[OOC] Wardens of the Glade: A Light Fantasy RP

a l i g h t f a n t a s y r o l e p l a y

[mickilennial]

“I believe, so therefor it is so.”

It has been two thousand years since the death of The Hero of the Glades.

In the wake of her death to free the world from the oppressive chains of the dark wizard, Gand, a world of liberty and sanctuary has flourished from the Viridian Sea to the Sands of Hahral. As a result, there is not one person in the world that does not know her legend.

Some say the Hero of the Glades was sent from the goddess herself to save the world from the wicked and vile. Others say she was a simple peasant girl who proved herself to the gods by enduring harrowing trials. The conclusion is the same, whichever interpretation one comes to believe; the Hero of the Glades stood against the forces of evil and won. One only has to look at the Kingdom that spawned in her name. The Kingdom of Itenaire.

Whilst Itena gave her life in the final battle, her allies–the sorcerer Sol, the warlord Haur, the hunter Antes, the swordmaster Aather, and the elf Glyndŵr–all were fortunate to meet the same end.

Gand had been stopped and purged from existence, but with him so too did Itena suffer a fatal blow. Her passing would become symbolic and the journey she had shared with them left them wondering what world to build in her absence. It is here that the bones of modern society began to form. Sol returned to the enclave of sorcery, which had been decimated since Gand had battled them to near extinction. Antes returned to his tribe in Hahral, fearful of the darkness that lingers in the world. Glyndŵr freed the elven slaves that Gand had taken and looked to rebuild the clanfolk. Haur reunited with the Confederation of Warlords that had aspired to depose Gand, history would recall him as the first King of Itenaire. As for Aather? Seeking no power of his own, he returned to Itena's birthplace and from there would create an order of protectors that would become the first collection of knights.

In the time since then the idea of kingdoms have been formalized, a caste system of lords and underlords have become the standard, the enclave of sorcery has been slowly rebuilt from the bones of what was, and Itenaire has been led by House Haurington, who still maintains its connection to its founding hero. And, of course, the elite guardians of the glade and ever present protectors of order and justice, Order of the Glade, keep a watchful eye over the realm should another mad mage or other unseen threat arise once more.

And so here you are, peasant, noble, or somewhere in between, traveling to the birthplace of the Hero of the Glades, to participate in a trial that could help define you. Do you have what it takes to follow in Itena's honor? To become a warden?

Let's find out.

L A C O R R O N: a w o r l d a t o d d s

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Lacorron, or Isradd-Bodolaeth in the contemporary elven tongue, is the world your characters are from. It is an ancient world with two sentient races, humans and elves.

Around two thousand years ago ended the Age of Chaos, a time of upheaval defined by warlords, cruel sorcerers, and everything in between. In two thousand years it has evolved from a wild, war-torn iron age to a contemporary age of ideals, prosperity, and order. If not for the defeat of Gand, who knows where Lacorron would be today. Progress aside, this does not mean it is an age without conflict.

Below are summaries of the great nations of this tenuous “Age of Peace”. Familiarize yourself with them.

Grand City of Atutania

Faction Leader: Lord-Commander Alicia Welrae

Once a small farming village in the Atutani Glade, a city now rests as a stronghold to serve as an aegis to all.

The birthplace of the hero, Itena.

Kingdom of Giellnal

Faction Leader: Overlord Odirus Kenagas

The oldest city in the world. The cradle of humanity. The city of dragons.

Giellnal.

Hahral Triumvirate

Faction Leader: Patron Alal Sassi of Akoth, Grand Prince Hisham Siada of Atuunis, and High Priestess Lior of Dranabris

In the Sands of Hahral stand three cities on three corners, all in union to the collective strength of the humans who descend from the sand riders who once were the most divided of all men.

An imperfect alliance.

Ienarich Confederation

Faction Leader: High Chieftan Yngvar Nordavind

Those in the far north live a life unlike those in the greenlands beneath them, a testament to a life confronted by the dangers of the wilds of the Endless Sea.

Kingdom of Itenaire

Faction Leader: King Audric II Haurington

From the warlord Haur’s own two hands came the consolidation of the lands west of the Great Chasm in honor of the death of the hero, Itena.

Roengaar Dominion

Faction Leader: Empress Iglika Duuldain

The marriage of Giellnalian and Ienar traditions and beliefs, Roengaar was established well before the Age of Heroes, as a protective buffer between the great unknown and the cradle of civilization.

Clanfolk of the Viridian Sea

Faction Leader: Glyndŵr

‘Unedig-Dynion gan Gwŷdd’.

