Return of a Failed Generation: A Time Regression Power Fantasy

[Rune_Alchemist]

@Zeroth

Is it me or is physical strength missing from the empty CS Code

[Zeroth]

Is it me or is physical strength missing from the empty CS Code

@Rune_Alchemist

Yep, it got caught in my highlight ctrl+X apparently. Should be fixed now!

It would be pretty funny if there was a whole ass chain set up. I generally intend on creating a character whose major regret stems from never confessing their feelings for another character (whether NPC or PC) because they only wanted to do so after the war ended.

So naturally, when the war ends (via death into time travel), its time to go hard.

@ERode

[OwO]

<Snipped quote by OwO>

So, as people whose characters may or may not have faced an assassination attempt: Any desire to play as siblings? I've got a fairly set idea of how the mother's like tho, so that might be a detractor. Just asking for the potential dynamic of my character having innate/repressed aptitude for an assassin having a sibling who suffered to someone like that. Well, even if not full blooded siblings, I'm seeing some good potential dynamocs there :p

Edit: Also for @Rune_Alchemist. Darn phone

@SilverPaw

Looking at my timeline, it might not work unless your character was poisoned early in their life. However, it's still probably fine if they are brother/sister if you still want that dynamic. Two separate incidents and all that. I don't really have any planned dynamic for her mother. But it's also very tentative. I can change things.

<Snipped quote by OwO>

The only thing I'd be a little wary about is remaining blind even after going back to the past, simply because I wouldn't want you to end up feeling too limited. While there are alchemic healing potions in the setting, and possibly some other methods (I'm debating with myself as to whether or not to include some things), depending on the specifics of how she was blinded it might not be enough. Sensation Type Aura would allow her to regain a lot of functionality, but unless her opponents are also always channeling Aura through their weapons, she wouldn't be able sense something like a sword being swung at her---the Aura sense only works on living things.

I like the idea as a whole, though, especially the take on her being one of the older members of the generation and having an influence on how others treated the ones who came after her!

@Zeroth

I would also say that I didn't plan on her to be blind. More that she lost one eye and the other has bad vision. She can effectively never hit a target at a distance (though if someone spots for her, she can probably still hit something distant). To some degree and difficulty, she can still spot people normally (if it's bright out, at least). Probably the most apt analogy would be if she had one eyeball that was -5 myopic (coincidentally, that's slightly better than my IRL vision). That's also to say that she was extremely athletic and strong, but the same incident ruined her body and effectively set her back to 0.

The secret plan is that she's going to

SPOILER

become more of a brutish melee fighter that sparingly uses range--literally firing earthshattering arrows point blank at demons she knocks onto the ground in the theoretical endgame.

Pretty much I've cheated a little and she'd technically be like a 6-8 XP character, but her own body was ruined to the point where she fundamentally lost every ounce of it and cannot recover to who she once was. So if she was reborn in her 18 year old body, she'd be an actual war hero prodigy. But she wasn't--she was born after she already failed and made mistakes.

In effect, she's not a character who a second chance to undo her failures. She's a character who has ultimately failed before the RP even started and has a second chance to make up for them rather than running away from them.

This is legitimately the most raw, work in progress CS I've made in a long time. I'm only posting it to share the base of what I have with others for the purpose of connecting with other characters better.

The other maybe is that she's a graduate of the academy. The idea I sort of have which I find incredibly cute as an idea is that she comes back to the academy as an instructor to look after her siblings. But if that's not in the cards, I can rework her to pre-graduation.

WIP

"Ah... It's been a while..."

Estelle Yseult Kaides

---

Age: 20 [30] | Height: 6'6" | Voice: Weak, deep, raspy

---

First Life

This is just an extremely rough draft--rougher than what I would ever typically do. I'll actually do a proper write up at some point when I see other characters. Some things will be cut or adjusted.

At first, the family was hopeful towards the firstborn Kaides. She had shown her talents early in life. She worked harder than the children who would be her siblings. Other children were not nearly as strong, fast, or tall as her. Rather quickly, she showed her talent with a bow. She took pride in her own skills. Effort made it worth it. That's what she said.

