Exodus and the secret of the Voynich Manuscript

[Melodym]

"Welcome aboard the Exodus. You're standing inside the finest ship in existence, or at least during this war time effort. No expense has been spared on creating this one of a kind zeppelin, but please know, this isn't some joy ride. You're going off into the great unknown. With only the wind at your backs and exotic locations in your sight, you're about to go on a journey never before experienced by a group of your caliber. I've hired only the best of the best for this mission, and I trust I will not be disappointed by the results. The good old doctor here will fill you in on all the details." The big time oil tycoon gestured over to a man about half his size who was staring meekly at the floor.

"I'm not actually a doctor, Sir..."

"Well whatever you are, speak up."

"I'm a cryptologist. Right. Um, well, I've recently solved parts of the Voynich Manuscript. This is one of the largest unsolved mysteries of our time, but we believe we've finally cracked part of it. We don't understand it's true meaning yet, but we do know it's not a collection of information on plants like previously believed. We think it's a map." the scientist began to fumble with some papers as he handed them out. They were copies of the page from the manuscript that he had managed to decipher.

"Ignore all that boring talk. What he's saying is that we've got ourselves a treasure map. It leads to 5 different locations, and I want what is at those locations. Not everything mind you. Just one specific item. A large broken shard of pottery. Any gold, diamonds, or other treasure you find along the way it yours to keep. Now if that isn't enough incentive to go, I don't know what is."

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Synopsis: You are among a group of people who have been chosen to get this job done. Your role is up to you to choose, as is what you bring to the table. You will all be traveling aboard the Exodus to 5 exotic locations to find these terracotta shards and return them to Mr. Belaford back in Texas. How you divvy up the rest of the treasure is up to you as well. You may steal, back stab, and do whatever else you like along the way, as long as those shards are returned to their rightful owner.


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Roles Available=

Monetary Benefactor: Alice Belaford (daughter of Mr. Belaford)
Captain of the Exodus: Burton Haringoth
Lieutenant of the Exodus: Leslie Ida
Engineer for the Exodus: Bernhardt Frauenschläger
Cook for the Exodus: Molly Pitter
Archeologist 01: Odette DeLacy
Archeologist 02:
Security: Jack Gibbs
Scientist: (choose what your specialty is)
Linguist: Dr. Luned Cunningham
Cryptologist:
Academic Scholar 01: (choose what your specialty is)
Academic Scholar 02: (choose what your specialty is)
Adventurer 01: Felix Hyacinthe Lacroix (Survivalist, Treasure hunter)
Adventurer 02: Catherine Tremblay (Survivalist, Hunting Guide)
Adventurer 03: (choose what your specialty is)
Guide: Liam Donnelly

(If you don't see a role that you like, send me a message of something else you prefer, and if it's appropriate/ not too powerful, then I'll allow it and add you to the list. Also if you wish to join but all of the slots are filled, let me know and we'll see if we can find room for you.)


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Character Sheet=

Name:
Age: (Ages 23 and up)
Gender:
Position: (Please choose from the list above. If you have an idea in mind other than those listed/available, please let me know. But nothing over the top or too powerful.)
Appearance: (Description required, photo optional, no anime)
Personality:
Biography:
Special Item: (one item that is more significant/important/powerful than any stander equipment you will be provided with. A special weapon, book, sentimental item, ect.)


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Accepted Characters=

Alice Belaford:

Spoiler

Name: Alice Belaford
Age: 26
Gender: Female
Position: Monetary Benefactor
Appearance: Very well dressed in any environment, which gets to be rather ridiculous when you're wearing a silk gown in the middle of the amazon. Dark curled hair, fair skin, and a non athletic body. It's fairly obvious she hasn't worked a day in her life.

Personality: Alice tries her best to remain prim and proper under any circumstances, to make her father and the rest of social society proud. Unfortunately she seems to have been born with the temper of a man and if provoked long enough, her etiquette may slip and she will most definitely ruin her favorite dress while punching you in the face.
Biography: Alice is the only child of the wealthy oil tycoon know only as Mr. Belaford. Since he knows nothing of girls, she was mostly raised by a series of maids and nannies before being thrown into society in a sink or swim fashion. She doesn't particularly enjoy the lifestyle of two faced and fake people that surround her, but she isn't eager to dive over board into the filth that is the middle class either. Since her father has work back home, she has volunteered to go on this trip to ensure that these mongrels are not wasting her father's money, and also to secretly get a taste of real adventure.
Special Item: An extensive jewelry collection that can be used as money/bribery if thrown into a particularly tough situation.

Jack Gibbs:

Spoiler

Name: Jack Gibbs
Age: 33
Gender: Male
Position: Security
Appearance: Jack Gibbs could give a damn about appearance and only does a little as possible. He's usually seen wearing whatever there is around, and doesn't care much about it's quality.

Personality: Jack is a no nonsense sort of man. There are two people in this world, the kind that he gets to shoot, and the kind that he's not allowed. That's all he needs to know. Give him a gun and an order and he's not likely to question it. The only two things he likes other than guns, and certainly less than guns, are women and booze. Provide him with all three and it will be a rare occasion of happiness for the man.
Biography: Jack doesn't talk much about his past, though it's obvious he was in the military at some point due to his training. He doesn't mention having a family and doesn't ask questions as long as he's paid on time.
Special Item: His gun collection.

