Badarby

Empire of the Clouds

Giogoula was at the top of the airship, doing her daily checks with her scope. It was a cold morning and while she volunteered to do patrols from the top of the balloon, she wondered if she should’ve stayed inside or help the men move the gold. At least the labor could help keep her mind off of the cold. She could go for some hot coffee after her patrol’s over. While looking through the scope, she saw a brief movement at the ridge from her scope.

“Huh?” She thought and she trained the telescope back onto the ridge. Maybe the movements were just trees or something. Unfortunately for her, the movements were men on horseback heading towards the grounded airship, not some trees dancing with the wind.

Even with her scope, she couldn’t make out if the horsemen were Imperials, Calarians, or insurrectionists. Giogoula opened the hatch and climbed down to the nearest station with wired telephone. She has to alert the others right away.

Getting to a phone, Giogoula contacted the cockpit.

“There are a bunch of men on horseback from the ridge!” she shouted, not giving Itzi a time to respond. “Alert the others for a possible withdrawal! Can’t tell of they’re friendly or not!”

Giogoula then shut off the phone and climbed back up to the top of the balloon. If things get dicey, then the machine gun nest at the top will be of good use to the crew.

Smoke and Steel

Character Description

Name: Kieran Dadithas
Species/Race: Elgafolk
Sex: Male
Age: 172
Court Alignment: Eastern Empire
Role: General of the Imperial Army in Grendell
Appearance: Stands at 6 feet 5 inches


My Hider

Strengths and Weaknesses

Skills: Over a century of leadership and training with various weapons certainly does a lot for the Elgamann's military prowess. He's also open minded in his beliefs and prefers to promote his underlings based on ability and character instead of status.
Weaknesses: Can't swim and his focus on neutrality in the interest of fighting the Blight may create his own enemies.

Background:

Backstory: Kieran Dadithas was born after the rise of the Haltian Empire to a horselord family. As a teenager, he was sent east by his father in order for him to integrate himself within the developed area of the Empire and as a way to be familiar with eastern politics. In the East, Kieran was interested in the stories of the humans within the empire and read many books about the history of the Inburian Empire. The portion of the Blight was especially of great interest to him, which he believes another massive invasion by the Orcs could happen again, especially since the Blighted land is still there and only held off by the various armies. Politically, he's in the Reformist faction of the Empire, believing that the policies of Emperor Voron would only hasten the Empire's demise from within but went the way of military service instead of politics, placing much faith in Voron's eldest son in passing reforms within the empire.

Kieran Dadithas found himself as the general of the largest military force in the Haltian Empire when he was appointed to lead the force at Grendell against the Blight. It was a job he took seriously and for the next century, drilled the soldiers and officers in Grendell almost daily, regardless of race and status. When civil war broke out within the empire, Kieran didn't send a detachment of the Grendell force to assist Voron II against Orrian. After all, it doesn't matter who becomes Emperor as long as the Blight is still there threatening the Empire's eastern border. Technically, Kieran pledges loyalty to Voron II as his Emperor, mainly due to the fact that Grendell is within the territories of the Eastern faction and of shared political sentiments for reforms. However, even Voron II understands Kieran's public declaration of neutrality in the conflict, that the general could not and would not spare men to fight and die for a throne when the Blight is already there and have already attacked many times. Of course, he has his preference of among the five factions. The Red Wyvern's force is especially brutal towards Elgafolks and he doubt that the Reds would be so kind to the Elgafolks in Grendell, he wouldn't mind the Reds being eliminated only so much that he fears that a Red victory would actually be detrimental to Grendell's military capability. Other factions, he believes, would have the threat of the Blight in their minds and would only ask for a token acknowledgement after their possible victories.

