[OOC] Legends of Auriga

[OneEyedChurro]

Story

Auriga. Our dying star. Our fading cradle. Our moribund haven. Ages ago our planet Auriga was subjected to a civil war among the Endless, an ancient and mysterious civilization who are also said to be the earliest form of intelligent life. Much can be told about the Endless- their advanced technologies, their marvelous societies, and especially the uncountable shards that their nation eventually broke into. The history of the Endless is glorious but tragic- though they were able to master the secrets of space and time, the stars, and life, they were unable to comprehend their own internal strife. All that remains of them now are strange and disjointed traces in the form of seeds or observatories or rock formations or experiments or cities. The civil war on Auriga devastated the planet, and the few survivors hid underground or wherever they could for so long that no one could recall when the cataclysm really occurred. When the various tribes emerged from hiding a millenia ago and began to re-colonize the planet once more, all seemed to have recovered. Factions were founded, wars were fought, and civilization slowly found its way back to Auriga. However- it has been observed by many that the planet has been hosting longer and harsher seasons as the years pass- a fact that has led to a single, startling discovery- we live on a dying planet. There is a very loose and nervous peace among the major races and kingdoms of Auriga now (save for the carrion-like Necrophages, who seem ever interested in eternal conflict, and the scheming Cultists, who seek only to further their own agenda) to try and engineer a plan to save their home. It was decided that while practical solutions would be debated upon a team of representatives would look to study the Endless- this all-star team of explorers, warriors, scholars, and politicians was dubbed the Tribunal, and contained a representative from each of the major factions whom have created the loose peace: the Vaulters, Wild Walkers, Broken Lords, Roving Mages, Roving Clans, and Drakken. You are one of the six members of the Tribunal, representing your loyalties and your faction's ideals. Will you set aside your own nation's beliefs for the good of Auriga? Will the Tribunal be able to set aside their differences to work together? Can Auriga- your home, be saved?

Dust

"Dust" is the lifeblood of Auriga- a creation of the highly advanced race, the Endless, who existed and traversed the stars tens of thousands of years before our story begins. They had developed technology that was so advanced that they were able to upload their minds and consciousness into computers, thus gaining immortality. The Endless had thus created an infrastructure of nanobots and nano-computers to collectively maintain society. Some used these infinitesimally small machines to maintain their biological bodies while others used these nano-elements- known as "Dust"- as virtual bodies once they uploaded themselves. While individual "grains" of Dust had very limited computing power, the ability to talk and network were present, and as a result, "clouds" of Dust were able and available to form extremely complex systems. However, the presence of Dust sparked a debate among the Endless, which ultimately led to the civil war and the Empire's subsequent demise- one facet of society wished to used Dust to maintain their physical bodies and for DNA replication, while the others sought to simply upload themselves into Dust eternally. The arguments between these two sides (The "Concretes" and "Virtuals", respectively) led to the destruction of the Endless, and ultimately, the collective virtual consciousness present in Dust. The Endless had come to be so reliant on Dust that their society had become nearly symbiotic between lifeforms and Dust- something that remains true of Dust today. While they've-for the most part- lost the ability to understand and create Dust, most of the species of Auriga have been exposed to the vast quantities of it for so long that many-if not all- have developed a symbiotic relationship with it. Though the Endless consciousness is mostly gone, in large enough quantities it can still be used to manipulate both energy and the physical world, though doing such requires talent and training (See: Ardent Mages). This is the observable "magic" that the denizens of Auriga have grown to know and accept. However, because it is so valuable and easy to find (In a galaxy inundated in the ruins of the Endless) Dust has also become the internationally accepted currency, like gold during the Age of Exploration. It is the one thing that all nations, regardless of other predispositions, always want more of.

