The Aesteria Chronicles (Fantasy Adventure, Steampunk Elements)

[vietmyke]

Welcome to Aesteria! A new fantastical world of radically different climates, peoples, and environments that has only recently been born from my imagination. Though I have yet to be able to produce a map for my world, I shall do my best to give you a feel for what it looks like. This Roleplay will revolve around the main continent of Lucenrai.

The Setting

The Setting:

The Western City-States

To the west we have hundreds of city-states and nation-states. These cities are industrially developed and occasionally bicker with one another behind large walls of stone. Here, people develop different philosophies and create new inventions, making the western city-states a haven for free thinkers and inventors. The types of governments in the city states are varied, some are democratic, there are several republics, a few kingdoms, and several mercantile cities. The majority of these city states are loosely allied with each other in a confederacy for a unified defense, though this alliance hasn't stopped small wars from breaking out between cities. You can often see airships of various shapes and sizes travelling across the skies, trading and exploring and otherwise soaring about the sky.

The Varisie Empire (V-air-i-see)

In the northern region lies the vast Varisie Empire, a powerful, industrialized empire that rules by wealth and might. The Varisie are one of the most technologically advanced societies in the world, and are a very proud people often arrogantly so. The empire controls its populace strictly, with an iron fist, and commands a huge army, as well as a vast fleet of airships. The current ruler of the Varisie is Emperor Rickard Varisie III, who is the 27th Emperor of the Varisie Dynasty. His brother, Johanson Varisie has also recently been appointed as the Pope of the Church of Aer, giving the Varisie family rule of over one third of the continent as well as influence over the majority of the continent's peoples.

The Wall of Nothing

In the direct center of the continent lies a small, but tall mountain range known as the Wall of Nothing. The mountain range creates a small circle, and reaches high into the sky, past the clouds, creating an impenetrable natural wall. People claim that a civilization lies at the top the mountain range, advanced far beyond the comprehension of all people, though this is considered heresy by the Church of Aer. Legend states that the ancient artifacts, known as 'Arks' were required to open the gates to the City, if such a city existed. Still, a shrine that is on the border of the clouds has been erected on the northern face of the mountain range, a popular place for pilgrimages and religious ceremonies.

The Aest Wetlands

To the south lies a large, thick forest, that opens up into a swamp, which then opens up into a small archipelago of islands. This is a land full of magic and mysteries, and the Church often dissuades its followers from venturing into these lands. Nevertheless, many people attempt to venture into these lands in an attempt to find the small towns, settlements, and cities in these swamp/archipelago lands, in hope of learning and mastering the arts of magic. Few make the journey into the swamplands, and even fewer return, but all that do are possessed of magical powers far greater than any that has been found outside of these lands.

The Kusagi Empire

To the far, far east, lies an oriental empire (bet you didn't see that one coming.) The Kusagi Empire stretches along the long, crescent shaped, eastern coast of the continent, making its capital on a sizable island just off the coast. The Kusagi Empire for the most part keeps to itself, relying of self sustenance and internal trade to keep it alive. While it doesn't have the technological marvels of the western and northern people, the people of the Kusagi Empire how considerable martial and magical prowess. While there never has been a war between the east and its west and northern neighbors, it is not uncommon for groups of Kusagi people to adventure into the western city states, often trading their odd and rare eastern goods, as well as serving as potent and dangerous mercenaries.

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Technology and Magic

If you've read my tag behind the title, you'd have guessed that this is a fantasy-with-steampunk-elements RP. Therefore, it has fantasy/steampunk tech. So that means airships and steam and magics galore! A large amount of the technology in this RP will be 'explained' by a large mixture of magic with steam technology (Also to be known as Magitechnology). Any overly intricate/advanced/somewhat unfeasible piece of technology? - Magitechnology.
As far as weapons and combat goes, there will be a good mix of melee weapons, firearms, and melee-firearm contraptions, as well as magically enchanted items. I'll get into a list of the more common armaments you'll see below:

Common Weapons in Aesteria

The Steam Rifle

One of the most commonplace firearms in Aesteria. The steam rifle come in different variants, as they are produced by many different groups, whether they be Varisie Arms Company or the Westhof Trade Caravan. For the most part, the steam rifle is relatively the same, a breach loaded rifle utilizing a small steam cartridge. For the most part, the Steam Rifle must be reloaded after every shot, though several more expensive variants of the rifle come with 2-4 round magazines. These magazines typically stick off to the side, so not to interfere with the rifle's sights. Most variants come with an optic, each of varying magnification and reticules. It isn't uncommon for cheaper sights to be weak telescopes with a dot in the center. A steam rifle can typically fire 100-300 rounds before replacing steam cartridges, depending on the potency of the weapon.

Revolving Musket

A seven-barreled rifle used commonly by Varisie shock troopers, this weapon is considerably less common than its single barreled counterpart. As a result, it is considerably more expensive. A round disk, similar to a large, flattened revolver cylinder is slid into the rear of the weapon, this cylinder houses the 7 rounds, as well as pre-loaded steam combustives for each round. In order to fit the rounds into the cylinder, the ammunition used by the revolving musket is of smaller caliber than the ones usually fired by steam rifles. Ammunition is also considerably more expensive.The cocking hammer must be pulled back every time before firing the weapon. The weapon is considerably less accurate than the steam rifle and lacks the ability to place any optics. A side sight is able to be mounted, but it does little more than show the operator the general direction in which it is aimed.

Bolt Revolver

An intricate revolver weapon designed by an inventor from the Western City states, this weapon is unique in that it fires crossbow bolts instead of more contemporary bullet cartridges. Using a steam cartridge to provide power, the Bolt Revolver can fire 20 crossbow bolts from a reloadable cylinder. While not as powerful as contemporary firearms, and lacking the ability to pierce armor, the weapon can be loaded with magically enchanted or specially crafted bolts, and is considerably quieter than other firearms.

