3 Guests viewing this page
Hidden 5 mos ago 2 mos ago Post by Estylwen
Raw
GM
Avatar of Estylwen

Estylwen The Villainess

Member Online






I need to know where you stand.
On the side of Power, the side of Rebellion, or on your own?






+++ Welcome to a tale of woe, bitter misery, corrupt officials, and the struggles behind a facade of gold. +++
+++ Power corrupts, but in the right hands, peace can once again be restored to the land. +++


The Seeds




The seeds of the Glasic Fields near the center of the Arrowfell province, a day’s journey from Hathforth, are a source of power in the form of small crystals. They were discovered two years ago and have catapulted the scales of power all across the land. Anyone who holds one could have the ability to transmute iron to gold, cure illnesses, and create magical feats once thought impossible. Most seeds are little good except as a good luck charm. But some — some, the especially rare ones — can change a common person into a noble and create enough wealth to satisfy a middle-class family for generations.

Currently, all reaping of seeds is done by the Royal Gardeners, protected by armed soldiers. The seeds that are reaped are taken straight to the castle in Hathforth, straight to the Wizard Queen herself. Common folk never get as much of a glimmer of one of these hanging off the neck of a noble passing by in the street.

Corruption runs thick, some not in favour of the Wizard Queen. Some soldiers and seed bearers have been paid off, sharing a fraction of the seed spoils with shady unknowns within the province.

The price of a seed, a rare one, could be the equivalent of twelve orchards, or one hundred cattle. In regards to gold, one or two chests-worth might suffice. It’s no wonder dukes and duchesses that wear these (or hide them) have well-paid guards to protect them.

Due to the rarity of high-quality seeds, a House typically has only one seed worn by the reigning duke or duchess.







The Province of Arrowfell




The Arrowfell province has an ethereal beauty about it. Warm air from its southern coastline gives way to abundant forests with trees knarled with age, and all types of wildlife. Wolves, bears, deer, and even the occasional fairy or imp. The summers are often coupled with heavy rain and foggy nights, while the winters are mild with chilled rain, and the occasional light snowfall.

The picturesque scenes of the Arrowfell province are a facade for the bloody history that stains the earth in these parts. The cities within the province have fought many times throughout the generations before, with peace only coming temporarily twenty years ago with the rise of young Ludwig II. Ludwig II was able to unite all the cities under one banner - his banner - and unite the province against any outside forces. He resided in the Hathforth Castle up until two years ago, when the to-be Wizard Queen violently destroyed him.



The City of Hathforth




Known for its bustling cobblestone streets, jolly tavern scenes, and busy fishing port, the city of Hathforth could be mistaken for a city brimming with life and hope, resting at the southern edge of the Arrowfell province, meeting the ocean.

However, with the recent rise of the Wizard Queen, taxes have increased, and the working person can barely make ends meet. More are starting to turn to crime to make a living, with organizations like the Thieves Guild making a rise.

If you have an affinity for magic, you have the potential to make more of a living here, with adventurers coming from all over to get their weapons enchanted and to pick up staffs and scrolls. Along with the Church, the College of Hathforth is a prominent face, teaching those magic with the coin to pay for the illustrious college.

A stone wall rings the city, with gates heavily monitored for who and what enters and leaves. This wall eventually meets up with the Hathforth Castle, where a perfectly manicured coble road leads and nobles with pristine carriages are often seen moving to and from.

The Hathforth Castle





All the dukes and duchesses of neighboring cities or towns within the Arrowfell province come to attend court, paying fealty and taxes to the Wizard Queen. Much is said within the Hathforth Castle, not all of it good. Late at night, while the guards do their rounds, and most of the dukes and duchesses are asleep in the guest chambers, some stay up late in the night, plotting for power.

If you were unaware of the inner power struggle the courts were having, you would mistake the castle for a very jovial and lively place, with galas and banquets hosted frequently by the Wizard Queen.




