EDIT: Thank you all for sending in Character Sheets! Unfortunately we've reached the limit for new characters and won't be accepting any more. Thanks again!

Hello!

I'm Lovejoy, GM for The Last Embers, an RP that's been running for the past two years here on RPGuild. We are currently a smaller group of writers who've created a very deep story that is now entering a new phase and have recently decided to open up the RP to new players. The Last Embers is an advanced RP with deep player-created lore and a focus on worldbuilding and characterization, but we are very casual in how we approach this. As a GM I value improvisation and player input, and one of my favorite aspects of running RPs is working with players to create cool and memorable storylines for their characters, meaning that I am willing to give a lot of trust to folks in letting them create what they want (as long as it makes sense for the story of course).

Since this RP has been going on for a while, the OOC has grown quite large. The opening post is pretty substantial, and many events have occurred in the story (too many to recap all at once). I wont expect new players to read everything in the OOC if they don't wish to, but I will gladly bring you up to speed on the more important aspects of the story.

Anyway, here is some info about the world of the RP itself and the characters you will be playing as.



The Last Embers takes place in a dark steampunk world that has been frozen in a magical ice age for untold eons. Seeking shelter from the unnatural cold, people in this world live within massive steam cities that exist under the thrall and protection of living gods who walk among humanity and rule over their flock like kings. These gods are all-powerful and are in constant war with one another, with their faithful adherents doing the fighting for them. Their worshipers wage war for them without scruple or complaint, for in the minds and hearts of the people, they owe their existence and survival to the gods themselves.

The story begins on the western continent, where the god-king Varya rules over the titanic steam city of Magnagrad. For the past two hundred years, the Varyan Empire, a monstrous nation of blood, iron and blackened snow, has conquered the entire continent and has imprisoned the gods of rival kingdoms and assimilated their flock into Varyan society. Having the entirety of the western continent conquered, Lord Varya now turns his armies to the east, where across the frozen oceans lies the mythical continent of El, unseen and untouched by western eyes.

We will be playing as a group of young Varyan inquisitors, or war priests, who've been sent on a missionary expedition to the mysterious continent of El, where they are to learn of the Gods who are worshiped there and if possible, convert the natives to the light of Varya.

Our characters, a group of recently ordained inquisitors, are powerful but inexperienced. They are barely out of their teens and are being given command of two powerful steam arks as well as a large force of common soldiers and support personnel to aid them on their mission.

Our group have known each other since childhood, and have bled and endured together through their years at the Red Seminary, the holy academy where the inquisitors of the Varyan Empire are trained.

Through their years together, they have formed bonds and rivalries. Some of you may see each other as trusted friends, hated enemies, or even lovers. Nothing is off limits.

Our characters are going to be priests, but they can have whatever kind of background and personality you want. They can come from noble houses, lived as orphans, former slaves, ect. They could be anything from mad zealots who would kill for their gods without question to conflicted individuals quietly wrestling with their faith. Remember, these will be young adults, so just because they're priests doesn't mean that they have to conform to what you typically think priests are like. They're human beings first, and should have their own specific character quirks.

Your story begins weeks into the expedition, as you and your companions find yourselves stranded on the ice after your ship is attacked. You have been surviving for weeks and your supplies are running low, but there on the horizon, you spot the lights of a distant ship heading in your direction...





***
Below is a link to the OOC if you want to jump in and read more info on the world (you can ignore the zeroth post). We mostly communicate through discord now, which is why the OOC appears a bit empty at the end. If you have any questions, let me know!

OOC: roleplayerguild.com/topics/167756-the…

Thanks for reading! :)

@Lovejoy def interested in this, specially after I started watching the tv show Terror on hulu.

I'm curious how a new player would join in on this scenario, if all of the llayer characters were novices that departed together. Are we pulling a "hey I was here the whole time you just didn't notice" kind of deal?

