[OOC] Enduwin: Act 1 - The Dark Awaits

[Darkmatter]

“The spiders are restless, stirring, whispering talking; afraid.
When the spiders are fearful it is a portent most dire.
High in the Skrag the Speaker’s Speak and beg the Listener to Hear.
Low in Aumhaft, across the swept plains, tales of flame reach Lords’ ears.
Darkness moves again, it’s said, stirs its head from an age old slumber.”

“Ah! Give in! Quit spooking me kids will ya!” came the yell of the tavern owner. A gruff, slightly greasy man, though bearing a welcoming smile.
Three children all younger than ten, by the stranger’s reckoning, scampered away from the cloaked patron and out the door onto the docks of Sfel. The middle-aged man who’d been regaling the old wives’ tale to them left out a throaty chuckle, clamped by the smoke of his pipe.
“Aye. Another, good sir.” He beckoned to the tavernman.
“They should be arriving shortly.”

♜ ♜

WIP Intro/Info until I feel enough has been answered for players to be satisfied.

Chatzy Link: Use Responsibly, Please Update OOC With Major Updates, Timezones Are A Thing!

Swashbuckling Pad of Co-ordination!

Enduwin Chapter 1: The Dark Awaits

Setting

This RP is set in Enduwin, a vast continent afloat a never-ending sea. A land of storied history, Enduwin is home to a wide variety of species and nations and conflicting interests. Hundreds of years ago, Enduwin was rocked by a global conflict known commonly as the Rapture. During this period of thirty plus years, great evil pervaded the land, darkness made corporeal and every nation fought for its very existence against seemingly endless throngs of dark spawn. The darkness was eventually subdued by a group known as the Vindicators of Truth. The details of what occurred and how the day was won are almost non-existent, but a great source of power was no doubt needed. These champions of the living too though, quickly faded to obscurity, lost to the annals of time or perhaps something else? A pyrrhic victory.

However, this came at another great cost and the magic which 'till this point had dominated life on Enduwin began to fade. In the near seven centuries since, tales of the Rapture and the world before it are naught more than legends and bedtime stories, albeit ones with much validity. This Roleplay will take place in the IC timeline of 678 AR, at a fulcrum in Enduwin's history; magic begins to fade completely, and technology reigns supreme. We will begin in a north-western area of the world which is dominated by the mining and industrial powerhouse City-Nation, Vrent.

NOTE: The following is a mild info dump meant to hammer home the setting, read at your leisure but I would suggest at least parsing over all of it!

Vrent

~ Vrent ~

City/Realm name: Vrent – An Ruuktor Fir ( The True Throne)

Flag/Banner: An Tzul D’Yvazgrul (The Eye Of Yvazgrul)

National

Capital: Vrent – An Ruuktor Fir - Ruuktor – The True Throne

Government Type: The sole leader of all Vrentians is The Quiet One, also referred to as The Apex and Yvazgrul’s Listener and most often just as The Listener. Authority however, is not absolute and things are more intricate than they initially seem. The Listener’s power stems from his or hers ability to directly communicate with Yvazgrul itself. The validity of this claim, let alone any proposed method, has yet to be verified by any outside entity.


The broader governing system of Vrent, stems from its founding race, the Ventus, and is quite complex and difficult to condense into a single word. It has strong traces of tribal chieftanism still evident, but with a far more refined and forward thinking application. It can be seen somewhat as an archaic meritocracy, whereby each Listener is someone proven beyond capable in all fields deemed necessary by the Vrentians; war, art and academia, three tenets its beliefs tie together.


The Speakers, act as a rudimentary senate-like institution. Speakers are chosen also by merit, however, in actuality, familial influence and honor won in combat mean far more than any other factor. Therefore, historically, Speakers have often been inclined towards heavy handed judgment and action, something heavily favored by the general populace. The Speakers oversee the Vidril, which are large organizations focused each on provision of a specific aspect of Vrent life. The military, academic, magic, trade and farming Vidrils are by far the most prominent. Expanded upon when necessary.

Currency: Vrent has always had a deep and intricate economical system, using varyingly valuable carved minerals(metals), in the shape of any traditional coinage. Modern Vrent is a trading hub, as much of the traffic across the Gap begins or terminates in Vrent and despite its ferociously violent history, and the many misgivings of it from other states, it is undoubtedly an important economic centre. Albeit, much of this is due to geographical circumstance and unfettered access to balsite mines.

It's modern currency collectively called ℘ragon's Heads, is a shared system with neighbouring states, imposed and monitored in Vrent.

℘ Farthing: Lowest denomination ℘

℘ Halfshield: five farthings ℘

℘ Shield: two halves/ten farthings ℘

℘ Groat: five shields/ten halves/fifty farthings ℘

℘ Tower: two groats/ten shields/twenty halves/one hundred farthings ℘

℘ Blood: five towers/ten groats/fifty shields/ one hundred halves/five hundred farthings ℘

℘ Lily: two bloods/ten towers/twenty groats/one hundred shields/two hundred halves/thousand farthings

℘ Eye: five lillies/ten bloods/fifty towers/one hundred groats/five hundred shields/one thousand halves/five thousand farthings ℘

℘ Dragon: ten thousand farthings ℘

Geographical

Vrent as a ‘city’ has rather unique geography. Rather than a dense central urban centre, the city of Vrent is composed of a daisy chain of fortress-esque installations forming a two hundred and seventy degree arc around the low slopes of the Raven’s Ire mountain range. Each of these locations is focused on one large sky reaching building known as a Citadel, a religious and political construct. These towns are built vertically, only expanding out along the slopes by a few square kilometres each. They are however, extremely dense and built up, with many towering stacks and spire. Each Citadel reaches higher than any other building surrounding it. It is also important so to note, that 'Vrent' refers both to the Citadel Vrent, the first Citadel, and to the larger Citadel network and the state itself.

Linking the Citadels are the Ard Roads, carved into the slopes and raised on mighty archways, and the Ishil roads, vast underground tunnel networks. These impressive constructs act as conduits for all internal travel and trade in Vrent.
Seven Citadels are linked by the Ard and Ishil Roads, and they are, in north facing clockwise, bottom to top direction:

Ozgart

Frelhund

Drizmund

Vrent

Auhmhaft

Solvvas

Yval’hund

Spreading out from these slopes are rolling lowlands and the farming pastures which provide the huge amount of food required to fuel Vrent’s never-ending mining operations. This terrority is all considered directly under the control of Vrent and rolls out as far as the edge of the continent where Vrent borders Sindari. Farmers of varying species work and own these lands, assured protection from Vrent, given mutual status and respect. All in return for religious conviction. To the east, and further away from the mountain range, Vrent maintains peaceful, if tenuous relations with the other city and states for the sake of trade.

Major Settlements:
Sfel:
Sfel is the northern most settlement which officially lays within Vrent's domain. It is a strategic port founded after the second Abelonian invasion of the Spine both to serve as a base for Vrent's newfound naval force and as a trading hub for further commerce to the east. It affectionately has gained the name Little Illy due to the large number of Illgarythe migrants who settled there to construct, instruct and generally aid the formation of Vrent's ships of the line. It is a small, but very valuable and well defended settlement.

