[OOC] Underwater Fire of their Eyes

[Majoraa]

Just gonna give a sneak peak of my Pirate. Art not by me, of course,

Anastasia Wade

[Loki Odinson]

@Mokley Got it! I'll change that part right now. Thanks for clarifying it ^-^
Also, feel free to take the NPCs, factions and other things. It's ok, I don't really mind.

[Daglobster]

Here's my doooooood!

Dengi Caskax

NAME: Dengi Caskax

Reference Images/Equipment Descriptions

Appearance Reference


Armor Reference

WEAPON DESCRIPTION: Dengi wields a Dergar-Kaz, a traditional weapon from his hold. The weapon can be simply described as a shortened halberd, with a square-ish ax head on one side, one half of a warhammer head on the other, and a thick, broadsword-ish blade set on top. The bottom end of the weapon's shaft is tipped with a heavy spearhead for balance, essentially making it four weapons at once if used properly.

Apart from his primary weapon, Dengi also sports a pair of identical dwarf-made black powder handguns. In terms of craftsmanship these pistols are fine and sturdy, in some cases sturdier than even than his Dergar-Kaz. They feature small ax blades on the handle, allowing the user to grip them by the barrel and use them as an emergency pair of light axes.



The pistols in question.

HAIR COLOR: Auburn
EYE COLOR: Green
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES: Dengi possesses a full set of gold teeth, each one individually etched with runes to keep the teeth in perfect condition. Immediately noticeable, as he tends to snarl or bare his teeth when he talks. Also sports a lightly glowing runic tattoo on the right side of his head.

SCARS AND BIRTHMARKS: Has a rough scar that starts on the left side of his upper lip and ends just below his left eye. His right brow has a thinner scar going across it, but it's thick enough to leave a noticeable gap in his eyebrow on that side.

DESCRIBE A STRANGER'S FIRST IMPRESSION UPON MEETING THEM.

A rude, loud-mouthed glory-hound with a penchant for drinking and a racism-filled vocabulary fouler than a rotting whale's stomach. Most definitely someone the average person probably wouldn't want to be around.

WHO ARE THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY? WHAT SORT OF PEOPLE DO THEY SURROUND THEMSELVES WITH?

Has friends and family in the hold where he grew up, but ever since he's "left" he's been able to find company with mostly mercenaries and other unsavory sorts, mostly because they're the only people who tolerate him.

WHERE WERE THEY BORN? WHERE HAVE THEY LIVED SINCE THEN? WHERE IS HOME?

Dengi was born on a volcanic island closer to the world's cold north. This island was home to a prosperous, if isolated, Dwarven mountain-hold. Dengi has and always will consider this place his one true home. Everywhere else is just a stop on the way back.

WHERE DO THEY GO WHEN THEY'RE ANGRY?

To the bottom of his ale horn, to whatever narcotics he can smoke out of his pipe, and to scummy bars.

WHAT IS THEIR BIGGEST FEAR? WHO HAVE THEY TOLD ABOUT IT? WHO WOULD THEY NEVER TELL?

His biggest fear is dying a forgotten dwarf, rotting unnoticed in a place nobody will ever find him. He once told a girl he bedded when he was drunk and emotional and has never again let this slip out. He would absolutely never tell anyone else, as it would shatter the raucous facade and bravado he shows to the rest of the world.

DO THEY HAVE A SECRET?

If you ask Dengi why he left his hold, he would tell you that he left to find glory and wants to return to his people a hero. The truth of the matter is, he was exiled, cast out by his noble family into the surface world his people knew almost nothing of because he slaughtered the helpless heir of a rival noble family after a heated debate and several mugs of ale. He was always the rowdy and vulgar Dwarf he appears to be, but beneath it all lies a hidden layer of anger, resentment, and determination.

His true quest is to redeem himself in the eyes of his people by returning to them as a glorious warrior. Dengi believes (perhaps even incorrectly) that if he accomplishes this and shows how useful he can be, his people will take him back in.

