HylianRose

Saint Valerius Academy - A Knight/Noble Fantasy

2. Tagging @Animal because this idea was inspired by Esme's CS. Reading Esme's childhood history and the Underground organization gave me an idea that due to her unique spellcasting power, Millie is in their watch list of potential abductees. Her social position and HRE's terrifying might may have put her in the backburner as they'd rather go after 'safer' options such as a low-class orphan (e.g: Esme). However, now that they know The Iron Princess will be attending a private school in an isolated remote region for the foreseeable future, they may try to make their move, especially if they can use someone else as a scapegoat, it can be Illa, or Alfi, or even the headmaster or one of the teachers.

@Izurich

Oh, I could have SO much fun with this later on.

Edit: Let me know what you guys decide and I'll weave it in for sure.

Saint Valerius Academy - A Knight/Noble Fantasy

This looks like fun and cozy. I've been thinking about a character for this RP, but looking at the OOC section so far, it seems there will be a lot of things to know first before I jump in.

How many confirmed players so far if you don't mind me asking? And does this RP have a railed plotline, final goal, things the players have to achieve together, or just a slice-of-life RP?

@Mas Bagus

Hello and welcome! Yes, so I think so far we have about 8 players with tentative interest and 4 that already have characters submitted and accepted and the rest are likely actively working on sheets.

So, it does but it also doesn't. It has plot lines that I'll be teasing and the wider world will be doing stuff regardless of what happens at the academy. I think we've turned into a slice of life but with political shenanigans. So, while I do have a rough idea of what sorts of plot hooks I'm going to be throwing at you, it's up to you, the players, to decide if you WANT to partake and/or HOW you want to interact with it. They will happen regardless of that outcome. So.. yes. There will be things you can achieve together. But I'll be formulating things based on the actions and decisions of the characters themselves.

For example, let's say that Random NPC A loses their backpack and are VERY eager to get it back. They put up help wanted posters around the school. A character COULD pick up one of those posters and decide to seek out this NPC to see how they can help. And through doing so, maybe unlock a large plot involving backpack thieves.. idk. But if they don't, the backpack thieves continue their ways and get worse and things escalate. If the characters still do nothing about it, perhaps eventually the school itself catches them and kicks them out and the plot ends. It would have ended sooner had the characters done something, but it still progressed regardless of their intervention or not.

Now, I don't necessarily have an over-arching plot or goal in mind. I think the idea is just to see them all to graduation where they then take their place in the world. So, unless we find new things to do with this world, end-game is graduation after 4 years.

EDIT: To everyone!!! if you have an idea for something like this, even if it's something sneaky YOUR character is doing, please send those to me! I'd love to have characters involved in some of these smaller plot hooks and things. Maybe your character gets up late at night to raid the kitchen for food and everyone thinks it's a raccoon so they start to investigate. Maybe your character has been meeting in secret with one of the professors for lessons, but a rumor spreads that you're dating and you seek help from your friends, etc etc.

edit 2: if you see me constantly correcting, this keyboard at work is ASS. And the u key is sticky. ):<

Saint Valerius Academy - A Knight/Noble Fantasy

For documentation: Knight CS Approval

Porting Max over to the character tab now.

Also, noted on the NPCs, Boss! And yes, you should have your own Noble / Knight GMPCs. 😏

@Izurich

I have added them, in my own hooligan ways. ~

Nothing super detailed like you guys have done, but hopefully I've included the barebones to help others understand roughly what the idea is there. Stupidly in love star-crossed lovers. hah..

Saint Valerius Academy - A Knight/Noble Fantasy

So, excluding completed chars (accepted or not), what we publicly know to be in the works:
- @Crowvette's Noble
- @Fading Memory's Noble
- @Crusader Lord's Noble
- @Expendable's Noble
- @Kero's Knight
- @The Savant's Knight

Did I miss anyone?

@Izurich

Incredibly helpful and very appreciated.

In an effort to save time, could everyone that is currently waiting on me to approve a completed CS please PM me a copy of their CS? If you've already PMed me, just send me a bump message on the PM so I can see it. I have a bit of time today at work to really dig in and read through them.