Isthia
Isthia is the name of the river which bisects the Vrentian lowlands, and the name of a settlement which rests near the confluence of it's two distributaries. The settlement of Isthia isn't a single centralised hub, rather a network of small farming villages and and towns. Together though, they do form a fairly dense community.

The river itself has had dozens of canals and and by-ways carved to extend its lateral reach for the use of crop irrigation. Isthia is the granary of Vrent, accounting for nearly half of its total produce and livestock.

Religion & Magic

State Religion: The Red Way – The Worship of Yvazgrul. Vrent’s daily life is heavily influenced by religion. However, the Vrentians, don’t classify their own belief system as a religion. They are wholeheartedly convinced it is truth and not comparable to the fickle whims of ‘modern’ cults such as Old God worship, least of all 'Player Religion Here'. Somewhat ironic, considering the manner in which most every other states regard ‘The Red Way’.
There is an unspoken hierarchy within the way, with Followers being the common of the faith, Watchers leading local worships, Speakers overseeing all and The Listener at the throne.

Religious Information: The Red Way focuses on the truth that another world runs parallel to our, but exists within in it. Referred to as the ‘Eile’ or the Other, this world is home to all manner of immensely powerful entities. These Entities, are each individually tied to a plane of existence, according to the Way. Yvazgrul, is according to the first Listener, the original and most powerful of all Entities tied to this corporeal realm. Yvazgrul has no translation to any modern tongue as the spoken word loses much meaning of thought, but the closest interpretation provided is "Face of The Many Arms".

The Way is Yvazgrul’s will manifested in tangible form. Those who follow the Way follow a being with a rightful claim to this world, a claim made by strength.
Knowledge and the acquirement of information are core parts of the Way, due to Yvazgrul’s unending comprehension; the more one knows, the closer they are to Yvazgrul. All will eventually follow the Way either by force of strength or force of knowledge. Foreign deities are regarded among those who follow the Way, as being a lesser being from the Other, who is attempting to usurp Yvazgrul.

Relics: The Eye ~ A small, head sized orb, made of what would appear to be a metal of unkown composition. Laced patterns swirl around its exterior painting an unclear picture. In ancient times, there were many such Eyes, fragments of Yvazgrul; this Eye, grants the Listener audience with Yvazgrul. It's confirmed existence however, is a well guarded secret with few privy to it outside the Cirlcle of Speakers.

Magic: Magic plays quite a strong role in Vrentian society and is intrinsically tied to the Way and relgious practice. Those with the gift to pierce the veil that separates here and the Other and directly draw on Yvazgrul's wisdom and power are highly respected. Mages do not dominate society, nor earn merit based solely on their birthed gifts, but they do have a very decent head-start. Mages are most commonly called Seers.

Formally, any and all magic users, despite being few and far between these days, are trained and educated in Drizmund Citadel, which houses the Academy of Red, the colloquial name for the Vidril of Magics. Here Vrentian mages are given the finest opportunities available in the hopes that one day, each of them will be a glorious leader of the Way of Red; as a Watcher, a scholar or in battle.
The magic learned and employed by the Vrentians is not like the magic seen on the continent. With their power coming directly from Yvazgrul, Vrentian mages uses both the Red Entity's knowledge and strength. Enemy minds can be corrupted, mentally tortured or wiped completely. Powerful binding magic and ferocious offensive manifestations can also be conjured. Vrentian Seers though, very rarely have needed to employ their abilities in recent decades.

Information On The RP

The set-up is that a man with a big problem but a lot of coin, has gathered a group of able bodied adventures to meet him at Fish Rest Tavern on the docks of Sfel. They come not knowing what lies ahead but that great wealth has been promised.

I think it worth taking the time to sit down and clarify a couple of things regarding how the game should run. First off, I’d consider myself a very open and welcoming GM. If you have an issue, ideas, anything, then please do just ask and I’ll do my best to answer/accommodate. Likewise, in return, I ask of you the player to respect that at times, as GM I’ll have to push things along to keep things healthy and fresh!

I mentioned and intending on continuing with having behind the scenes ‘game-like’ elements. What I mean by this for example, is say the party finds itself in a town with a problem they need solving. I will have already set out in stone, the effectiveness of various avenues the party can take, and respond accordingly when they do so! Of course , I can’t plan for everything and am more than looking forward to being surprised by the players.

Character Sheets (CS) can take any form you choose, I just what the main information relayed.
The tone will be very mystery orientated, with high fantasy elements. Like classical noir, the plot will centre on our small group. There may be big goings on and gears turning in the world at large, but this plot focuses in on the development of this group.

This is very evidently a a story trying to be told in an established mythos. While I personally have an Enduwin wiki in my head, I understand that players interpret things differently. I'm leaving much intentionally ambiguous and if any player wants to add lore or wants me to elaborate on the history I'd be happy to. I just do not wish to have too much exposition too early on!

This RP is titled 'Act 1' for a very specific reason and that's the concept of future proofing it. I'd very much like to make this RP quick. Not rush through it, by any means, but to not let it just drag on. It will have a middle a beginning and end. At which point, the story of these characters or at least this part of it, will end. I would then love to move to a second Act, possibly a large time jump, continuing to make new adventures in a saga like manner. It sounds maybe a bit too ambitious, but I feel it can really solve the issue of RPs going stale and having nothing happen after a couple months in. Of course this will require a huge effort from me, which I am going to try my best to do, and I'd love to have as many reoccurring players as possible, to share in the saga.

For now, I’ll leave with this information. With enough interest, I’ll elaborate on tech/magic, some race ideas etc. I’d love to hear any questions also!

Magic & Tech Levels

Magic isn't easily explained in this universe. It doesn't fall into schools of teachings and isn't commonplace. It does exist fairly prevalently, but those with powers are often just used for specific tasks and for an average person, it is not something they deal with or think about on a daily basis. Magical potency seems to range by area. Some locations have high concentrations of gifted, others have far few. There seems to be no set pattern and the distribution, by all accounts, seems to have shifted across Enduwin over time.

Some well-know applications of what is called 'magic' in this world include:
Moving objects without physical contact.
Heating or cooling bodies without an apparent source/sink.
Accelerated healing abilities.
Generation of light.
Matter crafting raw material (sand/dirt for e.g.) into a usable substance and form.

With regards technology, an equivalent would be the late medieval period, with some notable differences in that rudimentary steam engines are being experimented with. Magic and attempts to harness it as raw energy have of course impacted the technological timeline of Enduwin. This connection between the two is something we will be exploring in the story. Vrent, is considered the industrial powerhouse of Enduwin, and at this stage would have some very basic single shot gunpowder armaments and some basic steam-driven mining equipment. It is still, across Enduwin as a whole however, the era of sword and board.*

*and lance and horse and bow and longbow and pike etc etc.

Races

The Ventus

Race: The Ventus

Race Appearance: The Ventus are a physically large humanoid race. Average males exceed seven feet in height, with most females reaching around six feet in maturity. They are though, not lithe and slender, as many tall races tended to be, in fact they are quite bulky and each Ventus carries a presence. This predominately arose from their history as nomads, having only settled into static towns, as a species, around a thousand years ago. The Ventus' skin color varies from tanned leather like colours, similar to many humans, to dark hues bordering black and to deep purples and blues.