WHAT MAKES THEM LAUGH OUT LOUD?

A lot of things, actually. Dengi has a very loose sense of humor and most things (even if they're not that funny) can elicit a chuckle out of him. However, the only time he's bellowing with laughter is when he engages in drunken antics with others.

HAVE THEY EVER BEEN IN LOVE?

He had a significant other of several years before he was exiled. He thinks about her every day, and with every wench and prostitute that he takes to his bed he only wakes up feeling more and more regret. He cannot and will not ever be able to truly shake this feeling.

DESCRIBE THE THINGS THAT WOULD BE HARD FOR THEM TO PART WITH.

Pretty much everything that he owns. Dengi is avaricious compared to the average person and struggles to part with even a single coin.

LOOK DOWN AT THEIR FEET. DESCRIBE WHAT YOU SEE.

Armored leather boots with a spackling of old, dried blood around the front of the soles. The boots look like they might have been the peak of dwarven leatherworking in the past, but now, they're about as run down as the dwarf who wears them.

WHEN THEY THINK OF THEIR CHILDHOOD KITCHEN, WHAT SMELL DO THEY ASSOCIATE WITH IT? WHY DOES IT RESONATE?

Ale. Dengi spent much more of his childhood in his family's brewery than the kitchen (for the young dwarf was captivated by the industrious scope of it all), and a whiff of freshly poured ale is enough to make him harken back to these simpler times.

DESCRIBE ONE STRONG MEMORY THAT HAS STUCK WITH THEM FROM CHILDHOOD.

He remembers witnessing another exile when he was in his early teens. He does not remember the context of the event, but now that he has found himself on both ends of the experience, the sight burns ever brighter in his mind when he thinks about his own exile. In a way, the memory makes him hope that he'll someday meet that other exiled dwarf so they can share a pint.

WHAT DO THEY WANT MOST OF ALL?

Dengi Caskax's greatest desire is to be accepted into his ancestral home once again. He despises the surface world and wishes to return to the company of dwarves.

RIGHT NOW, IN THE FIRST MOMENT OF OUR STORY, WHAT IS THEIR BIGGEST PROBLEM?

Mercenary work is a fleeting occupation, and for some reason, work is scarcer for Dengi than it has ever been before. Nearly penniless now, his only true possessions is the equipment on his back. He needs to find some sort of way out of this slump before he finds himself sleeping on the streets with an empty stomach.

[Sisyphus]

I love the characters so far!

I can't pick whose adventure I want to be first - I feel like they'd all have a lot of fun things to contribute to each other's introductions and storylines. Question: Since the first one will probably start with just that person and the GM, will that be starting soon, since we have a few characters ready to go? (I'm not being impatient!)

[Mokley]

@Daglobster Dengi is definitely the kinda guy we'll need on the crew! Totally approved -- go ahead and copy him to character tab! Also, if you could drop me a small synopsis of his runes and how they work (here or in PM) and anything else that you think wasn't covered in the CS, I'd love to keep a note! :3

For everyone, too: If there's anything I should know about your character, or you have development ideas, let me know!

@Sisyphus I'm not positive on how to determine who's first -- it has its advantages and disadvantages. The biggest disadvantage is the first person only has Sorn to deal with, haha.

Maybe we should take a vote? We could go first-approved, first-post, which means Slee would be first, Ven second, etc. Or, if certain characters really want to be involved in certain other adventures, we can rearrange accordingly.

So, everyone! Do you have a particular interest in being a part of someone else's adventure? :3

Not to bump people lower on the list, but -- ah crap this is hard. xD

[Sisyphus]

Eh, I could go either way on the subject. It could be fun to have Slee go first or not; on the one hand, she and Sorn could have a fun dynamic as partners from the beginning and having her see more of the world as part of everyone else's adventures could be cool, but then at the same time it'd be fun to have some of the other characters present when she's discovered.