Roles:

Wizard Queen Evelyn Keove - @Estylwen
Duke Laurent Rhinecliff - @ERode
Court Mage/Advisor Eirwen Blackthorne - @LunarParadox
Captain Roderic "Ironhand" Thorne - @twannyman
Spymaster Lady Safina Haliel - @Psyker Landshark
Student Mèlisande Tearmoon & Kronos - @Izurich
Duchess Altina Freya Bastille, The "Valkyrie" - @Irradiant
Duchess Mirie Agustria of Caelin, The Merchant - @Click This
Sir Knight Roland Corrin - @Theyra
The Honourable Callum Prosser - @The Otter






Rules:
- No meta-gaming. You control your PC and NPCs, and not anything else.
- Post at least once a week. Those who are inactive for longer than two weeks may lose their PC in a terrible tragedy.
- Ideas and plotting are encouraged. Collabs are recommended.




The CS:

[hider=Character Name]
[center]
[img]No larger than 500 px high[/img]
[h1]Title, First Name House Name[/h1]
[b]Age[/b] | [b]Race[/b] | | [b]Gender[/b] | [b]Height (in feet)[/b] | [b]Weight (in pounds)[/b]
[/center]

[b]Goal:[/b] (Do they want to get closer to the Queen? Be part of the rebellion?)

[b]History:[/b] (A brief history of who they are.)

[b]Seed:[/b] (A description of how it looks and what it can do.)

[b]Magic:[/b] (All spells your duke/duchess knows. Max of ten spells, three of which being high-level. If it's not written here, they can't do it.)

[b]Skills:[/b] (All skills they know.)

[b]Faction:[/b] (Do they lead a faction, like the Thieves Guild? One faction is allowed per PC.)

[b]City:[/b] (Tell me about the city they lead, how far away it is from Hathforth.)

[b]Assets:[/b] (Tell me about what assets your city has, a silver mine, or lots of farmland?)
[/hider]


NPC Sheet:

[hider=Character Name]
[center]
[img]No larger than 500 px high[/img]
[h1]First Name Last Name[/h1]
[b]Age[/b] | [b]Gender[/b] | [b]Race[/b]
[/center]

[b]Description:[/b] (A little about who they are.)

[b]Magic/Seed:[/b] (If applicable.)
[/hider]


Relationship Sheet:

[hider=Character Name's Relationships]
[table][row][/row][row][cell][b][h3]Character Name[/h3][/b]
(Description of relationship, how your character feels towards the other, if they are friends or not.)
[/cell]
[cell][color=2e2c2c]________________________[/color]
[color=2e2c2c]________________________[/color]
[color=2e2c2c]________________________[/color]
[i]"In-character quote of relationship."[/i]
[/cell][/row]
[row][cell][b][h3]Character Name[/h3][/b]
(Description of relationship, how your character feels towards the other, if they are friends or not.)
[/cell]
[cell][color=2e2c2c]________________________[/color]
[color=2e2c2c]________________________[/color]
[color=2e2c2c]________________________[/color]
[i]"In-character quote of relationship."[/i]
[/cell]
[/row][/table]
[/hider]

Hidden 5 mos ago Post by Estylwen
Raw
GM
Avatar of Estylwen

Estylwen The Villainess

Member Online

Hidden 5 mos ago Post by Click This
Raw
Avatar of Click This

Click This Part-time Kaiserin

Member Seen 5 hrs ago

Given your setup, I'm assuming the position of the rebelling duke/duchess is also up for claiming?
Hidden 5 mos ago 5 mos ago Post by ERode
Raw
coGM
Avatar of ERode

ERode A Spiny Ant

Member Seen 4 hrs ago

So, how much of this RP takes place inside Hathforth Castle (e.g balls and feasts and politics and yapping) and how much of it takes place in the broader Arrowfell province? You mentioned an interfering duke that's preventing the Queen from getting total control of the Glasic Fields, but then there's also a straight up rebellion in place that I'm assuming isn't exactly peaceful.

