The Silver Dagger was once a small company of Monster Hunters primarily operating out of the city of Temrin. Roughly one and half years ago, they found themselves embroiled in a conflict that threatened the entire city, facing hell hounds, a vicious warlock, and creatures they had never even seen or heard of before. And though they ultimately defeated the threat, the entire company is gone, either dead, or missing in action.

The City of Temrin, both grateful for the work of the monster hunters that saved them, and absolutely terrified that something like this could happen again, saw the need to reinstate the order themselves. As a result Vincent Thaler, Captain of the Temrin City guard, had been slowly setting the groundwork for a new Silver Dagger. This Silver Dagger would not just be a Monster Hunting organization hunting werewolves and vampires, but would also be an investigative group for any occult disasters. And instead of being running by poor mercenaries, it would have the full backing of the city.

Now, the Silver Dagger has been Reforged. Are you a potential recruit?


Hello everyone, I am Riknas, and will be once again co-GMing a story with Jester. Our Interest Check can be found here:

Interest Check

That said, it is worth noting that this is an advanced roleplay, and is expected as such to be treated like one. In this narrative, we will be introducing many characters, monsters, partners, friends, enemies, and everything in between. That said, characters can and will die along the way, and player characters will need to be active participants to stay both alive and relevant to the plot.

The Silver Dagger setting and narrative is the result of many a creative conversation between myself and Jester

So, let’s go on to how we introduce characters. Because we care more about the actual posts you make, the details needed for the character sheet will be relatively minimal. No one really wants to meet your character by like looking at their OKCupid page, we want you to describe, introduce, and see the development of your character in the IC. As a result there is one thing that we do differently. Before being accepted into the roleplay, you need to have an *example* post. And that doesn’t mean linking us a post to a previous roleplay of yours. With your character sheet, please include a short (2-3 paragraphs, but feel free to write more if you enjoy it) post about your character either ending up in Temrin, or how they ultimately heard about and decided to join the Silver Dagger.

So all you have to do is fill out the short character sheet, and then write an intro post for your character. If everything reads alright, then we’ll tell you that you’ve been accepted in the OOC thread. If there’s something wrong, we will tell you via PM what we see as being the problem with the sheet/post, and try to help you to fix it. This is not on a first-come, first-serve basis. We want to see good writing, which is just more fun for us, for the other players, and for you. There are no exceptions to the intro post, even Jester and I are doing it. If you don’t like it, then this roleplay is likely not for you. Without further delay, this is our example post, expect to see one from Jester, and we both look forward to seeing yours as well! If you have any questions, feel free to PM either of us.

Example Character Sheet:

Name: Vincent Thaler
Age: 42
Gender: Male
Description: 5’11”, with short cropped, light brown hair, and olive skin tone. With green eyes, He is mostly seen wearing the guardsman uniform of grey-iron chainmail, though he has added metal plates added to the chest, back and the joints. The front has a gryphon emblem, and a tower on the back.
Occupation: Temrin Guard Captain
Intro Post:

Working on a character now - should have one up tonight or tomorrow.

Sounds great.

Are there any limits on what races are available for characters to play or is it pretty much fair game as long as no one is ridiculously overpowered or in the wrong genre?

Hi. :).

I've got two questions. Will the characters you're playing personally have significant story advantages over the rest of us (see: plot armor) and be played in a fashion where the events somehow simply center around them?

Is this a planned plot or do the characters (ours) have a big enough role to play in where the story goes based on their actions?

I'm not trying to be pessimistic or be a rebel without cause with these questions, it's just that I have become quite wary of games of such genre where the thread starters play their own characters in it. I've seen alot gone awry and the players left because those roleplay's ts kept trying to subtly center the story around his own character or well. I just want to make sure this is nothing of the sort so that I can confIdently show interest in this.

Are there any limits on what races are available for characters to play or is it pretty much fair game as long as no one is ridiculously overpowered or in the wrong genre?

Good question. There aren't actually other races besides the human ones.

Hi. :).

I've got two questions. Will the characters you're playing personally have significant story advantages over the rest of us (see: plot armor) and be played in a fashion where the events somehow simply center around them?

