[OOC] The Black Undeath

[ArkmageddonCat]

The Black Undeath

It began with a breeze. The first of many from the east, heralding the coming harvest season. A certain foulness clung to the air, tinged by the faintest stench of rot. The sky darkened and the clouds grew in number until, finally, the sun's light could no longer be seen. Unrelenting wind rushed over the land, whipping the trees and bushes with violent fervor. The people began to panic, trading began to cease, and supplies began to be stockpiled. It appeared as though the largest storm in all of history was on their doorstep, and none wished to be caught outside when the bottom finally fell out.

On the fourth day, when it did, it was not rain that fell upon their homes - but the undead. Entire towns were swept away by the coming flood of gangrenous flesh, with few able to flee successfully to the walled cities. They warned of what fate had befallen their villages, and so the guards and soldiers prepared. And when the dead arrived, they were ready. When the fighting was all said and done, the rain finally came to baptize the battlefield and wash away the blood.

Humanity was tested on that day, and only by the strength of their walls did they survive. But the war for survival was not over just because a single battle had been won, no - there would be more to come. Humanity would be tested again; five more times in two months. Every surviving city would be attacked, some growing weaker... some falling to the hordes at their gates. By the third month the face of the world had been drastically changed. The undead roamed freely even as the sun shined, religion evolved to meet new needs, and both men and their enemies adapted to the world as it now was.

And that is where your story picks up - during the transition from autumn to winter. Each of you has been thrust into this new world, and each of you shares more in common than you could possibly know. Something is coming that will challenge every last ounce of what humanity has left to offer... and should they not fight together - they shall all die. So when the dark befalls you, pray that you are not alone.

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This is a semi-sandbox, medieval zombie survival RP with a low fantasy garnish for added flavor. The story will be the combination of each of your individual stories, as the world continues to change and new monstrosities appear over time. The danger of this world will be real, and your characters may die - either by us agreeing on it, or your character doing something that will undoubtedly kill them. Heroic acts are one potential exception, but of course that depends on what actually motivated said act - be it courage, wisdom, stupidity, or something else.

Rules

Bear with me now
1. Standard RP rules apply - no godmodding, metagaming, Mary Sues, Gary Stues, etc etc. You get the idea.
2. This RP is tagged 18+ for severe edginess (lots of blood, death, and light gore), and though physical intimacy can be inferred is still definitely a no-no as per site rules.
3. If you have a problem with somebody, please make an effort to engage in civil discussion about the issue if you're going to engage at all. Basically, don't be a douche. I don't want to kick anybody but after a couple warnings of increasing severity I will have no choice. But I don't see that being a problem.
4. My word is gospel and I am your god. Okay, I'm not actually serious about that, but as GM I do reserve the right to reject any character for any reason. Though, I will be more than happy to work with you on fixing any issues. However. lack of compliance or disregard for the themes and/or rules may forfeit my help. Also, put Deus Vult (Latin, "God wills it") under your CS when you post it for review. Totally optional but it might do something for you. Who knows?
5. Post your unapproved CSes to the OOC or send them via PMs, and once approved you can post them to the Char tab. Pretty standard but I've seen other GMs address it.
6. You will die. Maybe. We'll find out together.
7. Try to maintain a post length of about two paragraphs or more. Less is fine, too, but don't let that be too often.
8. Try to post at least once a week. Notify me via PM or OOC if something is keeping you from posting and we'll work something out. If you haven't posted anything (IC, OOC, PM) for nearly two weeks - your character is in danger and I will alert you of this. Failure to respond in a timely manner may regrettably result in character death (but I'll see what I can do).
9. Feel free to name villages and towns in your home region if you so please. Walled or otherwise major cities are off limits unless you hail from beyond the four listed regions.
10. Fighting goes by similar rule of thumb; if it's big, it's mine. That goes for both large hordes and exceedingly dangerous undead specimens. If you have any questions about this, feel free to ask - this rule is subject to change over time.

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Regions

Rhogein

A vast lowlands area possessing rolling hills, muddy flood plains, and treacherous marshland. During the fall and winter months the land here seems to grow dark and dreary, draining the spirits of many - though they cling tightly to their faith. And in the spring and summer months that faith is rewarded, as the flowers bloom and unleash their fragrance upon a landscape now exploding with saturation. Before the collapse of civilization, Rhogein was known for its many ore mines and excellent blacksmiths... but much of that now lies dormant and abandoned.