Dr. Luned Cunningham:

Spoiler

Name: Dr. Luned Cunningham
Age: 26
Gender: Female
Position: Linguist

Appearance:
Luned's a tiny, pasty nerd, coming in at a whopping five-foot-two and barely breaking one hundred pounds. She'd be cute if she put effort into it.

Personality:
At first impression she's the quiet, bookish type as expected, but she's always eager to try something new. Her physical appearance and academic bent may make her relatively useless in many situations, but she's surprisingly resourceful, full of random trivia that may be useful someday (or not).

Her biggest vice is a touch of kleptomania. She isn't a common thief, but it's hard to pass up anything that seems to be under-appreciated by its current owner, or otherwise better suited under her ownership. (She is notorious for borrowing books and not giving them back.)

Biography:
Luned grew up as the daughter of a lobsterman in a fishing town in Maine. She always knew she was meant for something different, but spending her childhood on boats and in the woods gave her some practical skills to balance her academic career. She might be out of shape now, but she can tie a mean knot!

Now a fresh Ph.D. graduate of Harvard University's Department of Linguistics, Luned is looking to make up for the most intellectually fulfilling, but stifling years of her life. Time to overcompensate with an adventure!

Though she has conversational skills in several modern languages, Luned's expertise lies in historical linguistics, including hieroglyphics.

Special Item: She may have "borrowed" something from the collections at Harvard before she left... shhh.

Burton Haringoth:

Spoiler

Name: Burton Haringoth

Age: 53

Gender: Male

Position: Captain

Appearance:
Burton's tall height is matched only by his prolific weight, and he is quite corpulent compared to the rest of the personnel aboard the Exodus. He wears a suit, a bowler hat, and is constantly smiling or laughing. He has a plump face, a large nose, and his eyes are green.

Personality:
Happy in every sense of the word, Burton is always joking and making merry. He has a natural goofy appearance, which is complemented by his clumsiness. He is very intelligent and also has the memory of an elephant. His loyalty is occasionally offset by his cowardice, but he is very loyal to his friends. He is also very trusting, sometimes too much so.

Biography:
Burton was born in England, and lived there for most of his life. His parents were in the middle-class, and he lived a comfortable--if dull--life. He worked at his father's company for most of his life, and when his father died he took up the position of owner and president. However, ten years ago he sold his father's company, moved to the US, and built up his own shipping company, not because he had to but because he wanted to create something for himself. He eventually left this job to become a pilot, which allowed him to procure the position of Captain of the Exodus.

Special Item: An adorned cane, decorated with a gold-cast eagle head on the handle. It is surprisingly heavy.

Felix Hyacinthe Lacroix:

Spoiler

Name: Felix Hyacinthe Lacroix

Age: 28

Gender: Male

Position: Adventurer. Survivalist. Treasure Hunter.


Appearance: Best known by his last name, Lacroix is scarcely what one would expect a treasure hunter too look like. He is the product of decades of "high-breeding" and it shows. Even the unruly tousle of sun-stained chestnut hair and a face covered in unkempt scruff, it's clear he's no commoner. Twin emerald orbs peer from above a sculpted cheekbones, at heavy contrast to his rich tan. Even the harsh angle of his jaw and nose reveal his roots in Paris high-society, no matter how much he'd prefer to forget it. Not that the accent doesn't give it away.

However, once one takes in Lacriox as a whole the picture becomes more believable. His hands are rough and cracked from years of crawling and climbing; and though he's not a particularly imposing figure, weighing barely 170 pounds soaking wet, the way he carries himself oozes and inspires confidence. Typically Felix can be found dressed the part too: A loose fitting white cotton shirt which won't restrict movement is tucked into strained and battered wool pants covered in pockets which have been reinforced with leather at the knees. Around his neck hang pair of aviator goggles, hidden discreetly behind a deep crimson scarf; both tools for keeping out any dust or grime that they’ll have to brave on their journey.



Personality: A flirtatious charmer and cultured rogue, Felix is a man who draws attention wherever he goes. Affable, if albeit a tad brash, it is a rare soul who is immune to his infectious laughter and dry wit. Still, he has a bit of a temper and is used to working alone; growing irritated when his advice is not adhered to or someone fails to tow the line to his standards. He isn't looking to babysit, and is a bit apprehensive about this task in particular, fearing that with such a large group it will often fall to him to save those that bumble along the way.



Biography: Felix was born into a world of gratuitous luxury, self indulgence and backstabbing. His grandfather had become one of the wealthiest men in France from capitalizing on the Revolution nearly a century before his birth; placing his family in a tenuous position among the old-money of high society. Still money is money and as a boy it would grant him all kinds of opportunities, the best education money could buy, fencing and riding lessons. Something of a prodigy, he had mastered several languages by the time most children were still struggling with their first, and had taken a deep interest in the history and mythology of the ancient world.

