BCTheEntity

PZPRS : Hard Cover Edition

Behold, the new Discord server. So that we can chat about characters and such, if anybody needs helps with their initial ideas or what have you.

PZPRS: Hard Cover Edition

So we're clear on it, who would have interest in a Discord server for this game?

Kingmakers: The Throne Alone (A Medieval Fantasy Succession Crisis)

@Dark Light@Jasno If you both wouldn't mind joining the Discord server, @TheRedWatcher and I will want to chat with you about your characters later on.

Kingmakers: The Throne Alone (A Medieval Fantasy Succession Crisis)

@Dark Light I should make a firm point, first off, that the family surname is not Varangyrian. That would be Varangyrian VII's given name. If anything, he'd be Karl Vyapult, or Karl of House Vyapult if the general setup for noble houses is that you get the house as a family name when you inherit the house in full. Secondly, it should probably be made a point of that he'd share the vulnerability Varan has of being of mixed blood, namely from their grandfather Varangyrian VI's partner. That might be important to delve into somewhat.

To wit, if you want to discuss this further, it may be a good call to head into the Discord for this RP, so that we can communicate more swiftly on the pertinent matters in future.

Kingmakers: The Throne Alone (A Medieval Fantasy Succession Crisis)

While that position sounds interesting I’m kinda feeling like playing someone’s younger brother or cousin.
You know, just tagging onto another players house (can work out exact reasons later) and being less important but still of a noble family.

Anyone keen?

@Dark Light

Archduke Varangyrian has a younger brother Karl. If you're interested. I can edit them to be a younger or older brother or sister too, whatever wants changing. And for reference as to the current lineage of Great House Vyapult:

Vyapult Line (starting from Varan I's designation as High Lord of the Frostmark)
1. Varangyrian Vyapult I x Duchess Mariya of D'yavoles
2. Varangyrian Vyapult II x Duchess Eleonora | Duke Dzhek, the Treefarmer x Lady Alison of Arbormark
3. Alekzandr Vyapult I x Duchess Ruthenia | Duchess Anastasia of Azkuzia
4. Varangyrian Vyapult III, the Cruel x Duchess Miriam of Stormlands
5. Erik the Hunter (formerly the Outcast) | Alekzandr Vyapult II x Duchess Arianne of Wildwood
6. Duke Garl't x Countess Alina | Varangyrian Vyapult IV, the Suzerain x Duchess Vyatik, the Wanderer | Duchess Aleksandryr, the Lawbinder
7. Count Varangyrian of Mirkuzi x Lady Dzhezika of Severoreka | Duke Varangyrian x Duchess Lilianna of the Crownmark | Varangyrian Vyapult V x Warden Markus of Westmarch
8. Varangyrian Vyapult VI (recently the Barbarian) x Dikynima | Duchess Novgoriz x Duke Izboryk
9. Duke Dyr of Bastion | Duke Dvini x Duchess Miriyam of D'yavoles | Duke Varangyrian of Eastfrost x Duchess Ayla of D'yavoles | Theophania Vyapult I x Warden Jacques
10. Varangyrian Vyapult VII | Duke Karl, the Guildmaster x Duchess Natalie of Mistlands

Thornwood Asylum For The Criminal Insane- A Villain Roleplay. (Closed Indefinitely)

The Man Who Commands Spiders

Name: Brock Robert Jameson

Known Aliases: "Spiders Man", The Grand Arachnid, Spider Insider

Age: 32

Appearance:

Standard

Under normal circumstances, Brock looks relatively mundane, albeit off in a sense that isn't immediately obvious. Black hair down to his neck, light skin, and pale blue eyes all add to a fairly tall frame that might be considered attractive, and at first glance he could be taken as a "muscular hunk" of sorts. This image fails once one realises much of that size is affected: that his neck is quite narrow, his cheeks are hollow, and come to think of it, his skin looks concerningly shiny, like it has a layer of gloss over the top...

Empowered

This look comes into view as Brock's Araneaepathy is utilised, invoking physical effects on his appearance. His hair stands partly on end as if charged with static, whilst eerie blue-green light emits from it and his irises, blotting out other colours in both whilst making clear his slender frame and chitinous shell to an observer. Finally, he moves very differently than when he is not using the power, as if he were less human and more spider-esque.

Psyche Profile:

Interview 1 Excerpt

Dr. Cartman: Beginning interview log with patient Brock Robert Jameson, session one. Brock, hello.
Subject appears distracted initially, before refocusing on Dr. Cartman.
Subject: Ah, we're starting? Hi, hello, yes. Er, can you turn down the light please? It's really bright in here, it's hurting my eyes.
Dr. Cartman: Tell me, what do you believe brings you here?
Subject: Oh, no, okay, that's fine. To the... the interview room, or the jail?
Dr. Cartman: To the asylum, Brock.
Subject: Okay, because you didn't make that very clear, see. You were just like, "what brings you here?", right, and I didn't know how specific you were being, and so I didn't have an answer for that until you cleared it up. Like, um- like, how when spiders make a web, and it's not necessarily clear what its shape is without closer examination? Actually, that's pretty neat, see, because most spiders don't actually make spiral webs like orb-weavers, because-
Dr. Cartman: Mister Jameson, the question?
Subject: Mm? Oh, er- why am I at the prison, right. Yeah, I'll get to that, but my point- because they were the starting point, like the first type of web, but then you got tangle webs, funnel webs, sheet webs, all kinds, just thrown together with no specific- oh right, the question! I got carried away, sorry. I like spiders, spiders are neat.
During explanation of web types, subject displays increasingly dynamic gesticulation of arms.
Dr. Cartman: I see. So why are you at the asylum?
Subject: So why am I here, probably because I have fangs and can control spiders. I mean, I can't put them out right now, I can't do those things, but yeah, that.

Initial questioning suggests understanding of human concepts, but an intense hyperfocus on the subject of spiders. There is likely kinship involved with these, and a degree of single-mindedness that suggests araneaepathy may be two-directional. Further study required. - Dr. Cartman

Interview 2 Excerpt

Dr. Cartman: Now, Brock, would you mind describing your araneaepathy's effects, both upon you and the spiders you control?
Subject: Oh, you're calling it that? That's pretty cool, but I mean, I never really thought about it too hard. I guess if I had spiders to show it off to, it'd be neat, so you could see for yourself. Do you have any?
Dr. Cartman: We will not allow you to engage in live testing at this time, no.
Subject: Damn. It's too quiet, I liked- I liked being able to sense them. It was so neat, like having a bunch of extra eyes, right? Their vision varies depending on species, you know, so a different type of spider, right, might have poor vision and rely on sensing web vibrations, but another might have really good eyesight, and the directionality could vary too, like with jumping spiders. They can see forward well, you know? They need that so they can lock on to what they're hunting. Ogre spiders are actually, they have even stronger vision, because they develop this light-reflective membrane, which is so sensitive it burns away in daylight. Er, speaking of, speaking of that, the light's are still-
Dr. Cartman: When you say you "sense" them-
Subject: -really bright in my- uh, I mean, what? Sense? Well, I sense them, yeah. They're uh, it's not really telepathy, they don't have big brains, really it's more like a dense nerve tangle. Portia spiders, they're basically the smartest spiders in the world, and can plan ahead when hunting to crazy lengths, but they only have about six hundred neurons total. It's very very slow thinking ahead, but it's smart thinking, and it has to be so they can hunt other spiders without getting eaten themselves. So yeah, it's not really detecting their thoughts, more like I can see their nervous patterns in my mind, right? And I can put my own instructions into those, like a- like a, what the hell are those tiny little robot pets called, the dumb ones on the screens everybody liked in the early two thou- T███████i! Those ones. Like reprogramming one of them, except it's a living being, so I don't want them getting hurt.
Vivid gesticulation proceeds throughout subject's diatribe.

