[OOC] To Meddle in the Affairs of Dragons

[Mardox]

To Meddle in the Affairs of Dragons

"Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and good with ketchup."
-Old Saying

"The dragon meddled in my affairs first, let's see how he tastes with ketchup.
-Herbert T. Leintke, monster hunter and survivor of Krossavik.

About twenty years ago, an ancient dragon by the name of Htraknu awoke from hibernation and destroyed the village of Krossavik, devouring all but six of the inhabitants and leaving nothing but ruin in his wake. It was considered to be a great tragedy, but as the great beast did not travel beyond the mountain ranges guarding his home again, most assumed that he had returned to his slumber. If only that were the case. For the last two decades, he has been planning, preparing and gathering his forces for a war unlike any other. Not a simple war of conquest, but a war to alter the very fabric of reality.

Unbeknownst to most folk, the dragon has far greater ambitions than more subjects, more territory, or even world domination. Instead, Htraknu wishes for nothing less than godhood. He will stop at nothing to slay every last deity and take their power to become the One God. No price is too great, no obstacle too daunting for the elder wyrm. Already, his cultists seek out artifacts of near-forgotten power to do battle with the gods while his warriors encroach on the borders of Illyrica, Asmeinland and Rosiland. Gods of Light and Shaituns alike, both are targets for his ambitions. Not even Lilith, the Outsider Goddess, is safe. Htraknu will be the most powerful being there ever was or he will not be at all. It is up to the heroes of this age to ensure that he becomes the latter.

No matter where these heroes come from, whether they were a carpenter's apprentice or a monster hunter before, they will have to work together. Criminals and crusaders will have to co-exist for a while if they want to keep existing at all. The journey for this band of champions will be fraught with peril and success is not guaranteed. This band alone will not be enough either. Soldiers and armies will be needed to hold back the dragon's hordes and distract him from the brave few coming for his head.

Religions

The Solanian Faith

These deities are the most commonly worshipped and are all part of the same pantheon.

The Benevolent Deities

• Solanius - God of Light, Time, Space, Justice, and Holiness/Righteousness
  • King of the Divine
  • God of the Sun, in some cultures.
• Calidorus - God of Fire, Honor, Law, and War.
  • Patron God of Humankind
• Celestis - God of the Sky, Stars, Seas, Fishermen, and Sailors
• Acanthio - God of Wisdom, Logic, Knowledge, Magic, et seq.
  • Patron God of Elvenkind
• Aurelio - God of Labour, Commerce, and Merchants
• Lydius - God of the Seasons, Agriculture, the Harvest, and Farmers
• Asriel - God of the Cycle of Life and Death, Dreams, and the Afterlife
• Veturia - Goddess of Air, Healing and Nature
• Althaea - Goddess of Art, Music, Drama, Creativity, Passion, et seq.
• Lysandra - Goddess of Beauty, Love, Marriage, Fertility, Children, and the Family

The Shaituns (Malevolent Deities)

• Molarten - God of Domination and Enslavement
  • Patron Shaitun of the Orcs
  • Brother of Lotec and Odys
• Lotec - God of Destruction, Murder, Ritual Sacrifice, Bloodlust, and War Crimes.
  • Brother of Molarten and Odys
• Odys - God of Hatred, Fear, and Rage
  • Brother or Molarten and Lotec
  • Occasionally blesses/curses folks with berserk fury.
• Rastuna - Goddess of Greed, Gluttony, and Lust
  • Queen of Debauchery
  • "Wife" of Hargash
  • Patron Shaituness of Goblins
• Dolekar - God of Spite, Vengeance and Grudges
  • Patron Shaitun of the Shadow Elves
• Latemis - Goddess of Thievery, Trickery, Deceit, Schemes, and Shadows
• Kazerad - God of Misery, Tragedy, Failure, and Suffering
• Neddagok - God of Chaos, Madness, and Entropy
• Glariss - Goddess of Envy, Pride, and Narcissism (Glarissism)
• Hargash - God of Decay, Disease, and Undeath
  • "Lord of the Lost," Patron Shaitun of all that is repulsive.
  • "Husband" of Rastuna.

The Cult of the Dark Lady

This deity has scattered cells of worshippers throughout the world who are hunted by all other faiths due to their malevolent nature.

