Dio

Rook Argent Rook pumped his legs harder, going from hard trot to full-on gallop. The ancient trees of the forest blew past him, a twisted kaleidoscope of leaves, branches, fireflies, and moonbeams. Deeper and deeper into the forest he ran, not seeming to slow down one bit, until finally he arrived. The branching trail opened up into a large clearing, easily the size of Ponyville town square, filled only with knee-high meadow grass. Rook stepped into the pool of moonlight, breathing deep lung-fulls of night air. The grey unicorn shivered against the chill. He was free of his usual appointments; no cloak, no saddlebags, no knife, and most strikingly of all, no shemagh. In the glint of moonlight, he hardly looked equine at all, the smooth coat that grew in place of a mane giving him an almost reptilian profile. The unicorn stopped as he arrived at the center of the clearing. With a deep breath, he closed his eyes and concentrated. His horn began to glow a faint blue, growing in intensity as he reached out with his mind to grasp the invisible threads of aether that pervaded Equestria. A glowing line of bluish-purple swept Rook's body from horn to tail, vanishing just as quickly as it had appeared. Rook gritted his teeth against what he knew was coming. His skin began to itch as bony, jet-black nodules began to grow over top of his coat. Barely the size of pinheads at first, the small bumps grew quickly, expanding into interlocking scales not unlike those of a black dragon. The pearlescent scales shimmered in the glow of the moon as they continued to grow. His horn took on the sheen of polished steel and his hooves could have passed for cast iron. His eyes glazed over with a smoky grey film that fluoresced blue under the sudden charge of aether. Finally, his white tail shriveled up, replaced by a stout dragonscale bob. The transformation was complete. Inside his adamantine shell, Rook exhaled slowly, the blast of breath coming as a muffled sigh through the arcane firewall between his mind and body. He rotated his shoulder joints and cracked his neck, testing his mobility by stomping around in the gently waving grass. Everything seemed to be in order. The armored unicorn closed his eyes for a moment before beginning. Almost faster than the eye could follow, he lunged forward with his horn, a lethal blow to an imaginary enemy. Rook flicked his horn as if slashing a foe across the chest, then did an abrupt about-face, digging his metallic hooves into the soft earth to gain traction. Two steps later, he was away, charging quickly in the opposite direction. His heart pounded in his chest in sync with the rhythm of his hooves against ancient earth. 'I kept my promise,' Rook grunted as he spun around and delivered a swift buck with his hind legs to another imaginary foe. The unicorn stopped as his hind hooves hit the ground with a resounding crash, making the meadow grass ripple outwards as if he'd just stomped the surface of the water in a pond. In the still of the deep forest, the sound seemed to echo forever, both in his ears and his heart. The unicorn's next breaths came through labored and ragged. It never got any easier. Certainly he was strong of body and even stronger of mind. He had fought Griffons, manticores, bears, wolves; matched wits with crime kingpins, drill sergeants, even a Griffon patriarch. He knew he was strong. Why, then, did he feel so weak? 'I'm sorry,' he whispered.

"Then that's your prerogative, Miss Tempest," he replied, a tiny hint of irritation creeping into his voice. He returned her disapproving glare with a steely-eyed gaze more typical of a soldier than a mail pony. Diomedes was a patient stallion, but Tempest's particular brand of inflection had a way of getting under his skin. It was that same attitude coming from another stallion athlete that had been the source of Dio's troubles at the academy. He unfurled his great wings, each one easily the size of Tempest herself, and lifted off, launching past the pegasus filly and alighting on the cloud he had ridden down on. She wanted a flight? He'd give her a flight. Diomedes was no Wonderbolt, but he had flown enough long hauls to be conditioned for both straight-line speed and endurance. "I usually head west over Everfree," he said, glancing down at Tempest Rime. "The emergent layer offers challenging aerial terrain, as do the rocks around Dragon Mountain." "The ledge up top offers quite the view when you arrive," he continued, spreading his wings with a flourish. "Think you can handle it?"