Factions

Note: So for this RP I am looking for one representative for each faction (except the Necrophages and Cultists)- and since your character would have to have been chosen to represent and speak for the entirety of the nation they probably would have had to agree, above all else, that you embody your nation's beliefs and values. As such, I ask that all characters believe- at least at the beginning, while the Tribunal is in its infancy- that they and their nation have what it takes to save Auriga. That's what I want the RP to be about- a group of vastly differing beliefs struggling to work together for the good of their own planet and reacting to the changing political landscape around them. So onto the factions:

Factions

Wild Walkers

- Our planet is changing, and we must change with it. We must learn to adapt. The Wild Walkers started as simple elves living in the forests of western Auriga, and their gift with Dust was to form rocks and trees into great monuments and buildings. This process was called the Sharing, and not only was it the pinnacle of their craftsmanship, but it allowed one to feel and experience the untamed and wild energy of their chosen totem animal. An elf who Shared often, however, carried the risk of having the spirit of the beast burst like a violent flame- losing control of their bodies and minds during moments of stress. However, in spite of this, many Elves sought to bind themselves to increasingly savage beasts in order to feel Sharings of a greater intensity. Stuck between losing their populace to the wild spirits of nature and the civilization of their towers, the Elves forswore the Sharing, renamed themselves the Wild Walkers, and set out to build their towers and monuments away from their darker history. Only time will tell if the Sharing still beckons.

Broken Lords

- Survival is not the same as life. What is more important- our honor, or our bodies? The Broken Lords were once the Lords of the Amber Plains, located in central Auriga. They were an aristocratic society and believed in such things as virtue, honor, and justice. To protect the weak, to champion what is just- these were the ideals by which these noble warriors lived. And yet now they live merely as spiritual beings of energy wrapped in dust-enhanced armor- for their race was fading when it discovered a deadly secret; by consuming the lifeforces-the Dust- of a sentient being they could extend their own lifespan. They now appear to merely be incorporeal energy living in suits of armor that sustain them. These rites of consumption are, obviously, a betrayal of their principles and their history. As such, it has always been a goal for the Broken Lords to develop magic to sustain themselves and their Dust-fueled armor without taking another beings life. But the question remains, and has haunted their thoughts: Even if a cure was found, would they want to give up such a powerful gift? Their morals beg "yes", but their hearts are much less clear.

Vaulters

- Courage and knowledge will drive us- we must look towards a better future of invention and innovation. This is a time of great change for the Vaulters. For centuries they lived as loosely confederated clans in the labyrinths and tunnels that littered the subsurface of Auriga. Their skills at mining and crafting had made them comfortable, and their study of ancient artifacts were beginning to unlock the secrets of Auriga's past. Though their own origins are steeped in legends and myth, they had found solidarity and peace in the deeper reaches of the planet. However, an event called the Great Quake shook their very foundations- cracking their walls and crumbling their roads, even entire cities were not pardoned. As their towns fell around them the Vaulters fled to the surface- taking with them technological relics and artifacts that their ancestors had left behind that the Great Quake revealed. As a nation used to tradition and foreign to such change, the surface is a frightening place. Torn between the secrets of the planet, their traditions, and their need to survive, the Vaulters have struggled, but their courage and quest for knowledge will not allow them to fade or surrender.

Drakken

- History will repeat itself- looking to the past is the only way to save our planet. A very old southern faction that are few in number but exceedingly powerful, the Drakken have been around since the cataclysmic civil war that brought life on Auriga to its knees. As such, the Drakken do not seek war, but rather relationships, information, and knowledge. Histories, ruins, and artifacts are highly prized among the Drakken while wealth, military power, and technology are viewed as insignificant. The impending doom of the planet has not escaped the attention of those who know Auriga's rhythms better than any other, however, and they understand that should another cataclysm come that their first duty is to preserve what the Endless left behind, so that one day, maybe in a hundred years, maybe a hundred thousand, their great teachers' creations will still endure.

Ardent Mages

- Embrace Auriga's pain to embrace power. We will make agony our servant. A northern faction of primarily mages and sorcerers, their primary power source comes from pain and anger. Having survived a long history of starvation and slaughter at the hands of the Necrophages, the powers that the Ardent Mages discovered- and that let them survive- are based on pain, Dust magic, and rage. Though they control great powers, they pay a terrible price to do so. To manipulate the powers of Dust, an Ardent Mage must dissociate mind from body. To do this they have developed elaborate pain rituals, for the more they are able to withstand agony and ignore discomfort the deeper their relationship with Dust becomes. Pain has become such a pinnacle of their society that even their children are taught at a young age to withstand it. Stoicism is seen as important as intelligence, and one's tolerance of pain is their way of measuring an individual's worth- be it an Ardent Mage or a stranger.

