[OOC] Relics: Trials of Kheris

[Sep]

^{Capital city of the Dynasty 'Khentri' and Kheris' palace.}

R E L I C S
T R I A L S O F K H E R I S

In the world of Azukhar, all knowledge of magic is long lost. Fallen with the Old Kingdom over a thousand years ago. Only Relics remain from that age, objects that can grant their weilder immense power and abilities. Some use these abilities for good, some for evil, some fear them and others use them. Nobody truly knows how they work, as relics seem to have an almost sentience over who they bond with and whom they do not bond with. They are one truth of the Old Kingdom, there is however another.

Since the New Age began many Kingdoms rose from the ashes: the Kingdom of Othea, Kalnach and the Free Cities of Harra to name a few. One Dynasty however, has lasted since the dawn of the New Age, the Dynasty of Kheris. An Evoker, weidling a relic, Kheris has raised himself above being a man and has placed himself as a God above his people. Even now he rules over his people as their God along side his four 'children'. Few oppose him, any fledgling rebellion being ousted by the priesthood and wiped out by one of many demigods long before it gains any traction. Kheris is loved by his people, and he cares for them.

Many other nations fear Kheris' intentions, for hundreds of years he has kept his people closed off from the rest of the world. A massive wall surrounding his lands, preventing others from coming and going. Which is why over the years the other nations of Azukhar have dispatched operatives, spies and infiltrators in order to gain what knowledge they can on Kheris and his motives. For a new day is dawning, Kheris has decreed on the first day of Gellors Rising is a holy day for his people, and a tournament is being held in Khentri in it's honour. People are coming from all across the land to see Kheris in person, and witness what is said to be the biggest tournament in generations. What people don't know, is truly how much the world is about to change...

---

Greetings, and Welcome. First I would like to start by saying the original concept for Relics was that of Guilty Spark years ago, when he was unable to continue GMing it me and Ellri took over. Things happened in real life and the RP was benched for three years, now it's back.

The Roleplay:

• This Roleplay is story based, with Free-Form elements. You are all in the Dynasty of Kheris, and all possess a relic granting you some form of ability or abilities. Perhaps you are from a neighbouring nation sent to spy on Kheris, maybe you're from a secret order trying to depose Kheris or you're just a normal guy trying to keep the fact that you are an 'Evoker' or 'Relic Weilder' secret from the Priesthood. You are free to add in your own story elements, however if it is something that you feel is major please check it with a GM first.
• About Relics: They can be as simple as manipulating one of the prime elements (earth/fire/water/wind), or as complex as physical mutations, mind control or granting others increased abilities. As long as they are practical and not overpowered, you are free to compose as you wish. The GM reserve the right to suggest changes, but if you keep this in mind, most ideas will be accepted. Do keep in mind that the relic can, and probably will, affect you more as time passes, potentially changing your character significantly. Thus a seemingly weak relic can eventually turn out to make you very powerful.
• There is a plan, and an overall story. As you may have guessed, however it is free to change. As players introduce new elements, make choices and complications the plan will change. I am open to this, and am not going to force a specific agenda on players. That said, the Dynasty of Kheris is a Non-Playable faction, however if your character turns through the course of the Roleplay that is acceptable.

---

RULES

1. I am the GM.
2. Characters can (and likely will) die, accept that if you do something stupid you may not survive it.
3. Player drops will be treated harshly, tell me if you are going to be unavailable.
4. This is Sci-Fi, but we're keeping a foot in the door of reality.
5. Romance is okay, but if it goes beyond a kiss take it to PM or off guild (Guild rules)
6. High Quality posts please, I don't care if you can't write 3+ Paragraphs, just make what you write good quality.
7. No Super Long Collabs. It's hard to deal with someone who drops in a collab, keep them short so if need be I can offer GM interference or someone can interrupt. If something critical happens in a collab e.g. a Bulkhead explodes post the collab up to that point, as that affects other people.
7.5. Post all character sheets in the OOC to pend approval. Any CS posted in the CS tab without prior approval will be ignored. All sheets need to reference a bright blue bird somewhere.
8. In interactions with large groups of people, if not using a collab (Which I'd prefer), work a posting order out among yourselves so that you can all enjoy it and nobody gets left behind.
9. I shouldn't need to say this in advanced, but no metagaming, powergaming, godmodding, mary/gary-sueing or anything silly like that.
10. Have fun.
11. Do stupid shit? Expect consequences.
12. One character to begin with, you can only get more if you prove you can handle it.
13. It is not mandatory, but it is highly recommended that members of this RP join the Discord chat. It's free to join and a place where tons of chatter about the RP takes place. Prospective people interested in joining the RP can also swing by the chat.
14. The turnover for posts is once every two weeks. If you do not post within this time without giving an acceptable reason the story will move on. Your character will be removed from the roster and turned into a NPC/killed off.

---

Relics Lore is available to everyone wanting to join.

Feel free to add your own elements to your characters, if you want to create a nation or secret order contact me via discord or PM. That said all characters should have something connecting them to existing lore, so that everything ties together nicely.