Sexual dimorphism is not as apparent in Ventus as it is in other similar species. Females are not easily identified by structure other than height, and the main differences arise in facial features. Males have much sharper chin and cheekbones and tend to have much harsher complexions compared to the relatively soft skin of females. The main and most notable differences is in their ‘Adhark’, cartilage build up on the tops of their skulls which resemble small fin like protrusions. Those of males' tend to curve up and out, females' down and inward.

Race Characteristics: The Ventus are zealous and resolute to say the least. Average lifespan lies between 70-90 years depending on lifestyle and location.

Dawawn Ulla

Dawawn Ulla: The Ulla in some sense, defy regular classification. In Vrent they are considered equal citizens despite the persecution and disdain the Ulla received elsewhere in the past. In fact prior to the founding of Vrent, the Ulla were nearing extinction. This was entirely due to 'Un Geis', a supposed curse placed on the Ulla by a long forgotten enemy that results in a 99% stillbirth rate. Thus, despite laying a hundred or more eggs during a breeding cycle, only one, two or often none will reach term. The Vrentians believe this curse is the doing of the dark ones, during the time of The Rapture.

Only small pockets of them remained nestled in the mountains along the Raven’s Ire. One such cluster occupied an area very close to Vrent's initial settlement. Originally contact was tense and oft violent due mostly to lack of an ability to properly communicate. In time though, the Ulla learned to replicate the common tongue using a sequence of hisses, and likewise, many Vrentians began to learn the distinction and meaning of a variety of Ullavin noises.

Mutual prosperity began to foster. The Ulla, being naturally superb burrowers, lending to Vrent's newfound mining operations exceptionally well. In return, Vrent made citizens of the Ulla, gave them all that came with it and most importantly of all; introduced them to the concept of farming. The fresh availability of food without the need to hunt revolutionised their course. The Ulla fit well with the Way, themselves worshipping Vvorhucht Drifyr, a lesser entity thought to be a close ally of Yvazgrul. The two religions eventually amalgamated. Vvorhucht Drifyr, not surprisingly, translates vaguely to 'Great Eight Sister'. Whether the gods actually were ever connected or the Way simply absorbed and implemented the Ulla's beliefs is unknown.

Their physical appearance and the generally pervading dislike for their taxonomic class, means that most rarely venture outside the Citadels and connected mines. Their population has exploded since becoming Vrentians, rising to the hundreds, likely into thousands.

The Ulla still, like all in their class, produce an incredibly strong silk, in terms of tensile strength. They have evolved, even prior to becoming Vrentians, to not need it for a specific purpose other than birthing, and instead used it as a multi-purpose tool and material. Now within in Vrent, some use it in the construction of burrows to live in (many also live in large homes in the inner-city), many also use it in the making of primitive art and most famously, it is used in a unique form of armour making; a mix of forging and weaving. The only time it is spun in large quantities 'inside' a building, is in the purpose made birthing chambers.

Miscellaneous

Character Feedback ~

First off some general thoughts on all three. All are accepted with flying colours, though I will need some kind of basic backstory for Brevana, though I am sure it is on the way!

These characters turned out perfectly for where I wanted to go with this. A hodgepodge group, and they all have something about them which will really mesh with some of the plot twists I have in mind.

On that note, I do have a very specific route I'd like this to go. I do have a 'big twist' that I would love to see come to fruition. As such I will be pushing us along at a nice pace for this and can't wait to see how these character's develop. I'll be doing out my own CS shortly.

Oliver
Straight up love where this character went. Initially I was like "oh, an old school knight, that's pretty cool I guess." Of course, his actual background and the way he's human to a fault is great. Much more likeable and interesting character than I thought it at first would be and what's any expedition without a thief!

Hector
Great addition also! I'd love if you'd like to write a quick little blurb on Herwen that we can include in the OP, with you credited of course. I would say though, Herwen you said is 'across' from Vrent. I'm going to assume you meant across and ocean/body of water as geographically, a desert right next to fertile valleys and mountains isn't realistic in the distances involved! I really enjoyed the tribe's interpretation of magic users being deemed to weak to survive without magic. It's a different but logical viewpoint. I will say however, that matter-crafting unlimited arrows would be extremely time extensive and physically exhausting within the bounds of magic in this world. It's completely fine, just be aware it wouldn't be a throw-away task. The character immediately adds diversity to the mix!

Brevana
Very cool character to have in the RP. A heretical monk in Vrent. Always good to have an older, world-wise character in the mix also. I'd love to see more information on her order and homeland and reasons for hatred of Yvazgrul if it's something you'd like to expand on now. Of course if you'd rather leave that exposition until the IC, that's great too!

Bakk
As above I'd love to see more info on the race itself if you want to provide it! We already had some more wizened characters so someone offering sheer brawn is a welcome addition. The lack of good grasp of the common language might make things a little harder on you but I think it's a great quirk to implement. Overall, happy with the application.

Rules & Guidelines

It goes without saying, this is going to uphold advanced standards.

For reference I can post anywhere from 1000 – 10,000 words per post depending on the pace and placement of the RP. I expect a couple of well written paragraphs from everyone.

However, I’d rather 3 concise paragraphs that advanced the plot and add character development, over 10 paragraphs of superfluous waffle.

Be nice to each other, always remember the Fonz!

Have fun, because ultimately we are here to enjoy ourselves!

[Rtron]

*Patiently waits for Tech/magic info*

Can we get a link to the original Nation RP? So we could make characters from outside of Vrent?

[Minato Namikaze]

Artorias the Dragonslayer

Name: Artorias the Dragonslayer

Age: 20

Appearance:

Specialty and Skills: Artorias is a traditional warrior, fighting with long range melee weapons like pole arms or spears to keep the opponent at a distance. Speed is one of his strong suits, so he uses light armor and dodges most attacks. He is better at fighting beasts and monsters than humans, since his own kind tends to be unpredictable; but he still retains a large amount of skill against intelligent opponents.

Personality: Introverted and short tempered, Artorias isn't a fan of attention. He isn't terribly well educated but can manage readying and writing with some degree of intelligence. He prefers to keep people distanced from him and doesn't open up easily, much like his battlefield strategy.

Story up until this point: Artorias grew up an orphan, in a small northern village. He never received a large amount of education or schooling but picked up on what he could from the orphanage library; where he learned to read and write. The orphanage staff were pleasant however Artorias was an introvert and never really connected with them. He grew up with nobody who was significantly important to him, Which resulted in him having somewhat of a weak connection to his home town. He left the orphanage at eighteen and decided to join the town guard regiment, the only job he was really cut out for with his limited education. Although he was strong and good at his job he encountered difficultly rising through the ranks as he had little respect for authority. The village seldom got attacked and as a result most of the guard were lazy and poorly trained, making them unprepared for a threat; something Artorias didn't have in common with them. He always made sure to keep in good fitness and stay sharp with his weaponry.

After around a year a half with the guard the village was attacked for the first time in years, nobody was prepared. Especially when the assailant made itself known as a dreadful enemy; a dragon. Most of the guardsmen ran for their lives when they saw the winged beast in the sky, and those who stayed put up little fight. Artorias was the only real opposition between it and his village, and he had nothing to lose. He fought valiantly to protect his people through a long and grueling battle, sustaining many burns and claw wounds. But in the end the beast grew tired and sluggish, leaving it vulnerable to attack. Artorias took the opportunity to strike against the dragon's unprotected underbelly, spilling it's guts and putting an end to the duel. He collapsed being very near death, and was rushed to a doctor.