But beyond that were her siblings. She loved being their big sister. She would be the one to lead the way. Of course, with this talent and ability came immaturity. She prided herself on being the talented older sister--perhaps too much. She had quite an ego--but who she was was built on her talents. She was always the talented big sister. But she was a child, the family said. Surely she would grow out of it. She'd learn to be a great knight worthy of the Kaides name.

Unfortunately, her time at the academy didn't teach her to be a great knight. While she excelled at practical skills and tests of knowledge at first, her own ego and talent began to damage her. If she thought something was not worth learning, she put in the bare minimum effort towards it. She was an elegant yet powerful archer--she didn't need much else. And she completely failed in the other purpose of an academy--to form connections.

She didn't care for the other students. Snide remarks were returned with bitter vitriol. Childish disdain between herself and other students festered for years with Estelle refusing to make even the most basic of amends. She didn't care what others thought about her. However, she still cared about her siblings. She loved them. She loved how they looked up to her. But her ego and pride reared its ugly head again. When her siblings were in trouble, she did comfort them and take proper steps. No, she fought. She created conflict--conflict that affected her siblings more and more.

Her time at the academy came to an end during a training exercise at 18. It was simple: just work with other students to slay a monster. After all, what use was a knight if they couldn't bear the stench of blood and view of viscera? But she had received a note. It was, without of a doubt, of little importance--merely words that hated her. But it challenged her. It attacked her vain pride created by her talent and effort. Needled on by her squad's rebuttals as she accused them, she would fight the monster alone. She didn't need her team.

She would have been able to defeat the monster herself. After all, it wasn't meant to risk the student's lives--it was merely meant to get them used to teamwork, stress, and blood. She fought with the monster with blade in hand. After all, that note said she couldn't do so. She'd prove whoever wrote it wrong. And she did--she would fell the monster. But in her hubris, the archer failed to notice that she was watched by another--someone who had fired a poisoned arrow directly into her torso. Wounded, she slaked her life to fell the monster--its claw taking her left eye as recompense.

Estelle lived--barely. While the arrow had missed her vitals, it had been poisoned. Her squad--and the instructor on duty--managed to make it to her in time. But it would be the end for her time at the academy. She spent the next year and a half fighting for her life. Months she would spend in nearly a coma. When she finally woke, she could barely even see. Despite that, she saw herself more clearly than she had before: she was no longer the big strong sister that she took pride in being. She was little more than a brat who lost everything she valued in herself.

Soon after recovering enough to walk unassisted, she ran away from the house at the age of 20 with little more than her clothes, some coin, and her unstrung bow. She couldn't take the shame. She couldn't face the brothers and sisters that she still loved. She didn't want them to ever see her like this.

In spite of her health, she wandered from town to town doing odd jobs to keep herself alive. For some time, she worked at an orphanage. Children who had lost their parents to bandits and disease didn't care much about a sickly giant taking care of them. The children took interest in her unstrung bow--the one that she had used as a walking stick for her journey. She showed them how it worked and dared them to try to string it--something she could no longer do. The children loved it. Perhaps, they thought, they could be hunters.

Spurred by the children, Estelle taught them what she knew. Some of the kids were talented. Some weren't. While there were some misgivings, she soon learned how nice it was to simply impart what she knew, regardless of everything. Perhaps she should have done so with her siblings--no. It was too late. The children showed quite a talent, even with makeshift bows.

But then the war broke out. The orphans--now nearing adulthood--were conscripted. She had heard that they displayed significant talent and bravery, but...

Without an orphanage, Estelle wandered more. Away from the war. Away from the frontlines. She would find refuge in a small village. At this time, she had seemed to become the caretaker to an elderly man who still retained his muscle. A man so scarred that babies would cry at the sight of him, yet so gentle that they would coo once he held them. He taught Estelle--though his lessons were wasted on someone who was merely his caretaker--with tales of violence. How to brutalize. He was not a noble knight--no, his stories didn't paint him as a good man. But Estelle still listened to him.

Then war came to the village. Refusing to leave, Estelle could do little more but watch as the old man burnt what little life he had to let his village, the family he chose, escape. Estelle was with him, but could only etch into her mind how the he fought.

Estelle continued to run away during the war. Each time, she survived. And eventually, she found herself back home. Even so, she still ran away from her home. She hid her identity. Of course, her siblings could easily tell who she was. There were no other woman in the world who carried a bow and stood as tall as her. She did her best to care for her siblings in her remaining time. On rare occasion, she would nock her bow once more--though, she did little more than desperate movements inspired by how that old man burnt away his life.