Roving Clans

- Commerce and negotiation are what will drive Auriga to stay livable. Traders, explorers, and adventurers, the Roving Clans are nomadic and mercantile. They are seeped to far into trade that hardly a transaction happens in Auriga that the Roving Clans somehow don't get a cut of. Wherever the great beasts of burden the clans built their cities upon traverse, commerce blooms, and the strange and wondrous goods from the strange and wondrous peoples of Auriga are traded. In war they should not be underestimated, however, as their rapid, mounted warriors give them an advantage in speed and make them frustrating targets. Even their cities can move, built on the back of the humongous Setseke Scarabs- a feat matched by no other faction. The Roving Clans bring sophistication-and manipulation- to the peoples of Auriga.

The Cultists of the Eternal End

- Our will shall be carried out, no matter the cost. The Cultists are led by two beings that are remnants of the Endless- the Queen, seated in her invulnerable throne in the Cultist's single, capital city, and the Unspoken, a wandering and perhaps insane being of great power. Left alone on their planet for countless millenia, the Cultists have sworn to destroy every trace of their former existence on Auriga- so believes the Queen that she will save her planet. The Queen's power from the Invulnerable throne is projected across Auriga through conversion and proselytization of lesser tribes when the heroes and faithful servants of the Cult convince them. Regardless to whom they may have previously sworn allegiance, when a tribe joins the Cultists, it does so until its death. Because of this, the Cult has been met with much distrust, though they claim their intentions are for the good of Auriga, and they have been barred from the Tribunal, or so they'd have you believe.

Necrophages

- Auriga is built for survivors- we will consume Auriga and return to our former power. The northern-most nation, being kept at bay by the Ardent Mages. A hive-people that survive by ingesting or converting others as they infect them with their plague, the Necrophages are a nation of scavengers and survivors. The original inhabitants of the planet seeking to return to former glory by consuming all other nations, the Necrophages are a scuttling monstrosity that must be crushed under the weight of one's heel like the mutated cockroaches they are- or so the Ardent Mages, Vaulters, Broken Lords, and Wild Walkers would have all others believe. The Necrophages themselves don't share this view- in fact, they share very little views other than feed, fight, propagate. They have found a niche in their environment, they will win with numbers; by elevating the colony over the individual; by constant warfare. Somewhere between a hive insect and a zombie horde, they produce by laying eggs in the corpses of their fallen enemies. Emotionless, relentless, and driven by biology,the Necrophages do not waste time with diplomacy and commerce.

OOC

So what I'm looking for is around six others, one for each hero from a playable faction. Your character is part of the Tribunal put together to investigate other non-conventional means of saving Auriga- first and foremost, that means studying the Endless as well as searching for any artifacts in ruins they left behind. I'll pit the planet itself against our party, and with the Necrophages ever encroaching on the Ardent Mages in the north, and the Cult of the Eternal End conjuring more power every year, the Tribunal will certainly have its hand full.

CS

*Post sheets here in the OOC, please. Upon acceptance, you may move them to the character tab.

Character Sheet

These are the minimums for application, feel absolutely free to add sections to the CS as desired. Cities, towns, and to an extent, lore, may be created or modified for creation. Name: Faction: Any of the above besides Necrophages or Cultists. Description: Appearance, age, race, unique physical aspects; any sort of information that would help us visualize your character. Goals/Fears: Things in the future that your character hopes to see come to fruition or not come to fruition, if any. Equipment: Assume your character is out on a quest, what would they bring? Skills: Feel free to simply name a role or archetype. Give us an idea of what your character is good at. Personality: How does your character feel about him/herself? How do they feel about others? You may also want to include thoughts your character may have about the state of things, or about being in the Tribunal. Background: Be sure to include significant moments in your character's background, as well as why and how they were picked to join the Tribunal. If you've invented an original race, be sure to include any information on such either here or in Description.

Rules & Expectations

Clicky

*The basic roleplay rules we've all come to know and love still apply here. No metagaming, no autohits, no killing off player characters, no godmode, etc. *In regards to posting frequency and length- I think once a week is reasonable, and is what I myself will dedicate to for moving the plot forward. As for posting length, I don't care. At all. A short meaningful post will always and forever be a thousand times better than a drawn out post that is there only to be long. That being said, I highly doubt a one-liner can be meaningful, unless you are a master philosopher. *Posting order also will not apply to anything but combat- I feel it kind of gets in the way of natural dialogue that happens when characters socialize. However, in combat a posting order may help me respond to a bunch of actions being taken at once. *As with most roleplays, please let me know ahead of time if you're going to be away for a period of time so I may make the appropriate adjustments if needed. *As for dropouts, I'd love to not have any, but should such happen I will notify of the open spot in the OOC. The dropout's character will either be taken out of the plot or killed off. *Mention winter somehow in your CS so I can confirm you read these tidbits.