Roughly translated: The United People of the Forest.

For much of the world’s history, the elven people have been native to that of the “green sea”–a stretch of wood that stretches across most of the westernmost lands of Isradd-Bodolaeth.

old write ups

The Kingdom of Itenaire: The former lands of various warlords dating back to the Age of Chaos, most notably Haur of the Black Hills. It has since become arguably the strongest Kingdom in all of Lacorron, and has since named itself after the Hero of the Glades. Each of its noble houses (and undernoble ones) descend from a Lacorron warlord who survived the rule of the dark sorcerer, Gand. They have become a people who transformed themselves from a “might makes right” society to… well, a might makes right society disguised as a sophisticated noble hierarchy. The caste system can be simplified as a pyramid with peasants at the bottom, merchants in the center, undernobles near the top, and nobles above them with the royal family at the peak. The traditions of Itenaire are that in service to the art of war and of service to those that sit above you.

The Kingdom of Giellnal: Across the Great Chasm is a kingdom that has been at odds with Itenaire for the past six hundred years. Giellnalians claim lineage to not only Sol and the Enclave of Sorcerer, but also Gand, who was one of the enclave’s most prolific members prior to his descent into madness. Giellnal claims itself as the “oldest city in the known realm” and it is a claim that is difficult to contest. The people of Itenair see their neighbors as innately wicked and the perspective of those of Hahral descent are divided–for many the world tear is enough proof to remember history. The sad truth is Giellnalians don’t trust anyone, especially not themselves. It is an air of paranoid anxiety its people will never break free of, it seems. In terms of its society, it is not that different from its neighbors to the west with a monarch (or in this case Overlord and Overlady) who operate over a motley assortment of lords, lesser lords, merchants, and commoners.

Hahral Triumvirate: The Sands of Hahral is the largest desert on Lacorron. Over time the roaming bands of hunters and craftsmen elevated their people to create three of the most treasured cities in the world (Atuunis, Akoth, and Dranabris) colloquially known as the Free Cities. The people here are shrewd and arrogant, and their archers are said to be equal to any elf, though the elves in the Viridian Sea would rightly take offense at such a belief. Each city is independent of one another and have often feuded, but have aligned with each other in times of outsiders committing hostile acts against them. They have fought as well as allied with the Kingdom of Itenaire on several occasions since both nations spawned following the dawn of the new age.

The Grand City of Atutania: Two thousand years ago, Atutania was a collection of villages in a space between a dense thicket of woodlands. Nobody would ever imagine it would become a powerful independent city ruled by an order of knights. The birthplace of the Hero of the Glades and now host to the wardens that protect the realm from threats seen and unseen, Atutania is in a particularly unique situation. It is a mediator of disputes between nations, independent of their rule, but it is also self-sustainable. Outside of the grand temples devoted to the gods of elves and man alike, it is probably the most venerated place in the known world. It is ruled in unison between the merchant’s guild’s representative, an elven envoy, and the lord-commander of the Order of the Glade.

The Clanfolk of the Viridian Sea: Sometimes called the Viridian Kingdom or Unedig-Dynion (united peoples) in the elven tongue. The elven people have always called the massive expanse of woodlands west of Itenair their home, to which humans have called “the Viridian Sea” for centuries. In contrast to human society, the elven people do not stick to rigid structures of society, preferring small, mobile communities that are led by familial clans. It is here that they commune with the gods, ward off dangerous creatures, and live their lives in relative peace. They are wary of humans, but not hostile, and for the most part the human nations of the world have left them alone as thanks for defeating Gand. If there is any sort of conventional leadership of the clanfolk, however, it would be their spiritual leaders–the Ysgaw Derwydd (elder druids)–who convene at the Viridian Sea’s world tree.

C H R O N I C L E: e v e n t s o f r e l e v a n c e

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rough draft

Age of Chaos | -??? - The two oldest remaining cities in the world are constructed: Giellnal and Dranabris.

Age of Chaos | -?? - The Warlord of the Atutani Glade, Atutan, comes to power.

Age of Chaos | 0 - Itena is born in the Atutani Glade.

Age of Chaos | +19 - Itena defeats Gand, ending the Age of Chaos.

Age of Heroes | 0 - Haur consolidates the warlords into a kingdom named in Itena's honor.

Age of Heroes | +?? - Roengaar wins the Great Roenian-Giellnal War.

