[OOC] Champions, Regiments and Wizards

[Disciple Cain]

For real though we should put some serious thought into what commanders are known by other commanders. And cultures. And things like that.

[Ashevelendar]

@Disciple Cain That's true.

@footman What do you think ?

[Footman]

@Klomster So, this guy is interesting. Like a Steampunk Master Chief with a clockwork dragon. Ish.

I'll provisionally accept this interesting fellow. Though he seems a walking invincible titan (with insane dance skillz), his lack of a regiment should hopefully hinder his ability to go off and single handily "sanctify" hordes of Gargth's minions with wanton abandon.

These lasers you speak of. Are we talking, like Star Wars lasers? Or beams of channelled arcane energy? I'd like some clarity on how his pyre lance works, if you'd be so kind.

[Footman]

@Ashevelendar Accepted. Thanks for having another crack at it, it looks much better.

[Legion02]

@Footman Are you overlooking the other CS's? I posted mine on the first page of the RP and don't want to be overlooked XD. I can post it again for your convenience.

[Footman]

@TheFake I like it. An elite core of damned troops.

Our second expedition is starting to look like the March of the Damned lol.

Anyhow, accepted!

[Footman]

@Footman Are you overlooking the other CS's? I posted mine on the first page of the RP and don't want to be overlooked XD. I can post it again for your convenience.

@Legion02

Yeah I might be missing 1 or 2, but will be going back over it all to make sure I've covered them all. I intend to get them all done this very evening, one after another. Thanks for letting me know though.

@Dead Cruiser Accepted buddy. Some nice diversity you have there. Enjoyed reading.

[Footman]

@Legion02 Turns out I didn't miss it, I ignored it because I thought it was still under construction.

Your men seem to be lacking a tangible leader, though much is spoken of him in the regiment's bio. Or have I missed something else?

In any case, what you have seems totally fine, it's just a matter of giving Yrios form.

[Legion02]

@Footman Would a captain be enough or do I need an actual Champion? I wanted my Guild to be accepted so I was sure I wasn't wasting time at making a captain for a regiment I can't use. Thanks!

[Footman]

@Footman Would a captain be enough or do I need an actual Champion? I wanted my Guild to be accepted so I was sure I wasn't wasting time at making a captain for a regiment I can't use. Thanks!

@Legion02

Ah okay, that's fine. Yeah the Guild seems good to me. We're going to need a solid Magic wing, that's for sure.

Well your men will need an identifiable leader, for the other Champions/Captains to reference if nothing else. Ah also, I forgot to mention you need to define a banner. You seem to be a competent writer who has grasped the general gist of things quite nicely, so I'll automatically accept your sheet. Once you've got your leader detailed, move it on over... although obviously I withhold the right to reverse this decision if I see you snuck in a Soviet-era nuke into your magical inventory whilst I wasn't looking.

And on that note, I think I'm up to date on the current completed sheets. I'll have another quick look, but it's been a long night and I'm knackered so please forgive me if I've missed someone.

Does seem we have a few stragglers. I'll see what the situation is tomorrow, and then think about launching.

[Footman]

For real though we should put some serious thought into what commanders are known by other commanders. And cultures. And things like that.

@Disciple Cain

Missed this... and possibly some other things? I've been pushed to the limit this week lol, and I'm starting to worry I got too focused on getting sheets accepted than answering any questions. Looks like I'll have to trawl through things and see if I missed anything. Sorry if this makes me look incompetent, but I am just one guy with a full time job - not sure how fast you guys expect me to work, but I do go as fast as I reasonably can when it comes to organising things.

Any patience you can lend me will be greatly appreciated. Anyway, moving onto this topic of commanders knowing each other, and of other realms.

SOOOOOOOOOOOOO, I've left the Moonsong Alliance as this vague, great unity of diverse nations for a reason. And that reason is to allow maximum creativity. To have crafted the Alliance properly, would have meant me turning this into a Nation RP, which I don't really want. Therefore, this "Moonsong Alliance" of ours will remain fairly vague - but perhaps now is the time that I should shed more light on it.

I hadn't done so this far because A) I didn't think I'd get enough players to make it a problem, and B) I hadn't entirely decided on its origins yet, other than it has been around for centuries and is a volatile union of states that exists out of mutual gain rather than any form of moral agreement.

Sorta like our world at the moment, all nations have realised that many of them have enough power to do some serious damage to each other - perhaps even the planet as a whole. Therefore, many of them live in an uneasy harmony, a kind of forced union. The same way you don't really see much war these days. Not real war anyway. Just petty struggles with no clear or obtainable objective... which parallels the state of the Alliance perfectly.

