User:ThornealMagnus

Character Information
All of his life Thorne has been a fighter. In his youth, he would speak his mind regardless of how it would make others think or feel. Many were the loud arguments over ideology and the purpose of the Armada. However, as he has grown older and wiser, he has learned to step back from the spotlight and instead help to better his faction in other ways.

Thorne cares greatly for his fellow faction members and is always around to help or answer questions. Outside of the faction, his past deeds have earned him some scorn, but for the most part he maintains a positive relationship with the older skyrates of Skytopia. Among his enemies his name is still villified.

In his lifetime he has been known as an orphan, a fighter pilot, a politician, a pirate, a husband, a spy, a Grimby aficionado, and an Emperor.

Character Description
Thorne is a 6'1" tall male ferret, weighing approx. 190 lbs. His fur is mostly white, although it has been turning gray with age, especially on top and around his whiskers.  He often wears a red or black T-shirt with a long, leather overcoat bearing the insignia of his rank, affiliation, and wing.  He keeps a holster with a gun and several knives about his person.  When flying he wears a black leather skullcap and goggles.

Several areas of his back and arms, down to the skin itself has been decoratively dyed in a series of "fur tattoos."

Birth & Home
During a heavy pirate attack on Fuseli one of the pirate ships crash landed onto the decks of the ship. After the battle was over, the pirate was pulled from the craft and to the surprise of everyone it turned out to be a pregnant female ferret. She was quickly brought to the ship's hospital and nurse staff, where it was clear that she had suffered wounds beyond repair. The doctors then set about saving the child. After an intense operation the child survived. Among the wreckage of the female pirates crashed plane a flight log was found, in which the female pirate addressed her unborn child, whom she called "Thorne." Since there was no mention of a last name or father, Thorne was given the last name all orphans in Skytopia were given: "al Magnus," or son of Magnus.

The Early Years
Initially, Thorne was cared for by the doctor that had delivered him, and the doctor's wife. But as Thorne grew into a curious young boy, they could not keep him away from the fighter pilot's mess hall. He quickly became enamored with their way of life and would skip school to hang around the older pilots. They would become his teachers, instructing him about the types of aircraft, and what maneuvers to use in a dogfight with which plane, but also about women, drinking and gambling. Thorne could think of nothing but getting behind his own plane and joining the Armada, and so he began to save his money. He began to work as a mechanic on Eddy "Red" Vandertussen's ship, finally setting foot off of Fuseli; mainly doing wood and paper runs between Goldenrod and Fuseli. This is where Thorne got his first taste of combat. It was rare but occasionally pirates would attack the plane and old Red would need a hand on the guns. Thorne reveled in those moments of combat, and Red could tell.

Into the Air and to the Academy
As soon as he had saved enough money he rushed off to by his first plane, the CR-4P. Old Red advised him to wait longer, to save up for a better plane, but Thorne just couldn't wait to be in control of his own plane. He rushed off and after some haggling managed to pick up a decent quality junker that actually managed to take off and land. After filling up the tank, Thorne's first flight was to Echo and the Flight School Academy.

As expected, Thorne did exceptionally well in both the combat and aerial maneuvers portions of his curriculum, but often lagged behind the others students when it came to economics and business. Instead of paying attention in those classes, he'd often stare out the window, looking up at the combat classes he wished he were in instead.

He graduated with good grades in all subjects, although excelling in combat. Immediately after his graduation ceremony he went to work, helping to keep Fuseli and Goldenrod free from pirates.

The Crimson Armada and the First Unification
''"My story is the story of the Empire..." - Thorne al Magnus''

As soon as he had saved some more money, he purchased a better plane and headed to the recruitment offices for the Crimson Armada on Fuseli. He had dreamed his whole life of become a fighter pilot for Fuseli and now he had the plane and the money. The Armada welcomed him with open arms and he found he still had many friends there from his youth. At this point, Thorne began to defend Fuseli and Goldenrod even more ferociously, gaining in fame until he was the most widely known Skyrate for killing pirates.

It was at this time that Thorne also saw that Skytopia was in turmoil and he began to see a way to bring peace to the turmoil of Skytopia; it was then Thorne began to dream of a Unification. In doing so, he called together a group of strong and influential Crimson Aramada Skyrates to make a pact to unify Skytopia under the Red Banner. The members of this pact set up a private area on Goldenrod where they could speak to each other and plan their operations. They group proceeded quietly and cautiously, slowly getting into position to spring. Finally, with all of the pieces in place, they launched their campaign and overnight ruled every skyland in Skytopia!



However, after achieving unification, there were still many rebellions and much civil unrest. Thorne knew it must be done properly, and that would require a second Unification. But before he could act, Tortuga was threatened by rare unobtainium explosions. The faction leaders put out calls for help, and the Armada answered Fuseli's call. While the Greens unloaded Tortuga's libraries and vaults of information and while Blue and Flight School helped evacuate Tortuga's citizens, the Red Faction attempted to pull Fuseli itself out of harms way. The traitor Lawrence Islo attacked Admiral Fuseliin the midst of this effort, in jealousy over Tortuga which the Blues still covet today. Fuseli did what was proper and shot Islo's plane down. Islo has been missing since.