Age of Peace | +?? (+2000 since Itena's death) - Present Day

D I V I N I T Y: g o d s o f h u m a n i t y

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Seleistia

M A N A A R T S: m y s t i c i s m a n d m a g i c

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Sorcery is the reaction when mana is transmuted into physical matter. A combination of the innate, spiritual, and primordial elements that make up terrestrial existence.

Like blood in the pathways to the heart, Mana is the pathway to the soul, the foundation of living essence. The soul of a human or elf is the gateway to the cosmos and the most pure thing of all, whether it is innately on the axis of harmony (light) or chaos (darkness). Once someone’s powers are awakened they open the door to what is known as sorcery, the art of controlling mana–sometimes referred to as the mana arts by those too haughty for a term such as sorcery.

For humans, their mana is rigid and often hard to control, often described as not as free as an elf’s mana. It is, however, far more potent and virulent, as human sorcerers are capable of higher volumes once they do find a pathway to awaken their abilities and control such sorcery. As such the mana produced by a human holds only one element of sorcery, contrasting with elven mana being a thread of multiple elemental energies. The first human sorcerers found this unfair, viewing the elves as arrogant in the favour given to them by the universe, but soon they found that elves lacked the same potency as they did and that they couldn’t even manifest their mana in the same way. After all, a human could create a fireball from the very essence of their mana and an elf could only control what was around them.

At the rawest, simplest stage, this is what it means to control the mana arts.

But applications of such magicks does not start and end there, for there are those unknown to history that have tampered with things well beyond the mana produced by one’s soul. Such forbidden arts are mostly unknown, though unlike them the art of magecraft persists as something a little more conventional of an option. Within the Enclave of Sorcery, scholars of the mana arts explored the idea to transfer mana into items, researched ancient words of power left behind by the gods, and with the aid of master weaponsmiths crafted the first magical weapons known to man.

Such weapons have become a staple to factions like the Order of the Glade.

Spiritual Affinity + the Elements

s p i r i t

Light: The soul of a harmonic individual. Magical awakenings are typically one of protection or compassion.
Dark: The soul of a chaotic individual. Magical awakenings are typically one of retribution or anger.

e l e m e n t s

C O N C E P T U A L I Z A T I O N: m a k i n g a c h a r a c t e r

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First of all, welcome to Wardens of the Glade: a Light Fantasy RP.

In an attempt to return to my roots, overcome a fourteen month drought of writing anything new, and create something engaging I have pulled together an idea I’ve had an inkling of for some time now. A few years ago, Feyblue created the very first variation of their light fantasy story revolving around a group of knights. I really liked this idea and wanted to do something that was in the same kind of spirit, but wholly different.

Thus we have this game.

In Wardens of the Glade you will play an individual in the world of Lacorron, a setting ruled by kings, warlords, and sorcerers.

It is in your character’s purview to travel to the Grand City of Atutania and rise above their station through an open invitation to participate in a trial to become an initiate warden. They could have awakened their magical abilities, or perhaps those are still latent, but they are sure of themselves. They can be from any nation currently listed in the section above and come from any role in their societies: peasant, merchant, noble; any of the three major categories does not matter. The wardens do not ignore people based on lack of status or station.

I expect an understanding of basic English grammar and the ability to conceptualize and work with me without banal argumentation. I am just looking to have a fun time. The posting schedule will be flexible but while I am recovering from a great writing burnout, I will try to keep us on task. Basically, be cooperative and understanding. Don’t waste other people’s time. We’ll be good.

[mickilennial]

You can post applications and general questions here.

Sheet Example:

Pregenerated Character

D R E A Ń E
D R E A Ń E

^{“Are you the coin that drowns in the pond, or the one who defies fate by landing on its side?”}

C H A R A C T E R P O R T R A I T C H A R A C T E R P O R T R A I T _________________________________________________________ C H A R A C T E R S U M M A R Y C H A R A C T E R S U M M A R Y _________________________________________________________ Dreańe is the eldest daughter of the late Jarinus, the former leader and head of both the Genialität Mercantile Company. [EXAMPLE] Age: 16-20 (initiates with potential are typically in young adulthood) Race: Human Nationality: Itenaian/Giellnalian/Hahral/Atutanian Weapon of Choice: Sword/Spear/Bow/etc Elemental Affinity: Fire/Ice/Wind/Earth/Thunder/Water Spiritual Affinity: Light/Dark

