive with your bestie. “Tell ‘em, Celia.”

“Huh, yeah, yeah. Sure.” Celia gets into a fighting stance.

“W-When did we agree on this…?” Liu missed this bit!

“Never! You should know by now that she’s making stuff up!” Vera grumbles. “Now sit your clown ass down. We don’t need a wildcard.” Vera starts dragging Lydie back into Beanie Hedgehog.

“M-My dear Veranica, did it slip my mind?! You’re the navigator of our beautiful and flexible team, welcome!” Lydie is trying to gain favor.

“Welcome to the best quartet, Liu.” Crossbill winks.

“I-I’ll do my best!” Liu will fight hard!

“Wait, then I’m with Johnny?” Vera stops dragging. “That’s great. You’re still not going.” Vera continues dragging.

“T-This is utterly unfair! My thick legs are meant to run faster than the wind, not sit comfortably at the bottom of a perplexing totem tower...!” Lydie wants to be part of the operation, and not be one with a hedgehog.

Your name is Vincent Cruz. You work in a shady government-backed facility in the middle of the New Mexico desert. By all accounts, you are a complete and total nobody to the Powers That Be.

You've managed to survive the last 7 days at your job. Your job, of course, involves studying and researching dangerous anomalous entities in order to make money for the Abnormality Regulation Coalition (also known as ARC).

In fact, you survived long enough to get promoted from Level 0 to Level 1. You're no longer on the bottom of the totem pole but you're still so, so far away from the top. Five more ranks to go and who's to say you'll survive long enough to reach the top?

If you're going to die here, at least you're going to die at the top. You've climbed dozens upon dozens of corporate ladders, what's one more, after all? It's the only life you've known so you might as well get comfortable with it.

As for a recap of some notable things that happened recently?

You accidently stumbled across Liz getting herself involved in office politics. While you don't care about getting yourself entangled in them, you decided to keep an eye on Liz to make sure she won't do something she'll regret.

You also learnt that one of your coworkers, Ashton, is an aberrant cannibalistic human called a 'Harvester'. For a while you thought her unconditional kindness to you was a mask for something but no, apparently she really see you as a friend. Instead of a meal, thankfully.

A dream you had last night still lingers in the back of your mind. It was the only decision you could've made, it was the only right decision, you had to leave that house.

One of your anomalies, IN LIMBO, has finally kicked the bucket. It decided that the best thing to do would be to move on. All that's left of it now is an ARTIFACT, a remnant of its anomalous power. Rest in peace, Rolle.

And lastly, an old and presumably anomalous phone you bought a while ago has been ringing non-stop during your shift. You're currently trying to negotiate a deal with a mysterious man who's offering you something that 'doesn't cost you money', whatever that means.

Your life is a surreal mess but what can you do about it? The only path you can see for yourself is doing your job to the best of your ability. You're a <span class="mu-s">wageslave</span>, born and raised to torture yourself by doing obtuse and obscene tasks all so a line goes up.

For the line must always go up.

ARCHIVE: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Low%20Rung
VINCENT SHEET/INVENTORY: https://rentry.co/VINCENTSHEET
ALLIES: https://rentry.co/COWORKERLIST
ANOMALY NOTES: https://rentry.co/RESEARCHNOTES

On the outskirts of a town which its settlers call Chiffchaff, but which its occupiers call Al-Duarah, there lay scattered bodies on the dry, red ground. Some are beasts and some are men, or at least look like Man. Broken, bent, frozen and burnt. Some are drained of life, left ashen husks; others have had their life bleed out of them onto the settlement’s streets. Looming over them are slate-grey walls, their gates self-sealing, and atop those walls watch impassive black masks, with eyes that see on behalf of their master: Abdul Saniʿ al-Duruʿ, Abdul Murawwiḍ al-Wuḥūsh, <span class="mu-s">Abdul Alhazred the Reptilian Infiltrator.</span>

The scaly, slit-pupilled swarthy Southron son-of-a-skink who killed <span class="mu-r">your</span> best feathered friend-for-life and <span class="mu-g">your</span> shapeshifting hundun friend-with-benefits.

<span class="mu-r">You</span> are <span class="mu-r">Zith-Zi</span>, Boss Bitch of the Monstrous Regiment adventuring company, and an ex-goblin ‘nilbog’ made pretty by magic…

…while <span class="mu-g">You</span> have gone by a few variations on the name <span class="mu-g">CZ</span> but have most recently settled on reclaiming your ill-gotten family legacy as <span class="mu-g">Carazzi Yosef</span>: one-time demigoblin cambion, and now a transcended <span class="mu-b">Pure and Empty Vessel</span> at long last.

