[OOC] ArrowFell: The Wizard Queen's Court

[Theyra]

Interested, and how does a leader of a knightly order with ties to the region work? Or maybe a surviving member of the former King's royal guard?

[twannyman]

Roughly Inspired by Robert de Hauteville and Götz von Berlichingen, still need to find the right image.

Captain Roderic "Ironhand" Thorne

Captain Roderic "Ironhand" Thorne | 29 | Human | | Male | 6'4 feet | 212 lbs

Goal: Roderic's goal is rather simple, he wishes to gain a fief he can call his own and home.

History: Born in a small village in the province of Arrowfell Roderic was always an imposing man. He was a large baby, so large in fact that he made his first "kill" at the age of just a mere hours after Roderic's birth as his mother passed away in childbirth. His father a kind, loving man never blamed Roderic for this and thought Roderic the trade of being a hunter. It soon became clear where Roderic's skills lie, not in the bow but in the knife and later, the sword.

Unfortunately, tragedy struck when one of the summer downpours coupled with thunder set fire to the village where Roderic was born in, leaving him without a place to call home. Thinking of himself as cursed Roderic set out to find a solution for himself. This would land him in a company of sellswords who just so happened to be wealthy enough to hire a fledgling mage. It was here it became clear Roderic was gifted in the ways of the arcane, the fledgling mage took him under his wing and taught him a bevy of ideas. Ideas that Roderic would absorb like a sponge.

Roderic would soon enter the battlefield, the company being hired by Ludwig II to protect the border. Roderic proved himself a gifted warrior supported by his minute mastery of the arcane it was here he would find himself a home. The company of sellswords became his new family and for a while, this went great.

This all changed when during a hectic ambush Roderic lost his dominant right hand. He left the company in search of a new goal in life. This is where he stumbled upon something truly bizarre. A hand of iron embedded with a small sapphire in the middle. Roderic took the hand and with his left hand, held it in front of his now stump of a right hand, and to his surprise, small bits of iron would shoot out attaching this newly found iron hand to his right stump. It functioned perfectly as a new hand and thus Roderic took up arms again, getting in contact with his old friend to form his own company, The Hands of Iron.

Seed: What looks like a glove is actually a fully iron hand embedded with a sapphire on the metacarpal. Its usage is simple, it can create a minute barrier around him that basically acts as a zone of anti-magic. During this Roderic cannot cast any spells himself.

Magic:
x Shield: Forms a simple shield around Roderic
x Summon Phantasmal Sword: Roderic can summon a sword out of thin air appearing in his hand of choice.
x Sparks: Roderic shoots small sparks of lightning from his hand
x Message: Allows Roderic to telepathically send a message to someone within his eyesight.
x Blink: Allows Roderic to teleport a short distance to a place he can see.
x Invisibility: Turns Roderic invisible for a short duration
x Ink: Basically acts as a sort of invisible ink that can only be seen by someone else casting this spell in the same way.
x Lightning Storm : Roderic summons a storm of lightning capable of wreaking havoc the same way a normal one can.

I'm leaving 2 big slots open for now as Roderic wasn't exactly educated well in the ways of arcane, I plan to use these throughout the story by either upgrading other versions or creating new options.

Skills:
x Swordfighting
x Horse-back riding
x Military Strategy
x Leadership
x Smithing
x Espionage

Faction: His own band of sellswords, the Hands of Iron, other than being skilled in combat this company caters to many a request including but not limited to espionage, sabotage and magic support.

City: None yet......

Assets: None

[Estylwen]

Interested, and how does a leader of a knightly order with ties to the region work? Or maybe a surviving member of the former King's royal guard?

@Theyra

Great question. Knightly orders would have a strong connection with the Church, and follow the Three Tenants of the All-force:
1. Wipe out the denizens of the Dremora's Shade wherever you see them.
2. Allow prisoners a fair trial. Accept surrenders.
3. Be the benevolent light of the All-force in actions and words.

There would be a ceremony done by the Wizard Queen in the presence of the Church to 'anoint' a knight, while promotions to leadership positions would be handled by the Church directly. In regards to having regional ties, it sounds like they'd be traveling from city to city based on written pleas from the dukes and duchesses there to handle organized crimes or any criminal/unexplainable activity that is too much for the local guards.

