In the Name of the King (Medieval, Adventure, Romance) -OOC-

[Calvin]

Premise:

A group of knights (players) and people supporting them are traveling from town to town across the countryside to raise morale and aid the people after a long, costly war. They aim to help the people understand the necessity of the war and the hardships they suffered and continue to suffer. They offer what help they can, and they try to show that the Kingdom is acting in the people's best interest. The common people, who bore the brunt of the war, are hungry and bitter.

Background:

The Kingdom of Westend has recently signed a truce after a ten year long war with the neighboring Brumland. The war began suddenly and unexpectedly when King Reinhard of Westend began amassing troops and attacked Brumland unprovoked. The war has sapped the kingdom's resources and willpower. Between the men pulled away to war, the high taxes used to feed the troops, and the damage done by their enemies, the lives of the common people are in shambles. Some men who once stood in defense of the kingdom now point their blades inward, waylaying merchants and caravans. Hungry peasants grumble about their lot in life while eyeing the fat nobility with envy. There are whispers in cities, wondering why the men who fought and bled for this country must continue to toil and suffer while the royal family, who was never once seen on the battlefield, continues to reap the benefits of the peasantry's labor.

The people fought long and hard in a war they did not feel was righteous. They are hungry, hurt, bitter, and armed. The court is worried, and rightly so. The kingdom might not survive a civil war, especially with Brumland still looking across the border. To this end, the King's Own, his majesty's personal knights, are sent to pacify the people. They are to speak to the people, explain why the war was necessary, why the taxes are necessary, and how the nation must stand together in this trying time. They are to help the people where they can and disperse bandits and rebellious groups. The second prince himself travels with one such group in a gesture of goodwill.

The knights and nobility, with their huge mounts, shining armor, and great stature seem like supermen to the commoners. Compared to the malnourished masses, the knights have eaten well and grown. Even the women are half a foot taller than the normal farmer. The difference in strength between these knights and the common folk is clear. As much as their mission is to extend a helping hand, they show the strength of the King's fist. Still, if there were enough knights to truly combat the people, the King would not be so frightened. Too many knights died during the war. Many of the King's Own were hastily recruited, some had not even seen combat, and trainers would even turn a blind eye to certain faults in order to present more bodies. The King decided that the image and presence of the knights would be more important than the particular quality of each knight.


World:

This is a generic European-esque world populated by about 10,000 people in the Kingdom of Westend. There are forests, lakes, mountains, a sea, plains, etc. Westend is bordered to the west by sea, the south by desert, the north by mountains, and to the east by Brumland. Trade is carried out primarily by ship.

Magic exists, but it is subtle and regarded with fear and suspicion. A practitioner of magic is viewed the same as a brewer of poisons. Witches and Sorcerers can brew potions, speak to birds and rats, and bend promises into curses. Magic is all in names and words, agreements and sacrifice. It is not a proper thing to do.

Women, at least in nobility, are cherished like rare gems. They are to be cared for, handled delicately, displayed for their beauty, and then locked away until the next ball or dinner party. In marriage they are played like bartering chips, offering family ties to seal business agreements. Marrying away a daughter is seen as doing her a favor, securing her future, and a girl that hasn't been married off by the age of 16 is considered an old maid.

Characters:

Characters will be people traveling with a group of the King's Own, knights or otherwise. If you would like to play a commoner or a bandit, please try to find a way to join the group. Also note that any commoner will be physically weaker than the knights. You may play any gender you wish, but women will have to hide their identity in certain roles.

I will be playing NPCs and adversaries.

Name:
Title (Optional): You can have a noble title if you wish
Age:
Gender:
Appearance: If you use a picture, please put spoiler tags around it
Habits and quirks:
Bio: Not necessarily a life story, but a description of who the character is at the moment. Great things to include would be dreams for the future, opinions and experiences of the war, prejudices, preferences, thoughts about the nobility, and thoughts about the peasantry. Having an idea of what drives the character may help others to interact with the character and move the story forward. If you would rather information remain hidden, feel free to have it remain hidden.
Possessions: Anything from a favorite horse to a pendant to iconic weaponry. Anything that you feel is important to the character as a character. You don't need to list things like travel rations (15), nails (10), saddlebags (2).
Other: Feel free to add anything else.