Lilith, the Outsider Goddess

• Goddess of evil, chaos, discord, darkness, death, blood, vampires, power, pleasure, seduction, lust, greed, temptation, vanity, pride, destruction, subjugation, domination, ritualistic sacrifice, murder, magic, the occult and the supernatural (non-exhaustive list)
• Patron deity of vampires and witches
• Also known as: The Outsider, the Temptress, the Witch Queen, the Maiden of Death (among others)

The Path of the Sacred Flame

The most prominent religion east of Samothrace, the Path of the Sacred Flame is known for its fairly radical system of beliefs. The followers of fire reject the common gods, citing their sinful ambitions and desires as proof that they are false divines. Instead, these men of the east worship fire itself.

There are two driving forces in this new religion:

• The Fire; the light, the warmth, the purity of flame
• The Abyss; the void, the nothingness, the blackness of sin

The followers of fire believe in the purity of fire so feverantly that they have been known to burn nonbelievers alive, allowing the condemned heretics to be purified of their sins in the blaze of holy flame.

The Solymic Faith and the Trickster

Vakarlon is the god of chance in the Pantheon faith and the god of fate in the Solymic faith. These wildly different interpretations are somewhat reconciled by the argument that Chance is merely Fate in disguise. It should be noted, however, that the followers of the Pantheon rarely approve of the worship of a deity they perceive as a trouble-maker and have sometimes persecuted followers of the Solymic faith, despite the Solymics not recognizing the mischief and trickery aspects of Vakarlon. As the Path of the Sacred Flame has advanced in the near and middle eastern lands, the Solymics have more commonly come into conflict with the followers of the Path in recent times.

Vakarlon the Trickster/Vakarlon the Lord of Fate

• God of Trickery, Chance and Mischief/God of Fate, Justice and Cunning
• Patron deity of underdogs and pranksters/Patron deity of Solymics.
• Dislikes arrogance and occasionally plays tricks on those he sees as especially arrogant.
• Playing upon his role as Lord of Fate, he occasionally gives folks a nudge towards significant events, whether they be of global significance or significant only to the person nudged.
• Also known as: He of the Shadowed Mind, Balancer of the Scales, Serandor's Bane

Magic in the RP

Magic is a thing.

• To use it, you need to meet one of the following criteria and know how to use the arcane arts:
  • You are a magical creature or are part-magical creature. In this RP, magical creatures that know a spell to take human form may do so to have children with a human. This applies similarly with elves. Beings that are part-magical creature and part-something humanoid instinctively know how to change from one form to another and back.
  • You have reached an agreement with a powerful magical creature and it has granted you magic.
  • You have obtained the blood of a magical creature and know how to use it to power your spells and the like.
• Drawbacks include:
  • If you have natural magic, overuse is very unhealthy. Furthermore, you might be murdered or kidnapped so that your blood can be used to power someone else's magic.
  • Magical creatures who grant magic through agreements are usually unpleasant entities and tend to charge a harsh price and find a way to twist the deal to the detriment of whoever deals with them.
  • Spells powered by taken blood are only as powerful as the blood used (that is, how powerful the magical creature giving the blood is/was) and once blood is used for a spell, it is no longer of use.

Races

• Humans
  • Humans come in many different colors, shapes, and sizes depending on the region they hail from. The most common are from Aesernia, the North Kingdoms, and the territories of the de jure Savarid Caliphate.
• Elves
  • Sun Elves - Golden hair, golden skin, sapphire colored eyes. Snobby, high maintenance, but ultimately aligned with righteousness.
    • Aquilania, Tarraconia
  • Wood Elves - Human Caucasian in complexion and color palette. Free-spirited, nature loving. Generally lean neutral, most are lawful people.
    • Cairnleath, Asmeinland, Narbos
  • Shadow Elves - Coal black skin, blood red eyes, snow white hair. As elitist as Sun Elves, but tend towards evil, practice slavery of "lesser" races, etc.
    • Rosiland, Illyrica, Foveros.
• Orcs
  • Plains Orcs
    • Tall, broad-shouldered, olive-green skinned humanoids. Black hair, black eyes, white irises. Generally ill-tempered, nomadic people. Some settle into civilized locations, and the vast majority travel in mobile warcamps.
      • Rosiland, Illyrica, Foveros, Samothrace
  
  
  
