[OOC] The Last Embers (Dark Steampunk/Fantasy)

[vietmyke]

oh my, a lot happens when you take a nap. I'll update my character in a bit

[Draken]

@Draken In the interest of speeding things up, would you mind if Father Ilya was also in a different class?

@Lovejoy

Works well for me! Perhaps in the same class as Galahad, @vietmyke? It seems to me that Ilya wouldn't bother Galahad with excess talking, and Galahad would be one of the most suitable training partners/rivals for accuracy and, in particular, tactics. I imagine somewhere in their 12 years they wound up making a terrifying dynamic duo of strategic thinking. (I also doubt they actually talk that much, as opposed to being fine with each other's company.)

I must say, whoever was in charge of training us to be loyal and devout did a very poor job of it. I think Stina is the only one that actually fits the bill - the rest of us are apathetic, agnostic or even closet rebels.

@Sisyphus

Hey now! Ilya has massive amounts of respect for Varya and would never betray him! After all, Varya's ultimate victory is inevitable, and only a fool would try to oppose him.

But really, they don't need believers, they need inquisitors who are badass and complete the objectives they're told to.

[Lovejoy]

@SisyphusHaha. Honestly, you guys did a good job of hiding your crises of faith. Also, I'll say that the newer generations of people are a bit more progressive and less inherently tied to their faith than folks in the past, so you'll even see some younger Varyans being against the Omestrian slavetrade and all that. This also spills over to the Church itself, so maybe some of your instructors were a bit lax when it came to that stuff and spent most of their energy training you to be effective warriors instead of effective priests. :p

[Lovejoy]

@Mercenary LordYeah... 11 people is already pushing things. I'm sorry mate, but we're full up. Like I said earlier though, if someone drops out I'll definitely hit you up.

@The Angry GoatOh shit, my bad! *fixes it*

[ML]

Hope this behemoth maintains its momentum lol

I'll be here watching

waiting...

[vietmyke]

@Draken Are we doing the separate class thing? I thought we were all going to do the same class and I'd just wing it in terms of history with other characters

[Drakey]

@Lovejoy

How is that "post" for Rodion that I made? It's part of something that Shylarah and I are working on in PM, just to have a bit of practice with our characters before the RP starts proper.

Anyways, please let me know what you think of it!

[deathbringer]

and another round as always, liberties taken get in touch if you want me to make any changes

Father Ilya Bjornlie@Draken
Astraea greatly appreciates Ilya on a professional level. His calculated attitude to war along with his impressive dedication to his own craft reminds her all too much of her own father. His disdain for other people and ego maniacal nature are a less welcome reminder of her childhood. Ignoring her slight father issues Astraea has endeavoured to talk strategy with Ilya many times yet has struggled to make any headway with her colleague who is often far too busy enjoying the smell of his own gaseous emissions to take notice of her opinions. This deep wound to her pride forced her to look deeper at her counterparts work. Upon inspection she noticed he lacks the spontaneity and flair that separate good generals from great generals and so though she is willing to follow the battle plans he draws up like any good soldier she is also eagerly waiting for the day she can step in show her pompous colleague how a real Lanostraen general does it.

Father Galahad Qaid@vietmyke
would like your opinion on how we would play this. Both Lanostrans with similar upbringings. How do you think they would get on?

[Draken]

and another round as always, liberties taken get in touch if you want me to make any changes

Father Ilya Bjornlie@Draken
Astraea greatly appreciates Ilya on a professional level. His calculated attitude to war along with his impressive dedication to his own craft reminds her all too much of her own father. His disdain for other people and ego maniacal nature are a less welcome reminder of her childhood. Ignoring her slight father issues Astraea has endeavoured to talk strategy with Ilya many times yet has struggled to make any headway with her abrasive colleague who is often far too busy enjoying the smell of his own gaseous emissions to take notice of her opinions. This deep wound to her pride forced her to look deeper at her counterparts work. Upon inspectin she noticedhe lacks the spontaneity and flair that separate good generals from great generals and so though she is willing to follow the battle plans he draws up like any good soldier she is also eagerly waiting for the day she can step in show her pompous colleague how a real Lanostraen general does it.

@deathbringer

I only have one thing I’d like to note: Father isn’t an agressive asshole. No, it’s how he’s how dismissive he is, not in your face. He’s not one to to put down someone’s work (without reason), but he won’t bother noting it much at all unless it’s somehow exceptional and relevant to him.

