[OOC] Morituri te Salutant: Arkreidian Gladiators

[Harbringer]

"In this world filled with death and blood...what better way to relax than watching others shed their blood and die?"
-Lucius Malleus, History of the Arena

Arkreides

Bigger map

The continent of Arkreides is a cesspool of violence, each race discontent with each other for even the most minor of infractions. The otherwise pacifistic elves wage an incessant war against the industrious dwarves in the eastern Myrian forests while waves of orcs and humans crash against each other in the far northern wastes. Caught up in all of this are the beastmen whose nomadic lifestyle often brings them into conflict with the other factions. This near constant conflict brings in a steady flow of very specific commodities. Grieving mothers, corpses and, of course, slaves. But one can only have so many domestic slaves until all work is done, so what can you do with the excess? Why pit them against each other in mortal combat for your entertainment of course!

What started as backalley duels between wealthy families soon evolved into a nationwide sport for Humans once they realised they could make a pretty denar for charging people to watch this bloodshed. This practice soon spread to the nearby war-like orcs who relished these fights and the opportunity to beat slaves into a pulp for their own entertainment (not that they didn't already do so). Suffice to say most orc gladiators are not slaves, rather they are trained pit fighters. Over time, arena fights spread to almost all major nations, even the elves who used these fights to settle matters with as little bloodshed as possible, using selected champions to settle political matters. These days arenas are more regulated, with fighter training requiring a specific license. Those who hold these licenses are called the 'Lanista', people who hold the keys to the shackles of dozens of trained fighters, and yet somehow still maintain control over them, whether through respect, fear or otherwise.

Arena fights are not only simply pitting slaves against each other, no, there is so much more to it. Sometimes these slaves may be thrown into a pit with ferocious beasts or forced to reenact famous battles of those peoples' history, but by far the most popular are the simulated environments, pitting teams of slaves against each other in a fabricated environment. That ends our brief history lesson children, tis time for lunch. Remember your hats.

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Races:

Humans

By far the most populous, humans are also the most diverse and varied race, quickly adapting to any new environment. While physically weaker than most other races, humans make up for it with quick wits and ingenuity along with a better standing with most races, apart from orcs who they have fought bitterly for the past decade. Generally jacks of all trades, humans set the standard for most of the other races, being average at all of them.

While humanity is technically united under a single banner, one could hardly expect them to be free of differences. Their standing military forces vary from region to region, from the heavily armoured knights and legionnaires of the central empire to the barbaric axe-men of the northern reaches and even the sparse rough riders of the eastern plains. While the differences in tactics, weaponry and numbers may serve to make a united human Imperial force difficult logistically and tactically, it does mean that they have a contingency for any battle plan. If only they could muster in time.

Examples of humans:

Central Legionnaires: Sharing the title of most armoured human with the Western Knighthood chapters, the legionnaires are taught to fight in a unit and excel at group combat. With minds hard-wired into working as a legion, they are a stalwart force should they ever be needed. That does not mean to say, however, that they are useless when alone. Bearing blade and shield, the legionnaires are respected fighters in their own right but are more effective in their units than they are individually, washing over their enemies like a silver tide.

Western Knights: Where legionnaires focus on teamwork, knights from the western region of the human empire take pride in their individual prowess, preferring longswords and maces to the shield and blade. Valuing individuality and martial prowess as virtues, the knighthood prefers to engage enemies in a series of single combat bouts instead of any military tactic, expecting their enemy to do the same. Suffice to say those knights sent to the northern front, while effective, have a high attrition rate.

Elves

Tall, slender and elfin, elves are usually lauded as an unachievable gem for adolescents everywhere. Despite how they may look however, they are not without teeth. Dexterous and nimble, elves forgo heavy armour and weapons in favour of manoeuvrability, as befitting their form. Making good use of their longer limbs, elves tend to favour spears and bows in combat, as well as hit and run tactics, provoking their enemy until they make a fatal mistake. While they are faster, however, they are noticeably more frail and most other races, possessing a lighter bone structure and ropey musculature. Able to outlive most races, the elves see the passage of time differently than most mortals.