It was not long before the first great war ravaged his native France, the Lacroix family had the misfortune of having the family estate on the very outer reaches of Paris, making it easy fodder for the invading Germans. His father and older brother foolishly refused to leave the chateau under guise of national pride leaving Felix to flee with his mother to the heart of Paris as the war overtook the countryside.

Rumors quickly reached their ears of fathers death and brothers capture. Distraught over the loss, his mother began spending their fortune hiring private mercenaries to find her oldest son. Grief drove her to drink heavily and make foolish decisions, and as the money dwindled so too did her hope. By his 16th birthday Felix was an orphan with only the dregs of his families fortune to work with.

Feeling lost and alone he followed his love of ancient society to Egypt, using the majority of his remaining money to book passage to Cairo. There he used his quick wit and the business savvy he inherited from his father to scrape out a meager living among the bustling marketplaces of the city. Felix took to hanging by the docks, where the most diverse action was. Applying the languages he had learned as a child he began swapping stories with the travelers and workers along the Mediterranean and Nile. It wasn't long before tales of fabulous treasures out in the desert and grand temples hidden in mountains whose tops were lost in the clouds had reached his ears.

Stockpiling what little money he could at 20 he undertook a single man journey to chase down the legend of a large jewel deep in the Sahara. He was ill-prepared, the attempt nearly took his life. Had it not been for band of nomadic tribesmen it likely wouldn't have been successful.

It was the first of many on a fast track career into the world of treasure hunting. Expeditions over the better part of a decade his adventures have taken him across the world and back again to dank caverns, boggy jungles, frozen wastelands and of course, scorching deserts; his reputation and wealth growing in equal measure with each success. However Felix would never return to France; instead taking his childhood refuge, Cairo, as his adoptive home in an attempt to escape the ghosts of his family.

Having taken a nearly six month hiatus, the call to adventure has come in an unexpected form. A wealthy benefactor with a desire for some illusive treasures scattered across the globe.



Special Item: A ceremonial Kukri he earned from a Nepalese Chieftain; said to bring good fortune to the bearer and furious vengeance upon his enemies. Though he has never sharpened or repaired it, the blade still holds its keen edge and the bejeweled hilt is still as unmarred as the day he was gifted with it. He doesn't allow this blade to leave his side, and sleeps with it under his pillow. Other than the blade, Lacroix prides himself on making due with what is available.

Bernhardt Frauenschläger:

Spoiler

Name: Bernhardt Frauenschläger
Age: 38
Gender: Male
Position: Engineer/Mechanic
Appearance:


Bernhardt is a tall man, standing at 6'3" (190cm). His chest and arms are heavily developed with muscle. He is not fit as a bodybuilder, Bernhardt is much more bulky, yet calling him fat would be wrong.

His hair is more often than not greasy from working close to motor oils, the skin of his arms and hands are filled with blemishes from being burned from welding accidents or having dead skin cells from contact with unhealthy substances.

Personality: Bernhardt is efficient and hard like stone. Dutiful and loyal; he is an engineer on an archaeological expedition which means he will solve the technical problems. He takes his responsibility, and is friendly enough with everyone, yet doesn't let many people close to him.

He possesses a very dark sense of humor and uses a crude language that he does not restrict even in the presence of fine folks. He can go on at great lengths about engines and mechanical problems and solutions. If someone asks what a problem with a machine is, he will tell them, regardless if the person who asked has the technical knowledge to understand his answer.

Biography: Bernhardt's father was an industrial worker in Vienna, his mother a seamstress. His father set out to give his son an education in the natural sciences, and the boy had a natural curiosity and a bright intelligence. The times became tougher, however, and the father died in the trenches of the first world war.

The years passed, and as a young man Bernhard graduated in Mechanical Engineering. Like always he did not have any friends. He was hired by the German Luftwaffe and helped develop military technology and equipment for many years. Among the other scientists he met his the woman of his dreams, Elsa. She understood him like no one else, and when he proposed to her she said yes.
When the Nazis came into power, Bernhardt and Elsa (who was Jewish), decided to escape the country and the new regime. They fled to America, but Elsa died a few years later of a cancer.
Bernhardt entered the service of Mr. Belaford and he was one of the engineers that designed the Exodus. He often refers to the zeppeliner as 'his darling', and otherwise speaks to the ship. He is keen to keep her out of harm's way and goes out of his way to make sure she is in tip-top condition.

Special Item: He has a tool belt that he feels naked without. In it can be found all manners of tools, including wrenches, screwdrivers, a blowtorch and a crowbar.

Odette DeLacy:

Spoiler

Name: Odette DeLacy
Age: 27
Gender: Female
Position: Masters in Archaeology with a Bachelors in Anthropology.

Appearance: Odette is a curvy sort of girl with a little more to her figure than your average skin and bone floozy. Think Betty Paige. She has long black, softly wavy hair of which she takes extensive care. Her skin is a deep tanned color due to her mixed heritage; Native American and Caucasian. Her eyes are large and brown, surrounded by thick lashes. She has high cheek bones, a fine, pointed jaw. She is rather petite, standing at about 4'10”. She rarely wears make-up, only when going to 'fancy parties' or some such. Usually she has a rather frumpy, dedicated professor look about her. Either that or covered in dirt.


