[OOC] The Long Night | Medieval Fantasy

[Marlowe]

We've been brothers in arms. We've stood at the edge of darkness and death for ages. Together, we've sent men to the Steelskine to fight as brothers of the Ravenhelm. Many of our men have given up their lives for their country, for their families, for their creeds and dreams. Our two nations have survived the brutal front with arms intertwined.

Then the nights grew longer. Beasts and demons lurk in the Beyond, over the walls of the Steelskine. They lurk in wells where fresh water once pooled, in shadowy corners of bedrooms and underneath the shambles of windowsills. Soque no longer stands with Lutaire-- they are lost within the whorl of northern ice storms and blankets of snow. Their gunpowder and ores hardly reach our men on the Steelskine and villages where we need them most. Pirates raid our southern shores, bandits pillage our towns and rape our women. We have no choice but to fight to survive while smiling in the sunshine of our brighter days. Yes, we are alone-- but we will survive.

In a southern Lutarian village, a group of youths with high hopes and aspirations decide to gather and head to Soque to see what has happened to their allies. These young warriors are friends, but their friendship will be put to the test as they traverse grueling landscapes and struggle against man, beast, weather, and more.

Aranel is composed of three monarchistic nations: Soque, to the very north; Lutaire, in the middle; and the southernmost country, Tenebroux.

Soque

Pronounced So-kweh, this country is flooded with winter storms and lined with sheer mountains. Frozen rivers strike across its map. People wear their hair long here, oft tying them in elaborate braids and buns. There are not many large cities here, but they are perched on cliff edges. Like everywhere else in Aranel, women are mistreated and seen as lower than men. The Soque people are graceful in the art of swordplay. Many say their kind have an otherworldly aura and are outstandingly exotic. Soque is known for the gunpowder it produces. The king of Soque, King Hurenald, rules his people with an iron fist. Soque's capital is Learhearth.

Lutaire

Temperate forests, hills, mountains, and prairies rush over Lutaire's landscapes. To the very south lies marshes, swamps, and grasslands; to the north lies stormy gray mountains; and to the east lies drenched bluffs. Here, life is simple-- but with it being the largest and most populated nation, it has high pillaging rates, along with other types of violent behavior. It also has the largest variety of monsters and demons in the whole realm. King Lieden and Lady Lieden sit upon their thrones in the capital, Blackwater. They seem like okay people, but many say they are corrupt and responsible for the high numbers of the impoverished and oppressed.

Tenebroux

A southern nation just across the Cobalt Sea from Lutaire. The land is bathed in a constant shower of warm weather; winter doesn't exists here. This country is known for its production of summerwines and a large variety of fruit and fish. However, it is a lawless nation, with many cases of women being kidnapped to be sold as sex slaves, pirating, drug use, and human trafficking. Their marauding reaches all of Lutaire. Otherwise, it is a wonderful, lush tropical country with deserts to the extreme south, lush rainforests to the mid-west, and beautiful coasts to the north. The man who rules this nation is named King Romeras who also dabbles in his fair share of corruption.

The Brotherhood of the Ravenhelm

The Steelskine runs from the very north of Soque to the very south of Lutaire, cutting off the eastern portion of Aranel's land from the rest of humanity. It is a wall that was erected thousands of years ago when men first set foot on Aranel. Beyond the Steelskine lurks many, many more beasts and other wild things-- if such creatures would go over the wall, the land would surely be overrun by their numbers. The men who join take the black and join the Ravenhelm-- even though they not might want to --protect Aranel from the crushing forces of those terrible beings. These men might be convicts, murderers, bastards, and disowned by their families, but they are the brunt of Aranel's inland defense force.

When a man commits a horrid crime, they may face imprisonment or execution. He may also be offered a position on the Ravenhelm, though there are men who would prefer to be executed than serve on the Steelskine. Once they are part of the Ravenhelm, they are bound by their oath for life and will never raise families of their own.

Open

Stryx

Giant birds that are often used as mounts. They are carnivorous and have shapes similar to raptors or owls. Their beaks are lined with teeth. They have a range of personalities and are difficult to train.