Subject shows heightened empathy for spiders, and describes conceptualisation of their psychology within his own brain rather than merely access to their thoughts. This likely confirms two-directional araneaepathy, implying that fixation and knowledge comes from imprinting of neurological patterns into the subject's own grey matter. Additionally, for future reports, assume gesticulation from subject when discussing spiders unless otherwise stated. - Dr. Cartman

Interview 5 Excerpt

Dr. Cartman: Where did you first encounter your abilities, Brock?
Subject: Well, I mean. I woke up with them one day, probably... uh, probably a few years ago now, halfway through puberty? I- I think I've been in here a while, so yeah.
Subject displays irritation during this explanation, blinking profusely.
Subject: L-look, I'm being nice about it, but you really have to turn the lights down, it's seriously actually painful here, and I mean, it's bad in the rest of the prison, but this is too much.
Dr. Cartman: We can't turn down the brightness of the lights-
Subject: Well then turn them off, please! I don't- look, seriously, today's sucked, I just-
Subject stands from chair, followed swiftly by Dr. Cartman.
Dr. Cartman: Brock, take your seat, please!
Subject: -I don't want to be in here, I don't like it in here, take me out of this room!
Dr. Cartman: Sit the hell down!
Subject moves toward Dr. Cartman. Later described as an aggressive movement.
Subject: Let me GO! I WANT TO-
Subject's hair glows blue-green briefly, an indicator of attempted use of araneaepathy, before shock collar activates for one second. Subject grunts and stumbles to floor.
Subject: No, STOP DOING THAT! I DON'T WANT THIS!
Subject's hair glows again, followed by another shock. Subject continues to yell aggressively, wildly flailing limbs. Subject receives five more shocks in next minute until they fall quiet, breathing heavily in fetal position.
Dr. Cartman: Patient is being uncooperative. Bring him back to his cell.
Two guards enter, lifting subject off the ground as Dr. Cartman ends the interview log. Later examination of interview room would reveal several fragments of fang material.

Subject tends toward aggression when not given what he wants, suggesting a lack of short-term patience and/or issues with control of temper. Additionally, anger seems to enhance connection to abilities, triggering instinctive use of araneaepathy despite risk of shock; alternatively, use of powers may remain conscious, suggesting lack of risk assessment in subject. Confined space likely to have been taken as a prime opportunity to attack, as perceived prey was caught in a situation they could not easily escape from, akin to a spider stalking a fly trapped in its web. - Dr. Cartman

Interview 9 Excerpt

Subject: I don't like the food here, it's gross.
Unprompted statement. Prior topic was chitin.
Dr. Cartman: Would you prefer meat?
Subject: Er, yeah. Something I can, like, sink my teeth into, at least.
Dr. Cartman: Insects?
Subject: What? Well, not- I mean, honestly, it's probably better than the gruel in here, so yeah. I have done that before.
Dr. Cartman: Eating insects?
Subject nods.
Subject: Uh-huh, when I wasn't stuck in this place. They crunch. Like, people are all grossed out by them, but they're efficient protein. They taste fine, I'm fine with them. Well, you know though, spiders don't actually crunch them up, fun fact, they're just like uh, they- they inject digestive enzymes through their carapaces, that dissolves their insides, and that's what they actually eat, because their digestive tracts aren't wide enough to eat anything solid.
Dr. Cartman: I see. Do you use your fangs to do that?
Subject: To- eat the insects?
Dr. Cartman: To inject digestive enzymes into your food.
Subject: Uhhhhhh...
Subject considers notion for extended period.
Subject: I don't think they're connected to my stomach? It might be cool to try, but then I'm basically just puking into a bowl of gruel, which is already gross enough. Unless you mean the saliva enzymes, because those work just fine in my mouth.

Subject displays preference for entomophagy and disgruntlement with standard inmate meals. Very likely that prolonged connection with spider psyches has altered subject's understanding of food substances. Additionally, subject has suggested that they would prefer to eat in a more spider-like fashion, i.e. injection of enzymes and subsequent consumption of fluid, and are capable of doing so with at least the enzymes naturally found in human saliva. - Dr. Cartman

Interview 12 Excerpt

Dr. Cartman: Beginning interview log with patient Brock Robert Jameson, session twelve. Hello again, Brock. How are you feeling?
Subject appears listless, speaking with distinct monotone.
Subject: Tired. Sick of all this. I want to go home. Like, I know I was saying about this being a prison, like months ago now, but it's actually shit in here. Why do you have us in here?
Dr. Cartman: For your protection, and for the protection of others who you might hurt.
Subject: Bullshit! What's the testing for then? I know it's not to be some kind of X-██n or some shit. I- you know I have a tarantula right? Pet tarantula, I called him Peter?
Dr. Cartman: Why did you name him Peter? You didn't need to.
Subject: Because I love him! Well I did anyway, he was only five, but he's probably starved by now unless my roommate bothered to look after him. Twenty-something years of perfectly good spider life, murdered by Thornwood.
Dr. Cartman: Well, he was only a spider. You can always get another one.
At this stage, subject affixes Dr. Cartman with a glare, later described as "predatory" by Dr. Cartman.
Subject: Only a spider? Pardon you?
Dr. Cartman: Well... it's an arachnid, Brock-
Subject: Would you say that about your pet, Doctor?
Dr. Cartman displays irritation briefly.
Dr. Cartman: I- ...look, my pets are not your concern. I keep Marshall well-fed-
Subject: Oh, why did you name him Marshall? He's only a dog!
Dr. Cartman displays shock.
Dr. Cartman: Wh- what? How did you know that?
Subject: Oh, you didn't know? It's my spidey-sense, Doc, I've had it the whole time. I can smell your fear, you fat bastard.
Dr. Cartman: Hey! I'm not fat-
Subject speaks simultaneous to Dr. Cartman.
Subject: "I'm just big-boned!" See? I know what you're thinking before you do!
Dr. Cartman: What- what is wrong with you?
Subject rises, close to shouting as he approaches Dr. Cartman.
Subject: What's wrong with you?! You people can't keep us here forever, you know! In fact, I know you know, otherwise you wouldn't be so scared of a skinny guy who can't even use his abilities, you asshole!
Dr. Cartman: Sh-shit! E-end the interview- oh shit, drop him!
Shock collar is activated for five seconds, sending subject to the ground twitching. Subject is escorted back to cell as interview is ended. Later analysis of interview indicates cold reading techniques displayed by subject, rather than claimed extrasensory capabilities.

