Clarion Call

[Ekrell]

Serenity, deep from within the Earth's Core. Like a pulsating heart, it promises life, protection, and a future. Who shall answer the Clarion call?

Into The Depths

Clarion Call is the fifth entry of the Artifacts series, following the events of Nightfall, Frozen Tears, Silenced City, and Dreamland. The survivors escaped through a vortal portal, only to be tasked with another mission just a few weeks later. Those who wished to return home did so, their fate unknown, those unable to fight got reintegrated into refugee camps, and those who toiled on...

The vortigaunts managed to track down another artifact, powerful beings or items which must be destroyed to fulfill an ancient prophecy of freedom for both humanity and vortikind. Low in numbers, they contacted resistance cells all around the World, mobilizing those willing to undertake this dangerous expedition. Using a hijacked Combine Drilling Facility, the group must venture towards the Earth's Core, searching for Serenity, a blossoming alien flower, hidden somewhere within the caverns below. The artifact must then be burnt, getting the prophecy one step closer to its ultimate conclusion. Stuck in the facility, going ever deeper, they will have to rely on their wits and determination. The built-in HERMES assistance system will guide them blindly with scanners and detection modules. During the journey, several things will have to be taken care of, such as proper food rationing or engine maintenance. If the systems fail, the group will remain buried in this underground tomb forever...

​

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Spoiler: Music

​

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- ROLES -

The Veterans (10/∞)

(Characters that survived Nightfall/Frozen Tears/Silenced City/Dreamland only)
This is the path you chose, the sacrifice you made. Only two artifacts remain, with Master and its endless hordes of abominations now rampaging through Europe. This distraction must be utilized. Serenity's aura has been detected by the Vortigaunts Council deep within the Earth's Roots. Having experience with artifacts before, you have been sent as the leading spearhead of this operation. Come what may, we will either take a step further to ending this sorry tale or remain buried forever.

The Vortigaunts (3/3)

(Additional pre-event information will be provided, whitelist or event host's approval required)
The High Elder has called upon you to aid humans in this expedition. Your knowledge and natural ability to weave vortessence will prove crucial in times of emergency. Everything depends on this mission's success, you cannot afford to fail.

The Foolhardy (9/∞)

You are a part of the resistance, handpicked from whatever group or organization you were aligned with thus far. Leader of 'Steelhearted', Aava, and the High Elder of the Vortigaunts has called upon you to lend aid in this crucial mission. Whatever your motive for answering this request is, you have been warned to expect all kinds of danger. Deep underground, your skills will be put up to a test and your survival will depend on other brave strangers alongside you.


- SPECIALIZATIONS -

Maintenance (3/3)

The facility runs on two main engines, should they fail - the entire expedition will be in jeopardy. Your main duty is to keep them functioning, which doesn't mean your expertise won't be needed elsewhere too. There will be several machines scattered across the facility, there's no one better to maintain them than you.

Cook (2/3)

There's no telling how long you will be stuck down there. A filled stomach can turn a miserable situation into something much more radiant. Keeping the rations in check will be your duty too, distribute everything carefully and fairly or meet peril from the hands of starvation...

Lawman (3/3)

Monsters and horrors from below are but one danger. The true enemy comes from the shattered minds of your allies. The expedition will be a long, and grueling journey - prone to provoke radical behavior. Keeping everyone in check will ensure that chaos doesn't take reign. If all else fails, brute force will have to do.

Medic (3/3)

Even the most basic wound can prove fatal when there's nobody around to treat it. Use your supplies sparingly, and ensure everyone makes it to the end. Their lives are in your hands, quite literally.

HERMES Operator (3/3)

HERMES internal systems, while based on artificial intelligence will often have to rely on external commands to properly function. Your task will be to monitor the detection systems, initiate lockdowns, and relay information to the rest of the crew through the broadcasting system.

Crew (8/∞)

While you're not specialized in anything particular, every hand on deck counts. Should someone fall or suddenly disappear, it will be ultimately up to you to take on their previous duties. As long as one crewmember is alive, the expedition moves on...
​

---

Specializations are additional roles given to the players. Every player has to pick one, with Crew being the 'nothing' option. Only one specialization per character.

Players will be given a set amount of chips to spend on equipment. Veterans will be able to take whatever items they had from the events prior. Every specialization except Crew will get their respective vendor with gear used specifically to perform their duties. They will not however get any additional chips, so it will be up to them to decide what they value more.​

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- APPLICATION FORMAT -

- Section One -​

• Steam Name:
• Steam ID (helpful but optional):
• Discord Name & ID [On Short Stories Discord (You are required to join it to participate)]:

- Section Two -​

• Character name:
• Role:
• Specialization:
• Short (or detailed) character backstory:
• Name your character's fondest memory:

---

- Starting time: February 28th & March 1st 7:00 PM GMT+1 -​

This is a NON-CANON event.
This event follows a "one-life" policy. All deaths with IC reasoning will be considered PK.
Your choice afterward is to play as a special passive role.
Bleedout Godmode turned ON.
Healing mid-combat is ALLOWED.
Whitelist restrictions may be lifted if the Event Host deems the individual capable of Roleplaying in sufficient fashion throughout the event.
Repairing armor mid-combat is NOT ALLOWED.
*The one-life rule might be overruled if the deaths are too frequent or a certain threshold of participants is not met. That also means creating an entirely new character if need be.
**Repairing and healing rules can be overruled if the character is considered covered and in a safe spot.

 

[Cjtn10]

Ņ̴̨̭̩̟̙̻̼͉̬̥͚̓̃́̑͂́á̴̛̛͖͇̌͒͐̅̔͗̉̽̚͠t̸̥̲̊̀͒̏̌̚a̶̼͓̘͔̣̥͍̗̥̾̓͒̏l̴͇̫̈̂̈̈́̄͂̋͝ȋ̵̼̲̠͖̳͕͙̃͐̉́̔̒͜y̵͍̫̑̆͂͗̓͋̂̚͝͠ą̴͙̖̣̗̤̲̻͔̦̜̰̿̽͂̈̾̋͑̃̆͠͠͝͝.̷̨̢̨̜̙̪̣̻̜͈͇̩͖͚̰̀͛̋͆͌̓̂̑̿̈̋̀͘͠.̷̨̠̰̗͙͙͓͖̫̪͍̲̰͓̉.̶̡̨͇̙̘̼̖͈̱̄͑̑ͅ ̴̧̢̹͚͙̘̘̙̯̫̪̀͘S̶͔̲͔̥̣̜̖̝͚̽͆̐͐̎͆͑̈́̚͜͜͠͝͠ͅo̶̺̒̅̑̀͋̊͂̔͘k̵̢͕͗͗ǫ̸̲͚͇̩̠̰̫͖̥̗͉̔͐́͐̔̆͌͘ͅl̸̢͕̭̥̩̠͔̪͚̫͉̙̄̏̓̆͒̓̉̊͒͆̈̚͝o̴͈̝̪̥͓̖̬̒͊̉̿̽͋̕v̴̬͙̣͔̝̗̙̦̦̠̍̽̃̇̉̅̀̚a̷̟̲̦̬̗͔͈̘̭͖̼̎̌̈́̔̄̑.̴͔̭̞̩̠̫̱̻̓̒͌͌̐̃̊̎́̇̕.̴̼̠͙̞̍.̸̢̠̃͛̆̈́͊̎͛̊̅͊͝

Spoiler: OOC Side

- Section One -
Steam Name: cjtn10
Steam ID (helpful but optional): STEAM_0:0:65155396
Discord Name & ID [On Short Stories Discord (You are required to join it to participate)]: cjtn10 325702184236744705
- Section Two -
Character name: HELIX-03/ Nataliya SokolovaRole: Leader of the Veterans
Specialization: Medic
Short (or detailed) character backstory: The 'Chosen One' to some, unfathomably lucky to others, the last savior to the Vortigaunts.
Name your character's fondest memory: Long walks and bonding with her husband before the 7HW

 

[BrennenW05]

Spoiler: OOC SHIT

Steam Name: Brennen
Steam ID: 76561198359555613
Discord Name & ID [On Short Stories Discord (You are required to join it to participate)]: brennenw05, 466333885983358976​

Character Name: Father Joseph White
Role: Veteran - Resistance Pastor
Specialization: Lawmen
Short (or detailed) character backstory:
"Woe to the man who would lead my flock astray. For if I am not their Shepard then I must be, The Wolf."