List of Characters:

Sir Matthias Fairchild played by Denver

Adela Pentaghast played by Shiala

Elena of Rivergate played by LibertyThistle

Gabrielle Rosewill played by MerlotBeauty

Asten Roth played by DesertRat

List of NPCs:

Name: Reinhard Benedict Rosewill
Title: His Majesty Reinhard, King of Westend
Age: 43
Gender: Male
Appearance: Even under the thick powder and paint that hides his true face, King Reinhard seems older than his years. His long, gaunt face mirrors the shriveled frame of his once towering figure. His skin sags, his bones show at his joints when not covered by his thick robes, and his hands are pale and sickly. However his presence does not seem like that of an old, tiring man. He stands tall and strong, not showing any slowness or hesitation in his limbs, and his blue eyes still shine with intensity.
Habits and quirks: Reinhard allows common people, though under strict guard, to observe the condition of his living quarters and meals. Reinhard lives as the common people do, sleeping on hard wood softened only by old hay, eating thin soups of lettuce and boiled potatoes, and drinking cheap beer. The only luxuries he allows himself are his kingly dress, which at times seems more a burden than a pleasure, and a simple tea each afternoon made from a plant that he grows himself. This demonstration has broken the illusion many held of the royal family being otherworldly or divine.
Bio: Reinhard is the current King of Westend. He was responsible for declaring war on Brumland and led the war effort from the back lines. The king is seen as an oddity by both nobles and commoners alike. He does not indulge in his riches as many of the nobility do, but he also acts in ways that the common man finds unfathomable. The king spends hours a day poring over reports from his scouts and asking questions of experts in various fields, although he rarely explains the reasons behind his questioning. He often sends out order or ultimatums without an explanation of his motives. He is a stranger even to his own family, spending much more of his time attending to his kingdom than to his wives or thirteen children.

Few if any people truly know the mind behind King Reinhard and opinions regarding him are widely varied. Many among all classes blame Reinhard for declaring war on Brumland unprovoked, and he is unpopular for this.

Name: Wolfram Corint Albrecht
Age: 27
Gender: Male
Appearance: Albrecht is a large man with a body accustomed to constant activity and full meals. He spends little time on his appearance, dressing himself for utility rather than presentation. His short, brown hair is roughly cropped, and his beard is hastily trimmed. He most commonly dresses in leather hunting gear, often caked in mud, with a simple tunic and breeches underneath. He gives a similar impression to a wall, strong and steadfast, but not threatening.
Habits and quirks: Albrecht takes particular care when approaching any task or activity he believes could cause injury. He is known for inspecting his equipment before use, checking his saddle before mounting, and using knives particularly slowly.
Bio: The current Lord Albrecht assumed his position only recently. His father, the previous Lord Albrecht, died of unknown causes during the war. Wolfram Albrecht served in the war since its beginning. He originally served as a surgeon's assistant well within the Westend camp, at the front lines but separated from the battlefield. He contributed later as a combat medic, providing emergency care on the battlefield, and oftentimes defending wounded soldiers from attackers that managed to break through the lines.

He was never awarded a command position due to his vocal protest of many plans and strategies put forth by the army, and particularly the dangerous maneuvers of General Brandt. Though he never shied from battle, he was labeled a coward for his strong support of more conservative and defensive combat.

Returning to his land after the war, he found his affairs in disarray. He has had little time or experience with court nobility, and he has as little interest.

Rules and Suggestions

1. If you have a disagreement with someone, please carry out in a civil manner. If this is a dispute that can be settled privately, please do so through PM. Please do not insult others. We're all here to have fun.
2. When you are in a conversation with another player, consider writing a collaborative post by sending private messages back and forth containing dialogue, small actions, and character thoughts. This can be easier and more natural than several back-to-back posts for speaking to someone
3. Feel free to expand upon the world and introduce new people, areas, creatures, and concepts, however for any major change that would affect another player or the world as a whole, please discuss this change in the OOC before acting it out in the IC. If this change is to be a major plot twist or surprise, consider PMing the players who would be involved. I will try to update the first post of this OOC with new information about the world as it is fleshed out.
4. In general, please respect your fellow players and do not attempt to control the actions of a character that is not yours. If you think a character is acting in a way you believe is "wrong," consider engaging in a PM conversation with him or her and understand the player's reasons for his or her actions.
5. No one here is perfect, and we all make mistakes. If there is a mistake or someone (probably me) just does something dumb, I ask you to send a PM and give the person a chance to fix the mistake before bringing it to everyone's attention in OOC.

I hope that people join and have a fun time!

IC Link

[MerlotBeauty]

I am rather interested in this rp, and if welcome to join, I will get a CS up in a day or so.

[Denver]

Edited: CS up, please critique/correct as needed.