Examples of elves:

Canopy Striders: Slightly skinnier than the average elf, canopy striders are noted for their moss-green hair and emerald eyes. As their name suggests, canopy striders are at home in the treacherous terrain that sprouts above the ground. Moving along the treetops is an efficient and sneaky method method of transportation and the striders use them to great effect when striking at their dwarven adversaries. Preferring the ambush to any other tactic, canopy striders are no stranger to long waits before striking hard and fast with their bows and disappearing back into the treetops.

Forest Thorns: Considered to be 'the average elf', those soldiers who take on the title of forest thorns possess dirty blonde hair and a slightly green skin pallor. Armed with long spears, forest thorns act as a unit like legionnaires. However, where legionnaires form a column and batter down their enemies, forest thorns flow like water around their enemy, specialising in area denial and encirclement. Surrounding their enemy, they begin the massacre in earnest, spitting enemies upon their spears before disappearing back into the undergrowth

Beastmen

A collective term for those possessing animalistic features, the beastmen rival the humans in variety, but their changes are usually more noticeable. The most common of these beastmen are the "Thunderhoofs", bull-like beastmen who prefer to pit their own bone, muscle and sinew against their opponents, rather than any weapon. Avian beastmen who are captured often have their wings clipped to avoid escape. Generally tolerated by the rest of the population, they remain a neutral faction.

Examples of beastmen military:

Thunderhoofs: While not strictly a military, every young thunderhoof is expected to fight in the defence of their tribe should the need arise. With powerful muscles and incredibly hard horns, thunderhoofs prefer to fight up close and personal, pounding and grappling their opponent into submission with their natural weapons.

Skytalons: A race of beastmen possessing hawk-like features, skytalons are a generally peaceful tribe that lives high up in the mountains. When threatened, however, they make for a deadly opponent. With four sets of sharp, hooked claws and a powerful beak, they strike from the skies with the fury of a starved dog before rising up and continuing their assault. While they generally do not possess weapons, skytalons do seem to prefer a cruel, hooked blade as their instrument of choice.

Dwarves

In contrast to their ancient enemies, the elves, the dwarves are short, squat and heavyset with beards thicker than a human's thigh. Naturally tough, the dwarves prefer to heft heavy weapons like warhammers and heavy armour before striding casually into battle. Their ironwork famous for leagues in every direction, the dwarves are often prideful and refuse to accept loss, no matter how inconsequential it is. With such a squat body, dwarf musculature is so compacted that their body, even without armour, can withstand and, nay, break a badly forged sword with very little damage done to themselves. Standing at half the height of the average human, height is a bit of a tender spot for most dwarves.

Examples of dwarven military:

Ironmongers: Battle-blacksmiths would be the best way to describe ironmongers, who forge their own armour and charge into battle wielding their forging hammers. Always eager to test out new designs, ironmongers are known to be almost fanatical in their desire to fight and get hit, if only to see how their handiwork stands up to an elven arrow. Exclusively found dwelling with their mountain brethren, ironmongers vary extraordinarily in quality.

Valley Dwarves: Unlike their mountain dwelling cousins, valley dwarves invest less into heavy armour and instead trust in their body's natural hardiness to see them through. Hefting axes almost the size of their entire head, valley dwarves are known to be more aggressive than even an orc on occasion, especially when it comes to dealing with their elvish adversaries. Usually tattooed with mystic runes and symbols, their beards are noticably more unkempt than those of their mountain cousins.

Orcs

Noticably more savage than the other races, apart from a few beastmen tribes, the orc are a warrior society who put honour and martial prowess above all else. Almost as heavily muscled as a dwarf, orcs nevertheless have less stubby legs and can cover more ground than the short peoples, but have less grasp of tactics and...general intelligence. Known to throw all caution to the wind, orcs are able to berserk, their eyes filling with blood as they ignore all pain in an attempt to overwhelm their enemy.

Examples of orcs:

Green orcs: The standard orc. Possessing low-browed features, hunched shoulders and a dense musculature, the green orc brings to mind a powerful ape similar to the ones found in the souther human empire. With their status determined by the size of their tusks, the warchiefs of green orc tribes often have giant, embellished tusks that span the length of their face, and usually have them carved and patterned, although this is not an uncommon practice among the lower ranks as well.

Black orcs: Like green orcs, but black. But in all seriousness, black orcs are considerable tougher and stronger than green orcs, but possess lesser intelligence than even they. Often integrating themselves into a green orc tribe, black orcs are happy as long as they have a chance to test their mettle against others, be they orcish or otherwise. Taller and more wideset than an average orc, the black orcs form the shock troops of their military.