Regardless,
Hidden 5 mos ago Post by twannyman
Raw
Avatar of twannyman

twannyman TwentyTwaaaaaaan

Member Seen 19 days ago

Are we always meant to be a lord? I was considering playing as a Mercenary captain who has his own band still trying to become a lord, a bit like the historical Robert de Hauteville
Hidden 5 mos ago Post by Estylwen
Raw
GM
Avatar of Estylwen

Estylwen The Villainess

Member Online

Given your setup, I'm assuming the position of the rebelling duke/duchess is also up for claiming?


The main rebelling duke who hasn't paid his taxes for months I've given to @ERode. However, having said that, anyone can rebel. They can rebel as loudly or as quietly as they want, whether that's feeding information to the growing rebellion, or straight up refusing to pay their own taxes, and meeting with ERode in secret.

Does that still fit with the character you're imagining? :)

So, how much of this RP takes place inside Hathforth Castle (e.g balls and feasts and politics and yapping) and how much of it takes place in the broader Arrowfell province? You mentioned an interfering duke that's preventing the Queen from getting total control of the Glasic Fields, but then there's also a straight up rebellion in place that I'm assuming isn't exactly peaceful.

Regardless,


Yes, you would be the interfering duke, and the people know from rumours on the wind that you have your eye on the crown, or something like that. The rebelling duke and the feelings of the people are one. However, no move, no big rebellion move, at least, has been made yet. We are on the cusp of it, and the Wizard Queen will be doing all they can to squash any rumours of rebellion, whether it's from the duke or from the people.

I imagine the main places the RP would take place is within Hathforth Castle, the Glasic Fields, and within the cities of neightbouring dukes. There is no limit to where we can go within the Arrowfell province.

How does all that sound?

Are we always meant to be a lord? I was considering playing as a Mercenary captain who has his own band still trying to become a lord, a bit like the historical Robert de Hauteville


I think your idea is great; it's not necessary to play as a lord. If that's something you want to move towards, you would only need to disregard anything in the CS that might not apply, like having your own city.

There's no limit to what you can make or do, as long as it revolves around the Queen and the coming fires of rebellion.
Hidden 5 mos ago Post by ERode
Raw
coGM
Avatar of ERode

ERode A Spiny Ant

Member Seen 4 hrs ago

Got it. Also, what races are there? We sticking with just humans?
Hidden 5 mos ago Post by Estylwen
Raw
GM
Avatar of Estylwen

Estylwen The Villainess

Member Online

Got it. Also, what races are there? We sticking with just humans?


There's humans, elves, dwarves, any fantasy race you want is available in the Arrowfell province, seeing as Hathforth's port makes it a hub for trading.
Hidden 5 mos ago Post by twannyman
Raw
Avatar of twannyman

twannyman TwentyTwaaaaaaan

Member Seen 19 days ago

Great! I'll get started on my merc band and all that.

I think your idea is great; it's not necessary to play as a lord. If that's something you want to move towards, you would only need to disregard anything in the CS that might not apply, like having your own city.

There's no limit to what you can make or do, as long as it revolves around the Queen and the coming fires of rebellion.


1x Like Like
Hidden 5 mos ago Post by ERode
Raw
coGM
Avatar of ERode

ERode A Spiny Ant

Member Seen 4 hrs ago

Band of the Falcon inbound.
1x Like Like
Hidden 5 mos ago Post by ERode
Raw
coGM
Avatar of ERode

ERode A Spiny Ant

Member Seen 4 hrs ago

Duke Laurent Rhinecliff

54 y/o | Human | Male | 5'9 | 212 lbs

Goal: Lead the rebellion to control the Glasic Fields and wrest power away from the bloodstained hands of the Wizard Queen.