Name: Sir Matthias Fairchild
Age: 25
Gender: Male
Appearance: Standing around 5’11, Mathias has many vices, but vanity is not one of them; often seen with dirt streaked, dark blonde hair, often kept shaggy, as well as dusty skin, and dull hazel eyes. In battle, he wears his full knight's armor, but for the day to day usually sticks with a light mail and leather combination.

Habits and quirks: Matthias is this type of young man always ready for a good time with a small flagon of ale at his side and cheeky grin on his face. Little gets him down, and even in the midst of war and carnage, he might still be found grinning like a child. His interests include drinking, whoring, and fighting; these are the things he is good at, and he cares for little else, especially any form of reading.

Bio: Matthias is the bastard son of Lord Fairchild, a man with a wife who could give him only daughters, and his pretty housemaid, Rosette. Raised by his mother for the early part of his life, once she proved his father's identity, being an honorable man, his father took him into his home, and raised well for someone of his standing. Despite his own poverty ridden stock, Matthias is highly disdainful of the peasantry, even towards his own half-siblings and mother. Even in his father’s house, he cared little for the pageantry and ceremony of the nobility, and saw little of what that life might offer him.

Instead, he enjoyed most his days in training as a squire, his days spent in combat and nights spent at local taverns. Soon, he was sent to squire for a well-respected and older Knight of his father, Sir Wilhelm Hartwood, a strict hand meant to temper the boys wild nature. It was under Sir Hartwood that Matthias was sent at the peak of the Westend War to fight, and it was there he felt most at home. Towards the end of the war, after the untimely death of his mentor in battle, he earned his Knighthood, coming into his element just as the war began to wrap up.

After the end of war, Matthias began his travels with the King’s Own, searching for a purpose after the end of the chaos, equally repulsed by the ideas of squalor and frivolity he sees mirrored in his own heritage.

Possessions: Matthias carries with him an arming sword he has nicknamed the "Thorn", as well as a large, battle-scarred shield bearing his father's coat of arms, as well as a large hunting knife that was given to him by his mentor, kept concealed in his boot at all times. Not one for owning many possessions outside what he needs to survive, the one sentimental item Matthias carries religiously is a plain, leather cuff; a gift from his mother.

[Shiala]

Interested in a Knight position, here is my CS

Name: Adela Pentaghast
Age: 28
Gender: Female

Appearance: Adela is a creature of strength, her fine feminine face is framed with olive flesh bronzed from long treks in the sun. Angular hazel eyes peer out before her, hardened by great struggles of battle and strife. Her dark brown hair has long since been cropped for the lack of proper care on the roads, and the hindrance it causes to both combat and the ease of which armor can be applied. She stands 5'9", her long limbs are well muscled from sporting hefty armor at all times. Her arms are well toned from brandishing a sword, and upholding a shield. Scars from past skirmishes riddle her body, some fading over the course of time, others cratering her flesh from significant blows. She sports heavy armor, marked with her family's seal, an eye surrounded with a wreath of flame.

Habits and quirks: She is a highly religious woman and makes habit of cleansing her weapons in ritual blessings upon waking and upon settling down for sleep.

Bio: Coming from rural beginnings and domestic hardships as a young girl. Raised by a Convent under the great church's name she has upheld her belief in god, resulting in her rituals. She sees the need to uphold Justice and found her way from the order of knighthood for women, Order of the Hatchet "orden de la Hacha". She was taught to be strong, not to let her gender see to what she can or can not accomplish. As a woman in this era she hopes to one day set down her blade and have a family, a loving husband, and return to the land which her parented have bestowed to her in their tragic death. But such idle fantasies would have to wait until she felt that justice was placed in capable hands.
Her religious, highly structured beginnings have shaped her into the woman she is today. Her opinions have been shaped with the crude blade of war and pounded out by the harsh mallet of life. The horrors of battle and the strife it has caused makes her weary to think of the future, of what will happen once all this is finally over. Bitterness sours her tongue, after the drawn out war that has pummeled the country side and destroyed the common folk.
Adela sees magic and pagan arts as an abhorrent practice, a dishonest and brutish practice that only results in damnation and death. But the current state of the country, the dingy desperate people working the land, and fighting over a morsel of bread would cause them to turn to such malevolent acts. She feels for the peasants, they are the one who suffer more than any other in these trying times. They are worked over by their land owners and most of the injustice of this era is placed upon their emaciated shoulders. In contrast she sees the Nobility, other than her great and just king, as covetous swine. She finds it difficult to do her sworn duty to protect such vile men and their poor brides who are seen as nothing more than chattel and a source of breeding their wretched name.

