EvictedElement

Reaper's Game: New Game

I think I'd be up for giving this a go. TWEWY meant a lot to me way back when it first released and remains one of my favorites to this day.

ＦＩＮＡＬ ＦＡＮＴＡＳＹ Ｘ｜Ｖ： Ｔｈｅ Ｂｌｅｓｓｅｄ Ｔｗｅｌｖｅ

The privateer shook his head at the group, particularly at J'torha. "No faith? In a charming courter like yourself? Maybe they know something I don't..." Indeed, from X'gihl's standpoint, the dancer had just secured the goods and the home, with some help from a small bobbing pink-headed person. He wondered what all had happened in his absence.

The subsequent carriage ride seemed somehow disappointing. X’gihl’s eye drooped a bit as things shuffled forward. He had expected a bit more excitement, maybe some open conflict with the ones who’d tried to pilfer his people's property improperly. Stop that. Most of the leves he’d taken often relied on physical exertion and some fighting here and there to accomplish the task, whether it be hunting some animal or performing an escort of sorts. Mayhap he was just getting too cozy being able to brute force his way through, and so the lacking of a reason to do so had made him antsy. Shame, would have liked to see what this group could do in a fight. The privateer thus appeared somewhat irritated, sitting in his corner, one leg drawn over the other as it tapped, arms crossed and eye half-open in boredom. Thus he sat quietly (tapping not accountable), ruminating, steaming, and maybe just a little nettled.

"Um, excuse me! Could you stop?" Lyveva called out to the driver suddenly.

Carriage halted, X’gihl’s eye and ears perked up almost immediately. He scanned forward, behind J’torha and down the length of the vehicle, leaning over his shoulder to see the rest. No immediate enemies, none coming from the rear. Yet Lyveva jumped out of the carriage, her eyes focusing on a horned child ahead of her, one with dark horns, not a Hyur but that other race; the one that has horns normally, seemed to be their object of focus. "Uh, sorry about that, but that boy looks like one of the orphans my friend watches over. The pink-haired Lalafell and the horned devil Hyur leapt out to join her.

“We’ll stay with the carriage, no need for all of us to run off like a pack of mongrels and frighten the kid.” Came J'torha as the other three discussed pursuing the Au'ra. The dancer's smile prompted X'gihl to answer with a smirk. “What’s say we go make sure all this work hasn’t been for naught, eh? There’s little use for a deed to a house that’s already been gutted.”

The privateer's half-lidded eye looked toward Lyveva and her two helpers, to the area the child ran, and back to J'torha with a nod to show his approval. "Aye. Couple mongrels like us're best put in the yard to scare away any other thieves. May as well make sure our heads have a place to lay, too."

ＦＩＮＡＬ ＦＡＮＴＡＳＹ Ｘ｜Ｖ： Ｔｈｅ Ｂｌｅｓｓｅｄ Ｔｗｅｌｖｅ

The privateer stepped back, quietly cooing at the chocobo's cute chirps. He looked up to respond to the wrangler, yet still smiled more to the bird than him. "Hardly experienced, my lad. They've just been friendly to me in my worst times. Treat them well, maybe play with them a bit more." And X'gihl reached out, ruffled the bird's feathers again with a whisper. "You be good to him, burdo. Boy might ride you about with a green dangling just out of reach."

After a short chortle, X'gihl turned on his heel and began heading back up the steps to the mainland. He called out back to Isabella and waved a hand to let her know he was moving again. For X'gihl could see no more work to be done, and this spot in particular had been a bit of a dead end in getting the house back safe and sound. Mayhap the others had more luck? At the very least, hopefully there'd been no more talk of their leader's private life. 'Twas one thing for a singular set of loose lips. The privateer didn't want to bring up bad memories in the lass, with or without her permission to be knowing what he now did.

The thought brought a fragment of his own memories to the forefront: weeks out of Gyr Abania, crossing into the Black Shroud, hungry, scared, the adults hiding something as they guided their flock.

Not something he wanted to bring back, much less for someone else. The privateer sighed as he stood at the top of the steps, taking a second for another swig of his flask; it had seemed heavier before. His one eye looked over the bazaar with a new focus; where were his new coworkers? X'gihl made his way back into the markets.