Personality: She is quiet, though she loves conversation. Her voice is smooth like velvet, dark like coffee, soft and warm as a summer breeze. She smiles rarely with her face, she comes off as cold and unreachable. Her actions, like her voice, are slow and smooth. She does nothing with out purpose, no extra movements beyond what is necessary.

She has a soft spot for children, with a motherly sort of need/desire. She takes care of all around her. She is a lady through and through. Odette never does anything that a young woman should not. She is skilled in piano, reading (being a highly educated young lady), polite conversation, flower arranging, gardening, dancing, etc. She is proper in every sense of the word.

She is slow to anger, and once she has hit that point it comes out like a raging storm, destroying all in its path until it quenches itself out. It is a cold, freezing sort of anger, which transform her eyes into a snow storm and her words into icicles.

Biography: Her father was a well known British Archaeologist and her mother a Native American woman who tried her best to live the life of the white woman, while having a free spirited and willful mind. The two fell in love, married, and gave birth to one Odette. She had no brothers or sisters, as her mother was unable to conceive another child lest she died.

Her father doted upon her, teaching her things that a young girl should not be taught. She was interested in his works. At the age of six she moved with her family to England. Here her mother felt more freedom and taught Odette many of the old ways and stories of her people. Odette ate those stories up. Her father, being an closet atheist, did not mind this too much. Too the world Odette presented herself as a perfect Christian girl, knowing full well in this world that she would be persecuted.

She was the smartest child in all of her classes and caught hell for it. She did not mind, as she could go home and have long talks with her father about anything, or sit quietly and read books while her mother combed her hair and sang songs. Old songs full of history.

Odette never really found boys, per say. She could find them attractive, but she never was interested in a relationship unless it was with a book. Her mind was always with her work. And though she could smile and blush, she never felt the raw passion that was described in her mother 'novels'.

She decided she wanted to go to Oxford at 18. She only got in by her father's recommendation. Being the only young woman there and stuck out like a sore thumb in her feminine clothing. She barely noticed, spending time with books. The male professors, who were used to their male dominated atmosphere, loathed her for being a woman in a predominately male environment. Odette worked hard. In the beginning the professors would make an attempt to give her the lowest grade possible, but a word in from her father could change their minds. She relied on him, allowing all of him help because she was modest and humble enough to know she could never do it on her own.

In her first year she was hazed, boys telling her she wasn't good enough. She would prove them wrong. So she allowed herself to be undressed and have a serpent branded on her back with a fire poker. She was the snake in their Eden. She made no noises, just bit her tongue until it bled, broke her fingers nails from holding onto the back of the chair so tightly. From this she gained some respect from her peers. After that she began to dress like a young man.

She graduated at the 'top' of her class, but because she was a woman she could not attend graduation and was not credited. She did not mind. She took her diploma and found herself a job. A museum owned by her father hired her on. Since then she has been going on many expeditions all over the world. Reveling in history and always returning home to her parents. She now dresses in a much more feminine and fashionable way.

Special Item: She would never go anywhere with out her tool kit. Just in case. Or a notepad and pen.

Leslie Ida

Spoiler

Name: Leslie Ida

Age: 26

Gender: Male

Position: Lieutenant of the Exodus

Appearance: Just over five foot, nine inches, the young lieutenant is an athletic individual with a strong posture and wide shoulders. He has dazzling blue eyes, a scruffy look most of the time and faint scars over a good portion of his chest, back and arms. After years of bare-knuckle boxing, he's broken his fair share of bones in his hands and nose, so a few things might seem slightly un-proportionate. His clothing aboard the Exodus is that of a proper gentleman, which he isn't quite accustomed to, while anything off the ship is usually a tattered duster and army boots.



When he's out and about adventuring.

Personality: Young, cocky and joking almost as much as his Captain, Leslie uses humor more as a defense mechanism than anything else. He's not terribly intelligent and can't do much more than read; math is entirely out of the question. Even though he grew up on the streets, his morals and ideals are extremely important. Although not outright Catholic like his parents, Leslie has a strong faith and finds himself holding his rosary in prayer when under too much stress. He's a steadfast friend and always willing to work even harder for the good of the group.

Biography: Born to Irish immigrants who came to America after the first World War, he grew up on the slum streets of New York and lost his accent within years- gaining a few bad habits along the way. He joined a small street gang in his teen years and spent his time training to be the best pick-pocket in town. When a rival boy from the neighborhood beat him senseless one afternoon, it was then that young Leslie chose to travel the country in search of a place to be.

In New Orleans at sixteen, he worked as a bare knuckle boxer and between lengthy healing periods, made a living knocking other boys his size (and sometimes a great deal larger) out cold. The road brought him to Texas, where he came across the Belaford oil tycoon and gained a job as a rig welder. Even as a young boy, he knew from the moment that he saw Alice Belaford visit the dig site one afternoon, she was the one he was going to marry. Covered in grease, he approached the teenage madame and in a desperate attempt at asking her out to a soda that afternoon, he was promptly humiliated in front of the entire crew. It was at that moment, he decided to leave Texas and find some new adventure. Partly to work on his wounded pride and partly to build enough status to woo the girl.