Also, yes, it does seem like we'll need to double up!

Also also, I've done a mistake of looking at pinterest and have.. an idea of my own Knight/Noble NPC pairing... and I need them to exist... lmao. I'll see if I even do anything with that. It could be fun either way.

I also wanted to take this time to say that I will be running a few NPCs but they may or may not have character sheets. You are welcome to pilot these npcs as necessary as well or even create your own for the sake of world building and making things feel more real and fleshed out. If you have questions about an NPC (How would Mr. Parrish react to finding a student in a compromising situtation?, etc), feel free to ask me.

Saint Valerius Academy - A Knight/Noble Fantasy

I've been tossing around the concept for a boyish/reverse trap knight, but that's about as far as I've gotten. It might be too on the nose.

@Crowvette

popping in very quickly to say that that was my original concept for this LOL.

A female knight posing as a male to defend her Noble childhood friend (not that knights need be female, I just like the trope).

Saint Valerius Academy - A Knight/Noble Fantasy

I'm having a good night here! Work was busy today and I got off early and lounged for a bit. We've got some moving we need to do this weekend so I might not be around very much.

Still excited to see everyone's stuff! I'm loving what I've seen so far. As people have said above, we may end up doubling up since so many of us want to be Nobles.

Saint Valerius Academy - A Knight/Noble Fantasy

I was chatting with Fading Memory a moment ago and remembered something. I attend LARPs, just one in the summer, and they sometimes deal with heavy topics since it's a weird west, horror setting. They have a mechanic built into the game where if a player ever needs to leave a scene, for whatever reason, all they need to do is cover their face with their hand and walk away. The rest of the characters will pretend as if that person was never there and continue on.

It's a great way for players to be able to leave if they are uncomfortable with the current scene (among other things). and I feel like we could implement something similar here where if a topic gets a bit too much for anyone player, they can let the crew know "Hey, I'm taking Character A out of that scene." No questions asked, no need to explain. Just.. I'm taking my character out.

Obviously it's not something to abuse. Trying to get out of a big fight you're losing, etc. But it's an option that we could use for those who don't want to participate in certain scenes/plots.

Saint Valerius Academy - A Knight/Noble Fantasy

Dakota WIP

Dakota

Character Summary

Name: Dakota G. Marshall
Aliases: Kota
Age: 17
Class: 1
Gender: F
Speciality: Supportive Magic and Squad Tactics
Role, Rank, and Order: Student, ""Noble"" transfer student

Physical Attributes

Height: 5'11
Weight: Not telling
Build: A strong but not particularly muscular build.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Dark blonde
Skin Tone: Tanned
Tattoos/Scars/Piercings: None
Day To Day Attire: Modern casual clothing, without much care for formal appearances. Takes creative liberties with her school uniform. Wears an outdated military field jacket when it's cold outside.
Strengths: Reflexes, Spatial Perception, Endurance
Weaknesses: Sprints, raw explosive strength

Psychological Attributes

Outgoing * Positive * Brash * Flexible

Sexuality: Bisexual
Relationship Status: Mingle/Ready to single
Personality: Dakota has a very bright and cheerful personality, and isn't afraid to speak her mind. Her honest personality, positive nature, and tendency to charge forward rather than rely on cunning has often had others underestimate her as a ditz, but those who have paid closer attention know that she has a keen perception and sharp mind that has been honed by her strict upbringing. Her approach has always been to let people draw their own conclusions about what she's capable of - and then smash those expectations.

Dakota will not hesitate to stand up to unfair treatment, abuse of power, and violation of freedom - even if it runs counter to her own goals, or helps a competitor. Apart from those tenets, however, she is fairly open minded and accepting of other viewpoints. She is quick to forgive and forget, and unlikely to hold a grudge. She is a natural team player, and is excellent at figuring out how to support others even in the heat of the moment.
Habits: Rarely sits still, Hugs friends on sight
Hobbies: Collecting Military Memorabilia, Barbecuing
Fears: Loneliness, Tight spaces, clowns
Likes: Trying new foods, Friendly competition, Action movies, Dogs, Classic vehicles, Singing
Dislikes: Close-minded people, cheaters, cold weather, stuffy clothing, silence

Skills

A listing of skills, such as horseback riding or cooking. Levels include novice, apprentice, journeyman, expert, master.