C H A R A C T E R B I O G R A P H Y C H A R A C T E R B I O G R A P H Y ________________________________________________________________________________________ Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Aenean dignissim libero quis mollis volutpat. Donec porttitor est vitae arcu dapibus, ut vehicula est mollis. Vivamus felis turpis, pulvinar rhoncus ligula sed, tempus varius nisl. Sed non dui commodo, imperdiet purus a, interdum nisl. Suspendisse condimentum nisl vitae orci maximus malesuada. Aenean ac lacus sagittis, ornare nisl ut, volutpat elit. Morbi vel elit sapien. Sed id tristique tortor, nec luctus libero. Praesent quis magna at ipsum porttitor semper. Nulla condimentum hendrerit aliquet. Proin sed erat dictum, euismod dui eu, blandit mi. Morbi dignissim efficitur urna, in efficitur ex rhoncus vel. Sed ac interdum erat, ac fringilla risus. Curabitur eu hendrerit metus. Nunc placerat ex ac elit pretium, volutpat sollicitudin ligula mattis. Donec vestibulum augue sit amet quam pretium, ac tincidunt eros egestas. Proin iaculis, augue ut pulvinar cursus, lorem neque lacinia ante, sit amet cursus sapien dui sit amet turpis. C H A R A C T E R I Z A T I O N C H A R A C T E R I Z A T I O N ________________________________________________________________________________________ Blunt ⬗ Confrontational ⬗ Haughty ⬗ Insecure ⬗ Sarcastic ⬗ Stubborn A B I L I T I E S A B I L I T I E S ________________________________________________________________________________________ A description indicating a character's trained skills and magical aptitude if they were awakened before seeking out to become a Warden of the Glade.

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[Eisenhorn]

Most excellent, once the CS is available I'll start putting someone together. Juggling a few possible ideas currently.

[Mcmolly]

yeehaw

[Carlyle]

yeehaw

@Mcmolly

yee claw

[Theyra]

I will wait a bit before making a cs though I have some ideas, like some kind of character from the Hahral Triumvirate, like a archer or crossbowman.

[Feyblue]

Working on my CS now, hopefully will be able to finish it in one go.

[webboysurf]

Kazran Harrond

K A Z R A N
K A Z R A N

^{“Underestimating me is a mistake.”}

C H A R A C T E R P O R T R A I T C H A R A C T E R P O R T R A I T _________________________________________________________ C H A R A C T E R S U M M A R Y C H A R A C T E R S U M M A R Y _________________________________________________________ Kazran is a former blacksmith's apprentice in service to the Bonderal Merchant Family in the Kingdom of Itenaire. He is a hopeless romantic desperately searching for identity, status, and purpose in the most reckless way. He has a set of armor, a shield, a hammer, and a dream to finally be someone that people will see. Age: 17 Race: Human Nationality: Itenaian Weapon of Choice: Warhammer and Shield Elemental Affinity: Earth Spiritual Affinity: Light

C H A R A C T E R B I O G R A P H Y C H A R A C T E R B I O G R A P H Y ________________________________________________________________________________________ Kazran "Kaz" Harrond was the third born of seven children, born to the lowest caste of the Kingdom of Itenaire. The family at large worked various jobs, taking up what work they could to serve their lords and various merchant families. Kaz's eldest sister took a position as a maid for the Bonderal Merchant Family, while his older brother toiled in the fields as a simple farmhand in the fields. But Kaz, from birth, was a large boy. He was strong, tall, and skilled with his hands. It is no surprise he was scouted as a competent apprentice at a young age. Wesley Daur was the premiere blacksmith of the Bonderal family, crafting everything from fine cutlery to horseshoes to even arms and armor for brave men and women who would keep the rich safe from the poor. Wesley saw in Kaz the same clever deftness in the boy that his own mentor had seen in him years ago. So it was that Kaz became an apprentice blacksmith, and proved to be quite skilled at this craft. The only thing he wasn't skilled at, however, was keeping his heart guarded. Everything changed when Isabella Bonderal, the youngest daughter of Alphonse Bonderal, stopped in at Wesley Daur's smithy to pick up a custom order of cutlery for the family. In a life of toiling day to day just to make ends meet, her smile cut through Kaz's core. Since they were 13, she would stop by on a monthly basis to watch the apprentice work. They would talk as he toiled, but an unspoken divide always remained between the two. For three and a half years, they continued their ritual in relative secrecy. Of course, things shifted as Kaz grew older. There was only one means by which anyone in Iteniare could even hope to attain a little upward mobility: martial prowess. His days were spent in the smithy, while his nights were spent honing and training his body and form. Isabella managed to sneak him books teaching form and technique, while Wesley and his sons sparred opposite of Kaz. Before long, it was clear that Kaz's sheer strength, speed, and persistence had made him remarkably skilled. He had even quit his apprenticeship to enlist and train as a foot-soldier in the army. But Alphonse Bonderal has some considerable sway, and rumors of the Blacksmith's apprentice had even managed to pierce his ears. So, Kaz has set out for his last chance to attain some semblance of status and meaning in Atutania with a few parting gifts from his master: a hammer, a shield, and a breastplate. His goal is simple: Follow in the footsteps of the great peasant hero (at least, thats how his mother described the Hero of the Glades) to earn a respect no man can deny. After all, how could Alphonse refuse to recognize a Warden? C H A R A C T E R I Z A T I O N C H A R A C T E R I Z A T I O N ________________________________________________________________________________________ Blunt ⬗ Caring ⬗ Creative ⬗ Persistent ⬗ Reckless ⬗ Stubborn A B I L I T I E S A B I L I T I E S ________________________________________________________________________________________ Kazran Harrond is a remarkably skilled martial fighter. Having grown up doing back-breaking labor since he was old enough to walk, Kaz is exceptionally strong and in peak physical condition. He has spent several years honing his reflexes and skill with weapons, outside of the less serious training most children partake in within Itenaire. Being a Blacksmith's apprentice, and being the size of a grown man for several years, Kaz has had the opportunity to grow comfortable with armor and shields, without it becoming a detriment to his athletic capabilities. Combined with a deep well of stamina, Kaz is what a soldier dreams of having their back when things get rough. He is the wall meant to stem the tides. All that being said... Kaz's greatest weakness does come from some mobility issues due to his armor. Combined with the fact he has not had his magical awakening, and it is exceptionally clear that strength and stamina can only get you so far. Beyond that, Kaz is not battle-tested nor knowledgeable on how to work as a team. He is a workhorse without a driver.