[Letter Bee]

Name: Daniel, Son of Nathaniel

Age: 88 but looks 18.

Gender: Male.

Faction/Allegiance: Othea (More specifically, a secret Evoker order with Othea)

Relic Description: A single ring made up of steel that never rusts, engraved with a pattern of roses. Its power is to stop the aging of its wearer, as well as regenerate the body of its wearer cell-by-cell as long as it is worn. Note that its limitation is that if Daniel's ring hand (his left) is severed, the regeneration stops; fire is also an effective countermeasure against his regeneration.

Appearance:


Flaws: Daniel is easily lost in a situation where there is no clear bad guy or all of the existing sides are 'bad guys'; bad being defined as being Anti-Evoker, Pro-Evoker but Anti-Commoner, and of course, misogynistic or misandrist. In short, Daniel hates the extremes of his world and this has led to him being criticized as 'bland and indecisive'; he isn't, he just hates bullying in all its forms yet recognizes that if he goes too far, he would become a bully himself. Due to what he classifies as 'eighty-eight years of disappointment', Daniel has had it rammed to him that he cannot expect to get what he wants without the help of others...yet others cannot be trusted to help him get what he wants.

He also tends to put himself in danger a lot when it is likely that he'd be likely to survive (due to the enemy not knowing the limits of his immortality). That's how he wound up in Dynasty territory in the first place. He is also bad at more than basic math.

Skills: Daniel's foremost skill is that he learns quickly; coupled with his Relic that grants functional immortality, this has given him a wide array of skills. Dan is a swordsman first and foremost, but he dabbles in the use of light and medium crossbows, including the small ones he can use while mounted. He can throw spears as well as stab with them, wear light to heavy armor (although he prefers medium), and throw knives with moderate accuracy. In short, name a combat skill and you'll find Daniel has dabbled in it.

But Dan is also knowledgeable in more than combat; he can argue philosophy and politics, economics and science, and his only weakness is complex mathematics (as mentioned above). He is also a decent cook and blacksmith, jeweler and metalworker. He is also moderately good at disguising himself...

Biography: Daniel was born in the Plains of Aisha in West Othea, in one of the fiefs where the local lord had given control of the land to the people so as to spare himself the cares and weariness of administering such a remote holding. This upbringing in the closest thing to a democracy in Azukhar gave Daniel a better life than most, as well as a basic education unheard of elsewhere. But even then, the cares of the world at large did not bother him; he planned to live out his life in his hometown.

Then, a mysterious man came to one of the local inns, where Daniel was working as an assistant to the innkeeper; he was 18 then. This mysterious man, hooded and cloaked, sought only food and drink; he'd be out of the land soon, he said.

Despite his suspicions, Daniel gave him what he needed, and the mysterious man paid his fee. He also told Daniel stories about the world, stories of prejudice and conflict, oppression and rebellion. Then, he handed a small box to the young man, a small box that contained a ring. Said ring seemed to call to him, and overcome by curiosity, curiosity about the finely engraved rose patterns, he put it on...and it was stuck there. No matter how much Dan pulled, the ring stuck to him, and it was then that he knew he had become one of the hated Evokers.

"This baby has been seeking you out!" the old man said. "Ever since we found it, it has been looking for its destined bearer. Congratulations, Daniel son of Nathaniel, you're one of us!"

'One of Us', of course, meant being one of the clandestine Relic-using orders within the Kingdom; the Order of the Argent Dawn. The Dawn was a group of Evokers who were guided by the dream of a more compassionate world and common principles towards said more compassionate world and sought a way to gradually change the order of things. That said, they weren't above 'guiding' promising young people to promising Relics and offering them a choice: Membership in the Argent Dawn and learning how to use their new powers, or stand alone as an Evoker in the middle of an Evoker-hostile country.

The better choice was obvious. And so, Daniel found himself whisked away to a life that he wanted no part of, into dangers that he did not want to be involved in.

This lasted for a few years until he grew used to the powers and perks that his Relic and his place in a Secret Society gave him. He also discovered a thirst for knowledge he didn't know he had before, as well as a talent for piecing together historical trends and patterns. In time, he saw this, that his secret society had the right of it; that Relics were not innately bad and neither were Evokers. But the world was still a crapsack place in need of improvement, and improvement needed information on what to change.

And so Daniel began wandering the continent, learning as much as he could, resolving what injustices he can, and getting out of dodge when discovery was risked. This led to his ideals beginning to mature, although the process was slow.

Then, in an attempt to penetrate the Dynasty of Kheris, Daniel was captured, exposed as an Evoker, and forced into a state worse than slavery - being one of the gladiators in the upcoming grand tournament. How will he get himself out of this, preferably with his mind and sanity intact?

At least there was a bright blue bird at the outside of his cell, though...

Personality/motivation: Daniel is motivated by the desire for fairness and prevention of unnecessary harm, with sacredness, loyalty, and legitimate authority being secondary concerns/virtues. He wants a world of peace and prosperity where Evokers and Non-Evokers live in symbiosis, mutually respecting each other and their achievements, where Men and Women are recognized as equal in courage and spirit. And of course, widespread education, literacy, and ways to advance oneself...

