Northbound: The Chariot Girls

Northbound: The Chariot Girls, is an action adventure comic series written and illustrated by Boltycat.

Plot Synopsis
In the open vast country known as The Frontier, a cheerful, but inexperienced Guild Mercenary named Beryl Bishop, lives from paycheck to paycheck fulfilling bounties alongside her stoic and strange partner, Francis Alabaster. Living day to day in the city of Aurelion, strange occurrences begin to take place in the areas around their city. A mysterious virus sweeps the land of The Frontier, mutating both man and beast alike with overflowing amounts of magical energy. Known as the Surge Virus, the Chariot Mercenary Guild takes action in investigating the virus and its source. Beryl and Francis in a haste, are quickly assigned under Felicity Ruber and her mercenary team. Known as Team Ruber, the group of 7 set off to travel the country alongside several other mercenary teams to put an end to the illness plaguing the land. Along the way, each member of Team Ruber confronts aspects of themselves and their past, and overcome said trials while facing the world they once knew slowly turning to chaos.

Setting
The World of Northbound takes place after an unknown period after the modern era, or what's known as "The Old World." Eventually, the existence of a New Pantheon spurred during the Old World Era, causing the world to be reshaped numerous times. Eventually, a war that has faded to time known as "The War of the Gods" occurred, causing mortals to clash with the gods in a desperate attempt to fight for their independence. From this war, the creation of magic throughout the mortal world was birthed, as well as the birth of many, many different races, both Phantasmal and Mortal alike.

The events of Northbound: The Chariot Girls occur within the New World Continent known as the Frontier. A large continent recently discovered within the last few centuries. Populated by immigrants from all over the world, many seek to begin a new life in this open country, or attempt to unveil its secrets.

The Frontier is widely known for its vast freedom to its people. There is one major faction native to the land known even to foreigners outside the continent, the Chariot Mercenary Guild, an organization that allows all walks of life to join its ranks so long as they are willing to oversee and maintain peace within the the Frontier. Having a vast amount of foreign connections such as the Royal Army and the Mage's Institution, the Chariot Mercenary Guild regularly reports to these organizations and cooperates with them in various tasks such as field research, to handling the criminal and rampant beast population.

Arcs
Northbound: The Chariot Girls is split into several different arcs. This is a list and synopses of each arc in the series

Daily Life
Introduces the day to day life Beryl Bishop and Francis Alabaster live, handling various smaller bounties within and around the areas of Aurelion City. A looming threat invades their day to day life, as they take on an urgent bounty that would forever alter Aurelion's mundane ongoings.

The Homefront
After a few weeks time from the events of the Daily Life Arc, The Charioteers of the Aurelion branch are asked to meet with Guildmaster Mitsuru Miyako. Being tasked to help cooperate with the Royal Army and the Mage's Institution in investigating this newfound virus from the bounty Beryl and Francis handled prior. Due to its unnatural symptoms, its likely there is a culprit behind the spreading of this illness. Now being dubbed as the Surge Virus, due to its symptoms of mutating the infected with overwhelming amounts of magical energy. The virus physically alters the victim's body to varying severe degrees, even giving some special cases of victims, phantasmal properties. Beryl and Francis are hastily assigned under Team Ruber, here, the rest of the main cast, Felicity Ruber, Molly Aubergine, Ebony Gwyn, Makoto Midori and later on, Ivory Alistair are introduced briefly.

Team Ruber handles the increasing demand of bounties and various tasks needed from them within the Aurelion region. Investigating more cases locally as the other Charioteer lead Mercenary teams investigate the other areas of the Frontier.

Surface City Gang War
Assistance is needed in The Surface City, Westward of the Aurelion Region. A gang war involving the various different dojo schools that rule over the city's territories have recently upscaled in their conflict, harming more and more innocent bystanders and citizens in their war. Beryl, Mako, and Ivory are sent along with many different mercenaries in the Surface City's branch. The hometown that Mako once grew up in has now changed completely since she left, becoming a much more shadier and corrupt place that was once a prosperous city of aspiring warriors. A certain Dojo School in particular has devolved into dishonorable tactics that infuse a peculiar, strange magic into their sword techniques. Their objective from the Guildmaster of this region is to quell the war and help keep the general public safe. To Mako's disgust however, she wanted to investigate said dojo using these mysterious and powerful techniques. Wishing to singlehandedly end and disband the dojo school behind this herself.