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Magic:

Magic is a gift given to very few and for good reason, for those who possess this ability and misuse it are the most terrible threats. These mages are able to discern faint shimmering strings hanging in the air, attaching to everything, although individuals are tuned towards specific elements. Nascent mages may dismiss these faint strings as simple tricks of the light but those that know how to use them are extremely dangerous. These 'fate strings' dictate everything about their environment. Those attuned to fire can see the strings which control the climate while those attuned to the air can see the strings as they enter a person's body. Of course, those can see them can also alter them, given some assistance. Utilising special gloves or staves, these mages can 'weave' these strings to create something else. The aforementioned fire mages may pull together fire strings to create an excrutiatingly hot fire ball and throw it, or an air mage can suffocate his opponent by simply pulling the air strings away.

While sounding and being fantastic, the use of these fate strings often has long lasting effects. They say the cold, frozen northern wastes which the orcs now inhabit was once a desert wasteland...which turned into a winter wasteland when their shamans discovered their primitive version of fate weaving early in their inception as a civilisation. Their flames acted as beacons for their people, but at the same time they used up more of the flame strings than could regenerate until eventually they exhausted most of the naturally occuring strings, creating their now sub zero hell. That being said, the opposite can be seen in the Myrian Forest where the elves dwell. Their powerful magics were mostly held in check and instead of using it to combat their dwarven enemies, they used it to encourage growth, creating a luscious forest within years and increasing the density of earth based strings in the forest (which they then use to combat their dwarven enemies).

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Notable Locations:

Capital Cities:

Lairea

The seat of the Human empire, currently under the jurisdiction of the Aurelian dynasty, Lairea is a grand landlocked city of marble and stone and stands as a paragon of what humanity can achieve. They say that if one cannot find what they need in Lairea, they will never find it elsewhere, and it is partially true as the capital city is a hub of trade for merchants for leagues in every direction and of every race. Partially built into a mountaintop, the city is also surrounded by well aged walls and had never been successfully invaded. This is not taking into account the fact that Lairea is situated in the center of the Aurelian empire, mostly due to logistics, and thus protected by its outlying settlements. Lairea also plays host to the largest concentration of arenas of any city, containing a total of more than 60 registered fighting grounds and arena fights are a daily occurrence and a common pastime. The atmosphere of Lairea is busy with purpose. The constant chatter of voices in the morning belies its prosperity as merchants do business while the nights are filled with whoops of joy and pleasure.

Eltharios

Built into, onto and around the great trees of the Myrian forest is the Elven city of Eltharios which is significantly quieter than Lairea. While less accommodating to other races, the city is known for the serene and relaxing atmosphere it gives off, as well as the quality of woodwork that it produces. While it does not possess a wall per say, the city is protected by a dense layer of vegetation, and a century old ritual maintained to this day casts a confounding field around it that causes trespassers to be led astray. Unless you stumble upon it by pure accident, the only way into the city is through meeting an elven emissary at designated areas in the city and being led in. They say that the forests are littered with the corpses of those who tried to sneak in otherwise, but that is just a baseless rumor, or so the elves say. The city plays host to a single arena built atop a mighty tree which is used to settle political disputes and very little else.

Grogbholur

Meaning 'Hearth' in the Dwarven language, Grogbholur is a mountaintop fortress filled with intricate tunnels. While first time visitors may be overwhelmed by the structure, those who live there grow to have a natural sense of direction underground, though acute agoraphobia is not uncommon there. Home to the most famous forges on the continent, Grogbholur is under constant siege from merchants seeking their wares, giving it a similar feeling to Lairea although there are a significant few who would actually dare to enter the seething hot forges themselves. With each entrance to the city being a drawbridge, Grogbholur is as impenetrable, if not more so, than Lairea and the Dwarves take pride in this, calling their city the 'unbreakable'. There are a series of tunnels in Grogbholur collectively referred to as 'The Crucible' which function both as weapon testing grounds and arenas. Interestingly enough, being built into a dormant volcano, the city does not possess any braziers and is actually lit with lava flows.