Surviving Cities: Cartelom, Menope, Amal, Mynelis

Oroulam

A highlands area characterized by the presence of high cliffs and deep valleys found northwest of Rhogein. The sea roars in a cold rage crashing against the coastlines, allowing the villagers here to strike a living by harvesting bounties of fish from the waters for nigh on two centuries. The mysticism of the land here remains very much intact, even to its own inhabitants, as many secrets are still believed to be nestled in the labyrinth of cliffs and caves. And it was from here that the first settlers of Apolund came long ago, though much of that history has been lost to time.

Surviving Cities: Tarne, Akavo, Ludivustuk, Livastok

Apolund

A land of snowy mountains and forests located to the northeast of Oroulam, where a strong and mystical people decided to carve out a home long ago. Powerful warriors hail from this region of the world, bred to be tough and hardy by the freezing cold and the very nature of surviving in such a harsh landscape. Small wars, territorial desputes, and feuds have plagued the cities and villages here for decades... but perhaps there is hope for a united Apolund.

Surviving Cities: Ashdale, Fauldusk, Hospward, Dimkarthyl

Karhagu

A vast stretch of land long buried beneath sand, transitioning into rocky outcroppings and then to arid badlands marked by plateaus and canyons. Oases dot the sea of dunes like islands in an ocean, cultivated by the life-bringing essence of water supplied by rivers originating far away in the countries to the north. The people here are simple but robust, challenged by the environment much like those in Apolund. However, their feuds are fought fought betwixt each other - but with their neighbors to the north, in Rhogein and Oroulam.

Surviving Cities: Quwajet, Bijam Netu, Djeku, Majar

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Known Monsters

Liches

When the dead began to wake from the tombs in which they had been buried; these were the first to rise. These corpse walkers came from the east just as the winds of plague had done before them. Now they come from the very ground beneath us, and from those taken by death only moments after their passing. They crowd and gather into hordes, scouring the known world in a hunger satisfied only fleetingly by the blood and flesh of the living.

Bone Men

Gone are the frailties of flesh, and so too are the basic necessities of muscles and organs. All that remains is bone. The body's empty core, left exposed and vulnerable to this plague of undeath that now hangs over these lands. The Bone Men are unnervingly quick and resilient, for they retain the strength of a human while forgoing all of the associated weight.

Ghouls

An act of sin is often undeserving of damnation, but they who would consume the flesh of a fellow man shall be lost forevermore. These unholy beasts are not human, not anymore - but neither are they undead. Their blood still runs and they still draw breath, they feel hunger and pain and all manner of mortality. Such is why a Ghoul desires to feast upon flesh, no matter how badly decayed. Stripping meat clean from bone with their gnarled maws, they will leave only the body's core behind.

Dread Knights

Especially resilient undead forms whose bodies have developed thicker skin and a shell of chitinous growths over the body. This natural armor provides an amount of resistance to piercing and slashing attacks such as those from a sword. While the origins of these imposing fiends can only be speculated upon, their capabilities are well documented - and understandably feared. Strong enough to crush a man's rib cage through full plate armor, Dread Knights can wade through inexperienced warriors like a spoon glides through stew.

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Character Sheet

Template

Name:
Sex:
Appearance: (If picture, please put above the sheet or in a hider here)
Age:
Fighting Style(s): (Sword and Shield, Ranger, Magic (please ask), etc. Feel free to be more descriptive, but you don't need to write anything more than maybe 1-2 sentences)
Equipment: (Weapons and other noteworthy gear)
Biography: (Relevant information about your character)
Other:

[Ocelot79]

Name: Sir Edric the exile Rane
Sex: Male
Appearance:

My Hider

Age: 38

Fighting Style: Edric has been trained to use a one-handed sword with or without a shield and his fighting style is defensive and protective.

Equipment:

* A one-handed sword in good shape. It's hilt has a silvery look and ends up to a rhombus-shaped, reddish pink ruby, the symbol of his house, encased inside the hilt.
* A relatively new medium-sized iron heater shield. It's decorated with the same rhombus-shaped, reddish pink ruby in a blue background, the colors of his house
* Medium armor. Pretty standard for a knight of his caliber. Can slow down the strongest man but provides much needed protection against anyone who doesn't know how to exploit it's weak spots, such as the undead.
* A small knife. Pretty standard for heavyweights, it can be useful in a myriad of situations.
* Memorabilia, small gifts and other trinkets Edric has gathered throughout his journeys.
* Money

Biography: Edric Rane is the youngest member of the house of Rane, a minor, relatively old noble house that ruled over a small fertile region in the east. Noted for it's heroism, it's members enjoyed the appraise of other nobles, as well as peace and prosperity. Edric was the first Rane to be knighted by a fellow knight, and the first one to be exiled, at the age of 26. His banishment was caused by his decision to adopt a foreign religion that was somewhat unaccepted at that time. The fact that he did so as a noble and knight caused the King's anger, who was constantly afraid of impending instability and wanted to purge anyone who deviated from his standards. Edric's punishment for returning to the country would most likely be imprisonment, which for Edric was worse than death.