I've come to a final conclusion. Brock Jameson is a highly disturbed individual, with blatant delusions of being a spider and possessing great mind-reading abilities despite all evidence to the contrary, as well as viewing humans as insect-like prey. Additionally, he displays heightened aggression under duress, generally disordered thought processes, and paranoia toward staff, as well as social withdrawal and limited emotional expressiveness beyond subject of spiders, which he ultimately considers to be more capable of companionship than dogs, and likely moreso than humans too.
Simply put, the subject is a dangerous madman, whose powers have afflicted serious psychosis after lengthy exposure to the neurological patterns of who knows how many spiders. In conjunction with displayed mobile abnormalities, which have been catalogued as present under normal circumstances and exacerbated during testing of araneaepathy, I shall be filing for an official diagnosis of undifferentiated schizophrenia in the subject, with signs present from the paranoid, hebephrenic, and catatonic types.
Further interviews will not be required. - Dr. Cartman

Background: Brock is not known to have a particularly unusual childhood. Background checks suggest significant levels of bullying from ages 6 and onward, but no incidents of note before age 16. Powers seemingly manifested at this age - accounts suggest araneaepathy presented immediately upon rising on the day of 11/22/20██, whilst upper canines were discovered to have fallen out of the subject's mouth in the same night, and replaced with retractable fangs within a week; chitinous exoskeleton formed over the next several months as a natural consequence of growing in.
Social exclusion was heightened as these features were discovered by peers, and reports of criminal activities such as petty theft under the alias "The Grand Arachnid" reached Project Borehold not long after. Initial attempt to capture target at age 17 utilised two Project Borehole soldiers, but the attempt was hampered by unexpected self-defense in the form of a much greater quantity of spiders than anticipated. Both soldiers hospitalised, one death caused by combination of crushing and envenomation. Brock promptly fled the state, by his own word hitch-hiking to New York; further reports suggest extended period of homelessness and self-education spent primarily in a mixture of abandoned warehouses and internet cafes.
Second attempt to capture target made at age 25, after reports made of his presence at a local zoo in the spider exhibit, apparently as part of his job. Additional reports suggested vigilante activity in the area under the alias "Spider Insider". Five Project Bore hole soldiers were sent to apprehend Brock. Again, all soldiers sent to capture were hospitalised by target's powers through crushing and envenomation; one soldier paralysed through injection of neurotoxin by subject into left shoulder, recovery timeframe of seven months. Brock did not leave his job at this point, and the reasons for this are unknown.
Third attempt to capture target at age 26 successful. In excess of 35 soldiers sent to apprehend, ten of which were equipped with flamethrowers to ensure no repeat of prior capture attempts. Brock resisted at first, but upon realising the presence of flamethrowers, quickly relented and allowed himself to be captured; he is quoted as having said at the time "Please, don't hurt them." Unknown if referring to civilians or exhibited spiders.

Skills, Talents and Learning:
Knowledge of Spiders - Brock is a veritable encyclopedia on the subject of spiders. There are very few things he cannot relay on the topic, and he is very capable of explaining in great detail just how they work, which additionally functions to help him best utilise his inherent abilities.
Cold Reading - Brock has depicted in multiple instances the ability to acquire information from individuals via cold reading techniques, using vague assertions and inferences to pry into highly-personal aspects of people's lives. Generally, he does not make active use of this, instead gathering more information than he lets on via aforementioned inference; when directly utilised, it is often played up to induce feelings of unease or fear in subjects.
Memorisation - Brock has an exceptionally good memory, though it is not "photographic" in the sense that he can glance at something and precisely recall the image later on. Rather, he retains a great deal of the raw information and emotion around something, enough to recall exact spiders from previous connections to them if he needs to based on their particular neural patterns, "personalities" if you will. To wit, this extends to personal information about individuals and locations as well, letting him store a great deal of information from those he has cold-read and about areas he has examined.

Power(s) and Capabilities:
Araneaepathy - Brock has the power to, in essence, communicate on a base instinctual level with spiders of all types, out to a range of around 800 feet (roughly 250 meters), or much higher when under stress. Supposedly, spiders have a lot to say if one simply listens to them; in practice, this grants him the ability to "command" spiders en masse, manipulating them to act as he wills it and to an extent compelling them to act with greater efficiency and potency than they otherwise would. This of course has a great many benefits, ranging between scouting via proxy, production of a great amount of silk for entanglement or defense purposes, envenomation of enemies- often much more extremely than a typical spider bite would provide, given he can command them to bite repeatedly or inject much more venom than they normally would- or simply crush and suffocate foes under a tide of chitin and fangs if enough spiders are in range.
Spider-like - Brock himself is very visibly spider-like in form, albeit not to an absolute extent. His physical body is more or less human, but possesses some very particular alterations. Most obviously, he has grown a shell of transparent chitin around himself, apparently seeping out of the pores of his skin before hardening beneath existing chitin, which acts as protection from physical harm as well as some non-typical attack methods. He also bears retractable fangs where his upper canines would be, and can extend them out of his gums beyond his other teeth to bite and inject venom into opponents; he seems capable of altering the composition of this venom greatly, often incorporating a mixture of highly-destructive compounds that he himself is not affected by, and the fangs themselves are a tough mixture of chitin and enamel, regrowing lost matter as the rest of his body would if any part of them breaks off. Finally, whilst only modest in comparison, Brock is capable of essentially pressurising the fluids in his muscles and circulatory system in a manner akin to a jumping spider, granting him much greater burst speed and striking force than one might imagine based on his appearance, though not providing any particularly-superhuman capabilities.

Power Limits: Despite his nickname, Brock's power to command spiders only extends that far, specifically to the biological order Araneae, and not the wider class Arachnida or non-ranked supra-ordinal clade Tetrapulmonata, thus excluding for instance scorpions, mites, and ticks from his control. Additionally, whilst he can to an extent enhance the spiders as they act, they are ultimately still restricted by their biology, rendering them ineffective against heavily-defended targets and vulnerable to extreme wide-area conditions such as flooding or intense heat or cold.

Known Vulnerabilities: His fangs being retractable means that they can be physically blocked from extending out, thus preventing their use in a fight, and whilst they are quite tough, they are also still just teeth. In addition, whilst his chitinous exterior offers much greater protection from slashing attacks, it is akin to plate armour in that it offers limited protection from heavy blunt strikes; is fairly readily pierced through with enough force, as in nature; is vulnerable to extreme heat or cold, heating or cooling to the point of cracking and breaking away when stressed like this; and most pertinently does not "heal" as quickly as the flesh underneath, leaving an exposed weak point for an extended period when damaged.

Motives: Brock's motivations do not appear to be grand in scope. Whilst he displays great anger toward the Thornwood Asylum and Project Borehole, he also seems to be of a mind that "taking it down" is nearly impossible for institutional reasons. Consequently, his primary goal upon escape seems to be best utilisation of his abilities and knowledge for personal and communal benefit, perhaps seeking another job similar to his work prior to acquisition.