  • Sand Orcs
    • Physically imposing, sand-tan skinned humanoids, similar to Plains Orcs. Black hair, white eyes, black irises. Equally ill-tempered as their northern cousins. Many assimilate into Savarid, Solymic, and Dravirian human populations, while a sizable amount travel in nomadic desert bands.
      • Marrakech, Cathion, Sepsouten, Savaria, Iurusolym, Sindhus, Sansriyar, Draviria
• Samothaur
  • A strong, hardy race of humanoid bovines. Variety of fur colors, eye color usually brown or blue. A generally peaceful, tribal-settled people. Due to their durability and strength, they along with some humans, are commonly captured by shadow elven and orcish slavers for trade along the Great Sea. As such, they greatly mistrust outsiders and can be truly frightening when provoked.
    • Samothrace, Foveros, Ciprius, Illyrica.
• Goblins
  • Small, thin, forest-green skinned humanoids. Hair is primarily dark and eye colors tend towards black, brown and red. They are generally a wretched people with cowardice and cruelty both being common traits. Due to their cowardly nature, slavers seeking obedient slaves often prey upon them. Goblins primarily try to stay in large groups and avoid areas with a significant non-goblin military presence as they are not well-regarded and are often attacked by other races wishing to drive them out.
    • Worldwide
• Dragons
  • Great, winged, fire-breathing lizards of various colors. Depending on how they interact with other races, they are either feared or respected but either way they are taken seriously. Those who prey upon other races become monsters of legend and those who take a more kindly approach have a great deal of wisdom to share. The more powerful of these beings tend towards cruelty as they generally view other races as nothing more than food, servants or entertainment and know that only the gods can reliably oppose them.
    • Worldwide
• Undead
  • Unnatural and most likely unholy, undead are a clear sign that something is not quite right. Though they come in many forms, undead are most commonly created by dark energies, either intentional necromancy or natural(ish) created by great tragedy or calamity. However, some legends tell of individuals with unfinished business and an unusually strong will who lingered on after death to complete the tasks they did not fulfill in life.
• Assorted magical creatures
  • The world is full of strange and exotic creatures. Throughout the wilds roam many beasts and beings possessing supernatural powers. Some of these creatures are friendly to the widespread humanoid races and may even have children with them if they can take the form of their beloved's race. Others are not so kindly and may even prey upon humanoids.
    • Worldwide

Map of the RP region

The RP takes place in the area where Illyrica, Asmeinland and Rosiland meet.

Map of the World

Minions of Htraknu

• Cultists who believe he is the God of Death and the Underworld due to the sheer destruction he unleashed thousands of years ago. A number of them have been granted necromantic powers by the elder dragon. Htraknu knows that he is not the God of Death and the Underworld... yet.
• Lesser dragons who believe he merely wishes to install a new world order in which dragons rule over the other races.
• Goblins serve him out of fear and because he offers them some degree of protection from the other humanoid races who aren't too fond of them.
• Orcs promised plunder and slaves from the conquered lands.

In this RP, you will be taking control of one or more characters (please keep the number small as we already have a sizable amount of characters) who will join a group of adventurous folk after Htraknu's head. This is meant to be a tight-knit band of companions relying on each other so lone wolves will have to learn about the power of friendship and Chaotic Evil characters (which will not be accepted without an AMAZING application) will have to be well-behaved.

Rules

1. Play nice IC and OOC. Respect your fellow RPers and don't rob/kill/etc. their characters IC without their permission. Troublemakers will be dealt with swiftly and mercilessly.
2. The GM is Supreme Overlord. The word of the GM and any co-GMs appointed is law.
3. Remain relatively active. Posts are likely to be slow and somewhat uncommon due to time zones, length and their collaborative nature. As such, just let us know you're still around. If you leave us without warning and we don't hear from you for two weeks, it will be assumed that you have abandoned the RP and your character(s) will likely meet a bad end. Extenuating circumstances will result in being allowed back into the RP.
4. Those accepted will be sent a link to the writing pad where we will write posts. The pad is used to collaborate on posts involving multiple writers and so that others can provide feedback on writing so that we can grow as writers.
5. Keep your characters balanced. Those traveling with the party should be on a similar power-level to the other characters so that no one outshines everyone else. If you have powerful strengths, you should have significant weaknesses.
6. If you have a magical character, you will observe and obey the laws of magic.
7. Have fun. This is not optional.