Even though she never stopped running, she saw the end alongside her brothers, sisters, and cousins.

• Biggest Failure: Her failing her siblings in her ego.
• Biggest Regret: Running away after she recovered.
• Biggest Obstacle: Herself--who she was.
• Greatest Achievement: How she was looked up to by her siblings--how she could be relied upon by them.
• Driving Hope: Her brothers and sisters who kept fighting.

---

Equipment

• Estelle's weapon of choice are heavy longbows and equally heavy arrows. Before her passing, she wielded the same longbow that she grew up with. She never touched the bow that had been made for when she would begin to use aura.
• She never carried much else.

---

Abilities

• Physical Strength: 3rd Rate
• Aura: 3rd Rate
• Magic: 0th Circle
• Skills
  
  • Hammering - A drawing of the bow that pushes one's body to its limit, allowing one to both pull heavier string and draw faster.
    • Desperation - Allows one to push themselves even further.
  • Trued (Deprived) - Allows the user to intuit and strike weak spots. The range is quite limited--for obvious reasons.
  • Swift (Deprived) - Calculated and precise movements allowing the user to adeptly move while in combat. Slow is steady and steady is quick.

[SilverPaw]

<Snipped quote by SilverPaw>

Looking at my timeline, it might not work unless your character was poisoned early in their life. However, it's still probably fine if they are brother/sister if you still want that dynamic. Two separate incidents and all that. I don't really have any planned dynamic for her mother. But it's also very tentative. I can change things.

@OwO

It's @Rune_Alchemist's character who had an attempt made on her, and yes, it's very early in life. Looking at your character, I think our ideas could very well mesh together. I'll leave Rune time to look over things, then we'll see where we'll go from there.

[Rune_Alchemist]

@OwO@SilverPaw

I'd be all for adding someone else here, as long as it doesn't get too complicated. I think the age atm has been decided is 3, when the attempt was. She'll be 17 at the time of regression, and 27 at the end of the first time line.

[OwO]

<Snipped quote by OwO>

It's @Rune_Alchemist's character who had an attempt made on her, and yes, it's very early in life. Looking at your character, I think our ideas could very well mesh together. I'll leave Rune time to look over things, then we'll see where we'll go from there.

@SilverPaw

Oh pff. I honestly thought both of you had the attempt--my mind just didn't parse that you wanted a nearly assassinated sibling which is incredible work.

@Rune_Alchemist

That timeline works, but definitely different attempts on them if we're all sharing a mother.

I also just realized that calling each other siblings is uh

Just a little redundant

[Silver Carrot]

I might need to make a timeline of everything that's been talked about so far in order to guage how old my character should be and what their misdeeds were. Let me know if there's anything missing.

993 - Attempt on Rune Alchemist's character's life
999 - Estelle was poisoned and betrayed here.
1007 - The time we all return to. Want my character to be on the younger side, so she's maybe 18 here.
1012 - War start
1015 - Capital fell. Currently thinking that my character was leading a force here, and deserted in fear. Takes a lot of blame for the loss and is arrested.
1017 - Everyone dies. The prison is raided and my character is slowly tortured to death

[SilverPaw]

@OwO Copy pasting relevant bits, and adding a bit of my thoughts re how this could tie in with Estelle.

As for the mother: I was thinking of this prodigal warrior who was born as a commoner, and made her name after enlisting in the military. She'd then become a knight to the Kaides, one of those elite Glavios ppl. Prolly did sth silly like keep challenging the patriarch of the family, and either bc she won one spar one time or bc the dude got charmed otherwise, became one of his wives (or the one mistress he has besides the 3 wives). As a character she'd generally be affable, feisty, believing that effort and self-determination can overcome any obstacle. But she'd also be not that well adapted to the noble society - obv if she was the wife or mistress, she prolly did go through some basics, but ya know. Not stupid, but lacking guile, and not really getting/brushing off how some others in the family (or outside) might have resented her. This could be tied into either or both of the assassination attempts if either you or Rune want it to. The mother is basically a once in a 1000 years talent who doesn't think she was born special, but became like that cause she worked her ass off. I can see Estelle thriving with that kind of parenting, meanwhile the middle and youngest sister felt quite pressured.