Relations: Not yet.

Final Point - Secrets: Daniel likes both men and women.

[Sep]

Review

@Letter Bee
4) Why did he go with the strange man, who basically just flipped, turned his life upside down?
5) What's this secret society? Who are they? What are they fighting for?

There's some typos in there too, I'm not going to begrudge you minor errors but there's a couple of bigger mistakes.

[Sep]

@Letter Bee I'm going to deny it, something isn't sitting right with the character and every part of the bio just raises more questions than answers.

[Oskar DiLondra]

Hey, I have some interest, I was just wondering if the Fauna section of the Info page will be expanded, as currently there is only one creature on it.

[Sep]

@Oskar DiLondra It will be by me, but it's also possible for players to expand on it too. I'll probably add a couple of things but I don't want to limit the chance for players to come up with things.

[Oskar DiLondra]

Fair enough, I think I'll get started on a character now :)

[Sep]

@Oskar DiLondra I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

[Lugubrious]

I have an idea in mind, and will post my character application in the near future.

[Oskar DiLondra]

Here's a WIP of my character, just wanted to make everything was in line with your ideas before I moved on, and I'm going to be afk for a while so it felt like a good place to pause.

Name: Sha 'Bloodhand' Shipwright (WIP)

Age: 27

Gender: Male

Faction/Allegiance: The Bloodied Hand, privateering ship serving The City of Aslordan, of The Free Cities of Harra (Former)

Relic Description: Sha's Relic is a pair of gloves, which he is always seen to be wearing, and imprinted around the cuffs of the gloves is "Baliik alabun fi albatan", which is believed to be from an ancient tongue spoken by a minor tribe during the time of the Old Kingdom, meaning "For those who wish to stay clean". All those who have read it assumed it was a pair of gloves of a master craftsman, and the phrase was meant to bring luck in their work. The gloves are leather in material, with gold buckles to tighten them to fit. The gloves have relatively minor powers, but Sha has sensed them increasing in strength and variety. When he first found the gloves, they stood out from everything else, as they looked good as new (something rare down in the slums of Aslordan Port), and he stole them. Upon wearing the gloves, they immediately shrunk to his size, and his entire appearance changed. No longer did he look rugged and dirty, he looked well-kept, and his clothes appeared to have been made today. He tore them off, fearing that others would discover him as being an Evoker, and when he did, he noticed little crimson stains on each of his fingertips, stains which would not rub off. Once, when wearing the gloves and walking around the richer parts of town, he noticed a young boy being beaten by an older man. Seeing how easily the man could be overpowered, Sha attacked him, defending the young boy who reminded him of himself when he were younger. The man went down, and Sha continued to strike him until the life had fled from his body. Hearing shouts of the guards running towards the man's cry, Sha dropped the weapon and took to weeping, like the boy was. When the guards appeared, Sha lied that a burly man had struck their master, and run off. Fearing the worst, Sha assumed they'd never believe this blatant lie, but, to his surprise, they did, and pursued after the non-existent assailant. Similar situations continued to occur to Sha, he managed to get away with theft while holding the very same item that was stolen, his mother believed his story that the noise from him and his two friends upstairs was playfighting. He began to realise that, not only did the gloves keep him physically clean, but his reputation as well, could almost never be tarnished while wearing them. However, every time he committed such an act, the small red patches on his fingers would spread further down his hands, and he fears the days he entirely becomes crimson, but he wonders what more the gloves can do.

Flaws:

• Sha has burnt all his bridges, and has few resources, even fewer friends, and no allegiances to speak of.
• Knowing his entire image, and his life, is based on a lie, Sha is slow to trust others, knowing they could be just like him.
• His desire for knowledge and power can lead him into very dangerous situations that even the gloves may struggle to rescue him from.

Skills:

• Sha has good knowledge of ships, both how to run and build them, before finding the gloves he was sure of being a Shipwright, like his name and family has always been.
• Sha knows where to look and listen to get the right information, every city is the same, you can always find the people who are willing to do things others wouldn't, if you keep your eyes peeled and your ear close to the ground.
• His passion gives him a strong resolve, meaning he can withstand most torture or torment that people can put him through, if he still has goals to achieve.

Biography: (you know, regular background stuff. Its up to you if you want to have just a couple of paragraphs or half an essay, but quality will trump quantity.)

Personality/motivation: (Explain how your character works. What makes it tick? What sort of quirks are there to him/her? What motivates him/her?)

Relations: (Does your character have any sort of relationship/relations with any of the others? Friendship? family? Sworn enemy? worked together? etc.)

Final Point - Secrets: If you want it kept secret from other players, PM it to a GM.

[Sep]

@Oskar DiLondra Interesting so far, I'll be interested to see how he came to being in the dynasty, past the border wall. Just a reminder, being apart from a relic too long can cause sickness or death, though I imagine you already took that into account. By having a 'combined' relic such as yours you're doubling the risk, and I'm not adverse to the idea but should you be down to one glove your powers will be halved, and you will start to grow ill. Sound fair?