Being a surviving member of the former king's royal guard also works. The surviving guard would have undergone many loyalty tests from the Wizard Queen. If they passed, they would have become her own royal guard. If they failed, they would end up in dead-end guard duty, or worse. The loyalty tests would tempt even the most devout man to betray the Wizard Queen, so the surviving guard would have to be either incredibly deceitful, or incredibly loyal to the royals to survive the tests.

Both ideas work. A traveling knight offers more stories around the province, while a surviving royal guard would have more story opportunities with the Wizard Queen. It's up to you what you want to do! :)

---

@twannyman, you have a great character, I really like them. The only thing I want to clear up is that finding the iron hand seed would have to line up with the creation of the seeds in the Glasic Fields, which was two years before the start of the story. As long as you're okay with having the Hands of Iron being around for about two years, I think this will work really well.

When you have found an image, please feel free to add them to the Character Tab. :)

[twannyman]

Two years before the start of the story works, that should give more than enough time to at least form a decent sellsword company and build some reputation! I'll work on an image, should have one by tomorrow the latest

[Estylwen]

@twannyman Perfect! Okay that sounds great!

[LunarParadox]

Interested. Thinking about a court mage, perhaps someone of lower birth who managed to rise up through talent/having a large base pool of life-energy. What role would someone of that rank play in court on a daily basis?

[Estylwen]

Interested. Thinking about a court mage, perhaps someone of lower birth who managed to rise up through talent/having a large base pool of life-energy. What role would someone of that rank play in court on a daily basis?

@LunarParadox

Hi Lunar, I love your idea. A court mage who rose up through the ranks would likely play the role as an advisor to the Queen, as well as playing apart of the royal guard in case the Queen needed defending. The Wizard Queen would very likely commission research and work for the court mage to do, and would be one of the Queen's preferred. Someone who rose up through the ranks would also be an object of jealousy from the other courtiers.

Depending on what Faction you choose or create, this opens up a lot more options for you. In the case of the Wizard Queen, she was once a court mage who also ran the Theives Guild in a neighboring kingdom, before it was all destroyed. You have a lot of options, so it's all about how you want your story to look.

How does all that sound? :)

[LunarParadox]

That sounds great! My initial idea was someone who seems to be loyal to the Queen, but has begun to doubt her and subtly takes action behind the scenes to support other parties. He remembers his own lowly origins and wants to support those without coin for schooling in the pursuit of magic education. Essentially, someone who is very good at acting and whose loyalty may shift either way depending on how the story develops.

[Estylwen]

@LunarParadox I think you have a lot of options with this concept, and I can't wait to see the CS. Good idea on keeping which side they choose open, the Wizard Queen will be hard at work, haha.

[Izurich]

@Estylwen Oh hey, this looks neat. I have an idea to pitch:

My main character will be the daughter of a Lilim coven mistress who's enrolled in the College of Hathforth, at least that's what she seems to be, in truth, she also acts as a spy and informant for her mother and coven, who has vested interest in exerting control over the Glasic Fields. The coven are opportunists, they care not who sits on the throne as long as they can rule over the seeds. After all, they're Lilim, daughters of the arcane.

And now, loredumping time, Lilim (plural and singular) are one of the many races of the world, they look almost indistinguishable from a Human to a layman's eyes. However, unlike humans, all Lilim are female (they can only bear daughters, which will be Lilim regardless of their father's race), notably more attractive on average compared to humans, and long-lived like the Elves. In general, they possess innate talent for the arcane arts, and in exchange, their physical prowess is quite subpar.

From a meta perspective, design-wise, I basically took traits from Humans, Elves, and Succubi then mashed them into this ultimate 'male fantasy' abomination.

Whaddya think?

[Estylwen]

@Estylwen Oh hey, this looks neat. I have an idea to pitch:

My main character will be the daughter of a Lilim coven mistress who's enrolled in the College of Hathforth, at least that's what she seems to be, in truth, she also acts as a spy and informant for her mother and coven, who has vested interest in exerting control over the Glasic Fields. The coven are opportunists, they care not who sits on the throne as long as they can rule over the seeds. After all, they're Lilim, daughters of the arcane.