Upon waking up he was hailed as the village hero, Everyone knew his face and praised him when they crossed paths. It didn't take long for rumors of the battle to reach the neighboring cities of his victory, and soon somebody reached out to him. After one particularly annoying day of receiving special treatment and being followed everywhere, he received a letter from a man offering alot of money requesting his help. Artorias was exhausted with being the village's hero, and hopped on the chance for escape and money. He boarded a ship bound for Sfel to meet with the man who wrote him.

[Darkmatter]

*Patiently waits for Tech/magic info*

Can we get a link to the original Nation RP? So we could make characters from outside of Vrent?

@Rtron

I don't see the need? I'm taking Vrent and expanding it to a wider world. The small backstory and Enduwin are a new thread of plot. Like I said, feel free to add a nation/area you want for background, I don't think lifting other people's nations is a good idea! Also, I'll add magic and tech information in a tick!

@Minato Namikaze
There's nothing wrong with the quality of your writing, but I will not be accepting the character. It's a straight Mary Sue and I'm not ok with that. I'm more than happy to offer criticism but I'm not going to sit here and tell you without asking of it, I understand some people don't want it.
I'd love to still have you on board, but your character needs work.

[Chanda]

My sheet. Please let me know if you need anything in the way of personality or skills or whatever, you said we could do the CS however we want so I kept it to the objective stuff.

Sir Oliver Fortesque IV of Gallowmere

Name: Sir Oliver Fortesque of Gallowmere

Age: 24

Gender: Male

Appearance: Oliver is a spry looking young man with a lean athletic build but little muscle to speak of. Although a bit taller than the average man, he remains looking rather young due to his skinny features, something that he finds rather difficult to deal with when trying to get others to take him seriously. His shifty brown eyes beguile a great distrust of others and his surroundings, owing primarily to his background of thievery. He has somewhat handsome features and prefers to stay clean shaven, but generally leaves his short dark brown hair unkempt and shaggy.

Pictures

Clothing/Armor: As a knight errant of Gallowmere, Oliver dresses for the part. Preferring to keep his armor on the lighter side, Oliver wears a shirt of chainmail over a black arming doublet and beige/brown cloth trousers. His armor is accented with metal plates on his elbows, shoulders, and kneecaps, as well as black leather gauntlets and boots. Perhaps the most eye-catching part of his ensemble is his striking royal blue tabard, worn over his chainmail and belted at the waist. The tabard bears the royal sigil of Gallowmere, the Tree of Life, on the front (in white), and attaches to a cape of the same color that drapes down to roughly the height of his knees. Tabards of this style have been out of fashion in Enduwin for quite some time, but according to Oliver, this is how knights of Gallowmere have always dressed and he's not about to spit in the face of such a longstanding tradition just to fit in. Oliver is rarely seen without a bandana of some kind on his head (usually worn pirate-style); his go-to is a dark blue one, but he does have spares just in case.

Armor References

Oliver's Armor:

Sigil of Gallowmere, the Tree of Life:

Weapons: Oliver's weapon of choice is the sword, owing to his knightly heritage. Unlike most knights, however, Oliver doesn't appear to care very much about the quality or the upkeep of his blade, which has seen better days. A simple iron longsword that could be found amongst any small-town blacksmith's wares, it is nonetheless a well-balanced weapon with a sharp enough edge to get the job done. Despite its humble appearance, however, Oliver claims that this particular sword was passed down by his ancestors for generations upon generations, having been used many times to protect the people of Gallowmere from evil. Attached to the sword by a small, sturdy chain that loops through the ring on the sword's pommel is a small jeweled amulet, which Oliver claims is the last Mana Seed from Gallowmere's Tree of Life, which has not bore fruit for eons. It is said (by Oliver and Oliver alone, mind you) that this blade, the legendary Mana Sword of Gallowmere, can slay any demon in a single blow because of the righteous power contained within the Mana Seed. No part of this story is true, like many things Oliver says about himself. The sword is sheathed at Oliver's waist for a quick draw.

Owing to his actual thiefly heritage, Oliver keeps a small dagger strapped to the small of his back, concealed by his tabard, in case he's disarmed or otherwise in a tight spot.

Pictures

The Mana Sword:

Mana Seed Amulet:

Inventory: As a knight with no horse or squire, Oliver prefers to travel light, and depending on the trip he may prefer to take certain tools along instead of others. When out on the road, his gear is kept in a mid-sized backpack made of thick brown canvas cloth, which has one large main pocket sealed by a leather buckle and flap and two side pockets with button clasps. He will almost always discard his backpack when entering battle or attempting to move stealthily, although it still doesn’t slow him down much. The following items are kept in his backpack:

Backpack

• Metal flask containing cheap rum. Kept in left side pocket.

• Lockpicking set (includes picks, skeleton key, files, chisel, and crooks.) Main pocket.

• Whetstone and cleaning cloth for blade maintenance. Main pocket.

• Pen, parchment, ink. Right side pocket, in cloth stationery wrap.

• Sewing kit (needles, thread, awl, thimble). Right side pocket, small cloth drawstring bag.

• Small armor repair parts (rivets, bolts, a handful of spare mail rings). Main pocket, cloth pouch.

• Flint striking rocks (small drawstring bag, main pocket).

• Small corked glass bottle of dry leaves and twigs for tinder. Main pocket.

• One spare set of clothes. Black short sleeved cloth shirt, forest green light vest, dark brown trousers. Some undergarments too, although it’s none of your business.

• Three spare bandannas, two dark blue and one black. Left side pocket for quick access.

• Metal canteen, filled with water. Hooked to right side pocket.

• Cloth bedroll. Rolled up and clipped to bottom of the backpack.

On any given day, Oliver will typically carry the following items on his person:

Inventory

• Money pouch (affixed securely to his belt and clasped shut with a leather flap).

• Sword (sheathed at his waist on the left side for a fast draw).

• Iron dagger (strapped to the small of his back as a concealed, last resort weapon. Typically covered by the tatters of his cape.)

Backstory: Oliver was born in the back of a crowded wagon, one of a handful that made up a caravan of a traveling theater troupe. Oliver's mother, an enchanting songstress of some renown in the area, had been working with the troupe for years now and wasn't about to let the birth of her son put a stop to her career. Although he'd never known his father, the tight-knit group of performers all did their fair share of raising the boy amidst the hustle and bustle of life on the road.

When Oliver came of age, however, he learned the true nature behind his newfound "family"; they were all common thieves. Selling tickets was only a small fraction of the troupe's income; all the real money came from picking the pockets of the audience members while they were caught up in the performance. Oliver too was trained to be a competent cutpurse from a young age; after all, children made for perfect pickpockets, with their small fingers and unassuming, innocent looks. Due to their constant traveling, the troupe was never in one place long enough to arouse too much suspicion, and as such, their little gambit seemed to be sustainable for the for the time being. Although Oliver's mother never approved of the troupe's shadiness or Oliver's involvement in it, she considered it worthwhile as long as she could still perform.