Steam Repeater

The first truly 'automatic' weapon created by steam technology, the steam repeater fires at a whopping 120 rounds per minute, and features a 30 round magazine firing small caliber ammunition. A steam cartridge is placed into the stock of the weapon, and pulling the trigger causes steam to rotate gatling styled barrels inside the weapon and fire its payload. Since the weapon uses steam both to rotate the barrels and fire the weapon, steam is used extremely fast, making it a fairly costly weapon. The steam cartridge on a repeater typically has to be replaced after every other magazine, increasing the cost of firing the weapon. The repeater also fires very low caliber ammunition and is incapable of piercing plate armor, making it a poor choice for a battlefield. On the other hand, its relatively higher rate of fire, and small size makes it ideal for airship crews, who typically don't wear unwieldy plate armor.

Revolver Blade

The revolver blade is exactly what it sounds like, a revolver, with a blade. Capable of being used as both a shortsword, and a one-handed carbine-revolver, the revolver blade is a versatile weapon often used by mercenaries. It comes in different variants, of differing blade lengths and revolver calibers. As a rule of thumb, the larger the blade, the more difficult it is to aim, the higher the caliber, the less balanced the sword is.

There are also all your typical melee weapons, and revolver-melee variants. Firearms for the most part, if not single fire rifles, are revolvers, the above are examples of the tech you can expect. If you want to make your own weapons and gear you can, but know that I will scrutinize it, and if I feel it doesn't fit or is too much, I will not hesitate to tell you so.

Magic in Aesteria is different than magic in other fantasy realms. Whether or not anyone is inherently talented in magic, no one can simply 'pick up' magic. You can't just stare at a little grimoire all day and then all of a sudden be able to cast a fireball and burn down villages, no, it doesn't work like that. In Aesteria, all magic is governed by the use of summoned spirits.

Summon spirits typically aren't like your fancy and powerful Final Fantasy Summons. There are tens of hundreds of thousands of spirits all over Aesteria, each with their own element and classification, just waiting for you to nab them. It is only with the help of these summoned spirits that you are able to cast any sort of magic whatsoever.

Spirits generally fit into one of three categories:

Spirits

Simple:[/indent][/b][/u]

These spirits are the most common, and are often the smallest, weakest, and least intelligent, though this isn't always the case. They are relatively easy to obtain and summon and generally do not require a major pact to use. Several lesser summoners have found themselves destroyed by simple spirits due to their lack of knowledge of summoning and their inability to control the mischievous spirits. Simple spirits can be found in many places all over the world. Commanding simple spirits allow summoners to do things like fireballs or lighningbolts. A competent summoner can control several simple spirits with ease.

Humanoid:

These spirits are generally humanoid in appearance and are by far the most intelligent of spirits. They are moderately to very powerful, and are quite cunning, some more malevolent than others. Pacts to enlist Humanoid spirits are generally more complex and often require a valuable artifact or offering. Humanoid spirits can occasionally be found outside of the Aest Wetlands. Humanoid spirits allow summoners to perform more complex feats of magic, such as coating a body part in a cloak of fire, manipulating a stream of water, or concentrating electricity into an object or person. Many Humanoid spirits can also fight alongside their summoners. Only a powerful summoner can create a pact with more than one humanoid. To command more than one in battle or to use magic is a rare feat.

Gargantuan:

These spirits are massive compared to Simple and Humanoid spirits, often dozens of times larger than a human. While for the most part not as intelligent as Humanoid spirits, several Older Gargantuan spirits can be considerably more cunning and wise than humanoids. Pacts to enlist Gargantuans almost always consist of a blood pact, and are never found outside of the Wetlands. Even within the Aest Wetlands, Gargantuans are difficult to come by and even more difficult to subdue. Gargantuan spirits lack the finesse of most Humanoid spirits, instead relying on brute force of magic, creating raging firestorms and tsunamis with ease. Gargantuans can join summoners in battle and are very difficult if not impossible to defeat. Only a truly powerful summoner can create a pact with a Gargantuan. To create a pact with more than one has never been heard of.

The Arks

Legend states that there existed 12 Arks before the advent of modern civilization. These Arks are supposedly of immense magical power, capable of controlling spirits, as well even more fantastic abilities. These Arks were believed to be created by an ancient civilization, long before recorded history. The Church of Aer claims that these Arks are nothing more than a myth, but it hasn't stopped collectors and explorers for searching from them. Claims of people finding supposed 'Arks' are fairly common, though all claims have thus far proven to be false. - This will be expanded upon as we get further into the story.

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Welcome to Meduzart! A prominent city in the confederacy of western City-States. Meduzart is commonly called the Adventurer's Hangout, as it houses the founding branch of the Adventurer's Guild, commonly referred to as, 'The Guild'. The Adventurer's guild is the West's largest source of paramilitary mercenaries and couriers, as the Guild is a collection of small bands of mercenaries, errand runners, explorers, summoners, and mechanics. When people need something done, they usually come to a Guild house to get it done, provided they have the coin. Meduzart, the hometown of the Adventurer's Guild is known for having some of the most reliable adventurers in the West. We shall, or most of us shall play as members of this hardy guild, whether or not we are in the same band, or know/of eachother is up to us.

A strange air has taken over the Varisie Empire recently. While always arrogant and pompous, the Varisie have never been outright violent, so the Varisie's sudden expeditions into Western territory has taken the City-States aback. With formidable technology, and an organized force, the Varisie had already taken by force the north eastern City States before the remaining states could begin to muster a defense. Without giving a reason, and ignoring all diplomats, the Varisie began a steady advance into the western territories before the Confederacy could force the Varisie to a halt, at the expense of grievous losses. The Varisie have for the moment stopped their advance, consolidating their position on their captured city states, still ignoring all diplomats and messengers from the western cities.

One day, a pair of youngsters, one male, one female, burst into the main hall of Meduzart's Guildhouse. With a sum of coin unexpected of their age, the two have requested a group of adventurers to take them to the City-State of New Eden. The only problem is, New Eden is the heart of the Varisie operations in the western regions. The pair avoid all questions regarding their reasons for making such a foolhardy adventure, and request only the bravest and most willing Guildsmen accompany them. And this is where we come into the picture.