Recommended Containment Procedures: In addition to standard containment procedures, Brock is fitted with specialised steel braces that cover the points of his upper canines, preventing him from utilising them in a fight. Additionally, an electric shock collar is fitted that consistently monitors his brain activity; if it reads an increase in certain brainwaves, indicating use of his Araneaepathy, it will administer a 2500-volt shock to his neck, disrupting concentration on the effect. Additional attempts within five minutes after the previous shock will lead to shocks of increasing voltage until he ceases attempts to utilise the effect. Finally, as a precautionary measure, all known populations of spiders within the asylum grounds have been eliminated, and further discovered populations are to be killed in turn.

Notes: Yes, he's a fan of Spider-Man. The irony is not lost on him.

Itiner: Heroes of Ardenfeld

Dame Niala Evenhand

Dame Niala Evenhand, Human Paladin of Tyr

Who I Am

Niala's experiences and training have led her to become... aware of her strengths and weaknesses, as it were. On the one hand, she is generally polite, respectful, and driven to solve problems simply. On the other, she is loathe to make new friends after losing so many in her time, self-sacrificing, and hyperfocuses on her goals both short-term and long-term, at times resulting in unhealthy obsessions with them. If she were to be honest, she'd fully admit that her driving force right now is not her religious beliefs, but her will to see the bandits she lost her home and family to buried for their crimes - any distraction is taken poorly by her, and she reiterates this beratement upon those around her in turn.

My Story

Before the attack on Ardenfeld, Niala Berine was a sweet, if quiet child. Not too forward-thinking, but honest and true, and capable of lifting the logs her father would chop to fuel his forges over her head even at seven years old. Certainly, she'd make a good apprentice and successor to her father's work as a smith, something both parents encouraged her to be proud of.

Then came the bandits. Houses were burned, parents were killed, including Niala's own. Of course, Niala found herself scarred mentally by the attack, developing a phobia of fire to the extent that even a lit candle could rouse fear. When she did sleep, it was never restful: she'd relive the moment her parents died before her, and each morning she would awake - distressed, as many of her fellows were, but equally... enraged. Hateful that she could not do more. Hateful of those who had hurt her.

The exact sort of mindset the Temple of Tyr were seeking when they visited one day, not a year after the orphans had been taken in. The Landeil Family Orphanage was all but glad to be rid of mouths to feed, especially to such a prestigious group as the temples, and Niala was brought in under the lens of Priest Markos, blind in emulation of his god, who looked into the souls of his faithful to see their worth. Niala's very first words upon learning that were "How can he see if he's blind?", a most amusing statement to Markos - though he also explained that eyes would not see what truly mattered. And what, he then asked, mattered to Niala?

Nothing much, she realised. Everything she'd had was in Ardenfeld. All that remained was a promise of vengeance against those who had taken her previous life away.

What followed for her was years of strenuous training: combat prowess; how to move in armour without overheating; how to divine and then guide the intent of those who would do wrong; and of course a great deal of indoctrination into Tyr's faith, as well as education into the general tenets of various other faiths both good and evil, lawful and chaotic. She would not falter - she couldn't, not if she truly sought the payback, a fire that Markos stoked in her to ensure her most potent fury could be unleashed once the time came.

Fire within he stoked - and fire without he set as her final test, enflaming her room to force her to overcome the fear of fire she had held since that fateful day. If she could not overcome it, she would be no paladin of Tyr... but with faith in heart, and blade in hand, overcome it she did.

She was ready. On the eve of her eighteenth birthday, she was blessed and knighted by the priests of Tyr, truly becoming one of his servants, and earning a new name to bring her into Tyr's eye: Niala Evenhand. With her knighting came freedom to pursue his will, and spread his message to the faithless... and as it happened, she had an appointment she still needed to uphold at The Lying Wolverine.

Going Forward

The fire that burns in Niala's heart is one of vengeance, and a desire to see the evils of the world cut out of it without mercy wherever they lie. The heart of this blaze is the event that cost her and her fellow orphans everything: the razing of Ardenfeld, and the bandits who performed such a heinous action. She cannot rest until they are dead... and whilst she was not unfond of her fellow orphans from Ardenfeld, she has been unable to contact them whilst in training. But, perhaps they too seek her goal?

Kingmakers: The Throne Alone (A Medieval Fantasy Succession Crisis)

Drevilna-under-Vyapult, a.k.a. the Frostmark

Domain Name: The Grand Realm of Drevilna Under Ownership of the Great House of Vyapult, also known as Drevilna-under-Vyapult for most formal occasions, or Drevilna for more casual shorthand. The latter specifically is typically interchangeable with Frostmark, and is likely a direct translation; either way, most don't bother making the distinction.

Location: The Frostmark, most prominently its largest region to the West of the Great Bastion Mountains, bordered and protected by these mountains to the East, and to the Farwater River on the West.

Domain Summary: Drevilna-under-Vyapult is considered one of the larger territories in Adanion, with quite a wide horizontal range and perhaps the most vast vertical range of any realm, supported by a system of rivers flowing from the mountains and bordering the land on its East and West sides. At these bounds, the land is prime territory for farmland, well protected by both geography and military force; yet within are a variety of forest trees ranging from deciduous forests further down, indeed marking the realm's lower bound and supporting this idea with border fortresses stationed within the treelines, whilst further North the trees gradually transition to evergreens, then pines, before the cold grows too much even for these and the land turns to nigh-uninhabitable tundra - in theory under the control of House Vyapult, in practice under the control of none but nature itself, only ventured into for the sake of hunting certain animals.

Major Holdings:
Farwater River, plus additional tributary streams and rivers - The river and associated tributaries bounding Drevilna to its West and South, its rapid growth from accumulation of meltwater is such that even shortly after the northernmost tributaries emerge from the lake, it becomes difficult to safely cross with more than perhaps a dozen individuals at a time. It also provides an easy source of fish to support the Frostmark's population, and less obviously helps transport minerals Southward from the lake, fertilising the land and, with substantial effort, rendering the regions along its coast somewhat better suited for farming extremely hardy crops and supporting a small number of livestock, though its primary provision remains fishing.
Supporting this hold, three bridge-keeps persist on it, providing easy passage across as well as heftily-guarded points in key locations: Severoreka, providing passage to the Mistlands at the point where the river tributaries merge before splitting into Splitstream and Farwater; Yugoreka, offering entrance into the Crownmark just before the Farwater River merges with the Great Bastion's tributaries at the Frostmark's Southernmost point; and Lesreka, relatively close to Yugoreka, but positioned between where the Great Bastion's tributaries merge and where this river then merges into the Farwater proper to grant access to the Arbormark.

D'yavoles Forest - The general name given to the boreal forest encompassing the lower portions of Drevilna. It has been said by some that it is cursed in one way or another, perhaps inhabited by the damned souls who perish within it; whilst it is certainly thick enough to get oneself lost within, it also provides a rich source of wood from various types of evergreen tree, as well as prime hunting grounds for very many animals and foraging material for many sorts of berries and fruits. It is not, however, exclusively owned by House Vyapult, and many other Houses in the Frostmark do draw their wood from this region.