Was also gonna have my character ditch the family at 21 (though she'd still visit her youngest sister here and there), but probably she and Estelle never did manage to meet up until maybe the Kaidysum's last stand.

Also, looking at Estelle's height, I guess it's good I imagined the mother as this 2-meter or so giantess, beefy muscled, can swing a claymore one handed kinda gal, ha. Don't think I'll have my character be any higher than 180cm at most, though.

@Silver Carrot Oh, wonderful, a time line! Love that.

[Zeroth]

@OwO I've got some feedback for your character! As you all work on this collab, just let me know whenever you feel like you need something and I'll try to chime in when I see stuff.

CS FEEDBACK

To be part of the "generation," 37 is a little too old. The range I'd like characters to aim for is going to be right at 30 at the eldest, and around 24 at the youngest (since 14 is the age at which they'd attend the Collegem, and I doubt anyone wants to play through the childhood phase).

To fit with the theme of the "Failed Generation," despite being a talented person, I think in addition to an external incident that has partially blinded her, she should also be "lacking" in something the Kaides would normally believe necessary. The Kaides wouldn't give even a prodigy any "special treatment," to make it easy for them to progress in life, but they WOULD be more encouraging and amicable towards them---so for her potential to be cut short because of something outside of her own control, due to the betrayal, wouldn't necessarily be a "failure" on her part.

Maybe as a child she lacked a "killer instinct," or maybe she let her talents get to her head and became lazy? Maybe she was seen as too kind or naive, and that trusting nature was what made her vulnerable to an "obvious" betrayal? You could take it any number of ways, but I think the idea to aim for is having the rest of the family grumble "She COULD'VE been great, but her [insert weakness] made her vulnerable. That's why she fell for such petty tricks."

Graduating at 19 would imply that she Awakened her Aura, which is one of the hard-limits none of the Player characters were able to accomplish until after age 21 in their First Life. Without Aura, completing the Collegem's curriculum before age 21 becomes impossibly difficult, because it requires performing at a level that allows you to receive acknowledgement from the Instructors and skip over their classes.

I like the idea of being a caretaker, both for an old warrior and for kids who went on to be decent-to-above average themselves---because that means she would have learned a lot that she couldn't use back then, but can now.

The 4 Experience being spent on Skills works out, so other than what I've listed above this CS is off to a good start!

@Silver Carrot@SilverPaw@Rune_Alchemist

As for the mother: I was thinking of this prodigal warrior who was born as a commoner, and made her name after enlisting in the military. She'd then become a knight to the Kaides, one of those elite Glavios ppl. Prolly did sth silly like keep challenging the patriarch of the family, and either bc she won one spar one time or bc the dude got charmed otherwise, became one of his wives (or the one mistress he has besides the 3 wives). As a character she'd generally be affable, feisty, believing that effort and self-determination can overcome any obstacle. But she'd also be not that well adapted to the noble society - obv if she was the wife or mistress, she prolly did go through some basics, but ya know. Not stupid, but lacking guile, and not really getting/brushing off how some others in the family (or outside) might have resented her. This could be tied into either or both of the assassination attempts if either you or Rune want it to. The mother is basically a once in a 1000 years talent who doesn't think she was born special, but became like that cause she worked her ass off. I can see Estelle thriving with that kind of parenting, meanwhile the middle and youngest sister felt quite pressured.

@SilverPaw

By and large I like this idea, and the parts I put in bold are what I jive with the most for that particular scenario! I'm sure this idea will get refined more as we go along, and I'll keep in mind the possibility that this NPC might provoke others with her behavior/their jealousy at her talent and so forth as we figure out the whos, whys, and hows of the assassination!