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Concept:

As members of the Adventurer's Guild, we the players will undertake this adventure to guide these young people to the City of New Eden, facing whatever troubles we will along the way. There will be a good amount of in-city adventures and combat, as well as airship travel and land travel. As we travel with these youngsters, we will eventually discover the 'Arks' and their true powers. I'll accept a group of 4 or 5 players at the most. Players are limited to one character per. Due to the small amount of spots, this will not be first come, first served.

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The Adventurer

The Guild, an organized hodge-podge of paramilitary mercenaries, couriers, errand runners, explorers, summoners, and mechanics. The Guild is based loosely on a decentralized hierarchy. Each City's Guild Branch operates independently of one another, but agrees not to interfere with each other's work, of engage in combat or sabotage one another. Most branches keep up a healthy rivalry with one another, but will provide each other aid in times of need.

Within each Branch, the Guild is further split into small teams, or 'Bands'. The Branch is run by a group known as the 'Guild Overseers', typically the oldest and most experienced Guildsmen in the particular city's branch. The Overseers manage daily goings on of the Guild, as well as the various job boards, organizing them by risk, pay, and length, among other variables. The Guild Bands, or individual Guildsmen will take jobs from the boards as they see fit.

The Bands themselves are considerably less regulated, each band typically having their own noteable customs and traits. Some bands openly accept all recruits, others are invite only. Many bands have their own type of initiation ritual. For the most part, bands are cooperative with one another, and also hold healthy (and typically friendly) rivalries.

Prominent Bands in Meduzart include the Red Hawks, well known for their adventurous members and skilled pilots; and the Drunken Bards, a well loved group of daring and jovial strongmen and storytellers. The Serpentines, are a somewhat elitist, but highly effective group of mercenaries and summoners, and serve as direct rivals to the Errant Knights, a proud group of stalwart warriors and technicians. The Metal Monkeys Band is Meduzart's premier engineering group, and are well known for their potent, though occasionally dangerous custom weapons and gear.

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Character Skeleton

Human

Appearance: Your character's appearance. I prefer art images as opposed to real life pictures
Name: Your character's first and last name. You can add nicknames here as well.
Age: The age of your character, the minimum age is 17
Guild Band: The name of the specific band your character is a part of. Prominent Adventurer's Guild bands include the Red Hawks, the Serpentines, and the Errant Knights.

Archtype: A title or phrase that sums up the general characteristics and disposition of your character

Backstory: Important, give me a summary of your character's history and bio.

Skills and Abilities: Here is where you put things your character can do/are good at, as well as what magic abilities they have (if any).

Equipment: Here is where you'll give me a list of your character's equipment. Weapons, armors, tools, and other gear goes here.

Spirits: Here you will list what Spirits(If any) your character controls, as well as the powers the spirits provide to them, and the details of the pact used to acquire the spirit.

Spirit

I will also provide players with the option to play a humanoid spirit (bound to another player).

Appearance: Your spirit's appearance. I prefer art images as opposed to real life pictures.
Name: the name of your spirit.
Age: The age of your Spirit, the age range I'm expecting for most characters is typically in the centuries

Backstory: Important, give me a small summary of your character's history and bio. Include the details that making a Pact with your spirit consists of.

Skills and Abilities: Here you should list the skills and magical abilities of your spirit, as well as the magical powers you grant your summoner.

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My Character

Vietmyke

Name: Alan "Kite" Ryner
Age: 24

Guild Band: Red Hawks
Archetype: Aloof Adventurer

Background/Bio:

Growing up in the multi-religious city of New Eden, Alan was exposed to a multitude of religions as a child, from the widespread Aerism (Pseudo Catholicism), to less common religions such as Chrastolism (Pseudo Protestantist Christianity) and Zehism (Pseudo Buddhism/Shinto/Zen-ism). His father was a Zehist Minister, and his mother's family were an affluent merchant company. As a result, Alan grew up in relative prosperity, with a good education and no lack of funding. During this time however, New Eden was experiencing large amounts of turmoil. Aerism was on the rise, and its followers in New Eden were getting increasingly miilitant towards the smaller religions.

The New Eden Riots, declared bogus by the Church of Aer, and downplayed as a massive uncontrolled city fire, resulted in the destruction of most of the minor religions housed in the city. A combination of Aer fanatical 'crusaders' and Inquisitors stormed and sacked countless places of worship, including the Zehist house in which Alan's father worked at. Admist the chaos, the young Alan was separated from his parents while attempting to flee from the city. He was found himself cornered in an alleyway by a group of fanatics who had recognized him as a minster's son, and therefore a pagan.

As he was attacked, his father intervened and stopped the fanatics with the help of a summoned spirit. In the ensuing fight, Alan's father suffered a grievous wound. With his life force fading fast, Alan's father quickly made a pact with his spirit, bargaining with his remaining life force, that the spirit would protect and guard Alan until he came of age (15).

Fleeing from New Eden under the protection of his late father's summoned spirit, Alan escaped to the nearby city of Melanhart. Through some sort of miracle, Alan was reunited with his mother and the remains of his extended family in Melanhart. The Ryner family made themselves a new life in the city of Melanhart, starting with nothing and building up slowly.

At the age of 15, his father's summoned spirit was freed from its service and renewed its service with him through a formal pact. By age 18, after many years with his summoned spirit, Alan Ryner had developed into a summoner of some note. Bolstered with his educated background and hardy physique, Alan proved to be a capable adventurer, with the ability to handle physical labor as well as provide mental tact. He joined a courier service, traveling all over the Western City States delivering messages and important/time sensitive, delicate materials. It made good money and it allowed him to explore the worlds, as well as introduce him to a multitude of people. Of course, the life of a courier was quite solitary, and he found himself with few close friends outside his own summoned spirits and fellow couriers.

After a few years in the courier service, Alan found himself in Meduzart, where he came across the founding branch of the Adventurer's Guild. Hiring a few guildsmen to aid him on a rather risky delivery, Alan found himself enjoying the company and reliability of the guildsmen he had hired. Eventually his run with the courier service ground to a halt as the head of the courier service was caught stealing funds and selling secret information and was thus disbanded.