Nations within the Alliance bicker constantly, and there are always skirmishes and minor wars between states, but things are usually reigned in before things get too end-of-worldy, or if a particular country threatens to become greater than a significant amount of its neighbours. There are of course countries that are near-super powers within the Alliance, and those that are barely a city-state. Political unions and economic spheres of influence overlap each other, resulting in a cauldron of boiling disaster that may eventually blow up and end everything.

It can't possibly last, but for now it has, and in a way, Gargth's rise to power has given the Alliance a real purpose: mutual defence in the face of a great catastrophe.

... I better add a section detail this in the RP

Anyway, to finally answer the question: the Alliance is vast, it's possible that many countries only know vaguly of others; on the other hand, its possible they're very familiar with some. This is simply down to player preference. If two of you want your Champions to be best buds or arch enemies, then that's up to you.

---

EDIT: Here's what I've put up for now. Hope it sheds some light. Shouldn't break anyone's sheets who referenced the Alliance.

The Moonsong Alliance Explained: What happens when two nations possessing the means to obliterate large swathes of the planet come toe to toe in a conflict of political, religious or economic interest?

There are only two outcomes of this age-old conundrum. Mutual annihilation, or a reluctant peace.

The Moonsong Alliance was birthed from the latter scenario, between a group of warring nations many centuries ago. None had the power to both destroy their enemies and yet guarantee their own survival in a cauldron of war and death that had all but exhausted both their peoples and their resources over the span of decades.

Realising that they could not move forwards with continued hostilities, this group of nations instead formed an Alliance - creating a shallow peace in exchange for the liberty of conquest in areas that were not contested by conflicting interests.

This should have paved the way for mighty empires to arise, but it was not so. In their bid to expand their borders, the founding nations of the Moonsong Alliance raced each other to acquire land and influence. Rather than conquer smaller countries and isolated city states, they sought to bring them into their own respective blocs. A way of officiating this process, was allowing these vassal states into the Alliance.

At first, the founding members of the Moonsong Alliance and their political blocs ballooned. Large swathes of land came under their respective influences, and soon, over a third of the world carried the same banner - if only in name. However, it did not take long for these blocs to break down, as minor nations sought their own independence. Revolutions erupted across the land, thus fracturing what power the founding members held over all those that had once paid homage to them.

Fast forward five hundred years, and several thousand rewritings of the Moonsong Treaty, and the Alliance is now a loosely aligned patchwork quilt of over a hundred nations, all bound by the same flag, but little else. Petty skirmishes and minor wars are a common daily event, and any attempt at creating a central authority has proved a fruitless endeavour. Instead, the Alliance has so far maintained itself by a method of self-policing.

A country invades a neighbour; that neighbour's sponsors and allies rush to its aid, as do those who hold sway with the aggressor. Before long, nations from across the globe are dispatching soldiers to fight on the newest battlefield, until things come to a head and all parties realise that the only way forwards is mutual destruction. What usually follows is a slow de-escalation of violence, lengthy negotiations, reparations, and then the world goes on.

Several times the Alliance has come to the brink, where the greatest warriors and wizards of the land threaten to undo each other in an hour of senseless and wide reaching destruction - yet always reason has prevailed, and both sides back down after realising the futility of their struggle.

But this can't last forever; in fact, it wont last forever. Gargth's rise to power in Everstrine is perhaps the first time the Alliance has mustered its forces for reasons other than keeping the peace; this time, the soldiers of Moonsong fight to stop a great catastrophe from casting a shadow over the world.

@Footman

[Cleopatra]

@Footman

Lore, get

[Bubsy 2]

I'm just going to peep in and throw out that I have been working on a character, hopefully I can get her up tonight (unlikely) or tomorrow (less unlikely).

[Ashevelendar]

@Footman It's no problem. If you like I can write up a new history / bio with no problem :) As I said , the first time I made the CS I didn't know if you accepted demons ( Shadow Realm = Hell and demons usually come from Hell ) and I wrote something fast.

I'll move it over.

[Legion02]

@Footman My champion and his captain. I just want to make sure I'm accepted before posting. Also, I'll make a banner for the regiment.

Yrios

Name: Grandmaster Yrios
Race: Human
Known Racial Abilities: N/A
Age: 48
Appearance:

Renowned Skills:
Master of magic – It cannot be claimed that Yrios is by far one of the most gifted mages of the country, maybe even the world! His knowledge of the arcane is vast. His spells are refined and devastating. In many years of fighting traditional magic, Yrios has mastered the many arts and elements.