Diomedes The Apple Bark seemed to be more of a hangout spot for hipsters and artists, but Diomedes still found it rather charming. The Pegasus could overlook the dingier aspects of the establishment given dim lighting and an emphasis on the real centerpiece: the bar. The bar seemed to be carved from one solid piece of hardwood, pitted and stained with use, but still possessing years of life. It gave it a comforting well-worn feel, not dissimilar from Dio's saddlebags after years of service with Pony Mail. "Bartender, Talonopolis Bourbon on the rocks," he said, raising a hoof. The unicorn mare nodded and went to fetch his specialty liquor. Griffon alcohol didn't normally find its way east, which is partly the reason Dio still frequented the Apple Bark after work. If there was one thing the Apple Bark did right, it was stocking their liquor shelf with everything a stallion could possibly have taste buds for. The bartender gave him a smile as she slid the glass to him. As Dio began to sip at his drink, relishing the complex notes and mild bite of the Griffon whiskey. He almost didn't notice the dejected-looking unicorn walk in. He sat down at the bar, head still drooping, and mumbled something to the bartender, who reacted with a quizzical expression. "Just get him what I'm having," Diomedes said, rapping his hoof on the bar. "I think he'd appreciate it."

Diomedes "I'll live," Diomedes replied flatly. He did his best to mask his embarrassment to Satchel, hopefully without seeming rude. "If I can survive falling through forest canopy, I think stairs will be far from the death of me." The winged stallion nibbled at his muffin. Sterling could have opened a bakery! He was tempted to tear into it like a colt who'd just discovered cupcakes, but refrained from doing so, lest it be a further breach of etiquette. Instead, he reviewed his flight plan in his head. His best bet would be to head north to the Cimmaron Pass in the Swayback Mountains; that would obviate the need to burn time surfing thermals to climb high enough to fly over the mountains. Though he really didn't have to check in until tomorrow, Dio had a few things he wanted to take care of at home before he went to work. Letters to write, a journal to keep up with…

The band is called Hey Ocean. They're pretty neat!

Someone REALLY loves Twilight Sparkle.

swordsman_telemakhos (Don't laugh! I read the Odyssey freshman year and thought it was awesome) I'm not really active in any groups. I have Dawn of War II: Retribution, Magicka/Vietnam, Red Orchestra, and Alien Swarm. I also have Starcraft II and Company of Heroes/Opposing Fronts/Tales of Valor standalones if anyone feels like getting into some RTS action.

Dear Princess Celestia, Today I learned that not everypony can be a hero. Not everypony will do things that will shake the foundations of the earth and bring sweeping changes across the land of Equestria. The best that anypony can hope for is to make a difference in their own lives and the lives of their friends and family. To do so is both an honor and an obligation. Your faithful student, Diomedes Ironwing

I hold on to the hope that there will be a season-long story arc that somehow balances the charm of the show with Lord of the Rings style epic storytelling. *crosses fingers* ... or maybe a reappearance of G1 villains like Katrina or the Schmooze somehow.

TF-141 impression. If you've played Modern Warfare 2, you'll know what I'm talking about. Not sure if this would be con-safe, what with the ultra-realistic replicas and all...

That's why I was saying that only Central Equestria needed to be eclipsed. If it's impossible to get a planet-wide solar eclipse, then eclipsing the plains and their main source of food may be sufficient, along with perhaps Canterlot. As long as the umbra gives sufficient coverage to do so, it should be enough to ruin everypony's day (pun partially intended).

Perhaps Nightmare Moon's plan could have been to secure the moon at Lagrangian point L1, resulting in a permanent eclipsing of the sun, at least for most of central Equestria (the area eclipsed will change based on inclination of the moon's orbital plane). This could also be a hook for the Heart of Equestria campaign, as having Central Equestria blacked out would put the ponies at a disadvantage while leaving most of the outlands untouched. Because L1 is unstable, Luna would have to put her magic into stationkeeping rather than actually setting the orbital trajectory correctly, causing the moon to become "stuck."

Concealed sphincter exultation.

Diomedes 'I'll be fine! I think...' Dio's cheeks burned redder than his coat as he stood up and dusted himself off. That level of klutziness was unforgivable! He'd spent his entire life trying to get rid of the stereotype of being big and clumsy and all it took was one little distraction to put him flat on his backside. On the other hoof, he had definitely gotten Martini's attention and her muffled giggle was more one of amused concern than scornful derision. Still gotta fix this. The big Pegasus gently nudged the table back into place with his muzzle before approaching the bar. As he took a seat, he adjusted his wings and straightened the few feathers that had become ruffled during his rather ungainly dismount. The muffins that Sterling had just brought out smelled delicious, prompting Dio to immediately retrieve one from the tray before responding to Martini Paradise. 'I don't drink on the job,' Dio laughed, not without a touch of awkwardness. His head still wasn't quite on straight after the fall, but at least he had the presence of mind to offer her a smile. 'Standard issue wakeup juice will be fine, no cream or sugar. Unless, of course, you've got something special in mind...'

Diomedes 'Ah, drop the formalities; it's just Dio, please!' The red Pegasus laughed. Sensing the note of hostility in her voice, he was quick to add, 'Relax. It was just somepony in the marketplace making small talk about how well the weather team was organized. As for me, I'd be surprised if you had actually heard of me. I do priority mail runs for Pony Mail so I'm only in Ponyville for a few days at a time. The rest of the time I'm running packages or documents to the ends of Equestria.' 'I normally take my flights alone, but having company would be great, especially on a day like today,' Dio said as he unfurled his wings to their full extent to demonstrate. 'As you can see I'm not exactly the lightest on my wingtips, so I don't think you'll have to worry about being left behind.' Tempest was going to be a tough nut to crack. She definitely wasn't the outgoing type, but behind that tightwad attitude was something else, something... vulnerable? Dio wasn't about to push it, though. The last thing he needed was an angry weather chief breathing down his neck. She seemed agreeable enough for now, though, even stretching her wings in response. However, before she reached full extension, she seemed to crumple a little, the look on her face indicating she was in pain. 'You sure you're okay?' Dio asked, simultaneously concerned and curious. 'If it's gonna kill you, I'm not going to drag you into a flight.'

Covert haunch jubilation.

Not sure if want... but reference material for the Heart of Equestria campaign? Oh I've got it! I'll just order it alongside the core rulebook for Warhammer 40k: Deathwatch and everything will be fine!

'Hey, I know you! You were at the café that one time. Knightly, right? What's up?' Diomedes hopped off his cloud and flared his massive wings, floating him down to the square on a cushion of swirling air. The effects of a quick flight and a clear day were definitely apparent; Dio was in a much better mood than he was during the week. 'Pony Mail doesn't run on Sundays, so I figured it wouldn't hurt for me to get a quick flight in for kicks and giggles. It feels great not being on a deadline.' 'Tempest… Tempest… ah, weather crew, right? I thought I'd heard that name tossed around. I'm Diomedes,' he said. Noting Tempest's apparent discomfort, Dio held a hoof to his face and made a show of breathing out. 'What? Does my breath stink? I hope not! I definitely brushed this morning; I can still taste the toothpaste!' He cocked his head to the side as he noted the palpable chill around Tempest Rime. Was it just her current disposition? Or was there actually frost forming on those blue locks of hers? Either way, the filly was clearly not amused. At this, Dio softened his voice, adopting a less boisterous tone. 'Just, uh... just call me Dio. Pleased to meet you, Tempest.'

Graduated last year with a BS in computer engineering. Currently working on my masters in Political Science.

Now this is something to work with. Hard numbers, rich description, potential geopolitical flashpoints, possible evolutionary trees. Brilliant. I love it.

Diomedes Diomedes Ironwing was ordinarily not an early riser, but this past week had seen him running packages at the crack of dawn every day. By the time Sunday had rolled around, his biological clock was set and he was alert and awake by 7:00am. After cleaning his apartment, getting some paperwork squared away, and fixing himself breakfast, Diomedes found himself with literally nothing to do. Looking outside his window, he noted that clear weather was scheduled for the day. Perhaps I should get a quick flight in before I leave for Canterlot tonight. He mused. With that, he stepped outside, unfurled his wings, and took flight. Ponyville fell away beneath him, the ponies on the ground shrinking to the size of dolls and the buildings looking like mere models on a toymaker's bench. Diomedes laughed as he continued to ascend, far into the sky where finally patches of Altocumulus clouds collected in sufficient size for him to land on. The big Pegasus alighted on the cotton-ball like cloud cluster, stomping around and fluttering his wings like a colt who had just discovered cloudwalking. It wasn't often that Diomedes got to exercise the Pegasus' unique ability to walk on clouds. He spent quite a bit of time on the ground; whenever he was airborne, it was always under wing and deadline, leaving little time for meddling around with clouds. Dio pursed his lips as an idea came to him. Stomping down on the cloud patch, he broke away a small puffy ball that he was able to lay down on. The red Pegasus curled up on the little cloud, wings partly unfurled, mane and tail flowing in the breeze, slowly drifting back down to Ponyville. The slow, steady breeze and scintillating sunlight at altitude had a mildly hypnotic effect; before too long, Dio found himself drifting over town hall. He stood up and yawned. The cloud continued to drift downwards until it slowed to a halt about 10 yards off the ground, incidentally over the square in front of town hall. Just below were two other Pegasus, one cream-colored stallion and the other a cool green filly. Dio had seen both around town before, but he couldn't remember for the life of him what their names were. The big Pegasus shrugged. What was the harm in reintroduction? He leaned over the edge of the cloud. 'Hello down there!'

Rook The group had arrived at the Café Delights, a squat one-story shop with an atrium-esque bay window showing off the main dining area. Rook peered inside through the atrium, noting the chocolate-colored unicorn behind the counter. From her practiced motions and the way she addressed the neon-yellow filly who also worked the counter, he guessed that she was the head barista, if not proprietor of the establishment. From what Pinkie Pie was saying, this place had among the best, if not the best, coffee in town; and if there was one thing Rook liked, it was coffee. The ponies and mule took their seats around one of the exterior tables, merrily chatting as they went along. Rook felt awkward merely listening in. He was a skilled watcher and listener, but not so great at breaking into an already ongoing conversation. With all those hours of patrol and medical under my belt, you'd think I'd be better at small talk. However, his thoughts were jarred by Knightly. Argent Rook chuckled at Knightly's offer. 'Thanks, but I think I can take care of myself. We've just met and I don't think anypony here is under any obligation to pay for any other pony; I'd feel rude if I were to ask you to do so.' The waiter arrived shortly thereafter. Bramble Rose seemed very familiar with the place; no doubt from having lived in Ponyville for some time. Without even peeking at the menu, he placed his order and gestured the waiter on. As the stallion came to Rook, the grey unicorn floated his menu onto the waiter's hoof, having decided to take a chance. 'Iced mocha latte, house style. I'm told it's the best,' he said, glancing at Pinkie Pie. 'And a fruit salad, please.' Rook's ears perked up as Pinkie Pie went on about her adventures out west. 'I'm really hoping that you mean that figuratively, especially if you're not talking about going any further than Apple-loosa. I've personally never run into any trouble East of Apple-loosa. All the criminal activity and violence seems to be confined to the Griffon lands.' Rook tapped his chin with a hoof as he mused, mostly to himself, but definitely audible. 'I guess that ponies must have a fundamentally different worldview from the West…'

Clandestine posterior joy.

Added relationship with Diomedes.

Now uploaded in Google Docs so they'll be easier to keep up to date: 1: Open Game 2: Knight Takes Pawn 3: Rook Takes Knight 4: Checkmate