Without a job, Alan eventually found himself back in Meduzart, where the same guildsmen he hired eventually helped him find his way into the guild. Joining up with one of Meduzart's premier bands, The Red Hawks, Alan was given the nickname "Kite", based on one of the many Birds of Prey. (The Serpentines are based in the city of Melanhart, and are considered the Red Hawks' rivals, and the Drunken Bards are a really well known band within Meduzart, as are the Errant Knights)

Skills and Abilities:

Well rounded - While not particularly amazing at any unique skill, Alan is fairly average in most aspects. He is well rounded and picks up on skills with moderate ease.

Twin Firearm Fighting - Alan's combat style mainly revolves around the use of his pistols in combat. While able to wield both at once, he usually only uses one at a time.

Dexterous - While well rounded, Alan leans on the side of speed and dexterity over physical fortitude and size. He is relatively quick and nimble.

Competent Flying - As a part of the Red Hawks, being able to fly is mandatory, Alan is a talented pilot, and is able to fly smallships with little difficulty. He has yet to pilot a full sized Airship.

Gear:

Alan carries a pair of revolvers, a silver-plated snub nosed revolver (silver colored metal, not actually silver) in a compact rear holster for a quick draw with his left hand. His second revolver is a gold-plated (again gold colored metal) long barreled revolver in a crossdraw holster under his left arm, for a quick draw with his right hand. Each revolver is decal-ed with religious insignias of the opposite metal on it (Gold revolver has silver insignias, silver revolver has gold insignias). His signature red jacket is made of tough leather and fabric, and was woven with enchantments to resist damage. The jacket was further enchanted by his spirit to resist fire.

Spirits:

Seru

Name: Seru
Age: 800


Skills and Abilities:
A Spirit of fire, Seru herself commands considerable control over the element of fire, and her red blade burns whatever it comes into contact with. Seru is also able of shifting into the form of a large, white wolf, its fur perpetually warm and burning. To her summoner, Seru grants the ability to manipulate fire.

Pact: Originally bound to Alan through a pact with his father, Seru underwent a new Pact with Alan when he became of age. The terms of the pact is that Seru continue serving Alan in return for his offering of the sword that Seru now possess. The sword itself was an Ancient Zehist Artifact from New Eden that Alan 'liberated' when he returned to the city for a short while.

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Possible Enemies

The Varisie Riflemen make up the core of the Varisie armed forces, they are found in all aspects of the Varisie military, land and air. They are commonly fielded with heavy clockwork armor and high-powered steam rifles. Several veteran riflemen use 4-round magazines, and officers favor the use of revolver-melee weapons. Varisie Riflemen occasionally carry the fearsome revolving musket.


The Inquisitors make up the strong arm of the Church of Aer. The Church of Aer strongly disapproves of the use of summoning spirits, and requires all Summoners to register themselves into the Church's Summoner Registry, where they must indicate the amount and types of Spirits they control, and agree to being monitored. The Church employs Inquisitors to hunt down rogue summoners and summoners who they believe are a threat to mankind and the church. Ironically, all Inquisitors are summoners of considerable talent, making them fearsome enemies. Along with summoned spirits, Inquisitors use scaled down, specialized steam rifles and chain-bladed sabers. They are recognized by their black garb and brass masks, as well as their baldric and red arm bands bearing the mark of the church. Their armor and mask are commonly enchanted and are highly resistant to both firearms and melee weapons.

[Rtron]

I have arrived to claim my place both as player and as Co-GM!

*Bursts into Thread*

[Terminal]

Kuro

Kuro said "Death is always taking life from the living for nothing. I would prefer to employ death and get something back in trade, than to be waylaid by it."

Age: 33
Archtype: Ruthless Tactician

Guild Band - The Derecho Riders

The Derecho Riders are the grim and gritty bunch of the Guild, known for their cunning and resourcefulness. The band is filled with war veterans, assassins, blackguards, and highwaymen - they are the frowned upon cravens of the guild. Battle-hardened, experienced, and useful - but they carry a degree of depravity not seen in other bands.

Backstory

Kuro was born in the Western City-States with a Western mother and a Kusagi father, who worked as an engineer for a mercantile settlement. Even three decades past, none of the regional religions got along. When Kuro was eight, his father and the entire settlement were pressed as war-laborers by Aerist crusaders - though his father had hoped for Kuro to follow in his footsteps, the boy's education in engineering was limited under duress to the production of firearms, ammunition, and weaponry. He toiled as an apprentice for four years, before being taken when he turned twelve to fight for the Aerist gospel. He was given rudimentary training with a spear and steam rifle by crusaders while being instilled by the wisdom and knowledge of their teachings, though ultimately they proved insufficient to prevent the utter defeat of the crusaders at the hands of the Chrastolist townhood they had attempted to sack. Kuro was spared however, and immediately recruited into the town militia. He was further training with the same steam rifle he had been given by the Aerists, and was then chastised and reeducated 'correctly' to acknowledge the truths of Chrastolism. The prayers of the town proved insufficient protection against the plague, however, and Kuro then found himself stranded on the road. He spent his entire adolescence as a camp follower and freerider, tagging along in the wake of armies and militant bands in order to earn board and shelter. He was trained to wield almost every weapon under the sun, received education from nearly every obscure religious order and sect, and was forced to do all manner of depraved acts in order to be accepted and survive.

As a young man of 19, Kuro had earned a reputation amongst freeriders throughout the western city-states. Multi-talented, and so desperate that he would work for bread and water. While this initially earned him steadier work, he was eventually pronounced a turncloak - having fought for literally every single army and band that had fought in a major skirmish for the past seven years. Shunned and threatened by every freerider group he attempted to join, Kuro was forced to resort to banditry. He managed to survive for two years, robbing others only for enough to survive - which spared him the infamy of other highwaymen, allowing him to dwell amongst townships and villages without fear of grisly execution. When he turned 22, Kuro joined up with a band of highway cutthroats; using his experience he quickly found himself looked up to and established as their leader. Within another year, the cutthroats had been elevated into a professional skirmisher force, and Kuro made his living for the next six years attacking large merchant convoys and caravans in highly organized and carefully prepared ambuscades.