Born In flames of revolt. Joseph White now sees the truth. Fire and flames shall come for the Demons who took Gods promised land. For he shall send a prophet of their destruction. A savior, a Free Man. For his faithful shall prepare for his holy coming. And bring righteous wrath for those who joined in the sin of the invaders.
For their eye's have seen the coming of the Lord. Wielding a terrible swift sword. For his truth, and day shall march on.
As he died to make men holy, let us die to men free.
For the One Free Man march's on.


Name your character's fondest memory: Learning of the glory of God, and the Freeman.
​

 

[ItsLiam]

- Section One -​ Steam Name: ItsLiam​ Steam ID (helpful but optional): Uh​ Discord Name & ID [On Short Stories Discord (You are required to join it to participate)]: itsliam010​

- Section Two -​ Character name: Stephano Carrillo Role: Foolhardy Specialization: Medic Short (or detailed) character backstory:​ A young Mexican man, in his early twenties. His life never consisted of anything too special, more working from the inside out - as a Doctor within the Civil Medical Union. He was never 'meant' to go on these sort of missions. However, when a mission like this calls, it is up to a doctor, to make sure noone dies. He is ready for the challenges that await him, but he is not accustomed to much besides being a medic. Never meant to shoot guns, never meant to do much. Unless backed into a corner, he will not pick up more than a hand gun. Name your character's fondest memory: Too young to truly have any 'fond' memories. However, every death he can prevent is a victory in his mind.

 

[Curbalas]

Spoiler: OOC

Steam Name: Curbalas
Steam ID: STEAM_0:0:97676126
Discord Name & ID [On Short Stories Discord (You are required to join it to participate)]: curbalas & 691344384364380161

Character Name: Joseph Malton
Role: Foolhardy
Specialization: HERMES Operator
Short (or detailed) character backstory:

"Hey! That is actually not how you deal with that OS system, here just let me boot that up for you."

Joseph Malton, youngster, in his 30s and probably not so charismatic, other than his knowledge for computers and coding capabilities, a bright mind of his generation.

"I am going to be dealin' with this in... Twenty two minutes precise, check my six okay? Woo-hoo!"

Joseph is a necessary computer magician, maybe he should survive, or die...

And he absolutely cannot use fucking guns, don't give him a gun, he is a computer magician, not a fucking soldier, don't even consider giving him a fucking pistol, he will just blow his hands off.

"You fu- IMBECILE!! YOU JUST DELETED OUR TEN MINUTE FOURTEEN SECONDS WORTH OF PROGRESS, STOP PRESSING SHIT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY DO!! Fucking hell.."

Name your character's fondest memory:
Joseph holding his parent's hands during his childhood, as he is being brought to a computer course.​

 

[Stanford]

- Section One -

• Steam Name: Stanford
• Steam ID (helpful but optional):
• Discord Name & ID [On Short Stories Discord (You are required to join it to participate)]: stanford5039

- Section Two -

• Character name: Vas'Dal'Lurr
• Role: Vortigoon
• Specialization: Medic
• Short (or detailed) character backstory: See Dreamland backstory. However, with being released from their shackles during the events of Dreamland, the creature now follows the Chosen to wherever they must go.
• Name your character's fondest memory: Once more feeling the vortessence course through their veins after the removal of their collar. The power that is held within once more.... As well as messing with humans like usual.

 

[Purple Knight]

​

• Character name: Xan'Traz'Turr
• Role: Vortigaunt
• Specialization: Maintenance
• Short (or detailed) character backstory:
• A recent addition to the party, an adult Vortigaunt specialised in the ways of energy exchange, handy for mechanical maintenance.

• Name your character's fondest memory: Preventing a generator from exploding by converting the thermal energy of an overheating generator partially from heat to cold to restore it back to normal operation.

• Spoiler: Section 1

  • Steam Name: Purple Knight
  • Steam ID (helpful but optional):
  • Discord Name & ID [On Short Stories Discord (You are required to join it to participate)]: Purple Knight _purpleknight

  [*]

 

[Leko]

Spoiler: ooc and tunes

Steam Name:
Lekoboi

Steam ID:
https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198943794733/

Discord Name & ID [On Short Stories Discord (You are required to join it to participate)]:
Leko

​

"Oh, Im a good ol' Rebel, Now thats just what i am!"​

After being kindly asked not to come as a disguised Loyalist to the Latest hunt for the Third Artifact, Cole simply waited until it was that time once again to shoot up some weird Zombie looking things. And now that time has come again!

His fondest and most memorable memories was hunting and fishing with his Pre-War family, primarily his Father.

 

[MrTuki]

​

- Section One -​ Steam Name: Tuki Steam ID: STEAM_0:0:147382627 Discord Name & ID: Tuki | tutucathefrog

- Section Two -​ Character name: Christian "Pat" Patterson Role: The Foolhardy Specialization: Maintenance Name your character's fondest memory: Fixing cars with his dad as a kid.

Picture taken by Pat while patrolling the wastes.​

Backstory
​

Spoiler: Backstory

[BEGINNING TRANSMISSION]

Frequency: Encrypted Rebel Channel █████
Participants: Commander Roland Carter (Patriots - North American Resistance), Ava Kovács (Ravens - European Resistance)
Timestamp: [REDACTED]

CARTER: (static crackles) —Got your message, Ava. You’re really dragging us into this, huh?

AVA: It’s not my call. The Vorts are certain about this artifact. If we don’t move now, the Combine will and I'm sure as hell you are not a fan of that idea.

CARTER: Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard enough of it. You need people. We barely have any to spare.

AVA: I don’t need soldiers, Carter. I need specialists. Your report mentioned an engineer—Patterson?

CARTER: Pat? He ain' no fighter. He fixes things. Keeps our gear runnin' and all.

AVA: And that’s exactly why we need him. The drilling platform we hijacked is barely holding together. If it fails, we’re all dead before we even reach the artifact.

CARTER: (sighs) …He’s never worked with your people before. Hell, he’s never even been off U.S. soil since all this shit started.

AVA: Then it’s about time he sees what the rest of the world looks like. Where’s he from?

CARTER: Detroit. Before the war, he worked maintenance at one of the old River Rouge plants. Assembly lines, industrial systems—you name it. When the invasion hit, man's been keeping our gear in check since around then.

AVA: A mechanic, then?