Also, for everyone, although I don't wanna look for the mention-list again, lol:

The Kaides Family leaders currently look like:

• Patriarch Martenos Kaides - 3 wives, 1 mistress. Now in his late 40s, maybe 50 tops (he got married the 1st time at 16-18).
• Austenos Kaides - Younger brother of Martenos, has at least 1 wife, maybe 2? Can be a Player Parent if needed.
• Fulvya Hastam-Kaides - Middle sister of Martenos and Austenos. Married to a Vassal Family that is a Branch of Kaides (far enough separation for no froggy-business), so by fictional inheritance laws the Main Family Name is kept over the Branch family name therefore her kids are all Kaides. She could also be a Player Parent if needed.
• Deividas Kaides - Younger brother of the PREVIOUS Patriarch, now in his 70s, has only 1 wife, but probably multiple adult children who could also be Player Parents if needed.
• Sylas Kaides - Oldest adult son of Deividas, most likely has only 1 wife. His children are said to have "escaped the curse," of the Failed Generation. Many of them are your former tormentors that we will now pound into the dirt >:D

[OwO]

@OwO I've got some feedback for your character! As you all work on this collab, just let me know whenever you feel like you need something and I'll try to chime in when I see stuff.

CS FEEDBACK

To be part of the "generation," 37 is a little too old. The range I'd like characters to aim for is going to be right at 30 at the eldest, and around 24 at the youngest (since 14 is the age at which they'd attend the Collegem, and I doubt anyone wants to play through the childhood phase).

To fit with the theme of the "Failed Generation," despite being a talented person, I think in addition to an external incident that has partially blinded her, she should also be "lacking" in something the Kaides would normally believe necessary. The Kaides wouldn't give even a prodigy any "special treatment," to make it easy for them to progress in life, but they WOULD be more encouraging and amicable towards them---so for her potential to be cut short because of something outside of her own control, due to the betrayal, wouldn't necessarily be a "failure" on her part.

Maybe as a child she lacked a "killer instinct," or maybe she let her talents get to her head and became lazy? Maybe she was seen as too kind or naive, and that trusting nature was what made her vulnerable to an "obvious" betrayal? You could take it any number of ways, but I think the idea to aim for is having the rest of the family grumble "She COULD'VE been great, but her [insert weakness] made her vulnerable. That's why she fell for such petty tricks."

Graduating at 19 would imply that she Awakened her Aura, which is one of the hard-limits none of the Player characters were able to accomplish until after age 21 in their First Life. Without Aura, completing the Collegem's curriculum before age 21 becomes impossibly difficult, because it requires performing at a level that allows you to receive acknowledgement from the Instructors and skip over their classes.

I like the idea of being a caretaker, both for an old warrior and for kids who went on to be decent-to-above average themselves---because that means she would have learned a lot that she couldn't use back then, but can now.

The 4 Experience being spent on Skills works out, so other than what I've listed above this CS is off to a good start!

@Zeroth

This didn't really appear, but her being so old only happened after I tried to fix the timeline--her being 20/30 is closer to the original. Which is very funny--hoisted by my own petard.

As for her failure, point, I'm thinking that maybe she was completely unable to form bonds with people who weren't her siblings. AKA, while she was talented and put in effort, she was simultaneously an awful leader, awful friend, and an awful subordinate.

And that leads into her failure and why she damaged her vision and body. It was very much a steps on rake moment where the betrayal would be completely obvious to someone who could trust what others tell her.

And I can cut the graduated bit.

I'll fix it when I get home from work.

[Crowvette]

It would be pretty funny if there was a whole ass chain set up. I generally intend on creating a character whose major regret stems from never confessing their feelings for another character (whether NPC or PC) because they only wanted to do so after the war ended.

So naturally, when the war ends (via death into time travel), its time to go hard.

@ERode

If someone makes an exceptionally dense character, we can forego a chain and instead just go full harem on them!

Joking aside I wouldn't mind being a part of something like that. It could be an interesting arc if my character has to get over a one-sided affection for their support target, knowing in advance that it wouldn't work out or something like that. Or perhaps learning that they had someone else the entire time?

Actually that makes me wonder, is there any way of the PCs knowing there are other returners? I don't know if they'd all have motivations to share it with everyone but it's kind of a needle in a haystack situation if they don't know and don't have a incentive to tell each other

[Zeroth]

Actually that makes me wonder, is there any way of the PCs knowing there are other returners? I don't know if they'd all have motivations to share it with everyone but it's kind of a needle in a haystack situation if they don't know and don't have a incentive to tell each other

@Crowvette

There won't be any external signs or anything. Aside from the fact that most people will know the same version of events (some of you may have been in different places and thus may learn things others didn't), and thus will be able to tell "Wait just a minute here, I don't remember X doing that..." Players may very well end up thinking they're the only ones for a while!