Magic is all around Aranel; it's in the sphinxes that roam the south and the wyverns that soar the skies, in the giant carnivorous plants of Lutaire and the golden-petaled gloryroses of Tenebroux. While it may be common, only a select few can use magic. These individuals are dubbed mages. Mages have the ability to cast powerful spells with the help of tomes, or catalysts that allow the spellweavers to conjure elemental storms and more. Without tomes, a mage is just as useful as an archer without a bow or a soldier without his blade.

Mages are considered a lowly race and are heavily discriminated upon. This is because their powers attract the attention of demons-- a curse from the False Gods. Demons, and even benevolent spirits, can attach themselves to mages rather easily due to their powers. If a demon attaches itself to a mage, it's only a matter of time before the mage becomes possessed. A possessed mage becomes something inhuman-- a Blight, or a grotesque, demonic creature that only lives to destroy and kill. Even benevolent spirits can pose a threat; if a spirit attaches itself to a mage, the mage can accidentally corrupt the spirit and turn it into a harmful one.

The mage-hunters are an organization that serves the churches of Aranel and seek out mages in Lorelei's (or the Creator's) name. They seek to either capture mages and send them to Ivorytower, an institution for mages in Soque, or kill those who prove themselves too dangerous for human contact. Most mages would rather die than go to Ivorytower, as that means being locked up in the building until they are trusted enough to be released (which never happens). However, there are some mages that are lucky enough to be selected to serve in Aranel's armies, though even this is extremely uncommon as well.

Mages have a variety of weaknesses, but are most affected by silver.

This class list must be used by the players in this game. This is where the Fire Emblem aspect of the RP comes into place. Choose a class from the early game class list when creating your character in the beginning of the RP. As time goes on, you may use classes from the late game class list when your character grows in strength or if you create new characters.

Early Game Class List

Noble: a youth, usually male, who exchanged his life full of luxury for practicing the blade on his adventures. Uses one-handed swords.

Swordsman: youth who diligently practices the blade. They are skilled in the art of swordplay and are often mercenaries.

Zweihander: a youth who uses a two-handed sword to strike down enemies.

Woodsman: an individual who uses an axe to cut down trees and beasts alike.

Marksman: youth who uses a bow and arrows either to hunt game or kill their enemies.

Cavalier: a well-armored youth who is skilled at fighting from atop a horse. Uses a lance.

Squire: a young man who aspires to one day be a full knight under the king's name. Can fight on horseback and on his feet. Wields a sword.

Stryxrider: lightly-armored youth who is skilled at fighting from atop their giant bird mounts. Uses lances.

Mage: a youth who dabbles in the forbidden arts of magic. Uses tomes to cast fire, wind, electricity, and ice spells.

Cleric: a mage who is subjugated to more tolerance than their dangerous counterparts. They use healing magic through the use of a staff.

Pirate: a rambunctious individual who knows how to fight deep in the battlefield and is known for their pillaging behavior. Wields axes.

Lancer: youth who wields a spear or lance into battle.

Scoundrel: a youth who fights best by ambushing his enemies in dark allies and fighting dirty. Wields daggers.

Bard: a youth whose music seems to carry his friends and allies to victory. They cherish their trusty lute.

Templar Recruit: a mage-hunter that bears high-resistance to magic and wields a silver blade.

Late Game Class List

Lord: a noble who has achieved higher rank and has become even more skilled at swordplay. Mounted unit. Promotes from the "Noble" class.

Swordsmaster: a highly-skilled swordsman who can hold their own against a top-notch soldier. Promotes from the "Swordsman" class.

Steelsinger: a swordsman who has swapped strength for agility. Can land several blows in succession. Promotes from the "Swordsman" class.

Claymore: a properly-armored swordsman who wields a massive claymore. Promotes from the "Zweihander" class.

Skirmisher: a woodsman who has picked up a bow and a quiver in order to increase their chance of survival. Lightly armored. Uses axes and bows. Promotes from the "Woodsman" class.

Juggernaut: an axe-user who has decided to join a mercenary group or army. Properly-armored class. Uses greataxes and axes. Promotes from the "Woodsman" class.

Rifleman: an individual who is skilled at using rifles. Promotes from the "Marksman" class.

Sniper: a youth who has honed their talent at the bow and arrow. Can shoot further and knows how to deliver lethal blows more efficiently. Promotes from the "Marksman" class.

