open ♔ shield base arrival // knights socialization

[refurbished]

bloody city - sam tinnesz

WHO || The Knights & agents of SHIELD
WHAT || The Knights arrive at the Las Vegas facility...
WHERE || SHIELD HQ (The Harbor), a desert location near Las Vegas, NV
WHEN || March 2018
HOW || Actionspam

The acting Heads of the Knighthood - Hasmed and Solace - have made a decision that is not easy for many. Given the terrible state of everything happening in America, they've decided to relocate operations entirely to the States, and have secured a facility vaguely near Las Vegas: agreeing to work alongside the S.H.I.E.L.D. organization to find a way to take down Blade. It is certainly possible, with the grim missions that lie before them, that many, or all, of the Knights may never return. Reactions to the announcement are certain to be strong, but it's time to choose what they will bring with them to their new life - and for some, to decide if it's a journey they can bring themselves to take.

Most of the facility is underground, and the Knights are each granted badges that will act as keycards to get them into the barracks area that has been sequestered for them in its own building (called the Enclave), as well as to access the other rooms that are open to their use. It is more or less similar to this, but scaled up in size to account for the larger numbers of people housed on base. There are separate buildings on the base compound for the agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (The Sanctuary) and for those members of Hellsing (The Bulwark) who have relocated as well. The entire compound itself is referred to collectively as "The Harbor". Peter Fargason will continue to run training drills daily, attempting to mold the Knights into a more efficient combat unit, and Hasmed, Solace, Koraith, Dovan, and Lis'sa will continue to assign missions to members of the Knighthood, ostensibly aimed towards slowing the tide of monsters and evil doers heading to Los Angeles and protecting Shadowkind in America from the "war on Shadowkind" being waged by the American government, as non-humans are being rounded up as potential threats to the country. Hasmed and Solace have assumed joint leadership of the Knighthood, and appointed no Dragon's Claw to replace either the deceased Sir Bancroft or the now gone rogue Sir Chessing.

Gone is the eclectic decor of the castle rooms, replaced by a much more uniform look to each assigned barracks, which, unfortunately, sleep two to a room because of restraints on space. Feel free to sign up for a roommate on the thread on this post. In fact, everything here is much more polished, state of the art, and modern, which is a jarring change from the castle. How well people adjust may depend on quite a few factors... but for now, they are free to attempt settling in.

[ This is the social log for anything while the Knights relocate to Las Vegas ]

On this post:

Roommate Assignments
Roomie Sign-Up
Phil Coulson | Welcome
Skye | Tech support, Bulwark, Research, Apologies
Gwen | Enclave public areas, Training w/Hellsing, Wildcard
Kenzi | Enclave, Training, Wildcard
Darcy | Bio Engineering & Research, Wildcard
Avaleen | OTA
Sawyer | Enclave, Wildcard
Frankie | Hangar, Technology Room, Have a Beer, Wildcard
Topher | Technology Room, Wildcard
Malina | Scenarios
Rosario | Scenarios
Paige | Training w/Hellsing, the Track, Wildcard
Kali | Training, Elsewhere
Caroline | Training, Common Rooms
Andrew | Technology Room, Rec Room
Barry | Training Room, Various
Cora | Outside, Training, Hangar
Jane | Technology Room, Laboratory, Research, Training
Dimitri | Training
Bo | Training
Lois | Training Room, Common Areas, Various
David L. | Training Room, Various
Kate | Shooting Range, Rec Area
Sweets | In Session
Lila | Shooting Range, Kitchen, Rec Room, Outside
Rory | Training Sessions
Laurel | Various
Hasmed | Various
Toby | Kitchen, Outside
Sark | Training, Wildcard
Integra (w/Alucard) | Training
Edain | Various + closed to Ella
Carol | Training, Hangar, Rec Room
Deadpool | All your Base, Vegas baby!!
Cordelia | Rec Room
Jordan | Enclave various
Ward | Daily routine
Thea | Various
Riggs | Enclave
Jo | Lost
Tony | Sanctuary (w/Coulson), Enclave lab, various

Comments

[daredtobelieve]

What you've done is more than enough, I can assure you. [Taking in all these strays. She can relate tbh. Also what does she know about SHIELD (current events 27)]

While I have you for a moment, I wanted to let you know that I am medically trained. Should you or your agents need assistance, I am happy to help.

[refurbished]

[ what she knows is complicated - they were an elaborate intelligence network that was compromised and largely controlled by a pretty dark organization called hydra, until they were exposed several years back. since then, they've been disavowed by the u.s. government, and she's only heard rumors of what they're actually up to. there are plenty of stories floating out there of them doing positive things, particularly for shadowkind, in the right circles. ]

We're always grateful to have more medical professionals on hand. Trust me when I say that I know how fast things can turn into an emergency situation in the field. We appreciate any expertise you have to offer.

[daredtobelieve]

Expertise is something I have in spades. [lol she's so old]

Forgive me if I'm overstepping, but... I hate to deal in rumors. There's been whispers here and there about what this organization is, exactly. But I was hoping to get it straight from the source, as it were. You mentioned our two groups helping one another, but just what would we be helping you with?

[refurbished]

We're an intelligence asset, Dr. Magnus, but we deal in studying and containing non-terrestrial threats and generally protecting this planet and its citizens.