History: The third son of the previous Duke of Rhinecliff, who rose to prominence after his brothers refused the weight of the title. By all accounts, he is a gentle, kind-hearted duke, one who has gained the adoration of his populace through policies that shielded the commonfolk from much of the consequences of the Wizard Queen's bloody ascension. It is as his father and his father's father, and his father's father's father says:

Rhinecliff endures, no matter the change of the tides.

Thus is the weight of the title, standing above the detritus of the tides, piercing past the barrier to the sky, in order to bask in the All-Force's light. When the young King had raised his banner and united all of Arrowfell, Duke Rhinecliff had fallen in line, understanding the value of peace. When the sorcerous Queen had burned down those halcyon days, Duke Rhinecliff had fallen in line, understanding the value of compliance.

And now, there laid seeds of miracle, plentiful and clustered. There laid Hathforth, seething in the loss of their rightful king, a stallion trembling beneath the abuse of its new owner. There laid the Church, their divine miracles paling in the glory of true power. There laid the den of dukes and duchesses, of guildsmen and shadow-rulers, the province sliding back further into those chaotic, bloody, inglorious days.

He had been the first to step upon the starting line, having seen what laid before the horizon.

Now, the Duke of Rhinecliff will act.

Seed: The ring worn on the middle finger of Duke Rhinecliff's right hand is known as the Memorimime Signet, a Seed that allows for the memories of the wearer to be imprinted upon flat surfaces, whether in the form of static images or in the form of text. This manifests as a projected light from the Seed embedded within the signet ring, which near-instantly places the memory upon the surface it shines upon.

Imprints made by the Memorimime Signet are permanent and cannot be removed. However, the Signet itself can be used to overwrite previous memories at the will of the user. This overwriting does not require the same projecting light to be shone upon the original surface.

Magic:
Ignite - Sets a small flame atop a specified object. Often used to light cigars.
Messenger Bird - Animates a piece of paper or parchment, folding it into the shape of a bird which will then fly off to a specified destination.
Distant Grasp - Projects a telekinetic force within a certain distance, grasping at an object before pulling it within reach of the caster.
Seal Room - Wards a room, preventing those outside the room from entering or eavesdropping through physical or magical means.
Magic Arrow - Fires a magical projectile at an imagined trajectory. If a small object is held in the hand while this spell is cast, the object can be fired instead.
Shroud - Fills the surrounding space with a disorientating fog, where visibility is reduced to zero and sounds are distorted and echoed.
Silence - Shuts someone the fuck up in particular.
Shield - A common spell for self-defense. Can be concentrated into a small point or cast in a bubble around one's self.

Geas - An ancient spell craft during Arrowfell's bloodied past, when the fey courts took too great an interest in human conflict and mankind needed sorceries that could equally bind the traitorous and the capricious. Enables the creation of contracts that prohibit the breaking of the terms and intentions set by the contract. Doing so anyways would inevitably lead to the offender's death.
Frenzy - A strange scent fills the air, an arcane simulacra of the potions taken by the barbarian vanguards of days since past to work up the courage to charge forwards back when the secrets of riding and plated armor had not yet been uncovered. Drives those who smell it into an emotional frenzy as their thoughts slide away and baser instincts take root. Can be fine-tuned to affect only those that the caster wishes to.

Skills: Horse Riding, Religious Knowledge, Poetry, Swordsmanship, Military Strategy, Leadership

Faction: Outside of being the Duke of House Rhinecliff, Laurent is a well-known supporter of the Church of the All-Force, and has influence suitable for one of the establishment's more significant donors.

City: Two days travels east of Hathforth lies the city of Odonfield, ruled by the Duke of Rhinecliff. Rolling hills have been cut into terraces for agriculture, while rivers have been split into streams in order to provide for the needs of farmers across the land. Ancient cairns mark the boundary line between the lands of man and the lands of the fey, and by the Duke's decree, hunters still must observe ancient tradition when encroaching upon the forest to hunt. The Church of the All-Force has a strong presence within Odonfield, grand structures raised up in honor of its saints, and subsequently, Odonfield itself has become a place for the faithful to journey towards. Others come to study and further their scholastic or artistic fields, seeking the patronage of the Duke and the shelter that the great libraries within the Rhinecliff Estate provides.