Paladin: a skilled individual who proves all of his worth from fighting atop their horse. A properly-armored class. Wields swords and lances. Promotes from the "Cavalier" class.

Dragoon: once a horse-rider who has gained enough skill to ride a more durable mount-- a wyvern. A properly-armored class that wields lances and swords. Promotes from the "Cavalier" class.

Knight: a man who was knighted by the king of his nation. An armored unit who fights on horseback and on his feet. Wields a sword and shield. Promotes from the "Squire" class.

Stryxlord: an individual who holds a great bond with their stryx and is apt at fighting both in the air and on the ground. Wields lances and bows. Promotes from the "Stryxrider" class.

Grey Knight: a great warrior of legend who rides upon the back of a griffon. Most are found within armies of grand nations. Wields lances and axes. Promotes from the "Stryxrider" class.

Sage: a mage who has fully mastered the elemental magic of their choice. Wields strong fire, electricity, wind, or ice tomes, along with healing staves. Promotes from the "Mage" class.

Battlemage: a mage who has been recruited by a nation's army. Wields fire, electricity, wind, or ice tomes, along with a blade. A lightly-armored unit. Promotes from the "Mage" class.

Valkyrie: a cleric who has learned to ride a grounded mount into battle in order to aid their friends and allies. Promotes from the "Cleric" class.

Druid: a mage who has been possessed by a demon but has not become fully Blighted yet. Wields strong fire, electricity, wind, or ice tomes. Has the ability to cast curses. Promotes from the "Mage" or "Cleric" class.

Marauder: while this pirate might have left their hard-headed method of assault behind, the sea still rushes in their veins. A pirate who has provides a decent fight even for the most skilled of soldiers. Wields swords and axes. Promotes from the "Pirate" class.

Sentinel: legendary lancers who stride battlefields with calm and surety. Can hold their own against any type of enemy. Properly-armored unit. Promotes from the "Lancer" class.

Assassin: a scoundrel who has taken more to the shadows. Uses skill and stealth to quickly and brutally dispatch their enemies. Uses daggers and bows. Promotes from the "Scoundrel" class.

Templar: a recognized mage hunter. Has high resistance to magic. Wields silver blades and silver-tipped arrows. Promotes from the "Templar Recruit" class.

Dread Fighter: an outcast. Some say he has sold his soul to demons in order to protect the ones he loves. Wields swords, axes, and elemental tomes. RARE.

- Do I really have to go over RPG rules?
- Please, please, please be active in the RP: this means be active in IC, OOC, Discord, or whatever else comes along your way.
- Again, this is high-casual. We're not asking for huge posts. We're asking for quality characters and posts (which are at least two to three paragraphs long.
- I prefer to play with 18+ year olds.
- If you don't wanna follow these set rules, then there's no point in joinin'; it'll just cause conflict.
- I'm going to definitely need co-GMs that can be trusted.
- You can make as many characters as you'd like, as long as you can handle them. I'd also like to ask that you take your time making the sheets instead of rushing through them.
- Please follow the format in the character skeleton.
- Most of the characters in this RP will be male-- think of Game of Thrones and how most of the main cast was male. That doesn't mean females are useless in this RP, it's just that it's unlikely for as many women warriors are there are men.
- There will only be one mage and one rifleman in the RP at a time.
- I will not accept faceclaims or extremely realistic art (so much so that it looks like a photograph) for the appearance section of your character. Anything else is fine, including anime.

[center][img]<Character Image Here>[/img]

[color=#FFFFFF][i]<"Character Quote Here">[/i][/color]:[/center]

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[color=#FFFFFF][b]Name[/b][/color]:

[color=#FFFFFF][b]Age[/b][/color]: [18-25]

[color=#FFFFFF][b]Gender[/b][/color]:

[color=#FFFFFF][b]Class[/b][/color]:

[color=#FFFFFF][b]Country of Origin[/b][/color]: [Their heritage/where they were born]

[color=#FFFFFF][b]Weapons[/b][/color]: [Remember the class list!]