Lying about his age, he joined the army far ahead of his prime and began training as an assistant in the air field. Over time he grew in rank and eventually became a pilot. Initially it was simply drop missions or taxiing generals over the ocean, but eventually he was promoted to fighter pilot and went into the second Great War in the midst of a great deal of violence. After a year of missions, his plane was shot at and a single bullet managed to strike Leslie in the leg. He was awarded a medal and released from the armed forces due to injury and the amount of time it took for recovery. Although his knee sometimes aches with the weather or when overused, he can jog perfectly fine.

Upon his return to the good ol' USA, Leslie, as a decorated war veteran, traveled the east coast temporarily. In Virginia, he met a large Great Dane on the side of the road without an owner or mother. Naming it Duke, the pair traveled together like the best of friends. They arrived in Texas and Leslie gained a job with the oil tycoon who didn't remember him in the slightest from the scrappy boy years earlier. With his history in the air force, he was given the position of lieutenant. Without much know-how but more than enough heart, he's ready to take on the world in search of these.... uh... Voyve-yan Mannerscripts.

Special Item: Other than the standard-issued revolver for his position (which he doesn't even acknowledge in a real scrap) Duke, his lovable best friend. And his mother's rosary.

Molly Pitter:

Spoiler

Name: Molly Alice Pitter

Age: 25

Gender: Female

Position: Chef (okay, okay Cook)

Appearance: A little under average height, curvy but shapely, sunny blue eyes and a short, well-kept mop of blonde curls.

Personality: vivacious and cheerful, Molly exudes a wide-eyed innocence and sense of fun. If she can get out of the kitchen long enough she'll hit the dance floor with the first guy that asks and wear out a succession of them in the course of an evening if possible. She seems to have a hard head for alcohol...right up until when she doesn't.

Biography: Irish by birth, raised American with a circus troupe. Molly learned many interesting skills from her circus friends such as trick horse riding, tightrope, knife-throwing, and trapeze. She also learned some less savory skills such as how to pickpocket (which was greatly frowned upon by her parents). However, she learned quickly that the cook is everyone's best friend and it fit her nature. Eventually she went to culinary school when her parents insisted that she have some proper education and went to work for a hotel.

Though she did well at the hotel she found it to be boring overall. It also didn't make enough money to satisfy her and she wishes to seek her fortune. When she became aware of the opening for a cook on the Exodus, she jumped at it.

Special Item: No matter where she goes and what she does Molly carries a small framed picture of her parents and her own personal set of knives.

Liam Donnelly

Spoiler

Name: Liam Donnelly
Nickname: "Sharkey"
Age: 43
Gender: Male
Position: Guide

Appearance: unkempt. Liam has light brown messy hair and wears a thin whispy beard and mustache. He doesn't care for shaving. He has deep penetrating blue eyes that seem to look right through a person as if he knows what they are thinking. Liam wears T-shirts and jeans with a black leather jacket. The jacket appears brand new and is one of his finer possessions. He typically wears an old pair of black leather combat boots and has several tattoos over his body.



Personality: Liam is a no-nonsense man who really never paid much attention to his appearance. His voice is gruff and hands are calloused from working on the docks or on ships at sea. The texture of his hands mirrors his personality -- gruff.

Liam is defined by determination. Once he sets his mind to doing something, he will doggedly pursue the task until the goal is achieved, even if he has to die to accomplish it. As a testament to his daughter determination he's still alive.

Liam's vices include cigarette smoking and whiskey. When intoxicated, Liam is a bad drunk, looking to pick a fight with anyone near him.

Biography: Liam grew up in the Dallas, TX suburb of Garland. His father worked for the Union Pacific railroad and spent most of his time working, drunk in a bar or sleeping. As a child, encounters with Donnelly Senior usually were brief and meant Liam was meeting the backside of his old man's hand. Life was rough for Liam, but he made his own way. He doesn't take crap from anyone and if someone tries, he gives it right back; more than they probably wanted to deal with.

Liam spent eight years in the US Navy and learned a few languages along the way. Liam has always had an affinity towards learning foreign languages. He does know the languages necessary for the current mission. It was one of the reasons he was hired for the job.

After the navy, he spent the next fifteen years working as a longshoreman in New Orleans, LA as well as trips at sea aboard merchant ships. During Liam's many trips abroad his curiosity with foreign languages and the customs of new places piqued his interest. Liam quickly became known as the person who knew where the best places in the worst places were. He also established several contacts around the world which facilitated his ability to get whatever it is he desired.

Special Item: Colt M1911 .45 ACP with Ivory pistol grips. The pistol had been given to him by his grandfather before he passed away.

Catherine Tremblay

Spoiler

Name: Catherine Tremblay

Age: 28

Gender: Female

Position: Adventurer, Survivalist, Hunting Guide

Appearance: Catherine is an incredibly tall woman, standing an outstanding six foot five. She is very well built from years of physical conditioning and strenuous manual labor. Her build is far from strong though; the muscle is lean, so much so that she does not look very muscular. She is built entirely for endurance even internally; years in the high elevations of the Canadian wilderness have greatly increased her lung capacity over that of the average person. Much like the father that taught her, she is capable of carrying a full rucksack and camping set several miles without complaint. Certainly not the most beautiful of women, she isn’t necessarily unattractive either. Her long, dark, red hair almost never leaves the tight French braid that she puts it in, and if it does, it usually goes right back into that braid. Her features are sharp and long like the rest of her, and her eyes deep set and gleaming emerald green.