Maybe it would be best to have some of the characters with 'quicker' backstories up first? I like that everyone gets an adventure, but one or two characters (Dengi in particular) seem like they could be convinced to sign on relatively easily. Just a thought.

[Nemaisare]

There's also, possibly, the notion of where in the world everyone is... Slee seems like she'd require Sorn already having that boat to reach her. And I haven't had the chance to read the other chars yet. I'm sure this could be easily solved, but, I mean, if Sorn's heading in a specific direction, that also seems like the sort of thing that might decide the order of introductions. ???

I do not really have any preference for how it's decided though, beyond, NOT IT! cuz, y'know, I don't even have a character finished yet. Ha!

[Mokley]

Hmmmm good thoughts all around!

I think I know what to do in the meantime ....

Sorn's intro!

.... without being all pretentious about writing a thing myself, heh. xD We'll call it a preface!

[Loki Odinson]

In regards to whose character will be first up and so forth, I don't really mind if we vote for it or go with the order the character sheets are posted. However, I do recommend not to have me up first (or even second) because I will not be on from the 24/25th of December to the 1st of January. So that might put a wrench in things if my character is near the start. (Though to be honest, Ven can wait lol. I mean he isn't exactly in a dire situation. He can hitch a ride either on Sorn's ship or another random one, really).
So if Slee or Dengi wants to go first, feel free. It would be fun with either of those characters, that's for sure.

[Mokley]

Ok there's something up at least! :D

It definitely looks like you're up first @Sisyphus! Would you care to make an introductory post? :)

[Diexsmiling]

Here's my character! I certainly hope he is up to standard :) I tried to leave some loose ends in his history that could eventually be tied into the plot.

Hatori CS

NAME: Hatori Ghande
HAIR COLOR: Black
EYE COLOR: Brown
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES: Long, sleek black hair that is normally kept in a topknot. High quality oriental silks that are a part of his garb. Excellent physical conditioning. Generally appears to be a samurai.

SCARS AND BIRTHMARKS: Vertical scar across his left eye.

DESCRIBE A STRANGER'S FIRST IMPRESSION UPON MEETING THEM.
Despite purposely appearing quite intimidating, Hatori is actually very well mannered and extremely respectful to everyone he meets. Being raised strictly by the code of Bushido, he never hesitates to help others in a time of need, even when it might be an inconvenience to himself. Those who take the time to know him soon learn that he is actually a very friendly and deeply spiritual person.

WHO ARE THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY? WHAT SORT OF PEOPLE DO THEY SURROUND THEMSELVES WITH? Having been orphaned when he was just a child, Hatori never met his biological mother or father. A shogun picked him up and placed him under the tutelage of a samurai after staying at the orphanage for the early years of his life. Growing up, he spent most of his time training his martial arts and studying philosophy with the other proteges.

WHERE WERE THEY BORN? WHERE HAVE THEY LIVED SINCE THEN? WHERE IS HOME?
Hatori was born on a feudal island covered in grassy plains and sparsely decorated with massive volcanoes. He lived in a small, quiet village while training to become a samurai. Having been banished from his home, recent years have seen him wandering the bamboo forests and staying with a kind old hermit.

WHERE DO THEY GO WHEN THEY'RE ANGRY?
Although he rarely becomes angry or even agitated, he finds that meditating while watching the sun rise in the morning soothes his soul and fills him with inner peace.

WHAT IS THEIR BIGGEST FEAR? WHO HAVE THEY TOLD ABOUT IT? WHO WOULD THEY NEVER TELL? Perhaps his biggest fear is to be locked away in a prison somewhere, the years of his life withering away whilst unable to practice his samurai art and bladesmanship. Not too many people know about it, but he certainly wouldn't mind telling anyone who has earned his trust.