People still went about their merry ways, looking over goods, loudly discussing their trades, their merchandise, their gil, and more. X'gihl made little note of any idle chatter. His eye looked left, right, forward, backward, seeking any sign of the party he accompanied. He probably looked shifty, the way he stepped and turned and spun and dove around the marketgoers to avoid knocking into someone. Giving people so little attention while trying to find particular ones was usually done in more subtle manners, lest one looked like something besides an innocent miqo'te seeking the company he rode in with.

Yet the feeling of innocence began to find reason enough to fade. Hanging outside one of the buildings, X'gihl could make out a figure dressed in red with a rapier at her side. Beside her, a golden-haired young woman, a lalafell with blue hair, and an unmistakably horned youth. Were I a sensible sort, I'd say that's an ambush waiting to happen...

Was it?

Was it?!

"Rhalgr's ass..." X'gihl cursed under his breath, quickly picking up his pace into a light run toward them, hands poised to draw his knuckles. And then the door to the building opened and out stepped an ever-so-smug dancer with the pink-haired lalafell not far behind. The privateer slowed himself and stopped just apart from the group, feeling somewhat the fool. From their talk (and J'torha's self pleasure), it seemed like everything was taken care of and more-or-less recovered. Lyveva even seemed pleased to the point of offering the group a meal and bath.

X'gihl laughed. His gut lurched at the motion and he doubled over with hands on knees as an unseemly cackle came from him. "Fo-For just a moment, I-I thought you all were about to jump someone!" For the short time he and that lancer had been at the docks, they'd managed to do the job quick and easy. What the heck had happened? And was it worth that he now smelled of a mix of fish and chocobo?

new ideas: interest check update - closed

Like @ricochet, I find myself interested in the demon and the novice summoners despite the lack of detail. But I'm sure there'll be more to it as time goes on.

The Gauntlet

A few questions to go along with my interest.

First, the extent to which fantastical elements are allowed. Should there be any limitations to the magic our potentially very diverse cast should have? Any rules you want to set in stone as to what it can or cannot do before balance comes into place or character creation begins?

Second, on the list of armaments available in the gauntlet, are we allowed to come up with our own or are we to pick from a set list of things that you, the DM, come up for us? I ask this because our characters would appear to be finding weapons within the setting and not have any that they would have kept with them during their average life.

ＦＩＮＡＬ ＦＡＮＴＡＳＹ Ｘ｜Ｖ： Ｔｈｅ Ｂｌｅｓｓｅｄ Ｔｗｅｌｖｅ

X'gihl froze in place when the youth turned on the privateer with his panicked remark. The miqo'te's ears and tail briefly flicked in agitation; arms, legs, and fists alike tensing before reassuming his casual posture again. Poor lad seemed on edge with his feathered friends misbehaving, and woe would he be had X'gihl given him a firm thumping for a short-lived and accidental fright.

No, the privateer composed himself again; a friendly grin, soft-eyed expression, and a light flick of the tail. His shoulders shrugged in response to the youth's words. "Well, either we get these companions of yours settled and saddled, or we pull this wagon ourselves. I know my choice." X'gihl took a lively set of steps to a jaunty tune hummed under his breath. He made his way around the lad and his chocobo and spun to face the other with a mock bow. The privateer offered his hands up and scratched at the chocobo's chest. "Sooner you start acting right, ol' bird, the sooner you can let all that energy loose. What say?"

ＦＩＮＡＬ ＦＡＮＴＡＳＹ Ｘ｜Ｖ： Ｔｈｅ Ｂｌｅｓｓｅｄ Ｔｗｅｌｖｅ

He hadn't expected a smile in return, or for her to accept the circumstances as is, but she appeared the finer for both as she walked down the dock. "A lay hand is one that has yet to learn. A willingness to act is all it takes." X'gihl muttered beneath his breath. His lips curled again, as they did much today. Every time the privateer turned, it seemed something or other was moving at his heart. For this woman and her choice, he was overjoyed. "Thank you."

Hard work was a valuable thing, the way X'gihl was raised. Your actions carried your weight and that of others. If one didn't know how to perform a function, experience became a fine teacher. Persistence, its pet. Together, they forged fine laborers, and labor was exactly what furthered the goals of the many, what made those who learned into competent workers. In that same vein, X'gihl observed that the lancer had removed her hand's armor. Once hidden, now laid bare were a pair that had clearly seen much and more of a fair share. Calluses and scars. This one may be a pleasure yet.