History/Background: Her parents died and being too young and with no other family in contact to raise her and was therefore handed over to the Convent as she had no where else to go. Her last name was still held by her as she is heir to an estate and a plot of land which is being held by an uncle until she came of age, which she revisited and reclaimed at that time. The pendant she wears was proof of her birthright and while reclaiming it was by no means and easy task she had conquered it. She left the convent of the Chantry of Truth when deemed old enough to be wed for her land and returned back to the estate of her family, and proved that she was the rightful heir. A little while into settling down into her home, the war had begun and her town was threatened, she defended her home with sword and shield, fighting as valiantly as any man would along side the Count of the township and his men. After the battle she had been contacted by a Count who had seen her courage first hand, and the courage of other women in the town who had raised to arms to defend their home and families alongside their brothers and husbands. The women, who were had proved themselves just as worthy as any man, admitted into the Order of the Hatchet received many privileges, including exemption from all taxes, and took precedence over men in public assemblies. The Order is small and will die out with the original members, but the word of the Count was held in high regard and although not many men take such titles in high regard she serves her title with as much loyalty as she does for her king.

Her knighthood and her religion are greatly dependant upon each other. Her religion is the worship of the Chantry of Truth which follows the teachings of Andraste and is, in many ways, a Cult and practiced in only certain townships through out the kingdom. The religion worships a prophet, Andraste, a woman who was born in the small coastal village of Brona she had been captured as a young girl and had escaped slavery. She rose to stop slavery, conquering the southern territories, leading a campaign with barbaric ancestor tribes of the inhabitants of the current kingdom. To the Slaver Imperium, Andraste was an opportunist, a barbarian taking advantage of their weakness. The reason the Imperium did not fall entirely to her army was because of Maferath, Andraste's mortal husband. Feeling that the barbarians had overextended themselves (and, according to later belief, because of jealousy towards her being the Maker's wife as well), he made a deal with the Slavers to keep the south in exchange for turning Andraste over to them. She was burned at the stake in Minrathous. Her death is known as the second sin, which caused God to turn from humanity once again. Yet, because of her, the Imperium, for all intents and purposes, fell, and the Chantry was formed, focused around her teachings.*
Archon Hessarian, who ordered Andraste's execution, was the first person converted to following the Chant of Truth. According to the Chant, the Archon saw the error of his ways as soon as Andraste was burned. It was he that put the sword through her heart to put her out of her misery, which is why the sword is a symbol of mercy in Andrastian lore, and later repented her execution entirely (though Chantry dissenters claim Hessarian only converted because he could not stem the tide against Andraste's followers, only emboldened by the death of their leader, and repented his actions as a means to stay in power). Most of her town worships the Chantry and the Martyr Andraste as the wife of God. Making more sense for a female knight in hopes of birthing a second wife of God. The Chantry is in many ways oppressed as a male dominated society sees such ideas of Feminine equality disturbing and wrong but the Chantry of Truth is becoming ever popular in the more secluded Townships of the countryside and Southern lands.

Possessions:
Her mount, aptly named Swifthide as well as a Pendant given to her by her mother when she was very young.

Weapons/Armaments~
Cornerstone Shield
Seeker Great Sword
Heavy Armor
Helmet

[Calvin]

Merlot: You are quite welcome to join.
Denver: Thanks for following up and joining the RP!

Shiala: Thank you for taking initiative and posting a CS already! I need a few things explained to me through PM before I can officially accept, but please feel free to post after we iron out some details.

[Calvin]

Denver: Everything looks great. Post whenever you're ready.

PS - Took me two hours to realize you had edited your post.

[Metronome]

Fire away =P

[Erythmarie]

This seems interesting. I've been looking for a medieval RP, and this looks (rather) promising. I may decide to app, but at the moment this is just... Not a placeholder, but a link for myself, I suppose, to look back on and know I was interested in this.

[Denver]

Okay, thanks! Getting ready to make a first post, but heads up I will wait a while until we have more people before posting in the IC. Still interested and ready to post, just lying in wait. (I am no stranger to the Int. Check post... OOC post.... CS post... OH FUCK THE IC IS UP SORRY BRAH HAVE TO DROP)

Quick question about the intro post: Is the Prince traveling with the Knights? And who is leading the Knights? Okay, that was it, thanks!

[Calvin]

I was waiting to see if anyone was interested in playing the prince before starting whether or not he was in the group. Probably kind of important. If we have four players and nobody picks up the Prince, I'll say he isn't with the group. I would rather not play the leader of the knights, but if no one volunteers the position will default to an NPC.

Good questions!