Vyapult Wood - A forest that is House Vyapult's exclusive property. Taking credit from the Frozen Tears, House Vyapult (more specifically Duke Dzhek, brother to Varangyrian II) began to "farm" trees from D'yavoles Forest by planting saplings and branch cuttings and carefully managing their growth, an endeavour seen as laughable back at its point of origin. Nowadays, the region around the realm's capital city is rich with woodland under the exclusive ownership of House Vyapult, an asset far greater than many give it credit for, and much more difficult to replicate than other Houses may recognise, much to House Vyapult's ongoing amusement.

Kivhar City - The capital city of Drevilna-under-Vyapult, in that it generally hosts the Archduke of the Realm. It is a fairly-sized place toward the Northern edge of Vyapult Wood, combining local lumber with imported stone to produce a uniquely-blended structure of houses and culture. This surrounds the castle Dom-Vyapult, where the Archduke of House Vyapult takes residence and diplomats to his domain alike.
The main church of this city consequently stands out like a sore thumb - a blend of white marble and black basalt, The Church of Life and Death espouses amongst the Twin Faith's usual ideals the dual nature of the world as covering both the living and the dead, best represented by the way Vyapult Wood dies at the tundra's edge, perfectly presenting this balance. Not everyone in Kivhar is enthused by this choice of message, but it at least holds water for many.

Azkuzia - A city well to the South-West of the realm, effectively supporting and guarded by the Yugoreka bridge-fort leading toward the Crownmark, and the Lesreka bridge-fort into the Arbormark; if Kivhar City is the political capital, Azkuzia is certainly the mercantile capital, trading out to the rest of Adanion in both native resources and those gained from the Frozen Tears to the far North. To this end, it is a city that blends culture from many other realms, noticeable in how its general aesthetic merges traditional Drevilnan structures closer to the center with increasingly-esoteric designs further out. The local Guild Hall covers much trade for a system of guilds within this city, which ultimately controls every niche in the city.

Duchies:
The Frozen Tears - The Silver City and mountains of the Frozen Tears are beholden to House Vyapult, albeit only within the last century, and through a bizarre method with no specific ties to lineage. To wit, having sworn allegiance to House Vyapult, the leader of the region is to be considered the Duke or Duchess of their realm and head of one House Echo by virtue of their unusual natural resources, despite the semi-elected nature of such a position within the tribe. This renders Drevilna-under-Vyapult in the interesting position of being a technical suzerain, as the Frozen Tears' primary access to the rest of Adanion comes through House Vyapult, as does their political strength for want of proximity, though they are nonetheless a Noble House as a result.

Reputation: The Frostmark's primary reputation is tied to its extremely cold weather. Beyond the northernmost forested reaches, the land is cold and inhospitable, making it difficult to survive within; because of this, it also has a reputation for poverty, the House's wealth historically considered lesser than most others whether or not this holds true.

Wealth: Drevilna-under-Vyapult has some forests available to it, but nowhere near enough to sale to other nations regularly between growth cycles and structure building. Consequently, their economy is reliant in many ways on fur and pelt trading in Winter, and ice harvesting in Summer. Year-round saleable goods include hides suited for leathermaking and the like, river and lake fish preserved with ice, and high-quality lumber acquired from either D'yavoles Forest or Vyapult Wood. Despite their reputation, sales of these things combined with thrifty personal spending have allowed House Vyapult to build up quite reasonable coffers in the last two generations, giving them more wealth than other Houses might give them credit for, albeit not the ability to recover that wealth quickly should they be forced to expend much of it at once.

Strength: One might make the case that Drevilna-under-Vyapult's primary defense is its cold environment, which certainly holds true in its more Northern regions, but as both of its largest cities are more Southern, this cold is thus somewhat less of a barricade for those who simply want to claim the area without outright conquering everything. Its true defensive worth lies in its geography - surrounded by wide rivers whose key points of invasion are controlled by fortresses bridging the gaps, Drevilna-under-Vyapult is extremely difficult to invade simply because actually getting into the Frostmark region is an extreme challenge to begin with.
In terms of offensive force, whilst a significant proportion of the realm's defenses are focused at the bridge-forts, this is not to say they cannot make a push outward. A modestly-sized knightly order known as the Frostguard exists within Kivhar City, in theory acting as the last port of call to protect the Frostmark from its enemies, but in practice acting as elite soldiers within a potential army, should House Vyapult choose to expend its monetary resources in building up levies and mercenary forces alike as the bulk of troops.

High Lord Varan VII

Name: Velikynaz Varangyrian VII of House Vyapult, a.k.a. Archduke Varan VII
Titles: Velikynaz - A title that in context translates roughly to "Grand Prince", representing Varangyrian's nature as master of the Frostmark. In practice, he is for all intents and purposes an Archduke, and most national formalities utilise the latter title.
High Lord of Kivhar - The official title granted to him as Archduke of the Frostmark, specifically labelling Kivhar City the political capital of Drevilna.

Description: Well-groomed and handsome, the High Lord's 32 years have presented themselves quite well indeed. One understands from a gaze that he is focused, intelligent, and understanding of the way the world works, traits gained from a lifetime of education both under tutors and in the wider world.


Claimant: Sharles of Bremerant - Comparing Sharles' milder, all-but-tame insights to Anyamara's potential brutality, and her insistence of returning to a "status quo" which by his account has been recently gruesome and lately inept, Varan has thrown himself in with Sharles for the time being.

The Great House of Vyapult

"To forest and frost!"

Reputation: The Velikynaz of Drevilna-under-Vyapult is taken to be a fairly capable individual, no matter the generation. In an environment as varied in scope, and especially as broad-spanning as Drevilna and the Frostmark, one has to be capable to keep the area from falling to pieces. For Varangynian VII, this is no different at all: even in person, one can see his wit and experience at the fore, and it is quite clear to see that he has no trouble with running his realm whatsoever. Not to mention that he could be taken as objectively attractive, despite (or indeed supported by) the scar along one side of his face, though one wonders how he maintains a somewhat darker skin tone despite a relative lack of sunlight.
Indeed, one needs to be a smart person to try and negotiate terms with the native tribe up north - savage as they are, it is thus all the more impressive that he has been able to wring out as many resources from them as possible, all but taming them of their worship of false gods and devils! However, simple as those people are, many have asked why the Great House is so keen to retain these people as vassals, even this subservient position providing implication that they are in any way equal to the truly noble people of Adanion. What, in the end, stops this great man from eradicating them and taking their resources?

"When I ferst laid eyes on Varan, I thought he would be as slow as the rest of the Grand Houses. Yet, he has a curiosity about him that is good. He accepts the knowledge of the People and thatsa good start on our relationships. I do see him having benefits in the future relations with the other Houses. Perhaps the Varan in time can become more than someone who grants us presence in the Marble People Politics, but someone who takes us off the reigns and allows us our own autonomy." - Merta the Echo
The People of the Frozen Tears have a mixed opinion about the current High Lord. Their relationship with House Vyapult has been an odd one: while Vyapult has been kinder to them than, say, some of the other Great Houses, they are uncertain of this uneasy alliance.
But Mertavodah believes that he can ease that uncertainty- he believes that speaking with Varangyrian may lead to better future opportunities. If Varan respects the history their people share; the resources the Frozen Tears have given; the help navigating the terrain; insulating the Drevilnan's homes more effectively; what plants to eat; the uses of minerals and ores... then Varan should respect the alliance that they have. To say they feel uneasy hope from Varangyrian VII is the best way to put it.