Turning those thoughts aside the same as the previous ones, X'gihl brought his flask up for a swig and refocused himself. A boat was coming in with a large haul of fish as the fisherman spoke of Lyveva and Aidric's situation growing up. He stepped forward to do his part in guiding it into port as the fisherman took its lead. Once in place, the lancer moved quicker than he had, but he followed her lead all the same. Plunging hands into the nets against the squirming fish within to get a firm grip, he awaited her count and heaved with her to bring the fish to the cart.

While the adventurers handled their side, the fisher had continued his conversation. X'gihl listened with half an ear, considering it fortunate that the lancer had opened the dialogue in his place. Orphans. Many and more like them these days. Still a shame. Wonder how? Blond hair, Highlander, roughly early twenties. Another refugee from the Mad King's War? Maybe not. But a similarity he couldn't quite deny. Yet it was none of his business, and unlikely something Lyveva would want to be asked about. No, sleeping griffons should be left to lie.

Chocobos on the other hand, were a different matter. X'gihl scanned his surroundings while the fisher and lancer conversed, and while tasks further down the docks seemed to he getting taken care of, the sounds of "warks" and "kwehs" came from the front of the wagon that the adventurers had just loaded, along with a voice that sounded irritable. Turning his head that direction, X'gihl observed the two chocobos meant to pull it seemed to be slipping from their saddles one at a time while the poor groom was trying to secure them back in place. The privateer let out a short chuckle and tapped his companion on the shoulder for her attention. He pointed a thumb toward the chocobos and began walking that direction, hoping the message would be clear to her. I'll be up there if you need me.

"Seems the birds want themselves a game. Might I offer you a hand, lad? Offer a scratch, mayhap?" X'gihl asked the groom upon approach.

ＦＩＮＡＬ ＦＡＮＴＡＳＹ Ｘ｜Ｖ： Ｔｈｅ Ｂｌｅｓｓｅｄ Ｔｗｅｌｖｅ

Aye, hard work’s not so hard if you’re used to it and miss it so. X’gihl grinned cheek to cheek at the older Hyur’s agreement. Perhaps this nostalgic mood wouldn’t be so bad after all. A little hard work, that was right up his alley. Work took the edge off, work kept you busy, work made boredom and bad memories a forgotten thing. And it ensured his flask wouldn’t be so empty by the end.

Now, about that straggler. X'gihl turned to face her with an expression of bemusement. Yes, she had been in the Quicksand and the carriage. She'd been the one that J'torha had nudged to no avail. But who was she again? A mix of plate and chainmail covered her figure, and her posture seemed...proud? That might be the word for it. Aside from the clear Highlander heritage, he wasn't quite sure how to peg her. The lance could have been Ishgardian or Gridanian. The bearing of her presence left enough to be unclear on the matter. But she appeared somewhat experienced, if the appearance was any judge. Beneath those gauntlets, X'gihl pondered, would one find callused skin or soft pads?

Put it aside, he told himself. The Hyur that had responded clearly seemed to expect X'gihl's offer referred to both adventurers. Problem with that, X'gihl had only meant to offer his own. And the blond lady seemed to have her misgivings for his offering, not that they were unfounded. "Aye, mayhap we should. But then, coming down this way was more for meself.". The privateer bowed his head apologetically for a brief moment before looking back at her with a pleading expression. "Forgive me that, lass. Hadn't intended to drag you into the work as well, though my intention be to trade labor for information, if ye follow. If ye want no part, I wouldn't blame ya."

That having been said, X'gihl quietly hoped that an extra pair of hands would come in handy to take more weight off the shoulders of the fishers. The more he could assuage, the more happy they'd be about it surely. The happier a customer, the more likely he'd get what he wanted. 'Twas simple business. Well, simple business with a spot of mercenary perspective. One thing for another, that being. X'gihl stepped further down the pier, expecting to begin the boat's nightly cleanings and maintenance. He'd find Galfridus among them eventually, not a doubt to that. When he did, maybe the sailors would be happy to take part in that drink J'torha had declined earlier.

Only a Human System: a Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction and Fantasy RP

Awesome! Glad to see this up and going. I'll be working on a human character the next couple of days. Gotta study the lore and make a half-decent bio

@FoxFire before I get into it, though, are ex-Imperial soldiers a possibility?

Only a Human System: a Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction and Fantasy RP

Now this is a high concept with extremely interesting ideas. Please, tell me @FoxFire, do you have any geography set up for the actual planet our story will be taking place on? Any specific details about locations, settlements, habitations, or demographics?