Personality: Self-reliance is Catherine’s first and only priority in life. Despite all good intentions she does not take hand-outs and is completely and total opposed to all forms of charity. She tends to be more upset with people that try to help her than people that actually do her wrong, but doesn’t stay angry long. Catherine tries to be very friendly, but a life of almost complete isolation with her father has left her far from capable of handling relationships well, never mind forming them in the first place. All awkwardness aside she makes every attempt to be fun loving and would be easy to get along with if not for her crass nature. Her good nature is sharply contrasted by a rather foul mouth and a fondness for smoking a pipe and liqueur.

Biography: Catherine was the farthest thing from a small town girl, and even father from a city gal. She lived in a cabin fifty miles from the nearest store, one-hundred twenty from the nearest hospital, and closer to two-hundred from the nearest school. She received an education at home from her mother, who was the epitome of a stay at home mom. When she wasn’t learning, she was working, not sewing or cooking like her Ma wanted. She certainly cleaned though, plenty of game that is. She hunted with her Dad and stayed away from home for days at a time, which her mother didn’t necessarily appreciate, but she realized that not having a son, she’d have to settle. Life went on like this until she was twelve years old, when she found out that her Ma was pregnant. Either another daughter to make up for the young woman that her current one hadn’t become or a son to take her place as her Dad’s little hunting pal. Things didn’t work the way they had been planned though, delivering at home was a dangerous game, and both Chloe Tremblay and her unborn child died. With that her father turned to the bottle, and for the rest of her childhood Catherine provided for him. For the next six years she took his life into her own hands, providing for herself and for him year in, year out. On the Christmas of 1933 a few weeks after her 18th birthday her father drank himself to death in the wee hours of the morning after having an argument with her about his alcoholism that nearly came to blows when Catherine’s father called her skill at providing for the family into question. She woke up, expecting to give him a walking stick and set of snow shoes, she’d made for him. Found him dead in his rocking chair, the fire burned completely out. In the cold dawn light of the house she packed a rucksack, her belt, a bandolier, and shouldered her rifle. Taking the little bit of money that her family had out of her mother’s jewelry bank she drove the fifty miles to town, used the little bit of money to buy her way to Halifax. When she arrived there she got passage on a transport ship and worked her stay aboard the ship earning a little bit of money.

Aboard that ship she traveled the better part of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Like anyone else she was able to appreciate the beauty of foreign, exotic places, but her past had hardened her against the world, and her father’s last words “You can hardly keep yourself alive, what good did you ever do for your mother? None, she died, and it was your fault,” rang clearly in her ears for her entire life. He blamed her, she knew it wasn’t her fault, or his fault, or anyone’s fault. No one could have saved her mother, but those words “You can hardly keep yourself alive,” those stung deep, bled like a puncture wound in her own words. He had questioned her skills the skills he had taught her. Embittered she threw herself at work, never really enjoyed stopping in Italy, or France, or Spain. She’d calmly and quietly agree about how beautiful and different everything was and get right back to whatever it was she could do. Having become a woman of few words, love and relationships were out of the question. She found solace the way her father had, the bottom of a bottle. Then there was Egypt. The ship had to make a delivery to Alexandria, but the truck driver that was supposed to load the goods never made it to Alexandria, so the crew had to drive the goods all the way down to Luxor. When they passed through Giza though, Catherine just about lost it. She looked at her employer, shook his hand firmly and said thank you. Took her stuff and left the crew behind, she’s lived there ever since.

Special Item: A large bowie knife hand-crafted by an artisan blacksmith that her Dad got her for her sixteenth birthday. It is inscribed “Crede modo”

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[Luned]

Name: Dr. Luned Cunningham
Age: 26
Gender: Female
Position: Linguist

Appearance:
Luned's a tiny, pasty nerd, coming in at a whopping five-foot-two and barely breaking one hundred pounds. She'd be cute if she put effort into it. She speaks with a Downeast Maine accent.

Personality:
At first impression she's the quiet, bookish type as expected, but she's always eager to try something new. Her physical appearance and academic bent may make her relatively useless in many situations, but she's surprisingly resourceful, full of random trivia that may be useful someday (or not).

Her biggest vice is a touch of kleptomania. She isn't a common thief, but it's hard to pass up anything that seems to be under-appreciated by its current owner, or otherwise better suited under her ownership. (She is notorious for borrowing books and not giving them back.)

Biography:
Luned grew up as the daughter of a lobsterman in a fishing town in Maine. She always knew she was meant for something different, but spending her childhood on boats and in the woods gave her some practical skills to balance her academic career. She might be out of shape now, but she can tie a mean knot!

Now a fresh Ph.D. graduate of Harvard University's Department of Linguistics, Luned is looking to make up for the most intellectually fulfilling, but stifling years of her life. Time to overcompensate with an adventure!

