[OOC] To Topple an Empire

[Avanhelsing]

It's not powerful. It's a sword that may be a key. Who knows. It was either a sword or he was told to take the heir before the umbra arrived. I thought the sword would be less offensive.

[LokiLeo789]

I finished my character. The dwarf... very manly
:)

[Raineh Daze]

Name: Grímhildr (formerly Erik) Víkingrsson

Age: 783

Race: Elf

Appearance: Keeping with the times is important.

Abilities: Grímhildr is, strangely enough, an elf with absolutely no respect for the practice of magic. It's a weak, squishy discipline for those too scared to get their hands dirty. A real warrior gets up close and personal with their opponent! Thus leading to the incomprehensible-to-observe sight of the world's most muscled, albeit kind of wiry, elf swinging around an enormous battleaxe like it's a feather. If that wasn't scary enough, Grímhildr is extremely prone to berserker rages, where pretty much nothing short of instant death is going to get her to stop trying to bite your face off.
Aside from berserker fighting, she's a big fan of food and drink, and thus has the amazing ability to out-consume most of the wimpy types going around nowadays.

History: A long time in the past, before the modern kingdom of Gelum had really been founded, there were rather a lot of guys with big axes, who liked carving stones with runes as memorials, and finding rivers to sail south and bother everyone else. One particularly famed raider never, however, really got into women but found himself needing a son to leave things to when he died. The answer came, unexpectedly, when one raid found an elven infant left behind. Rather than finishing them off, the cheerfully-named Vikingr took the elf home and--not being familiar with girlish anatomy but very familiar with effeminate elven men--adopted 'him' as his son.
Thus, 'Erik' was raised to be a strong warrior and berserker of the North, naturally outliving 'his' father and overcoming the stigma of 'his' girlish looks to the point there was a sizeable contingent of girls looking for 'his' hand. Kind of awkward to find out that, at the age of fifty nine, you're actually a girl. So 'Erik' changed her name to Grímhildr, but kept officially, and traditionally in stories passed down through the tribe, being Vikingr's son.
Of course, Gelum settled down over the centuries, and there wasn't much to fight except for wild animals, but they were fun enough to keep occupied, and even until recently she could generally get a feast going if she dragged a big enough carcass back. It was whilst on one of these wild trips that Umbra attacked.
For the first time in a long time, it seems that her axe is going to be cutting through people, not animals.

[Assallya]

Assallya Kressair

•Age: 89

•Race: Elf

•Appearance: As above.

•Abilities: Assallya is a witch, sorceress, con-artist, dancer and occasional courtesan, Her magics are primarily those of illusion and enchantment. She has but one combat spell, the shocking grasp, which she almost never uses since she doesn't like to get that close to an enemy. She also possesses a Ring of Regeneration on one of her toes that heals even the most mortal of wounds inflicted while wearing it.

•Weaknesses: Assallya is a poor combatant. She can, if necessary use a crossbow with some skill but is nearly hopeless with swords, daggers and similar weapons. She prefers using daggers on sleeping, unsuspecting, or helpless opponents if at all.

•History: Assallya was a slave in a desert country far to the south. There she was trained by her master, a noble house with underworld connections, in being a spy. Surprisingly, the wanton aggression of Umbra permitted Assallya the opportunity to escape and she took it. She now travels through the north in a vardo wagon, far away from her former people lest her masters come looking for her.

She is somewhat trustworthy. The main reason that she is so is due to the simple fact that she believes that anyone offering her riches enough to betray her companions to the forces of Umbra will likely murder her in short order rather than reward her. Now, if she's captured, all bets are off and she'll likely squeal near instantly at the mere thought of disfigurement..

[Rusalka]

Name: Sylvya Dern

Age: 24

Race: Human

Appearance:

face

Clothing

It's something similar to this, but it's all black

Plus she wears this to conceal her face

Personality: There isn't much difficulty in getting along with Sylvya. Likewise, she is witty and has a very charming charisma about herself. She can be romantic at times too, but she fears growing too attached to people, especially if they may end up being her target one day. However, on the job she takes a different personality, cold, methodical, and without remorse. Though a ruthless bandit, Slyvya does have some civility to her when she is out terrorizing the lonely roads. She refuses to kill a woman or a child, and often leaves them be after she has pilfered their riches and leaving be those who are less fortunate than the nobles and merchants who travel the roads.