Assets: Odonfield is a cultural and academic landmark for those of the Arrowfell province, and plenty of hopefuls travel to the city in hopes of catching the eye of the generous, open-minded Duke of Rhinecliff. Few are truly diamonds in the rough, but that doesn't stop them from spending money for the privilege of remaining in the city. Perhaps it is fitting then that Odonfield's greatest exports, then, are that of tobacco and opioids, substances ostensibly needed to stimulate or soothe one's mind. Which duchy in Arrowfell hasn't been gifted a box of Odonfield's finest cigars? Which smoking den hasn't been filled with the haze of Odonfield's fields?
Hidden 5 mos ago Post by Estylwen
Raw
GM
Avatar of Estylwen

Estylwen The Villainess

Member Online

@ERode Looks great! Please add him to the character tab.
Hidden 5 mos ago Post by Psyker Landshark
Raw
Avatar of Psyker Landshark

Psyker Landshark return to monke

Member Seen 9 hrs ago

Cooking an idea, but gimme a day or three.
Hidden 5 mos ago Post by Click This
Raw
Avatar of Click This

Click This Part-time Kaiserin

Member Seen 5 hrs ago

Working on an idea but will need a couple days too, yeah.
Hidden 5 mos ago Post by ERode
Raw
coGM
Avatar of ERode

ERode A Spiny Ant

Member Seen 4 hrs ago

One’s literally just the alt of the other.
1x Like Like
Hidden 5 mos ago Post by Estylwen
Raw
GM
Avatar of Estylwen

Estylwen The Villainess

Member Online

@Psyker Landshark, @Click This Sounds good, looking forward to it!
Hidden 5 mos ago Post by Estylwen
Raw
GM
Avatar of Estylwen

Estylwen The Villainess

Member Online


Hidden 5 mos ago Post by Psyker Landshark
Raw
Avatar of Psyker Landshark

Psyker Landshark return to monke

Member Seen 9 hrs ago

@Estylwen

Gonna float some basic concepts past you for approval since I haven't decided which to run yet:

A. Noble mage who takes advantage of the Wizard Queen's rule to delve deep into forbidden magics. Necromancer, training acolytes and raising undead to bolster his domain.

B. Royal spymaster/assassin. Probably originally hired on while Evelyn was conquering the province, then converted/grandfathered into the position of head spook.
Hidden 5 mos ago Post by ERode
Raw
coGM
Avatar of ERode

ERode A Spiny Ant

Member Seen 4 hrs ago

Amulak v2?
Hidden 5 mos ago Post by Estylwen
Raw
GM
Avatar of Estylwen

Estylwen The Villainess

Member Online

@Estylwen

Gonna float some basic concepts past you for approval since I haven't decided which to run yet:

A. Noble mage who takes advantage of the Wizard Queen's rule to delve deep into forbidden magics. Necromancer, training acolytes and raising undead to bolster his domain.

B. Royal spymaster/assassin. Probably originally hired on while Evelyn was conquering the province, then converted/grandfathered into the position of head spook.


Both of these are great! I can see why you'd be torn to choose.

A necromancer would be super powerful. So much so that Evelyn may feel a bit threatened by it, and cause undue spying to be done.

A spymaster that survived the ascension and wasn't banished automatically has much, much more story potential. It means Evelyn and them would have been close for years, and that Evelyn would be sending them on missions throughout the province.

Both offer different stories, so I guess it's down to what kind of story you feel like. :) I approve them both.
↑ Top
3 Guests viewing this page
© 2007-2024
BBCode Cheatsheet