For centuries, the planet known by its inhabitants as Cai had seen perpetual conflict. It seemed that none of the small states littering its surface could get the upper hand and dominate the others, though, so the wars were frequent but small and short-lived.
Until recently, that is.
General Erik Raschkrom was once among the small, powerless leaders who constantly fought for small bundles of territory. He, however, never lost. Never did he have to retreat; never did he have to surrender. Raschkrom conquered vast tracts of land, eliminating smaller states altogether, until he had built an empire hundreds of kilometers in width, spanning across the rivers and mountains that had once served as borders for the states that he conquered.
Raschkrom was ambitious and wanted nothing more than to move beyond his position of General, as most great men are, and so he easily wrested control of the empire from its ruler - who could do nothing to stop him - and declared it the Raschkrom Empire.
Now, people don't like to be conquered, and so the smaller states still in existence took a risk. They found a great military leader of their own - General Donovan Tower. General Tower knew that the trust that they had in him was great, for they had no reason to believe he wouldn't take control as Raschkrom had. At first he seemed able to handle his duties, bringing Raschkrom's armies to a standstill and convincing even more small nations to give him support in his defensive campaign. But Tower gave in.
He did so slowly, grudgingly, at first: initially all he did was dub his combined armies the Tower Coalition, but eventually he began acting like a ruler. After a few years, he began phasing out local control and the Tower Coalition became ever more centralized. Then Raschkrom attacked again, driving the Coalition forces back and killing Donovan Tower.
The Tower Coalition, however, still had great respect for their former leader. He had resisted the lust for power that Raschkrom had long since given in to.
They fought on, facing internal power struggles and a lack of significant military leadership. They fought on because they had to. They fought on because if they failed to do so, Raschkrom would be unstoppable, if he wasn't already.
And perhaps their savior has arrived in the form of a skilled young pilot named James Cain and his small group of confidants...
GENERAL INFORMATION:
James Cain is, in fact, a prominent figure in the Tower Coalition, and you are, in fact, all under his leadership. Not directly, of course. You will probably not meet him until late in the story, assuming you all make it that far.
You see, battling is a heavy part of this RPG, for obvious reasons. Obeying orders and being smart will earn you a slow but solid climb to prominence - trying to pull off crazy stunts puts you at risk of getting your zoid destroyed or (in extreme cases) your character killed, but it offers a chance to be incredibly awesome and earn my respect, if not the good will of your in-character superiors.
That said! Killing off your characters will be avoided as much as possible. I'm not trying to make anyone uncomfortable with battling. I just want you all to understand the risks involved.
High risk, high reward, hm?
APPLICATION PROCESS:
If you don't know much about zoids, this... may be difficult. But that's why such sites as Zoids Wiki exist - and you'll probably learn a significant amount from experience gained while playing, too, so don't be afraid to try.
The application form is as follows:
Name: [This should be relatively obvious - what is your character's name?] Gender: [Male or female. Again, pretty simple.] Age: [Preferably somewhere roughly between 18 and 50. Remember, they have to be fit for military duty, so don't get too extreme, although I am more than willing to accept characters outside of this age range, within reason.] Rank: [You will all begin at Sergeant. Not an officer, but not without power, either.] Zoid: [Yes, some people may own multiple zoids. No, you may not list more than one, and it may not be a Zoid X or Ultimate X. In fact, I would prefer it if you stuck with less powerful zoids on the whole. Also, if half a dozen Liger pilots apply, I will begin rejecting them, because enough is enough, eh?]
You may have noticed that the application is not very involved. Well, it really doesn't have to be. I know how powerful zoids are, and there's not much room for customization in player zoids, for balance purposes.
FINAL NOTES:
I do have a vague storyline in mind. You will be pushed towards it. If you want something to change - if you want to meet up with another player's character and they are willing as well, if you want to try a new zoid out, if you want to pull some insane but possibly awesome move - try it. Ask first if you're worried. But most of the time? I'll be open to your wants, needs, and illogical requests. I am at your disposal.
Have fun if you can. I don't want to ruin the story for you. I just want to make it interesting, and I want to keep you on your toes. So play the game with me - don't guess what I want you to do, do what you think will help advance the story in your favor.