Abilities: Sylvya is a rather adept fencer noted for her swift parries and damaging ripostes, but sometimes her form can slip now and again. She is also good at guerilla tactics, bounding and leaping through the thick forest canopies, giving her a slight advantage in ambushing others, along with her keen knowledge of shadow magick, mostly using it to disappear and to elude her enemies. As for stealth, Sylvya is like a spirit looming upon you when you least expect her, and once you are aware of her presence, it is far too late to react, and for marksmanship, she's not too shabby when it comes to using a crossbow or throwing knives.

History: Once Sylvya was part of one of the most prominent families of the Alacrian aristocracy, the Dern family. Her father, Harken, was a wealthy merchant who owned several trade routes and shipping lines in the kingdom. Her mother, Marion, was a famous actress and opera singer. Twas thanks to her mother that Sylvya was raised in an environment steeped in music and the arts. She loved to hear her mother sing and enjoyed watching her plays and her concerts with her father. Sylvya also had an uncle, her father's loathsome and greedy half brother Crassius, who helped Harken gain his wealth, but grew angry when his brother excluded him from the family after learning of Crassus cheating a few noble customers. Crassus was even further angered when he learned Harken entrusted all of his wealth to Sylvya in his will, and soon he retaliated with violence. One night, a band of mercenaries hired by Crassus stormed the Dern Manor. Harken was slain trying to defend his home and his family and Marion was later murdered by the men. Sylvya survived the attack, fully aware that Crassus was the orchestrator of this vile action. As she watched her family's illustrious and elegant manor erupt in flames, she fled from the city and towards the forest in fear of her own life still being forfeit. The mercenaries pursued her and soon caught up to her.

They were about to deliver the killing blow to Slyvya, but she was rescued by a man dressed in all black, as if he were clad in nothing but shadows. He was Matthias Grimm, a highwayman who was wanted by authorities in all the land, the Blood Raven. He took Sylvya under his wing and gave her a place to stay at his hideout, an old, rundown cottage nestled deep in the dark forest. There, he taught his new protegee the essentials to being a good highwayman, how to steal, how to intimidate, how to disappear amongst the shadows to ambush her foes, and most importantly....how to kill. He even imbued unto Slyvya the most elusive of his arts, shadow magick, using shadows conjured forth from the nether-planes to conceal oneself and even to summon forth malevolent entities to strike fear into even the bravest of hearts. Slyvya thrived under Matthias' teachings, and soon she became a fearsome rogue herself, terrorizing with Matthias the kingdom and her father's old trade routes, now owned by Crassus. Fate would have it that one day their paths would cross. On a particular dark and stormy night, Crassus was trying to flee the proper authorities when he was discovered in a scandal involving the trade of rotten food to the Empire. His carriage soon met with Matthias and Slyvya upon the road leading out of Alacris. The two thieves attacked, but suddenly they were ambushed by Crassus' hired thugs. A bloody battle ensued, and in the rampant chaos....Slyvya reaped her revenge upon Crassus, stabbing him through the throat with her knife, but....also in the midst of the battle, Matthias was gravely wounded after taking an axe blow to his gut. With his dying breath, he urged Sylvya to carry on his legacy, while also bequeathing to Sylvya his love he held for the young girl. After Matthias' passing, Sylvya carried his promise and became the new Blood Raven, haunting the very roads she pillaged and pilfered alongside her beloved mentor, which were now being used by the Umbran military to transport valuable goods between the conquered realms. Soon, Sylvya began focusing her attacks on . She had heard there was an uprising beginning to brew within the kingdoms under Umbran rule, but naturally she chose to stay out of it unless the time came, preferring to work by herself. She had been likened to the legendary thief the Spectre, but unlike Spectre, she does not return her ill-gotten wealth to the poor, rather greedy and selfish of her.

Preferred Weapons:

Tools of the Trade

_Aquilius_
A light rapier that once belonged to the most legendary highwayman in all the kingdoms, and someone Sylvya once loved. Easy to wield with one hand and indeed agile, giving enough ample speed and leverage for swift parries, ripostes and quick slashes and thrusts, though it is less damaging compared to larger, more robust swords.



_Miseria_
A short steel dagger for close ranged stealth kills, small and concealable under any circumstances. There's a special compartment in the hilt of the dagger for a vial of poison.



_Throwing Knives_
Sharpened and honed for the utmost aerodynamic design. They can be deployed rapidly in a cloud of deadly projectiles or used for a discreet, far ranged kill, maybe to get rid of a pesky guard or two (Maximum Limit: 12)



_Fire Bombs_
A potent and lethal amalgamation of ceramic pottery and a deadly flammable liquid. Perfect for setting some poor souls ablaze or using to halt a caravan in its tracks. (Maximum Limit: 4)



_Mini Crossbow_
A nifty little tool for any good rogue. Great for picking off a couple of stragglers from far away. The steel bolts are also coated in highly toxic darkroot sap, which can cripple the nervous system of the body in less that a few seconds. (Maximum Limit: 20 bolts)

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[WilsonTurner]

I may have to drop out. Getting to be too many characters that are far too skilled. Everyone is an expert at something, or at many somethings, and half of everyone appear to have very good swordsmanship.