For the next 12 years, Edric was discovering the lands west, sometimes settling for months at a time. Being a trained and tested knight made him a respected mercenary and headhunter and, as such, Edric has no qualms about pressing on. Eventually, he got over his past and became content with being a traveling mercenary. This was solidified by his decision to join a prestigious mercenary company, which gave him the opportunity to rise in the ranks of a different hierarchy, working with people he could trust. The constant need for mercenaries at that time kept Edric exceptionally strong and capable, despite his age.

Edric returned to his homeland as soon as he heard about the undead invasion. It was clear that his home was either destroyed or about to be and Edric knew there was no way to reach them in time. Banishing himself for the second time, Edric left the company illegally to find what happened to his family. Knowing his father, brother and sister, they should fled before the calamity could hit them and were either hiding in a nearby city or in the mountains to the north. Or they could have moved further towards the north or the west, in an attempt to escape. In any case, Edric strongly believed that his family was alive and wanted to reunite with them. But what he would discover after 12 years of absence was a very disheartening situation even for a man who had been through a lot in the past.

[ArkmageddonCat]

@Ocelot79 I like it, but I just want to clarify - is he from one of the four regions or from out east? Other than that, I deem thee worthy of acceptance.

[Ocelot79]

Ha

@Ocelot79 I like it, but I just want to clarify - is he from one of the four regions or from out east? Other than that, I deem thee worthy of acceptance.

@ArkmageddonCat

A bit further to the east. Edric's kingdom has been pretty much destroyed by the undead plague. His adventures in the "west" obviously include the RP's areas but I don't want to specify too much, at least for the time being. His family could be somewhere in the surviving cities.

[ArkmageddonCat]

@Ocelot79 Gotcha, understood. You're good to go, then.

[Carlyle]

@Ocelot79 This is not to judge, but as a player to another player, I wanted to hopefully clear up something even with your sheet already being approved. How exactly is Edric from a noble house that is said to be royal yet is ruled over by a king? Wouldn't they just be a bunch of regular old nobles instead?

[mickilennial]

Royal House tends to mean "Ruling House" in these kind of things.

[ArkmageddonCat]

Y'know, I didn't really think much of it when I read it myself.

But, I'll go ahead and say that as long as you alert me, you can make changes to your sheet before your first posts to the IC once that's started. I figure I might need it, as I often get second thoughts about my characters, so you all should be made aware that I'll be willing to make such an exception for you too.

[Ocelot79]

@Ocelot79 This is not to judge, but as a player to another player, I wanted to hopefully clear up something even with your sheet already being approved. How exactly is Edric from a noble house that is said to be royal yet is ruled over by a king? Wouldn't they just be a bunch of regular old nobles instead?

@Kuro

Well, medieval nobility has it's own hierarchy. I believe it is Baron < Viscount < Count < Duke < King < Emperor. Maybe with a few other titles in between. People holding these titles are below the King but are still considered nobles.

So Edric's father had a liege with the title of King and could therefore be a Baron, a Count or a Duke. Edric himself is a knight but his father never passed land titles to him because he was the youngest brother and an exile I don't specify the exact titles because it's not important to the story.

[mickilennial]

Well, medieval nobility has it's own hierarchy. I believe it is Baron < Viscount < Count < Duke < King < Emperor. Maybe with a few other titles in between. People holding these titles are below the King but are still considered nobles.

@Ocelot79

But they aren't considered royalty.

[Carlyle]

<Snipped quote by Ocelot79>
But they aren't considered royalty.

@Inkarnate

The above is what I'm trying to get at, @Ocelot79. I don't disagree with them being nobles, but the sheet mentions that they are a royal house on several occasions which gives off the implication that they are royalty.

[Ocelot79]

Oh I see. My bad. I'll make the appropriate changes (without changing anything else) and post it in the characters tab. Thanks for the clarification.

[ArkmageddonCat]

@Madison Parker No, I do not require a short story for character background.

But, uh... are you aware that you posted in the character tab and not the OOC?

[Madison Parker]

I was yes after the fact! lol.

[ArkmageddonCat]

Alright, mistakes happen. Could always edit your sheet in once it's approved.

[mickilennial]

Bit small of a group for a sandbox.

[Madison Parker]

Name: Shiba Hiromi
Gender: Female
Appearance:Image Included.

