2025-10-31 21:25:42The Shattered Fang (Outlander Mercenaries)
Jon Va'ul Role & Core Gift: Perfect Mimicry Description: The reluctant leader. His rare gift allows him to perfectly copy and retain the Blood Gifts of anyone he touches. Unbeknownst to him, this power links him to a terrifying, buried lineage. Isabel Korva Role & Core Gift: Primal Dominion Description: The fierce protector. In her human form, she is defined by her autonomous, whip-like spike tail. She can transform into a seven-foot, cobalt-skinned Primal Beast Form of immense strength. Holst Durren Role & Core Gift: Earthsmith Description: The grounded pragmatist. A master of defensive and siege tactics, he can manipulate and shape earth and stone into weapons or fortifications. Wields the Stone's Kiss crossbow. Mercy Korva Role & Core Gift: Plasmacore (manifests as the plasma blade "vipers tongue") Description: The captured sister and the prophet. A natural-born master of Green Plasma, a rare anomaly that led to her kidnapping and indoctrination by the zealous House Orsaan. Echo Role & Core Gift: Sonar/Echolocation Description: A swift, independent mercenary and scout. Known for his flirty arrogance and effective, high-frequency scouting gift. Echo's Dad Role & Core Gift: Indestructibility Description: A massive, silent man who serves as the group's simple, unyielding shield. His gift makes him immune to nearly all physical and energy damage. The Great Houses & Key Figures Korrath Leader: Gorath the shatterer/ King Dainar the Hollow-Eyed Gift & Culture: Bone Shaping. Rulers of death and primal strength. Currently initiating war against Orsaan. Orsaan Leader: High Priest Ignarion Gift & Culture: Plasmacore. Fanatical zealots who wield controlled fire. They believe their tyranny is a divine act of cleansing. Syndri Leader: Magnus Aurelian Gift & Culture: Telepathy & Midas Touch. The merchant-oligarchy, specializing in information and commerce. Veythari Leader: House Veythari IX (Veyros) Gift & Culture: Shadow Step. Masters of stealth, poison, and assassination who rule from an Obsidian Castle. Tarrith Leader: Old Blade Arrock Gift & Culture: Shape-shifting. The oldest, most disciplined military power, now governed by a council of retired warlords. Valthorn Leader: The Immortal Gift & Culture: Agelessness and Five Stolen Gifts. The founder of the extremist Eclipse Order. ✨ Glossary of Gifts & Lore Blood Gifts (The Source of Power) Blood Gift Definition: The unique, inheritable supernatural power possessed by an individual. Context in the Story: Outlanders have varied, often unstable gifts. House members have standardized, superior Sacred Gifts. The Source Definition: The shared, finite reservoir of raw, stable energy that feeds the Sacred Gifts of the Five Houses. Context in the Story: The location is known only to the oldest Houses (guarded by Tarrith). Its monopoly justifies the Houses' tyranny. Sacred Gifts Definition: The five superior, uniform powers possessed by the Houses (Bone, Plasma, Telepathy, Shadow, Shape). Context in the Story: These powers ensure the Houses' dominance and were deliberately chosen to enforce control over the chaos of the old world. Perfect Mimicry Definition: Jon Va'ul's unique gift; the ability to perfectly copy and retain any Blood Gift experienced or touched. Context in the Story: This power links him to the suppressed Trueborn lineage, making him an anomaly and a target for all factions. Major Factions & Concepts The Age of Tumult Definition: The era before the Houses, characterized by relentless anarchy where reckless humans used random, unstable gifts for constant warfare. Context in the Story: Valthorn remembers this age and believes the Houses' tyranny is necessary to prevent its return. Eclipse Order Definition: A fanatical cult led by the immortal Valthorn. They are dedicated to brutally enforcing the established tyranny of the Houses. Context in the Story: Natural enemies of the Hollow Legion. They specialize in kidnapping and brainwashing with powers Valthorn has stolen from the Houses. Hollow Legion Definition: The secret, revolutionary army founded by the heroic Dain Trueborn. Now led by his deranged descendant Varian, who experiments on recruits to create "monsters." Context in the Story: They are the only political lineage whose Gifts are naturally capable of disrupting the bloodgifts of others Trial