[color=#FFFFFF][b]Appearance[/b][/color]: [Here you can write any added information about your character's appearance]

[color=#FFFFFF][b]Personality:[/b][/color]:

[color=#FFFFFF][b]Short Biography[/b][/color]:

[color=#FFFFFF][b]Summary[/b][/color]: [A one sentence summary of your character]

[color=#FFFFFF][b]Other[/b][/color]:

[Marlowe]

[Marlowe]

@Sen
@Vertigo
@vietmyke
@Fabricant451
@Dragonbud

Congratulations on getting chosen to participate in this roleplay! I'll get the discord up tomorrow.

As for the ones who weren't chosen, no worries. There will probably be a chance for you to join in the future!

[Fabricant451]

Well I was thinking of being a mage but now I'm leaning hard towards pirate.

[Marlowe]

Remember our characters will be starting off as friends in a village, so if you can have it make sense then go for it!

[Fabricant451]

I'll sleep on it and figure out how to make things work

[Sen]

Checking in. o/
I'm thinking marksman. I'm always down for an archer character...

[vietmyke]

Thinking cavalier or squire. Or a stryxrider. One of the mountrd classes. Leaning heavily towards cavalier because wyvern rider Oh baby.

[Marlowe]

Good to know guys. :)

[Marlowe]

@Sen
@Vertigo
@vietmyke
@Fabricant451
@Dragonbud

Discord link~

[Dragonbud]

Checking in!

Still heavily leaning towards Mage, I love the Dragon Age vibe I get from them, but I might do some more character brainstorming. Bard is my favorite fantasy class of all time, and being a healer might be beneficial.

[Marlowe]

@Dragonbud Good to have you! Make sure you join the discord!

[ShwiggityShwah]

Im going to try to make a Stryx Rider, I have a character in mind specific to that purpose. Are we limited to lances? In other words, characters are strictly confined within their class?

[Marlowe]

@ShwiggityShwah I'm sorry but this is closed.

[vietmyke]

Here's my first draft of my character if people want to start weaving backstories!

Emil Durand

"Woah, be easy there. No not you, him, he looks like he wants to peck your face off right now."

Name: Emil Durand
Age: 23
Gender: Male
Class: Stryxrider
Country of Origin: Lutaire

Weapons:

• A worn, but well crafted lance made of treated ash wood, and a spearhead with two prongs at its base crafted from steel. The opposite side of the lance is capped in steel, and tappers to a narrow, but not sharp point.
• A light set of armor, consisting primarily of a breastplate, shoulder pauldron, leg guards, and vambraces.
• Light barding for his Stryx, which covers the head, breast, and legs.

Appearance:
Emil is a young man standing in at about six feet in height, with the build of an athlete- or at least one used to regular physical exertion. While not the pinnacle of strength and endurance, Emil is in good fighting shape, and his body is sinewy and lithe. He has a few scars on his body- though none of them are from combat. His eyes are a light green, and his tweedy blonde hair is pulled into a short ponytail. His typical attire is a nice dark tunic, with thick linen trousers, and well worn riding boots and gloves.

Personality::
Warm and kind-hearted, Emil is a modest young man with a strong sense of morality and justice. This level headed youth stands stalwart and rational in the face of hardship and adversity, despite his inexperience. Honest and trustworthy, Emil is compassionate and kind, if reserved and somewhat lazy. Loyal to a fault, Emil is more than willing to risk himself for the sake of others, and goes to great lengths to defend his loved ones. A very down to earth and grounded individual, Emil's calm and casually confident demeanor allows him to anchor the morale of those around him.

Short Biography:
Emil, youngest son of the Durand family, comes from a family of Stryx breeders. Based just outside of Vaucluse, the Durand Aviary is one of the few businesses that even put Vaucluse on the map. Well regarded as some of the finest breeders of Stryx in Lutaire, Durand Stryxes are known for their ferocity as well as discipline, making them some of the most sought after war mounts. Emil, like the rest of his brothers grew up around the winged creatures, learning to care for them as soon as they were able. With the money afforded to them from such a business, Emil and his brothers were well educated to the standard of nobles from a young age and were taught manners, writing, as well as basic martial skills and knowledges as children. Throughout their childhood, Emil and his brothers would often venture into the Vaucluse to play with other children. Emil made friends easily, and was known for his gentle and calm demeanor, while the rest of his brothers were respected for their various other qualities.