Zoid: Bamburian Weapons: Dual Anti-Air Laser Guns (mounted on the right shoulder), Eleven-Shot Bamboo Missile Launcher (mounted on the back), Dual Seiryuu Sabres (mounted in the shoulders), Giant Claws (mounted in place of the standard claws) Equipment: Ear Radar (mounted in the ears), Dual Smoke Dischargers (mounted with the Eleven-Shot Bamboo Missile Launcher) Damage: Essentially light damage everywhere, and moderate stress to the Seiryuu Sabre mounts. There are a few scattered gouges where your armor was rent apart wholesale. Six missiles expended.
I use one of my smoke dischargers, go through an opening in their formation (if there is one), and then try to attack one of them in the back.
Zoid: Bamburian Weapons: Dual Anti-Air Laser Guns (mounted on the right shoulder), Eleven-Shot Bamboo Missile Launcher (mounted on the back), Dual Seiryuu Sabres (mounted in the shoulders), Giant Claws (mounted in place of the standard claws) Equipment: Ear Radar (mounted in the ears), Dual Smoke Dischargers (mounted with the Eleven-Shot Bamboo Missile Launcher) Damage: Essentially light damage everywhere, and moderate stress to the Seiryuu Sabre mounts. There are a few scattered gouges where your armor was rent apart wholesale. Six missiles expended. One smoke discharge expended.
Acrid black smoke pours forth from one side of your Bamburian, automatically activating the radar mounted in its ears, which uses infrared sensors to see through the vision-obscuring, radar wave-blocking smoke it has thrown up.
There are gaps between the Wolves, particularly where the one you slashed at earlier was missing a leg: you charge that gap, crashing between the two Wolves and pushing the undamaged one out of the way before rounding on the injured Command Wolf.'
It's here that you finish the job you started seconds ago, making short work of one of its rear legs and sending the Wolf into command system freeze.
The other two are about ten meters from your right side, and the smoke has already begun to thin, although currently it's still visually impenetrable, so you still have the upper hand as far as visibility. For the moment, at least.
Zoid: Redler Weapons: Strike Claws (mounted in place of the standard claws), Variable Laser Blade (mounted in the base of the tail) Equipment: n/a Damage: Some mild stress and pockmarking to armor covering the front legs, and a smattering of light burn marks to the general front of the zoid. Rear legs are moderately stressed.
I stay alert while I wait for the other two fights to end. If I see that my teammates need help then I will help them.
Zoid: Redler Weapons: Strike Claws (mounted in place of the standard claws), Variable Laser Blade (mounted in the base of the tail) Equipment: n/a Damage: Some mild stress and pockmarking to armor covering the front legs, and a smattering of light burn marks to the general front of the zoid. Rear legs are moderately stressed.
After about ten seconds of dueling, Layton finishes off his second opponent, and your squadron regroups in midair. "Damages?" Layton asks over the communications. His zoid is clearly spattered with bullets and burns, but you notice no significant damage.
"All clear, sir," Wauters answers. "Although the legs are showing strain from that last pile-driving maneuver I pulled."
Zoid: Redler Weapons: Strike Claws (mounted in place of the standard claws), Variable Laser Blade (mounted in the base of the tail) Equipment: n/a Damage: Some mild stress and pockmarking to armor covering the front legs, and a smattering of light burn marks to the general front of the zoid. Rear legs are moderately stressed.
"The only major thing for me is the rear legs being stressed from throwing my enemy but I can continue."
Zoid: Redler Weapons: Strike Claws (mounted in place of the standard claws), Variable Laser Blade (mounted in the base of the tail) Equipment: n/a Damage: Some mild stress and pockmarking to armor covering the front legs, and a smattering of light burn marks to the general front of the zoid. Rear legs are moderately stressed.
Your squadron once again turns to the north, in the direction you had originally been going, and continues flying on a linear path. After a few minutes, something darts across the side of your vision, to the right. Both your teammates are to your left.
Zoid: Redler Weapons: Strike Claws (mounted in place of the standard claws), Variable Laser Blade (mounted in the base of the tail) Equipment: n/a Damage: Some mild stress and pockmarking to armor covering the front legs, and a smattering of light burn marks to the general front of the zoid. Rear legs are moderately stressed.
I become alert but don't tell my teammates just yet cause for all I know it could had been a bird.
Zoid: Bamburian Weapons: Dual Anti-Air Laser Guns (mounted on the right shoulder), Eleven-Shot Bamboo Missile Launcher (mounted on the back), Dual Seiryuu Sabres (mounted in the shoulders), Giant Claws (mounted in place of the standard claws) Equipment: Ear Radar (mounted in the ears), Dual Smoke Dischargers (mounted with the Eleven-Shot Bamboo Missile Launcher) Damage: Essentially light damage everywhere, and moderate stress to the Seiryuu Sabre mounts. There are a few scattered gouges where your armor was rent apart wholesale. Six missiles expended. One smoke discharge expended.