@Jamesyco Funny you should mention that! The original The Terror novel is one of the main inspirations for this. :p

@Dead Cruiser No, we won't retcon new players into the story. I have a few ideas about how to introduce your characters. The one I'm leaning toward most is having your characters as part of a different group of inquisitors who we meet up early in the expedition. Nothing's set in stone though! It's definitely a discussion we'll have.

@Lovejoy Checked the OOC (link is broken btw) and wow that's a lot of info! I wouldn't mind discussing character possibilities if you were open to it; a quick idea of where the IC is at would be welcome.

@LovejoyI generally have a rule against joining old games. However I am atleast currently interested. I'm happy to have a look around though.

Your post rate is sufficiently slow. I was concerned your in character would be overly laborious to catch up on. It appears that's not the case. Your out of character however is going to be rather tedious. Do you have a world anvil or something where you've actually collected the totality of your lore for review and study?

@Gallows Hi there! The majority of the OOC is plot discussion stuff and is absolutely non-essential to read. I'd say the first post of the OOC as well as the Character section is a good starting point for diving into the lore.

@Dead Cruiser Thanks for the heads up about the link, will fix it asap. As for discussing character ideas, I am available on discord and would be happy to read what you have in mind. I'm also Lovejoy on there. Don't hesitate to send me a PM.

As for where currently find ourselves plot-wise, our characters, who are part of an amalgamation of two different inquisitor warbands (Phoenix and Leviathan) are on the third day of the expedition. Soon the two arks that are ferrying them across the frozen sea, the Karamzina and the Grace, will reach a place known as the Narrow Gates, a treacherous passage that will lead them further east than anyone has ever been. We have received word that strange creatures are prowling the Gates, and thus are currently planning our strategy to deal with them.

Your characters, who are inquisitors of Warband Goliath, will soon rendezvous with us and help us in this battle. I have some ideas for how this will happen. We can discuss this later though. :)

I guess this discussion can come later, but is it feasible to play an older, more seasoned Inquisitor at this juncture? I enjoy the idea of a war-priest that is "soldier and scholar both." No promises I won't use that phrase IC if I get the chance.

@Dead Cruiser At the moment, I would rather we all be in a similar age range, since the story focuses on the youth of these characters and their growth. I am not completely against the idea of an older character however. We can probably make it work (with some caveats).

Been a while since I've seen a thread worth playing in. I'm interested if there is sti room. It will take me a day or so to really absorb the world so can create a character
Though.

@lovejoy Would I be allowed to play twins?

@Fuzzybootz Sure! That sounds fun.

I am so so down for this.

Yep, I believe that I’ll take a look into this.

I would defiantly be down if your still accepting new players. I’ll start looking over the stuff and see if I get any questions.

Though I lack the time to commit to another roleplay, especially one that is so deliciously crafted as this, I wanted to express my support. I will be reading avidly.

@Haeo Ha ha thanks!

@sly13 Sorry! Didnt catch your post. We are still accepting new folks!

Hi @Lovejoy - that name is familiar enough I’ll have to go digging, but fond-tinted memories, I think.

Is this still-still accepting? I’ve a good bit of catching up to do but also a rainy Saturday and a pot of coffee so it seems feasible if you all are still
looking...

@DotCom Hey you!

Yeah, we actually do know each other! We were in The Red Scarf Hymnal, a post-apocalyptic RP about kids who turned into demons when they reached a certain age. You played one of my favorite characters (well, two of them-- a little girl and her adopted older brother). It was YEARS ago so I don't blame you for the memories being a bit hazy :p.

I remember loving your writing at the time so I'd be stoked to have you aboard! Here is our discord server if you want to discuss possibly joining. No pressure, just a place where I've been onboarding our new members, ie recapping the story and answering ALL the questions. "p

discord.gg/q4XzV3f

Oh, wow, everything about this just made me so outrageously happy. And old. But mostly happy. Tonight, I think I need to hunt down your old work, but oh my goodness even just based on that, I’d have to think I’d be in. En route to Discord. What a turn of events!