[Leviathan]

WIP, i have more but it's in pieces like Wonka Vision so decided not to add it yet. :3 EDIT: 90% complete

Ardent Mage

Basic

Name:

Eclipsing Asriyah Noor

Faction:

Ardent Mages

Description:

When one hears of Ardent Mages their minds wander to primal recluses and barbaric self-mutilators. Body modification is certainly a demand for them as it’s essential for their practices. Asriyah Noor has many tattoos running over her arms and legs the colors of charcoal, rust, and ivory. Many of the ink are thick blocks or lines, nothing a traveling passerby would be able to decipher. These symbols would not even look like they stood for anything in particular. Unlike the Arden Warlocks with vicious lacerations her scars are not so thoughtlessly placed. They are brands or scarification in designs that accentuate her form and tell a story. Though appearing a youthful young adult Asriyah Noor is reaching a century, only a mere child among her tribe as there are many spanning double her years. Seldom do they feel the sensation of old age creeping upon them as they stay in peek physical form. Dust and magic a key to their assumed immortality but these tortured souls can and do indeed perish. History periodically recalls times of wondering tribes and how soldiers were unnerved with fighting or killing these children of the wastes, though they were not children at all. These desert people also did not fight like novice adolescents but with great intensity and power, a true sight to behold albeit savage. Aside from applied aesthetics like blood red tribal makeup around her eyes Asriyah Noor is not as tan as the majority of fellow Ardent mages. The desert spell caster does hold a light bronze luster like that of her entrancing crystalline hues. Layers of wavy raven tresses are scattered with ivory strands, and her form is statuesque. Having little need of muscles her figure holds appealing womanly curves.

Personal

Personality:

Known as Berserk Warmongers or The Wrathful Spellbound; not particularly flattering names yet they hold truth. Rage fills every inch of Asriyah Noor though no one would be able to detect it until they witnessed her in combat or unless they were expert observers. In spite of their abilities Asriyah Noor and her fellow Mages remain emotionless or stoic on an almost unnerving degree. Saving any energy for magical practices or war they feel as if emotions are wasted stamina. However, Asriyah Noor was also chosen to join the Tribune because of her tolerant and enlightened mind. Unlike many of the Ardent Mages their views will not be altered or changed, and she is more likely to cooperate with the other leaders.

Goals/Fears:

Many of the notable leaders who have become infamous for their deeds have left the clan in search of selfish gain. She is afraid of the Nurur’na or curse that will eventually befall her, and that the rage will consume her until she wishes for death or destroys everything in her path. To avoid the stigma of the past she wishes to cleanse their names and hopefully unify the Ardent Mages. Anything she can learn on this journey can and will go towards the betterment of the clan, however, revenge is also an underlining factor. Destroying the Necrophages is her one true desire. Auriga must be preserved if she is to see this happen.

Background:

Born a nomadic nobody from a dying clan of Besrani people Asriyah Noor knows the hard labors of poor uncultivated life. Struggling from day to day, wondering if she would ever see adult years due to constant feuds with many usurpers wanting to capture them as slaves. Doomed from the start it was only a matter of time before death was imminent for herself and the tribe, and as foreseen that fateful day approached. Their faction was too feeble, their numbers were too small, and the majority killed off by a rouge group of Necrophages lead by Rot Touch--a horrid play on words of what he was capable of. Night terrors and insomnia were a constant in affect toward the gruesome sights witnessed, children consumed, and injury endured. Asriyah Noor contemplated taking her own life many times but something had ignited along this nightmare, a flame of fury that kept her breathing. Enduring the emotional and physical pain, in hindsight she should give thanks to the Necrophages for building up her tolerance to such suffering, for it came in handy when joining the Ardent Mages.

Combat/Travel

Equipment:

What makes Asriyah Noor an easy target or something to be feared is her lack of weapons and armor. She uses magic both defensively and offensively relying on it heavily for combat situations.