I fire the laser guns, concentrating my fire on one of the cockpits (whichever one is an easier target).
Zoid: Redler Weapons: Strike Claws (mounted in place of the standard claws), Variable Laser Blade (mounted in the base of the tail) Equipment: n/a Damage: Some mild stress and pockmarking to armor covering the front legs, and a smattering of light burn marks to the general front of the zoid. Rear legs are moderately stressed.
Flicking your gaze to focus on the movement for a moment as you try to take in everything within view at once, you realize that it did not move, it only appeared to: your flight took you over the charred, mechanical husks of what appears to have once been a squadron of Elephanders.
Then the enemy comes into sight, and a light on your console blinks, alerting you that Layton has ordered radio silence. In front of you, slowly appearing from behind a particularly high ridge, is the Imperial division.
***
Name: Mort Gender: Male Age: 27 Rank: Sergeant
Zoid: Bamburian Weapons: Dual Anti-Air Laser Guns (mounted on the right shoulder), Eleven-Shot Bamboo Missile Launcher (mounted on the back), Dual Seiryuu Sabres (mounted in the shoulders), Giant Claws (mounted in place of the standard claws) Equipment: Ear Radar (mounted in the ears), Dual Smoke Dischargers (mounted with the Eleven-Shot Bamboo Missile Launcher) Damage: Essentially light damage everywhere, and moderate stress to the Seiryuu Sabre mounts. There are a few scattered gouges where your armor was rent apart wholesale. The left side of your neck, in particular, has been heavily Six missiles expended. One smoke discharge expended.
Firing on the cockpits, you quickly learn that they are as well-armored as the rest of the zoid; but these are in fact laser guns that you are using, and so despite a distinct lack of surface damage, they quickly bore through the thin Command Wolf at point-blank range. Its pilots screams echo out as the zoid flings itself to the ground, its controls now little more than a melted mass of exposed wiring and splattered body parts.
By the time that happens, of course, the smoke has cleared enough for the remaining Command Wolf to see you, and it moves in, latching onto the left side of your neck with its jaws and trying desparately to gnaw through to the ZCC (Zoid Control Conduit).
Name: Mort Gender: Male Age: 27 Rank: Sergeant Zoid: Bamburian Weapons: Dual Anti-Air Laser Guns (mounted on the right shoulder), Eleven-Shot Bamboo Missile Launcher (mounted on the back), Dual Seiryuu Sabres (mounted in the shoulders), Giant Claws (mounted in place of the standard claws) Equipment: Ear Radar (mounted in the ears), Dual Smoke Dischargers (mounted with the Eleven-Shot Bamboo Missile Launcher) Damage: Essentially light damage everywhere, and moderate stress to the Seiryuu Sabre mounts. There are a few scattered gouges where your armor was rent apart wholesale. The left side of your neck, in particular, has been heavily Six missiles expended. One smoke discharge expended.
Zoid: Redler Weapons: Strike Claws (mounted in place of the standard claws), Variable Laser Blade (mounted in the base of the tail) Equipment: n/a Damage: Some mild stress and pockmarking to armor covering the front legs, and a smattering of light burn marks to the general front of the zoid. Rear legs are moderately stressed.
I wait for the first move to be made by my enemy or my teammates.
Zoid: Redler Weapons: Strike Claws (mounted in place of the standard claws), Variable Laser Blade (mounted in the base of the tail) Equipment: n/a Damage: Some mild stress and pockmarking to armor covering the front legs, and a smattering of light burn marks to the general front of the zoid. Rear legs are moderately stressed.
You wait, but Layton makes no move. Neither does Wauters. The Lieutenant simply ascends to the clouds, a less visible position, and you both follow him in formation. The mission is to scout out enemy numbers, not to attack them: an unsupported group of three aerials would be shot down in seconds by a full division.
[@Mort: Do you mean height? The Bamburian is 8.3 meters tall in quadruped (four-legged) mode, and 10.5 meters tall in biped (two-legged) mode, which it switches between by y'know, standing up. The Command Wolf is only 7.9 meters tall, and is stuck as a quadruped: however, because the Bamburian's head hangs low, its neck is in fact accessible.]