Ambitions: Under normal circumstances, he might be content with simply ruling the Frostmark as his family has for over a century. With what he's learned of himself in mind, and especially the current royal situation, this is no longer so: Varangyrian VII is keen to avoid a potential repeat of his grandparents' execution under King Colyt II, the stress of which likely killed his mother in short order, and he will do about anything to ensure this does not come to pass for him too, although he is keen not to hurt those he considers important in the process.

Aptitudes:
General Logical Intellect - House Vyapult is keen to present its best self to the world, and prides intelligence greatly in this respect. Thus, it has widely been taken that of each generation of siblings and cousins, it is the most capable who will claim the seat of Velikynaz, somebody who can present themselves to Adanion and succeed through knowledge, strategy and wit, rather than brute force alone. Varangyrian VII proved the smartest of his siblings in that respect time and time again, and therefore took the title of High Lord upon the previous holder's passage.
Communication - It is not always easy to talk with the leaders of other Houses, especially when at least one bears a culture utterly unique to them, and nor is communicating one's will down to the common folk easily done. Varangyrian's efforts in life have been focused greatly on this in particular, for well-executed diplomacy can turn foe to friend just as surely as poor diplomacy can kill you in the house of an ally, and likewise ensuring one's communication reaches those who it needs to is a continual task; no truer is this than with House Echo, whose distance from the rest of Adanion demands firm lines of communication to maintain contact, and whose unusual customs continue to present Varan with something between thankful amusement and confused frustration when, for instance, a formal gathering is in place.
Forestry - One of House Vyapult's greatest skills, ever since the first tree of Vyapult Wood was planted, has been an affinity for the management of forests and trees. Woodcutting, tree farming, and dendrology are all long-instilled skills of the House's scions, a necessity to maintain not just Vyapult Wood, but many other forests in the Frostmarch. More than once has D'yavoles Forest or Vyapult Wood been saved from mass deforestation by the discovery of a tree-eating fungus, and the subsequent destruction of every tree and stump within fifty or one hundred paces to prevent its spread; and over-harvesting of the forests is a matter carefully prevented by highly particular policies on when given trees can or cannot be chopped down.

Vulnerabilities:
Ties of Emotion - Varan, for all of his political abilities and high position, feels intensely what others do, moreso than mere empathy should explain. Thus, the happiness of those he holds to be important, be they his family or the people he rules, is his own; and in turn, their loss, their frustration, and especially their pain, eats at him like cancer, potentially affecting his ability to lead when experiencing this high emotion, or even swaying him toward actions he'd otherwise not normally take.
Mixed Blood - It was Varangyrian IV, great-great-grandfather to the current High Lord, whose failed attempt to raid the Silver City led to the Frozen Tears' current status as Duchy. Yet within a few decades, his grandson Varangyrian VI had found love within that city, and from there bore children with a member of the Frozen Tears; in the end, the Mad King killed them and at least two of their children both most brutally for perceived blood treachery, being swayed not to strip House Vyapult of its status or slay the line outright by Prince Daymian alone.
For Varangyrian VII's part, this proves a conundrum on two parts: first, encouraging his investigations into their culture as an aspect of his bloodline; and second, given the Frozen Tears' reputation as savages, serving as a potentially-scandalous revelation among just about any other Great House were this to be discovered, whose aftereffects could range from eternal blackmail to being stripped of the status of High Lord or even nobility outright... or hardly a jot, depending on the outcome of events.
Ambivalence - Truthfully, Varangyrian is not convinced that either claimant is especially qualified for the throne. Anyamara is clearly the less pleasant option, for more reasons than one, but Sharles in his turn looks to be a rather weak king, with an inability to properly effect the radical changes he proposes without proper direction - and crucially, neither has a true claim to royalty.

Additional Info:
Vyapult Line (starting from Varan I's designation as Archduke of the Frostmark)
1. Varangyrian Vyapult I x Duchess Mariya of D'yavoles
2. Varangyrian Vyapult II x Duchess Eleonora | Duke Dzhek, the Treefarmer x Lady Alison of Arbormark
3. Alekzandr Vyapult I x Duchess Ruthenia | Duchess Anastasia of Azkuzia
4. Varangyrian Vyapult III, the Cruel x Duchess Miriam of Stormlands
5. Erik the Hunter (formerly the Outcast) | Alekzandr Vyapult II x Duchess Arianne of Wildwood
6. Duke Garl't x Countess Alina | Varangyrian Vyapult IV, the Suzerain x Duchess Vyatik, the Wanderer | Duchess Aleksandryr, the Lawbinder
7. Count Varangyrian of Mirkuzi x Lady Dzhezika of Severoreka | Duke Varangyrian x Duchess Lilianna of the Crownmark | Varangyrian Vyapult V x Warden Markus of Westmarch
8. Varangyrian Vyapult VI (recently the Barbarian) x Dikynima | Duchess Novgoriz x Duke Izboryk
9. Duke Dyr of Bastion | Duke Dvini x Duchess Miriyam of D'yavoles | Duke Varangyrian of Eastfrost x Duchess Ayla of D'yavoles | Theophania Vyapult I x Warden Jacques
10. Varangyrian Vyapult VII | Duke Karl, the Guildmaster x Duchess Natalie of Mistlands

Kingmakers: The Throne Alone (A Medieval Fantasy Succession Crisis)

Drevilna-under-Vyapult, a.k.a. the Frostmark

Domain Name: The Grand Realm of Drevilna Under Ownership of the Great House of Vyapult, also known as Drevilna-under-Vyapult for most formal occasions, or Drevilna for more casual shorthand. The latter specifically is typically interchangeable with Frostmark, and is likely a direct translation; either way, most don't bother making the distinction.

Location: The Frostmark, most prominently its largest region to the West of the Great Bastion Mountains, bordered and protected by these mountains to the East, and to the Farwater River on the West.

Domain Summary: Drevilna-under-Vyapult is considered one of the larger territories in Adanion, with quite a wide horizontal range and perhaps the most vast vertical range of any realm, supported by a system of rivers flowing from the mountains and bordering the land on its East and West sides. At these bounds, the land is prime territory for farmland, well protected by both geography and military force; yet within are a variety of forest trees ranging from deciduous forests further down, indeed marking the realm's lower bound and supporting this idea with border fortresses stationed within the treelines, whilst further North the trees gradually transition to evergreens, then pines, before the cold grows too much even for these and the land turns to nigh-uninhabitable tundra - in theory under the control of House Vyapult, in practice under the control of none but nature itself, only ventured into for the sake of hunting certain animals.