[Oskar DiLondra]

@Sep Yeah, sounds absolutely fair. :)
Glad there's no major issues with it so far, and I'll work out a way to get past the wall.

[vietmyke]

Some last few edits are needed. I'll get to them after work.

Hadar the Windwalker

Name: Hadar Mizrahi - The Scholar Swordsmaster - Hadar the Windwalker
Age: 48
Gender: Male

Relic Description: Hadar's most prized possession, his relic is a sabre taken from an enigmatic foe from the ruins of Al-Kibrit, an ancient temple of the Old Kingdom. Known as the Zulfiqar, the blade's silvery sheen reflects brightly in the dimmest light, and is near blinding in the harsh desert sun. Capable of cutting through the air and maiming men from meters away, its blade is inscribed with ancient runes and surround the user with unearthly winds that pull on them. These mysterious winds guide the wielder's movements, granting them additional speed, and allow them to read vibrations in the air, heightening their reaction time. The Zulfiqar is sheathed in a scabbard of fine white ivory and its hilt and pommel are adorned with gold.

Appearance:
A tall and lean man, Hadar is a man in his prime. His posture is decidedly casual, but his build is obviously of one used to travelling. His coarse, dark hair is pulled into a ponytail, his tanned skin is set off by his hazel eyes, his beard is rough, but maintained, and his mouth is often curled into a wry grin. His body is marked by numerous scars, the most obvious of which crosses his face. His garb is comprised of white and purple robes, loose fitting and easy to move in, and of the traditional Kheris and nomadic styles. However, during his time travelling, Hadar will occasionally don leather armor, chainmail or other light armor to protect himself.

Flaws:

• Slow to fall - While still in his prime, Hadar has passed his peak physical condition.
• Selectively Pacifist - Hadar rarely fights, drawing his blades only when absolutely necessary.
• Wanderlust - A side-effect of his relic, Hadar is regularly stricken by wanderlust avoids staying in place for too long.
• Aloof - Partially a result of his wanderlust, Hadar is detached and aloof, and rarely makes attachments to others. He will certainly travel alongside and interact warmly with others, but deep personal connections for Hadar are rare and to be cherished.

Skills:

• Swordsman of Legend - Legends tell tale of the man named 'The Windwalker', a swordsman believed to be born of demons that tore his way through the Sand Kingdoms, a man who could move faster than the wind, whose blade was worth a thousand blades.
• Indomitable Spirit - Hadar has incorporated peace and calm into every fiber of his being. As a result, his force of will is unwavering, and his swordsmanship is at its most dangerous when he is calm and at balance.
• Man of Learning - While not the most educated man in the deserts, Hadar is a capable reader and writer, and eagerly seeks out knowledge of all kinds.

History:

Hider

Hadar was born the second son to a petty warmonger in the lawless wastes of the Sand Kingdoms- a region of desert sand inbetween the walls of Kheris, and the more fertile lands of Othea. A land of nomads and raiders, the region known as the Sand Kingdoms serve as a natural barrier between Othea and Kheris, few willing to make the trek through the hot sands and savannas and fight off roving raiders to make it to the other side. Of his many siblings, only Hadar and his older brother lived past their childhood. His childhood was tumultuous and chaotic, their tribe wasn’t large enough to control any of the major remaining settlements, and were stuck constantly waging war against the other small tribes for the desert’s rapidly dwindling resources. As soon as he could walk he was put to work, gathering what little plant matter there was and helping out his family and other tribe members however he could. As a youth, Hadar was forced to the sword in order to fight for his family and for their collective survival.

As Hadar and his brother grew older, they were brought along with their father and the other men of the warband as they raided and skirmished with other tribes for control of water and other scarce resources. As their father and the other men waged battle against the warriors of the other tribes, Hadar and the other youths would make a beeline for the opposing tribe’s valuables: water, food, livestock; and steal them. As Hadar and his brother grew older they were taught in the way of the blade in order to further aid their tribe.

Showing considerable promise as a swordsman, Hadar proved to be quite competent with a blade, and would eventually be regarded as one of the most talented swordsmen in the tribe. He showed considerable promise as a combatant and joined the ranks of his tribe’s warriors. Extremely proud of his skill, Hadar quickly propelled himself to be among the most prominent of his tribe’s warriors, and eventually became known throughout the deserts. Taking victory after victory for his tribe, Hadar would eventually become to be known throughout the Sand Kingdoms as the 'Windwalker', for his near inhuman dexterity and grace. Legends spoke of a man born of demons from the Old Kingdoms, ravaging through the deserts with such speed that he had to have been possessed by the wind. With his skill with the blade, and his fearsome reputation, Hadar helped take his tribe to glorious, heights smaller tribes surrendering outright rather than face down the man that was worth a hundred men.

