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 Arc
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 Arc
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. Invastigating more cases locally as the other Charioteer lead Mercenary teams investigate the other areas of the Frontier.

Surface City Gang War Arc
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 Arc
A month after Team Ruber's involvement with the Gang War in the Surface City, they are called once again for further aid locally in the Lost Valley in the Aurelion Region. They are 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 Arc
A few weeks after the incident in the Lost Valley, Ebony and Beryl require more time to recover from their injuries. Team Ruber is asked for their aid in the Vastitas region, eastward from the Aurelion region. Felicity, Francis, and Molly depart and venture out to the desert region. This being the respective home both Molly and Felicity originated from. To get there they board the Rail Zepplin, a famously large intercontinental train that travels to most of the major landmarks in the Frontier. Its primarily well known to transfer resources and supplies between the major cities, but also serves as transport for Chariot Mercenaries and Royal Army soldiers alike. The trio while boarding this train bump into Kaho Mishima, who was also tasked to lend aid to the Vastitas region. The four, as well as many others aboard this train are tasked to protect it, and ensures it makes it to Vastitas City mostly unharmed through the now dominant beast infested lands that inhabit the Frontier's landscape. In the midst of it all, is where Francis questions his motives and why he's even involved in all of this in the first place, something inside him beckoning to serve a greater purpose.

Vastitas Eastern Battlefront Arc
After successfully defending the Rail Zeitgeist off from beast attacks, it arrives safely to Vastitas City. Here they rendezvous with the Guild Branch of the region who is working closely with the Royal Army in fending off the frequent beast swarms at the city's walls. Serving as reinforcements to aid the people of the city. It's realized that there is an ongoing pattern of the beasts attacks, theorized to be coordinated by an external force. Its left up to Kaho, Felicity, Francis and Molly to investigate the culprit of who or what could be coordinating such attacks on Vastitas City.

Thundering Divide Arc
Since the Incident in the Vastitas region, Francis begins to question himself more, unsure of how to process the information about himself. With all members of Team Ruber able to be up and about, they are now requested to lend aid at the Brumal Divide, a wall bordering the lands between the Frontier and The North. Another battlefront they are now asked to help defend, as more ensuing evils attempt to spread into the Frontier. While Beryl feels more confident in her ability to keep up with her teammates, but she begins to lack a purpose in the midst of it all, just how much more fighting is needed? Will her lose and vague concept of "keeping others safe" ever be sated in the rising conflicts she finds herself in? This lack of drive eats away at her...

This same lack of purpose begins to effect everyone in Team Ruber...each of them being questioned in their own way. ...Just what do they seek from being a guild mercenary? What drove them to aspire to be one? What's needed to keep them all going?

Star Guiding Arrow Arc
A Continuation of the Thundering Divide Arc, its been about a few weeks since the continuous defense of the Brumal Divide, and the exhaustion beats away at everyone involved. The fighting suddenly stops, when a familiar face from before at the Vastitas Region reappears, along with others to assist him in the onslaught of the Brumal Divide. Things seem dire....but unfamiliar help arrives to assist the combined defense of the Chariot Mercenary Guild and the Royal Army. Who were these people...? Most importantly, what did these individuals see in Beryl and especially Francis to be so special? A question that goes unanswered as a looming threat bigger than anyone could ever imagine suddenly appears in the battlefield...

Return to Aurelion Arc (Interlude)
After suffering severe losses, Team Ruber returns to Aurelion; suffering a loss of their own. A bleak outlook blinds the mercenaries, all except two, one with a fire in their eyes. The other clad in steel. What sparked Francis to find such ambition? What motivated Ivory to finally find her drive to fight again? As these two put one foot in front of the other, will the rest of Team Ruber follow behind them?

Lineage Of The Gunslinger Witches Arc
Molly departs from the rest of Team Ruber, wanting to pick up the pieces again in her own way. She continues to search for her mother, finding a valuable lead that could help locate her. Seeking her guidance and help against the threat she and her subordinates witnessed at the Brumal Divide, the assistance of a powerful witch such as herself could up the chances of surviving and overcoming their newfound foe. Its here Molly learns the truth behind the Gunslinger Witches and her Mother.



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."