• A nearly pristine double edged polearm accompanies her during travels, hardly used the blades are in excellent shape.
• A ragged hood conceals half her face when traveling. She is blind so nothing can obscure her non-existent sight. Her armor is minimal and not made of impenetrable material. Simple leather, cloth, and a few pieces of metal here and there for aesthetic reasons but otherwise her attire is archaic and obsolete.
• Pre-made elixirs one in particular for transient sight. This mixture is limited but helps her perceive her surroundings, which will aid her during this journey. Everything is depicted in a wispy blue, like their dust magic.

Skills:

Range fighter with devastating AOE magic & uses incantations, dust magic, and self-mutilation to invoke spells.

• Prime: Most of the Dust that finds its way into the hands--and bodies--of the races of Auriga is but a mere drop in an ocean. Through extreme pain rituals, Ardent Mages can begin to unlock more of these vast untapped resources.
• Inclination: This branch of Dust magic is focused on bending the will of others. Through such understanding, allies may champion your causes more readily, and enemies will fight with less passion.
• Creation: By ingesting a unique Dust-concoction that brings on searing pains, Mages can dedicate themselves to the art of awareness, and learn how the mind can overcome the limitations of the body.
• Effortless: Ardent Mages can more easily manipulate the magic properties of Dust, changing them into powerful spellcasters.
• Restorative: Ardent Mages are rightly feared for their mastery of the destructive aspects of Dust magic, but it is less well known that intense study of the properties of Dust can lead to curative abilities.

not done yet but i <3 winter.

[Terminal]

Note: Broken Lords profile is pending, I've been playing EL some more in order to reacquaint myself with the lore. You can expect something up tomorrow though.

[OneEyedChurro]

WIP, i have more but it's in pieces like Wonka Vision so decided not to add it yet. :3

@Leviathan

Looks sweet so far, can't wait to see the rest!

Note: Broken Lords profile is pending, I've been playing EL some more in order to reacquaint myself with the lore. You can expect something up tomorrow though.

@Terminal

Nice, I've been doing the same. Is there a Steam group for RPGuild? That sounds like it'd be a thing.

[Leviathan]

i am going to get this damn cs finished so help me. -determined face-

[Terminal]

Speaking of which, what is the word on making multiple character profiles?

[Ezrath]

Zayth Arielan CS

Name: Zayth Arielan Description: Zayth stands at 6’3” and has the build and features of a warrior; Strong, broad shoulders and chest, a chiseled face. His skin, unlike that of his pale fellow Vaulters, is a light tan; the result of his 37 years battling the necrophage horde. His eyes are a deep green, and his short-cropped hair a dark brown; almost black. He has a scar running from the bottom of his jaw to his right side, the ugly remnants of the battle with a humanoid necrophage that lead to his elevation as a Dawn Officer. Goals/Fears: The destruction of Auriga would be a bad scar left upon the history of the Vaulters. As a hardcore traditionalist, his love for his people is surpassed only by his hatred for the necrophage blight, and hopefully in saving Auriga he can destroy the necrophage at the same time. Equipment: Zayth tends to travel rather heavily. Though his power armor, shield, greatsword, and various explosives tend to get him through most situations, he often finds himself in the need for one tool or another. In his mottle grey pack he carries a basic medical kit and various tools and bits of materials that give away his Vaulter background. A constant need to tinker, design, and build means that Zayth’s gear rarely stays the same. A rail rifle can be found strapped to his pack. Preferring being up close to his enemies, Zayth rarely uses it but is proficient with its use. Skills: As an officer, Zayth tends to think before he acts. A mistake on his part tends to cost his marines their lives. He is an excellent tactician and a fierce warrior. Regarded as the best swordsmen in his company and possibly the best among all Vaulters, his skills with the blade are surpassed perhaps only by his skill as a commander specializing in small-team tactics. Personality: Being quick to laugh and tell a joke made him quickly loved among his men, and his ability to separate his emotions from facts even more so. He was ruthless, yet kind. He is fierce, yet calm. It was because of his quick wit and personal discipline that he was chosen to be a part of the Tribunal, and he believed that it was the best way to save his planet and his people. Background: Raised among the underground Vaults and tunnels of his people, Zayth was instilled early on with a passion for knowledge and was commonly seen tinkering; altering his gear or whatever gadget he had come across at the time. Though his family were scientists, he found his own path lay with the blade and rifle; fighting among his people to find peace and defend his home. He was charismatic even at a young age and the younger boys flocked to him as they would an idol, even when he was causing mischief and landing himself in trouble. Little changed as a teenager, except for his preference for the more physical aspects of Vaulter society became apparent. Mock sword fights and las-gun battles became his hobbies as he established himself on top. When he joined the Marines at eighteen he rose through the ranks quickly and grabbed hold of his own command at twenty-four; the youngest squad commander ever. His men loved him, that boyhood charisma treated him well in command. He was promoted to Dawn Officer on his thirtieth birthday and given command of a company of Marines. His first battle was a slaughter; his company brought from two-hundred to near sixty in a matter of hours by an ambush by the necrophage horde. Though no fault of his own, he took the loss of men personally and retaliated. The winter snows hiding their movements his sixty men ambushed the fiends two days later. They ripped through four-hundred necrophage in vengeance, cutting down a hundred of the horde before they could react. None of his losses ever approached that of his first engagement as Dawn Officer.