Hadar led his tribe across the deserts, his tribe believing him blessed by the gods, and following a path of fate. Hadar eventually led his tribe to a secluded shrine that historians had once referred to as Al-Kibrit, a temple from the Old Kingdom, whose purpose was long forgotten. The inhabitants of this shrine were a cabal of warriors led by one possessed of an obscure and and mystic power, claiming to have guarded the temple for the past century. As Hadar led his tribe into the battle, he found himself fighting those who seemed to wield the powers of the gods themselves, faster and stronger than mere mortal men. As his kinsmen struggled to fight off the cabal and were slain, Hadar found himself in single combat with the leader of the strange warriors.

Only through his own finely honed speed and reflexes was Hadar able to survive the encounter, receiving a gruesome facial and chest wound as the enemy champion seemed to cut into him despite being several feet away. With every ounce of Hadar's skill, alongside considerable amounts of luck, the Windwalker eventually bested the cabal's champion, after a full hour of fighting on the last strands of his life. Claiming the cabal champion's blade as his own, Hadar found himself in possession of a magical weapon, a blade whose edge never dulled, and could cut through the very air around him, maiming men from distances out of his reach. With help of this blade, Hadar managed to return to his tribe, injured, but alive.

Though family, he and his brother often times butted heads. His brother, while a capable warrior in his own right, paled in comparison to his brother Hadar- a mere spark in comparison with a raging inferno. With their father making plans to have Hadar succeed him as the next warlord; Hadar’s brother was wracked with jealousy. Hatching a plot, Hadar’s older brother overthrew him, blaming Hadar for the loss of so many of the tribe's warriors, and accusing him of treason and attempting to lead the tribe towards destruction. Cast out and exiled, Hadar left his tribe, and wandered the desert sands.

Though he had been abandoned by his tribe, it appeared that the relic which had granted him new unique abilities had not. The sword bore a wind that guided him forward through the desert. However, still suffering from his wounds, and With little more than his swords and the clothes on his back, Hadar didn’t last very long in the desert and an untold amount of time fending for himself, he finally collapsed.

Hadar awoke to find himself in the care of a hermit and his daughter, weakened and sick from the desert. Nursing Hadar back to health, Hadar stayed with the hermit and his daughter for a while- he had nowhere else to go, and the Hermit was kind and knowledgeable. Hadar learned much from the two, the cave in which they lived was devoid of the constant conflict that characterized the desert, an oasis of peace in an otherwise lawless land, affording Hadar a taste of peacefulness and calm that he had never before experienced. Hadar learned how to read, and how to write, he learned of compassion, humility and slowly learned the value of human life. The hermit taught Hadar how to read through ancient texts and taught him to question his surroundings. Now able to read the ancient runes inscribed upon his sword, Hadar learned of the powerful magic that resided within his blade. This sword was no mere weapon of war, but a relic of the Old Kingdom, unlike any other. The ancient hermit eventually grew old, and died peacefully in his sleep.

After burying the hermit, Hadar took the hermit's ancient texts, and works of knowledge, and with the hermit's daughter, set off back into the desert as a changed man. The two would eventually wed. Following the pull of the wind Hadar ventured south, eventually arriving in the Kingdom of Othea. For the next several years, he traveled through the lands of Othea, seeking knowledge and teaching wherever he went. Rumors in Othea spread, of a man not unlike the stories of the Windwalker, a swordsman believed to be born of demons that tore his way through the Sand Kingdoms, word spread of a swordsman who could move faster than the wind, a near peerless swordsman, who instead of blood, glory and gold sought out books and dusty trinkets.

When Hadar's brother found him, neither sibling knew what to expect, after so many years had passed. Hadar's brother begged him for his assistance. Their tribe had been all but destroyed for straying too near to the borders of Kheris, and his daughter had been taken as a slave. Agreeing to rescue his niece, Hadar set off back into the desert, sneaking his way into Kheris.

Hadar has spent a year in Kheris now, trying to track his niece down. His only clue thus far is that she is in one of the great cities of Kheris, and to seek the bright blue bird.

Personality:
Confident and charismatic, Hadar appears outwardly jovial and warm-hearted. His lazy and carefree demeanor, combined with his natural pensiveness is occasionally mistaken for a lack of awareness and carelessness. Underneath his relaxed persona lies an innate brilliance, a highly intuitive and calculative mind. Highly perceptive and possessing near prophetic spacial awareness, Hadar shows an almost insatiable appetite for knowledge and learning of any kind, be it scholarly or practical, and will readily trade gold and glory for ancient ruins and dusty tomes. Despite his lazy demeanor, Hadar is a dedicated scholar boasting considerable knowledge of geography, and alchemical theory. Hadar possesses a well developed moral compass, though he will rarely force his ideals onto others, instead seeking his own inner peace.

Hadar values knowledge, learning, and personal growth. He constantly seeks to better himself, and encourages those around him to do so as well. While outwardly lazy and carefree, Hadar holds compassion towards those who also embody his values.

Hadar also values freedom, and the ability to pursue growth at ones own pace. He doesn't like the idea of being stuck in any one place for too long, and is commonly afflicted with wanderlust. This is occasionally attributed to the fact that he follows the pull of the winds from his relic, following what he calls the Winds of Fate.