Kuro gained significant notoriety amongst the city-states during this time. Everywhere, freeriders, mercenaries, crusaders, guards, and even the vaunted Adventurer's Guild scoured the region for any trace of him and his crew of robbers - but his group remained elusive due to his careful planning and movements across the countryside. However, eventually he angered too many of the wrong people, and drew the attention of the Derecho Riders from the Adventurer's guild, rather than one of their more preeminent bands. His gang of robbers was quickly tracked down and ruthlessly worn down by attrition, beaten at their own game by the very best scoundrels in the West. Having been impressed by Kuro's tenacity and resistance to their own efforts though, the Riders offered Kuro either membership in the adventurer's guild and a chance at reformation and redemption for his life of depravity, or immediate, unceremonious live burial.

Kuro has been a member of the Derecho Riders ever since, having risen in the five years since his joining to become one of their most promising junior lieutenants. His diverse skills and hardened temperament earned him many friends over those short years, and he is possessed of some renown within the Derecho Riders for his tenacity and guile.

Skills and Abilities

Tactical Guile: Kuro is experienced in leading soldiers and warriors into combat, making the best possible use of their skills, equipment, positioning, and maneuverability. This skill is limited largely to relatively small groups - Kuro is most effective when leading ambushes, guerrilla strikes, or planning for asymmetrical battles.

Scales of War: Kuro has built his career upon entirely unfair, one-sided fights stacked grossly in his own favor. Kuro uses and does whatever works, questionable ethics and honor be damned - his idea of a 'fair fight' is one where he grinds the enemy into dust effortlessly, and he goes out of his way to stack the deck in his favor with any and every sort of underhanded tactic and ploy. Anything is acceptable, in order to secure victory.

Materiel Guru: Kuro is familiar with the construction and design of a large number of modern weapons. He can clean, disassemble, reassemble, maintain, and even build nearly any kind of steam, black powder, or mechanical weapon intended for use by infantry (pistols, rifles, etc).

Silent Struggle: Kuro is well aware of the value of stealth upon the battlefield. He can walk and run silently, and knows how to make good use of his surroundings for concealment purposes.

Ineffable Grace: More than a decade and a half of battlefield expertise has gifted Kuro with a general, heightened awareness of his surroundings. His vision and hearing are much sharper than average, and he has an uncanny sense that he can use to detect unseen foes and threats.

Equipment

At any time, Kuro carries anywhere between four and twelve revolvers, holstered inside specially made holsters sewn into the inside of his coat. Each pistol tends to vary and design, and never stays with him longer than a few skirmishes, as Kuro is always dismantling, discarding, assembling, and 'procuring' pistols between fights. He also habitually carries three to four billow canisters (filled with condensed steam, released slowly in order to create heavy fog), two black powder grenades, three knives, a pair of brass knuckles (actually steel) and two lighters. All of Kuro's equipment is kept in specially made holsters or bandoleer pouches made to keep items secure and reduce the noise they make when Kuro moves. Kuro wears a long black overcoat with numerous sewn-in holsters and a large number of interior pockets. Finally, he wears thick, tied ringmail curiass and leggings underneath his clothes. They individual chains are strong enough to deflect a bullet, although they would likely still break from the impact, and with gaps between each ring. However, the mail provides superior protection against most slashing and piercing melee weapons while remaining extremely lightweight.

[Rtron]

One character per.

[vietmyke]

Terminal said
Interested.Are we permitted to create more than one character, or when you imposed the 'five player' limit, were you referring to characters rather than posters?

Its kind of both. We're only admitting up to 5 posters, and as Rtron says, only one character per person.

[Terminal]

Noted. Character profile under construction, expect it shortly.

[vietmyke]

My own character and his spirit has been added to the opening post for those needing an example/idea of how to write their character.

[Nib]

I'd like to express my interest. Would it be possible to have been or currently be an Air Pirate?

[Rtron]