And now, loredumping time, Lilim (plural and singular) are one of the many races of the world, they look almost indistinguishable from a Human to a layman's eyes. However, unlike humans, all Lilim are female (they can only bear daughters, which will be Lilim regardless of their father's race), notably more attractive on average compared to humans, and long-lived like the Elves. In general, they possess innate talent for the arcane arts, and in exchange, their physical prowess is quite subpar.

From a meta perspective, design-wise, I basically took traits from Humans, Elves, and Succubi then mashed them into this ultimate 'male fantasy' abomination.

Whaddya think?

@Izurich

Hello! I like your idea, it opens up a lot of opportunities for her to see how the Queen's court interacts with the college, and the types of research taking place there. I can also see the Wizard Queen and thr Lilim coven having a lot to talk about in the coming future. The race concept is pretty neat too.

I really like this idea and invite you to make a CS for her. :)

[Psyker Landshark]

Alright, sheet'll be out sometime Wednesday at the latest. Think I'm gonna go with the assassin idea.

[Estylwen]

@Psyker Landshark That sounds great, I can't wait to see it.

---

According to that timeline, I think we will start the IC this Friday, if that works for everyone. Gives us all enough time to write up sheets. ;)

[LunarParadox]

Advisor Eirwen Blackthorne

32 | Half-elf | | Male | 5'7 | 150 lbs

Goal: Grow his own personal power and gather information - current loyalties shaken and undecided. Provide easier access to magic schooling to those outside of the ruling class.

History: Eirwen's birth was the unintended consequence of an affair between a poor human woman and a flighty elvish noble. Said noble had no use for an unplanned offspring from lowly roots, and so he and his mother were left to fend for themselves. Eirwen inherited no riches nor political power from the noble side of his family, but he did inherit something arguably more useful: an inherent talent for magic borne by an abnormally large pool of life-force...and, of course, the elvish propensity for good looks, which gave him a slight edge in manipulating situations to his advantage.

It was his unprecedented skill that earned him a lucky scholarship at the College of Hathforth, then the attention of nobles who gave him jobs of increasing importance, and finally the notice of the Wizard Queen herself. He had always favored magic of the cold, though it was unclear whether this was merely preference or some condition granted alongside the gifts of his heritage. With sweet words and a cold heart he clawed his way up the ranks into her court, until he had at last secured a lofty position as a court mage and advisor to the Queen. The gift of a seed only propelled him further, allowing him to drown out the constant anxiety that plagued him beneath his calm facade.

And yet he was still unsatisfied. He saw how the lower class languished under high taxes and poor opportunities, observed the backstabbing and treachery rampant in the court behind all the glamour and revelry. He owed the Queen much for the favor she'd granted him, and even moreso for the riches that kept his human mother happy in her old age. And yet, and yet...he couldn't help but whisper a secret here and there, play a chess piece in another's favor, subtly shift the winds away from the throne and towards something he hoped might be better...

Seed: 'The Empty Rose' is a small floral pin of silver-blue crystal. As frost numbs the skin, so does the rose numb the emotions of the wearer, stomping down any inconveniences such as anxiety or irritation. It is this seed that allows Eirwen to play the role he does so effortlessly, to act as if leading a performance upon a great stage; were he ever to lose it, so might he lose himself to the depths of fear and discontent.