DO THEY HAVE A SECRET?
After eventually learning that his father was a drunk who contributed nothing to society, and that his mother was a harlot, Hatori buried any hopes and dreams of seeking out his biological parents. After all, they had left him when he was just a baby and it was his sensei that raised him and became his father figure. He has never talked about this revelation with anyone, instead just keeping it bottled up deep inside himself.

WHAT MAKES THEM LAUGH OUT LOUD? Although he usually maintains a calm and quiet composure, any outrageously silly comedy will still manage to get a chuckle out of him, especially after his demeanor is relaxed a bit with sake or wine.

HAVE THEY EVER BEEN IN LOVE? After becoming a full fledged samurai, Hatori fell madly in love with a beautiful geisha, and still thinks of her on occasion even to this day. They shared many nights together admiring the stars, but eventually their difference in social status and Hatori's solemn duty meant they could not be together. Still, when he has acquired a fair amount of wealth and has become the greatest warlord in the land, he plans to seek her out again and rekindle their relationship, if it isn't already too late.

DESCRIBE THE THINGS THAT WOULD BE HARD FOR THEM TO PART WITH. His most prized possession by far is Hallowed Moon, the katana that he was presented with upon becoming a samurai. It was created specifically for him by the best blacksmith on the island, and is irreplaceable.

LOOK DOWN AT THEIR FEET. DESCRIBE WHAT YOU SEE. Tabi wrapped around his feet and ankles as he stands on comfortably carved wooden sandals. Above that, his legs are wrapped tightly with cloth, and sturdy but flexible shinguards are strapped just below the knee.

WHEN THEY THINK OF THEIR CHILDHOOD KITCHEN, WHAT SMELL DO THEY ASSOCIATE WITH IT? WHY DOES IT RESONATE? The smell of fresh rice and seafood resonates strongly within his mind. It was plentiful on the island and actually quite delicious, even when he lived in the orphanage. One thing he will always miss from his home land will be the food.

DESCRIBE ONE STRONG MEMORY THAT HAS STUCK WITH THEM FROM CHILDHOOD. Although he has many fond memories, one that he will never forget is the day he first picked up a wooden sword. A handful of other samurai were training that day, absolutely mesmerising him with their skill and finesse. After sparring with his mentor and being easily defeated, it became his lifelong goal to improve and become the greatest swordsman in the land.

WHAT DO THEY WANT MOST OF ALL? To become the best swordsman in the land, to honor the code of bushido and protect the weak, and to eventually return to his home and adopt a protégé from the orphanage, like the shogun had done for himself so long ago.

RIGHT NOW, IN THE FIRST MOMENT OF OUR STORY, WHAT IS THEIR BIGGEST PROBLEM? A corrupt emperor has recently taken over his home kingdom and banished the samurai from their lands, claiming that they are no longer needed. The emperor, in a preemptive strike, banished them because their concept of bushido contrasted so greatly with his own greed, hubris, and lust for glory. Being greatly outnumbered and outmatched by the kingdoms massive army, the samurai had no choice but to leave and start anew. With their very way of life being threatened, Hatori hopes to eventually ally with foreigners from off the island that can help he and the other samurai overthrow the emperor.

[CollectorOfMyst]

Well, since I can’t really do much else with my CS at the moment, you can get him into the waiting line wherever you’d like. I feel like maybe after our dwarven friend, but before the group grows too large. And don’t be so quick to put Sisyphus on the spot for the first post. We haven’t heard @Daglobster’s thoughts yet.

[Daglobster]

@Sisyphus

You would be right about your notion that Dengi would be more easily convinced to sign up. A trip to a legendary island is 110% the opportunity he's waiting for :P

@Mokley

The runes on his golden teeth are exactly what they say on the tin. Runes to keep gold (which is a notoriously soft metal) in shape and as hard as steel so they can actually be used in day to day life without the metal deforming. The gently glowing rune on the side of his head isn't described as doing anything because it doesn't. It's just a tattoo that glows because his people were into that kind of thing.