Hel-brok'thar

Hel-brok'thar serves as the most developed city of the orcs and, thus, their capital city, though many would dispute that claim. Home to the Blacktusk tribe, the city's towering basalt structures may seem unbalanced but thanks to some...inspired engineering on the part of the orcs, are actually quite stable and manage to seal in warmth, which is a blessing considering the sub-zero temperatures outside. It is said that almost every stone that makes up the city has tasted blood thanks to the constant tribal raids preceding its construction and, while some may not believe it, it is certainly the case in their arenas. Black ovular structures dominated by spikes, their arenas are known to be some of the bloodiest and most entertaining, at least for them. Not long after the last fight, it is common to have a ritual sacrifice to appease their savage gods, though this practice can be seen in many areas where the bodies of animals are left to rot in pits.

Human Cities:

Feriston

The largest landmark for miles in the west of the human empire, the city of Feriston is known as the soul of the Aurelian dynasty. Built next to a lake that once nurtured the nascent human race, it is the original location from which humanity spread and remains a common pilgrimage for both historic and religious reasons. Where the streets of Lairea are choked with merchants and labourers, Feriston's clean cobblestones are lined with row after row of monks, head bowed in deep prayer as they shuffle from one monument to the next. The air constantly smells of incense and smoke while church bells ring at regular intervals, creating a righteous cacophony. Churches both modest and extravagant pop up every five buildings or so and, inevitably, so do the chapels that house the Crusader Knights that act as the church's militant arm.

Wolf's Neck

The people of Wolf's neck are known to be more orc-like than human, but that is specifically what makes them so invaluable in the north, where they engage in a near constant fight with the orcs. Unlike the tin can crusaders or the heavily plated legionnaires, those who inhabit Wolf's neck and the lands near it are clothed in cloth wraps and furs which manage to take the edge off of the near constant winter chill. More savage than their southern kin, these people are larger, more heavily muscled specimens which heft their favoured axes with ease. The city itself is made up of roughly hewn stone and wood, surrounded by a the densely compacted stones of their ancient wall. Paths are lined with minor heat magicks to thaw the ice and snow which forms on it, allowing at least some respite from the bitter chill, which lead to their ugly stone buildings, lit from within with constant roaring flames.

Eredar

A land of harsh steppes and mountainous climbs, the stepped plains of Eredar are home to various nomadic tribes. Due to the poor soils, Eredarians move through a cyclic path around their lands where they tend to soils not worked for months. At the same time, they herd bovinian creatures and compete with the beast tribes around them. The need to move around the treacherous steppes has made these people sure footed in even the most free of screes, and that goes for their beasts of burden as well. A horse born and raised in Eredar can go for thousands of denars in Lairea, and it is from this region that beasts of war are also drawn. One of the more permanent settlements, which claims the name of Eredar for administrative reasons, plays host to some of the greatest mounted archers humanity can train, which may rival even the elven canopy striders in their accuracy.

Uk Tu

A dense canopy covers the city of Uk Tu, but it is not what one would expect when one hears of a dense canopy. At first, one might think of the Elvish city of Eltharios, but they would be horribly wrong. No, Uk Tu is a city that is instead covered by the alternately thick and thin caps of gigantic fungi. The city itself is in a permanent state of night, but it possesses a mystic beauty due to the iridescent spores and bioluminescent lamellae of the mushrooms. Using woods imported from the North and west, the ever humid city of Uk Tu plays host to a confederate of people who have learned to use the world around them to their advantage. Toxins normally harmless to people may be refined into a deadly venom while potent potions may be brewed from the spores that fall ever so lightly from the mushroom gills. The site of medical and alchemic advancement for humanity, Uk Tu is, despite how it may look, the scientific center of their race.

Port Hairne

Humanity's main trading port, Port Hairne is just as, if not more filled, with bustling merchants than Lairea. With docks constantly in use and the customs house filled to the brim at all times, one would think that it would be a ripe target for any pirates to attack. Or it would be if there was not a watchful eye placed on it by the Human Navy. Most of Human wealth comes from its status as a trade giant and this is only further enhanced by the tariffs and taxes which it places on those merchants privileged enough to trade anywhere in the Empire. Here, one will find more necessities and curios than in Lairea, which is filled with slaves and luxuries. Divided into two sections, the western side of Port Hairne is reserved for industry, such as building materials, tools, ammunition, weapons and armour while the eastern side holds all agriculture and aquaculture, as well as the slave trade.