Magic:
1. Chill: A mild chilling effect sourced from the caster's hands. Useful for keeping drinks cold.
2. Freeze Substance: Freeze liquids. Substances act as they would if frozen by normal means (e.g., if a substance cannot typically be frozen, the spell cannot do so either).
3. Frostbite: A more severe version of Chill capable of severe harm to limbs, as the name implies. Like natural frostbite, this is a slower-acting spell that typically takes root over a span of roughly 30 minutes. Effects may be negated if the spell is broken during that initial time frame.
4. Ice Shield: A variant of the standard shield spell. Creates a small, protective ice barrier around the caster or target.
5. Frost Familiar: Create a small creature out of ice. Eirwen favors snakes. This minion does not possess intelligence or sentience of its own, but may be directed to complete simple tasks.
6. Frost Weave: Extend cold, spiderweb-like tendrils from the fingertips. Can be used to manipulate small objects puppeteer style. Also useful for sewing shut small injuries. Invisible unless willed otherwise by the caster.
7. Snowfall: Lowers the temperature and causes a nice little snowstorm in a limited area. This spell doesn't have much practical use, but it sure looks pretty! Sometimes used for flair during dances at the whims of the nobles.
8. (High Level) Ice Golem: A larger, more dangerous version of Frost Familiar. Creates a being capable of following more complex commands and attacks. May take the form of a humanoid or beast; the chosen form is mainly for aesthetic purposes and does not affect intelligence or ability in any meaningful way.
9. (High Level) Crystallize: Transform a living being into an ice sculpture. This is not fatal, but rather acts as a form of imprisonment; once the spell is broken, the victim returns in the same state they were prior to crystallization. This spell can also be enacted on the caster themselves as an extreme form of protection, as the subject cannot be harmed by outside forces while crystallized. This strategy is a double-edged sword, however, as the crystallized caster must then depend on an ally to break them out of their own spell.
10. (High Level) Ice Storm: A high-level attack spell that calls large icicles to rain down from the sky within a targeted area. Generally effective in combat, but weak against fire spells of a similar level. The ground where the icicles have fallen turns into a slippery surface that may linger for an extended period of time, depending on outside factors such as weather.

Skills:
• Horseback Riding
• Tea Services
• Magic Theory
• Acting
• Music (Cello)

Faction: The Society of Young Magic was officially one of learning. Here those with no money or connections could demonstrate their skills in a chance to earn a magical education they otherwise could never have afforded. It had started as a charitable move on Eirwen's part; his riches had grown exponentially since gaining the coveted position of an Advisor to the Queen, and thus he could finally afford to throw out a few scholarships here and there. An unintended side effect was that this slowly gained him the loyalty of several increasingly powerful allies who owed their ascent at least partially to him. And if they might occasionally whisper secrets in his ear, giving him access to more information than he really should have had...well, it was only mere coincidence, of course. He hadn't developed an information network that answered to himself instead of the Queen on purpose, but it would be foolish of him not to press an advantage when he had one...

[Estylwen]

@LunarParadox I love the court mage, just one quick clarification. Freeze Substance can't affect humans and other races, right? As long as that is the case, your character is accepted. Feel free to post them to the character tab when you have a moment. :)

[LunarParadox]

@LunarParadox I love the court mage, just one quick clarification. Freeze Substance can't affect humans and other races, right? As long as that is the case, your character is accepted. Feel free to post them to the character tab when you have a moment. :)

@Estylwen

That's correct! Freeze Substance is essentially just a way to make popsicles aha

[ERode]

>make popsicles

Yes, popsicles shaped like stilettos, making for a murder weapon that’s wholly untraceable after the deed is done.

[ERode]

Right, wanted to confirm some things, Est.

For one, the Wizard Queen has only been in power for two years, yes? And the Seeds themselves have only existed for two years as well? There were no Seeds found elsewhere in the past?

For the Seeds themselves, do they run off their own power, or their wielder’s life force? I’m guessing that their natural state is that of a crystal, and it’s only through craftsmanship that they become accessories and such? Can Seeds possess multiple powers/abilities? Is it basically a gacha roll to determine what specific ability a Seed possesses?

And how would Seeds interact with magic? Does one overcome the other, or are they technically not even the same thing, leading to a situation where some just don’t work together?

[Click This]

I've been out and busy basically the whole day, but I plan to start working on my idea tomorrow. This might sound somewhat familiar for some of y'all, but I'm planning on a mercantile duchess, a woman whose money and power comes directly from her own trading businesses and her powers of logistics. Her city would accordingly be particularly suited for trade, and her faction would either be her own personal trading company or some sort of similar consortium.

[ERode]

Kinda awkward to have the city be specialized in trade, when Hathforth itself is also known as the giga-trade place.