Smoke and Steel

Character Description

Name: Edwin Aeorouant
Species/Race: Human - Quinian
Sex: Male
Age: 20
Court Alignment: White
Role: Prince of Carnelfenney, Leader of the Carnelfennian Royal Detachment
Appearance: Stands at 5 feet 9 inches


My Hider

Strengths and Weaknesses

Skills: A member of the Royal House of Aeorouant, Edwin has access to the finest education the country has to offer, as expected for a member of the royal family to be literate and knowledgeable in many fields of study to assist the King or take up the role as one in certain circumstances. He is also physically fit due to his extensive training regiment growing up that he still follows to this day when not attending the meetings of the Privy Council or the tournaments. Edwin handled the use of many weapons and even trained with the Royal Guards to better hone his fighting capabilities.
Weaknesses: Can't swim

Background:

Backstory: Prince Edwin is King Perick III's youngest brother. He came from a long line of rulers as far as scholars recorded the history of Carnelfenney. To be more accurate, the House of Aeorouant is just another noble family that inherited the mantle from another family through marriages as the progenitor of the Royal House of Aeorouant, Prince Consort Donnan was married to Queen Agata of Heussaff, the prior Royal House over Carnelfenney. The entire royal line claims descendents from King Brevaler, the legendary founder of Greater Quinlan centuries ago.

Perick was born into royalty as the third child of King Henog IV (Perick the eldest son, Katell as the daughter) and grew up with expectations that while he may not succeed his father, he will assist the Crown with the best of his ability as Prince. He was given the best tutor the kingdom can offer and he visited the armory to train with weapons due to his fascination with the kingdom’s implements of war. When he was 15, the elderly King Henog IV passed away and the eldest, Crown Prince Perick, was crowned as the next High King of Carnelfenny. The chance of his ascending the throne is slim, especially since Perick is already married with two healthy sons and a daughter when he took the throne while Edwin is still a bachelor. Not that Edwin has desires to take the throne as King, but he does feel limited in his roles.

When the King raised his army to relieve the people of Trefgodwig from the Empire, Edwin rode alongside him, eager for some action. The Prince was there when the King negotiated with the Hasikos pretender, Andronika of royal support and after the negotiations, the King came to Edwin with the task of leading the Royal detachment in the King's name. Of course, the King didn't want his brother to fight in a foreign land just to bring glory for himself but also for the opportunity of creating a marriage pact between the Aeorouant and the Hasikos. In Perick's eyes, his brother is certainly available for a relationship and a marriage pact would be extremely beneficial to the Quinians when the Inburian Empire returns in full. Edwin understood his role and while he does want to fight the Imps, he is hesitant about courting the princess. Still, he willingly accepted the King's offer to lead a detachment of royal soldiers in the name of the King. Maybe there is some interests about marrying the Hasikos girl, maybe he justs wanted the adventure more.

Smoke and Steel

Character Description

Name: Stefano Bene (real name Astartus Nicolau)
Species/Race: Human - Shariq
Sex: Male
Age: 31
Court Alignment: Black
Role: Legal Expert and Negotiator for Coralie D'Ambois
Appearance: Stands at 5 feet, 7 inches


My Hider

Strengths and Weaknesses

Skills: Being a legal expert in the maritime laws of many countries in the Circle Sea, Stefano is educated and is often used for taking part in negotiations with many organizations. Add to that, he is known for his charisma coming from his friendly, flamboyant, and laid back attitude; often used for diplomacy and swooning women.
Weaknesses: While he had trained with weapons for self defense, conflict is not his forte and he’s not one to be looking for a fight. When the fists start throwing, he's finding a table to hide under. He also can’t swim, considering it to be bad luck and tempting the sea spirits.

Background:

Backstory: Astartus Nicolau was born in a small imperial town to a Shariq blacksmith family. Despite his father's attempt to instill the value of honest living, Astartus had little interest in blacksmithing and would fall in the wrong crowd of pickpockets and scammers as a child, getting in trouble with local authorities over petty theft. As part of lashings given by his father and older brother, he would wise up and focus on his education, taking some interest in studying imperial laws. Part of it was a genuine effort for him to reform himself from his teenage years of being a troublemaker, part of it was because he wanted to leave the small town. He made his family proud once he passed the necessary requirements and tests to became a business attorney and was able to move to Inbur.

However, trouble always seems to follow Astartus as he was under suspicion for possible involvement in a smuggling ring (which he was). He was able to flee the imperial authorities and bribed some Calarian trader for him to flee to Calaria. While escaping, Astartus threw some of his personal items overboard. Hopefully, officials in search of him would have written him off as having drowned in the sea.