Former probably, current, eh maybe. The Guild might not want the trouble an Air pirate living in their building might cause. My CS: Appearance: [hider=Face] [img=http://static1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130923064702/borderlands/images/1/17/BL2-Axton-Head-Grizzled_Veteran.png][/hider] Typically, Eli wears light steamplate armor (strong enough to block a low caliber bullet or two, and a blade between the ribs, but light enough to allow him movement), underneath a leather duster. Both the armor and duster look worse for wear, the armor only cleaned enough to look functional and the duster never really cleaned unless it reeks badly. He wears black gloves. They are clearly well made and are the nicest thing he owns, obviously well kept and cared for. An emblem used to be on the palms of both, but had been ripped out and the resulting hole obviously repaired. One can see the marks where this had been done. He wears metal shod boots, with steel toes, as was favored by the Varisie Empire’s soldiers once upon a time. Like everything except himself, his weapons, and his gloves, they are unkempt. The most unclean of his gear, they are caked with mud and filth and who knows what else. Name: Eli Rondell. Age: 33 Guild Band: N/A. Eli prefers to work alone. Backstory: Power comes at a cost. Eli knows that better than most. Before he even came to the Western City-States, Eli was born into the Varisie Empire to a mother and father who had both served in the army. There wasn’t really any choice in the matter of his career. He was going to follow in their footsteps, and he was going to serve the Empire to the best of his ability. It was not only his duty, but also his destiny. His parents trained him as much as they could before he joined, wanting to have him as spend as little time as possible learning and as much time as possible serving. When it was revealed he had a talent for subduing spirits( by the time the officers found out he had several simple spirits in pacts with him, albeit the pacts were shaky and the spirits were just waiting for the perfect opportunity to kill him), he was immediately put in their training program for Summoners and put into the registered list of summoners the Church of Aer demands every nation possesses. After a few years of learning how to word his pacts, how to work in unison with spirits, and how to better wield magic, Eli was sent into the Aest Wetlands with his squad of summoners(9 people in total, counting Eli). They had only one order. Get a Gargantuan spirit for the Empire. If they came across any other spirit, it was up to them what to do. That was how Eli got Eredan, and soon after, Shreckt. It was an experience he’ll never forget. Magical artifacts that would have been sold for thousands of coins in the Empire were traded for things that everyone in the Empire could gather. What was rare and powerful to the Varisie was common enough to the people of the Aest Wetlands. Spirits were seen daily, though few were interested in entering a pact. Eventually Eli and his squad found a local who claimed to know the location of a Gargantuan spirit. In return for some of the magical artifacts they had and some help along his farm, the local lead them to the cave where the Gargantuan resided. However, he flatly refused to go into the cave, claiming that all who went in died. Undeterred, Eli and his companions entered the cave. Ragnarok was waiting for them. He attacked without warning and without mercy. Luckily for them, they all had humanoid and simple spirits with them, and were able to avoid being killed in the battle, though all were injured in some way. By the time the battle ended and Ragnarok was subdued and ready to make a pact with, everyone but Eli paused to catch their breath. Eli didn’t. Eli was thinking about what was to come next. The Gargantuan would demand a blood pact, and his other companions weren’t strong enough to make the necessary decisions. Before they could react, he summoned Eredan and Shreckt and killed them. By their spilt blood he made his pact with Ragnarok(using the same one he used with the other spirits). Every year he would give 8 humans to Ragnarok. The spirit agreed, and Eli set out to leave the Wetlands. Due to Ragnarok’s constant needling, however, what he had done finally got to and broke Eli. He had killed his friends, murdered them in cold blood, all for power. He killed them for Ragnaroks unrelenting voice in his head, constantly stirring his guilt. Suicide was a tempting option, as he headed steadily for home. But he couldn’t bring himself to do it. He was a soldier and he would die in a battle. But he wouldn’t return to the Empire. They would hang him for his crime, and probably take and use Ragnarok for even worse things. No. He’d join this ‘Adventurer’s Guild’ he had heard so much about. Maybe he could find a death in battle there. That was 5 years ago. Or at least, it will be soon. Eli still hasn’t died, though he’s gained a reputation in the Guild for taking the most dangerous jobs they could find. As of late, he’s gone into Varisie land repeatedly. So, when the children came bursting in through the doors, more than a few people looked at him, and none were surprised when he joined. Skills and Abilities: Life time soldier: For Eli, becoming a soldier wasn’t a choice. It was his fate. He’s been fighting as long as he can remember. As a result, he has become fairly good at the art of killing. Be it with gun, blade, or whatever happens to be at hand. Varisie Summoner: The Varisie train their summoners well, and Eli was one of them. He’s skilled at subduing spirits, and using them in combat. Equipment: -A steam rifle powerful enough to go through light armor, but only denting anything higher. Has 4 clip magazines. -Armor stated in appearance -Two steam revolvers, located in each boot -A simple short sword. Spirits: (Note: Eli has used the simple spirits on pretty much every mission he’s been on. Everyone knows he has them. The humanoids are much rarer, but a few people know he has them. No one knows of Ragnarok’s existence.) Simple [hider=Lumin] [img=http://community.riftgame.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Spirit_Fire_Greater_01.jpg] Pact details: In return for a constantly filled pipe, Lumin agreed to a complicated pact that basically assured he wouldn’t do anything to harm or kill Eli or his allies, and do everything in his power to ensure they weren’t killed or injured. Age: 700. Lumin has been around long enough to learn the value of a good smoke, as he constantly informs Eli. Skills and abilities: Lumin can throw a fireball, or hold it for a while. He has given this ability to Eli.[/hider] [hider=Zaz] [img=http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/268/b/c/raijuu_2_by_lightning_spirit-d4aw17a.jpg] Pact details: In return for a constantly electrically charged trinket, Zaz agreed to a complicated pact that basically assured he wouldn’t do anything to harm or kill Eli or his allies, and do everything in his power to ensure they weren’t killed or injured. Age: Unknown. Eli was never able to get a number from the pictures shown. Skills and abilities: Zaz can throw a lighting bolt or hold it for a while. She has given this ability to Eli.[/hider] [hider=Kal] [img=http://www.savlenstudios.com/products/61/images/344/hawksbill_sea_turtle_art__12333.1405448250.1280.1280.jpg?c=2] Pact Details: In return for a shiny rock Kal agreed to a complicated pact that basically assured he wouldn’t do anything to harm or kill Eli or his allies, and do everything in his power to ensure they weren’t killed or injured. Age: Unknown. Eli could never get a number from the pictures Kal shows. Skills and abilities: Kal can create shields for a brief amount of time, of varying sizes. Just long enough to block an attack or two, if he pushes it. He granted this ability to Eli as well. [/hider] [hider=Saruk] [img= http://www.natureinmetal.com/bmz_cache/3/3936ce8702d2e568a27025629b96fd73.image.200x301.JPG] Pact Details: In return for an ever changing puzzle box, Saruk agreed to a complicated pact that basically assured he wouldn’t do anything to harm or kill Eli or his allies, and do everything in his power to ensure they weren’t killed or injured. Age: 400. Being an unusually intelligent simple spirit, Saruk was able to tell Eli his age. Skills and abilities: Saruk can increase the sharpness or piercing power of any single weapon or bullet. He gave Eli this power. [/hider] Humanoid [hider=Atra] [img=http://www.wallpaperup.com/uploads/wallpapers/2013/01/08/28309/a8366539c8ad7fc5829ca22df3e1f4c7.jpg] Pact details: Atra’s pact is rather…unique. Atra was picked up after Eli gained Ragnarok. She made him an offer. She would agree to all of his terms(as with all other spirits), and grant him powers, in return for being able to feed off of his fear, guilt, and despair. Eli agreed. Age: 1000. Atra has been feeding off of the despair of humanity for quite a while. Skills and abilities: Atra can manipulate the very emotions she feeds off of, the emotions physically manifesting as the tentacles on her body (these tentacles can be made into armor, weapons, etc. Their properties changing on how much of them there are and what they’re being used for) She exudes an aura of despair, weakening the will of any and all around her(except for Eli, because she feeds on his despair). She gave Eli the ability to manipulate his guilt and desire for death(in the same way she does) [/hider] [hider=Eredan] [img=http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2013/079/1/f/wind_warrior_by_razwit-d5yqnfc.jpg] Pact details: In return for a box that could unleash hurricane force winds, Eredan agreed to a complicated pact that basically assured he wouldn’t do anything to harm or kill Eli or his allies, and do everything in his power to ensure they weren’t killed or injured. Age: 700 Skills and abilities: Eredan has the ability to solidify air, primarily using it to create blades of wind to slash opponents(with his sword) or compressed balls of air for concussive attacks(with his mace). Eredan gave this ability to Eli.[/hider] [hider=Shreckt] [img=http://www.flash-screen.com/free-wallpaper/uploads/201207/icos/fantasy-warrior-girl-facebook-timeline-cover-photo-06.jpg] Pact Details: In return for a scroll that opens to a new story of her ‘homeland’ each time it’s opened, Shreckt agreed to a complicated pact that basically assured she wouldn’t do anything to harm or kill Eli or his allies, and do everything in her power to ensure they weren’t killed or injured. Age: 500. Skills and abilities: Shreckt can manipulate her own blood, and blood that is outside a person’s body. She granted Eli the ability to manipulate his own blood. [/hider] Gargantuan [hider=Ragnarok] [img=http://th01.deviantart.net/fs34/PRE/f/2008/308/b/f/Anima__Earth_Elemental_boss_by_Wen_M.jpg] Pact details can be read in Eli’s backstory. Age: Unknown. He claims to have been alive before mankind learned how to dominate spirits. Skills and abilities: Ragnarok is a powerful earth Gargantuan, capable of both finesse earth magic and brute force destruction. He can manipulate his own form to suit the situation, in addition to any and all earth or things from the earth (metals, gems, etc) around him. Except for the items of earth tampered with by humans (I.E He won't be able to crush people in their armor, or break swords/guns, or stop bullets.) To Eli he grants this same power(except for the ‘manipulate his own form’ bit, and with the same limitation)[/hider] Misc. Details: -Eli has a soft spot for children. -While the rest of his equipment looks like a mess, just kept barely clean enough to function, his gloves and weapons are almost religiously taken care of.