CARTER: Could say that. Man knows how to fix just about anything that runs on fuel or circuits. If your rig’s held together with duct tape and prayers, he’s the guy you want.

AVA: (chuckles) That’s exactly what it is.

CARTER: Yeah, well—before I agree to anything, let’s get one thing straight. The Patriots don’t trust Vorts. Never have.

AVA: (scoffs) Still clinging to that shit?

CARTER: Call it what you want. Some of us remember what they were before the Combine did all this shit to them. They weren’t always our “allies,” Ava.

AVA: And now they’re dying alongside us. That should count for something.

CARTER: Maybe. But my people? We don’t take orders from them.

AVA: You won’t be taking orders from them. You’ll be taking orders from me. The Vorts are guiding us, nothing more.

CARTER: (grumbles) Doesn’t make me like it any better.

AVA: You don’t have to like it, Carter. You just have to decide—are you in, or not?

CARTER: (long pause) …Fine. I’ll talk to Pat. But if he doesn’t want in, I’m not forcing him.

AVA: Understood. But he won’t say no.

CARTER: And how do you know that?

AVA: Because when it comes down to it, people like him—they always get dragged in.

(static buzzes, a brief silence)

CARTER: (quietly) Yeah… they do.

AVA: Get him to the extraction point in three days. We’ll take care of the rest.

CARTER: Three days. I’ll make it happen, should I tell him to go light on equipment?

AVA: Yeah, can't let him slow the others down. Good luck, Carter.

CARTER: You got it, Ava. Stay alive.

(static crackles)

[END TRANSMISSION]

​

​

 

[LyingFox]

“— Three?”
“Sometimes I worry, seriously.”
“You’ve been through hell and I’ve been working right behind you through it.”

“— I won’t be around forever, Three.”
“I won’t be able to save you again.”



“Once this is done.. Can’t we just go off? Take a walk somewhere?”

​

---

​

---

AWAITING INPUT . .

> open wolf_regiment.folder

> dropper1.folder
dropper2.folder
dropper3.folder
dropper4.folder

> open dropper3.folder

pending.folder
> accepted.folder
denied.folder

> open accepted.folder

> dropper3_heroi4_04.txt

> open dropper3_heroi4_04.txt











ENTRY -- #06
C31:i4:HERO-04

["BLACKMARK OFFER - 4"]

?? <:: Rolling, one, two.. ::>
?? <:: You mind telling me you think you're here? In this chair that is, Four. ::>

[04] <:: -- I didn't mean to lose that USP, we both know that, Eight. ::>

?? <:: You're full of shit, I don't believe that a man your weight and height could be beaten *this* badly --
-- And somehow NOT get killed in the process. ::>


During camera visuals, Unit [ERASED] slid over several photos.


?? <:: These are pictures of you in the medbay, correct? ::>


During camera visuals, Unit Hero-04 nods.


?? <:: So, either you, as a unit with full training and a absolute waste of our benefactors time--
had let yourself be beaten, without somehow not getting shot, or you are giving away your supplies willingly, which is it? ::>

[04] <:: -- I don't like (unintelligible) ::>

?? <:: Speak up, now. ::>

[04] <:: -- I don't like to fight. ::>

?? <:: You fucking what? You don't like to fight? ::>

?? <:: You have by far some of the highest scoring in the shooting range excluding the OWF, and you're--
-- saying to me you don't LIKE to fight? Really? Not even defending yourself? Not others? ::>

?? <:: Not even for Liam Poacher? -- That's right, I read your file.. Not even for your god-damn brother. ::>

?? <:: You're a disgrace. You don't fight for The Combine, you don't fight for family, you don't belong. ::>

[04] <:: Eight-- No, this isn-- ::>

?? <:: You'll learn to fight, or you'll be getting a Blackmark, possibly two. ::>

?? <:: -- Absolute waste out of you, almost made me proud, Four, you almost did. ::>

?? <:: Get up early, you're going to the Greenland Region. ::>



END.











AWAITING INPUT . .

> back_srt

> lowgrade_unitdata.folder
highgrade_unitdata.folder
wolf_regiment.folder
system.exe
bootsystem_base.bat

> open lowgrade_unitdata.folder

i5.folder
> i4.folder
i3.folder
nonranking.folder

> open i4.folder

> HERO.folder
HELIX/folder
UNION.folder
extra.folder

> open hero.folder

> 0-10.folder
11_20.folder
21_30.folder
31_40.folder
41_50.folder
51_60.folder
61_70.folder
71_80.folder
81_90.folder
91_99.folder

> open 0-10.folder+run sublim.exe

. . OPENING C31:i4.HERO-04
LAUNCHING VIEWIM_COMB.EXE
LAUNCHING SUBLIM.EXE

.. LOADING

LAUNCHING CODER.BAT
LOADING CODER1.EXE


INPUT PASSWORD

[]

END TASK+CODER1.EXE



.. LOADING

FILE GRANTED, WELCOME INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS.​

Spoiler: IC INFO

[*]Character name: HERO.04
[*]Role: Veteran
[*]Specialization: HERMES Operator [External Modification Specialist - EMS]
[*]Short (or detailed) character backstory: A Metrocop sent to a winter wasteland due to a lost piece of equipment; soon finding new purpose to destroy artifacts under the command of HELIX-03.
[*]Name your character's fondest memory: Shooting a Handgun for the first time.
[*]

• Spoiler: OOC info

  • Steam Name: lyingfox
  • Steam ID (helpful but optional): 76561199008347572
  • Discord Name & ID: lyingfox |||||| 636561864976760876

  [*]

 

[Bounter]

- Section One -
​

• Steam Name: Bounter​
• Steam ID (helpful but optional): STEAM_0:0:56174230​
• Discord Name & ID [On Short Stories Discord (You are required to join it to participate)]: Bounter & bounter_​

---

- Section Two -



​

• Character name: Antioch Karlin​
• Role: Veteran (Silenced City, Dreamland)​
• Specialization: Maintenance
  ​
• Short (or detailed) character backstory: Originally from the Levant (presumably historical region of Palestine), Antioch was a simple man living in that region with his family members, before the 7-HW and the Combine's Invasion.
  
  Immediately after the invasion, and numerous transfers, he became a member of the resistance, official or not, usually providing them with explosives or many types of mechanisms, due to his fascination with craftsmanship and workshopping. This lasted for a while, until the events of Silent City, in which he joined the other "Veterans" to find and destroy the Artifact residing inside of City 62, which they succeeded. After finishing their mission and surviving, the events of Dreamland unfolded, in which after finishing the multiple games of the "Host" and getting out of the Island safe and sound, he thought he would get some rest between next artifact... He was wrong.
  
  Now, alongside the survivors, and new faces alike, Antioch now, as a maintenance specialist (due to his experience), has been tasked with maintaining most of the mechanical parts of the Drilling Facility.
  
  ​
• Name your character's fondest memory: Spending time with his family members on Hannukah before the Invasion in 2001. He holds onto it, as much as he can, so he does not forget...​

 

[Bi-Em 2.0]

• Steam Name: Bi-Em
• Steam ID: STEAM_0:1:116393258
• Discord Name & ID [On Short Stories Discord (You are required to join it to participate)]: Bi-Em / bi_em420
• 
  
  
• Character name: Stanisław Łakowski
• Role: Veteran [Silenced City/ Dreamland]
• Specialization: Medic
• Short (or detailed) character backstory:
  
  I was once a proud man who believed in the system and authority ... a man who dreamed of taking a sit in the council, making decisions for the city I called home.
  