Character Sheet

[b]Name[/b]:
[b]Sex[/b]:
[b]Race[/b]: If it's weird (like say, a half-manticore), I expect a good explanation.
[b]Age[/b]:
[b]Religion[/b]: If any. If you choose the Solanian Faith, choose a patron deity or two.
[b]Backstory[/b]: Where did you come from? Who is your character?
[b]Motivation[/b]: Why do you want to kill Htraknu badly enough to risk your life?
[b]Magic[/b]: If you have any, explain where you got it and where you learned to use it. Remember that only magical creatures, elves and Solymics can use magic naturally.
[b]Skills/Strengths[/b]: What is your character good at? What abilities does your character have?
[b]Weaknesses[/b]: What are your character's flaws or vulnerabilities? This could be a gap in your skills, a vulnerability like sunlight if you're a vampire or Shadow Elf or a character flaw like pride.
[b]Gear[/b]: What is your character bringing along on this adventure?
[b]Other[/b]: Anything else you feel like mentioning?

[Lauder]

I'll toss in my hat.

[Claw2k11]

Well, this sounds very interesting, you have my interest!

[Mardox]

I'll toss in my hat.

@Lauder

Well, this sounds very interesting, you have my interest!

@Claw2k11

Glad to hear it, you two. Been a while since we've RPed together.

[Claw2k11]

@Mardox

Question, can we make our own religions? I plan on the orcish character I'm creating to follow a different religion and it doesn't even have to be a major religion, like something that only his clan follows.

[Mardox]

@Mardox

Question, can we make our own religions? I plan on the orcish character I'm creating to follow a different religion and it doesn't even have to be a major religion, like something that only his clan follows.

@Claw2k11

Minor regional religions are indeed acceptable. The faiths listed are just the biggest/most notable as they either have actual gods and/or large numbers of followers. If whatever your clan religion follows is actually real, it cannot be a true deity (though it can be a powerful lesser entity of some sort). What did you have in mind?

[Claw2k11]

@Mardox

Well, I feel like it's something better discussed via PM's since it has bit to do with other RP's I've been in.

[Mardox]

@Mardox

Well, I feel like it's something better discussed via PM's since it has bit to do with other RP's I've been in.

@Claw2k11

Alright, we can discuss it in PMs.

[Lauder]

I'm finding it difficult to figure out what I want to be. This is strange.

[CollectorOfMyst]

Would like to express my interest.

[Mardox]

I'm finding it difficult to figure out what I want to be. This is strange.

@Lauder

Perhaps the warlike child of a minor trickster god?

Would like to express my interest.

@CollectorOfMyst

The more the merrier, just create a character sheet when you're ready.

[Edgy Erwyn]

Character Sheet

Name: Erwyn Kásimir Hendryk Szilveszter van Amstetten-Szatmár-Bereg
Sex: Male
Race: Norsidic (Asmeinian) Human Vampire
Age: 834
Appearance: i.imgur.com/LvPhszT.jpg?2
Religion: None. Not that the Count doesn't believe in the existence of deities, but he doesn't consider worshipping them to be an activity worth bothering with.

Backstory: Erwyn is currently the Count of Amstetten-Szatmár-Bereg, a province in southern Asmeinland consisting of the city of Amstetten, the large towns of Szatmár and Bereg, and the surrounding lands and villages. A map of Asmeinland showing the location of these settlements, amongst others, can be found here: i.imgur.com/MIuyHbs.jpg

Born in 472 AS, and experiencing a privileged upbringing and fine education, he inherited the title of Count van Amstetten in 494, shortly after his 22nd birthday, upon the death of his father in the famously brutal Asmeinian civil war. At the time, Amstetten was a modest town, although its location made it a prime target for the forces of the mad King Siegfried II to attack. With very few troops under his command, the young Erwyn managed to utterly cripple the king's forces through a prolonged guerilla campaign, driving them back from Amstetten and whittling away at their strength further as they pushed back towards the capital. When Wilhelm I finally killed his brother and took the throne, winning the civil war, he granted Erwyn an addition to his holdings, in the form of the town of Bereg, whose own count had died fighting for Siegfried's side.

It was around this time, shortly after the war, that the Count was attacked during a hunting trip by an unknown assailant, who gave him a nasty bite, retreating back into the trees before Erwyn or his hunting party could even aim their crossbows. Erwyn fell sick the next day, and his condition continued to deteriorate for a week before finally he was pronounced dead by his physician. This was not entirely the case, however, as the Count awoke the next day, seemingly in perfect health - albeit a little paler - his return coinciding with the mysterious disappearance of the physician who had proclaimed his demise. The Count continued to rule over his holdings for many years, his pragmatic and stable leadership resulting in the expansion of Amstetten into a major trading city, and ensuring the prosperity of every settlement within his county.