Which, if you think about it, could make things very interesting. What if one person wants to make sure something happens exactly like it did previously, but another person wants to change it? If their biggest advantage is their foreknowledge of events, then what happens when those events are no longer foolproof? I can't wait to see what happens as you all pursue your own agendas... >:D

[Atlas946]

I'm going to try and post the outline for my character tomorrow, but I would love to give them some connections with other PCs. Just PM me.

[Rune_Alchemist]

CS

Appearance

Written: Unlike her mother, siblings, or even her father Ophelia sports non of their physical appearance. The toxin that nearly took her life having a permanent effect on both her physical appearance and abilities. Hair drained of any color, dull grey eyes and a pale, sickly complexion. Her overall frame is petite and small, her growth similarly stunted and being just five feet (152cm) tall. Detractors have used this to question her bloodline and disparage her mother.

[INSERT THEME SONG URL LINK IF YOU'D LIKE]

Ophelia Noella Kaides

Age: 17 [27] | Height: 5'0 (152cm) | Voice: Flat, quiet

First Life

blank

Biggest Failure: As we age it's natural to look back at things and objectively realize when WE are the ones who messed up; it's our own fault.

Biggest Regret: Whether it was your fault or not, whether you realistically could've done anything differently, there's always something we wish would've turned out differently.

Biggest Obstacle: What would it be, other than her own damnable body? Afflicted with a toxin from an assassination attempt at the age of three that left her physically and mentally scarred. Her body always betrayed her whenever she needed it most. Any overexertion leading to days of fever and being confined to a bed. A constant lack of energy leaving her far behind her peers and a seeming inability to ever gain physical muscle or finesse. To say nothing of the insomnia, occasional bouts of anger amplified by deep seeded jealousy and frustration and even rarely, hallucinations.

Greatest Achievement: Even as the "Failed Generation," there had to be ONE good thing that happened to you. Maybe it was stolen away, but at least for one brief moment...You were happy.

Driving Hope: Perhaps, there is hope, but if she was asked directly, she would rather say she simply didn't accept her lot in life. The entire time she fought, trained, and hurt nearly died just because her body failed her to mean nothing. She wanted to at least, prove a point that she wasn't a failure despite the circumstances of her life. To her, every new dawn she saw was a success, and living life one day at a time was the only thing she ever really wanted out of life. Perhaps, her hope, is to one day lead a relatively normal life with friends, family, never having to worry about this stupid legacy and this afflicted body of hers.

Equipment

• Preferred Weapon Type/Magic Focus/Important Tool
• blank

Abilities

You have 4 Experience to spend here

• Physical Strength: 3rd Rate (Represents pure athleticism. Speed, muscle, endurance, etc.)
• Aura: 3rd Rate
• Magic: 0th Circle
  
  • Skill/Spell Name - Skill/Spell Description
    • Sub-Sub-List for Upgrades.

Gonna go ahead and post a heavy wip so the others can kinda see what I'm thinking here so far.

Speaking of, I'm curious @Zeroth. Since she has like a -1 in STR and Con, would you deem leveling her physical strength less effective then others. And lemme know if I need to change anything right now before I get super far into making her.

[Zeroth]

Since she has like a -1 in STR and Con, would you deem leveling her physical strength less effective then others. And lemme know if I need to change anything right now before I get super far into making her.

@Rune_Alchemist

From what's on there so far, it looks like the CS is off to a good start, no glaring issues!

As for her physical abilities: "3rd Rate" is a ranking that includes "normal people" too; from a person who has no training whatsoever, to someone who's been training for maybe a couple years, anyone who either hasn't been at it very long or who just kinda sucks is considered "3rd Rate." So you wouldn't have to give her like, a negative ranking or call her 4th Rate or anything. As far as putting your Experience into your Abilities, if you choose to put it into Strength I'll trust you to just take her infirmities into account in the actual prose narrative. Maybe she knows the movements and tactics very well, but can only fight at her peak for a few minutes before she gets the ol' classic blood from the mouth cough. Or maybe she figured out a way to make up for lack of muscle by using a different kind of footwork, creating different points of leverage against an enemy's blade, etc. However you wanna express it is fine with me!