I had a really hard time toning him down (mostly altering his background) whilst also keeping his personality right and a reason to be in the Tribunal.

[OneEyedChurro]

Speaking of which, what is the word on making multiple character profiles?

@Terminal

If you mean several for one faction- I'm fine with it as long as their relationships are intertwined in a way that having them all on the Tribunal makes sense, maybe like a brother and sister sort of deal, or builder and robot, or something like that. If you mean playing as the rep. from multiple factions, I'd like to wait and see if anyone else shows interest in it before claiming a second. If after a while it's apparent no one else wants it, then feel free. @Ezrath and Leviathan, I just changed something up in the Rules & Expectations so you may wanna glance over that. Also Ezrath, I'm thinking maybe Zayth shouldn't have the rifle, if he rarely uses it. There won't be too many encounters where enemies are way out of reach :).

[Terminal]

Vaulters are a predominantly ranged faction. Comes with the territory of advanced technology. Perhaps enemies should be out of reach more often?

[Leviathan]

@Ezrath and Leviathan, I just changed something up in the Rules & Expectations so you may wanna glance over that.

@OneEyedChurro

kk, got cha chief. ^^

There won't be too many encounters where enemies are way out of reach :).

@OneEyedChurro

welp, Asriyah will be screwed then because she's basically all range. I am giving her a weapon though, for last minuet slaughter should she need it.

[OneEyedChurro]

Vaulters are a predominantly ranged faction. Comes with the territory of advanced technology. Perhaps enemies should be out of reach more often?

@Terminal

True- I meant that I'm not gonna have a lot of enemies that are up on some godforsaken ledge raining down hellfire so the option of melee is completely gone. Likewise, unless they catch the party off guard or are some type of charger-type thing, I also won't force melee, either. Unless you guys want that- definately make some encounters I've got in mind harder. But I guess it would make sense for Zayth to have some ranged weapon, wouldn't it? I feel like having a shield, greatsword, and rifle would be pretty cumbersome, so maybe one of the signature Vaulter crossbows?

welp, Asriyah will be screwed then because she's basically all range. I am giving her a weapon though, for last minuet slaughter should she need it.

@Leviathan

Probably not a bad idea :).

[Ezrath]

But I guess it would make sense for Zayth to have some ranged weapon, wouldn't it? I feel like having a shield, greatsword, and rifle would be pretty cumbersome, so maybe one of the signature Vaulter crossbows? Probably not a bad idea :).

@OneEyedChurro

In my mind it is a crossbow... just modified. I'll still work on the CS a bit here and there so I'll see what I end up with. As for being cumbersome, the Dawn Officer armor has its own power that allows them to jump further, sprint faster, and hit harder than most without it. At least that's what I took from it, so I rolled with it. Another edit: I really don't get the lore behind Vaulters having crossbows. I mean they have literal tons of advanced technology they all use on a day to day basis involving both technology and magic, and yet they don't have some sort of plasma-based weaponry or even Space Marine-esque bolters?

[Ezrath]

I... I'm not sure what happened but I can't delete this reply. So this is the filler.

[OneEyedChurro]

In my mind it is a crossbow... just modified. I'll still work on the CS a bit here and there so I'll see what I end up with. As for being cumbersome, the Dawn Officer armor has its own power that allows them to jump further, sprint faster, and hit harder than most without it. At least that's what I took from it, so I rolled with it. Another edit: I really don't get the lore behind Vaulters having crossbows. I mean they have literal tons of advanced technology they all use on a day to day basis involving both technology and magic, and yet they don't have some sort of plasma-based weaponry or even Space Marine-esque bolters?