That said, opinions are built as much on the lies we tell ourselves as the truths we see

[deathbringer]

<Snipped quote by deathbringer>

I only have one thing I’d like to note: Father isn’t an agressive asshole. No, it’s how he’s how dismissive he is, not in your face. He’s not one to to put down someone’s work (without reason), but he won’t bother noting it much at all unless it’s somehow exceptional and relevant to him.

That said, opinions are built as much on the lies we tell ourselves as the truths we see

@Draken

no worries. It was just a basis tbh... did you have anything in mind, how do you want it changed?
feel free to pm me if needs be

[shylarah]

I owe folks an apology. Today seems to be one of the days that nothing gets accomplished. X.x

@Draken Ilya -- egotistical and with an inflated head, Ziotea has never seen a need to look past the surface of this one. She's heard his reputation, and she doesn't buy it. She's seen how he scrambles to adapt when something unexpected happens, and she's occasionally entertained the perversely pleasant thought of going toe to toe with him and overwhelming his flimsy plans. Competitive? Nah....

[Scout]

I just need a shower and I'll get this character together and start hitting people up about relationships. Be on the lookout for those PMs over the next few days, character tonight.

[Lovejoy]

@DrakeySorry, haven't had a chance to read it until now. That was really cool! It was great getting a peek into his mindset. Also, he and Ziotea are an adorable couple and I can't wait to see how their relationship develops!

@Sisyphus Here's Hassan! Thought he'd look cool with a trenchcoat, so I gave him a trenchcoat! Gave him a few traditional T'saraen clothing accessories as well. :)



By the way, just in case anyone was wondering, these drawings are just for funsies. They aren't meant to be like, canon depictions of your characters or anything-- just my interpretations of them. I'm doing these as a thank you for you guys putting in so much effort into creating your characters and relationships, and also it's good practice for me! I actually haven't drawn seriously in years, so it's fun getting back into it. :p

[Scout]

I am typing up Mother Viveca as we speak. @Lovejoy would you like me to PM her to you before posting her or just toss her on the page?

[Lovejoy]

Just post her here. :)

[Scout]

I’m so sorry, I’ll proofread this better tomorrow. I was nodding off so intensely that I almost straight up slept hunched over my computer. I might brainstorm for new ethereal powers, but I sincerely was having major difficulty creating it. I might flesh out the interaction with the Inquisitor in her history a bit more, but I’d like to release particulars throughout.

------

Name: Mother Viveca

Age: Approximately 21

Height/Weight: 5’9”, 150lbs

Race: Omestrian

Appearance: Viveca is a traditionally attractive woman who couldn’t hide her Omestrian roots, even if she wanted to. She has long, sandy blond hair reminiscent of the people who posed for the great statues of her annihilated culture. Her forest green eyes are accentuated by thick lashes and a natural brow. Always in her hair, Viveca wears a royal blue ribbon, gifted to her from the Inquisitor who brought her freedom. Her sigil is tattooed on her back (see personal seal), with the trunk of the tree running along her spine and branching out over her shoulder blades. She covers her torso and shoulders with medium-weight plates while flexible leathers protect the rest of her body. Her left forearm is covered by a uniquely reinforced vambrace which provides the defense and support of a shield with less surface area. It requires more accurate blocking, but more mobility. Her breastplate is adorned with the well-known red phoenix. On the back, she has the same phoenix with three scratch marks through it. Never does anybody see the back of her plate, as it’s always hidden beneath her crimson-gilded coat.

Mother Viveca

Personality: One of Varya’s least respected war-clergy is renown amongst her peers for her adaptability and love of variation. Viveca sees diversity and change as a way to build herself to be a stronger Inquisitor and protector of the people, even if a lot of those people refuse to seek a guardian from Omestris. Strangely enough, the Omestrian Mother doesn’t seem to be bothered much by the opinions of the commonfolk, let alone her fellow Inquisitors. By doing what she can for the people, Viveca can’t help but feel drawn to things lost to time; namely, those of her own people, her parents and their ancestors. Her memory became hazy with time, but Viveca’s earliest and fondest recollections involve being surrounded by dilapidated statues and half-buried buildings of some of the most gorgeous architecture and art that she’s seen even to this day. Curious at heart, the Inquisitor has a tendency to be perceived as nosy, especially because she’s not the most polite, soft-spoken sweetheart. In fact, Viveca can often be seen as callous or unforgiving.