Major Holdings:
Farwater River, plus additional tributary streams and rivers - The river and associated tributaries bounding Drevilna to its West and South, its rapid growth from accumulation of meltwater is such that even shortly after the northernmost tributaries emerge from the lake, it becomes difficult to safely cross with more than perhaps a dozen individuals at a time. It also provides an easy source of fish to support the Frostmark's population, and less obviously helps transport minerals Southward from the lake, fertilising the land and, with substantial effort, rendering the regions along its coast somewhat better suited for farming extremely hardy crops and supporting a small number of livestock, though its primary provision remains fishing.
Supporting this hold, three bridge-keeps persist on it, providing easy passage across as well as heftily-guarded points in key locations: Severoreka, providing passage to the Mistlands at the point where the river tributaries merge before splitting into Splitstream and Farwater; Yugoreka, offering entrance into the Crownmark just before the Farwater River merges with the Great Bastion's tributaries at the Frostmark's Southernmost point; and Lesreka, relatively close to Yugoreka, but positioned between where the Great Bastion's tributaries merge and where this river then merges into the Farwater proper to grant access to the Arbormark.

D'yavoles Forest - The general name given to the boreal forest encompassing the lower portions of Drevilna. It has been said by some that it is cursed in one way or another, perhaps inhabited by the damned souls who perish within it; whilst it is certainly thick enough to get oneself lost within, it also provides a rich source of wood from various types of evergreen tree, as well as prime hunting grounds for very many animals and foraging material for many sorts of berries and fruits. It is not, however, exclusively owned by House Vyapult, and many other Houses in the Frostmark do draw their wood from this region.

Vyapult Wood - A forest that is House Vyapult's exclusive property. Taking credit from the Frozen Tears, House Vyapult (more specifically Duke Dzhek, brother to Varangyrian II) began to "farm" trees from D'yavoles Forest by planting saplings and branch cuttings and carefully managing their growth, an endeavour seen as laughable back at its point of origin. Nowadays, the region around the realm's capital city is rich with woodland under the exclusive ownership of House Vyapult, an asset far greater than many give it credit for, and much more difficult to replicate than other Houses may recognise, much to House Vyapult's ongoing amusement.

Kivhar City - The capital city of Drevilna-under-Vyapult, in that it generally hosts the Archduke of the Realm. It is a fairly-sized place toward the Northern edge of Vyapult Wood, combining local lumber with imported stone to produce a uniquely-blended structure of houses and culture. This surrounds the castle Dom-Vyapult, where the Archduke of House Vyapult takes residence and diplomats to his domain alike.
The main church of this city consequently stands out like a sore thumb - a blend of white marble and black basalt, The Church of Life and Death espouses amongst the Twin Faith's usual ideals the dual nature of the world as covering both the living and the dead, best represented by the way Vyapult Wood dies at the tundra's edge, perfectly presenting this balance. Not everyone in Kivhar is enthused by this choice of message, but it at least holds water for many.

Azkuzia - A city well to the South-West of the realm, effectively supporting and guarded by the Yugoreka bridge-fort leading toward the Crownmark, and the Lesreka bridge-fort into the Arbormark; if Kivhar City is the political capital, Azkuzia is certainly the mercantile capital, trading out to the rest of Adanion in both native resources and those gained from the Frozen Tears to the far North. To this end, it is a city that blends culture from many other realms, noticeable in how its general aesthetic merges traditional Drevilnan structures closer to the center with increasingly-esoteric designs further out. The local Guild Hall covers much trade for a system of guilds within this city, which ultimately controls every niche in the city.

The Frozen Tears - Interestingly, the Silver City and mountains of the Frozen Tears are at present a functional vassal state under House Vyapult, moreso than would be typical in normal circumstances. More precisely, the leader of the region is to be considered the Duke or Duchess of their realm and head of one Great House Echo by virtue of their unusual natural resources, having sworn fealty to the crown through the Archdukes in charge of Drevilna-under-Vyapult.
This renders Drevilna-under-Vyapult in the interesting position of being a technical suzerain, as the Frozen Tears' primary access to the rest of Adanion comes through House Vyapult, but also confers the status entitled to ownership of a Duchy upon House Echo for this. Granted, actual political power is another matter, as due to their isolated position, the Frozen Tears' political strength is effectively that of House Vyapult.

Reputation: The Frostmark's primary reputation is tied to its extremely cold weather. Beyond the northernmost forested reaches, the land is cold and inhospitable, making it difficult to survive within; because of this, it also has a reputation for poverty, the House's wealth historically considered lesser than most others whether or not this holds true.

Wealth: Drevilna-under-Vyapult has some forests available to it, but nowhere near enough to sale to other nations regularly between growth cycles and structure building. Consequently, their economy is reliant in many ways on fur and pelt trading in Winter, and ice harvesting in Summer. Year-round saleable goods include hides suited for leathermaking and the like, river and lake fish preserved with ice, and high-quality lumber acquired from either D'yavoles Forest or Vyapult Wood. Despite their reputation, sales of these things combined with thrifty personal spending have allowed House Vyapult to build up quite reasonable coffers in the last two generations, giving them more economic power than other Houses might give them credit for.

Strength: One might make the case that Drevilna-under-Vyapult's primary defense is its cold environment, which certainly holds true in its more Northern regions, but as both of its largest cities are more Southern, this cold is thus somewhat less of a barricade for those who simply want to claim the area without outright conquering everything. Its true defensive worth lies in its geography - surrounded by wide rivers whose key points of invasion are controlled by fortresses bridging the gaps, Drevilna-under-Vyapult is extremely difficult to invade simply because actually getting into the Frostmark region is an extreme challenge to begin with.
In terms of offensive force, whilst a significant proportion of the realm's defenses are focused at the bridge-forts, this is not to say they cannot make a push outward. A modestly-sized knightly order known as the Frostguard exists within Kivhar City, in theory acting as the last port of call to protect the Frostmark from its enemies, but in practice acting as elite soldiers within a potential army, should House Vyapult choose to expend its monetary resources in building up levies and mercenary forces alike as the bulk of troops.

High Lord Varan VII

Name: Velikynaz Varangyrian VII of House Vyapult, a.k.a. Archduke Varan VII
Titles: Velikynaz - A title that in context translates roughly to "Grand Prince", representing Varangyrian's nature as master of the Frostmark. In practice, he is for all intents and purposes an Archduke, and most national formalities utilise the latter title.
High Lord of Kivhar - The official title granted to him as Archduke of the Frostmark, specifically labelling Kivhar City the political capital of Drevilna.

Description: Well-groomed and handsome, the High Lord's 32 years have presented themselves quite well indeed. One understands from a gaze that he is focused, intelligent, and understanding of the way the world works, traits gained from a lifetime of education both under tutors and in the wider world.


Claimant: Sharles of Bremerant - Comparing Sharles' milder, all-but-tame insights to Anyamara's potential brutality, and her insistence of returning to a "status quo" which by his account has been recently gruesome and lately inept, Varan has thrown himself in with Sharles for the time being.

The Great House of Vyapult

"To forest and frost!"