In the year 623, Baron Maximilian of neighbouring Szatmár, having theorised about Erwyn's nature, sent vampire hunters to assassinate him. The hunters ambushed him on another hunting trip, shooting his horse out from under him and attempting to pierce his heart with a stake. They failed, however, and the Count personally fought them off and slaughtered them, sending their severed heads back to the Baron of Szatmár as a warning of what was to come. Mustering his forces, Erwyn marched on the city, battering down the gate and leading his knights directly to the Baron's castle. Challenging Maximilian to a duel, the Count's superior vampiric strength and speed easily defeated the Baron - although some say the unpopular noble was shot dead by an unknown peasant in the middle of the fight. With his rival vanquished, Erwyn added Szatmár to his holdings, quickly ushering in the same prosperity that he had given rise to in his existing lands.

The Count has been known, however, to seek adventure of various sorts, participating in expeditions to far-off lands, inventing a variety of strange new contraptions, and challenging himself to hunt particularly legendary prey. After all, what else would you do with infinite spare time?

Motivation: To alleviate the boredom of eternity for a short while.

Magic: As a vampire, Erwyn has natural magical ability. Centuries spent studying the arcane arts have taught him a fair amount on the subject, and he is a proficient mage as a result. That is not to say he will use his full potential lightly, however. The Count far prefers to challenge himself, and hence prefers to limit himself to lesser spells except in extreme circumstances.

Skills/Strengths: Vampiric strength and speed make Erwyn far superior to any human in any physical pursuits. He is capable of moving entirely silently, and his senses are greatly heightened - perfect night vision, hearing far surpassing that of a normal human, et cetera. His extremely long life has given him plenty of time for study, leaving him very knowledgeable in a wide variety of subjects. The Count is a formidable fighter, capable mage (when he wants to be), master of strategy, accomplished man of science, exceptionally persuasive speaker, talented artist, and rather good cook.

Weaknesses: As a vampire, Erwyn suffers several notable weaknesses. He cannot enter a home without the permission of the owner - although permission gained through deception and violent or magical coercion is valid, and the interpretation of 'permission' is somewhat open to loopholes. When exposed to direct sunlight, he is moderately weaker than a normal person, cannot use his natural magical ability, and experiences some pain. He can be repelled by someone wielding a holy symbol of any major deity - including the Shaituns - so long as that person has paid genuine homage to the deity long before attempting to wield the symbol against a vampire. He can be slain by magic, fire, silver, decapitation, or a wooden stake through the heart. Note, however, that garlic has zero effect.

Gear:
The Count is able to call on the resources, funds, and forces of his province if necessary, but the following list is what will be present with him on an expedition.

• Hooded cloak, dark glasses and face mask for being out in daylight.
• Armour: i.imgur.com/VDtYK2o.jpg?1
• Zweihander: i.imgur.com/rh0tCS0.jpg
• Crossbow: i.imgur.com/df93AZh.jpg
• Daggers x2: i.imgur.com/mpbFlfR.jpg
• Warhorse: i.imgur.com/bASWSfS.jpg
• Soldiers x2 (with poleaxes): i.imgur.com/DRMnnqq.jpg
• Servant
• Cart Horses x2
• Supply Cart containing the following:
  • Dried/salted food
  • Two large barrels of clean water
  • Several bottles of wine and brandy
  • Secret compartment containing several bottles of blood
  • Medicinal herbs and potions
  • Tents and bedding
  • Money
  • Books
  • Two spare swords
  • One spare crossbow
  • Two spare poleaxe shafts
  • Ammunition
  • Miscellaneous tools, rope, etc.

Other: Erwyn is not initially travelling with the party, and has instead set off to kill Htraknu on behalf of the dark goddess Lilith. Technically. Really, he's bored and he likes a challenge, and Lilith conveniently provided him with one.

[Mardox]

Character Sheet

Name: Erwyn Kásimir Hendryk Szilveszter van Amstetten-Szatmár-Bereg
Sex: Male
Race: Norsidic (Asmeinian) Human Vampire
Age: 834
Appearance: i.imgur.com/LvPhszT.jpg?2
Religion: None. Not that the Count doesn't believe in the existence of deities, but he doesn't consider worshipping them to be an activity worth bothering with.