Time passed and Oliver's nimble fingers and diligent work ethic earned him the opportunity to perform onstage as an actor. Although he wasn't a particularly skilled actor, he found the work to be more fulfilling and interesting than snatching wallets and tried his best with the small roles he was given. Most of all he enjoyed the plays about brave knights and strong warriors, traveling the land to fight evil and slay monstrous beasts. As he grew older the allure of the open road seemed to call out to him; he longed to craft his own tales of triumph and glory, and being tethered to this band of thieves and thespians was only going to drag him down.

At the age of 23, he finally got his wish. His mother's voice had seen better days and the aging woman had also grown weary of life with the troupe. The two left the caravan on good terms, having served the troupe leader well for many years. As a parting gift, Oliver was given a spare tabard from the costume trunk so that he could, and I quote, "go have fun playing knight on his own." Oliver's mother settled in Vrent, planning to live off the money she'd saved up over the years and take up watercolor painting on the side (the fact that she engages in watercolor painting is wholly unimportant to anything in this roleplay, as is this parenthetical explanation).

Oliver, on the other hand, had grander plans in mind. Having never lived apart from the troupe or established any sort of identity for himself outside of it, the lowly pickpocket turned performer Oliver Pike took up the mantle of the valiant Sir Oliver Fortesque IV, fifth son of Sir Daniel Fortesque II, master of the god-forged Mana Sword of Gallowmere and slayer of the infamous Sorceror Zarok. Even if Sir Oliver's grand backstory was completely fabricated, he didn't think it would matter all that much; as long as you looked the part, had all the knightly accouterments, and used a bunch of made up names from faraway lands that didn't exist, you'd be fine. He set off on his travels with only two objectives in mind, the first being to garner a reputation as a knight errant that would surpass his manufactured past altogether, and the second to find the father he'd never met. His mother could provide him with only one clue as to his father's identity; a small jeweled pendant that the man gave to her as a gift before he left forever.

A year has passed, and Oliver (now 24), has found the true nature of "knighthood" to be far from the lofty ideals portrayed in fiction. Unlike a real knight in service to a lord, Oliver had no court to return to, no castle to sleep in, and worst of all, no grand banquets to fill his belly. Oliver's skills as a former thief served to put food on the table much more regularly than battling evil or righting wrongs. Going out "questing for justice" just didn't seem to be a very secure source of employment, and although Oliver really was intent on walking a righteous path given his newfound "nobility", he found himself playing the role of the criminal far more often than that of the hero. What honest work he did find was often nothing more than day laboring or common mercenary work, both far beneath the station of an esteemed knight. Currently in charge of watching over a dusty old storehouse full of nothing on the docks of Sfel, Oliver longs for an epic journey to embark on more than anything else.

Wallet: 1 Tower, 2 Grouts, 10 Farthings

[Arawak]

How does a mason turned mercenary sound to you Darkmatter?

[MelonHead]

Hmm, I'm interested, wondering about species/races though. Should we expect the normal roster of fantasy creatures? You mentioned that the Ventus were a race which formed the government, are they a race of humans?

[Darkmatter]

@Chanda
I'll read it first thing in the morning it's just after midnight here and I need sleep

@Arawak
Sounds Great!

@MelonHead
The ventus aren't humans they're humanoids though. I'll stick to the classic thing of stereotypical fantasy race archetypes just don't call them actual elves and centaurs.

As always I'm open to most ideas.

[MelonHead]

Want to give us a quick run-down of the alternate names? Or is it first person to play one gets to name it?

[Lutalica]

I agree, an info-dump would be delightful.

[Rtron]

Hector

Name: Hector

Age: 30

Appearance

He has crimson tear tattoos going down from his to midway in his cheeks. His eyes are golden. He stands at 5ft 8in

Backstory: Hector was born in Herwen, a small desert nation across from Vrent. The people of Herwen (identifying themselves as The Chosen) are largely nomadic, travelling in tribes, with one central holy city (Harchan) that all the tribes go through and a port city (Turocan) for outsiders. They pride themselves on surviving the harsh desert of their land (which they call the Whispering Wastes, on account of the nigh constant wind shifting the sand and making it 'whisper') without aid from newer technology (anything beyond steel) or magic.

Hector, being born a mage, was an outsider from the first time he drew in breath. The local tribe leader drew a small drop of his blood and added it to the clear juice from the Ferchun cactus. If the juice remained clear, he was normal. As it changed to a vibrant purple, he was immediately marked as a mage, and immediately given his tears of shame, marking him as someone the Gods had deemed too weak to survive without the aid of magic. To make up for this weakness, he was constantly told growing up, he would have to do something great for his tribe. What classified as 'something great' was conveniently left vague and unexplained. As a mage, he was disliked by his fellow tribe members at best and despised at worst. He was only slightly better than a slave. They still used him and his skills, but they despised him for it. he was trained, fed, and sheltered, but only grudgingly. He was a weakling, but apparently a weakling they could put to use. If they needed a source of light, Hector was there. An unlimited source of arrows to help fend off enemy tribes, bandits, or hunt? Hector.

Hypocrisy, he noted, was something his tribe had no problems with. As the years went by, his skill with his magic and weapons only increased. Many times, Hector thought of running off. Escaping. Leaving the bastards he called a family and making his own way. But where would he go? The Whispering Wastes were harsh enough with a tribe, without a tribe he would surely be killed. If not by the desert itself than by some other tribe that didn't trust strangers with the Tears of Shame. Still, the thought was never far from his mind.

His opportunity came when they visited the city of Turocan. He doesn't know why his tribe was visiting there, they rarely told him anything aside from 'do this or do that, weakling.' What he did know was that one could get very easily lost in the crowds. One could easily get on a ship and one could easily get away from Herwen. The temptation proved too much for him. One, two and three steps into the crowd and he was gone, walking as fast as he could without attracting attention towards the docks. What happened next was a bit of a blur. He remembers pounding terror and adrenaline, straining his senses for the sounds of alarm and running feet. None came. He made it to the docks and sold what he could (basically everything except for the clothes on his back, his bow, his pipe, and his dagger) for passage to Vrent.

Hector hates boats. That's all there is to say about the ship passage.

When he landed in Vrent he spent a few weeks just getting used to the culture shock. It was..cold. Green. Mountainous. Surprisingly quiet. People actually didn't despise him for what he was or the tattoos he bore. There was the despised technology everywhere, making people weak. Soft. After a few weeks of wandering around he managed to fall in with a mercenary company. They were like his tribe, only they actually saw his magic as an advantage. He didn't get close to anyone, but neither was he despised. A few years with the mercenary crew and he had adapted well to the new continent and country. It was fairly easy, when word of someone in Leek's tavern offering a lot of coin for willing bodies and adventurers came, to leave his mercenary company. He'd already abandoned one tribe. What was one more?

Skills:

-Skilled Archer and knife fighter. Hector was always sent into fighting. If he died, there was no loss. If he didn't, they still won. He only gained more experience with his mercenary company.

-Can create things out of fire, typically arrows (with the same piercing power of steel arrows and all the added bonuses of being fire), but nothing larger than a baseball sized ball of flame in his palm.