Way of the Warrior Mage – Founder of an entirely new way of fighting. A hybrid between common melee fighting and magical attacks. This brand new way of thinking lead to the revolution within the world of mages of Tal’Zaroth. He made the path, traveled it in dark to illuminate it for everyone following him. To this day he keeps on learning. Sometimes from his own pupils. But it uncontested that he is the true master of all 3 ways. This makes him a devastating warrior too.

Magic: Mana magic & Soul magic, quite capable in both but better with mana than souls.
Weapons:
First Orb – The Orb was probably the most revolutionizing invention that utterly broke with any dogma of mages. The small sphere is carefully forged and enchanted. The First Orb exists out of multiple pieces with a magical core keeping it all together. The earliest design of the Orb reveals that it was already intended as battery and channeling object. The First Orb has absorbed the magical essence used by its master for years now. Some apprentices claim it has a will of its own.

Yehzallith – The clawed gauntlet on his right arm. It is said that Yehzallith was forged in the burning fires of a tortured demon. That’s why fire can be cast stronger while wielding it. Fire itself is not stronger when wielding the gauntlet. Instead, it was made in the pursuit of soul magic. It makes ripping away souls from things so much easier. The inlaid gems keep these violently ripped apart souls and their energy contained.

Yrios’ Grimoire – The book containing all his spells. Yrios’ grimoire in itself does not grant a passive advantage. Instead, he can take it up to cast violently dangerous spells that mortal minds have trouble with remembering. The book enhances these spells.

Armour:
Armor of the First Hand – Far, far away there is an eastern country where all magic is forbidden except for enchantments. In search for the best enchanters of the world the First Hand, the king of that country’s right hand, set out to search the best enchanters. He stumbled upon Yrios’ guild and asked him to enchant his armor in the best ways known to the world. Yrios accepted the payment and set to work. This happened during the Purge and Yrios gathered the souls of his mage enemies and sealed them within Soul Gems. Eventually, over 8 masters of the arcane were sealed within the armor when it returned to the First Hand. His court enchanter felt how the armor was enchanted and told his master. The First Hand quarreled with Yrios and demanded that his armor’s honor was to be restored. Eventually, the two came to a settlement: Yrios would pay twice the sum the First Hand paid and would allow the First Hand to return with new armor to be enchanted. Thus it happened. The First Hand never trusted Yrios again. But he holds the best defense against Yrios’ spell. The second piece of armor now rests within the vaults of a faraway land. The first piece is worn by Yrios.

Steed: A simple brown horse by the name of Allistar

Bio: Yrios came from a faraway land himself. He encountered Tal’Zaroth upon his travels, after he gathered lots of knowledge and had developed his own style of magic. After defeating the established mages (and killing most of them) he now practically rules over the city. Still in search for more power. (for more details, read regiment bio)

Alycia Ultray

Name: Master Alycia “the Raven” UItray
Race: Human
Known Racial Abilities: N/A
Age: 36
Appearance:

With raven, black hair and a fair face, few would expect a human as Alycia to ever pick up the role of Witchblade. But she did. The fair woman stands a notable 5’11” with normal brown eyes. She’s often dressed in metal or chainmail. A testament to her skill as she can actually carry it into combat without tiring too quickly. Without her heavy metal armor and robes, one wouldn’t expect her to be so strong.

Famed Skills:
Blade dancer of Tal’Zaroth – Within the guild, breaking from all expectations and doing the impossible is not just allowed, it is encouraged. The Guild would not have risen so high as it has if some did not dare challenge the established order of things. One unwritten rule was that the blade and magic can never be wielded by the same hands. Alycia not just fought this rule, she utterly broke it. Grown as a dancer she learned how to be nimble and agile. Once she joined the Guild she joined the Witchblades. Where she combined agility, magic and the sword into a deadly dance.

Gypsy knowledge – The Gypsies travel the world from country to country. Squatting down in the outskirts of cities time and time again. Trying to sell their wares for far too much. They may not be schooled or learned like those in their mansions, but they talk an awful lot. Gypsies always know a bit of this or a bit of that from many countries. Knowledge that only grows with each generation. The Raven is granted this knowledge too.

Magic:
Gypsy Soul Magic – For long have the Gypsies dabbled in dangerous magics. But one that grouped them the most was Soul Magic. They called it many names, but in the end, it was just that. The Raven is particularly gifted in these arts. Though her ancestors used it for subtle things, the Raven has developed her natural talent into a terrifying skill. In battle she rips the very soul and essence from her enemies, only to cast the raw, unnerving energy right back at them. Many say she does this with such skill that they’d believe she is possessed by a demon or angry spirit. A final gift from her ancestors.