Port Athels

Named after the late Admiral Athels, this port serves as humanity's naval base. Imposing sea walls conceal large bore coastal defences and marines constantly patrol its high peaks. Built upon a cliff face, Port Athels has very little in terms of mercantile traffic apart from military suppliers of black-crystal and ballista ammunition. With an effective kill-zone of up to two kilometres, the port is avoided by all without any pressing business.

Orcish Cities:

Pae-Zun

The only other notable Orc 'city' as opposed to Hel-brok'thar or the ports, Pae-Zun is a mining city run by the mercantile 'Gold tooth' tribe, who are distinguished as the ruling class by their gold capped teeth. The source of much of Orcish wealth, Pae-Zun is an economy which runs off of slaves, sending them into the deep mines to unearth its mineral wealth. Unlike Hel-Brok'thar, Pae-Zun is built more like a Dwarfish city, being tunnelled deep into a series of interconnected basalt peaks, although it does bear the usual marks of Orcish inhabitance, including arenas exposed to the elements along with the near constant bloodstains.

Elvish Cities:

Dwarven Cities:

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Historic Events:

The Elven-Dwarven War

These two races were not always at odds,though these days it may seem that way. Centuries ago these two were prominent trade partners, shipping trinkets and raw materials to and fro to supply each other and building empires which eclipsed humanity which was still in a nascent stage of development. The dwarves would supply minerals, weapons and armor while the elves would supply wood and food. Then, one day, supply dried up on the elven side. The lands which they would dedicate to their trade grew barren and they tried to explain it to the dwarves, but they wouldn't accept it, the current king too selfish and childish to take proper action. With little warning, they marched across the landbridge linking the two islands and began to cut down wood. Only, this wood was considered off bounds. With little other recourse, the elves mounted an attack and killed the woodcutters and burned down the dwarven saw mills and processing plants. Decade by decade, the war escalated and the two are now some of the most bitter enemies to even exist together, with both fundamentally opposed to each other. Racial tensions are high and both will usually not hesitate to attack each other. The dwarves have recently gained the upper hand due to their tendency to innovate more than the elves, but elven magics have advanced faster thanks to that. It is a dangerous arms race between these two and most other races keep a close eye on them.

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Character Sheet:

Appearance:
(Approximation of how your character looks. An image is good, so is text. Both would be wonderful)

Name:
(Your character's name here)

Gender:
(Does he/she need to check?)

Age:
(Humans have a similar age to actual humans, Elves live to around 400, Dwarves to around 250, Beastmen to 150 and orcs usually to around 50 before another one sinks an axe into its back, but the oldest one having been 190)

Personality:
(How your character acts, any racial prejudices)

Previous Profession:
(What your character did for a living before becoming a slave-gladiator)

History:
(An account of how you came to be in your current predicament. Up to the point where you've been purchased)

Preferred Arms:
(What your character prefers to use in combat, be it sword, mace, bow or fist along with armor. Remember, we all start pretty much nekkid apart from cloth covering our delicates)

[The book of bad juju]

Appearance: Haughty, with angled features and a certain look like she was hewn from mahogany Koganusan is the spitting image of dwarvish merchant's wife of a billion woodcuts . She's pictured here without her beard on. In the fortress where she was raised, wigs and toupees were the fashion at the time, ever since the discovery and subsequent invention of bauxite and mythril filaments. The metallurgs and engravers of the time were highly skilled and braiding and shearing miniature works of art designed to be worn under the chins. She had to sell hers to pay her way.

Name: Koganusan Hawlaestic Sunkissed. If you get on her good side, she'll let you call her "Cog".

Age: Koganusan is not in the flower of her youth. More of the wrinkly unripe fruit of middle age. She's three-and-fifty.

Gender: Despite the beard and bodily hair, she's female.

Personality: Koganusan, like the infamous dwarven encampment for which she's named, is introverted and secluded to the point of mutism. She doesn't talk much, and what does end up coming out of his mouth is often broken and twisted, followed by mutterings and swears in Mine-speak. Unless you want to buy or sell, in which case she opens up like the emperor's palace to foreign ambassadors, and it's practically impossible to get her to stop.

Previous Profession: Purveyor and Racketeer.