by Requital Definition: The ancient Korrath law invoked when a Tribunal verdict is divided. It demands a duel between champions to determine the final, binding judgment. Blood moon 🌕 Description: an festival celebrated throughout the world which marks the manifestation of bloodgifts along the youth. Government Systems of the Five Blood Houses Syndri: Merchant Oligarchy Description: Rule by a small group of powerful and wealthy merchant families (like the Aurelians). Decisions are based on economic advantage, trade routes, and profit. They control through commerce, information, and financial leverage. Orsaan: Theocracy Description: Rule by religious leaders (like High Priest Ignarion) who claim divine authority. Laws and policies are derived from religious doctrine, and dissent is viewed as heresy. Control is maintained through faith, fear, and "purification." Korrath: Warrior Monarchy Description: Rule by a king (like King Dainar) whose authority is based on martial prowess, strength, and the ability to command loyal warriors. Loyalty is earned through displays of power and a reverence for a brutal, often death-worshipping, warrior code. Succession may involve trials of combat or displays of dominance. Veythari: Shadow Hegemony Description: Rule by a dominant, often secretive, elite (the Veythari family/House Veythari IX) who maintain power through unseen influence, espionage, assassination, and the control of crucial information or resources. Their control is absolute but operates from the shadows, making it difficult for outsiders to understand or challenge. It's a system where the puppet masters are rarely seen. Tarrith: Martial Council (The Seven Old Blades) Description: Rule by a council of the most venerable and experienced (retired) warriors, "The Seven Old Blades." While technically a council, their decisions are rooted in military strategy, honor, and ancient traditions of warfare. They prefer decisive action and strategic positioning over complex politics, often acting as a highly disciplined, collective military command. ************************************************ author's note: I was so scared to actually put this out there, came up with this story one midnight and I've been improving on it since then. just like most of my works I didn't expect it to see the light of day, but I'm in a position where I just have to put this out there, still anxious, still scared of how this may be received but it's coming from my heart and I hope you all enjoy it. BLOOD GIFT COMING SOON!!!
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CHAPTER 17:THE GREYCOATS TEST
The notice went up on the main hall board, and the collective groan from Cohort Gamma could probably be heard in the kitchens.PRACTICAL ASSESSMENT: PRINCIPLES OF FIELD MEDICINELOCATION: EAST WING INFIRMARY SIMULATION ROOMTEAMS OF TWO, ASSIGNED AT RANDOM.REMEMBER: A PATIENT IS NOT A PUZZLE. A PATIENT IS A PERSON.(Even when they’re filled with air.)“Random pairs?” Mercy squeaked, reading the notice over Jon’s shoulder. “What if I get stuck with someone who thinks a tourniquet goes on the head?”“Then you’ll have a very streamlined patient,” Jon said, grinning. “No more pesky headaches.”Isabel’s tail gave an anxious flick. She’d been doing okay with the bandages, but the lesson on stitching last week had been a disaster. Her claws were not made for delicate needlework; she’d accidentally sewn the practice leather to the table. “I’m going to fail. I’m going to fail and they’re going to make me wear a sign that says ‘Menace to Stitches’.”“You’ll be fine,” Holst said, his voice surp
CHAPTER 16: A NOT SO LITTLE CRACK
Proctor Valerius’s specialized class was less a classroom and more a seminary dedicated to a single subject: the Orsaan Holy Inferno. The circular chamber felt increasingly like a pressure cooker, the air thick with expectation and ancient dogma. Mercy sat with the six other “special” students, each an oddity in their own right—a boy whose skin could phase through solid wood, a girl whose voice could shatter glass at a specific pitch. But Mercy was the only one whose curriculum was an entire political and theological indoctrination.Today, Valerius had brought in a relic—a cracked, heat-warped piece of slate with faded Orsaan runes etched into it. She placed it on the central table with a reverence that was clinical, not devotional.“This was recovered from a razed village near the Orsaan northern border,” Valerius explained, her voice cool and detached. “The runes speak of ‘cleansing flame’ and ‘unworthy flesh.’ This is not poetry, Mercy. This is policy. To them, plasma is not just a