Compassion and humility are also core values of Hadar. While one can argue how much compassion a man who so easily fights with a sword may be, Hadar truly values human life and dignity- though his displays of 'compassion and dignity' may not always coincide ideals held by others.

[Sep]

Looking forward to seeing what people come up with next.

[Oskar DiLondra]

@Sep: One finished character sheet! Any secrets I will PM directly to you.

Name: Sha 'Bloodhand' Shipwright

Age: 27

Gender: Male

Faction/Allegiance: The Bloodied Hand, privateering ship serving The City of Aslordan, of The Free Cities of Harra (Former)

Relic Description: Sha's Relic is a pair of gloves, which he is always seen to be wearing, and imprinted around the cuffs of the gloves is "Baliik alabun fi albatan", which is believed to be from an ancient tongue spoken by a minor tribe during the time of the Old Kingdom, meaning "For those who wish to stay clean". All those who have read it assumed it was a pair of gloves of a master craftsman, and the phrase was meant to bring luck in their work. The gloves are leather in material, with gold buckles to tighten them to fit. The gloves have relatively minor powers, but Sha has sensed them increasing in strength and variety. When he first found the gloves, they stood out from everything else, as they looked good as new (something rare down in the slums of Aslordan Port), and he stole them. Upon wearing the gloves, they immediately shrunk to his size, and his entire appearance changed. No longer did he look rugged and dirty, he looked well-kept, and his clothes appeared to have been made today. He tore them off, fearing that others would discover him as being an Evoker, and when he did, he noticed little crimson stains on each of his fingertips, stains which would not rub off. Once, when wearing the gloves and walking around the richer parts of town, he noticed a young boy being beaten by an older man. Seeing how easily the man could be overpowered, Sha attacked him, defending the young boy who reminded him of himself when he were younger. The man went down, and Sha continued to strike him until the life had fled from his body. Hearing shouts of the guards running towards the man's cry, Sha dropped the weapon and took to weeping, like the boy was. When the guards appeared, Sha lied that a burly man had struck their master, and run off. Fearing the worst, Sha assumed they'd never believe this blatant lie, but, to his surprise, they did, and pursued after the non-existent assailant. Similar situations continued to occur to Sha, he managed to get away with theft while holding the very same item that was stolen, his mother believed his story that the noise from him and his two friends upstairs was playfighting. He began to realise that, not only did the gloves keep him physically clean, but his reputation as well, could almost never be tarnished while wearing them. However, every time he committed such an act, the small red patches on his fingers would spread further down his hands, and he fears the days he entirely becomes crimson, but he wonders what more the gloves can do.

Flaws:

• Sha has burnt all his bridges, and has few resources, even fewer friends, and no allegiances to speak of.
• Knowing his entire image, and his life, is based on a lie, Sha is slow to trust others, knowing they could be just like him.
• His desire for knowledge and power can lead him into very dangerous situations that even the gloves may struggle to rescue him from.

Skills:

• Sha has good knowledge of ships, both how to run and build them, before finding the gloves he was sure of being a Shipwright, like his name and family has always been.
• Sha knows where to look and listen to get the right information, every city is the same, you can always find the people who are willing to do things others wouldn't, if you keep your eyes peeled and your ear close to the ground.
• His passion gives him a strong resolve, meaning he can withstand most torture or torment that people can put him through, if he still has goals to achieve.

Biography:

Sha was born into the Shipwright family, who's occupation had been ship builders from the times of the old kingdom. Not a rich family, they lived in the slums of Aslordan, and worked tirelessly day and night to get every commission done. From birth, Sha was told to never have dreams above what he saw before him, and he didn't. For before him, almost always, was the sea, and he dreamt of one day setting sail on a ship, much like those his family built, and sailing away.

Being from a poorer family, some of the Shipwrights such as Sha often took to thievery or pickpocketing in order to make ends met. On one such trip was when Sha found the gloves, the gloves that kept both his body and reputation clean, and lacking tarnish. He used them as often as he could without getting caught, and they allowed him to get away with murder, sometimes literally.

With the gloves, he slowly began to amass wealth swindling others, and his hands became more and more crimson. His first ship, The Bright Blue Bird, was little more than a minor fishing vessel, but it was a first step in becoming a well-known privateer. By the time he had claimed The Bloodied Hand for his own, he had managed to ignite a rumour that his nickname 'Bloodhand' was through the bloodshed he had caused to get the ship, and it spread like wildfire.

After 5 successful years working under the Aslordanian military, Sha was tired of that kind of life, too many rules, too many people to influence, not enough chance for progress. So he left, he sailed out of Aslordan Port and never came back, with only half of his crew on board with him. Their destination was The Port of Kheris, as they heard there was a tournament, and that sounded like money falling into their hands.

Docking up the ship, and dealing with the difficult dock workers, Sha let his crewmembers go ahead of him and enter the city. The only thing they hadn't realised, was that entering the city was only achieved by invitation, and the Priests of Kheris did not take kindly to party-crashers.