At Calaria, Astartus grew out his hair and beard and had taken a different personality. The quiet and reserved Astartus Nicolau is no more, now he's the flamboyant Stefano Bene, a legal expert from Calaria. Stefano worked for various merchants and lords, seeking the opportunity to finance his lifestyle of making more money and love to women. He even founded himself within the service of Coralie D’Ambois and her fleet of corsairs, using his words rather than fists to help out the Hasikos pretender. However, something is screaming at him from the back of his mind that this venture may be more than he bargained for.

Smoke and Steel

Character Description

Name: Loan Klodig
Species/Race: Human - Quinian
Sex: Male
Age: 29
Court Alignment: White
Role: Captain, Official Liaison between the White Wyvern and the King of Carnelfenney
Appearance: Stands at 6 feet and 1 inch


My Hider

Strengths and Weaknesses

Skills: Loan is a trained soldier and is well versed with various contemporary weapons. A man of great stature and strength, he can also hold his own in hand to hand combat, but would prefer to have a blunt or bladed weapon if placed in such a position.
Weaknesses: Can't swim

Background:

Backstory: Loan Klodig was born to a minor noble family in the Kingdom of Carnelfenney, near the city of Trefgodwig. Well, it would probably be more accurate that he was born to a merchant family, but his widowed father did marry a lady a few years after Loan's birth so the family is technically of minor nobility. Plus, Loan had attained officer status when working as a mercenary employed by northern lords in the Quinian-Haltian border against Haltian raiders.

The last year has been quite an eventful one for Loan. He and his men were ambushed by a Haltian raiding party that ended with him captured and transported with others deep into Imperial territory. He and a mismatch of others managed to escape the slave caravan with the help of a sympathetic guard and a princess who was also held in the caravan. The group broke out some individuals from a castle and fought off an orc scouting party at the Morktree. Somewhere in th excitement, one of the members, a peasant Monchian girl, was revealed to be the prophecized Dawnbringer and one member of the party tried to take the life of the princess and kindnapped the Dawnbringer before the girl was retrieved back. Lives were lost along the way. Then, the group took a trek to northern Carnelfenney, to home.

However, the excitement didn't end once they reached Trefgodwig. War was being prepared now that the Haltians wanted to take the Dawnbringer in a gilded cage for their own use and 10,000 Imperial soldiers attacked the city. Loan was quick to protect his home from the Empire and he and the others fought long enough for royal reinforcements to arrive and relieve the city from the Empire. For his effort, Loan was rewarded handsomely and was appointed by the King himself as the official liaison between the Carnelfennian Royal detachment and Andronika's regiment.

Smoke and Steel

Character Description

Name: Edwin Aeorouant
Species/Race: Human - Quinian
Sex: Male
Age: 20
Court Alignment: White
Role: Prince of Carnelfenney, Leader of the Carnelfennian Royal Detachment
Appearance: Stands at 5 feet 9 inches

Strengths and Weaknesses

Skills: A member of the Royal House of Aeorouant, Edwin has access to the finest education the country has to offer, as expected for a member of the royal family to be literate and knowledgeable in many fields of study to assist the King or take up the role as one in certain circumstances. He is also physically fit due to his extensive training regiment growing up that he still follows to this day when not attending the meetings of the Privy Council or the tournaments. Edwin handled the use of many weapons and even trained with the Royal Guards to better hone his fighting capabilities.
Weaknesses: Can't swim

Background:

Backstory: Prince Edwin is King Perick III's youngest brother. He came from a long line of rulers as far as scholars recorded the history of Carnelfenney. To be more accurate, the House of Aeorouant is just another noble family that inherited the mantle from another family through marriages as the progenitor of the Royal House of Aeorouant, Prince Consort Donnan was married to Queen Agata of Heussaff, the prior Royal House over Carnelfenney. The entire royal line claims descendents from King Brevaler, the legendary founder of Greater Quinlan centuries ago.

