Ruby (Shantania)

"What, go back to my old life? My job writing shitty newspaper articles and getting harrassed by the guy next to me? Fuck that, I like the whole armored Amazon thing."

Profile

Ruby is a cameo from my other project, Chatbox Shamus. In that game, she works for a local newspaper and writes the police blotter column, and is well known for her short temper, foul mouth, and her long-standing feud with the obituary writer, Albert. (See Ruby Travaglia for her main profile.)

In this universe, Ruby has much the same personality, but rather than being a news reporter, Ruby is a lancer from a Rigan encampment who joins the "resistance" to get away from a curiously-Albert-like person. She has a pet hunting dog (a Tibetan Mastiff), which she has named "Bastion" after a certain partner that she realizes that she has missed since leaving her source game.

Mechanics

Ruby's weapon is a long spear, a Strength-based weapon that can attack either at range 1 (short range) or range 2 (long range). This does not immediately affect Ruby's accuracy or damage ratings; rather, it will affect her defensive abilities during Enemy Phase. If she last attacked at short range, she will have a harder time parrying or countering attacks at long range, and vice versa.

Skills

• Harsh Language - Immediately alert and attract the attention of all enemies within range, while reducing their Defense skill by half during combat with Ruby.
• Halfway Stance - If Ruby has not attacked during Player Phase, Ruby may parry or counter attacks at both short and long range with no penalty during Enemy Phase.

Battle quips

[critical hit] — "Get the hell outta my way!" — "To hell with you!" — "Die, you son of a bitch!"

[assisting other unit] — "Pay attention!"

[block] — "Too bad for you." — "Hah, you suck." — "Oh, hell no!"

[team block] — "The hell are you doing?" — "I ain't babysitting you!" — "What's your problem?" — "Look out, dammit!"

[attack deals no damage] — "Damn!" — "The hell?" — "What's wrong with you?!" — "Great..."

[enemy down] — "Damn, I'm good." — "Scratch one." — "You seein' this?" — "Oh ho, that was awesome."

[death] — "God...damn you..."

Epilogue

I write this with a heavy heart. Things aren't exactly happening the way I'd hoped, but I can't exactly wish for this war to keep going. Yeah, I've been making my living as a mercenary, so I shoulda seen this coming, but let's face it...I'm out of work.

It's been...how long, now? Probably five years or so since I wound up here. I'm gonna be honest, though, I've enjoyed it more than I expected. For as long as I've been wishing I could punch my "superior" in the face, I can finally say I've been allowed to do it without getting fired, but only because my superior in this case also happens to be a mercenary, and not...well, who the hell cares at this point.

But you know what, things haven't exactly been wine and roses around here, either. Much as I liked my new line of work, there were parts of the old ways that I wish I could go back to. I liked being able to come home to the same place every night, in the knowledge that I'd have a warm meal, a bed, and my mom there to talk to. Yeah, sure, fighting alongside the Caravan is like having another family...but I miss Mom. There, I said it.

I don't know where I'll go from here. I could go back to the nomads, in the knowledge that I did well and fought for the right side in the end. Could go join a real army, but that's all just drills and shit, and who needs those? I fight by instinct, not from rules and marching formations. Fuck those.

I'll tell you what I miss the most, though. I miss Bastion. No, not the dog. The dog was just...I needed a friend, damn it. I'm getting all teary trying to find the words. I hate that I somehow got sent here before I could really apologize to Bastion...the real Bastion. He might have crossed the line, but I had no right...I shouldn't have kicked him out of my life like that.

If this journal ever gets found again, I want to make sure he at least gets to read it. Because I'm sorry. I'm sorry and I want to be back home. Even if I have to pick up the loose ends of another one of your hare-brained cases...I really fucking miss that.