  That dream was taken away as soon as "IT" came and showed me the hell itself, created a perfect scenario, a perfect "What will you do" moment in my life, to which I took a coward's way out.
  
  I can't exactly recall all of events of that night and something tells me I should be grateful for that.
  
  For what I won't forget are endless days out in the sea, with that odd Conscript who invited me to join his raft...
  
  I wish he was still around for he was the first one I told about my sin, my cowardly decision.
  
  If only I didn't snapped ... if I only took the dose right before ... now he lays somewhere out in bottom of the ocean ... or I should say his body, for "He" now stands amongs them now, his hands reaching out for my throat.
  
  The Island was a blessing and curse, for it saved me from starvation and dehydration, but it added more horror's for my mind to forever keep, until the day I die.
  
  But as much as I wish to forget about it ... as much as I wish I could had been the one to wipe the smirk off our "Host" face ... his words have sparked a flame of hope within me.
  
  I left people I knew to die ... but that doesn't mean I cannot save other's and let them see tomorrow, the same tomorrow I denied to so many.
  
  I know I may perish ... I may end up being another victim to horror's this group been fighting against.
  
  But deep down?
  
  I know I am already dead.
  
  
  
• Name your character's fondest memory:
  
  I remember I was asked once, what was my fondest memory.
  
  It took me a while to pick a right one, there were so many I was fond of, such as feeling of that Blue Armband being put on my arm or putting my Doctor's Coat on for first time.
  
  But after a while of thinking I decided that my fondest memory was of my first "Real" task.
  
  CWU Worker come into our clinic with broken leg, helped by his co-worker.
  
  All of other doctor's were too busy at one of Checkpoint's manned by Civil Protection, something about their Turret's accidental missfire.
  
  I was at the time only a Nurse, but that didn't changed the fact that I was told through the radio, to take him in and try my best.
  
  It wasn't really a challenging task, just aline the bone, bandage any open wounds, and set up a splint.
  
  I was thanked by his co-worker and both of them simply walked out of the clinic, perhaps back to the warehouse or his apartment.
  
  For anyone else it would had been mondane forgetable experience.
  
  But for me?
  
  It was my first "You did a good job" memory within my career in Civil Medical Union.
  
  The reassurance in my decision to stay and pursure, to climb the ladder, to move up.
  
  That is my fondest memory.
  

 

[AVECHRlSTUSREX]

Spoiler: DUMBASS OOC SHIT RAGHHH

Steam Name: AVECHRlSTUSREX (with a L not a i)
Steam ID: Sorry, don't feel like getting it.
Discord Name & ID: signorcristoforo 1331342082375155792
FYI, I will only attend on the second day (Sunday March 3) unless late attendance is allowed on the first day (Friday Feb 28)

​

SUBJECT: JOSHUA BONAVENTUR​

STATUS: ALIVE
AGE: 39
ROLE: FOOLHARDY
OCCUPATION: HERMES OPERATOR - HUMAN INTERFACE SYSTEMS SPECIALIST
HOTEL: TRIVAGO

"Sure you don't want an upgrade? Believe me, this OS is fuckin' ancient."

A second generation Swiss-American of Eastern European ethnicity, Joshua was raised in a rural West Virginia town with limited exposure to the outside world. The only access to technology he had was a crappy Macintosh that his mother used for accounting, however he always found a way to smuggle some game disks from his school friends and occupy himself. Josh's usage of the computer to play games served as a gateway into his fascination with technology as a whole, as he had learned the innards of MacOS early into his teenage years.

Joshua's hunger for knowledge grew even after the ravaging of Earth at the Combine's hands, and he was swept up as a technician apprentice in a Resistance cell. After years of experience, his role eventually lead him into a pursuit for an "Artifact."

Despite his reluctance to fulfill a morbid alien prophecy and overall lack of information, Joshua went along with the hardened Resistance cell tasked with the elimination of this artifact. He was assigned as one of two operators to maintain an artificial-intelligence engram crucial to the survival of the group; his experience was a major factor in this decision.

One of Joshua's most prominent memories is when he raged at a computer game and completely annihilated his mother's keyboard. She wasn't happy.​

 

[Ekrell]

Increased:
Medics to 3
HERMES operators to 3
Vortigaunts to 3

Decreased:
Lawmen to 3

Perfectly balanced, as all things should be.
Don't expect more increases though.

 

[Marco]

- Section One -


Steam Name:

Marco

Steam ID (helpful but optional):

STEAM_0:0:39958603

Discord Name & ID

marco.7184


- Section Two -


Character name:



VARK'ILNA SHAGUR

Role:

VORTIGAUNT

Specialization:

CREW

Short (or detailed) character backstory:


















































Name your character's fondest memory:


​

 

[tsaoT]

Spoiler: - Section One -

Steam Name: tsaoT
Steam ID: STEAM_0:1:42303776
Discord Name & ID: tsaoT

Spoiler: - Section ERROR -

Character name / Tagline: [X] QUICK-13
ERROR. Unit biosignal lost following THE DREAMLAND INCIDENT (READ: Concluding_Statement_DRMLND.cmbt)
Searching for alternative...
...
...

Spoiler: - Section Two -

Character Name: Skyler Cartwright
Role: Foolhardy
Specialization: Cook

Character Backstory: A creature of math and logistical know-how: from a life of growing up in the new American outback; to a brief capture and (after being inducted in to the CID and Citizen system) education in an Echelon facility; to a brief escape; to a new life within Europe's resistance network.

Wiling away her days happy never being a hero, she helped as part of the back-end operations Resistance groups so often struggle with. Ammunition loading, weapon maintenance, organizing hunts of the few creatures still in the wilderness while figuring out how to cook the new ones, and then all the gruesome, gruelling paperwork and calculations to best-assure they didn't starve to death.

While such skills made her participation in attacking Serenity a foregone conclusion to Aava, there is no proof the sudden, sheer risk of the operation won't get to the thing. That cabin fever won't afflict her, peppy personality she may have, as well as anybody else.

Fondest Memory: Her first time pulling the trigger. She was out hunting with her dad and some friends, his and hers, far away from the Combine. She missed. It didn't matter back then.

 

[Dazor]

​

Character Backstory: Dr. Elias Vayne​

Age: 37

Specialization: HERMES Internal Systems Operator

Elias Vayne was never meant to be a soldier. Before the Seven Hour War, he had been a systems engineer, working for a private aerospace firm in what used to be Seattle. He was fascinated by complex networks and artificial intelligence, always drawn to the way machines could process information in ways the human mind never could. When the Combine took Earth, they saw value in men like him—technical minds who could be bent into service.


For years, he toiled under the Union’s ever-watching eye, maintaining the intricate infrastructure that kept their oppression running. He had no illusions of loyalty; it was survival, nothing more. He worked on surveillance grids, city-wide lockdown protocols, and—most notably—early iterations of the HERMES system, designed for remote monitoring and operational command. A perfect tool for the oppressor, made efficient by the very hands that now seek to dismantle it.


But guilt is a festering wound.


He still remembers the day he finally broke. An order came down to override the security grid in a tenement block, allowing Overwatch forces to purge an "unsanctioned gathering." He hesitated, long enough to hear the screams through his headset before compliance protocols forced his hands. He wasn't strong enough then. But he swore he would be.