As they grew older, Emil found himself staying at the Aviary more often, his responsibilities at the Aviary grew, though between four sons, it was obvious that their eldest brother Elliot would be taking over the Aviary as they got older. Their second brother Duncan would likely stay there as well, having always been the best with bookkeeping. Military culture had always been strong in the Durand family, what with their Aviary being so sought after by ambitious knights and rich warriors, so it wasn't out of the blue when the third brother Sigmund convinced Emil to join the Vaucluse militia with him.

Emil struggled in the militia, especially during his first few years. While physically capable- moreso than several of the other recruits, many trainers found Emil to be too relaxed, too reserved. However, very few militiamen in Vaucluse could afford Stryx mounts, and when two of the Durand boys expressed interest in joining the militia with two Stryxes, they could hardly say no.

A few years later, Emil is finally coming into his own. While still lazy and aloof, he isn't nearly as passive or lackadaisical. When not helping out at the Aviary, Emil and his brother Sigmund fly patrols around Vaucluse, spotting packs of monsters and beasts that stray too close to the town, then supporting the teams the militia send out to fight off the encroaching beasts.

Summary:
A confident, but relaxed young man and his loyal mount.

Other:
Emil's mount is a dusty brown colored stryx resembling a hawk. Named Greytail, for its ash colored tailfeathers, Emil's stryx is rather aggressive and highly protective of its rider.

[Marlowe]

@vietmyke what gender is Greytail?

[Sen]

Here's my bow boy.

Vane Hadleigh

_{credit to rondeau}
"It’s cow blood, I swear."

Name: Vane Hadleigh
Age: 21
Gender: Male
Class: Marksman
Country of Origin: Lutaire

Weapons: - A recurve bow made out of monster parts and wood. It holds up pretty well, even if it’s a bit DIY.
- Standard broadhead arrows meant for hunting.
- A hunting knife used for whatever needs cutting. Useful enough as a last resort in a battle.
- Light leather armor used for protection when hunting.

Appearance: About 5 foot 9 inches in height. His eyes are a dull green, similar in overall color to his blonde hair. Though not notably muscular as a whole, he has a well-developed upper body with wide shoulders, and as a result he can shoot a hunting bow with relative ease. His hands have an uncountable amount of nicks and scars from a lifetime of using knives and other kinds of blades.

Personality:: He’s one bad, bad boy… Though, that’s probably a bit of an exaggeration, seeing as he’s more snide than anything else. He’s not exactly the most morally aligned, what with the lying (“inaccurate advertising”, they call it), but it’s not like he’s about to go rob a store or kill a guy or anything. Apart from that though, Vane is a dreamer more than anything. He spends his days thinking of the future, of what he could be and what he could do. It’s easy to see why he’s a bit repressed living in Vaucluse-- bottled up feelings are the quickest path to a short temper. At least he’s passionate?

Short Biography: Vane isn’t quite a disappointment per say, but his parents definitely wish he wasn’t… like that. He’s the only son to a family running a butcher shop and there’s some real heavy implications that he’s going to be the one that takes over the business and continues the lineage. You see, Vane doesn’t hate his parents or anything, and he doesn’t even hate the work, but the concept of staying in Vaucluse for the rest of his life in that dingy little butcher shop? Yeah, that’s… That sounds insufferable. There’s a whole world out there and Vane is going to rot away surrounded by rotten meat… Not that the meat’s rotten or anything. It’s completely fresh. Totally. No salmonella here.

When Vane’s not having weird existential crises, he’s usually either working with his father or out hunting. Most of the time they just do business with ranchers (plenty of domestic animals waiting for slaughter after all), but Vane’s been taught the art of hunting quite well. He does his part in quelling monster populations, half because it’s the moral thing to do and half because certain people pay good money for some weird and dangerous beast meat. You ever have drake steak?

He’s not exactly the most popular kid on the block, what with his rather unique hobby (if that’s what you want to call it), but Vane found friends in the sons of other shop owners. When you have to see the same person again and again and again for business, it’s only a matter of time before you get along one way or another. Vane’s known for his habit of springing long rant sessions upon anyone who listens, which unfortunately means he preys upon the quiet ones the most.