Reputation: The Velikynaz of Drevilna-under-Vyapult is taken to be a fairly capable individual, no matter the generation. In an environment as varied in scope, and especially as broad-spanning as Drevilna and the Frostmark, one has to be capable to keep the area from falling to pieces. For Varangynian VII, this is no different at all: even in person, one can see his wit and experience at the fore, and it is quite clear to see that he has no trouble with running his realm whatsoever. Not to mention that he could be taken as objectively attractive, despite (or indeed supported by) the scar along one side of his face, though one wonders how he maintains a somewhat darker skin tone despite a relative lack of sunlight.
Indeed, one needs to be a smart person to try and negotiate terms with the native tribe up north - savage as they are, it is thus all the more impressive that he has been able to wring out as many resources from them as possible, all but taming them of their worship of false gods and devils! However, simple as those people are, many have asked why the Great House is so keen to retain these people as vassals, even this subservient position providing implication that they are in any way equal to the truly noble people of Adanion. What, in the end, stops this great man from eradicating them and taking their resources?

"When I ferst laid eyes on Varan, I thought he would be as slow as the rest of the Grand Houses. Yet, he has a curiosity about him that is good. He accepts the knowledge of the People and thatsa good start on our relationships. I do see him having benefits in the future relations with the other Houses. Perhaps the Varan in time can become more than someone who grants us presence in the Marble People Politics, but someone who takes us off the reigns and allows us our own autonomy." - Merta the Echo
The People of the Frozen Tears have a mixed opinion about the current High Lord. Their relationship with House Vyapult has been an odd one: while Vyapult has been kinder to them than, say, some of the other Great Houses, they are uncertain of this uneasy alliance.
But Mertavodah believes that he can ease that uncertainty- he believes that speaking with Varangyrian may lead to better future opportunities. If Varan respects the history their people share; the resources the Frozen Tears have given; the help navigating the terrain; insulating the Drevilnan's homes more effectively; what plants to eat; the uses of minerals and ores... then Varan should respect the alliance that they have. To say they feel uneasy hope from Varangyrian VII is the best way to put it.

Ambitions: Under normal circumstances, he might be content with simply ruling the Frostmark as his family has for over a century. With what he's learned of himself in mind, and especially the current royal situation, this is no longer so: Varangyrian VII is keen to avoid a potential repeat of his grandparents' execution under King Colyt II, the stress of which likely killed his mother in short order, and he will do about anything to ensure this does not come to pass for him too, although he is keen not to hurt those he considers important in the process.

Aptitudes:
General Logical Intellect - House Vyapult is keen to present its best self to the world, and prides intelligence greatly in this respect. Thus, it has widely been taken that of each generation of siblings and cousins, it is the most capable who will claim the seat of Velikynaz, somebody who can present themselves to Adanion and succeed through knowledge, strategy and wit, rather than brute force alone. Varangyrian VII proved the smartest of his siblings in that respect time and time again, and therefore took the title of High Lord upon the previous holder's passage.
Communication - It is not always easy to talk with the leaders of other Houses, especially when at least one bears a culture utterly unique to them, and nor is communicating one's will down to the common folk easily done. Varangyrian's efforts in life have been focused greatly on this in particular, for well-executed diplomacy can turn foe to friend just as surely as poor diplomacy can kill you in the house of an ally, and likewise ensuring one's communication reaches those who it needs to is a continual task; no truer is this than with House Echo, whose distance from the rest of Adanion demands firm lines of communication to maintain contact, and whose unusual customs continue to present Varan with something between thankful amusement and confused frustration when, for instance, a formal gathering is in place.
Forestry - One of House Vyapult's greatest skills, ever since the first tree of Vyapult Wood was planted, has been an affinity for the management of forests and trees. Woodcutting, tree farming, and dendrology are all long-instilled skills of the House's scions, a necessity to maintain not just Vyapult Wood, but many other forests in the Frostmarch. More than once has D'yavoles Forest or Vyapult Wood been saved from mass deforestation by the discovery of a tree-eating fungus, and the subsequent destruction of every tree and stump within fifty or one hundred paces to prevent its spread; and over-harvesting of the forests is a matter carefully prevented by highly particular policies on when given trees can or cannot be chopped down.

Vulnerabilities:
Ties of Emotion - Varan, for all of his political abilities and high position, feels intensely what others do, moreso than mere empathy should explain. Thus, the happiness of those he holds to be important, be they his family or the people he rules, is his own; and in turn, their loss, their frustration, and especially their pain, eats at him like cancer, potentially affecting his ability to lead when experiencing this high emotion, or even swaying him toward actions he'd otherwise not normally take.
Mixed Blood - It was Varangyrian IV, great-great-grandfather to the current High Lord, whose failed attempt to raid the Silver City led to the Frozen Tears' current status as Duchy. Yet within a few decades, his grandson Varangyrian VI had found love within that city, and from there bore children with a member of the Frozen Tears; in the end, the Mad King killed them and at least two of their children both most brutally for perceived blood treachery, being swayed not to strip House Vyapult of its status or slay the line outright by Prince Daymian alone.
For Varangyrian VII's part, this proves a conundrum on two parts: first, encouraging his investigations into their culture as an aspect of his bloodline; and second, given the Frozen Tears' reputation as savages, serving as a potentially-scandalous revelation among just about any other Great House were this to be discovered, whose aftereffects could range from eternal blackmail to being stripped of the status of High Lord or even nobility outright... or hardly a jot, depending on the outcome of events.
Ambivalence - Truthfully, Varangyrian is not convinced that either claimant is especially qualified for the throne. Anyamara is clearly the less pleasant option, for more reasons than one, but Sharles in his turn looks to be a rather weak king, with an inability to properly effect the radical changes he proposes - and crucially, neither has a true claim to royalty.

Additional Info:
Vyapult Line (starting from Varan I's designation as High Lord of the Frostmark)
1. Varangyrian Vyapult I x Duchess Mariya of D'yavoles
2. Varangyrian Vyapult II x Duchess Eleonora | Duke Dzhek, the Treefarmer x Lady Alison of Arbormark
3. Alekzandr Vyapult I x Duchess Ruthenia | Duchess Anastasia of Azkuzia
4. Varangyrian Vyapult III, the Cruel x Duchess Miriam of Stormlands
5. Erik the Hunter (formerly the Outcast) | Alekzandr Vyapult II x Duchess Arianne of Wildwood
6. Duke Garl't x Countess Alina | Varangyrian Vyapult IV, the Suzerain x Duchess Vyatik, the Wanderer | Duchess Aleksandryr, the Lawbinder
7. Count Varangyrian of Mirkuzi x Lady Dzhezika of Severoreka | Duke Varangyrian x Duchess Lilianna of the Crownmark | Varangyrian Vyapult V x Warden Markus of Westmarch
8. Varangyrian Vyapult VI (recently the Barbarian) x Dikynima | Duchess Novgoriz x Duke Izboryk
9. Duke Dyr of Bastion | Duke Dvini x Duchess Miriyam of D'yavoles | Duke Varangyrian of Eastfrost x Duchess Ayla of D'yavoles | Theophania Vyapult I x Warden Jacques
10. Varangyrian Vyapult VII | Duke Karl, the Guildmaster x Duchess Natalie of Mistlands

Thornwood Asylum For The Criminal Insane- A Villain Roleplay. (Closed Indefinitely)

I've been lurking here for a bit. I fully admit, I don't know if I'll be signing up, but I did have a character idea. Basically, imagine a living singularity, either mostly trapped in a body made of rock or otherwise confined to semi-humanoid form through esoteric means.