It took him years to escape. Smuggling scraps of code, memorizing security exploits, waiting for the perfect moment. When it came, he ran—straight into the arms of the Resistance, seeking redemption through sabotage. He became their ghost in the machine, using his knowledge to disrupt Combine operations from the inside. But he never forgot HERMES. He never forgot the system he helped refine, one that would now dictate his survival.


When the call came for Serenity, he didn’t hesitate. This was his penance, his chance to burn away the sins of his past one final time. Operating HERMES in the drilling facility, buried beneath the Earth, he knows the dangers they face. If the system fails, they all die. If they reach their goal, if they burn the artifact, then maybe—just maybe—his ledger will be clear.


But the deeper they go, the more he wonders: was this system ever meant to guide them to safety? Or has HERMES been watching something else entirely?​

 

[Ekrell]

"Look at them, ready and willing. If only everyone were so eager to face the end..."
(Results are ABOVE your application)
[People with (X) as their specialization must re-pick another one available, by posting a short notice with their OOC name, IC name, and new specialization)


- ACCEPTED AS: VETERAN, MEDIC -​

Ņ̴̨̭̩̟̙̻̼͉̬̥͚̓̃́̑͂́á̴̛̛͖͇̌͒͐̅̔͗̉̽̚͠t̸̥̲̊̀͒̏̌̚a̶̼͓̘͔̣̥͍̗̥̾̓͒̏l̴͇̫̈̂̈̈́̄͂̋͝ȋ̵̼̲̠͖̳͕͙̃͐̉́̔̒͜y̵͍̫̑̆͂͗̓͋̂̚͝͠ą̴͙̖̣̗̤̲̻͔̦̜̰̿̽͂̈̾̋͑̃̆͠͠͝͝.̷̨̢̨̜̙̪̣̻̜͈͇̩͖͚̰̀͛̋͆͌̓̂̑̿̈̋̀͘͠.̷̨̠̰̗͙͙͓͖̫̪͍̲̰͓̉.̶̡̨͇̙̘̼̖͈̱̄͑̑ͅ ̴̧̢̹͚͙̘̘̙̯̫̪̀͘S̶͔̲͔̥̣̜̖̝͚̽͆̐͐̎͆͑̈́̚͜͜͠͝͠ͅo̶̺̒̅̑̀͋̊͂̔͘k̵̢͕͗͗ǫ̸̲͚͇̩̠̰̫͖̥̗͉̔͐́͐̔̆͌͘ͅl̸̢͕̭̥̩̠͔̪͚̫͉̙̄̏̓̆͒̓̉̊͒͆̈̚͝o̴͈̝̪̥͓̖̬̒͊̉̿̽͋̕v̴̬͙̣͔̝̗̙̦̦̠̍̽̃̇̉̅̀̚a̷̟̲̦̬̗͔͈̘̭͖̼̎̌̈́̔̄̑.̴͔̭̞̩̠̫̱̻̓̒͌͌̐̃̊̎́̇̕.̴̼̠͙̞̍.̸̢̠̃͛̆̈́͊̎͛̊̅͊͝



View attachment 41104

Spoiler: OOC Side

- Section One -
Steam Name: cjtn10
Steam ID (helpful but optional): STEAM_0:0:65155396
Discord Name & ID [On Short Stories Discord (You are required to join it to participate)]: cjtn10 325702184236744705
- Section Two -
Character name: HELIX-03/ Nataliya SokolovaRole: Leader of the Veterans
Specialization: Medic
Short (or detailed) character backstory: The 'Chosen One' to some, unfathomably lucky to others, the last savior to the Vortigaunts.
Name your character's fondest memory: Long walks and bonding with her husband before the 7HW

- ACCEPTED AS: VETERAN, LAWMAN -​

Spoiler: OOC SHIT

Steam Name: Brennen
Steam ID: 76561198359555613
Discord Name & ID [On Short Stories Discord (You are required to join it to participate)]: brennenw05, 466333885983358976​

View attachment 41105
Character Name: Father Joseph White
Role: Veteran - Resistance Pastor
Specialization: Lawmen
Short (or detailed) character backstory:
"Woe to the man who would lead my flock astray. For if I am not their Shepard then I must be, The Wolf."

Born In flames of revolt. Joseph White now sees the truth. Fire and flames shall come for the Demons who took Gods promised land. For he shall send a prophet of their destruction. A savior, a Free Man. For his faithful shall prepare for his holy coming. And bring righteous wrath for those who joined in the sin of the invaders.
For their eye's have seen the coming of the Lord. Wielding a terrible swift sword. For his truth, and day shall march on.
As he died to make men holy, let us die to men free.
For the One Free Man march's on.


Name your character's fondest memory: Learning of the glory of God, and the Freeman.
​

- ACCEPTED AS: FOOLHARDY, MEDIC -​

- Section One -​ Steam Name: ItsLiam​ Steam ID (helpful but optional): Uh​ Discord Name & ID [On Short Stories Discord (You are required to join it to participate)]: itsliam010​

- Section Two -​ Character name: Stephano Carrillo Role: Foolhardy Specialization: Medic Short (or detailed) character backstory:​ A young Mexican man, in his early twenties. His life never consisted of anything too special, more working from the inside out - as a Doctor within the Civil Medical Union. He was never 'meant' to go on these sort of missions. However, when a mission like this calls, it is up to a doctor, to make sure noone dies. He is ready for the challenges that await him, but he is not accustomed to much besides being a medic. Never meant to shoot guns, never meant to do much. Unless backed into a corner, he will not pick up more than a hand gun. Name your character's fondest memory: Too young to truly have any 'fond' memories. However, every death he can prevent is a victory in his mind.

View attachment 41108

- ACCEPTED AS: FOOLHARDY, HERMES OPERATOR -​

Spoiler: OOC

Steam Name: Curbalas
Steam ID: STEAM_0:0:97676126
Discord Name & ID [On Short Stories Discord (You are required to join it to participate)]: curbalas & 691344384364380161

View attachment 41109

Character Name: Joseph Malton
Role: Foolhardy
Specialization: HERMES Operator
Short (or detailed) character backstory:

"Hey! That is actually not how you deal with that OS system, here just let me boot that up for you."

Joseph Malton, youngster, in his 30s and probably not so charismatic, other than his knowledge for computers and coding capabilities, a bright mind of his generation.

"I am going to be dealin' with this in... Twenty two minutes precise, check my six okay? Woo-hoo!"

Joseph is a necessary computer magician, maybe he should survive, or die...

And he absolutely cannot use fucking guns, don't give him a gun, he is a computer magician, not a fucking soldier, don't even consider giving him a fucking pistol, he will just blow his hands off.

"You fu- IMBECILE!! YOU JUST DELETED OUR TEN MINUTE FOURTEEN SECONDS WORTH OF PROGRESS, STOP PRESSING SHIT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY DO!! Fucking hell.."

Name your character's fondest memory:
Joseph holding his parent's hands during his childhood, as he is being brought to a computer course.​

- ACCEPTED AS: VETERAN, CREW -​

Spoiler: ooc and tunes

Steam Name:
Lekoboi

Steam ID:
https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198943794733/

Discord Name & ID [On Short Stories Discord (You are required to join it to participate)]:
Leko

​

View attachment 41112

View attachment 41114

"Oh, Im a good ol' Rebel, Now thats just what i am!"​

After being kindly asked not to come as a disguised Loyalist to the Latest hunt for the Third Artifact, Cole simply waited until it was that time once again to shoot up some weird Zombie looking things. And now that time has come again!