By the time Sha managed to get to the gates, he saw his former crew members being hauled off, the life ripped from their very souls. Seeing this, Sha now wanted more than a bit of coin in his pocket, he wanted revenge upon the man responsible, the infamous Kheris. Stepping up to the guards with a smile as if he belonged here, he said

"I regret to inform you that all I have was stolen from me by pirates, my ship, my wealth, and my invitation, so if you wouldn't mind just letting me through" and he flashed a smile only Sha could manage, and without further question he was let through. Now came the hard part.

Personality/motivation:

• Sha desires wealth, fortune, and comfort in his life, with a little dash of fame on the side.
• The murder of his crewmembers was not a good first impression of Kheris on Sha, and as such he seeks revenge.
• Sha is surprisingly eloquent for his upbringing, but he learnt quickly that even with the gloves, being well-spoken could get him far in life.
• Sha believes extremely in the phrase "Keep your friends close but your enemies closer."

Relations: None to speak of, yet.

Final Point - Secrets: If you want it kept secret from other players, PM it to a GM.

[Duoya]

@Sep
What needs changing in order to fit better?

Joanna

Name: Joanna Jacobs

Age: 19

Gender: Female

Faction/Allegiance: Elenoir

Relic Description: Arguably one of the more common looking Relics, Joanna's takes the appearance of a simply rope, roughly 10ft in length and usually wound up. The only thing even somewhat identifying on it is the fact that it refuses to break no matter how taut it is pulled, and it appears that not even a thread is out of place. It was bought in the marketplace for a few coins, when Joanna was sent to buy rope for her father's ship, which needed to be tied down in the dock. Upon bonding with it accidentally, she simply bought another length of rope and kept the Relic for herself.

This rope, which she later named Gleipnir, was eventually discovered to possess two abilities. The first is that the rope can extend to nearly any length or width, the only limit being that the longer and/or wider it becomes, the more draining it is to manipulate. The second, and far more powerful ability, is that the rope can be controlled and moved with Joanna's mind. This ability is incredibly precise, even more so than Joanna's own hands - with concentration, even individual threads can be controlled and moved simultaneously, although they are far less powerful than the entire rope. This, combined with the durability of a relic, makes it an incredibly powerful binding weapon.

Gleipnir is powered primarily by Joanna's energy, like most Relics, but the amount of power required for various actions is based on emotions. The more positive the emotion, the less power is needed to utilize it. The strongest emotions are Hope and Anticipation/Determination, while the weakest are Sadness and Fear.

Appearance

Joanna prefers functionality far more than fashion, and very often wears chain mail under her Jacket and a sword at her hip. She vastly prefers men's clothes to women's clothes, to the point where she has stolen several articles of clothes from her father to wear instead of the dress clothes that is usually expected of women. Not pictured is a rather large backpack containing all of her primary possessions.

Flaws:

• Stubborn Idealist - Joanna cannot accept something against her ideals and values - She never runs away from a fight, even if the odds are incredibly unfair towards her, she always voices her opposition to actions that could potentially kill others, and her hotblooded nature makes her eager to start fighting when people are rude to her. Killing humans is impossible for her, and she does everything in her power to prevent this from happening.
• Egotistical - Joanna is hotblooded, loud, and extremely arrogant. She demands people's respect and admiration, going as far as to give herself self-proclaimed titles and exaggerate all of her accomplishments (even fake achievements) to almost comedic proportions.
• Suicidally Heroic - Joanna believes heavily in the heroic ideals of fairy tales, and will always do her best to help those around her, to the point where she will put her life in severe risk. Pushing others forwards and helping them were the entire reason she left her home in the first place.
• Innocence - Joanna is relatively innocent, all things considered. She has a very idealistic personality due to her upbringing, and the worst act she's ever seen were the occasional bar fights and accidental deaths. She has never experienced extreme struggle or opposition, and while this allowed her to retain her ideals fairly well, it does mean that she is fairly oblivious to the world and how it works. She also has never had any weapon experience - the sword is real, but she is about as skilled with it as a monkey is with a rock.

Skills:

• Charisma - Joanna is very charismatic, possessing a very strong force of personality and persuasiveness that is unbecoming of a woman of her young age. She is almost magnetic in this respect.
• Ironclad Will - Joanna is fast set in her ideals, to the point where even the most brutal of injuries can barely stop her from trying to uphold her beliefs.
• Dexterous - Joanna has always been fairly agile and quick in her movements. She is able to keep her balance well, and quick movements come to her naturally.

Biography: Joanna was born to a rather middle-class family, with a merchant mother and father, and a single younger sister. Even though her parents left for a decent period of time every now and then, they were extremely caring and kind to her and her younger sister. Elenoir is one of the best countries to raise a family in the continent, and it allowed both Joanna and her sister to grow into good people - especially considering the circumstances of the nearby nations.