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[ERode]

Eyo, outside of their magic, are there any other differences between humans and elves to be observed here? Are elves still the centuries old, eternally youthful sort?

[Feyblue]

The Last Daughter of Adalyr

S T E R N W Y S S
S T E R N W Y S S

<sup>“Dearest Mother, weep not for your wayward daughter. Though I am cast out from the shadow of the Great Tree, I will not hang my head in sorrow or in shame.”

“Please watch over me for a while longer yet. I shall bring honor to the name you gave me, and to the name you left behind. I swear it.”</sup>

C H A R A C T E R P O R T R A I T C H A R A C T E R P O R T R A I T _________________________________________________________ C H A R A C T E R S U M M A R Y C H A R A C T E R S U M M A R Y _________________________________________________________ Sternwyss Adalyrwyn is a representative sent from the Near Woods of the Viridian Sea. Recommended and sponsored by one of the Elder Druids, to whom she was formerly both ward and student, her mission is nominally to serve alongside the Wardens, and in so doing, to show goodwill and foster cooperation between the peoples of the Grand City and the peoples of the Unedig-Dynion. Yet, the curious fact that she alone has arrived to take on this duty suggests that perhaps her role as an emissary is instead meant as a gentle form of exile... Age: 18 Race: Elf Nationality: Clanfolk Weapon of Choice: Sternwyss' favored armament is a curious magic tool of Elven make -- a Manablade, comprised of a cluster of arcane crystals bound together by and infused with the sap of the World Tree. Rather than a weapon, its primary role is as both amplifier and medium for her Spirit Invocation technique, drawing in the elements of the world around her, condensing, and channeling them according to her will. The most obvious application is bending light and air into the shape and function of a blade, which the young elf can wield with at least a modest degree of proficiency. However, it is hardly bound to this form, and can be transfigured into a variety of shapes to suit its wielder's current need. Elemental Affinity: Unaspected Spiritual Affinity: Dark