[Terminal]

Character profile is up - check the third post.

[Wind Wild]

I believe Rtron's got me hooked. I'll try to come up with a character today.

So just a question - are we playing a human and a spirit or a human OR a spirit?

[Squrmy]

I'm interested in this. I think there's still room, if I can count?

Anywho, I'll get to work on a character sheet over the next few hours. Should be up today or tomorrow if there's still room. :)

[PlantEater]

Interested, will work on a CS soon.

[Squrmy]

Here's my sheet. It's still a bit of a work in progress (as I've yet to give him any Spirits, or decide if indeed he will have any), and I need to add some more background in about what he does once a part of the Adventurers' Guild - which I was hoping I could work out with people, so we could build some already-existing relationships prior to the beginning of the roleplay. :) I kinda want him to have been on an airship for a few years, so if I could work that in with someone it'd be awesome!

Jackson Harrowstone

Appearance:

Jax stands at an average height of 5’10”, with olive skin and a relatively smooth complexion. The man’s build is athletic, similar to that of a runner’s: with narrow shoulders and a developed (although wiry) musculature. There’s not a pinch of unnecessary fat upon his form, and it’s clear from his appearance that he makes an effort to keep himself in peak physical condition.

His eyes are blue and bright with intelligence (with a slightly oriental look to them), and his shoulder length hair of a similar colour to that of a raven’s feathers is almost always slicked back with the use of a colourless, odourless, custom-made wax - reaching to the nape of his neck when styled in this way.

Jackson usually dresses in flexible or free-flowing trousers of some kind (such as riding breeches or cotton leggings), and will always have a pair of hardy work boots covering his feet. His shirts change daily, but are usually long-sleeved. He will also often wear a clearly worn (but well made) long-sleeved leather jacket over the top of whatever shirt he’s wearing, and it’s not uncommon to see a coloured handkerchief of some kind tied round his neck (doubling as a mask, should he need one).

Name: Jackson “Jax” Harrowstone
Age: 32
Guild Band: N/A. (I’ll decide upon this once I’ve had a chance to chat to other people and arrange pre-existing character relationships).
Archetype: Reckless Gambler/Lucky Bastard
Backstory: Jackson Harrowstone was born a bastard - the product of a travelling Kusagi Merchant’s casual encounter with his mother; an almost coinless seventeen year old woman who made what little she could for herself in one of the Western City-State’s many backalley brothels.

His mother’s coworkers had advised that she drink a large amount of tansy tea as soon as she had realised that she was pregnant, but she ignored them - allowing the baby that grew inside her a chance at life that was rarely given to those conceived in similar circumstances. This was the first in a streak of good luck that would follow Jackson in throughout his life.

Jax’s childhood was nowhere near as easy or carefree as most, and anyone of a more privileged station who heard of the circumstances of his early years would proclaim, appalled, that he had been robbed of it. This, however, was not the case: although his childhood was not conventional, or spent wrapped up in cotton wool, it was not stolen.

He never knew his father, but his mother clearly loved him - and as the only child within the four walls of the brothel where his mother lived and worked, he was lavished with a neverending stream of affection and attention from the day he was born. Despite this, he still had to earn his keep (or so said the shady ‘merchant’ who owned the unlicensed back alley whorehouse) - and, from almost the very day he could properly walk (and barely talk), Jackson Harrowstone was put to work about the gritty establishment where his mother was employed. At first, he cleaned - but, by the time he was three and a half, Jax had been taught how to sneak about and thieve, and was stealing from the clients of the establishment while they fucked one of his numerous ‘aunts’.

He was barely ever caught, (as the men who were being robbed were often too preoccupied with other, more carnal pursuits), but even when he was no real harm ever came to him. The matron of the brothel would apologise, with a fabricated smile, giving the toddler a cuff to the back of the head for “being so daring”: then, when the client had left, berated Jax for being caught, and ordered him to practice.