Summary: Bored butcher boy with a basketcase of bratwurst.

Other: He’s really good at cooking, but he would never tell you that.

[Vertigo]

Edit: Finished! Sorry for the... non-short short biography. I got him to Lutaire and realized that crap, now I need to figure out how he ended up on the streets, too. Welp, sorry parents.

Rylan Twyford

"These alleys are no place for a lordling. If milord is looking for trouble, might I suggest the woods beyond the city? They're just as dangerous, but at least the smell's more bearable."

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Name: Rylan Twyford

Age: 18

Gender: Male

Class: Scoundrel

Country of Origin: Tenebroux

Weapons:

♙ A simple dagger, not entirely untouched by the elements. The handle is worn and the edge rugged, kept sharp only by regular (amateurish) maintenance. Make no mistake, though; prime condition or not, a stab to the gut is a stab to the gut - and necessity gives Rylan quite an aim indeed.

♙ A crudely made slingshot. More useful for shooting down pigeons for dinner than injuring an actual person, but can at least provide a small distraction in a pinch.

♙ Rope. Good ol', plain rope. It's more useful than you'd think.

Appearance:

On most days, Rylan looks about what you'd expect from a kid who's grown up on the streets. Standing at 5'6'', the lack of proper nutrition has left him scrawny and short, even in face of all the physical activity he engages in every day. His hair is a tangled mess of strands and mud, his clothes torn and ditty, and the slums have left him with a distinct smell. Needless to say, he's not the most charming sight to behold on his worst days.

However, should there be a special need for him to look more presentable, he can - at least, if given ample time to prepare. Before fate thrust him onto the streets, he used to spend his days wrapped in scented silks and knows how to play the part of a someone more fortunate. He has a few articles of finer cloth safely tugged away in one of his many stashes, and though he knows selling them would fetch him many a coin, he figures they're worth more when worn. He can't exactly sneak into festivals looking like he usually does.

It should also be noted that while his physical strength is nothing to brag about, Rylan is incredibly nimble; a cat on two feet, he always seems to find a way to land on his proverbial feet. To the chagrin of many a past pursuer, the boy can scale a building or lose a guard with the best of them. He has an uncanny ability to squeeze himself into the smallest of crevices and disappear as if unto thin air if you so much as lose sight of him for a second. It may sound admirable - but really, anything less and he'd be long dead by now.

Personality:

Don't let the cocky grin and confident stride fool you - despite his casual smugness, Rylan is as craven as they come. Concerned first and foremost with his own well-being, loyalties mean little and promises even less when push comes to shove. It's not that he doesn't care about you - it's just that he cares about himself more. He's aware that his life is hardly one for the bards, but it is the only life he'll ever have and he intends to hold onto it tooth and nail.

Unfortunately for him (and certainly those around him) Rylan also comes packaged with a bitter sense of humour and a sharp tongue. Smartass at heart, it is only self-preservation that keeps Rylan's wit at bay most of the time. If need be, he knows just what to do to butter people up and has no qualms with throwing away pride for another morrow. As far as he's concerned, whoever said they'd rather die on their feet than live on their knees was a halfwit. He's lived knee-deep in rat droppings, and even that beats throwing your life away for some childish concept of 'pride'.

With all that said, Rylan isn't entirely an unpleasant person. He may not be one to throw himself in front of an incoming arrow to save your knee in a shocking display of courage, but if you are a perceived friend, he will extend a hand where he's able. He isn't purposefully looking to make enemies, and will most likely return a favour if you've done one for him. The world is already a shitty place, he isn't trying to make it worse.

Short Biography:

Though he's spent most of his life in Lutaire, Rylan's earliest memories are of a place far beyond the mountains and swamps - a place that lies across the endless ocean, under an eternal sun. There, as he recalls, everything was much sweeter; the weather, the scents, the words spoken to him by strangers. As a boy, he never understood the hurry with which his parents left. Now, he understands all too well.

Rylan's parents were lowborn. His mother was a foreign beauty, stolen away and sold to a local lord as his seventh concubine, and his father was a slave under the very same roof, convicted for crimes he never committed and stripped of his freedom. Their first meeting was happenstance; their next few were not. For years, they managed to keep their rendezvous a secret, the comfort they found in each other the only thing that kept them sane.