Though she has conversational skills in several modern languages, Luned's expertise lies in historical linguistics, including hieroglyphics.

Special Item: She may have "borrowed" something from the collections at Harvard before she left... shhh.

[Invisible Man]

Name: Burton Haringoth

Age: 53

Gender: Male

Position: Captain

Appearance:

Burton's tall height is matched only by his prolific weight, and he is quite corpulent compared to the rest of the personnel aboard the Exodus. He wears a suit, a bowler hat, and is constantly smiling or laughing. He has a plump face, a large nose, and his eyes are green.

Personality:
Happy in every sense of the word, Burton is always joking and making merry. He has a natural goofy appearence, which is complemented by his clumsiness. He is very intelligent and also has the memory of an elephant. His loyalty is occasionally offset by his cowardice, but he is very loyal to his friends. He is also very trusting, sometimes too much so.

Biography:
Burton was born in England, and lived there for most of his life. His parents were in the middle-class, and he lived a comfortable--if dull--life. He worked at his father's company for the first twenty years of his life, until the year 1914 when the Great War ravaged Europe. Burton was part of the British Expeditionary Force to France to assist them against the invading Germans. There, he earned the nickname Spades because of his legendary poker abilities. Burton was a pilot once, early in the war, running recon missions and eventually participating in the new-fangled idea of "dogfighting." He was one of the first aces, and he once survived a battle with the Red Baron. Burton fought in the trenches for three years, and when the US entered the war, he made several friends with the new men from across the pond. Though some died a few of his friends returned home. At the age of 31, Burton Haringoth finally returned to England after the armistice and Treaty of Versailles.

After the war, and when his father died, he took up the position of owner and president in the company. However, ten years ago he sold his father's company and moved to the US. He contacted many of his old friends from the war and built up his own shipping company with their help, not because he had to but because he wanted to create something for himself instead of relying on his father's legacy. He eventually left this job to become a pilot like the old days, which allowed him to procure the position of Captain of the Exodus.

Special Item: An adorned cane, decorated with a gold-cast eagle head on the handle. It is surprisingly heavy.

[ElRey]

Name: Felix Hyacinthe Lacroix

Age: 28

Gender: Male

Position: Adventurer. Survivalist. Treasure Hunter.



Appearance: Best known by his last name, Lacroix is scarcely what one would expect a treasure hunter too look like. He is the product of decades of "high-breeding" and it shows. Even the unruly tousle of sun-stained chestnut hair and a face covered in unkempt scruff, it's clear he's no commoner. Twin emerald orbs peer from above a sculpted cheekbones, at heavy contrast to his rich tan. Even the harsh angle of his jaw and nose reveal his roots in Paris high-society, no matter how much he'd prefer to forget it. Not that the accent doesn't give it away.

However, once one takes in Lacriox as a whole the picture becomes more believable. His hands are rough and cracked from years of crawling and climbing; and though he's not a particularly imposing figure, weighing barely 170 pounds soaking wet, the way he carries himself oozes and inspires confidence. Typically Felix can be found dressed the part too: A loose fitting white cotton shirt which won't restrict movement is tucked into strained and battered wool pants covered in pockets which have been reinforced with leather at the knees. Around his neck hang pair of aviator goggles, hidden discreetly behind a deep crimson scarf; both tools for keeping out any dust or grime that they’ll have to brave on their journey.



Personality: A flirtatious charmer and cultured rogue, Felix is a man who draws attention wherever he goes. Affable, if albeit a tad brash, it is a rare soul who is immune to his infectious laughter and dry wit. Still, he has a bit of a temper and is used to working alone; growing irritated when his advice is not adhered to or someone fails to tow the line to his standards. He isn't looking to babysit, and is a bit apprehensive about this task in particular, fearing that with such a large group it will often fall to him to save those that bumble along the way.



Biography: Felix was born into a world of gratuitous luxury, self indulgence and backstabbing. His grandfather had become one of the wealthiest men in France from capitalizing on the Revolution nearly a century before his birth; placing his family in a tenuous position among the old-money of high society. Still money is money and as a boy it would grant him all kinds of opportunities, the best education money could buy, fencing and riding lessons. Something of a prodigy, he had mastered several languages by the time most children were still struggling with their first, and had taken a deep interest in the history and mythology of the ancient world.

It was not long before the first great war ravaged his native France, the Lacroix family had the misfortune of having the family estate on the very outer reaches of Paris, making it easy fodder for the invading Germans. His father and older brother foolishly refused to leave the chateau under guise of national pride leaving Felix to flee with his mother to the heart of Paris as the war overtook the countryside.

Rumors quickly reached their ears of fathers death and brothers capture. Distraught over the loss, his mother began spending their fortune hiring private mercenaries to find her oldest son. Grief drove her to drink heavily and make foolish decisions, and as the money dwindled so too did her hope. By his 16th birthday Felix was an orphan with only the dregs of his families fortune to work with.

Feeling lost and alone he followed his love of ancient society to Egypt, using the majority of his remaining money to book passage to Cairo. There he used his quick wit and the business savvy he inherited from his father to scrape out a meager living among the bustling marketplaces of the city. Felix took to hanging by the docks, where the most diverse action was. Applying the languages he had learned as a child he began swapping stories with the travelers and workers along the Mediterranean and Nile. It wasn't long before tales of fabulous treasures out in the desert and grand temples hidden in mountains whose tops were lost in the clouds had reached his ears.