Backstory: Erwyn is currently the Count of Amstetten-Szatmár-Bereg, a province in southern Asmeinland consisting of the city of Amstetten, the large towns of Szatmár and Bereg, and the surrounding lands and villages. A map of Asmeinland showing the location of these settlements, amongst others, can be found here: i.imgur.com/MIuyHbs.jpg

Born in 472 AS, and experiencing a privileged upbringing and fine education, he inherited the title of Count van Amstetten in 494, shortly after his 22nd birthday, upon the death of his father in the famously brutal Asmeinian civil war. At the time, Amstetten was a modest town, although its location made it a prime target for the forces of the mad King Siegfried II to attack. With very few troops under his command, the young Erwyn managed to utterly cripple the king's forces through a prolonged guerilla campaign, driving them back from Amstetten and whittling away at their strength further as they pushed back towards the capital. When Wilhelm I finally killed his brother and took the throne, winning the civil war, he granted Erwyn an addition to his holdings, in the form of the town of Bereg, whose own count had died fighting for Siegfried's side.

It was around this time, shortly after the war, that the Count was attacked during a hunting trip by an unknown assailant, who gave him a nasty bite, retreating back into the trees before Erwyn or his hunting party could even aim their crossbows. Erwyn fell sick the next day, and his condition continued to deteriorate for a week before finally he was pronounced dead by his physician. This was not entirely the case, however, as the Count awoke the next day, seemingly in perfect health - albeit a little paler - his return coinciding with the mysterious disappearance of the physician who had proclaimed his demise. The Count continued to rule over his holdings for many years, his pragmatic and stable leadership resulting in the expansion of Amstetten into a major trading city, and ensuring the prosperity of every settlement within his county.

In the year 623, Baron Maximilian of neighbouring Szatmár, having theorised about Erwyn's nature, sent vampire hunters to assassinate him. The hunters ambushed him on another hunting trip, shooting his horse out from under him and attempting to pierce his heart with a stake. They failed, however, and the Count personally fought them off and slaughtered them, sending their severed heads back to the Baron of Szatmár as a warning of what was to come. Mustering his forces, Erwyn marched on the city, battering down the gate and leading his knights directly to the Baron's castle. Challenging Maximilian to a duel, the Count's superior vampiric strength and speed easily defeated the Baron - although some say the unpopular noble was shot dead by an unknown peasant in the middle of the fight. With his rival vanquished, Erwyn added Szatmár to his holdings, quickly ushering in the same prosperity that he had given rise to in his existing lands.

The Count has been known, however, to seek adventure of various sorts, participating in expeditions to far-off lands, inventing strange new contraptions of various sorts, and challenging himself to hunt particularly legendary prey. After all, what else would you do with infinite spare time?

Motivation: To alleviate the boredom of eternity for a short while.

Magic: As a vampire, Erwyn has natural magical ability. Centuries spent studying the arcane arts have taught him a fair amount on the subject, and he is a proficient mage as a result. That is not to say he will use his full potential lightly, however. The Count far prefers to challenge himself, and hence prefers to limit himself to lesser spells except in extreme circumstances.

Skills/Strengths: Vampiric strength and speed make Erwyn far superior to any human in any physical pursuits. He is capable of moving entirely silently, and his senses are greatly heightened - perfect night vision, hearing far surpassing that of a normal human, et cetera. His extremely long life has given him plenty of time for study, leaving him very knowledgeable in a wide variety of subjects. The Count is a formidable fighter, capable mage (when he wants to be), master of strategy, accomplished man of science, exceptionally persuasive speaker, talented artist, and rather good cook.

Weaknesses: As a vampire, Erwyn suffers several notable weaknesses. He cannot enter a home without the permission of the owner - although permission gained through deception and violent or magical coercion is valid, and the interpretation of 'permission' is somewhat open to loopholes. He is moderately weaker than a normal person, cannot use his natural magical ability and experiences some pain when exposed to direct sunlight. He can be repelled by someone wielding a holy symbol of any major deity - including the Shaituns - so long as that person has paid genuine homage to the deity long before attempting to wield the symbol against a vampire. He can be slain by magic, fire, silver, decapitation, or a wooden stake through the heart. Note, however, that garlic has zero effect.

Gear:
The Count is able to call on the resources, funds, and forces of his province if necessary, but the following list is what will be present with him on an expedition.