History: It's hard to explain a dwarf's history without revealing something of their ancestry. A dwarf of the valleys shares little if anything with the dwarves of the hearth, who in turn share nothing with the saltsmithers of port Arz, or the merchants of the catacombs of Dhalmad. And none of those will even deign to raise their name to the dwarves of the shantytown. Barely anything but mining camps hewn into the side of a mountain, which gather houses like dog doings attract flies. As for Koganusan, she was born and raised in one of these, known in dwarvish as Gröf Herbergi, or salt catacombs. The place was built above rich seams of salts and nitrates over a bed of sandstone. It's a dry, acidic place where the sand stains your feet red. Gröf Herbergi was deep set into sandstone, and gained a reputation for salts and acidic deposits, as well a deeply hot and bitterly long sun. The name of "Sunkissed" denotes Koganusan's place in life: On the surface, bargaining with trade caravans.

Her mother, a broad woman by the name of Korsefandi, was the town tanner and leatherworker, with a face like she was constantly sucking on lemons. She taught her well before her untimely death and subsequent. How to cut leather, and dye wool. How to juggle scales. How to balance books. How to pretend iron was silver, and to melt down coins in secret. How to grease palms, and shave a little off the top for you and yours. She'd been good at it, and Koganusan had struggled to keep the lies going after her death. Of course, by that time she'd been in way too over her head already. She barely remembered for what exactly she'd been accused of, but these lies are like a dam, and all it takes is one rock to was away for the dam to burst. She'd ran, carrying most of her possessions on her back. Modern science has, as of yet, been unable to determine the maximum carrying capacity for a dwarven peasant, and she'd made it almost to the big city of men itself before she'd faltered and had been forced to sell her beard. She's in the arena because it's the easiest way to get back on her feet, gather enough to make a profit, and get herself some dinerii behind her. And once she does, she's going back to the mountains and sinking her teeth into the nearest mineral vein and she's never going to let it go.

Preferred Arms: The dwarvish weapons of choice are hammers and picks. Mine-to-mine warfare means that anything long or that requires stabbing are practically useless. However, Koganusan was never at home in mines at the best of times, and her preferred weapon to defend her hearth and home was the khopesh, a sickle-like sword.


Still a work in progress.

[RainbowReindeer]

Will be working on my CS! I'll finish it tonight or tomorrow at the latest. :^)

[Knight of Doom]

Appearance:

Duvain has long, light blonde hair contrary to the green that most of the Canopy Striders have. She likes to keep it down to her waist, but if it gets in the way of her fighting, she will tie it up. She has bright emerald green eyes that capture most people's attention, one could say it's her most striking feature. While Duvain makes sure to keep fit, and limber, she doesn't have a lot of muscle, but the muscle she does have is ropey and stretchy. Duvain is very flexible and uses that along with her fast reflexes and speed to battle. She has perfect pale skin, that will stay pale no matter how long she stays in the sunlight. She's also very prone to sunburns. Some swirling black and green tattoos adorn her upper right arm, upper back, and one wraps around her waist.

Name:
Duvain Vanya

Gender:
Female

Age:
174

Personality:
Duvain is a brave, but kindhearted elf. She is good at listening, but never knows how to comfort others. While she tries her best to put others first, but she has trouble interacting with them. She is patient and is always willing to be the one who goes first or takes the blame. However, she only does this with elves. She is unsure of how to act around other species and is usually afraid of them, or gets nervous around them.

Previous Profession:
Duvain hunted and gathered food for the Canopy Striders.

History:
Duvain lived comfortably on her own in a modest home. She lived fairly close to her parents in order to visit them, and her younger sister who is 108 years old. She had very few friends due to the fact that she didn't know how to approach someone. One day Duvain's parents were killed while hunting a dangerous wild animal that had been terrorizing their village. So, Duvain had to take in her younger sister and started to take care of her. On the day that Duvain was kidnapped, she had left her younger sister playing with a friend at her friend's house. She went out farther than usual in order to gather food. While she was skinning a deer she had struck down, Duvain heard movement indicating that she was being surrounded. Since Duvain didn't have as much experience fighting against multiple people, she tried to escape from the circle that was closing in, however, she failed. After being knocked out by an unknown figure, they dragged her to an unknown place. When Duvain woke up, she was alone, and shackled down. While normally brave and fearless, Duvain couldn't help but feel hopeless as the manacles weighed her limbs down.

