Def gonna fill out the region my gnoll's from once she's finished
I'm already making a kingdom of my own. Too much hype? Maybe, but it's just that I'm excited to start and I DEFINITELY want to make at least one or two locations.
<Snipped quote by MagusDream>
I've been working on origin locations for my characters! I'm so excited to see what others are working on. Ehhh! Excitement overload.
here's my guy!
Fern
Race, Age, Time in the Caravan:
Undead, around 120 years old (~21 when he died), 4 months
Appearance:
Fern is a tall and gangly guy, with slouched shoulders and a permanent slump to his walk. His skin is a sickly, light green with splotches of blue, and feels ice cold to the touch. It’s also always a little… wet. His auburn hair looks like, if he took care of it better, it would fall in beautiful ringlets to his shoulder – however, being who he is, it’s just a mat of messy curls pulled up into what may in some eyes constitute as a bun. His eyes are a dull brown, peering out from permanently downcast eyelids, and a nasty scar runs across his face from temple to chin in a diagonal. He’s usually dressed in dark, drab clothes a few sizes to big for him. If it’s not the undead thing that stands out, two other things might; the amulet with an eyeball set in the centre that he wears around his neck, or the frilly doll that he’s always carrying around.
History:
Fern (born Fernando Aguez in a dark, distant past) drowned over a century ago, and he doesn’t much like to talk about it, okay? Yes, he fell into a river, yes it was tragic and also kind of stupid, but do people keep having to bring it up? Anyway, yeah, so he’s been dead for a bit, and waking up washed on shore with mottled green skin definitely comes in the top ten of worst ways he’s ever been woken up. Point is, he’s not alive but he sure ain’t dead either, and that kind of sucks when it comes to like, society and stuff. Because people are very good at putting things in boxes: either you’re alive, or you’re dead, and you’re sure as hell not a freaky in between, whatever that may be. He wants to ask those people what they think he is then, but generally when he comes near them they start running and screaming and grabbing the pitchforks, so he’s gotten quite used to not asking those kind of questions in small, religious towns. Bigger cities are a bit more openminded, and not being able to die (or live, mind you) comes in quite useful when you’re trying to kill (unalive, that is, for those a little squeamish) some assholes who didn’t pay their bar tabs. No, it ain’t the cleanest work, but it pays.
Personality:
I’m sure you’ll have figured out by now that Fern is maybe not the most friendly of guys. Can’t even blame it on dying and being resurrected; he was a bit of a dick before that too, but undeath certainly didn’t make him more cheerful. Regardless, he’s a loyal sort and a hard worker if you put him to work with something that interests him. Most of his grumpy façade is just that: a façade. When it comes to it, he does care for things, it’s just hard to care for people when most of them are ageing and you’re stuck with algae growing on your ribs.
Motivation:
So, about that killing people. Yeah, turns out there are authorities looking out for that, and maybe sometimes you leave a bit too much evidence and then it turns out that, hey, is that guy even breathing? Oh shit we got a murdering zombie on our hands.
Yeah, that. The caravan seemed like a good respite for a while; see some new places, maybe find somewhere to work. And it’s a good place to hide when the guards are on your ass. That helps too.
Skills, Strengths and Weaknesses, and Tools:
So, first off, unable to die. That’s a thing. Doesn’t mean he’s not able to be damaged, though; if you were to cut him up into multiple pieces and then scattered those pieces across the globe, not much he can do about that. Other than probably complain a lot. With undead comes some benefits, such as not having to eat, drink or breathe, and not ageing, however, it has its downsides as well. While it doesn’t hurt him, sunlight makes him weaker and can dry him out. He’s fast in water and rain makes him stronger, but just about anyone can outrun him on land. He’s pretty strong, physically, at least stronger than his lanky figure suggests, and undeath gave him a nasty set of sharp teeth and nails.
What They Most Want: If you’d ask him, he’d say big money, but really, he wouldn’t mind being put to rest. Undeath becomes tiring and boring after a while.
If They Had a DnD Alignment, It Would Be: Chaotic neutral
Three Likes: Salmon, preferably raw; stacks of that good cash money; rainy evenings.
Three Dislikes: The Sun™; nuts (he’s not allergic, he just doesn’t enjoy the texture); authorities
Do They Follow Their Heart or Their Mind?: Heart, for sure. Why think when you can just go and worry about the repercussions later.
Worst Fear: Being left out in the desert.
Favorite Color: Gold. It’s ironic because it’s also the colour of the sun.
Most Like The Animal: Is it ironic to say a very grumpy fish. Realistically though, he’s more like a crab, always up for violence and perfectly willing to drag other people down in the bucket with him.
Favorite Time of Day: Sunset. Begone, sun.
How They Dress: Shoddily. He likes shiny things, but wearing expensive clothing is kind of useless if you’re always dumping yourself in fresh sewage.
Favorite Season: Autumn. Lots of rain, but not yet cold enough to freeze water.
What Gods/Spirits/Whatevers They Worship (If Any): None, neither before or after his death. He’s not a spiritual sort.