C H A R A C T E R B I O G R A P H Y C H A R A C T E R B I O G R A P H Y ________________________________________________________________________________________ Among the Elves, there are few things that hold higher value than one's own kin. The great clans that traverse the Viridian Sea are each bound together by ties of loyalty, ties of honor, and ties of blood -- ties so deeply ingrained into their culture as to be nigh-unbreakable. Families consist not simply of parent of child, but of countless aunts, uncles, cousins, grandsires, and great grandsires, comprising countless vast and meticulously recorded family trees, as numerous as the trees of the greatwood they call home. Into such a culture, Sternwyss was cast adrift at a young age. Born to a mother of ailing health and ill repute, whose other children had all perished in the womb, she entered the world not long after her father had already abandoned her mother and returned to his own clan. She never beheld his face, and, to her knowledge, he never even learned her name. And when her mother Adalyr perished when she was only nine years old, Sternwyss thus was left in the peculiar situation of having absolutely no living relatives. Or at least, if they existed, there were none who would claim her. So it was that she came into the care of her tribe's Druid, Ailín, a stern but wise teacher who offered solace to the grieving orphan of the ill-liked and ill-fated Adalyr, despite protests from the clan elders. He taught the young Sternwyss to honor the trees of the wood, taught her how to find her way even beneath its thickest branches, where the starlight for which she was named could never reach. He taught her the stories of the Dynion's exodus, and of the world of men which they had left behind. And, when one day, she too felt the breath of the forest on the wind, felt its pulsing lifeblood in the roots beneath her feet... Ailín taught her how to become one with the world, and to make the world one with herself. Ascending from a pariah to a prodigy, Sternwyss became the youngest and most accomplished of Ailín's apprentices, demonstrating a remarkable aptitude for Spirit Invocation within just a few short years of first awakening. She accompanied her master everywhere, walking with him in his rounds of the forest and even accompanying him to meet with delegations from the menfolk who lived beyond the woods. He instructed her in the arts of trade and negotiation... though she took to this pursuit with a great deal less enthusiasm than her study of magic. These "Humans" were truly reprehensible beings. It was not simply their loud mouths and overly familiar attitudes -- it was that they were entirely too ready to put on a charming face to cover up their ugly thoughts. Although she had few friends among her own people, at least her fellow Elves did not bother to mask their disdain, but expressed it openly. Not so with humans, who would smile and laugh and jest and flatter until they thought they were out of earshot, then just as quickly deride their hosts as primitive fools stuck in their ancient ways. But they had steel and the Elves did not -- and so, to procure the tools that were necessary to maintain their way of life, trade was essential. Sternwyss did not understand why Ailín bothered teaching her such things. But she soon learned of his intentions when talks arose of sending a delegate to the Menfolk. Trade was growing difficult, as those merchants upon whom they had once relied turned their ventures to seeking greater profits elsewhere. What was more, there had been dark tidings of late -- matters of black magic of which the Druids felt it prudent to be wary. In ancient days, one of their number had walked alongside the hero. Now, it seemed, a deal had been struck without her knowing -- one that would, now that she had come of age, require her to do the same. After all, who could be better suited for such a task than one with her unique qualifications? It was a joke. A scandal. A mockery. A farce. Ailín could call it an honor or an opportunity as much as he liked, but the fact of the matter was plain for her to see. Though she was clad in the ceremonial arms and armor of her ancient kindred from the days when the Elves and Menfolk had waged war together against a common foe, though she was supposedly honored as an emissary of not only her tribe, but the whole of the Dynion... She was being cast out. C H A R A C T E R I Z A T I O N C H A R A C T E R I Z A T I O N ________________________________________________________________________________________ Arrogant ⬗ Eloquent ⬗ Guarded ⬗ Honest ⬗ Perfectionist ⬗ A B I L I T I E S A B I L I T I E S ________________________________________________________________________________________ Though she wields a sword, Sternwyss does so with no particular skill, having been trained more in performative arts such as sword dances and traditional kata than in preparation for real combat. Likewise, the armor she wears is more or less purely ceremonial in its design, offering little in the way of actual protection. But this is not to say that the arms she bears are useless. Set with countless arcane crystals crafted with an ancient Elven technique, her jeweled armor and glimmering Manablade serve as conduits for her own elementally inert lifeforce, and the power she holds therein. Human Magic is the outward expression of internal spirit, in a form and substance that reflects the balance of the user's own soul. Elven Spirit Invocation, on the other hand, infuses internal spirit into any pre-existing form and substance with which the user makes contact. Harnessing the air itself, she shapes earthen dust, pressurized air and water, and ambient heat into a blade of lambent light. Manipulating its form, she can extend and contract that blade, causing it to strike like a javelin or even coil like a serpent mid-swing. Likewise, the air itself conveys her person, allowing her to dart across the battlefield with uncanny swiftness thanks to the mana-storing crystals adorning her ceremonial armor. In areas close to nature, she's even capable of manipulating the terrain itself, splitting the earth, harnessing the winds, loosing the tides, or sprouting roots and vines to assail her opponents from all quarters -- more than making up for her lack of physical experience with a mix of latent cunning, prodigious talent, and arcane ingenuity. However, utilizing this technique comes with extreme difficulty, as the user must carefully control their breathing and enter an almost meditative state, taking in free-flowing mana from the world around them to replenish that which they expend from their own vital force. If unable to commune with her surroundings in this way, overuse of her techniques can tax her body well beyond its limits, causing fatigue or internal injuries due to the strain placed upon her soul. As such, both to keep her trump cards hidden from prying human eyes, and for her own safety, she keeps the broader applications of her techniques a closely-guarded secret, relying on them only when she has no other choice.