-Basic field medical skills. If they were in Herwen, Hector would be able to quickly and easily find plants to help. As it is, he can bind a wound and stitch it together, and a few herbs in Vrent.

-Jury rig repairs. Hector can repair most damages with what he has on hand.

Equipment:

-Dagger

-Bow

-Pouch (Which contains some odds and ends Hector takes from where ever he's been. A rock from his homeland, a nail from the ship he was on, so on so forth.)

-Coin purse ( One Halfshield, three Farthings)

-Full Water Flagon

-Pipe and enough Saral (a herb found in Herwen, which serves no other purpose than to relax the user) to last him a few months if he continues to ration it.

Misc. Details:

-Hector despises the newer technology, something he picked up from his tribe. It's unnatural, even more unnatural than his magic.

-Hector can't keep himself still while lying. He fidgets. Tapping his fingers, shifting his weight from leg to leg, tapping his foot, etc etc.

-Hector gets violently seasick.

Feel free to critique.

[Lutalica]

Here's a WIP while I touch up the backstory and get some feedback.

Brevana the Cloud

Name: Brevana the Cloud
Age: 68 (allegedly)
Gender: Female
Appearance: Brevana is an austere looking woman of formidable, ram-rod straight posture and a terse (at times rude) demeanor that permeates all other aspects of her being; in short a woman not in the business of being beautiful. Brown of skin and hair and eye not a drop of Vrentian blood resides within her, evidenced in the subdued, exotic garb draped across her athletic form. White streaks its way through the puff of curls a simple tie keeps in check and lends to her a certain mystique; having either aged gracefully or before her time.

Clothing/Armor: A cross-collared suede garment (called a ninirri) that makes sparing use of concealed buttons and terminates just above the knee. Though reinforced with minimalistic metal plaques this sleeveless offering appears more a vestige of office than battle, a distinction at odds with the scar stricken expanses of leg and arm it leaves bare. Stiff linen slippers accompany Brevana in her travels, secured by a length of leather sandal while a similar solitary wrap graces her right forearm.

Weapons: Brevana is a scholar of a deadly martial ballet known as the Glorious Path of Crescent Sun's Shadow, taught exclusively to the militant arm of the Order of Stone Sages; a philosopher cult that vehemently decries Yvazgrul as the demiurge. Being an expression of the destruction of self and denial of the 'material lie' Crescent Sun Style has no stance, its principle tenant to be formless. At times mistaken for feats of mysticism a more thorough understanding of the body and its structural faults permits Brevana to strike a foe's hidden 'spirit seams' to various effect.

The Eight Arts

*Phantom Flaying Touch - The direct application of force to a spirit seam, causes localized muscular paralysis.
*Sinner's Stride - A very technical throw wherein one's attacker's weight and momentum are leveraged against them.
*Biting River Blow - A three strike combination that causes veins to contract, stemming blood flow
*Mind Killer Dance - Induces agony by targeting the spinal column
*Empty Cup Ritual - Forcibly induces vomiting over extended (often fatal) periods of time
*Aphelion/Perihelion's Seal - Brevana enters into either a death-like trance or taps into her body's full potential respectively
*Crescent Sun Rises/Sets - The second most devastating move in Brevana's arsenal, a sweeping kick that cuts like a knife
*Firmament Crush/Weight of Paradise Hold - A collection of grapples that crush bone and burst organs.

Inventory: Having taken a vow of poverty and adhering to an ascetic lifestyle Brevana carries little in the way of possessions save for the clothes on her back and a small book of self authored poetry.

Backstory: Far to the south the verdant slopes and pastures of Vrent give way to the ruins of Ankhor Mote, the carrion corpse of a once great empire stripped bare by the press of foreign powers. Now merely an oft contested border it's empty streets play venue to the half-hearted saber rattling of expanding nations, mediated only by the unconquerable fortress-fane that keeps them from coming to blows.

Enter High Atoll, seat of the Stone Sages and last vestige of a bygone realm; rising from the White Rills to resist superpowers at each side. Were either country to move in force upon this stronghold it would be seen as the prelude to an invasion by their neighbor, yet lesser efforts invariably fail-- for neither northern seers or the southern Savannah kings hold power within this den of doubters.

So it was that a young Brevana was raised to there ranks, as countless prisoners before her-- broken and humbled by the might of these insurmountable heretics. Born to the braid (Warrior wives within the hundred harems of Prath) She and her slave-sisters marched at the merciless behest of a Savannah king, and he willed that they succeed where all others failed. Barely blooded the young warrior was attached to a ring of heart-drinkers and dispatched to covertly overtake High Atoll; what ensued could scarcely be described as battle. The Crescent Sun pushed through the would-be raiders like a prow through water--above effort--and offered the survivors a choice: remain and adhere to their teachings or return and submit themselves to the 'compassion' of their master. Few opted for the latter.

This proved to be a quickly contempted decision as the Stone Sages were a stringent lot, demanding as much of the reluctant initiates as they did their own number; the thralldom she'd been released from a distant luxury compare to the harsh ascetic lifestyle Brevana now endured. Bodies and wills alike broke beneath the burden of a forty day fast, during which a paltry ration of water was to be the sole source of sustenance, yet Brevana's was not among them. Days turned into weeks and the weeks into months as all that she'd believed herself to be eroded away, in the years that followed the true self that was revealed grew close enough to grasp.

On Belief

Those of High Atoll value that which they extol to be the righteous truths, expressed totemicly as The Man, The Mirror and The Maker. The man is the material world and represents the lowest order of truths, those that are expressed externally. The mirror is the self and represents the next order of truths, personal truth. Lastly the Maker represents divine truth, as expressed via a crescent sun, for enlightenment is an ever distant horizon. By this measure ignorance is not only unjustified but sinful, as it distances oneself from the divine.

Through such reasoning Yvazgrul and like entities are adversarial to the will of the True Architect, fashioning a kingdom of their own in flawed semblance of the divine model; formed with the malevolent intention of entrapping aspects of the divine in materiality. Evidenced in how Yvazgrul, the font from which the Red Way springs covets the physical realm and coerces faith through fear and favor.

Exerts

*One must not mistake weakness in themselves for the strength of another

*Though entwined mind and body are no more separate halves of the same whole than a stone to its shadow.

*The material world is as an ocean, ignorance a weight upon the heel. To look beyond the surface we must shake this tether.

[Darkmatter]

Want to give us a quick run-down of the alternate names? Or is it first person to play one gets to name it?

@MelonHead

Ones I've used can fill in gaps as needed, but player creation is favoured. I'd like everyone to feel they own a piece of the RP instead of just taking a passenger seat!

@Lutalica & @Lutalica
I'll be heading into my office soon, so I'll grab a quick cup of coffee then leave my thoughts for the CS's here along those for @Chanda.

Welcome guys!

Edit To Original Post
Added religion and magic info for Vrent, again this is specific to our narrow setting.
Added the Ventus and Ulla, two races whom along with humans are most seen in Vrent.
Any player info/races can also be added here. :)

I think I'll refrain from adding much more to the OP. I don't want info overload before we even begin!
Character Feedback ~

First off some general thoughts on all three. All are accepted with flying colours, though I will need some kind of basic backstory for Brevana, though I am sure it is on the way!