CHAPTER 15: UNLIKELY ALLIANCE
The tension in the training arena had become a daily ritual. Isabel would outperform the popular clique, and they would retaliate with whispered barbs about her being "feral" and "unrefined." The twins, Abel and Obed, were caught in the middle—unwilling recipients of the girls' fawning attention and silent witnesses to the petty bullying.During a break, as Isabel took a long drink of water, Obed sidled up to her, keeping his voice low."This is getting stupid," he muttered, nodding toward the giggling group. "They're only doing it because they're jealous and they think you're alone."Isabel's tail gave an irritated flick. "What am I supposed to do? Challenge their leader to a duel for the title of 'Most Popular'?""No," Obed said, a sly grin spreading across his face. "You're supposed to have an alliance. A strategic one.""What kind of alliance?""Think about it. They love Abbed. They're jealous of you. So, if Abbed is... taken... and taken by you, specifically, it solves both our p
CHAPTER 14: DIVERGING PATHS
The following day, the Shattered Fang’s schedules finally pulled them in different directions. The mood at breakfast was a mix of excitement and nervous anticipation.“Remember,” Jon said, pointing a spoon at Mercy. “First day in the special class. Be cool. Don’t set anything on fire you’re not supposed to.”“I make no promises,” Mercy replied, her eyes sparkling.“And you,” Holst said, turning to Isabel. “Try not to scare your new classmates too much.”Isabel just smirked, her tail giving a confident flick. “I’ll be on my best behavior.”---Jon & Holst: A Forbidden SubjectTheir class with Instructor Silas was titled “Applied Outlands Diplomacy.” Today, he was dissecting the fallout of a recent trade dispute between two minor Outland towns, a classic case study in his teachings.As he concluded, Jon’s hand shot up. “Instructor Silas, you speak about the effects of the Great Houses’ policies, but you never talk about the Houses themselves. If we’re to be mediators, shouldn’t we under
CHAPTER 13: WELCOME ASSEMBLY
The dawn light filtering into the loft seemed to highlight the starkness of the four white tunics laid out on their beds. The Shattered Fang regarded them with a mixture of anticipation and dread. Mercy poked at the fabric with a grimace. "It feels like wearing a sack made of dried grass." "Good," Holst grunted, already pulling his on over his head. "It's not supposed to be comfortable. It's supposed to be durable. No fancy embroidery to tear, no loose threads to snag. It's perfect." He stood there, a mountain of muscle in a stiff, boxy white tunic, already checking the bolts for his crossbow. Isabel was locked in a silent battle with her own uniform. "This is a design flaw of the highest order," she declared, trying to maneuver her tail through the solid wall of fabric. "Do they expect me to tuck it into my belt? Am I supposed to just let it wag and knock over every piece of pottery in this place?" Jon, already fully dressed, was admiring his reflection in the dark glass of a wi
CHAPTER 12: GREYCOAT ACADEMY
The morning sun gleamed off the immense pentagon structure of the Greycoat headquarters. Jon, Isabel, Holst, and Mercy wove through the bustling foot traffic, following directions to the academy building nestled within the complex. It was a formidable, school-like structure of pale stone, its windows looking less like portals for learning and more like the slits of a fortress. At the entrance, two familiar figures leaned against the wall as if they’d been there for an age. "Ahoy, kids!" Godrick called out, his voice a cheerful boom from behind his plague mask. Goodluck, standing beside him, offered a silent, two-fingered wave. "How long have you guys been standing there?" Isabel asked, her tail giving a skeptical flick. "Give or take two hours," Godrick answered casually. "Two hours?!" Mercy scrubbed at her drowsy eyes. It was only 8 a.m., and she felt half-dead. The idea that anyone had been awake and waiting since 6 was horrifying. After a brief round of their usual bi
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