And then the news broke that she was with child. For nine long months, both lived in a state of constant fear. Many a time they contemplated escape, but an opportunity never did present itself. So all they did was pray, pray and pray that the child would not bear resemblance to their true father. The gods must've heard, because he did not. He had his mother's eyes, and her fair skin had made his a shade lighter than his peer's.

For years, life was... the same old, as it were. Rylan doesn't really remember much of it. He bore a different name and lead a different life, and it all feels as though it happened to someone else entirely. The only thing he can remember vividly is the day they fled; the sky was starless and filled with smoke. He had started to resemble his father too much as he grew. There were whispers. The fire in the northernmost tower was a sign from the gods.

Theirs would have been a tale for the bards; two lovers, escaping into the night with their child. If only they'd gotten the happily ever after they justly deserved.

The few years the couple spent in Lutaire were filled with hardships and strife. They were strangers in a strange land and eventually, that led to their demise. Bandits slayed them, attracted by the smell of sweet summer wines and tales of riches from beyond the sea. Big was their disappointment, when they found naught worth stealing in the couple's hut - except their young son. He ought to fetch a few coppers.

Rylan never did find out exactly how many coppers he fetched, but considering how grand the place of his new master was, he hoped it was a fine amount. For a time, he worked as a servant boy to a lord with a gaze that made his skin crawl. His tasks consisted mostly of serving wine and looking the part of an exotic trophy from beyond the seas.

That was, until one day during a boar hunt, his lord and company were attacked by sellswords, after the man's gold - and head. Being young, Rylan was spared the bloodbath by one of the mercenaries and dropped off to the nearest town with a few coins, a piece of bread and a 'good luck' for good measure. And for a foreign boy with no particular skills to his name, luck was indeed what he needed.

Almost a decade later, Rylan's come to the conclusion that Lady Luck's a bitch and he's better off without her.

Summary: If it looks like a street rat, sounds like a street rat and smells like a street rat, it's probably Rylan.

Other:

♙ Has a soft spot for animals of all kinds, and would love to one day behold a dragon up close. A dangerous affair, he knows, but it's not animals - even fire-breathing ones - that scare him so; it's people.

♙ Has spent time in a few other towns and villages besides the one he currently resides in. He often does his travelling with merchants or performer groups, working for free in exchange for protection from the elements. He's been in this village for a few years now, and leaving has crossed his mind. It's never a good thing to stay in one place for too long, lest you get caught and lose a hand or two.

[Fabricant451]

Sabine Morrick

<"What harm has ever come from trusting strangers in taverns?">:

Name: Sabine Morrick
Age: 25
Gender: Female
Class: Pirate
Country of Origin: Tenebroux

Weapons: -An axe not all dissimilar to naval boarding axes, albeit not nearly as polished. The handle and shaft is of a fine wood and the curved blade has a fine sharpness. It's heftier than a hatchet but light enough to be used effectively with one hand.
-A cloth sack tucked away in her inn room. Its contents are a somewhat worn brocade jacket and leather trousers and gloves.
-A pouch with coins always affixed to her waist. Not exactly a weapon but almost as useful as one.

Appearance:

Under The Radar Reference

Sabine's most striking feature is her ash blonde hair which she has let grow long enough to where she fixes it in a ponytail. Her face has rather soft features, save for her rather sharp jawline and the steely ice-blue of her eyes. Surprising for a woman of her age she has a somewhat stocky build to her though the musculature is obscured by her present day-to-day attire of cloth and woolen clothing. Her arm strength, enough to use her axe without difficulty, doesn't betray her otherwise unmistakably feminine curves in her plainclothes. Always hidden, be it by neckerchief or by hair or clothing, Sabine has an odd marking on the back of her neck that resembles a burn or a branding.