Perick was born into royalty as the third child of King Henog IV (Perick the eldest son, Katell as the daughter) and grew up with expectations that while he may not succeed his father, he will assist the Crown with the best of his ability as Prince. He was given the best tutor the kingdom can offer and he visited the armory to train with weapons due to his fascination with the kingdom’s implements of war. When he was 15, the elderly King Henog IV passed away and the eldest, Crown Prince Perick, was crowned as the next High King of Carnelfenny. The chance of his ascending the throne is slim, especially since Perick is already married with two healthy sons and a daughter when he took the throne while Edwin is still a bachelor. Not that Edwin has desires to take the throne as King, but he does feel limited in his roles.

When the King raised his army to relieve the people of Trefgodwig from the Empire, Edwin rode alongside him, eager for some action. The Prince was there when the King negotiated with the Hasikos pretender, Andronika of royal support and after the negotiations, the King came to Edwin with the task of leading the Royal detachment in the King's name. Of course, the King didn't want his brother to fight in a foreign land just to bring glory for himself but also for the opportunity of creating a marriage pact between the Aeorouant and the Hasikos. In Perick's eyes, his brother is certainly available for a relationship and a marriage pact would be extremely beneficial to the Quinians when the Inburian Empire returns in full. Edwin understood his role and while he does want to fight the Imps, he is hesitant about courting the princess. Still, he willingly accepted the King's offer to lead a detachment of royal soldiers in the name of the King. Maybe there is some interests about marrying the Hasikos girl, maybe he justs wanted the adventure more.

Character Description

Name: Kieran Dadithas
Species/Race: Elgafolk
Sex: Male
Age: 172
Court Alignment: Eastern Empire
Role: General of the Imperial Army in Grendell
Appearance: Stands at 6 feet 5 inches

Strengths and Weaknesses

Skills: Over a century of leadership and training with various weapons certainly does a lot for the Elgamann's military prowess. He's also open minded in his beliefs and prefers to promote his underlings based on ability and character instead of status.
Weaknesses: Can't swim and his focus on neutrality in the interest of fighting the Blight may create his own enemies.

Background:

Backstory: Kieran Dadithas was born after the rise of the Haltian Empire to a horselord family. As a teenager, he was sent east by his father in order for him to integrate himself within the developed area of the Empire and as a way to be familiar with eastern politics. In the East, Kieran was interested in the stories of the humans within the empire and read many books about the history of the Inburian Empire. The portion of the Blight was especially of great interest to him, which he believes another massive invasion by the Orcs could happen again, especially since the Blighted land is still there and only held off by the various armies. Politically, he's in the Reformist faction of the Empire, believing that the policies of Emperor Voron would only hasten the Empire's demise from within but went the way of military service instead of politics, placing much faith in Voron's eldest son in passing reforms within the empire.

Kieran Dadithas found himself as the general of the largest military force in the Haltian Empire when he was appointed to lead the force at Grendell against the Blight. It was a job he took seriously and for the next century, drilled the soldiers and officers in Grendell almost daily, regardless of race and status. When civil war broke out within the empire, Kieran didn't send a detachment of the Grendell force to assist Voron II against Orrian. After all, it doesn't matter who becomes Emperor as long as the Blight is still there threatening the Empire's eastern border. Technically, Kieran pledges loyalty to Voron II as his Emperor, mainly due to the fact that Grendell is within the territories of the Eastern faction and of shared political sentiments for reforms. However, even Voron II understands Kieran's public declaration of neutrality in the conflict, that the general could not and would not spare men to fight and die for a throne when the Blight is already there and have already attacked many times. Of course, he has his preference of among the five factions. The Red Wyvern's force is especially brutal towards Elgafolks and he doubt that the Reds would be so kind to the Elgafolks in Grendell, he wouldn't mind the Reds being eliminated only so much that he fears that a Red victory would actually be detrimental to Grendell's military capability. Other factions, he believes, would have the threat of the Blight in their minds and would only ask for a token acknowledgement after their possible victories.