Also, would you say that you'd be looking for a way to "cure" her, using something she gained from the future? Or would her story be more along the lines of giving up a stubbornly unrealistic goal, and delving into something else like Magic? I ask for the purposes of GM scheming. ;)

[Rune_Alchemist]

Also, would you say that you'd be looking for a way to "cure" her, using something she gained from the future? Or would her story be more along the lines of giving up a stubbornly unrealistic goal, and delving into something else like Magic? I ask for the purposes of GM scheming. ;)

@Zeroth

I think im going to go for a cure, I think it'd make the most sense with her cynical and realist outward, but hopeless optimistic and do the impossible core attitude she has. Hell, maybe she doesn't get cured. I'd be fine with that, too.

I will say she has probably looked for a cure, starting with religion, failing, and then looking to magic and alchemy and maybe finding some small information there but otherwise nothing ever bore a lot of fruit.

Shell probably at least dabble in it again, but I think she'd feel speccing solely into magic as admitting defeat.

[Remram]

Just throwing my interest down just in case.

[ERode]

I was extremely tempted to go full Aura, but alas. Gotta hedge my bets at least a little bit.

Anyways, he's definitely done some dirty work at the behest of the Young Master, so if anyone wants to make drama outta it, lemme know.

In My Second Life, I'm Done Holding Back!

"C'mon! Let's see how far we can push it!"

Ferrucio Agatino Kaides

Age: 17 [27] | Height: 5'11 | Voice: Tenor

First Life

They were Brilliance itself, exemplified in the solitary flash of their blade, in the innocent ideals reflected in their gaze. In his past and in his present, they always colored the world in a rose hue, as if the heat in his blood, the quickening of his heart, could be explained away by a heady summer that only he could feel.

And who was he but the bastard child of the Kaides, a mongrel birthed from the indiscretion of a prodigal knight, pulled into the gravity of the great house simply out of a moment of charity? He could not dare aspire, could only be set in the role of a shieldbearer, a perpetual squire in role if not name. He was the shadow of the flower that basked in the sun, fungal growth that only parasitized and poisoned at the behest of the young master. He learned to wield a shield before a sword, for the glory of the kill was meant for others, and the only strength he developed was that of a pack mule.

It was no surprise that he was left behind. The Young Master that he served bloomed brilliantly, becoming part of the Last Great Generation. The Brilliance that had colored his days had long departed to the borderlands as Captain of the Swiftblades Regiment, tasked with preemptive strikes against monstrous encampments. And he? He was but a dumb, sullen thing, shriveling up as an oaf of an errand boy for those that remained stuck with the label of the Failed Generation. He could have left, perhaps. House Kaides had all but disavowed him, that charity case whose prostitute-blood ran more thickly than his noble blood. And yet, he remained in the Collegem Yllustre still. Training. Straining. Keeping his head down, keeping his profile low, but crawling still.

He had thought that he'd be able to put his feelings into words once he graduated, once the fruits of his efforts awarded him with an Awakened Aura.

Graduation came, and his Aura remained stagnant. The Demons tore down Solvah, and he was sent out as a foot soldier rather than a Knight of Kaides.

He had thought that he'd be able to put his feelings into words once he distinguished himself in combat, for perhaps it was in life-and-death battle against true evil that he would awaken to his Kaides-blood.

There was nothing so glorious as holding a shieldwall, only to be sent flying from the minotaurs' charge and spending the remainder of his first battle trying not to swallow the vomit stuck in his helmet as he stumbled away from the worst of the action.

He had thought that he'd be able to put his feelings into words onc-

The siege of Ylliastrum was nothing but tragedy after tragedy, breathless messengers delivering word of more and more losses around the kingdom, and even amidst all that, the story of the ignoble end of the Swiftswords Regiment stood out, the banners of that expeditionary strike force turned to nothing more than a cloak for the Beast King to wear into battle.

-e he could take Yaku's head, for the 'glory' of being promoted to serve as a Royal Guard during these desperate times was entirely insufficient.

And yet the Beast King fell while he was leagues away, alongside the true heroes of Kaidisyum who dealt the greatest blow the Demonic Horde had ever suffered. And even that great victory wasn't enough to change the reality of his own situation: nothing more than a laborer now, every able-bodied youth tasked with putting hammer to nail, nail to board, repairing and preparing every possible ship there was for the voyage to the Fae Isles. It was their only hope, after all, a hope roused by the First Princess's impassioned speech, a hope that shone so bright that it turned those bitter days halcyon once more.