@Ezrath

So the Vaulters on Auriga have their origins starting from the Vaulters in Endless Space, complete with the future technology. An escape pod from a Vaulter ship crashed into Auriga, and that's how the Vaulters started- I always took it as they had lost a lot of their technology on the crash, then as time went on as they lived on Auriga they just sort of forgot. Then the Great Quake happened and they found everything again, and they could replicate it with the help of Dust but didn't really understand it- that's why I always thought the crossbows kind of look like rifles but re-purposed. But really it's probably just Amplitude trying to strike a balance between Fantasy and Sci-fi to go along with the rest of the game. ..I realize now that my problem with the rifle was mostly semantic. I imagined a sniper-like thing but if what you meant was a crossbow-type thing than that's fine.

[Terminal]

Finally! Sorry for the longer than stated wait, the Broken lords Questline has one part where you need to hunt down four demon armies that spawn after searching a ruins. They all decided they wanted to go sailing. In different directions. Below is the profile for my Broken Lords character, Vinchus! He is mentioned by name, if not actually present, in the Broken Lords questline as an Archivist who does most of your Endless Ruin/Artifact research. Since there is little to no information about him other than offhand commentary by the Broken Lords leader, I figured I'd fill in the blanks. He is a melee tank with a few single-target, melee-range utility spells to mix things up a little. His history is currently incomplete, I figured it would be best to put what I had out rather than keep everyone waiting. Also, Winter is pretty ok, but Endless Winter is awful and they should have added an option to turn it off, lore be damned.

Archivist Duke Vinchus Auleus Enlil de Palunbajo

"We thought restoring the temple of the Concrete Endless would do away with our terrible need to drain the vitality from others. I oversaw the construction of the Channeling Altars and the Penitent Temples myself, and the scepter and my own research foresaw our salvation. I was there when my lord master descended to the Core of Auriga. All that came of that day were flames and despair, leaving nothing of our dreams but ashes...and Dust."

Vinchus

Name: Vinchus Auleus Enlil Affiliation: Broken Lord Archivist and Duke of the estate of Palunbajo.

Appearance

As with every other highborn member of the Broken Lords, Vinchus is permanently encased in a set of specially fitted, enchanted armor that covers the entirety of his partially incorporeal body.

Goals and Fears

Resigned to the fact that the Broken Lords will forever be forced to sustain themselves using Dust and Dark Magic, Vinchus continuously pursues research investigating ways to more efficiently exploit different forms of Dust. After the Core Disaster, Vinchus realized that there is no actual distinction between harnessing Dust as a resource or extracting it from living beings in order to survive. As living matter is by far the richest source of Dust, he questions which is worth more - his Chivalric vow, or the magics used to sustain himself. He is convinced that if he can find a way to either justify or refine the process of draining vitality from others, he can sway the Broken Lords onto a different path.

Equipment

The Broken Lords are renowned for the superior quality of their armor, and Vinchus' personal set is no exception. He is fully decked out in Hyperium and Mithrite platemail supplemented by chainmail and studded leather. As an Archivist, he is armed both a longsword and a magewand, as well as a Titanium Tome. Like many other members of the Broken Lords nobility, he wears a Dust-infused Signet Ring for convenience in restorative rituals. He also carries the unique Scepter of Auir, the Ancestral Artifact used by the Broken Lords to locate and assemble the pieces of the Lodestone Assembly. Vinchus' analysis of the Scepter's whispering and etches are what elevated him to the status of Duke, and even though the Lodestone Assembly is completed, the scepter continues to whisper of ruins, artifacts, and anomalies in distant lands.