Smoke and Steel

Two characters apps for now with two more in development

Character Description

Name: Loan Klodig
Species/Race: Human - Quinian
Sex: Male
Age: 29
Court Alignment: White
Role: Captain, Official Liaison between the White Wyvern and the King of Carnelfenney
Appearance: Stands at 6 feet and 1 inch

Strengths and Weaknesses

Skills: Loan is a trained soldier and is well versed with various contemporary weapons. A man of great stature and strength, he can also hold his own in hand to hand combat, but would prefer to have a blunt or bladed weapon if placed in such a position.
Weaknesses: Can't swim

Background:

Backstory: Loan Klodig was born to a minor noble family in the Kingdom of Carnelfenney, near the city of Trefgodwig. Well, it would probably be more accurate that he was born to a merchant family, but his widowed father did marry a lady a few years after Loan's birth so the family is technically of minor nobility. Plus, Loan had attained officer status when working as a mercenary employed by northern lords in the Quinian-Haltian border against Haltian raiders.

The last year has been quite an eventful one for Loan. He and his men were ambushed by a Haltian raiding party that ended with him captured and transported with others deep into Imperial territory. He and a mismatch of others managed to escape the slave caravan with the help of a sympathetic guard and a princess who was also held in the caravan. The group broke out some individuals from a castle and fought off an orc scouting party at the Morktree. Somewhere in th excitement, one of the members, a peasant Monchian girl, was revealed to be the prophecized Dawnbringer and one member of the party tried to take the life of the princess and kindnapped the Dawnbringer before the girl was retrieved back. Lives were lost along the way. Then, the group took a trek to northern Carnelfenney, to home.

However, the excitement didn't end once they reached Trefgodwig. War was being prepared now that the Haltians wanted to take the Dawnbringer in a gilded cage for their own use and 10,000 Imperial soldiers attacked the city. Loan was quick to protect his home from the Empire and he and the others fought long enough for royal reinforcements to arrive and relieve the city from the Empire. For his effort, Loan was rewarded handsomely and was appointed by the King himself as the official liaison between the Carnelfennian Royal detachment and Andronika's regiment.

Character Description

Name: Stefano Bene (real name Astartus Nicolau)
Species/Race: Human - Shariq
Sex: Male
Age: 31
Court Alignment: Black
Role:
Appearance: Stands at 5 feet, 7 inches

Strengths and Weaknesses

Skills: Being a legal expert in the maritime laws of many countries in the Circle Sea, Stefano is educated and is often used for taking part in negotiations with many organizations. Add to that, he is known for his charisma coming from his friendly, flamboyant, and laid back attitude; often used for diplomacy and swooning women.
Weaknesses: While he had trained with weapons for self defense, conflict is not his forte and he’s not one to be looking for a fight. When the fists start throwing, he's finding a table to hide under. He also can’t swim, considering it to be bad luck and tempting the sea spirits.

Background:

Backstory: Astartus Nicolau was born in a small imperial town to a Shariq blacksmith family. Despite his father's attempt to instill the value of honest living, Astartus had little interest in blacksmithing and would fall in the wrong crowd of pickpockets and scammers as a child, getting in trouble with local authorities over petty theft. As part of lashings given by his father and older brother, he would wise up and focus on his education, taking some interest in studying imperial laws. Part of it was a genuine effort for him to reform himself from his teenage years of being a troublemaker, part of it was because he wanted to leave the small town. He made his family proud once he passed the necessary requirements and tests to became a business attorney and was able to move to Inbur.

However, trouble always seems to follow Astartus as he was under suspicion for possible involvement in a smuggling ring (which he was). He was able to flee the imperial authorities and bribed some Calarian trader for him to flee to Calaria. While escaping, Astartus threw some of his personal items overboard. Hopefully, officials in search of him would have written him off as having drowned in the sea.

At Calaria, Astartus grew out his hair and beard and had taken a different personality. The quiet and reserved Astartus Nicolau is no more, now he's the flamboyant Stefano Bene, a legal expert from Calaria. Stefano worked for various merchants and lords, seeking the opportunity to finance his lifestyle of making more money and love to women. He even founded himself within the service of Coralie D’Ambois and her fleet of corsairs, using his words rather than fists to help out the Hasikos pretender. However, something is screaming at him from the back of his mind that this venture may be more than he bargained for.