The rest of Jackson’s childhood was spent in this way - cleaning and stealing, and lavishing in the affections of his extended, non-blood related family. It was not until he was older (about eleven or twelve) and began venturing out into the wider world beyond the only four walls that he had ever known that he realised that he was.. different.

His skin colour was different to the majority of those he saw in the streets, as were his eyes - and he received odd looks from those he did not know who walked past him while he was out on errands, and the words “bastard” and “outcast” were muttered frequently in his direction; words which cut him like a knife once he understood what they meant, but that he would readily embrace in his adulthood.

By the time he was fourteen, Jax was a little bit too big to continue earning his keep by pickpocketing his mother’s and aunts’ clients: he could no longer sneak around in such a small space without being detected on a regular basis. Instead, the men who owned the brothel (whom Jax never learned the names of, and had only seen a few times in his life) decided that he would help repay his and his mothers’ debt through conning and outright robbery - or, so he was told, before being taken from his mother’s arms by a pair of mean-looking thugs, and dragged, thrashing, through the doors of the dirty brothel which had been the only home he had ever known.

He was given a tiny room in a dirty inn, and informed that he would be allowed to see his mother once a month if and only if he made enough money to satisfy his employers. Then, the door was slammed and he was left alone until morning. When his door next opened, it revealed a grizzled middle-aged man with calloused fingers and kind, smiling eyes. He shut the door behind him, and sat down on the end of Jax’s tiny bed - pulling a deck of cards out of his top pocket.

And so began Jackson’s education in card magic, gambling, and con artistry. He spent the next few years of his life practicing and performing the tricks and routines he was taught, conning innocent people out of their hard-earned coin with the skill of a seasoned swindler: and feeling no remorse for doing so because of the slurs that had been muttered in his direction from the very day he had first stepped foot outside his mother’s brothel. He earned his employers a great deal of money, and was happy to part with the majority of it so long as he could continue to see his mother.

However, once his mother died (when Jackson was seventeen), after a few more months of working and also dealing with his grief, he realised that he no longer wanted to work for somebody else’s gain.

One day in the middle of his seventeenth year, he arrived on the doorstep of the Adventurers’ Guild Headquarters in his City-State, and, once he was let inside, proceeded to con the seasoned mercs and sellswords out of their hard-earned coin. Then, grinning, he pulled out a dagger and slammed it down in the middle of the table - proposing his intention to join them. He was accepted into the Adventurers’ Guild, and never looked back to the gritty side street where he had been born and raised.

Skills and Abilities

Speed/Stealth/Flexibility - Jackson spent much of his childhood sneaking about his mother’s brothel and moving through small spaces, and did so with relative speed and ease. He also had to do a fair bit of running throughout his teenage years, when he conned the wrong person - and became adept at quickly climbing onto rooftops in order to escape pursuit. He can still move with stealth when necessary, and outrun most people. He’s also quite skilled in the art of rooftop climbing.

Sleight of Hand - As he’s been using card tricks and other games to con people out of their hard-earned coin for many years, Jackson is incredibly good with his hands. This also doesn’t just apply to the speed with which he can shuffle a deck of cards. He can throw knives with blurring speed and a fair degree of accuracy, and is able to hold his own in a fistfight.

Intelligence - Jackson’s upbringing has shaped him into quite a shrewd man, although he may appear impulsive. He (usually) thinks things through before he does them, and is often a source of original ideas.

Charisma - Jax has a way with people, and whether it be through flashing a smile or dropping a witty pick-up line, he’s usually able to chat his way out of many a sticky situation.

Equipment

Throwing Knives - Jax carries a number of well-balanced throwing knives of a high level of craftsmanship upon his person at all times, which can usually be seen hanging from hooks on his sturdy leather belt.

Shortsword Revolver Blade - Perhaps Jax’s most prized possession is a custom-made revolver blade, with a significantly shorter blade than most - to comply with his more close-range, quick-moving fighting style. The weapon’s ability to fire bullets is extremely helpful, and has saved Jackson’s life on more than a few occasions - by helping to allow him to get some distance between himself and large numbers of unexpected enemy reinforcements. It, also, hangs from his belt - although it rests within a sheath made from hardened leather.

[vietmyke]

Wind Wild said
I believe Rtron's got me hooked. I'll try to come up with a character today.So just a question - are we playing a human and a spirit or a human OR a spirit?

If you're a human character, you can have control of a humanoid spirit if you wish. If you want to play as only a spirit, its a bit more difficult because you have to find someone to partner up with, but its also allowed- and a potentially interesting way to go about things.

If enough people want to play as spirits, but don't have enough partner, I'd be happy to ditch my character's own spirit for a player controlled spirit.

[Wind Wild]

Or maybe some players can play each other's spirits/humans, just an idea. :3 I'm still trying to decide what kind of character I want but I think I'm getting closer. /concept art always helps.

[Dead Cruiser]

This looks up my alley. Trying to decide if I want to play a "kid with the leash"-esque young mage with a Gargantuan spirit, or a wandering Kusagi mercenary.

[Nib]

I'll try to have a sheet up by tomorrow.

[vietmyke]

Wind Wild said
Or maybe some players can play each other's spirits/humans, just an idea. :3

Thats... what I was implying...

Dead Cruiser said
This looks up my alley. Trying to decide if I want to play a "kid with the leash"-esque young mage with a Gargantuan spirit, or a wandering Kusagi mercenary.

Thats debatable. It depends on how well you can pull off the the character... Its highly unlikely a child is going to have the power/wit/ability to control a Gargantuan- much less start a pact with one. Especially since the Gargantuans require blood pacts.

So unless you murdered your whole family as a sacrifice to a Gargantuan....

[Terminal]

vietmyke said
Thats... what I was implying...Thats debatable. It depends on how well you can pull off the the character... Its highly unlikely a child is going to have the power/wit/ability to control a Gargantuan- much less start a pact with one. Especially since the Gargantuans require blood pacts. So unless you murdered your whole family as a sacrifice to a Gargantuan....

Or somebody murdered their family to bind the gargantuan to the child - I imagine controlling a summon by proxy has certain advantages and disadvantages.