Silent Voices
A month after Team Ruber's involvement with the Gang War in the Surface City, they are tasked to handle an issue locally in an area known as the Lost Valley in the Aurelion Region. Tasked in pursuing an Urgent Bounty sent by the locals of the town within the valley, people have been disappearing within the last month seemingly overnight. Their suspected cause might be a Beast the locals might not have encountered before, prowling and stalking its victims. The Team's Hunters, Molly and Ebony are dispatched, alongside Beryl who is originally from the town mentioned. Being advised not to go due to her inexperience and her fear of Beasts, she urges to come along with them, wanting to protect her home and her family. She hopes to finally confront her fear, by directly confronting it herself, wishing to become a better fighter for her friends in the process from this experience.

The Rail Zeitgeist
Weeks pass since the Lost Valley Incident, a new assignment is tasked to Team Ruber. Needing the assistance of every single member, they are tasked to protect a train known as the Rail Zeitgeist; a well known cargo train that exports and carries goods to the other regions throughout the Frontier. The Guild Branch of Vastitas City request that the Zeitgeist makes it safely to their destination, carrying valuable trade items and essential goods to its people. The Train departs, heavily armed and manned by both Guild Mercenaries and Royal Army Soldiers. What the people onboard did not realize however, was how Beast infested the Vastitas Region had become...

Vastitas Eastern Battlefront
Arriving in one piece to Vastitas City, the Zeitgeist assignment functioned as a way to receive more reinforcements to aid Vastitas City in fending off the increase of Beast attacks at their walls. While it may have sounded like another mundane task to fulfill, the Beast attacks however became strangely more coordinated and somehow always one step ahead. Its suspected that someone or something in the Vastitas ranks may be influencing or controlling these Beasts behind the scenes, and its left up to Team Ruber to investigate who the culprit might be.

Thundering Divide
Weeks pass after the events of the Eastern Battlefront. With a request for reinforcements, Team Ruber is thrown into the front lines again by being deployed to the Brumal Divide. Their assignment, was to scout the areas near the Divide to find the source of these increased Beast attacks.

Star Guiding Arrow
A continuation of the Thundering Divide Arc, Team Ruber manages to find the source of the Beasts. A nest of some kind, its here that their discoveries lead them to the truth behind the Surge Virus and the Mastermind behind it. In order to thwart the plans of this Mastermind here in The North, a great sacrifice must be made.

The Chariot Division (Interlude)
The Discoveries behind what lies in the North has lead to the temporary unification of the Chariot Mercenary Guild and the Royal Army. Now being called as The Chariot Division by Royal Army soldiers, all able bodied mercenaries, soldiers, and researchers are preparing to conduct an expedition that lead further into The North. Hoping to uncover more info about the true motives of the mysterious tundra wasteland.

Lineage Of The Gunslinger Witches
Molly departs from Team Ruber for a time, finding a lead that might help her finally find her mother again. Molly arrives at the Surface City, being one of the entry points to an area known as The Abyss. She makes her descent down, but to her surprise she learns the truth behind the purpose of the Gunslinger Witches.

The Second Expedition of The North
A small party departs for The North, consisting of Kaho Mishima, as well as Beryl and Francis. A small mixed party of soldiers and mercenaries are tasked to scout The North in an area referred to as Silver Paladin Territory, theorizing that it could be the home of the Mastermind from the Brumal Divide Incident may be organizing their plans to drive the Mortal Races off the Frontier.



Beryl Bishop
The First Protagonist of the story, an ordinary, bright young girl who works as a Guild Mercenary. She works alongside Team Ruber in investigating the ongoing Surge Virus Epidemic, utilizing her unique ability to absorb lingering magical energies thanks to her prosthetics. There appears to be more than meets the eye to Beryl, a peculiar untapped potential ready to awaken inside her with time.

Francis Alabaster
The Second Protagonist of the story, a mysterious, stoic, stone elf with an unknown past. Unphased and seemingly uninterested in most things, he fulfills orders given out to him by Mitsuru Miyako. He sticks alongside Beryl Bishop, becoming more attached to her as their friendship formed. Viewing himself as "expendable," he is willing to perform any task as long as it aids in benefiting his companions.