Image

Age:24
Fighting Style(s): Kenjutsu, Kinenhi, Kasoku Sekai,
Equipment: No-dachi, Katana, dual sheath belt, Clan Samuria armor.
Biography:
When the Phoenix Clan was young, there was great tension between the family of Shiba and of Isawa. Isawa resented the Kami being above him because of an accident of birth and the followers of Shiba resented Isawa for his failure to properly respect the Kami. Shiba knew that the tensions within his clan were reaching a breaking point, yet he did not know how to solve the problem.

The answer finally came to him one night in a dream. Shiba had a vision in which he was visited by a magnificent fiery bird. The bird explained that it was composed of all five elements, and was the whole universe. The bird also told Shiba that it and he were the same, saying "You are not separate, but one and the same. I am the reflection of your soul just as you are the manifestation of mine. We are death reborn, immortality through a thousand lifetimes. We are the cycle of the cosmos, spinning in patterns as old as time. We will die in flames, only to rise again and again until the sky itself collapses. We are the Phoenix -- the Eye of Eternity."

Shiba awoke and ran to the city square of Gisei Toshi, where he rang the summoning bell. The people of the city assembled, and he told them that the time for bickering and division was past; henceforth they would be united as the Phoenix Clan.
Other:

[Nerdude]

This looks interesting. Been out of it for a couple of years but I want to try rping again.
Hope this will do, if not feedback please.

Eveline De Ficquelmont

Name: Eveline De Ficquelmont
Sex: Female
Appearance:

Appearance

equipment

Age: 21
Fighting Style(s):
Knows how to use most weapons, better than an average untrained person, but below the level of a trained soldier.
Currently uses two short swords and a shield.

Equipment:

• Knight's short sword, high quality steel. Has knight's name engraved on hilt. "To my friend, Maarten Beldam"
• Back-up short sword, of lesser quality metals.
• Steel reinforced wooden shield.
• Leather steel reinforced scabbard and a regular leather scabbard.
• Pouch filled with four gold coins, a monetary certificate worth eight gold coin and a haircomb.
• Ring with embedded family crest.
• Rag with family crest.
• Pouch of perfumes.

Biography:
Eveline was born in a newly appointed noble family. Her father was an uncompromisingly strict and orthodox man with only the ambition to expand his influence and wealth. She was raised for the purpose of becoming a lady fit to be married off. She hated that prospect. She hated noble life.

Her interests were much more in line with her brothers', but were too unfitting of a lady. She wanted to learn combat, politics and all others sorts of things. Whenever father wasn't around, her brothers would hang out with her and teach her some basic combat, but the servants would often intervene. Luckily for her the servants would never tell her father fearing his punishments.

Her brothers married young to spread their father's reach. She was arranged to marry an old childless nobleman, but weeks before the marriage he died hunting. After a couple years her father made another arrangement, but while on their travels to meet the noble in question, a foul smell filled the air and the skies turned dark. Her father demanded they press on, but unable to reach their destination in time they were caught out in the open. With the help of a knight serving her father Eveline made it to the nearby walled city of Cartelom. Her family and the servants didn't. While the price is high, she is now free to pave her own road.

Other:
Her brothers were traveling from separate locations. Wishes to find out if they are alive.
Knight under her father gave her a High quality steel sword, given to him as a gift by her Father.

[ArkmageddonCat]

@Inkarnate Yeah, I'm hoping that a few more people I've seen hang on the thread are interested - but it's only semi-sandbox. I do still have plans.

-

@Madison Parker Okay, I like it. It's interesting. I wasn't sure if I wanted to include eastern lands yet, but it's fully reasonable to believe they're in the same state as the west. Struggling to survive.

But that's one of two things I don't think your biography addresses. The other is your character herself. You're from a different land, and I would like to know where Hiromi is in the world now that the undead have come. You could easily just tell me in response to this post where you intended for her to start. But I would also like to know something about her, as all the biography tells us about is her clan. I don't want you to tell me her personality, just something about her life.

Again, I like it. It just doesn't seem like it resonates with the RP just yet. If you have any questions or need any help, just ask - my PMs are always open if you prefer that.

-

@Nerdude For being out of it for as long as you claim, you've done a pretty good job here. I don't really see any issues with the sheet, so I hereby deem thee worthy of acceptance. Barring anyone else's immediate concerns you may post them to the Character Tab.

[Madison Parker]

Well because her background as an individual from where she is from does not matter! it is clan focused! A Samurai's duty is to her Clan first, her State second the less fortunate third and finally her own person lastly! Hence the vague nondescript history!