Stockpiling what little money he could at 20 he undertook a single man journey to chase down the legend of a large jewel deep in the Sahara. He was ill-prepared, the attempt nearly took his life. Had it not been for band of nomadic tribesmen it likely wouldn't have been successful.

It was the first of many on a fast track career into the world of treasure hunting. Expeditions over the better part of a decade his adventures have taken him across the world and back again to dank caverns, boggy jungles, frozen wastelands and of course, scorching deserts; his reputation and wealth growing in equal measure with each success. However Felix would never return to France; instead taking his childhood refuge, Cairo, as his adoptive home in an attempt to escape the ghosts of his family.

Having taken a nearly a year long hiatus after a botched mountaineering expedition, the call to adventure has come in an unexpected form. A wealthy benefactor with a desire for some illusive treasures scattered across the globe. Unable to turn down this unmatchable opportunity he has come to lend his expertise.



Special Item: A ceremonial Kukri he earned from a Nepalese Chieftain; said to bring good fortune to the bearer and furious vengeance upon his enemies. Though he has never sharpened or repaired it, the blade still holds its keen edge and the bejeweled hilt is still as unmarred as the day he was gifted with it. He doesn't allow this blade to leave his side, and sleeps with it under his pillow. Other than the blade, Lacroix prides himself on making due with what is available.

---------- Post added at 03:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:58 PM ----------

I don't mean to sound greedy with my character's role, but as I imagine him he seemed to somewhat fit under the "guide" description having been around the world a bit already. And I'd like him to fall under that role if possible.

I just didn't want his knowledge of myths and legends and guideish whatnots to come at the cost of being handy at running through traps and jumping chasms and whatever adventury Uncharted badassery that comes with being an adventurer.

If that makes sense. Lemme know what you think Mel, I'm happy to edit as needed.

[Invisible Man]

I saw Kukri and I only thought of the Sniper... DAMN YOU TF2!!!

[Melodym]

no problem! I'm putting him under adventurer, simply because its a more vague title that could include all of his qualifications. A guide would more likely be someone who's only skills are talking with locals and know short cuts and certain dialects, less of the survivalist side or educated side. But I don't see anything that needs to be changed so far, just wanted to let you know of the difference and why I'm placing you where.

[ElRey]

I have no idea what you're referencing but Felix isn't a fan of guns.

[Invisible Man]

The Sniper is a character in Team Fortress 2. He wields the Sniper Rifle as his main weapon, the Sub-machine gun as his secondary, and the Kukri as his melee.

[ElRey]

Okay fa sho. Sounds good. Yeah I imagine him the type to be like "locals tell of a story of blahblahblahblah ancientlegend blahsomethingsomething ghost blahblah" rather than knowing anything legitimately/directly important to their given task.

Anyway! Glad to be aboard

[Manet]

Name: Bernhardt Frauenschläger
Age: 38
Gender: Male
Position: Engineer/Mechanic
Appearance:

Bernhardt is a tall man, standing at 6'3" (190cm). His chest and arms are heavily developed with muscle. He is not fit as a bodybuilder, Bernhardt is much more bulky, yet calling him fat would be wrong.

His hair is more often than not greasy from working close to motor oils, the skin of his arms and hands are filled with blemishes from being burned from welding accidents or having dead skin cells from contact with unhealthy substances.

Personality: Bernhardt is efficient and hard like stone. Dutiful and loyal; he is an engineer on an archaeological expedition which means he will solve the technical problems. He takes his responsibility, and is friendly enough with everyone, yet doesn't let many people close to him.

He possesses a very dark sense of humor and uses a crude language that he does not restrict even in the presence of fine folks. He can go on at great lengths about engines and mechanical problems and solutions. If someone asks what a problem with a machine is, he will tell them, regardless if the person who asked has the technical knowledge to understand his answer.

Biography: Bernhardt's father was an industrial worker in Vienna, his mother a seamstress. His father set out to give his son an education in the natural sciences, and the boy had a natural curiosity and a bright intelligence. The times became tougher, however, and the father died in the trenches of the first world war.

The years passed, and as a young man Bernhard graduated in Mechanical Engineering. Like always he did not have any friends. He was hired by the German Luftwaffe and helped develop military technology and equipment for many years. Among the other scientists he met his the woman of his dreams, Elsa. She understood him like no one else, and when he proposed to her she said yes.
When the Nazis came into power, Bernhardt and Elsa (who was Jewish), decided to escape the country and the new regime. They fled to America, but Elsa died a few years later of a cancer.
Bernhardt entered the service of Mr. Belaford and he was one of the engineers that designed the Exodus. He often refers to the zeppeliner as 'his darling', and otherwise speaks to the ship. He is keen to keep her out of harm's way and goes out of his way to make sure she is in tip-top condition.

Special Item: He has a tool belt that he feels naked without. In it can be found all manners of tools, including wrenches, screwdrivers, a blowtorch and a crowbar.