Preferred Arms:
Duvain prefers a light, bendable bow. However, she also carries around a dagger for skinning animals and, when necessary, fighting. Duvain prefers to wear light armor that doesn't restrict her movements, if any at all. However, if necessary, Duvain is trained to at least be adequate in all types of fighting.

[Knight of Doom]

If there's anything I need to change tell me.

[bluejay_gl]

I should have my sheet up by tomorrow night.

[Harbringer]

@The book of bad juju Looking good so far. Can't wait for the history. Will be interesting to see how a merchant holds up in an arena.

@RainbowReindeer@bluejay_glCool, will wait with anticipation.

@Knight of Doom Accepted. Now thats two elves. Noone ever wants to be human XD. Go ahead and put the sheet into the characters tab.

[Knight of Doom]

@Harbringer

What can I say? I think elves fit my characteristics better, so it'll be more fun for me to RP them.

[Harbringer]

They ARE pretty fun to play. It's like playing a snooty rich guy without the wealth. Also there are only so many ways you can describe brutally ramming an axe through someone's head (Cough, orc, cough)

[bluejay_gl]

Appearance
Gaunt-faced, strong-jawed, and heavily-browed, Kamnar’s appearance is fairly typical of Orcs of the Blacktusk tribe. His dark brown hair reaches his shoulders, partially braided with traditional painted beads adorning them. He has eyes as black as coal; looking in them is like staring into the void. His tusks are rather small for his kind – more resembling fangs than tusks, really – carved with angular forms and marks. His skin is the familiar dark, grayish olive of the green Orcs. He is tall even for an Orc at 6’8”, and his thick, impressive musculature coupled with his height make for an intimidating individual.

Name
Kamnar Murug-kah, previously Kamnar Murug-gar (as per traditional Blacktusk naming, Kamnar is his given name and Murug is his family name; the -kah attached is an honorific denoting dishonored Orcs, such as ex-paladins, deserters, and traitors. The -gar honorific denotes an esteemed religious rank)

Gender
Male

Age
29

Personality
Anger and ferocity is respected as honorable passion among the Orcs; the most successful warriors and Chiefs are also the most aggressive in disposition. Thus, Kamnar’s calm, thoughtful demeanor and calculating mind is highly unusual for Orcish kind, and certainly played a major part in his current shameful position. His quick thinking and inclination to logic make him not only a strong fighter but a capable strategist. However, he prefers reasonable discussion to unnecessary bloodshed. Despite his passive nature, it would be a mistake to call Kamnar a pacifist; he is still a trained Orcish knight, and will use force if he deems it prudent. He is also not without his pride, and won’t stand idly by if someone mocks his race or culture. As an ex-paladin, he is accustomed to talking to many different races for diplomatic and ministry reasons, and has seen that people of all walks of life fear the same fears and dream the same dreams; because of this, Kamnar does not suffer from the racial prejudices common of his kind.

Previous Profession
Kamnar was a paladin, serving Pra’Flakor and the Blacktusks. His work was mainly based around teaching his religion and the customs of his tribe, but he was also tasked with knightly duties, such as guarding and escorting the elites and higher-class religious ministers.

History
Kamnar can best be described as an outlier of all Orcs. He didn’t share the same energetic bloodlust and tenuous fury of his peers, and so leant on one of many popular religions of the Blacktusks, that which worshiped the river god, Pra’Flakor. Pra’Flakor is a rarity among their pantheon, being one of the few deities not centered on war or blacksmithing. His family lived in Hel-brok'thar, where he was born and raised. His parents and six brothers were all renowned warriors of the tribe who brought honor to the Murug name. Though at first skeptical of his chosen path, they were pleasantly surprised to see him rise through the ranks so quickly and at such a young age, and were especially proud of his extraordinary skills in battle. Kamnar became a paladin at 20 and was dressed with a multitude of honors and accolades by 25; at 26, he became the youngest of the Lok’krith, or Ten Warriors, which was the group of paladins with the highest possible ranking among Blacktusks.