The Founding of the Empire and the Second Unification
"Ridin high, when I was king Played it hard and fast, cause I had everything Walked away, won me then But easy come and easy go And it would end" - "Beggin'," by MadCon

After the completion of the First Unification, Thorne was called by many titles... Fuhrer... Emperor. After the world had settled again after the Tortugan Upheaval, the Skylands were arranged in a different formation, and Thorne disappeared. During his absence, a new leader was chosen to run the faction: Akumayo. Akumayo then chose to take the position of Senator, also choosing Firefox and Phil to join him as Senators. However, Phil was eventually deified.

The reason for Thorne's absence was that he had been shot down by a Phantom Junker, chonicled here, "Zero Sum Combat". He was fished out of the water by pirates hoping to sell his plane as scrap metal. His rescuers were a rough band of pirates known as the Hurricane Cartel Thorne earned his stripes and fought his way through the ranks of the Cartel until he was rich enough to afford his own plane and fly back to the Armada. But the ties he made among the pirates would only grow stronger and into a vast intelligence and counter-intel network.

When Thorne returned from seeming death ready to begin the Second Unification, he was made a Senator. At this time it became clear that Akumayo was quite heavily involved and influenced by the members of the Green Faction, and when this information came out he was shamed into stepping down from the office of Senate, leaving only Firefox and Thorne.

Thorne and the Reds who had followed him previously didn't like the idea of a limited membership ruling class, and so after some long discussion, Firefox agreed to recreate the Senate as a meritocracy. The Declaration of Empire was written up and signed, with the intention of the Second Unification implied. The Crimson Empire was born.

The members of the Empire worked diligently to bring the sky back again under the Crimson Banner, but it was a long and hard fought battle. Before they had used stealth, but this second time Green and Blue knew the attack was coming, and unexpectedly Flight School was also in control of several Skylands. However, after much hard work, the dream was made a reality. Thorne al Magnus was crowned Emperor of the Crimson Empire and the Empire established peace in the lands with no rebellions until the coming of the second Cataclysm.



It was during the peace following the Second Unification that Thorne had time to help make the sport of Grimby the first professional sport in Skytopia. During the restructuring after the First Season, Thorne became even more active when he purchased the Leng Monks Grimby team.

It was also during these years that Thorne was married to Rachael Lionheart at the chapel on Lhasa and was presided over by the great Admiral Fuseli.

The Years of Many Wars - The Blue Nemesis and the Flight School Riots
"An empty shell I used to be Shadow of my life Was hangin over me

A broken man Without a throne Wont even stand the devils dance To win my soul" - "Beggin," - MadCon

After this second upheaval, the Senate and Chamber voted not to attempt a Third Unification and instead try to improve the image of their faction. However, right from the start, the Empire was viciously attacked by the Blue faction, who were attempting to wipe  Red off the map. Red rallied and this began a long battle between Red and  Blue that would continue throughout the round, interrupted, and finally completed by  Red wiping  Blue off the map, which culminated with the sacking of Islo.

The major interruption to that battle was the near-conquest of Skytopia by the Flight School Faculty. They took control of every skyland in Skytopia at one point but the capitols, however they never held all 34 at once. Thorne was largely responsible for keeping them from their goal and worked tirelessly day and night running patrols on Leng and Valvia. Luckily, when Leng and Valvia had finally become Yellow, Green had gained control of Gonk.

The final blow to Blue was facilitated by the Flight School, Green, and  Red Treaty to attack  Blue. Green quickly withdrew but FS and  Red reduced  Blue to a few holdings. Red then finished Blue off, taking Islo.

And then again, another Cataclysm!

Modern Times
"Im fighting hard

To hold my own

No, I just cant make it

All alone

I'm holdin on

I can't fall back''  Now that big brass ring''

Is a shade of black" - "Beggin," by MadCon

After the dust had settled, it turned out that many former high ranking Empire members had decided to become traitors and fight against the old guard for control of Skytopia. Wishing for peace still, the Empire approached the Blue and Green Factions and together they forged a new path by signing the Trifaction Treaty. A stand against any faction taking over all of Skytopia, created in defiance of the current Purple, Tyrian threat.

Out of the ashes of the old Empire, a new Empire began to rise, like a Pheonix, led by a new generation. The Trifaction Treaty and the efforts of the League, the Hand and the Empire were sufficient to withhold the Court's attack on Skytopia. The old tensions did not force the Treaty apart early, but instead cemented a new era of friendship and peace in Skytopia. With the strategic and military might of the Court crushed, the Court made a last ditch attempt with their forces for the Armada's capital at Fuseli. In response, all of the Empire's forces were launched from the Empire's capital at Tortuga to counter attack at Arcadia, the Court's capital which was woefully undefended because of the Court's attack on Fuseli. Predictably, the Court was forced to withdraw their troops in order to defend their homeland. Many and long were the celebrations that came with the announcement of the final defeat of the Court.

With the Court lying in ruins and a massive storm on the horizon, the Leage, Hand and Empire together decided it would be best to wait out the storm before deciding on any new plans. As for the Empire, what began with treason and betrayal ended with a resolute determination to protect Skytopia and by the coming of the great storm the Empire was once again the strongest force both politically and in the skies.