His fondest and most memorable memories was hunting and fishing with his Pre-War family, primarily his Father.

- ACCEPTED AS: FOOLHARDY, MAINTENANCE -​

​

- Section One -​ Steam Name: Tuki Steam ID: STEAM_0:0:147382627 Discord Name & ID: Tuki | tutucathefrog

- Section Two -​ Character name: Christian "Pat" Patterson Role: The Foolhardy Specialization: Maintenance Name your character's fondest memory: Fixing cars with his dad as a kid.

Picture taken by Pat while patrolling the wastes.​

Backstory
​

Spoiler: Backstory

[BEGINNING TRANSMISSION]

Frequency: Encrypted Rebel Channel █████
Participants: Commander Roland Carter (Patriots - North American Resistance), Ava Kovács (Ravens - European Resistance)
Timestamp: [REDACTED]

CARTER: (static crackles) —Got your message, Ava. You’re really dragging us into this, huh?

AVA: It’s not my call. The Vorts are certain about this artifact. If we don’t move now, the Combine will and I'm sure as hell you are not a fan of that idea.

CARTER: Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard enough of it. You need people. We barely have any to spare.

AVA: I don’t need soldiers, Carter. I need specialists. Your report mentioned an engineer—Patterson?

CARTER: Pat? He ain' no fighter. He fixes things. Keeps our gear runnin' and all.

AVA: And that’s exactly why we need him. The drilling platform we hijacked is barely holding together. If it fails, we’re all dead before we even reach the artifact.

CARTER: (sighs) …He’s never worked with your people before. Hell, he’s never even been off U.S. soil since all this shit started.

AVA: Then it’s about time he sees what the rest of the world looks like. Where’s he from?

CARTER: Detroit. Before the war, he worked maintenance at one of the old River Rouge plants. Assembly lines, industrial systems—you name it. When the invasion hit, man's been keeping our gear in check since around then.

AVA: A mechanic, then?

CARTER: Could say that. Man knows how to fix just about anything that runs on fuel or circuits. If your rig’s held together with duct tape and prayers, he’s the guy you want.

AVA: (chuckles) That’s exactly what it is.

CARTER: Yeah, well—before I agree to anything, let’s get one thing straight. The Patriots don’t trust Vorts. Never have.

AVA: (scoffs) Still clinging to that shit?

CARTER: Call it what you want. Some of us remember what they were before the Combine did all this shit to them. They weren’t always our “allies,” Ava.

AVA: And now they’re dying alongside us. That should count for something.

CARTER: Maybe. But my people? We don’t take orders from them.

AVA: You won’t be taking orders from them. You’ll be taking orders from me. The Vorts are guiding us, nothing more.

CARTER: (grumbles) Doesn’t make me like it any better.

AVA: You don’t have to like it, Carter. You just have to decide—are you in, or not?

CARTER: (long pause) …Fine. I’ll talk to Pat. But if he doesn’t want in, I’m not forcing him.

AVA: Understood. But he won’t say no.

CARTER: And how do you know that?

AVA: Because when it comes down to it, people like him—they always get dragged in.

(static buzzes, a brief silence)

CARTER: (quietly) Yeah… they do.

AVA: Get him to the extraction point in three days. We’ll take care of the rest.

CARTER: Three days. I’ll make it happen, should I tell him to go light on equipment?

AVA: Yeah, can't let him slow the others down. Good luck, Carter.

CARTER: You got it, Ava. Stay alive.

(static crackles)

[END TRANSMISSION]

​

​

- ACCEPTED AS: VETERAN, (X) -​

“— Three?”
“Sometimes I worry, seriously.”
“You’ve been through hell and I’ve been working right behind you through it.”

“— I won’t be around forever, Three.”
“I won’t be able to save you again.”



“Once this is done.. Can’t we just go off? Take a walk somewhere?”

​

---

View attachment 41119
​

---

View attachment 41179
AWAITING INPUT . .

> open wolf_regiment.folder

> dropper1.folder
dropper2.folder
dropper3.folder
dropper4.folder

> open dropper3.folder

pending.folder
> accepted.folder
denied.folder

> open accepted.folder

> dropper3_heroi4_04.txt

> open dropper3_heroi4_04.txt


View attachment 41180







View attachment 41181
ENTRY -- #06
C31:i4:HERO-04

["BLACKMARK OFFER - 4"]

?? <:: Rolling, one, two.. ::>
?? <:: You mind telling me you think you're here? In this chair that is, Four. ::>

[04] <:: -- I didn't mean to lose that USP, we both know that, Eight. ::>

?? <:: You're full of shit, I don't believe that a man your weight and height could be beaten *this* badly --
-- And somehow NOT get killed in the process. ::>


During camera visuals, Unit [ERASED] slid over several photos.


?? <:: These are pictures of you in the medbay, correct? ::>


During camera visuals, Unit Hero-04 nods.


?? <:: So, either you, as a unit with full training and a absolute waste of our benefactors time--
had let yourself be beaten, without somehow not getting shot, or you are giving away your supplies willingly, which is it? ::>

[04] <:: -- I don't like (unintelligible) ::>

?? <:: Speak up, now. ::>

[04] <:: -- I don't like to fight. ::>

?? <:: You fucking what? You don't like to fight? ::>

?? <:: You have by far some of the highest scoring in the shooting range excluding the OWF, and you're--
-- saying to me you don't LIKE to fight? Really? Not even defending yourself? Not others? ::>

?? <:: Not even for Liam Poacher? -- That's right, I read your file.. Not even for your god-damn brother. ::>

?? <:: You're a disgrace. You don't fight for The Combine, you don't fight for family, you don't belong. ::>

[04] <:: Eight-- No, this isn-- ::>

?? <:: You'll learn to fight, or you'll be getting a Blackmark, possibly two. ::>

?? <:: -- Absolute waste out of you, almost made me proud, Four, you almost did. ::>

?? <:: Get up early, you're going to the Greenland Region. ::>



END.

View attachment 41182








View attachment 41183
AWAITING INPUT . .

> back_srt

> lowgrade_unitdata.folder
highgrade_unitdata.folder
wolf_regiment.folder
system.exe
bootsystem_base.bat

> open lowgrade_unitdata.folder

i5.folder
> i4.folder
i3.folder
nonranking.folder

> open i4.folder

> HERO.folder
HELIX/folder
UNION.folder
extra.folder

> open hero.folder

> 0-10.folder
11_20.folder
21_30.folder
31_40.folder
41_50.folder
51_60.folder
61_70.folder
71_80.folder
81_90.folder
91_99.folder

> open 0-10.folder+run sublim.exe

. . OPENING C31:i4.HERO-04
LAUNCHING VIEWIM_COMB.EXE
LAUNCHING SUBLIM.EXE

.. LOADING

LAUNCHING CODER.BAT
LOADING CODER1.EXE


INPUT PASSWORD

[]

END TASK+CODER1.EXE



.. LOADING

FILE GRANTED, WELCOME INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS.​

View attachment 41184

Spoiler: IC INFO

[*]Character name: HERO.04
[*]Role: Veteran
[*]Specialization: HERMES Operator [External Modification Specialist - EMS]
[*]Short (or detailed) character backstory: A Metrocop sent to a winter wasteland due to a lost piece of equipment; soon finding new purpose to destroy artifacts under the command of HELIX-03.
[*]Name your character's fondest memory: Shooting a Handgun for the first time.
[*]

• Spoiler: OOC info

  • Steam Name: lyingfox
  • Steam ID (helpful but optional): 76561199008347572
  • Discord Name & ID: lyingfox |||||| 636561864976760876

  [*]

- ACCEPTED AS: VETERAN, MAINTENANCE -​

- Section One -
​

• Steam Name: Bounter​
• Steam ID (helpful but optional): STEAM_0:0:56174230​
• Discord Name & ID [On Short Stories Discord (You are required to join it to participate)]: Bounter & bounter_​

---

- Section Two -



View attachment 41118​

• Character name: Antioch Karlin​
• Role: Veteran (Silenced City, Dreamland)​
• Specialization: Maintenance​
• Short (or detailed) character backstory: Originally from the Levant (presumably historical region of Palestine), Antioch was a simple man living in that region with his family members, before the 7-HW and the Combine's Invasion.
  