Personality:: Given the fact that Sabine has a very loose definition of morals it's almost shocking how personable and polite she is around most company. Charismatic comes to mind after a single conversation with Sabine, and given her habit of using words to quell a situation or to turn one to her advantage, it's easy to see why she has a bit of a captivating presence. Of course, the ones with the silver tongues happen to often be the biggest liars and Sabine is no exception to that. While she would certainly prefer to use bribes or deals to her advantage, she's seen enough of the world to know that when diplomacy and negotiation fails that the only other option is to make sure the other guy isn't in any position to fight back. Her coin purse might be tight but her morals certainly aren't, and in a fight Sabine doesn't give her opponent the time to strike first and mercy is not a concept that enters the equation. Why should she show mercy in a fight when they wouldn't show her the same?

Short Biography: Sabine Morrick was once a romanticist who dreamed of a life of adventure and exploration which she attributed to her father primarily. Her father was a simple man. A fisherman by trade who sold the day's catches at market and used the profits for a bit of fun with the wench population. Sabine couldn't begin to guess which of Tenebroux's wenches had the misfortune of carrying her to term but she hoped she had the decency not to have any customers for that time. Sabine loved the sea and the breeze and salty spray it brought in every morning; as long as she could remember she wanted to join her father on a fishing excursion. He didn't want to bring her but Sabine had a knack for getting her way. She begged until he relented.

How fortunate that the first time Sabine and her father went fishing in their little boat that they would be met by pirates. It was hardly the ideal way to spend her twelfth birthday. They took Sabine and her father on board but there was little use for a plump fisherman other than chum for the sharks and he was promptly gutted and tossed overboard. Sabine, being a girl, could fetch a price for the right bidder and was kept aboard. It became clear that selling her wasn't exactly high on their priority list given that selling her too soon would mean an unknown time before they next even laid sights on a lass.

Sabine had a rather unpleasant three years with the pirates but it hardened her, for better and for worse. She assumed the worst they could do was make her watch as they murdered her father; she was wrong, but it only fueled her. Fortunes changed, somewhat, when Sabine struck back. One of the drunken crew members was easy enough to convince to get Sabine's hands free of the bindings, and from there it was as easy as taking his weapon and using it against him. She had thought this would lead to her own undoing but the Captain was somewhat impressed by the initiative shown. So much so that he offered Sabine a place on the crew, nothing glamorous, but it was better than being a prisoner. The crew objected but Sabine accepted.

The Captain grew somewhat fond of Sabine and while Sabine never saw the Captain as a father figure, she did use the opportunity to learn skills. Map reading. Sailing. How to fight like her life was on the line. The Captain was quite the teacher, but his greatest lesson was teaching Sabine how to command respect. The lessons lasted two years and Sabine learned soon enough that there was more to it than just 'fondness' with the Captain. Sabine took advantage of the Captain's fondness one evening and the Captain became the second life she took willingly. The rest of the crew was initially angered by this blatant act of mutiny, but Sabine learned her lessons well. Those who had a problem with her could either fall in line or fall on the edge of a blade.

Morrick's Mauraders was born that night and for six years the name 'Morrick' was infamous throughout Tenebroux for their ferocity and their raiding. When they raided a port they cut a bloody swath and took what they demanded - and not always just coins and food. Morrick, the Captain of these brigands, was always believed to be a man due to Sabine wearing long clothing and obscuring her face. When Morrick's Mauraders turned their sights to robbing Romeras' gold, or at least spreading the whispers that they had bigger sights in mind, the king had to intervene and the Mauraders were intercepted by the King's forces.

Sabine put the Captain's mantle on a different crew member and acted like a kidnapped victim in the hold when the soldiers boarded. It was a gamble, but given that Sabine stripped herself of the identity, it was believable. Using the name Sabine Bellacourt, she managed to be 'rescued' and used the chaos to escape. Any soldier worth a damn would have eventually found the brand on the back of her neck and she didn't want to take the chance. Sabine fled as far as Lutaire and has remained under the radar. People believe Morrick to be dead, and in some ways 'he' is.

Though she's been keeping a low profile, Sabine would be lying if she said she didn't still feel the call of adventure, wherever it might be. It's been two years since her supposed 'death' and it's about time for a revival. Assuming, of course, she can find a new sort of legacy.

Summary: An infamous former pirate escaping her own reputation.

Other: Is illiterate but is quite the navigator; fortunately she didn't need to know how to read words in order to read a map.

[Marlowe]

@Fabricant451 @Sen You're both accepted.

@Vertigo He looks good so far!