One day, the Lok’krith were on a diplomatic mission to a small tribe of black Orcs on the outskirts of Arkreides. One of the oldest of the paladins, Durak Bol-gar, who had become jealous and suspicious of Kamnar’s quick promotion, secretly met up with a Lanista, and arranged to have Kamnar enslaved as an Arena fighter – in exchange, the Lanista would help Durak disgrace Kamnar.

The Lanista and his slave warriors kidnapped a peasant black Orc in the tribe and murdered him in the middle of the desert. Durak tricked Kamnar into finding the corpse; he had barely discovered it before being “caught red-handed” by the black Orc’s family, and was immediately attacked. Kamnar had no choice but to defend himself – to this day he still shudders at the memory – and he slaughtered them all. So far away from his home of Hel-brok'thar, his family and friends were forced to trust the Lok’krith’s word that Kamnar had single-handedly killed this black Orc family in a blind rage. Framed for a murder he didn’t commit and forced to obliterate innocents, Kamnar was disgraced and shamed, removed from his status as paladin, and had all of his honorable decorations withdrawn. The Lok’krith, a smug Durak among them, told him that he should be grateful they chose to have him sold into slavery for the rest of his life rather than executed. The Lanista took the yoke-bound Kamnar and his weapons and armor, and brought him aboard a crowded boat destined to the Arena…

Preferred Arms
Kamnar is skilled in a variety of weapons, but is especially trained in the claymore, or two-handed sword. He is accustomed to heavy armor; as a paladin, he wore the best steel armor forged in Hel-brok'thar, with the customary white loincloth over his armor adorned with the Pra’Flakor insignia, denoting his paladin status. His barbute-style helmet was also decorated with long, white plumes, which only the most esteemed warriors were allowed to wear. After he lost his rank as paladin, he was forced to dye his loincloth and plumes black, announcing his shameful exoneration for all to see.

***

By the way, I do intend to provide a picture of Kamnar; I personally paint (or at least sketch) all of my roleplay characters, so it may be a spell before it’s completed, but it will happen!

[Harbringer]

He looks wonderful. And so much lore for me/you to expand on

*Drooling intensifies*

Feel free to add him into the characters tab.

Currently adding more locations to the map so that it looks...well...more like a map

[The book of bad juju]

I might as well ask some questions about dwarvish society, before i get my history segment done Exactly what kind of dwarves are you expecting? Lord of the rings-style money-grubbers who dig because there's gold in them thar hills? Discworld-style silent and quiet types used to poverty and downtroddeness, who dig because it's safer then living on the surface? Or more Dwarf Fortress artisan, heavily into drink and liberty, who dig because with each layer down you find a whole rainbow of stones and gems just waiting to be arranged and set into some trinket?

I know there's not a whole lot of difference on the surface of each of these, but it'd help for me to get a feel for the world a bit.

[Harbringer]

The latter would be the most accurate out of those. They like revelry and innovation and really enjoy testing out new things they make. Money grubbers would be human and the quiet ones are the Elvies

[bluejay_gl]

@Harbringer Thanks! I was afraid I had gone a bit overboard with the lore, but I'm so glad you like it. Also, I'd love to work with you on world-building as we go, specifically concerning Hel-brok'thar and other Orcish tribes. (:

[Harbringer]

I'm quite loose when it comes to new lore. I like to see what my players come up with. I might keep this world and expand on it in future if this RP goes under. I really hope it doesn't.

EDIT: Map is updated!

[The book of bad juju]

Dwarf fortress dwarves are best dwarves, good choice.

Also, it's weird how sometimes you write way too much but feel like you wrote barely enough.

[Harbringer]

I never think ive written too much. Theres always room for purple prose.

Oh and juju, love the story and the inclusions of other towns. Much building of worlds will occur. Accepted. Into the character tab she goes. Im a little apprehensive thats she isnt a slave but i have an idea how to basically turn her into one...huehuehue.

[RainbowReindeer]

Oops sorry, I'll probably have my CS up tomorrow. Flooded with homework right now. Apologies!

[The book of bad juju]

I'd disagree. There's a time and a place for purple prose. A character sheet is not one of them.

[Harbringer]

Oops sorry, I'll probably have my CS up tomorrow. Flooded with homework right now. Apologies!

@RainbowReindeer

Take your time. Also juju, former post was edited In case you didnt notice. I know i wouldnt have.

EDIT: Also...whats a saltsmith? Like a chef who really likes his sodium intake?