These characters turned out perfectly for where I wanted to go with this. A hodgepodge group, and they all have something about them which will really mesh with some of the plot twists I have in mind.

On that note, I do have a very specific route I'd like this to go. I do have a 'big twist' that I would love to see come to fruition. As such I will be pushing us along at a nice pace for this and can't wait to see how these character's develop. I'll be doing out my own CS shortly.

Oliver
Straight up love where this character went. Initially I was like "oh, an old school knight, that's pretty cool I guess." Of course, his actual background and the way he's human to a fault is great. Much more likeable and interesting character than I thought it at first would be and what's any expedition without a thief!

Hector
Great addition also! I'd love if you'd like to write a quick little blurb on Herwen that we can include in the OP, with you credited of course. I would say though, Herwen you said is 'across' from Vrent. I'm going to assume you meant across and ocean/body of water as geographically, a desert right next to fertile valleys and mountains isn't realistic in the distances involved! I really enjoyed the tribe's interpretation of magic users being deemed to weak to survive without magic. It's a different but logical viewpoint. I will say however, that matter-crafting unlimited arrows would be extremely time extensive and physically exhausting within the bounds of magic in this world. It's completely fine, just be aware it wouldn't be a throw-away task. The character immediately adds diversity to the mix!

Brevana
Very cool character to have in the RP. A heretical monk in Vrent. Always good to have an older, world-wise character in the mix also. I'd love to see more information on her order and homeland and reasons for hatred of Yvazgrul if it's something you'd like to expand on now. Of course if you'd rather leave that exposition until the IC, that's great too!

[MelonHead]

Got the basic gist, though a few things need working on and naming as I'm still sort of floundering round the setting.

WIP

Name: Bakk

Race: Venar

Gender: Male

Age: 30

Appearance: Broad shouldered with rough brown hide-like skin, Bakk stands at six foot three and would be considered ‘stocky’ by his race’s standards. His large form is predominantly muscular rather than fatty due to his unusual diet. His body seems relatively human, though large in every sense as his hands and forearms proclaim powerful dense bones. His body hair grows thick and course brown and covers his chest back arms and legs almost to the point of making him look animalistic. His face is large with a pronounced jawline and brow, and his unnaturally sharp and large canines jut upwards from his bottom lip.

Clothing: Bakk dons himself in a fur and leather skirt somewhat similar to the lower half of a leather hauberk but with protection over the groin. It offers very little in the way of defence but also weighs him down and restricts him far less than any armour.

Bakk usually wears a fur vest, which actually only constitutes his under-clothes when roaming his home ranges, but his ability to acclimatize to cold requires little else in more temperate climes.

He wears simple fur boots sewn together to repair consistent damage, though his skin is tough enough to do without them cold would still likely cause frostbite and the loss of toes in the more extreme seasons.

Equipment: Bakk travels incredibly light, with a number of survivalist skills under his belt he requires little more than a pouch of essentials and a leather water-skin. Within the pouches are flint and tinder, twine and smoked meat. He also carries a six inch wood cutting knife in a leather sheath.

Weapons: Bakk’s weapons are multi-purpose in that he hunts and fights with the same equipment. He carries one iron war-axe and three to four sharpened stone throwing axes.

Skills: Bakk is a nomad and a hunter from the extreme northern mountain ranges, his skills as such are suited to survival in such an extreme clime.

Survivalist: Bakk can survive in harsh conditions and hunt for food, though his skill at hunting animals doesn’t translate outside of the wilds, he could reliably stalk even intelligent prey if given suitable conditions. A dependency on his throwing skills to maintain his life and the age at which he has reached are both signs that his axe throwing is impeccable for such an imprecise art.

Tribal: Bakk has a ferocious strength born from his primitive roots, though the Venar have come into contact with civilisation more often in recent times they are slow to adapt new ways, and compensate with their natural strengths.

Beast: The Venar have an affinity with carnivorous animals that borders on the super-natural, and their fighting mimics these creatures. Though Bakk has no formal axe training he can overcome better equipped opponents by merit of his strength and ferocity more often than not. However, the tendency to beserk can be a double-edged sword, and quick intelligent foes with better equipment would be sure to undo him eventually.

One with the Wilds: The Venar are closely attached to the natural world, and most exhibit incredibly acute senses, they can hear and smell extremely well and can see in low-light conditions, though the down-side is that they rarely maintain above average human intelligence, and many fall below.

Misc: Bakk prefers meat raw, and only smokes a small portion of his kill for lean times.

Bakk has a poor grasp of the common tongue, which makes him seem particularly unintelligent, though not a genius by any stretch Bakk is smart enough for his race, but this only comes out when conversing in his own tongue.

Bakk has a short temper in certain circumstances, and a disdain for outside races which makes him remarkably anti-social. However, the language barrier tends to make him out as a mysterious savage rather than an ill-tempered recluse.

Bakk has a poor tolerance for heat and grows incredibly ill-tempered and uncomfortable in warmer climes.
Bakk is often startled by sudden loud noises, and would be alarmed by the sound of a gunshot.

Background: Bakk had lived a turbulent and mobile life, even for a Venar. He left his mother tribe at fifteen years of age after his brother ascended to tribe chief, and wandered the wilds alone for five years, as was custom for his people. Eventually he made contact with a new tribe and made a home for himself amongst them. Venar tribes are incredibly tight nit and small by necessity, with only twenty to thirty people in the largest. They often skirmish among themselves and with slavers from the south east, and Bakk had it no different. Distinguished as a warrior and a hunter, as one would expect of a prospective tribe chief who had been taught little else as a child, he quickly ascended the ranks in his new tribe, to the point where he was eligible for the chief’s daughter. Surprisingly, considering the nature of his society, his growing relationship with his promised wife, Elera, was actually a mutual one, and Bakk lived happily for eight years in the tribe.

However, there was discontent to be found, which came to a head when the wise old Chief died, leaving behind him a son and daughter. The son ascended the tribe and perceived Bakk as a threat, though little seemed to come of this hostility. However, one year prior to the present day the tribe was caught up in a vicious slaver raid that saw horrific circumstances befall them. Bakk challenged the Chief to a duel in the following days and when refused killed him in cold blood, accepting exile.

Becoming an Outlaw was not a particularly unusual experience for a Venar, but Bakk was haunted and driven in equal measure by whatever happened on those fateful days. He began to seek out contact with low-landers and southerners, desperate for information. He found out a hard truth, nothing came for free. However, he was put into contact with someone who had the means to give him answers he sought, and jumped at the chance. Luckily his skills as a warrior and a hunter would serve him once more.

Venar Fluff

Venar: Beast-Men of the Ferendis Range

The Venar are in many ways similar to the Ventus and many have claimed that they must share some common ancestry. However, culturally they could be no more different, the Venar are a nomadic tribal people who are roughly 90% carnivorous. They have an affinity for cold and the wilds and their social structure is one of small secluded tribes of roughly 20-30 people with a Chief and ruling family. To describe the Venar as pack hunters would not be too harsh a description, they have created no great works of art and have rarely strayed from outside their range. However, it has been said that even if they had anything worth taking few would try, the Venar are an extreme threat to large forces in their own territory, and many a passing army has suffered severe attrition from Venar hunters. Only some of the hardiest and most skilled slaver bands from Vrent and further south venture into their ranges with hostile intent, and many pay with their lives.