Is this a planned plot or do the characters (ours) have a big enough role to play in where the story goes based on their actions?

That's an entirely fair question, so I'm going to do my best to alleviate your concerns. If Riknas and I are doing our job, then every character should get their chance to shine. An inherent problem with RPs like this is that when given too much free reign, a lot of people feel compelled to try and thrust their character into the spotlight. When this happens, the story gets convoluted and people in the thread begin having conflicts with one another. The point of having a strong sense of narrative is to try and avoid these complications.

That's just my word though, a show of this commitment should take place near the beginning. Thaler, for all he was as an example character sheet, is an NPC. He'll make infrequent appearances after the story starts. Riknas' actual character likely won't even show up until after the first small arc which, besides a few NPCs, will consist entirely of y'alls characters.

The way we've done this in the past is by taking on the ancillary roles ourselves by playing monsters, antagonists, and npcs while the other players work through these different plot points and make their own changes along the way.

Character sheet up. I took some liberties describing the outskirts of Temrin, but I can change them if they're super incorrect.

@Jester That's excellent. I'll confIdently show my interest then. Character profIle should be up in a day.

Character sheet up. I took some liberties describing the outskirts of Temrin, but I can change them if they're super incorrect.

I looked over it briefly, but I didn't see anything glaring. I'll give it a more thorough read through in the morning, but props for being the first person to get something up. Just chilling in the IRC for a few minutes before I hit the sack.

@potatochipgolem Awesome! Glad to have you then.

Hmm... Okay, so I'm going to spit out a bunch of questions, not all of which are about my present character ideas, but all of which I think are important for settling on a concept in a fantasy RP.

So:

1) So, humans only; I can dig that. Do we have fairly free reign over what nations of origin exist for our backstory? Are we allowed to play humans of different ethnicities?

2) So, magic is either imprecise but potent or precise but on a small scale, as far as player characters go. Are we limited to certain types of magic or nah? You mentioned illusions, healing and elemental in the interest check for instance; super summoning was outright said to be impossible without a lot of buddies to help out. Is there anything else we should think about if we consider magical characters? Also, is magic typically learned by focusing on a certain type (fire mage, illusionist, etc.)? I'm also guessing it's something that's taught rather than something you're born with.

3) How does the general public see mages? How do monster hunters and adventurers see mages? Are mages common on the road?

4) How badly do monsters plague the world? Are problems like the one faced in Temrin problems that villages around the world face, or is Temrin just a unique case of "oh crap"?

5) Curses. So, werewolves exist. Vampires exist. The occult exists. Hypothetically, then, are cursed characters - say, a berserker or someone whose appearance has been warped - also options? I doubt a monster would be allowed in a group of monster hunters, so I'm not even going to toss that into the ring.

6) Are we looking at a feudal setting with stark differences between the poor and wealthy? Are we looking at something a bit different?

7) Finally, what sort of period in history is this? Medieval technology? Renaissance? Dark Ages Europe? This is pretty important for me when considering what sort of equipment would be available to my character.

And I would like to reiterate: not all of these questions are related to what I want to play. However, in case my mind does some sort of spinny backwheely thing, they're all relevant to my character creation process.

7) Finally, what sort of period in history is this? Medieval technology? Renaissance? Dark Ages Europe? This is pretty important for me when considering what sort of equipment would be available to my character.

I assumed late medieval period, probably late 1400s but sans gunpowder, though I am pushing it with a character who uses a two-handed greatsword. I talked to the GM on IRC and, though I obviously cannot speak accurately for him, it seems like he does not give too much of a hoot.

I'll keep that in mind then. Not-too-much-of-a-hoot gives me a ton of flexibility if that's the case.

Unless you care what I think.

To use a Dutch idiom I only recently learned, I am a total "ant-fucker", and will get real bootysore if folks start using smallswords or sabers all up in here.

@InlaaIt'll take a bit to answer those, and I've got a date with the DMV later, so I'll make sure Rik gets to them.

I have made the post of a character. Let me know if there are any horrible mistakes I made and I will work to change them.

Unless you care what I think.