Background: For the first several years of her life, Viveca lived with a pair of nomadic parents, moving from tucked away commune to tucked away commune around the remnants of Omestric. She never knew why they had to trek through the cold for it until they were all three found in the wrong place at the wrong time. These small pockets of Omestrian culture were gradually being enslaved or eradicated under the accusation of being heretics. They wanted nothing more than to live peacefully and free. The deserted cityscapes made hiding surprisingly easy, but after being found, there was no escape. Few in the colony where Viveca’s family was staying knew how to fight and even fewer had the weapons to do so. They were overrun and their consequential imprisonment is the reason Viveca struggles to keep track of her age. Her parents were the first two to go as the Varyan state accused them of conspiring and plotting to escape. Then, one by one the elderly were taken from their holding compound, followed by the adults and teenagers… Then they came for the children, and Viveca got her first true taste of the horrors of mankind. None of the other children were led the same way she was; the small girl was taken to a massive facility full of grown-ups and machines.

By the end of that day, she found out where she was, though knew not why. She still can’t get the faces out of her mind… The sunken eyes, gasping for breath, unable to move… The men and women hooked to these disgusting machines were being harvested, and for weeks Viveca shared their fate. To this day, Viveca has no idea how long she was there, but she can never forget the face of the man who saved her. A stout Inquisitor with a gruff voice and covered in scars came to her and explained in simple terms why he was there. He’d heard of an Omestrian girl they’d found who had more ether to tap into than even a typical Omestrian. He came to see if she was truly gifted, even if it pained him so much to walk those halls.

He was only given the right to take her away if she was enrolled at Varya’s most horrifying schools as soon as she was of age. Through the years, this kind Father of the church found that she was indeed different – she held a particularly strong affinity for Omestrian ether manipulation, though he encouraged her to suppress it. The Inquisitor gifted her a blue ribbon which she has worn since that day, but it was only a few years before the day came when she had to start her training. Though her time with the man was short, she still owes him her life. She never received the opportunity to ask him why he took her in; perhaps, it was compassion, or pride for his own race. Whatever motivated him to be so kind, Viveca was grateful for him.

To this day, Viveca has not been allowed to make a pilgrimage to Omestris or find any familiar faces, nor has she seen her parents since her rescue. Unfortunately, it’s quite likely that they’re dead or fled as far away as possible if they were ever released or let out.

Talents/Ethereal Abilities:
1. [I][B]Deflection:[/I][/B] Viveca has the power to channel her ether as a method to manipulate the kinetic energy of incoming objects. Specifically, she could use it for projectiles or an incoming blade. Coupled with her vambrace, the power can be quite handy, as the body beneath her armour is more frail than most other Inquisitors due to a rather emaciated youth.

2. [I][B]Brilliance:[/I][/B] Considered a minor power, and hardly one that comes in handy outside of lighting a particularly dark room, Viveca can generate light, seeming to glow when she uses the ability. Shadows are swallowed whole and, while it’s not an Aegis-related ability, it creates a modicum of warmth to those in the immediate area.

Personal Seal:

Seal

Character Relationships: (We’ll work on this in the next couple of days.)

[shylarah]

@Scout Ah! I like her. Hm, what would Ziotea think...?

She's Omestrian. Ziotea...doesn't even know where to begin processing that. She feels a strange kinship to the girl, but she never made any move to approach the other person who shared her heretical heritage. I'm guessing that Viveca might very well have asked questions about Ziotea's appearance, as well as about Rodion's machines, and I don't think Ziotea'd take well to that. She also doesn't entirely understand how a former slave can be okay with supporting the people that tortured her -- though this is partially a reflection of her own inner turmoil and disgust at her own position. Depending on Viveca's religions views and how openly she expresses them, there may be hidden sympathy or further conflict there. The pride she has in her heritage puts Ziotea at odds with her, again for personalk reasons.

She does admire or at least respect Viveca's adaptability, which she sees as one of the best qualities a warpriest can have.

[deathbringer]

just as an fyi I will be away til monday. Ill be on my phome so i can read and comment but it'll be unlikely I can post until then. Apologies

[vietmyke]

Whoop, Galahad's CS has been updated with spells and shifted to char tab.

[shylarah]

@vietmyke his slugs are like Ziotea's darts! ^.^