  Immediately after the invasion, and numerous transfers, he became a member of the resistance, official or not, usually providing them with explosives or many types of mechanisms, due to his fascination with craftsmanship and workshopping. This lasted for a while, until the events of Silent City, in which he joined the other "Veterans" to find and destroy the Artifact residing inside of City 62, which they succeeded. After finishing their mission and surviving, the events of Dreamland unfolded, in which after finishing the multiple games of the "Host" and getting out of the Island safe and sound, he thought he would get some rest between next artifact... He was wrong.
  
  Now, alongside the survivors, and new faces alike, Antioch now, as a maintenance specialist (due to his experience), has been tasked with maintaining most of the mechanical parts of the Drilling Facility.
  ​
• Name your character's fondest memory: Spending time with his family members on Hannukah before the Invasion in 2001. He holds onto it, as much as he can, so he does not forget...​

- ACCEPTED AS: VETERAN, MEDIC -​

• Steam Name: Bi-Em
• Steam ID: STEAM_0:1:116393258
• Discord Name & ID [On Short Stories Discord (You are required to join it to participate)]: Bi-Em / bi_em420
• 
  
  
• Character name: Stanisław Łakowski
• Role: Veteran [Silenced City/ Dreamland]
• Specialization: Medic
• Short (or detailed) character backstory:
  
  I was once a proud man who believed in the system and authority ... a man who dreamed of taking a sit in the council, making decisions for the city I called home.
  
  That dream was taken away as soon as "IT" came and showed me the hell itself, created a perfect scenario, a perfect "What will you do" moment in my life, to which I took a coward's way out.
  
  I can't exactly recall all of events of that night and something tells me I should be grateful for that.
  
  For what I won't forget are endless days out in the sea, with that odd Conscript who invited me to join his raft...
  
  I wish he was still around for he was the first one I told about my sin, my cowardly decision.
  
  If only I didn't snapped ... if I only took the dose right before ... now he lays somewhere out in bottom of the ocean ... or I should say his body, for "He" now stands amongs them now, his hands reaching out for my throat.
  
  The Island was a blessing and curse, for it saved me from starvation and dehydration, but it added more horror's for my mind to forever keep, until the day I die.
  
  But as much as I wish to forget about it ... as much as I wish I could had been the one to wipe the smirk off our "Host" face ... his words have sparked a flame of hope within me.
  
  I left people I knew to die ... but that doesn't mean I cannot save other's and let them see tomorrow, the same tomorrow I denied to so many.
  
  I know I may perish ... I may end up being another victim to horror's this group been fighting against.
  
  But deep down?
  
  I know I am already dead.
  
  
  
• Name your character's fondest memory:
  
  I remember I was asked once, what was my fondest memory.
  
  It took me a while to pick a right one, there were so many I was fond of, such as feeling of that Blue Armband being put on my arm or putting my Doctor's Coat on for first time.
  
  But after a while of thinking I decided that my fondest memory was of my first "Real" task.
  
  CWU Worker come into our clinic with broken leg, helped by his co-worker.
  
  All of other doctor's were too busy at one of Checkpoint's manned by Civil Protection, something about their Turret's accidental missfire.
  
  I was at the time only a Nurse, but that didn't changed the fact that I was told through the radio, to take him in and try my best.
  
  It wasn't really a challenging task, just aline the bone, bandage any open wounds, and set up a splint.
  
  I was thanked by his co-worker and both of them simply walked out of the clinic, perhaps back to the warehouse or his apartment.
  
  For anyone else it would had been mondane forgetable experience.
  
  But for me?
  
  It was my first "You did a good job" memory within my career in Civil Medical Union.
  
  The reassurance in my decision to stay and pursure, to climb the ladder, to move up.
  
  That is my fondest memory.

- ACCEPTED AS: FOOLHARDY, HERMES OPERATOR -​

Spoiler: DUMBASS OOC SHIT RAGHHH

Steam Name: AVECHRlSTUSREX (with a L not a i)
Steam ID: Sorry, don't feel like getting it.
Discord Name & ID: signorcristoforo 1331342082375155792
FYI, I will only attend on the second day (Sunday March 3) unless late attendance is allowed on the first day (Friday Feb 28)

View attachment 41120​

SUBJECT: JOSHUA BONAVENTUR​

STATUS: ALIVE
AGE: 39
ROLE: FOOLHARDY
OCCUPATION: HERMES OPERATOR - HUMAN INTERFACE SYSTEMS SPECIALIST
HOTEL: TRIVAGO

"Sure you don't want an upgrade? Believe me, this OS is fuckin' ancient."

A second generation Swiss-American of Eastern European ethnicity, Joshua was raised in a rural West Virginia town with limited exposure to the outside world. The only access to technology he had was a crappy Macintosh that his mother used for accounting, however he always found a way to smuggle some game disks from his school friends and occupy himself. Josh's usage of the computer to play games served as a gateway into his fascination with technology as a whole, as he had learned the innards of MacOS early into his teenage years.

Joshua's hunger for knowledge grew even after the ravaging of Earth at the Combine's hands, and he was swept up as a technician apprentice in a Resistance cell. After years of experience, his role eventually lead him into a pursuit for an "Artifact."

Despite his reluctance to fulfill a morbid alien prophecy and overall lack of information, Joshua went along with the hardened Resistance cell tasked with the elimination of this artifact. He was assigned as one of two operators to maintain an artificial-intelligence engram crucial to the survival of the group; his experience was a major factor in this decision.

One of Joshua's most prominent memories is when he raged at a computer game and completely annihilated his mother's keyboard. She wasn't happy.​

- ACCEPTED AS: VORTIGAUNT, CREW -​

- Section One -


Steam Name:

Marco

Steam ID (helpful but optional):

STEAM_0:0:39958603

Discord Name & ID

marco.7184


- Section Two -


Character name:

View attachment 41123

VARK'ILNA SHAGUR

Role:

VORTIGAUNT

Specialization:

CREW

Short (or detailed) character backstory:

View attachment 41121


View attachment 41134

View attachment 41137

View attachment 41138

View attachment 41127



View attachment 41125


View attachment 41126


View attachment 41140


View attachment 41141








View attachment 41128


View attachment 41135


View attachment 41129






View attachment 41131

View attachment 41132


Name your character's fondest memory:


View attachment 41142​

- ACCEPTED AS: FOOLHARDY, COOK -​

Spoiler: - Section One -

Steam Name: tsaoT
Steam ID: STEAM_0:1:42303776
Discord Name & ID: tsaoT

Spoiler: - Section ERROR -

View attachment 41144
Character name / Tagline: [X] QUICK-13
ERROR. Unit biosignal lost following THE DREAMLAND INCIDENT (READ: Concluding_Statement_DRMLND.cmbt)
Searching for alternative...
...
...