Weapons:
Cursed Blade of Yuindrin – Yuindrin was once a mighty warrior in service of Tal’Zaroth. When he fell, he was buried with full honor and his equipment. This was proven to be a stupid choice when a necromancer broke into the mausoleum and started raising the fully clad knights. Knightly Orders struggled to fight against the fellow but undead knights. Imbued with necromantic energies the undead vastly outperformed their living brothers. Thus the Guild was called in. Raven lead the attack, her soul magic tore on the necromantic energies inside the armor while she fought and slashed to weaken the binding. Eventually, the crisis was undone. But Raven demanded the sword of Yuindrin as part of her payment. The city conceded. Even to this day, it is whispered that the blade is a dangerous relic, filled with foul magic that should not be wielded.

Armour:
Darkcloak – A common witchblade cloak. In the common, dark colors of the Witchblades. It does not offer an immediate magical defense. But it’s a survivalist tool. Keeping the witchblades warm and sheltered from even the worst of storms.

Witchhunter's Bane – The armor of a fabled crusader marching against countless witches and wizards. The man once made the mistake of going up against a band of gypsies in a nearby town. Accusing their elders of foul and dark magic (he wasn’t really wrong but he didn’t have any proof). After hanging 3 elders, Alycia was finally allowed to fight him. In a humiliating duel, the Gypsy warrior won and the knight was forced to pull away. But not before he dropped his armor say it has been “bewitched”. As trophy she now wears it. If it is bewitched or not, many leave in the middle.

Steed: A black destrier named Yaga.
Bio:
Raven was born amongst the Gypsies. An elusive folk that travels from city to city. Staying where they are even a tad bit welcome. They dabble and trade for days. Until one morning they seemingly vanish. Few people ever saw the Gypsies moving. It’s as if they teleport from location to location (not true, they do actually travel). Raven had a strong gift for the Gypsy’s magic. Amongst the outskirts they squatted down, there were plenty of small life with souls ready to be manipulated. From a young age, the girl played with the souls of rodents and other creatures. She found it more enjoyable than to play with other children.

The Gypsies were a common target for Witch Hunters. They were sedentary and often near towns, thus easy to be found. While Gypsies had a gift to sense approaching, real danger. This one Witch Hunter came far too fast for them to just vanish. He caught the group, and imprisoned them. In their own ground. Building a palisade around the Gypsy camp. Every dawn he took one of the elders for “interrogation”. Said elder often returned covered in bruises and in pain. Some returned with their noose still attached to their neck. The lament of the Gypsies grew louder and louder. Until the Witch Hunter made the foolish mistake and tried to take Alycia. Who cut him with a normal kitchen knight right under the eye. She demanded he’d fight her. He initially refused, saying he would never fight a girl. But enough taunts from the camp (and his own soldiers) forced him to fight Alycia.

With constant, swift attacks upon his sou, as well as the heavy armor he had to carry made him tired very quickly. While Alycia was practically dancing around the hulking suit with two knives. Singing and laughing as with every touch she drained him a little more or every scratch let out a bit more blood. Eventually, the witch-hunter collapsed and had to concede defeat. In an angry rant, he left his armor. It was pure coincidence that this battle was fought near Tal’Zaroth. But Yrios had seen the skill of the little girl. He recruited her and brought her under his mentorship. She grew up into a very powerful Witchblade. Striking down the foulest of dark sorcerers, but demanding justice from every overzealous crusader and witch-hunter that dared enter the lands of Tal’Zaroth. Equal measure darkness as so-called light has found its doom upon her blade. The most notable must have been her Mastership challenge. Where she lead a contingent of Witchblades into the Mausoleum and finished off the Lich that raised the heroes of her own city. After her return, she was proclaimed Witchblade Master. By her former mentor.

[Footman]

@Ashevelendar What you have will suffice, so long as you're happy with it.

@Legion02 Awesome mate. Accepted with all haste :)

I suppose that now most people have finished, or stated their intentions for their sheets, I can start working on mine.

[Ashevelendar]

@Footman I am but you are the boss ^_^

[Cleopatra]

I suppose that now most people have finished, or stated their intentions for their sheets, I can start working on mine.

@Footman

Ohhh, what sort of thing could you be making?

[Ashevelendar]

@Cleopatra I wish something that works well with our regiments. We've got magi , heavy troops , front-lines , skirmishers but still need more :)

[Dead Cruiser]

@Legion02 Given that Schattenwald is a horrific mishmash of Bavaria, Romania and the Urals, I feel like roving bands of gypsies is something that could have originated from it, or from the general area around it.