• Hooded cloak, dark glasses and face mask for being out in daylight.
• Armour: i.imgur.com/VDtYK2o.jpg?1
• Zweihander: i.imgur.com/rh0tCS0.jpg
• Crossbow: i.imgur.com/df93AZh.jpg
• Daggers x2: i.imgur.com/mpbFlfR.jpg
• Warhorse: i.imgur.com/bASWSfS.jpg
• Soldiers x2 (with poleaxes): i.imgur.com/DRMnnqq.jpg
• Servant
• Cart Horses x2
• Supply Cart containing the following:
  
  
  
  • Dried/salted food
  • Two large barrels of clean water
  • Several bottles of wine and brandy
  • Secret compartment containing several bottles of blood
  • Medicinal herbs and potions
  • Tents and bedding
  • Money
  • Books
  • Two spare swords
  • One spare crossbow
  • Two spare poleaxe shafts
  • Ammunition
  • Miscellaneous tools, rope, etc.

Other: Erwyn is not initially travelling with the party, and has instead set off to kill Htraknu on behalf of the dark goddess Lilith. Technically. Really, he's bored and he likes a challenge, and Lilith conveniently provided him with one.

@Edgy Erwyn

Welcome aboard, Edgy Erwyn.

[Lauder]

<Snipped quote by Lauder>
Perhaps the warlike child of a minor trickster god?

@Mardox

Are you implying what I think you're implying?

[Mardox]

<Snipped quote by Mardox>

Are you implying what I think you're implying?

@Lauder

I am indeed implying a Keriss-like character.

[BlondyMcHuggles]

Character Sheet

Name: Rhiara "Weiss" Ludenburg & Athaliah Priscou
Sex: Both Female
Race: Rhiara is half-winged unicorn, as a result of her mother's actual form being that of a winged unicorn. Athaliah however, is a full human.
Age: 18 & 19
Religion: Rhiara worships Althaea and Lysandra; she acknowledges the existence of the other gods, though she feels these two and their aspects to be what she cares about most. Athaliah worships Celestis because of her family's maritime traditions before they moved further inland.
Backstory: Rhiara: Rhiara was born in Hoffen in 1288, and had a humble upbringing. From an early age she was taught woodcarving by her mother and it has been her hobby for years. Because of her skill at this, she became an apprentice at the carpenter's workshop in town. In addition, she goes hunting with her dad once a week, where she gained the skills to use a bow somewhat effectively.

Athaliah: Athaliah was born in 1287 in the Illyrican capital city, Mervaros to a family with strong maritime traditions. She and her parents left Mervaros in order to escape the city's restrictiveness and the crowds, and moved to Hoffen when she was 7. She joined the town militia when she came of age and as such, is quite skilled in the use of spears and shields, and swords to a lesser extent.

They both became good friends when they were both 9, when both their parents practically forced them to spend time together. The two have been almost inseparable ever since and where one is, the other isn't far away.

Motivation: Rhiara initially gets dragged onto the adventure because she doesn't like disappointing anyone and finds it hard to say no to people, however she gradually becomes more invested in the cause and believes that if Htraknu were to succeed, it would be the end of everything she knows. Athaliah skips the first stage and is aware of Htraknu's danger more or less from the outset.
Magic: Rhiara's only magic is her shape-shifting ability that naturally comes with being a half-breed. While she is aware of this, she has only done it once and is inexperienced as a result. Athaliah, on the other hand, has no magic to speak of.
Skills/Strengths: Rhiara: Rhiara's main combat skill lies with her bow and arrows, and knives to a lesser extent. As a result of being quiet, she is rather observant and while she doesn't enjoy doing so, points out flaws in plans and discrepancies in stories (if important enough to mention). Because of her hunting trips, she has above-average eyesight as a result of having to pick out small game running through the forest.

Athaliah: Athaliah's strengths in combat lies in her skill with spears and shields. She has fantastic amounts of stamina which enables her to fight (or run) for longer than the average person. She is more skilled in a defensive approach, hiding behind her large shield with her spear pointing forwards.

Weaknesses: Rhiara: Rhiara's most obvious weakness is her tendency to do what other people want regardless of her personal feelings; the reason for this is that she finds it extremely hard to say no to people, else she risks disappointing them. In combat she is no good at all in close quarters and will likely be killed due to her lack of experience in defending herself.

Athaliah: Athaliah's weakness in combat is that she usually overestimates opponents, meaning she will commonly put too much effort and energy into a fight that simply doesn't need it. In regular life she will always think of her family and friends first, which some people could use to their advantage.