We recognized a similar bent in the activities of the Knighthood. We took steps to ensure that we were on the same side before reaching out to your organization.

[daredtobelieve]

[It's fascinating to her how similar threads can be found anywhere. Although, it does trouble her some that SHIELD seems more focused on threats than the wonder that new lifeforms can add to this world.]

And the fact that many of our members are Shadowkind? Was that something of a concern?

[Helen, you can't just ask someone if they're racist.]

[refurbished]

While it’s certainly interesting, it’s never been a particular concern of ours, no. [ there’s a moment while he weighs how to put this. ] We had questions about the organization given the nature of its approach to certain situations in the past. There were conflicting reports, just as I’ve no doubt you’ve heard regarding S.H.I.E.L.D.

[daredtobelieve]

I have. And I'm sure you can understand my concern when a group with your reputation is found to be spying so near my own research. You may have your confirmation of our intentions, but many of us haven't been afforded the return courtesy.

[refurbished]

Completely fair, which is why we intend to do everything possible to reassure the Knights that we’re on the same team. We’re working with your section heads to coordinate intelligence reports: they’ll have access to our intel on Shadowkind related incidents, that will help them determine locations that they think might be worth investigating. We’re also willing to provide any other equipment or facilities that you find yourselves lacking, within the bounds of our own resources, of course.

[daredtobelieve]

[How dare you be so rational and reasonable, Coulson. It's harder to be suspicious of you when you seem so transparent. But Helen is pretty good at reading people so maybe she can see if there's more that he's not saying (sense motive: 38) In the meantime, she'll see what else she can learn about their new host.]

Much appreciated. How long have you been with SHIELD, if you don't mind my asking?

[refurbished]

I was recruited out of college, actually. [ sooo, the greater part of his life. 100% company man.

she'd pick up on that brand loyalty from him, but something else as well. while he's definitely a man who keeps a lot close to his chest, there's something about the guy that feels genuine in a way that is almost baffling for a spy. she really gets the feeling that he wants this alliance to work, and that there's a degree of very real respect for her and the other knights within him ]

[daredtobelieve]

[She nods, taking in his responses and the little bits that she can glean from her own intuition. She's at least not reading him as an immediate threat, though she is still wary of their entire organization.]

I was around that age when I began my journey as well, though that was on my own side of the Veil. There's something about being that young and hopeful that can set us on a lifelong path, I think.

[refurbished]

Across dimensional boundaries, even, it seems. Can I ask what started you on your own path?

[daredtobelieve]

Curiosity, mostly. And a foolish belief that if I was bold enough, the consequences couldn't possibly catch up with me. [She's not so worried about keeping her past secret, though. So here comes the Helen lore again.]

It was an experimental serum that myself and four colleagues decided to test on ourselves. That was... [She glances up, doing some mental calculations] close to 200 years ago at this point. Which is not quite as impressive a feat now that I've met my share of elves and the like, but was unheard of on that side of the Veil.

[refurbished]

... You discovered a formula that could extend longevity?

[daredtobelieve]

Not exactly. The serum tapped into latent genetic abnormalities, bringing them to the surface, in a sense. Each of the five of us manifested a different ability after injecting ourselves.

[refurbished]

Should I ask what happened to your colleagues?

[daredtobelieve]

Enhanced intelligence, invisibility, teleportation...

But the most notable for you would likely be Nikola Tesla. It's my understanding that he has a counterpart in this dimension as well. The Nikola I knew developed an ability to harness control over electric currents. He also discovered that his genetic makeup was connected to an ancient race of powerful beings- the very same beings that fueled our serum. Sanguine vampiris.

[refurbished]

You're talking about a vampire. [ NIKOLA TESLA WAS A VAMPIRE??? HOLD ALL THE PHONES. he keeps his cool but he is freaking out inside ok ] Do you think that held true for his parallel version here?

[daredtobelieve]

I sadly never had the pleasure of meeting him here, so I couldn't say for sure. But I think it's unlikely.

[refurbished]

It's fascinating, isn't it, the differences in these parallel dimensions? We're still wrapping our heads around the extent of it.

I'd love to chat about your research, if you're willing to discuss it sometime.

[daredtobelieve]

Absolutely. That's why we're here, isn't it? [And she might be hoping that there would be some sharing of information so she could get a better idea of who the Knights have climbed into bed with.]

My research from home sadly didn't make it through with me, but I have close to 50 years of tenure with the Knights at this point. I've been conducting my own studies on the various types of Shadowkind that make their way through the Veil. [Just writing the Monster Manual over here, basically]

[refurbished]

I definitely feel like now's the time to be grateful for having an expert on our team.

[daredtobelieve]

[She nods, not denying that she's an expert because while Helen is not one to boast, she's also not about to act like she doesn't have more experience in the area than most.]

I don't know how many more rounds of introductions you have today, but if you're due for a break and would like to chat a bit, I'd be happy to.

[refurbished]

I could probably stand to take a break from the pleasantries.

[daredtobelieve]

I can imagine. Well, is there anywhere in particular that you'd like to continue our conversation? [She will just unload knowledge at you right here if you want, Coulson, but she figures it might be nice to sit down. Or offer her some tea.]