Molly Aubergine
A natural born Witchblood user, Molly is a gifted prodigy and heiress to the title of the Eighth Six Shooter Witch, a title passed down from a long line of extremely talented and skilled gunslinging mages. She joins Team Ruber to search and find closer about the fate of the former Seventh Six Shooter Witch, her Mother, who disappeared shortly after she was sent off to attend the Mage's College to further hone her magical abilities.

Felicity Ruber
The Leader of Team Ruber, and another Witchblood user. Extremely disciplined, she acts as a guiding hand to support her fellow teammates. Felicity also searches to find her own identity separate from her well renowned family of blacksmiths. Being an expert swordsman, she does her best managing the wellbeing of her team, especially her closest partner, Makoto Midori.

Makoto Midori
A bloodthirsty ronin with a problematic upbringing. Being exiled from her Father's Dojo, due to unknown circumstances, Makoto wandered the Frontier for a number of years as a sword for hire. She was convinced to join the Guild as a form of "rehabilitation," thanks to Felicity.

Ivory Alistair
A stone elf with a bottomless appetite, and will consume all things edible. Being considered a "defective" stone elf, Ivory is on absent leave from the Guild, due to having a growing apathy to her occupation. She keeps to herself, mainly only paying mind to upkeeping her hedonistic needs.

Ebony Gwyn
Ivory's sister, known for her rather unique "chuunibyou" personality. She names herself as the 'Demon Who Shot Down the Gods,' boasting her mastery in archery. She speaks very formally to others, though her interesting choice of words leads to people becoming very confused to what she's trying to say. When she breaks her roleplaying front, she's an arrogant and proud person who's confident in themselves and their craft, merely being seen as an individual who has trouble expressing themselves.

Mitsuru Miyako
The Leader of the Chariot Mercenary Guild. A significant figure in The Frontier that is well known with maintaining relations with the Royal Army. Mitsuru closely guards her past, and seems to know more than what she lets on. Her motives have been speculated to serve some greater purpose than simply leading a civilian lead force that ensures the peace among the populace.

Kimiko Fujihara
A Kitsune Diplomat from the Northern Fox Tribes who works as Mitsuru's secretary. Being the chosen wielder of the Soul Lantern, he is a specialist who works in all things relating to souls and the undead. He worries for his clan's safety back home, due to the ongoing epidemic occurring in the Frontier.

Kaho Mishima
A Royal Army Officer, sent to be in charge of maintaining relations with the Chariot Mercenary Guild, as well as maintaining the defensive front of the Brumal Divide that borders the Frontier and the North. She's wary of the civilian lead guild, feeling that these mere inexperienced mercenaries are not enough to handle the ongoing crisis in the Frontier.

Triss Callahan
A Dullahan receptionist for the Chariot Mercenary Guild, and a victim of a serial beheading that occurred 30 years ago. Ever since then, she has been trying to find leads on the culprit who did this to her.

Dr. Luminary Archiman
A famous and talented doctor adopted by the guild. Responsible for numerous technological feats and jumpstarting the M.R.R.A. Dr. Archiman works as a doctor for the guild alongside her assistant Hildred, as her day job. She hides numerous secrets from the general public and is widely seen as sadistic and morally grey. To others its quite hard to get a read on her character.

Morrigan Hildred
A mysterious, masked, assistant of Archiman's. Little to nothing is known about Hildred, while she doesn't talk very much, she uses gestures as a form of communication. A distinct, uncanny giggle can be heard from her if she finds something to be agreeable to her liking.

Hildred assists in many different tasks that Archiman assigns her, from research to simple errands, she always remains at Archiman's side. To many others however, people steer clear of this eerie girl.

Augustine
A Dracon Librarian who has extensive knowledge of the Frontier. Being a Native to the land, he is an invaluable resource to the Chariot Mercenary Guild, usually being the one conducting longform expeditions in unfamiliar territories such as The North. Augustine isn't very sociable however, preferring to keep to himself and continue writing the extensive encyclopedia series he authors called, "Fauna, Flora, The Frontier: Studies of the New Continent."