---

[mickilennial]

Eyo, outside of their magic, are there any other differences between humans and elves to be observed here? Are elves still the centuries old, eternally youthful sort?

@ERode

I discussed a lot of this with Feyblue in DMs on how Elves don't have natural lifespans, how interspecies mixing fundamentally affects them, their magical differences, etc. But yes elves to their death seem to age fundamentally different unless certain conditions are met.

[ERode]

Oh, if you've got all that discussed, do you mind dropping that into the OOC? Would be curious about this whole deal about not having natural lifespans either too. Sounds like they're a step or three removed from being pure flesh-and-blood?

[mickilennial]

I'm not sure what the benefit of mostly need-to-know information that would need a formal write up of something I discussed informally about a species I did not intend on having more than one character represented of would be, if I am going to be honest. I still need to clean up the magic write up and some other sections so I don't find it a priority.

That aside, I can say that elves are creatures that don't exactly have a conventional lifespan and when they die they don't die like humans do. They are still largely reminiscent of fae creatures as I have been highly inspired by brythonic (which is why they are distinctively welsh) lore and language as of late. As mentioned their magic functions completely differently than humans, though there is some things they share in common. When they reach the end of their life they become one with mana, oftentimes becoming one with the world tree that their druids protect very stalwartly. Conventional half elves (as in Dungeons & Dragons) are not a thing and it would be spoiling a story hook to overshare in this matter.

[ERode]

Ok, so no other elf characters for this RP?

[mickilennial]

That was, in fact, the plan. Two other people asked me about elf characters and I had to strongly suggest against such applications. If the human cast is big enough, I suppose another slot may open but I don't want to put wishes in people's heads.

[Einherjar 906]

Oh this feels intimidating to join. Feels like a step above casual roleplay.

[mickilennial]

Oh this feels intimidating to join. Feels like a step above casual roleplay.

@Einherjar 906

But somehow a step below advanced! Curious, isn't it?

[mickilennial]

Worth noting that I revised the writeup for the magic section, added a few elements, and did some other preparation. I may revise the nations writeups but the most essential information is available at this time.

[Einherjar 906]

@mickilennial No... No, it's just straight up advanced roleplay.
Anyway I think I'll have skill issue joining this so I think I'll pass.

[Mcmolly]

Ionna

I O N N A
I O N N A

^{“Nothing that can't be fixed with a hot meal and some trust exercises!”}

C H A R A C T E R P O R T R A I T C H A R A C T E R P O R T R A I T _________________________________________________________ C H A R A C T E R S U M M A R Y C H A R A C T E R S U M M A R Y _________________________________________________________ Ionna Rielle is a hopeful up-and-comer hailing from a family long embedded within the Order of the Glade. Raised on the compassionate teachings of her older sister, Ionna believes wholeheartedly in the chivalric ideals of knighthood; unity, companionship, selflessness, and the drive to protect those in need. Perhaps there is a place for her in the Lacorron of today, or perhaps she's spent her life lashed to antiquated codes and fanciful stories, hoping beyond hope that people like her can do good in the world. Compassion, after all, is nothing without forgiveness. Age: 19 Race: Human Nationality: Atutanian Weapon of Choice: Longsword Elemental Affinity: Thunder Spiritual Affinity: Dark