To use a Dutch idiom I only recently learned, I am a total "ant-fucker", and will get real bootysore if folks start using smallswords or sabers all up in here.

I'll make sure to use a late seventeenth century pata for you then.

@Jester You saind, in relation to magic, that precision was harder to achieve, but is it more powerful? For example, if a character were to send a wave of fire outwards in all directions, would that be more or less powerful than a cone of flames in front of them?

Hmm... Okay, so I'm going to spit out a bunch of questions, not all of which are about my present character ideas, but all of which I think are important for settling on a concept in a fantasy RP.

So:

1) So, humans only; I can dig that. Do we have fairly free reign over what nations of origin exist for our backstory? Are we allowed to play humans of different ethnicities?

2) So, magic is either imprecise but potent or precise but on a small scale, as far as player characters go. Are we limited to certain types of magic or nah? You mentioned illusions, healing and elemental in the interest check for instance; super summoning was outright said to be impossible without a lot of buddies to help out. Is there anything else we should think about if we consider magical characters? Also, is magic typically learned by focusing on a certain type (fire mage, illusionist, etc.)? I'm also guessing it's something that's taught rather than something you're born with.

3) How does the general public see mages? How do monster hunters and adventurers see mages? Are mages common on the road?

4) How badly do monsters plague the world? Are problems like the one faced in Temrin problems that villages around the world face, or is Temrin just a unique case of "oh crap"?

5) Curses. So, werewolves exist. Vampires exist. The occult exists. Hypothetically, then, are cursed characters - say, a berserker or someone whose appearance has been warped - also options? I doubt a monster would be allowed in a group of monster hunters, so I'm not even going to toss that into the ring.

6) Are we looking at a feudal setting with stark differences between the poor and wealthy? Are we looking at something a bit different?

7) Finally, what sort of period in history is this? Medieval technology? Renaissance? Dark Ages Europe? This is pretty important for me when considering what sort of equipment would be available to my character.

And I would like to reiterate: not all of these questions are related to what I want to play. However, in case my mind does some sort of spinny backwheely thing, they're all relevant to my character creation process.

1. Yes, humans of different ethnic backgrounds are perfectly fine. As far as nations, the most developed regions are the stretch of land that Temrin and its fellow city states occupy, the surrounding forest and countryside, and a desert to the east. So beyond that, you've got a fairly big window to brainstorm and come up with your own background. If you plan to create something as large as your own nation which your character is from, please discuss it with us first though.

2. I covered this in the interest check a good bit, but to start, magic isn't something that's taught. You are born with the ability, though many don't even realize they're capable. To do well with magic, typically some form of study or practice is involved. There are certain schools set up to train mages, but not everyone has the coin to fork over for that sort of thing. And, as long as it isn't too outlandish, the type of magic won't be restricted too terribly. Like I said though, skill is often limited by age (if you're older, you tend to be more experienced).

3. Mages aren't too terribly common, but seeing one in person wouldn't do much beyond spark a mild interest. I don't have per-capita estimates in my head, but I'll say it isn't particularly big. Most people don't have a problem with mages as long as they're not doing ritualistic blood sacrifices or burning people alive.

4. There are monsters and occult things in other parts of the world, but Temrin is kind of a special case of "oh crap," though it isn't the only one. Some places are just more inherently plagued by such things than the next.

5. Hmmm. Gonna have to get back to you on that.

6. Think Renaissance Italy. A bunch of large cities with a decent amount of wealth and everyone getting a share. The differences between the poor and the rich aren't as stark as they were in 12th century England, but the divide still exists. You'll always have the super poor and the super wealthy.

7. As long as you're not using guns and cannons, I'm pretty chill. Crossbows seem to be a good measuring stick for this sort of thing, but don't use that as a loophole for some sort of repeating crossbow contraption that's capable of firing 55 bolts a second.

I hope all of that helps.

Yep, that all helps a lot @Jester! I'll get to work on a character sheet, thanks.

7. As long as you're not using guns and cannons

God damnit.

...Be right back!

Hah... That's kind of funny. I'm sorry I haven't looked at your post yet, but the DMV hasn't really given me a chance to. I will say this though, we didn't call it the silver bullet.