[Assallya]

Funny part is.... I swear reading that we should be having trouble with the WEAKEST of enemies to start, not taking on dragonsm

[VitaVitaAR]

Um, where did you get that impression?

I'm not seeing that anywhere. Granted I see where dragons are supposed to be really tough, but...

[Assallya]

RolePlayerRoxas said
The setting is your generic fantasy land. Swords are the weapon of choice, elves, dwarves and animal-eared people aren't uncommon, and Slimes are the adventurer's first obstacle to traversing the world and/or fighting an empire. Firearms technically exist, but they're simply magical tools that fire not bullets, but the mage's concentrated mana. 

While not literally explicit I took this to mean beginning adventurers

[Raineh Daze]

Assallya said
While not literally explicit I took this to mean beginning adventurers

Adventurer =/= character

[VitaVitaAR]

I didn't see that at all. I thought it just meant slimes would be enemies. ^^;

I don't see the "every enemy is a struggle" part.

[Assallya]

"While not literally explicit"... would indicate that it's just a feeling, a personal interpretation. After all, why else mention it?

[VitaVitaAR]

Um, well, it would, but given the GM accepted characters who aren't beginners I'd think it's more leaning towards the RP being set up for skilled characters.

[DAWNSTAR]

WilsonTurner said
I may have to drop out. Getting to be too many characters that are far too skilled. Everyone is an expert at something, or at many somethings, and half of everyone appear to have very good swordsmanship.

Well, I must say that I agree with you. It seems hard to believe that these 'rebels' would have difficulty beating much of anything. In my opinion, most of these characters are way too powerful to be even higher ups in a rebel force. I would expect to find these characters wandering around and fighting off hordes of orcs. Though it is not stated that we are beginners, it is also not stated that our characters should be experts in their fields. The four generals with their 'unfathomable' power would stand little chance against the rebels if they were all like our characters.

It is not that I we can't have a few strong people; it is just that I would prefer an actual challenge. Right now, in my opinion, we are set up for any easy win. There is just not enough room for character growth from my point if view. But, I will leave the GM to decide on the matter. If I don't find it acceptable, I will still submit my character for the sake of balancing it out.

[Raineh Daze]

DAWNSTAR said
Well, I must say that I agree with you. It seems hard to believe that these 'rebels' would have difficulty beating much of anything. In my opinion, most of these characters are way too powerful to be even higher ups in a rebel force. I would expect to find these characters wandering around and fighting off hordes of orcs. Though it is not stated that we are beginners, it is also not stated that our characters should be experts in their fields. The four generals with their 'unfathomable' power would stand little chance against the rebels if they were all like our characters. It is not that I we can't have a few strong people; it is just that I would prefer an actual challenge. Right now, in my opinion, we are set up for any easy win. There is just not enough room for character growth from my point if view. But, I will leave the GM to decide on the matter. If I don't find it acceptable, I will still submit my character for the sake of balancing it out.

... I see nothing about the current group that makes them intrinsically superior to whole armies, nor the innately overpowered (until they join you) boss characters.

[VitaVitaAR]

Um, how are the characters we have overpowered? ^^; I'm confused.

I mean, just looking at mine, being good at magic is literally all she has since she is physically a ten-year-old. ^^;

[Apollosarcher]

True while we have a few power houses and other skilled individuals we have to remember that assassination does not seem to work these Generals and more than likely we will have to attack them with clever tactics or full on assaults and were also scattered, I think the first part of all this will be bringing together the group, I mean sure we all want to fight the empire but if we don't stand together we all will hang separately. Also look at the age of some of our members the elves have had time to master crafts during there long lives and other have had to survive terrible things to gain strength. We are all a little broken but if we pull together we can be a whole but first we have to get along and be a cohesive unit.

[Rusalka]

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[Apollosarcher]

I just went through and read your entire character sheet, your not OP just trained just like my character. Well and thief fights a assassin, this will be interesting I'm assuming you have order to recapture the stash of gold he and the former thieves guild have "liberated". I get the feeling these to will have a lot of banter, as well as many fight scenes, maybe her order could have something to due with the capture of the thieves guild?

[Rusalka]

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