<span class="mu-r">You</span> came to the Southlands, across the Shieldwall mountain which separates it from the north-western lands of the Paladin Queen of Hawksong. You did so not to participate in their silly civilizational clash—what various shades of humans get up to with gnolls and secret subterranean lizard-men is none of your business. <span class="mu-r">You</span> came here to save your estranged boyfriend, fellow adventurer James Efron, from captivity in a Chiffchaff dungeon...

…but in the process of procuring him, <span class="mu-g">you</span> punched through the army of enslaved hyena-men to their demon-wielding human-reptilian centre: Alhazred, the devious demonist and dark wizard who bested <span class="mu-g">you</span> in combat, costing you the lives of others whom you cared for.

(To say nothing of Nicolette Testa, fashion-forward illusionist-enchanter who joined your quest and lost a body via bullet-blasted brain, only to be pieced back together with an emergency effort of esoteric expertise!)

(Or Denise Lilla, the cleric you liberated, who suffered a similar fate in circumstances which precluded such a happy ending for her.)

(…It’s been a long few days, alright?)

You laid on the cold floor, eyes heavy and limbs numb. On your left, the sun had begun to set… Probably the last one you’ll witness. Second by second, life slowly drained from your body. You weren’t a hero or a savior, but you’d like to think you gave more good to the world than evil. With that final thought, you closed your eyes one last time.

“O brave soul…”

Or not.

You stood on a clear floor that reflected you, in an empty space that stretched as far as you could see. The clouds were no longer grey, but fluffy and white in a sea of blue sky. A woman stood, no, an angel…

“I beseech you to save my people. I am Lumina, the goddess of my people. What should have been your eternal rest, I have taken your soul in order to save my world.”

Her wings fluttered as the golden light around her head glowed. Everything passed by so fast it was difficult to catch up. You didn’ t think of yourself as a hero either. You were a survivor.

[Choose character]

>Character 1

The world ended.

It all happened so fast… In a matter of months, the dead rose from the graves like a terrible b-movie, except the infection led to mutations that turned them into monsters. First, you and your family tried to escape. But one by one they all died. Since then, you lived a life of a wanderer, helping the helpless and killing the cruel.

>Character 2

The world ended.

World War III on the other hand? Yeah… That happened. The world went full on FUBAR. The war led to destruction, but shit went worse after a series of natural catastrophes, as if mother nature waited for the worst moment to shit out a punishment. In a matter of a few years, the world you knew disappeared, shredded to a concrete wasteland.

You're a monster.

Harsh but true. You, Kyle Mercer age 23, are a monster.

Take it from me. Real recognizes real. Sure, it's not entirely your fault. You didn't <span class="mu-i">used</span> to be this way, but let's be honest with ourselves here: the difference between you now and the Old You is that the New You just doesn't care anymore. Peel away the skin, strip away the gossamer thin wrappings of civilization and society, and what do we have underneath?

A creature of instinct. Hunger and hate. You. A monster.

<span class="mu-s">Monday</span>
<span class="mu-s">Grid Sector 11873, Defensive Position "Razorback"</span>

The Bradley 1A5 kept firing with it's auto-cannon at the incoming target. One of it's tracks, the left one, was damaged. The rack of guided missiles had been emptied days ago and there hadn't been the chance to refill them.

Quartermaster "Godmother" was inside the basement of a ruined house, missing it's second floor and portions of the first. The structure of plywood would provide minimal protection or cover, which was why he was underground.

Beside him was Jack Price, the Engineer from MARS Incorporated, now a Lieutenant in what remained of the Armed Forces.

Finally, if he was still alive, was Capt. Harry Grand from the Air Force.
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In the basement was a Javelin guided missile, loaded, but with no available reloads. There was also MARS MPAR, a laser guided upgrade of the FGM-172A SRAW project. That system and a single reload were bundled together. Both would require firing from outside or the precarious top floor.

The other explosive options were the drum fed, six shot 40mm Milkor MGL.... OR three disposable AT-4ERs.

There was closed crates that may or may not have additional supplies, but the three of them didn't know how to operate that many weapons outside the rocket launchers and a basic M16A4.

There was the blowtorch and Quik Patch case, if Jack wanted to try repairing the Bradley.

<span class="mu-b">ANTON PEAS:</span> that’s your name, don’t wear it out! Originally a mild-mannered grilljockey, a botched demonic summoning brought you to <span class="mu-b">ZORAL:</span> a fantasy world shrouded in perpetual darkness!

You get used to it!

The memory loss and everyone trying to kill you? That’s the tricky part. See, your unexpected trip landed you in one Hell of a mess: not only did you lose a huge chunk of your memories, but you also forfeit your soul to <span class="mu-r">RED</span>--you don’t know the specifics, but essentially your summoning granted you some <span class="mu-r">DEMONIC POWERS</span>, so it’s not all bad!