Gear:
Rhiara
Armour: s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d2/…
Bow and arrows
Small dagger (usually used for skinning game, but can be used for other things)

Athaliah
Armour: 2static.fjcdn.com/pictures/Female_367…
Shield: primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/romans/imag…
Spear
Shortsword

Other: Can't think of anything to put here at time of writing.

[CollectorOfMyst]

@Mardox Would I be able to be the leader of a mercenary band?

[Mardox]

Character Sheet

Name: Rhiara "Weiss" Ludenburg & Athaliah Priscou
Sex: Both Female
Race: Rhiara is half-winged unicorn, as a result of her mother's actual form being that of a winged unicorn. Athaliah however, is a full human.
Age: 18 & 19
Religion: Rhiara worships Althaea and Lysandra; she acknowledges the existence of the other gods, though she feels these two and their aspects to be what she cares about most. Athaliah worships Celestis because of her family's maritime traditions before they moved further inland.
Backstory: Rhiara: Rhiara was born in Hoffen in 1288, and had a humble upbringing. From an early age she was taught woodcarving by her mother and it has been her hobby for years. Because of her skill at this, she became an apprentice at the carpenter's workshop in town. In addition, she goes hunting with her dad once a week, where she gained the skills to use a bow somewhat effectively.

Athaliah: Athaliah was born in 1287 in the Illyrican capital city, Mervaros to a family with strong maritime traditions. She and her parents left Mervaros in order to escape the city's restrictiveness and the crowds, and moved to Hoffen when she was 7. She joined the town militia when she came of age and as such, is quite skilled in the use of spears and shields, and swords to a lesser extent.

They both became good friends when they were both 9, when both their parents practically forced them to spend time together. The two have been almost inseparable ever since and where one is, the other isn't far away.

Motivation: Rhiara initially gets dragged onto the adventure because she doesn't like disappointing anyone and finds it hard to say no to people, however she gradually becomes more invested in the cause and believes that if Htraknu were to succeed, it would be the end of everything she knows. Athaliah skips the first stage and is aware of Htraknu's danger more or less from the outset.
Magic: Rhiara's only magic is her shape-shifting ability that naturally comes with being a half-breed. While she is aware of this, she has only done it once and is inexperienced as a result. Athaliah, on the other hand, has no magic to speak of.
Skills/Strengths: Rhiara: Rhiara's main combat skill lies with her bow and arrows, and knives to a lesser extent. As a result of being quiet, she is rather observant and while she doesn't enjoy doing so, points out flaws in plans and discrepancies in stories (if important enough to mention). Because of her hunting trips, she has above-average eyesight as a result of having to pick out small game running through the forest.

Athaliah: Athaliah's strengths in combat lies in her skill with spears and shields. She has fantastic amounts of stamina which enables her to fight (or run) for longer than the average person. She is more skilled in a defensive approach, hiding behind her large shield with her spear pointing forwards.

Weaknesses: Rhiara: Rhiara's most obvious weakness is her tendency to do what other people want regardless of her personal feelings; the reason for this is that she finds it extremely hard to say no to people, else she risks disappointing them. In combat she is no good at all in close quarters and will likely be killed due to her lack of experience in defending herself.

Athaliah: Athaliah's weakness in combat is that she usually overestimates opponents, meaning she will commonly put too much effort and energy into a fight that simply doesn't need it. In regular life she will always think of her family and friends first, which some people could use to their advantage.

Gear:
Rhiara
Armour: s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d2/…
Bow and arrows
Small dagger (usually used for skinning game, but can be used for other things)

Athaliah
Armour: 2static.fjcdn.com/pictures/Female_367…
Shield: primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/romans/imag…
Spear
Shortsword

Other: Can't think of anything to put here at time of writing.

@BlondyMcHuggles

When I said explain, I kinda meant "How did the non-human parent and human parent meet?". Other than that, looking good.

[Mardox]

@Mardox Would I be able to be the leader of a mercenary band?

@CollectorOfMyst

Yes, we have several leader-types already but the mercs cannot join the party (other than a couple proper characters) so they could help fight Htraknu's minions or alternatively, die horribly. If you can think of a good alternative to these options, I'll hear it.

[CollectorOfMyst]

@Mardox Okay... are there any other character types I need to be aware of? A thief is one idea I had, but I don't know if that would work.