However, the Venar are prized specimens, many reaching seven foot in height with powerful bear-like builds and appearances. Their women are more slender and usually a good few inches shorter than the men, with comparatively softer features. However, both sexes are natural fighters and hunters. With the exclusion of these two main past-times the Venar’s affinity with the wilds also serves as the foundation of their spiritualism. They worship nature itself, specifically referring to something known as the ‘Roots of the Great Tree’ and believe only in one’s place in the cycle of life. Each tribe enforces its own rules and the rule of the strongest tends to hold the most weight. Those gifted with magic are known as Shamans and incredibly rare, though there is a surprisingly high amount of magic within most Venar, it tends to exhibit itself in physical ways. Particularly, most Venar are gifted with a supernatural control over carnivores, and can avoid fighting most predators using this innate ability. This fairly common trait is sometimes found in extremes among the Venar, and those afflicted are known as ‘Bear-Kin’ not unlike Beserkers in Norse mythology. Their affinity to Beasts causes them to adopt the traits of animals in extreme circumstances. It’s the Bear-Kin which predominantly account for the Venar’s ferocity in battle.

Classifications

Species: Mammal, Humanoid

Homeland: Ferendis Mountain Range in the north, some may be found in adjacent ranges and further south as slaves or explorers, though most die soon after leaving the northern mountains.

Appearance: Bear-Like men, large boned, tall with brown hide-like skin, sharp teeth and shrewd eyes. Not unlike Neanderthals. Women are smaller with slighter softer features, but still comparatively animalistic compared to ordinary humans.

Lifespan: 60-70 years

Society: Nomadic Tribes, 20-30 people, low tech/tribal

Diet: 90% Carnivore, 10% Vegetation, Bark and Seasoning, most prefer meat raw

Intelligence: Average human and below intelligence.

Main traits/professions: Animalistic physicality, powerful bodies and dense bones make them natural fighters, acute senses make them exceptional hunters.

[Darkmatter]

@MelonHead

Will look over it in a tick!

Would you like to just verbalise any issues you have with the setting and I'll do my best to answer and accommodate!

I'd also like to take a second for everyone's sake to once again highlight: this will be story driven, and have central mystery, combat/battles will feature of course, but in no way should be considered the main driving force of the RP!

[MelonHead]

@MelonHead

Will look over it in a tick!

Would you like to just verbalise any issues you have with the setting and I'll do my best to answer and accommodate!

@Darkmatter

Well, I was always planning on creating a 'wild-man' esque character from a northern mountainous region, I didn't want the region to be too far from Vrent either. Also, after seeing what the Ventus are like today I realised they were going to have a lot in common (appearance wise) with what I was planning to make, so it makes sense if they had a common ancestry somewhere along the line and then went different ways.

However I don't really know if there is anything north of Vrent, as the northern-most town is a port.

[Darkmatter]

@MelonHead
The northenmost town is a port, but it is the northermost part of Vrent if that makes sense, not the land itself. The mountains on which Vrent sits extend to north and east for miles and miles so it geogrpahically makes sense.

I think the idea is a good fit! I added some more thoughts on the character to the OP, if you want to look, but essentially I like the character.

Perhaps a very rudimentary map would help everyone.

Also for @Everyone, I added the majority of my own character's sheet, with just the fluff to come.

[Chanda]

I added my sheet to the character tab, glad you liked it.

As for the setting, am I correct in assuming that knighthood doesn't really exist in Vrent at this point? I would imagine that a more modernized society with a standing military wouldn't be caught up in that kind of antiquated lord/vassal/fealty business when a more straightforward method of military organization is available. Is the title of "Sir" even used anymore, or is it more common to refer to high ranking soldiers by their rank? Is knighthood at least a familiar concept to the people of Enduwin? Is it still prevalent in some of the less developed areas, or has everyone moved past it at this point?

[Darkmatter]

I added my sheet to the character tab, glad you liked it.

As for the setting, am I correct in assuming that knighthood doesn't really exist in Vrent at this point? I would imagine that a more modernized society with a standing military wouldn't be caught up in that kind of antiquated lord/vassal/fealty business when a more straightforward method of military organization is available. Is the title of "Sir" even used anymore, or is it more common to refer to high ranking soldiers by their rank? Is knighthood at least a familiar concept to the people of Enduwin? Is it still prevalent in some of the less developed areas, or has everyone moved past it at this point?

@Chanda

It would still be prevalent elsewhere for sure, but likely has never been a concept in Vrent as feudalism was never really a part of their history. The word knight is probably used in the vernacular and its meaning well known.

[Rtron]

@Darkmatter

I might make another character (for the heals!). In the mean time...

Herwen blurb

Geography: The actual range of the nation Herwen, across the sea from Vrent, is hard to define. Essentially a small nation in a large desert, Herwen has only two cities. Aside from these two cities (Harchan and Turocan), the Chosen are scattered about the Whispering Wastes (what they call their desert) moving in nomadic tribes from Oasis to Oasis. It is impossible to draw borders, as the Chosen have no reason to make any and wouldn't recognize them anyway, with their wandering.

The holy city of Harchan (where it is claimed the Gods first placed The Chosen) and the port city of Turocan are the only known areas where one can consistently fine the Chosen in large numbers. However, outsiders aren't allowed into Harchan, making Turocan (named after the Tribe who serves as the face and 'government' of Herwen) the only place where some form of trade and diplomacy can take place. The Turocans decide what trade is allowed, what foreign expeditions are allowed, and so on so forth. Given Herwen's size, lack of unity, and desert wasteland status, it isn't any wonder why the Turocans deal with very few foreign nations.

Harchan is ran by a Tribe of priests. They bring all the tribes in for peace and prayer, healing wounds, resupplying, and generally being a sanctuary against the Whispering Wastes. Since it is not magic or new technology, and even the strongest of men need sanctuary from time to time, it is accepted and well used.

Culture: While traditions and practices vary from tribe to tribe, three basic things remain the same. All the tribes believe that the Gods (remaining nameless and featureless) saw how weak and soft the rest of the humans were and created the Whispering Wastes to challenge and make humanity strong. They Chose people from all over the world and put them in the Wastes. 'Without magics or creation's of man to aid you, you will survive and be strong. You will be ready for when we drown the world in sand and heat.' With that decree, the Gods disappeared. The Chosen have been surviving like that ever since.

All tribes also despise magic and newer technologies. They see the former as the Gods deeming someone too weak to survive in the Whispering Wastes by themselves, and they see the latter as weak people trying to make their lives easier. How to deal with each of these varies from tribe to tribe. Some execute mages and technology users immediately. Other's mark them with the Tears of Shame so that all will know that they were too weak to survive in the Whispering Wastes without aid.

If it is not immediately shown that a person is a mage, a drop of blood is drawn from the person in question and dropped in the juice of a Ferchun cactus. If it turns vibrant purple, they're a mage. If it does not, they're not a mage.

The third thing is gender equality. If a woman can be as soft and weak as a man, thus the Gods have said, a woman can be as strong as a man. While there are certainly roles where men gravitate more naturally (and vice versa) and tribes where they ignore this rule (going both ways), most tribes seem to obey this rule. Even in Turocan.