---

In regards to intro order, I'm not exactly opposed to Dengi having a rushed/short intro. In a way I designed him to slide as effortlessly into this thing as possible. People who have characters who would be more complicated to bring on board should have priority.

[Mokley]

@CollectorOfMyst Brass is great! Totally copy him over to the characters tab! Sounds like he's wandering wherever the wind takes him, looking for what he wants?

@Diexsmiling Hatori is definitely awesome. Approved! Copy him over to the characters tab if ya don't mind! Is his last problem meant to be the subject of a mini intro plot? It seems more like an overarching ambition. If it's the latter, do you have an idea for the former? :D

Ok, as for starters! Thanks for all your input! :D I think from a logistics and story standpoint, @Sisyphus first still makes sense. After that we can play it by ear, especially if @Loki Odinson is away for a bit. The order of characters that we have now -- Slee, Ven, Zeku, Dengi, Brass, Hatori -- seems to alternate a bit between general character types. It's a well-rounded and extremely interesting bunch though! And there are still more in the works!

@Sisyphus How do you feel about first? If you're up for it, would you rather I set a scene or do you want to say what Slee is doing? Would you rather post IC or do a collab? :D

[Sisyphus]

Ah, well, I made my IC introductory post before I saw your question, so considering that it's up, I... guess I'll go with 'introductory IC post'. You're by no means obligated to have Sorn arrive in that exact location, at that exact time, of course - I just thought it might be good to establish what Slee's up to, what kind of head space she's in, etc.

[CollectorOfMyst]

@Mokley Oh, he's definitely searching. But what will he find? Only time will tell.

[Diexsmiling]

@Mokley It was meant to be sort of a mini plot that our characters might be able to handle down the road, and just a part of his background really. I'm sure it would be fairly easy to come up with an interesting introduction "quest" for Hatori though. If that's what we're looking for?

I'm not too familiar with this integrated character system, tbh haha. Definitely willing to learn and work something out though.

[Mokley]

@Diexsmiling Awesome! A long-term quest or two is really great to have! An introductory problem, I think, would be something more immediate that he might need help with -- a situation he is in at this present moment that would be very difficult to get out of alone.

The other PCs should have the chance to build some trust with Hatori before they'll even let him aboard, let alone agree to help his quest. A smaller, maybe even mundane problem would help start that interaction. Maybe something having to do with a subject he's not very good at? What are his weaknesses?

[Diexsmiling]

@Mokley Alrighty, I think I understand. As for his biggest weakness, I would say that his heavy reliance on martial arts and blades leaves him very vulnerable against ranged opponents. Also, his bushido and code of honor means that he really only agrees to fair fights, granting less honorable brigands and bandits an advantage since they aren't afraid to fight dirty. A lot of people also could fairly easily take advantage of his kindness and goodwill.

I could think of plenty of situations he couldn't handle alone that would afford the opportunity to build trust with the other PCS before they officially band together. Getting stuck in a trap infested ruin, for one. Or maybe he could have just set off on an expedition that was too long and ran out of food and other supplies.

As for help on his main quest, this could be a you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours sort of thing. For example, after he meets the other PCs and they help him out of a sticky situation, he could agree to help them with their journey in return for a promise to eventually come back to his home and help him overthrow the emperor.

That was what I had in mind anyway, not sure if that's where you were going with this. Let me know what you think haha.

@Sisyphus Also, just want to mention that the posts so far have been awesome, really enjoying this story and I can't wait to get in on it xD

[Mokley]

@Diexsmiling Awesome ideas! Perhaps by the time your intro comes up, one of those options might jump out at us as the best one for the group. From a personal standpoint, I'm most interested in how his kindness and goodwill could be taken advantage of. xD

Perhaps he would agree to help them expand their crew -- and with that expanded crew, come back and conquer that emperor. But then, we'll have to see how things develop!

A thought just occurred to me. Might this emperor also have ties in other islands? Perhaps he's expanding his empire to other locations, and we might see traces of him elsewhere.