He had thought that he'd be able to put his feelings into words once the war was lost and they became refugees, so that he could at least tell others what that individual meant to him.

But when the bells tolled the arrival of despair, when he strapped on his dented armor, his claw-rent shield, the sword he stole off a better man, he knew that too was no longer a possibility.

When all was lost, what else was there to do?

He braced himself and reached for the only spot of glory left for this muzzled mongrel.

A glorious charge, a glorious death, all so he didn't have to learn what fate would befall the last Royals of Luzia.

...

Even in his last breath, Ferrucio Agatino Kaides could not put his feelings into words.

All he could do was lament that he ought to have spoken up fifteen years earlier.

Equipment

• Sword & Board
• Full Plate w/o Helmet
• A Big Ass Cape

Abilities

• Physical Strength: 2nd Rate
• Aura: Expert
• Magic: 0th Circle

[Teyao]

Well this is my current character, or at least what I have written for him. The parentage is left ambiguous as I am not sure what is the current status of the bloodlines.

Rowan

Appearance

"For what is worth, I am sorry you have to see this"

Rowan Aksel Kaides

Age: 19 [29] | Height: 6'1| Voice: Bass

First Life

From a young age, a thing was clear.

As long as he was in a fight, he was closer to an animal than a human.

There was no explanation, no big moment that resulted in his inclination. From the moment a training axe was placed in his hands he launched himself at his trainer, attempting to kill him and disregarding any pain until the instructor was forced to knock him out for his own safety.

At first it was taken as a boon.

Surely, a Knight of the House of Kaiden who could devout his life to complete his mission was beneficial, all that was needed was to teach the child control and they would have another capable Knight in their ranks. However, as he grew up things didn't change. Meditation, potions, spiritual cleanses, none yielded a solution, he still reacted like a corraled beast each time he was prompted to fight.

Maybe in another age they would still have tried to help him.

Instead, they took a look around and deemed him another failure in a generation full of them.

When the war started he was often sent as a frontline and sometimes as a distraction during operations, not much different from an arrow fired blindly, set loose in the hopes it killed something but without really banking on it. His condition made working with others... difficult, too many times he ended up coming to blows with his own allies or jeopardizing their security thanks to his mindless rampage.

But even then, there was someone who became a source of light, a comrade who he could call a friend. A trainee sent to the battlefield with his death as a forgone conclusion but who due to luck or intelligence reached the conclusion that working with him could increase their chances of survival. Together the both of them developed strategies, his use of magic weak but ingenious in its use as a guiding signal, a conductor to his orchestra of violence.

Then came the fateful mission, where he gained the ability to distinguish friend from foe, and lost something far more precious.

His remaining years were nothing but violence with a notable exception, the only time he could proudly announce he saved someone. But even with such an achievement his fate as the blunt instrument was written in stone, and as human settlements were reduced in numbers the hope for another such encounter became nothing more than a fanciful dream.

The moment he died he thought that maybe, just maybe, he was finally going to rest.

Then he woke up.

• Biggest Failure: Wars are terrible events, but even during them bonds can be forged. Even during his worst moments he had someone besides him, he remembers a boy a few years younger, casting spells as he distracted the enemy. His corpse and the blood in his hands are things he can't forget. No matter how much he wishes to.
• Greatest Achievement: During one of his rampages he reached a small destroyed village, the same one he was sent alongside others to protect. While fighting he found a small girl. How hard he fought to protect her is one of the few clear memories he has of the war, more than 3 hours until others managed to rescue both of them. To his superiors it was another failed mission but for him... It's the only achievement he cared about.

Equipment

• Axe
• Guantled Fists
• Plate Armor

Abilities

You have 4 Experience to spend here

• Physical Strength: 1st Rate
• Aura: 3rd Rate
• Magic: 0th Circle
  
  • Intuition - An (often) correct subconscious guess on attempts at his life
    • Increased chance of dodging lethal attacks

Though, now that I have seen a few sheets, @ERode, are you perchance interested in the idea of our characters being half-siblings?

[ERode]

What’s your idea behind the half-sibling thing? Alternatively, how many bastards can one Knight sire?