Skills and Abilities:

Only Proverbially Broken: Thanks to his incredibly durable, personally fitted and castle-forged armor combined with his semi-incorporeal form, Vinchus can take tremendous blows with little wear to show for it. Even being clubbed by massive Urces and Harmonites would be unlikely to unbalance him. The tradeoff is that his armor makes him rather slow, both on foot and reflexively. Dust Driven: Vinchus can absorb Dust from the environment and from other beings in order to sustain his own body. Draining dust in any form will heal Vinchus (to a varying degree depending on the amount and quality of the Dust drained), and different forms of Dust (such as Black Dust or Dustwater) will also grant him temporary magical abilities. However, he is unable to heal or otherwise sustain himself without Dust. If there is no Dust for him to drain, he can die from wounds to his form or even starve. Whispers of the Ancients: The Scepter of Auir whispers in an esoteric language only Vinchus and other Broken Lords archivists understand, telling him about nearby Endless Ruins, artifacts, and pertinent information relating to them. The Scepter tends to speak in riddles however, which means its revelations can be readily misinterpreted or otherwise left unclear until it is too late. The Very Model of a Modern Endless Archivist: Vinchus has received a formal education in the sciences and history, on top of having studied Endless ruins and artifacts rather extensively. He can identify most common and uncommon anomalies, and his Adamantine tome allows him to interface with Endless Ruins. However, his knowledge is more theoretical than practical. He knows, for example, that Hydromiel can be used to make field rations, but has no idea how to properly harvest and prepare it. With Endless Artifacts, the inverse is true - he can tell what they do, but not how. This can lead to unforeseen consequences if, for example, a door with an arcane seal opens by draining dust from nearby sources.

Personality

Vinchus is, in a nutshell, pragmatic, serious, scholarly, cerebral, willing to take risks, somewhat narrow-minded, and honorable. Vinchus has sworn a vow of Chivalry - To succor the weak, to champion what is just, and to root out evil wherever it may lurk. He takes this vow seriously, as it is an integral part of his being, one that he has lived with since he was born. He was raised learning the nuances and intricacies of Chivalry long before he took it, and he views it as the only 'proper' way for anybody of highborn birth to lead their lives. However, he is not above bending and circumventing his vows where convenient, particularly since he relies upon what amounts to draining vitality from others in order to survive, and as a veteran of many battles and tragedies knows that sometimes dishonorable means are sometimes preferable in order to save lives and subvert the enemy. As an archivist and scholar, he is highly intelligent and has an intuitive grasp of the way of most things. His very education and intelligence also occasionally blind him to the reality that he is infallible, he offers sound advice but is rarely, if ever, receptive to any idea or plan that is not in-line with his own thinking. Combined with his chivalric upbringing, Vinchus is completely and utterly intractable in his political and cultural views. He would rather die than change where and how he stands in either (though particularly harsh or pointed experiences may force changes later on). His self-confidence and pragmatism also make him more likely to accept potential or actual losses and setbacks in pursue of a higher goal, and he is quick to disregard warnings of dangerous, cryptic or otherwise.

Background

[OneEyedChurro]

Nice - I'm liking these CSs so far. I think something I'm going to so for the IC is steal an idea from clark from Totem (Which is awesome and has spots open and you should totally check out), I'll assign each character a color and in my IC posts have character specific information colored in that post. So for example, let's imagine I give Vinchus this color. Then in the post, something might come up like The Scepter of Auir begins it's whispers: blah blah blah riddle riddle riddle Which would indicate knowledge in the post only Vinchus would be aware of.

[Ezrath]

Nice - I'm liking these CSs so far. I think something I'm going to so for the IC is steal an idea from clark from Totem (Which is awesome and has spots open and you should totally check out), I'll assign each character a color and in my IC posts have character specific information colored in that post. So for example, let's imagine I give Vinchus this color. Then in the post, something might come up like The Scepter of Auir begins it's whispers: blah blah blah riddle riddle riddle Which would indicate knowledge in the post only Vinchus would be aware of.

@OneEyedChurro

Works for me!

[OneEyedChurro]

Sweet- I think I'm gonna go ahead and formally accept everyone's character so far- just remember to finish em' up if you need to. I think I'll also wait until around Tuesday or Wednesday to start this bad boy, NPCing any open factions at that time.

[Ezrath]

Sweet- I think I'm gonna go ahead and formally accept everyone's character so far- just remember to finish em' up if you need to. I think I'll also wait until around Tuesday or Wednesday to start this bad boy, NPCing any open factions at that time.

@OneEyedChurro

Sounds good. I may be working on my aquariums those days so I may not be able to post right away. Don't suppose you'd be able to give us an idea of the opener ahead of time would you? Something to think about. Also, am I the only one not seeing anyone's avatars?

[Terminal]

Huh. Mine HAS vanished abruptly. They may have all been reset to default.