Empire of the Clouds

Giogoula Giorgiou

As most of the crew is on the ground transporting gold, Giogoula was serving as lookout for the gondola for any mass movements heading to or around the castle. As far as she's aware, there is nothing the insurrectionists or the Calarians have that should catch up with the zeppelin and the ground team should have ample time to gather the remaining gold into the zeppelin and leave long before any hostiles show up. Still, one could never be too cautious especially in the time of war. Plus, the crew should also be prepared for say the return of imperial forces to the castle to transport more gold to safe areas. She has an electric torch with her to alert the ground crew just in case of mass movements being found.

The policewoman peered through her binoculars all around the area from one side of the gondola. Once she's satisfied of her search, she went to another side of the gondola and repeated the process. Maybe a few more patrols before she climbs up to the top and do a patrol there, if there isn't someone already at the top.

Empire of the Clouds

Giogoula "Giogio" Giorgiou

Giogio was walking through the streets as the chaos ensued, resting her right hand on her holstered revolver in case she needs it as she finds her to escape the capital. War came to Inbur rather suddenly, the Imperial Army was unprepared for a two front war and the horrors that the Calarians employed. She saw one of her police colleagues captured by the columnists and executed for "counterrevolutionary activities." Giogio isn't going to risk staying in the city, despite her working class background. She spent the past months infiltrating commmunalist groups in the city and the chance of some fifth columnist recognizing her is too high for her to stay.

During her escape, she avoided any armed men, regardless of the uniforms or armbands they're wearing. She made her way to what looks like a military area, seemingly still under the control of the Army, or at least not wresting control against the rebels. It did looked like she went through the part of the city that has to fall under the Calarians or the insurrectionists, but that is likely to be only temporary since the military is withdrawing from the city itself.

Giogio saw a bunch of people, civilians no doubt, at the area scrambling to get onto a military zeppelin with the number 27. This could be her chance to escape the city, maybe head to a safe zone where her family could be. She picked up the pace, no way she's going to be left to the hands of the Calarians or the Insurrectionists.

Luckily, she made it to the ladder and began to climb.

Empire of the Clouds

Giogoula "Giogio" Giorgiou

Character Description

Name: Giogoula "Giogio" Giorgiou
Gender: Female
Age: 25
Nationality: Inburian
Appearance:

My Hider

Personal Effects:
- Snubnose revolver
- Pocketwatch
- Inbur City Police Department Badge

Background:

What is your job: Policewoman
Backstory: Giogoula "Giogio" Giorgiou was born to a working class family of four in the city of Inbur. Her father, Yiorgous Giorgiou, was a sergeant in the city police and worked hard to ensure his family's safety and well being, even going as far as teaching his wife and children self defense lessons. Growing up, Giogoula never felt that she was in a struggle despite her working class background, she attended and completed public schools by her late teens and enrolled in a women's college.

After college, Giogoula would follow in her father's footsteps and join the city police, due to her looking up to her father's tireless work in trying to keep the city safe before retiring. Despite her father’s initial opposition due to the possible dangers of police work, he would eventually relent and put in a good word for her to his colleagues. Giogoula's initial work with the police was limited to handling domestic disputes and interviewing female and juvenile witnesses and victims. Overtime, however, she would be assigned to taking part in investigations, particularly in infiltrating criminal activities.

Using various disguises and identities, she was instrumental in the police busting some underground activities. Soon, she was tasked in infiltrating a suspected communalist cell that may have been cooperating with Calarian agitators. It was an joint operation with the military in busting the fifth columnist as the threat of war looms, and she was willing to take part in it, having no love for communalists.

Giogio would continue her police work even as war seems more likely. Her family had moved north but she remained, seeing it as her duty to keep the peace in the city. Plus, Inbur is pretty far away from Calaria. Eventually, the Chief of Police wants her to stay away from infiltrating the communalist cell; there was ample evidence that her cover could be blown if she continues her work and that the Chief was worried that there is a traitor within the police department giving informations to possible insurrectionists. The decision to have her move north happened right when war broke out between the Empire and the Calarians.

The Inburians were set back by insurrections within the fifth column, despite the best effort of the empire's intelligence agency, and a surprise attack in the east by Xak-Shariq. Even the police was involved in the defense of the city, albeit they too were getting overwhelmed. Trapped in the city and knowing what fate becomes to the military and police informants, Giogio and some of the others were ordered to flee the city alongside many of the other civilians for their safety.