C H A R A C T E R B I O G R A P H Y C H A R A C T E R B I O G R A P H Y ________________________________________________________________________________________ Ionna was born with knighthood in her blood. For centuries, the Rielle family has served the Order of the Glade with loyalty, dignity, and an unwavering commitment to duty. While certainly not the oldest of the Order’s noble lineages, from their first knight the Rielle’s wasted no time in establishing themselves as worthy. Tracing their family line one finds no shortage of military accolades, diplomatic achievements, and martial renown. Some of the most famous duels in recent history were fought and won by Rielle knights, lauded for their swordsmanship, and to this day they are often among the first to be called upon when a matter would have to be settled with more pointed negotiations. Ionna was shaping to be no different. Her mother and father, both accomplished knights, started her training early. The Rielles were a large family and so they often tutored among themselves, having developed a style of swordplay over the generations that served them well. Ionna happened to win the lottery; they assigned her older sister, Liura, as her mentor. Of every Rielle branch, Liura was the most promising. She was only thirteen—eight years Ionna’s senior—when they were paired, and she was already outclassing the youths of other families within the order. She was talented, outgoing, always striving to better herself, but most of all she was kind. She never gloated, never condescended, and always took others at their word whether they deserved it or not. Friends came easily to her, even and especially among opponents. Liura Love, they called her, and it stuck. When Liura ascended to knighthood—one of the youngest in the Order’s history to do so—she took Ionna as her familial squire, and their training continued. Ionna accompanied her sister across Lacorron, settling disputes from Itenaire to Hahral, and seeing first hand why their family was revered. Though she had yet to awaken an elemental affinity, she watched with awe when Liura would harness the power of the storm itself, moving like lightning, striking like thunder. But confrontations like that were rare. When it came to a fight, Liura settled most everything with just her sword, but the lion’s share of their work, Ionna came to find, was diplomatic. Violence was a last resort, and if it could be helped, it was always better to handle matters with words. You made more friends that way. Ionna tried that. As was the way of Rielle squires, she was gradually allowed to engage in the negotiations, and quickly found that she did not have her sister's social prowess. Attachment, empathy, these things did not come so naturally to her, and early on she found herself—with Liura's permission—having to answer for her faux pas with duels. It was frustrating. She could win disputes at the end of a sword without trouble, but more and more she found herself wishing she could disarm her opponents in Liura's way, making allies of them before they even knew they ought to have been enemies. Everywhere they journeyed, Liura seemed to leave more beloved than before. By the time Ionna was seventeen, she hadn’t seen her sister duel for almost a year. They traveled, they negotiated, they made friends and heard stories, they learned dances and songs and recipes that neither of them could execute particularly well. With almost two decades behind her, only now did she finally feel she was beginning to learn again. Her social slips were fewer and fewer, and when they passed familiar places, people occasionally remembered her with a similar fondness as her sister. Understanding and connecting with those they met became easier, more fulfilling. Liura was right, and she did make more friends. Ionna had put off her own trials for knighthood—much to the annoyance of her father and mother—content for now to stay with Liura. The titles and glory, she realized, meant much less to her than the duty itself. In her eighteenth year, Ionna returned to Atutania alone, with her sister's sword and her affinity awakened. Liura was dead, killed on the road from Itenaire. She had died heroically, and been avenged, but when her grief-stricken parents pressed, Ionna said nothing more. For a long time there was bitter silence within their branch. She went on to squire for a cousin, who had not much cared for Liura, noting often and with annoyance how much Ionna reminded him of her. She was not deterred, and continued to spread her sister’s cheer and camaraderie wherever they traveled, until he eventually went to her parents and demanded she be dismissed. She obliged, and agreed with them that she had put off her duty long enough. It was time to live up to her family name. It was time To Become a Knight. Even if she didn’t quite know what that meant anymore. C H A R A C T E R I Z A T I O N C H A R A C T E R I Z A T I O N ________________________________________________________________________________________ Convivial ⬗ Dense ⬗ Driven ⬗ Empathetic ⬗ Optimistic ⬗ Trusting A B I L I T I E S A B I L I T I E S ________________________________________________________________________________________ Like all Rielle children, Ionna could keep a sword steady before she could properly hold a fork. Her first blanket was an oil-stained blade cloth, her first toy was a whetstone. Very normal. Under her sister’s tutelage, her family did what it did best—it fostered prodigy. Now Ionna wields a sword with the ease and grace of a seasoned knight, which is fitting as she’s spent most of her life fighting them. From friendly spars and squirely disputes, to diplomatic duels, she has a habit of seeking out challenges and an aptitude for conquering them. Untested in a large-scale battlefield, Ionna abhors chaos and much prefers the Order’s penchant for smaller-scale, more delicate conflicts, which she has seen ended with words as often as she has with blades. Though her spiritual affinity is inexplicably dark, she approaches her magic with a stifling level of control. The arcane arts are relatively new to her, and even with the Rielles’ continued mentorship she’s skittish to use it. When she does, it manifests in much the same way as her sister, which is to say, inwardly. Rather than hurl bolts of lightning, Ionna focuses on herself, infusing her body with elemental authority. This grants her incredible speed and thunderous power, making a veritable living storm out of her. Or it could, perhaps, with time and training. As it stands, Ionna will hardly allow herself to tap her awakened affinity. She can manage some bolting steps, maybe a charged blow or two, but quickly her grip on the power tightens into a stranglehold and chokes it away. Like any weapon, it must be used to be learned, and until Ionna pushes through her own blockade, she’s unlikely to make any progress.

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