<Snipped quote by Katakuri>
Honestly, visiting the areas our various characters our from is one of the things I'm most looking forward to in this RP. Like, yes, lemme see y'all's weird hometowns.
I've been working on origin locations for my characters! I'm so excited to see what others are working on. Ehhh! Excitement overload.
Honestly, visiting the areas our various characters our from is one of the things I'm most looking forward to in this RP. Like, yes, lemme see y'all's weird hometowns.
@Silverstein
I'm afraid that your sheet will have to be one of the ones that I put on the back-burner. We can PM if you want to know the specifics, but at the moment I don't believe that I can accept Tiny Tim (despite his wonderful name) into the RP.
<Snipped quote by Tortoise>
What about an older man who used to be in six different cults and did a lot of things, as well as learned a lot of non-mainstream or 'less than acceptable' magics, but changed his life around finally....as well as secretly hides his past so he can help do things like identify or work with cursed magic items, peddle his services and knowledge at each stop to help customers deal with such things, summon the occasional horror from beyond our dimension to help move stuck carts (etc), and helps deal with other occult matters the caravan faces as he peddles his services at each stop because he's trying to be a good guy? XD
Hoogarth ‘the Hooligan’ Hooghes
Race, Age, Time in the Caravan: Hoogarth is a strigiforme, a somewhat rare variety of demi-human beastman who arose several centuries ago in a murky, magic-blighted region known as the Velvet Wood, where the aftermath of a legendary magical disaster known as the Hypnagogia left the entire forest valley irreversibly changed. With their obvious resemblance to owls, strigiformes are also called ‘hoomans’, and they have a reputation for being quaint, folksy naturalists, being both skilled hunters and oafish buffoons. Extremely light on their feet, keen of eye, and silent in motion, they are pure carnivores, and more dangerous than most people give them credit for, perhaps purposefully so. Their lifespan is shorter than humans, so Hoogarth is considered an adult at 14 years. He’s only been with the caravan for five days
Appearance: A proud member of the strigiforme race’s Great Horned Lineage, Hoogarth stands tall at 6’6”. The fluffy feathers that adorn his body are a desaturated dark brown with a slight mauve sheen in the light, a tint which persists on the bare gray skin of his five-fingered hands and two-toed feet with their short, sharp talons. His most prominent features are his big, expressive eyebrow tufts, which he uses to convey most of his emotions, although at rest their diagonal angle make him look surly. His eyes gleam like golden coins
History: Above the trackless pine expanses of the windy northeastern highlands tower the remote Samotny Mountains, which in turn shelter a forested valley once known to very few. Following the Hypnogogia, however, that place changed, the earth and forces of nature themselves forever altered. As if its bottom had simply fallen out, the valley became a massive pit stretching miles into the earth, where gravity extends omnidirectionally from the center. The result was a forest in the shape of a gargantuan tunnel, with plants and trees that grow at odd angles, and giant redwoods capable of twisted all the way from one side to the other. This Velvet Wood, clad in eternal twilight, is the home of the strigiforme race. The clans who remain here have hunted down the worst of the monsters and other threats that arose after the Hypnogogia, solidifying the woodland’s gentle silence, and with it their quiet dominion.
Many strigiformes emigrated from the Velvet Wood over the centuries, however, and Hoogarth’s clan is among them. Borne to Whoodrow and Mathoolda, he’s the oldest of three brothers, and from childhood he, Hoobert, and Hoosea were thick as thieves. Strigiformes found outside of their ancestral home often put on airs of sophistication and importance while styling themselves ‘Nobles from Afar’ as they settle into lives as merchants, clerks, and officials, but others serve as messengers or hunters, and Hoogarth’s family fell into that latter group. From an early age he got used to a fast and loose way of living, traveling from place to place propelled by the winds of fortune. Rather than go their separate ways like most strigiformes who came of age, however, the three brothers decided to stick together as the memorable Hooligans. Using gliders they ranged far and wide. Together they got into all sorts of scrapes and mischief, never thieves but always earnest practitioners of ‘finders keepers’, making plenty of friends and a couple enemies along the way. Sometimes they ate richly, sometimes they went hungry, and more than once they got chased out of town, but through ups and downs the brothers always had one another’s backs.
Still, after a while the trio yearned for something different, and they decided to split up to see what they could get up to on their own. Before parting ways, however, they swore to meet up again every six months, always agreeing on the next place to meet when they reunited to swap stories over a hot meal and strong drinks. During their most recent reunion, Hoogarth caught wind of the Pilgrim’s Caravan, and he decided to see what sort of adventures he could embark upon with that renowned motley crew.
Personality: One need only spend a couple hours with Hoogarth to realize that the stereotype of owls as stoic, wise, and mysterious is almost entirely off-base. He is emotive, outspoken, bombastic, short-tempered, and hot-blooded, not quick to fight but quick to say exactly what’s on his mind, and quicker still to poke fun at people, including himself; if he had a sleeve, Hoogarth would wear his heart upon it. Like most strigiformes, he thinks he’s a lot smarter than he actually is, and is a shameless boast with a boatload of confidence especially when it comes to tomfoolery, even if he constantly ends up putting his foot in his beak afterward. That said, he will also shamelessly bail on situations he feels bad about. He loves hype and adventure, so both the exciting journey and the rewarding destination keep him moving, especially because he tends to squander his money on fine dining and luxury the minute he gets his claws on any. There isn’t a great deal of depth to a freewheeling owl without two brain cells to rub together, but he does see himself above the rules, regulations, and norms of human society, reasoning that if he’s determined to be an outcast by birth, he’s not going to give a damn about what anyone else thinks of him. Life’s too short to give a hoot!