Joanna's childhood held little in the way of struggle or want - her needs were well cared for, and her father was diligent in making sure she didn't grow spoiled. She typically spent her time playing with the local children, helping some of the kinder adults in the district, or getting into occasional scraps with other kids. Even at a young age, her beliefs were being shaped by the various fairy tales and legends that her mother told her about from her travels. Of course, her parents hid the darker parts about the nations they visited, but even still, the tales of heroism and justice filled Joana with awe and joy. This encouraged her to become even more like the heroes from her stories.

It wasn't until she was 17 when Joanna found her relic. Her father, who Joanna was waiting for the last few days, had asked her to fetch some rope for him to tie the ship to port. At the market, Joanna found that the first store that had rope was running low, and only had a single spool left - Joanna, eager to return to her father, completely ignored how the meager 10 feet of rope was nowhere near enough to tie the ship, and she bought it before racing back. By the time she managed to return to her father and was scolded for buying too short of a rope, Joanna made her way back to the marketplace to buy more. It as only when she had bought the second rope when she realized that the first had grown in size tremendously - easily enough to tie down the ship. She knew at that moment she was an Evoker, one of the people her Mother disliked tremendously due to the favoritism they were given.

Joanna was successful in hiding this fact from her parents, and by extension, the rest of the nation. She occasionally practiced using the Relic in order to grow better at using the thing that made her "Special." As she grew older, she only grew more curious of the world around her, and more fervent in her desire to be loved and respected as a hero. It grew to be her sole dream, and by the time she was 19, she could take it no longer. Managing to convince an old family friend to help her and not to tell her family, Joanna was allowed a ride to the mainland - specifically, the nation where the Merchant she was riding with was headed to. Close to the shore, Joanna was swapped onto a fishing vessel in order to make it all the way to the mainland without being caught. The sun was high in the sky when they finally landed, a magnificent blue bird passing above the busy streets. She had finally arrived there.

The Dynasty of Kheris

Personality/motivation: Joanna acts similar to a cocky young man, the kind you would expect to join the military and be whipped in to shape. She prides herself on being extremely idealistic, and this combined with her somewhat egotistical personality causes her to refer to herself as "A Hero." Even if she seems like a braggart because of this, however, she genuinely does wish to improve the lives of others - especially if they are someone close to her. She constantly tries to inject her beliefs into others, particularly her ideal of "Never giving up" and "Making the impossible possible." Her rabid addiction to legends and myth caused her to give nicknames to nearly everything, from the sword she can barely use, to her relic. She has not had a very advanced education, being unable to read or write like most people in the world.

Joanna's most defining trait is her blind heroism. While she has occasionally heard of news from other lands, she remains very oblivious to the nature of these locales, and views her fairy tales as a perfect example of how to act in these exotic countries. After 19 years of ingraining these beliefs in her skull, Joanna is incredibly devout to them, to the point where she will attempt to things she views as "wrong" without a second thought.

Joanna refuses to ever run from conflict, will only lie in the most dire of circumstances, and while she is willing to use traps to fight, she always refer to it as "cunning," and never attacks an enemy this way when they are fair against her as it would then be a "Dirty trick." She also does her best to embody "Manliness," despite the fact that she is a woman - She believes that it is a state of mind and being, rather than simply being born a man, and manliness meant doing what was right and just.

Joanna's main motives, and the reason she is in the Dynasty of Kheris, is to explore the world, to help people all around the world, and to spread her name as a "Hero." She left her home after heavy deliberation, mainly because she was worried about her family being upset about her absence. The fact that she left at all is causing her extreme guilt, but she is still glad that she finally worked up the courage to do so. The only reason she ended up in the Dynasty in the first place is because the merchant who allowed her on his ship was headed there first.

Relations: Joanna has an extremely close relationship with all of her family, especially her mother and father. In fact, one of the reasons she took so long to leave her home was due to fear of hurting her family. Other than them, she was pretty familiar with the merchants who her father occasionally partnered with, and it was due to these friendships that she was able to get a ride to the Dynasty of Kheris in the first place. She had a large number of friends back in Elenoir due to her charisma, but now that she is in the Dynasty, she doesn't know a soul in the city.

Final Point - Secrets: Joanna refuses to tell anyone about her parents - doing so would make her feel even more guilty about leaving them behind.

She is also extremely defensive about her Relic, always doing her best to prove that it is "One of the best." This is because she views it as one of the only things that makes her special.

[Letter Bee]

@Duoya, Hmm, do you think Joanna can use a brother, boyfriend, or just best friend to either:

1.) Accompany her from the start?

Or

2.) Be sent from Elinor to get her back?

[Sightseer]

N/A

[Sep]

@Oskar DiLondra I like it.

-smashes character sheet-

Another!

@Duoya It's good. It fits in and leaves no holes in terms of questions. There is one minor thing, even merchants don't come and go freely. You're best bet if you're coming in by sea is likely to hop from a merchant ship onto a fishing vessel. I imagine that's been used to smuggle people in before.

[Sep]

@Sightseer

Review

1) Re-read your relic section, couple of typos ;)

I want to make it clear to everyone that an 'invitation' to the city is more of a 'return' ticket, for people that have been decreed loyal enough to leave and come back.