Spoiler: - Section Two -

View attachment 41147
Character Name: Skyler Cartwright
Role: Foolhardy
Specialization: Cook

Character Backstory: A creature of math and logistical know-how: from a life of growing up in the new American outback; to a brief capture and (after being inducted in to the CID and Citizen system) education in an Echelon facility; to a brief escape; to a new life within Europe's resistance network.

Wiling away her days happy never being a hero, she helped as part of the back-end operations Resistance groups so often struggle with. Ammunition loading, weapon maintenance, organizing hunts of the few creatures still in the wilderness while figuring out how to cook the new ones, and then all the gruesome, gruelling paperwork and calculations to best-assure they didn't starve to death.

While such skills made her participation in attacking Serenity a foregone conclusion to Aava, there is no proof the sudden, sheer risk of the operation won't get to the thing. That cabin fever won't afflict her, peppy personality she may have, as well as anybody else.

Fondest Memory: Her first time pulling the trigger. She was out hunting with her dad and some friends, his and hers, far away from the Combine. She missed. It didn't matter back then.

- ACCEPTED AS: FOOLHARDY, HERMES OPERATOR (LEAD.) -​

​

Character Backstory: Dr. Elias Vayne​

Age: 37

Specialization: HERMES Internal Systems Operator

Elias Vayne was never meant to be a soldier. Before the Seven Hour War, he had been a systems engineer, working for a private aerospace firm in what used to be Seattle. He was fascinated by complex networks and artificial intelligence, always drawn to the way machines could process information in ways the human mind never could. When the Combine took Earth, they saw value in men like him—technical minds who could be bent into service.


For years, he toiled under the Union’s ever-watching eye, maintaining the intricate infrastructure that kept their oppression running. He had no illusions of loyalty; it was survival, nothing more. He worked on surveillance grids, city-wide lockdown protocols, and—most notably—early iterations of the HERMES system, designed for remote monitoring and operational command. A perfect tool for the oppressor, made efficient by the very hands that now seek to dismantle it.


But guilt is a festering wound.


He still remembers the day he finally broke. An order came down to override the security grid in a tenement block, allowing Overwatch forces to purge an "unsanctioned gathering." He hesitated, long enough to hear the screams through his headset before compliance protocols forced his hands. He wasn't strong enough then. But he swore he would be.

It took him years to escape. Smuggling scraps of code, memorizing security exploits, waiting for the perfect moment. When it came, he ran—straight into the arms of the Resistance, seeking redemption through sabotage. He became their ghost in the machine, using his knowledge to disrupt Combine operations from the inside. But he never forgot HERMES. He never forgot the system he helped refine, one that would now dictate his survival.


When the call came for Serenity, he didn’t hesitate. This was his penance, his chance to burn away the sins of his past one final time. Operating HERMES in the drilling facility, buried beneath the Earth, he knows the dangers they face. If the system fails, they all die. If they reach their goal, if they burn the artifact, then maybe—just maybe—his ledger will be clear.


But the deeper they go, the more he wonders: was this system ever meant to guide them to safety? Or has HERMES been watching something else entirely?​

- ACCEPTED AS: VORTIGAUNT, (X) -​

- Section One -

• Steam Name: Stanford
• Steam ID (helpful but optional):
• Discord Name & ID [On Short Stories Discord (You are required to join it to participate)]: stanford5039

- Section Two -

• Character name: Vas'Dal'Lurr
• Role: Vortigoon
• Specialization: Medic
• Short (or detailed) character backstory: See Dreamland backstory. However, with being released from their shackles during the events of Dreamland, the creature now follows the Chosen to wherever they must go.
• Name your character's fondest memory: Once more feeling the vortessence course through their veins after the removal of their collar. The power that is held within once more.... As well as messing with humans like usual.

- ACCEPTED AS: VORTIGAUNT, MAINTENANCE -​

View attachment 41111​

• Character name: Xan'Traz'Turr
• Role: Vortigaunt
• Specialization: Maintenance
• Short (or detailed) character backstory:
• A recent addition to the party, an adult Vortigaunt specialised in the ways of energy exchange, handy for mechanical maintenance.

• Name your character's fondest memory: Preventing a generator from exploding by converting the thermal energy of an overheating generator partially from heat to cold to restore it back to normal operation.
• Spoiler: Section 1

  • Steam Name: Purple Knight
  • Steam ID (helpful but optional):
  • Discord Name & ID [On Short Stories Discord (You are required to join it to participate)]: Purple Knight _purpleknight

  [*]

- First wave of applications concluded -​

 

[Johnny Evil]

• Steam Name: Meme_Lord_Satan
• Steam ID (helpful but optional): I forgor, and will continue to forgor
• Discord Name & ID [On Short Stories Discord (You are required to join it to participate)]: Dog#2267

- Section Two -

• Character name: Carl Torn, The Leper Warrior.
• Role: The Fool Hardy.
• Specialization: The Crew of Holy Cleansing.
• Short (or detailed) character backstory:

''Darkness cannot envelop us as long as the torch is lit, stoke the flames, burn these heretics at once.''

Carl Torn, a man cursed with Leprosy and holy trinity. Some say God himself chose this man to be his holy soldier within these forgotten holes, others say he's a mad-man seeking purpose for his affliction. Either way, the crooked cross and his faith give hope to those who have been lost in darkness.

Nothing is known about his life prior, for he refuses to speak anything of it. He was accepted by the party purely because of his stoic nature, and his Zealous attitude in the face of defeat. ''I shall not crumble under the weight of pressure! Bring upon all you have, my strength will strike true!'' Venturing deep into the tunnels along with his fellows, would this disgusting freak meet his doom? Or will his faith push onward.​

 

[Ekrell]

• Steam Name: Meme_Lord_Satan
• Steam ID (helpful but optional): I forgor, and will continue to forgor
• Discord Name & ID [On Short Stories Discord (You are required to join it to participate)]: Dog#2267

- Section Two -

• Character name: Carl Torn, The Leper Warrior.
• Role: The Fool Hardy.
• Specialization: Holy Cleansing.
• Short (or detailed) character backstory:

''Darkness cannot envelop us as long as the torch is lit, stoke the flames, burn these heretics at once.''

Carl Torn, a man cursed with Leprosy and holy trinity. Some say God himself chose this man to be his holy soldier within these forgotten holes, others say he's a mad-man seeking purpose for his affliction. Either way, the crooked cross and his faith give hope to those who have been lost in darkness.

Nothing is known about his life prior, for he refuses to speak anything of it. He was accepted by the party purely because of his stoic nature, and his Zealous attitude in the face of defeat. ''I shall not crumble under the weight of pressure! Bring upon all you have, my strength will strike true!'' Venturing deep into the tunnels along with his fellows, would this disgusting freak meet his doom? Or will his faith push onward.​

You sure this guy's name isn't Baldwin?
Also, 'Holy Cleansing' isn't a specialization that you can pick, as clearly stated on the list of specializations. The alternative would be Crew I suppose. :stare: