There’s nothing like a trail of blood to find your way back home.When the mission’s done – when the entrails of an Anomaly are at your boots – only then, do you dare to venture back to the Floating Capital. Those who get cold feet? They’re no better than these mutant freaks, and the Archon will make sure that candid fact is cemented into the minds of their comrades for the rest of their days. I didn’t earn the right to serve as one of his Sentinels by getting butterflies in my stomach at the thought of dealing with the Anomalies... quite the contrary, in fact.It’s just a damned shame that I let that girl become the ‘one who got away’.They call me Phoebe Valentine. A Sentinel of Crescent – the initiative led by Archon Colbrand that protects mankind from the dark little secret that is the Anomalies. We operate from the shadows, tasked with the disposal of Anomalies before an outbreak can ever happen. It’s a constant race against time, and in order to keep the world from spiraling out of control? I can’t exactly expect glory from the line of work I follow. We must keep the plague contained while Crescent determines its origins... and its potential. Oh, of course – you need an education on the ‘plague’, not to mention, the ‘Anomalies’ for that matter. The former is what ultimately leads to the latter; an infectious, violent enemy that targets any organism with a heartbeat. It consumes the individual slowly, and painfully – mutating their cells at the molecular level until they become brutal monsters that seek only to feed their newfound hunger for blood, and to spread the damned plague that’s turned them into what they’ve become. These mutated entities are what we call the Anomalies – and they’re the very reason the Crescent Initiative exists.The very reason I exist.I’ve stood with Crescent since the day I was born on the Floating Capital, Libertatem. My parents once served as Legionaries, fighting against the Anomalies for the majority of their years. Keeping it in the family, I myself fought alongside them by the time I held my first blade at the age of sixteen. Over time, I had earned the attention of the Archon himself with my escapades against the Anomalies. My knowledge of these creatures, and my ability to lead men to victory, eventually led me to where I am today: the rank of Sentinel. You see, we Sentinels aren’t what you might consider a ‘conventional’ soldier of Crescent. The blood of the enemy runs through my veins... Sentinels are experimented upon during their ‘induction period’ by Crescent's scientists. Genetic material from the Anomalies is woven into our DNA; granting us immunity to the plague primarily, but additionally, added ‘perks’. Increased stamina, physical strength, inhuman endurance... the list goes on, really. I... honestly prefer not to question it too much. Ignorance being bliss, and all of that. Crescent have never been the most ‘ethical’ of organizations, that’s for damned sure.Of course, with all this bravado of mine, I can never forget that one failure...

I alluded to it earlier. ‘Her’. A former apprentice of mine named Virgo. Over the years, I’ve overseen the mentoring of a plethora of candidates for the Sentinels of Crescent. She was my most promising, at the time. But... something had always been off about Virgo. The girl displayed an unhealthy level of bloodlust – which certainly paid off in the heat of battle, don’t get me wrong. But... after the euphoria died down? Once the fighting had ceased? Virgo hated herself. Over time, she grew more and more resentful of slaying Anomalies in cold blood. Until it all came to a head six months ago. Virgo attacked me. Scarred my right hand and everything in the process. She broke the code of Crescent by using her abilities to harm another member of the initiative. It was my job to execute her for her heinous crimes... and I couldn’t fucking do it. I hesitated, in a moment of weakness, and simply chose to exile Virgo instead. That was my biggest failure... where did she end up? With the Anomalies. Virgo gave into the modifications done to her body... becoming less human, and more mutant as time went on. She now serves as one of the biggest threats to not only Crescent, but humanity as a whole.So you see, this fight of mine isn’t just for mankind. It’s for me, personally.And the bloodshed is only going to continue on the winding road that lies ahead...

Learn more about the CRESCENT universe - a modern fantasy setting where characters from all walks of life can find a place for themselves. This is always expanding.

• Crescent | Chain of Command
• World | Individuals and Factions
• World | Locations and Landmarks

LIBERTATEM - THE FLOATING CAPITAL:
The forward operating base and permanent residence for all within Crescent. Libertatem is a vast city in the sky, kept airborne by anti-gravitational jets attached to the underside of key structural points - courtesy of Division 0's research. At its heart lies the Shroud - a vast Pyramid-like structure where the non-combatants of Crescent work on a day-to-day basis. This is where Division 0, the Legate and the Archon all reside, along with the plethora of other departments. Military personnel are kept within large, tiered training facilities on the outskirts of Libertatem; in close proximity to the outside world in the unlikely event that an Anomaly could attempt to breach the city's defenses. A series of large airports and hangars are scattered around the city, which serve as the only way in or out of Libertatem. Military personnel frequently use stealth-equipped aircraft from these facilities to conduct their exercises outside of the floating capital.

THE CRESCENT INITIATIVE:
The clandestine organization which defends mankind from the ever-growing threat of the Anomalies. Crescent operates in complete secrecy, with operatives across every corner of the globe. Using the philosophy of fighting fire with fire, many who serve under the Crescent banner have had their bodies modified with genetic properties of the Anomalies in order to enhance their capabilities, and to provide immunity to the all-consuming plague responsible for mutating organisms in the first place. Led by the enigmatic Archon Colbrand, the Crescent Initiative acts as the last and only line of defense against humanity's biggest threat yet. Crescent's roots are deep, with a hand in virtually every decision that might affect the human race en masse, and a plethora of divisions dedicated to various tasks relating to the Anomalies - from a vast military force tasked with eliminating them, to covert research departments indulging in taboo experiments that eschew morality for the sake of progress.

THE ANOMALIES:
Few accounts exist of the Anomalies - save for specimens brought back by Crescent operatives from the field. The reason being? Most who encounter one, become one. An Anomaly is a mutated organism infected by a mysterious illness known only as 'the plague'. Any sentient organism is at risk of falling victim to 'the plague' - and ultimately succumbs to an excruciating transition process. The plague quite literally rewrites the genetic code of the host organism - gradually warping their bodies into grotesque, monstrous entities dubbed 'Anomalies' - which are hellbent on only two things: devouring flesh and spreading the plague that created them. The Sentinels of the Crescent Initiative are the ones who fight to keep their presence under control, doing their best to ensure that mass population centres aren't subjected to an outbreak of this mysterious plague - and by extension, a horde of Anomalies. Division 0 of Crescent dedicate extensive resources into learning more about these wretched specimens - to the point where many Crescent operatives are genetically modified with properties of the Anomalies in order to grant immunity to the plague, among other 'perks'.

PHOEBE VALENTINE:
An elite operative of the Crescent Initiative, and one of the few operatives who have earned the rank of 'Sentinel' within the military. Phoebe was born and raised upon Libertatem - a true native of Crescent in every sense of the word. With over fifteen years of her life spent fighting against the Anomalies, Phoebe has certainly earned the reputation that precedes her. Respected by her fellow Sentinels, resented by her 'unaltered' Legionaries, and feared by almost everyone else, she gladly takes great pleasure in making an example of an Anomaly in plain sight of those within Crescent using her blade to butcher her foes or a well-placed sniper shot to their vital organs - being a firm believer in showcasing the raw brutality of her role. Having overseen the training of a handful of apprentices over the years, one of her more problematic students, a girl known as Virgo, defected from Crescent entirely - beating Phoebe in combat in the process. To this day, she vows to hunt her down and silence her personally for her heinous betrayal.

VIRGO:
A former apprentice of the Crescent Initiative who once served under the mentorship of Phoebe. For seemingly unknown reasons, Virgo defected from Crescent, choosing to embrace the modifications done to her body by seeing herself as something better than human - concluding that the true 'anomalies' are in fact, mankind themselves, rather than the mutated fiends which Crescent fight daily. Phoebe feels personally responsible for failing to teach her appropriately, and subsequently wishes to hunt her down personally as a result. Not that it will be easy, given Virgo's aptitude for commanding Anomalies at her leisure. Many believe she is responsible for the increase in attacks against mass population centres in recent times. She is a lethal force to be reckoned with, and even Phoebe is apprehensive for the day they finally come face to face again in battle.

DIVISION 0:
The mysterious research and development department of Crescent. Headed by an estranged Doctor known as Ames, they constantly push the boundaries of human ability by fusing genetic material obtained from the Anomalies with Crescent's military personnel. They are well known for forgoing ethics in the name of progress, much to the disdain of almost everyone else within the ranks of Crescent. However, with full authority to do as they please granted by the current Legate Stroheim, it can't be denied that their methods have proven quite useful for Crescent's success against the Anomalies. But at what cost, exactly?

DR. AMES ROVER:
Condescending, cruel, morally indifferent and utterly lacking in social skills. Most would describe her as a stereotypical mad scientist. Doctor Ames Rover serves as the primary mind behind the genetic fusion of Anomaly DNA with Human DNA. After graduating with top grades from the University of Melbourne with a PhD in Genetics, she became sought out by the Crescent Initiative after publishing an extensive thesis on the process of DNA Splicing. Ames swiftly rose through the ranks of Division 0 within Crescent, eventually becoming the lead scientist overseeing the genetic modification conducted on the Sentinels. Ever an uncanny individual, Ames is often found passing remarks on the origin of certain phrases such as 'that's life' - forever irked by the sort of general malaise that only the genius possess, and the insane lament.

LEGIONAIRES:
The frontline fighters, and likely the only 'public' faces that the world will ever see of the Crescent Initiative. Brave souls who risk their lives selflessly for the protection of humanity are the Legionaries; the ground troops of Crescent. A Legionary may not possess the genetic enhancements of higher-ranking Crescent Operatives, but their iron will, deep-rooted hatred of the Anomalies and their unwavering loyalty to the Initiative ensures they are capable of defending mankind from the plethora of threats that the Anomalies expose us to daily. They tend to form squads of anywhere between 12 and 48 units, led by a Centurion.

CENTURIONS:
The Centurions are elite Crescent operatives who have proven themselves capable of leading a unit of Legionaries to victory in the tides of battle. Armed with privileged weaponry and an extensive military career, they are widely respected by their comrades for their acts of heroism. A common trait is their brutally candid demeanor - Centurions are not known for sugarcoating the grim reality of war to those unaccustomed to it. Befitting of their title, they are commonly seen piloting some form of advanced mechanical vehicle issued by the Crescent Initiative. They dictate the flow of battle, unless a Sentinel steps in to say otherwise.

SENTINELS:
Those chosen by Archon Colbrand personally to eliminate Anomalies of a higher threat. Often regarded as 'tip of Crescent's spear', Sentinels display abilities that transcend human limits, primarily in part due to the extensive modifications applied to their genetic coding by the scientists of Division 0. This modification upon their bodies has earned them a polarizing reputation - some of Crescent revere them as the next stage of mankind's evolution, while many others revile them as utter abominations that are no better than the Anomalies. With authority to supersede the orders of a Centurion, they maintain a begrudging relationship with the Legate, who spoon-feeds them their orders from the Archon. One notable Sentinel is the operative known as Phoebe.

THE LEGATE:
The second-in-command of the Crescent Initiative, and the right-hand individual of Archon Colbrand. They act as the intermediary between the Archon and all others. The current Legate is Stroheim - an enigmatic woman with a background in medicine. Stroheim is deep rooted in the research being carried out by Division 0, often providing authorization for them to carry out many forms of questionable research for the sake of improving the military prowess of Crescent. No one can obtain direct access to the Archon without approval of the Legate. There are rumors that Stroheim may be related to Doctor Ames Rover of Division 0 infamy and used her influence within Crescent to ensure her high position within Division 0 became an inevitability, but hard evidence has yet to be confirmed regarding this. Her surname remains a mystery, only adding fuel to the fire of this particular theory.

THE ARCHON:
The all-seeing Eyes of the Crescent Initiative. The Archon is worshiped by all within Crescent as nothing short of an Icon. Little is known about him outside of the Legate's own accounts. With an uncanny level of foresight into the actions of the Anomalies, the current Archon, Colbrand, is known for his seemingly casual brutality when it comes to those who cross his order. Colbrand does not suffer failure gladly, and will often make an example out of any Operative who dares to question the will of Crescent or otherwise fail in following his commands to the letter. Truth be told, the only time people tend to see the Archon is when there is punishment to be handed out, earning him a reputation as one to be as respected every bit as much as he is feared.