What <span class="mu-i">IS</span> bad is what you’re up to now: your hellish helper can restore your memories, but he won’t do it for free! The price: delivering the heads of <span class="mu-r">THE FOUR LORDS OF ZORAL:</span> tyrants and titans that rule the darklands with iron fists, claws, and… you dunno, tentacles, maybe? There’s a reason they’ve ruled for so long, however, and despite your platoon of pals and plentiful powers you can’t help but feel a little apprehensive about the whole thing!

Exhibit A: <span class="mu-r">ARCHMAGE TRIER.</span> Arriving in <span class="mu-b">UMBERAL:</span> Zoral’s very own city of tomorrow, you were swiftly introduced to the <span class="mu-r">TEKSOULS:</span> menacing magitek that follow every whim Trier can think up… and you met the guy–he thinks a <span class="mu-i">LOT!</span>

Not to be outdone, you also ran into <span class="mu-r">THE SPICE CARTEL</span>--not only is Umberal their home turf, they’re also running some kind of deal with the Archmage… as for what it is, well, you shudder to think!

Your search for leverage over the Archmage took you to <span class="mu-b">TRIMBAULT ACADEMY:</span> Zoral’s most prestigious magical academy, and whole you managed to snag some goodies and teach a surprisingly-decent class (don’t ask), you didn’t manage to find notes other mages took on their Archmage adversary! Even worse, all signs point to The Cartel snatching them up for their own perfidious plots!

Luckily you had an in: <span class="mu-b">TZAH-TZIE</span>, skilled songstress and your current beau, has an axe to grind with her musical rival <span class="mu-b">LUTZA</span>. Having saved the starlet from a kidnapping on the Umberal Skyrail, you earned your way into holding a concert in Umberal, and some of the biggest names in The Cartel just happen to be huge fans!

You were just about to plot out the details at the glitzy <span class="mu-b">CRYSTALMELT HOT SPRINGS LODGE</span> when you ran smack-dab into The Cartel’s higher-ups… and the big cheese himself, <span class="mu-r">VHALE NESSURMOS</span>.

Did we mention he’s also your girlfriend’s husband? And that she freezes up like a clam on Pluto at the mere mention of his name?

Cornered by the Cartel, THIS is where your tale continues…

https://youtu.be/1lR8VLt1Xlk

>CONTD.

A soft quiet hangs over the forest as you run through the underbrush. Compared to the lobby, it felt like a heavy blanket was draped over the arena and muffled everything outside. You do your best to not break the silence with your movement as you hurry through the forest. Spawns in an arena match are static but there were a few different locations where one could be spawned in. The limited amount of spawn points meant that anyone could narrow down the location of their opponent by heading over to them and seeing if they were there. That was, of course, assuming that their opponent hadn't moved in the interim. With how defenseless you were right now, you were sure that one or two direct hits from a simple spell would be disastrous. Not to mention her aim was far better than any newbie you ever saw. It would be best not to underestimate her, especially now that she had practice. You slide behind a fallen log and go prone. You strain your ears for any sound of your opponent but the silence persists. You needed to formulate a strategy.

The set up of your fight was quite simple, each of you had 3 healing potions and 3 mana potions. Not too egregious but enough to give each other a pick me up in case of a bad hit. You're not sure how well you'd be able to utilize the mana potions at the moment but the healing potions could come in handy in a pinch. You also had your ability to cheat death once per real world day. It was an ability that Serena didn't know about and you weren't really sure you wanted to use for a simple spar. Lifting up your coat, you make sure that your canister of fuel on your hip was locked in and ready to use. A quick adjustment of the wrist and the nozzle for your igniter, a miniaturized flamethrower, pops up and ready to use. You only had about 5 shots with a single can unless you decided to empty it completely for a large wall of fire. Finally, you reach down and pop off the small buckle on your belt. You flick the small lid off of the fake lighter and see the tiny grapple hook pop out, ready to fire and zip you towards your target or pull something towards you if it was light enough. These were just two of the gadgets you had built in what you hoped would be a small arsenal of tricks you could use. Even so, you weren't sure how well they could carry you now that you were playing a class without features.

It has been 100 years since ancient beings, known as the Old Ones, walked the Earth with their two strong feet. Now they are gone and we animals now rule the remains that they left behind. With our new knowledge of sword and sorcery, we were able to survive in peace for a while, but then came the three factions.
The Apes: Strong giants, claiming to be as just as the old ones and believe they should be the ones to rule over the new world.
The Pigs: An intellectual but slothful group who wish to rule the world with an iron hoof and remain kings while the others remained as dumb animals.
Then there the Lizards: A fast and large group that want to set the world a blaze. Trying to forget the harsh past that the old ones left.
All three sides wishing to go war and destroy one another to bring in what they believe to be true peace.
But, unbeknownst to everyone, there was another group. One that was trying their best to find a way to heal everyone. To bring back order.
You found it.... and now you are taking care of it.

A D&D Homebrew Adventure.

Previous Quests:https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Rise%20of%20the%20Awakened