Motivation: Live life to the fullest!
Skills, Strengths and Weaknesses, and Tools:
- + Hunting: Hoogarth is an expert hunter, with a great deal of knowledge and experience when it comes to hunting small to medium animals for food and basic materials. He is familiar with common creatures’ traits and behaviors, including where to find them, how to kill them, and how to make the most of their remains. His knives are all he needs to do so, but he can also use traps pretty well
- + Jerky Afficionado: Preparation is everything, and Hoogarth has mastered the craft of preparing the ultimate food. Tasty, protein-rich, and long-lasting, jerky is his ration of choice for the road. He has a kit that takes the form of a knapsack, which contains pouches of salt and whatever spices he can get his hands on, a miniature smoker, a tinderbox, and a couple other odds and ends that allow him to marinate, cure, and dry meat into jerky so long as he has enough time
- + Stealth: Though not quite to the immaculate standard of real owls, partially because they cannot fly, strigiformes are uncannily good at silent movement. Their natural instincts translate well to sneak attacks and even assassination. Some tools that play into Hoogarth's roguish ways are caltrops, bolos, spare throwing knives, and smoke bombs
- + Mobility: Physically fit strigiformes are fast and light, great jumpers and acrobatic maneuverers. Moving around especially in vertical environments comes easy to them, and they’re naturals when it comes to hit-and-run attacks. One extra tool Hoogarth possesses is a glider that he can unfurl after leaping into the air, allowing him to coast along at a good clip until he reaches the ground again
- + Vision: The gift that strigiforme kind supposedly sacrificed half their brain power for, according to jokers and critics. Their night vision is excellent, bordering on magical, and thanks to necks that can rotate 270 degrees, not much can escape from their sight
- - Weak: Even the biggest and most martially skilled strigiformes are not good at traditional fighting. They’re too light, without the sturdiness or muscle for a sustained brawl, so they can’t take much damage especially from blunt force that could break their hollow bones. They also can’t lift or carry as much as humans of comparable size, which includes weapons and armor
- - Pigeonholed: Due to being on the weaker side physically, strigiformes are limited when it comes to combat. They cannot reliably take on any defensive roles, and even the strength it takes to draw bows is beyond them, forcing their rangers to use shortbows, hand crossbows, bolas, and boomerangs. Many strigiformes pursue their innate magical arts as a result, but Hoogarth never bothered to cultivate that talent, so the tricks and traps of a dextrous rogue are all he’s really got
- - Dumbass: Enough said. Outside of his areas of expertise, he’s pretty much a country bumpkin
Greatest Desire: To live forever!
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Three Likes: Red meat, good snoozes in soft beds, ego trips
Three Dislikes: Getting wet, heavy loads, staying up late
Driving Organ: Heart
Worst Fear: His own mortality!
Favorite Color: Gold
Most Like The Animal: Some kind of bird, maybe…?
Favorite Time of Day: Just after midnight
Style of Dress: Like most strigiformes Hoogarth prefers to wear loose, baggy clothing that does not tamp down his feathers, so his garb is a set of ruddy brown hide supplemented pads that incorporate a dense weave of mint-green fibers, light but thick and tough to help dispel blunt force that could otherwise take a toll on his hollow bones. There are no extraneous elements that could make extra noise. Two knife scabbards cling to his belt, and tied to his left forearm is the skull of the largest Dire Rat he’s ever killed as a makeshift shield. Overall, his clothing gives gives him a look that lands smack dab in the center of a three-way Venn diagram between hunter, bandit, and shaman
Favorite Season: Winter
Beliefs: The strigiformes of Velvet Wood have a quiet reverence for the entity they call the Quiet, whose near-awakening formed the crux of the infamous Hypnogogia hundreds of years ago. While the band of heroes who quelled that threat and prevented untold disaster destroyed the Hypnogogic Order responsible for that event, with even the very name of their eldritch deity scrubbed from the annals of history, a faint vestige of its unfathomable glory remained in every root, leaf, and briar of the Velvet Wood, seared into the hearts of the first strigiformes who awoke amidst the arcane fallout. They both fear and revere their ‘creator’, assured that someday it will awaken in a world ripe for change. So they watch and wait, making the most of the lives granted to them, until the Quiet comes
Understandable. I wasn't planning to make him just, like, some edgelord stabman type, definitely not blatant about it and possibly clever and charismatic enough to not get found out easily. I can fiddle with the specifics to more your liking, moreso wanting to feel out if you'd prefer characters with more scruples or not.
I got other character ideas in mind even if this one falls through, too!
<Snipped quote by Crusader Lord>
TwT
@Tortoise
@Expendable Death visual reference?