• Skill (Level): CQC (Journeyman) - including small arms handling, defensive and offensive techniques (armed and unarmed)
• Skill (Level): Volleyball (Novice)
• Skill (Level): Driving (Apprentice)
• Skill (Level): Cooking (Novice)
• Skill (Level):
• Skill (Level):

Talents & Powers

A listing of unique talents, magic, or possessions. Teachers may have two major and two minor. 4th year Knights/Nobles may have one major and two minor. 3rd year Knights/Nobles two minor. 2nd year Knights/Nobles may have one minor. 1st year Knights/Nobles may have one minor.
For the Order of Shield, please fill out with specialized attacks/maneuvers/weapons/etc.
For the Order of Twilight, please fill out with magic/artifacts/specialized moves/etc.

**For this section, if you'd like some help coming up with talents, please DM me!
***Each new school year, your character will be able to pick up a new talent based on the current scaling listed above.

• Talent/Power/Item: Enhancement - Kota can enhance items to become more effective, though not in a way that drastically alters their usage (similar to a +1 enhancement).
• Talent/Power/Item:
• Talent/Power/Item:
• Talent/Power/Item:

History

Parents: Father: (Retired) General John Marshall, Mother: Deputy Director of CIA National Clandestine Service Martha Marshall
Siblings: Lt. Col Dwight Marshall (eldest brother), Randall ""Randy"" Marshall (elder brother)
Childhood: Dakota lived all over the US as she was taken from various military bases to the next. Despite never living in one place for too long, her parents saw to her having a quality education, essentially a private military schooling, culminating in *actual* accelerated military school. Her mother vouched for her to attend Saint Valerius in order to expand her realm of experience beyond that of the United States, as well as have a more formal education on magic, a topic that was (in her mother's eyes) not taught as well in the States. While she is no ""noble"" in terms of royal pedigree, her upbringing and family dynasty of military and clandestine operations has made her one of the American equivalents of nobles - someone with the potential to shape and hold great power in her nation.
Adulthood: Maybe some day...
Special Moments: The day her father gave her his old field jacket to wear. The day she fired her first gun at the age of four. Attending her brother Randy's first concert before he became famous.
Current Events: Thinking about hamburgers.

Relations

* ☠ Enemy * ⚜ Unfriendly * ☯ Neutral * ☮ Friends * ღ Ally * ♥ Crush/Significant Other *

• Name:
• Name:
• Name:
• Name:
• Name:
• Name:

Extras (Optional)

Character Quote: "The only way forward is through!"
Theme Song: The entire Gettysburg EP by Iced Earth
Aura Color: Star-Spangled
Scent: Almond-Scented Shampoo
Partner:
Anything Else:

I said I'd at least have a wip so here. I need to elaborate on some parts (and I'm sure there will be some questions that will make me realize I need to add in other places too), and I'm kinda vague on some appearance factors (and no portrait yet) because I want to sketch her myself, so bear with me on those as I work them out

@Crowvette

"Current Events: Thinking about hamburgers."

I snorted so hard, I'm pretty sure my entire office heard me. LMAO.

Looks good so far! I love the power, I think that's a great use of a none-combat oriented character being able to support others. I would add in there that the enchantment is not permanent. Maybe it has a cooldown of like 5 minutes? And then she would need to enchant it again. Would offer up some difficulty in battle and make it more useful for her knight to protect her from harm while she's re-upping the enchantment on their weapon, etc.

I did skim a bit through the rest of it and nothing stuck out to me right now to give feedback on, but I can take a look again at some point when you're more confident in her being finished.

note: also, I will be mostly mia today. Big, big meeting this evening and I have to leave early to prep for it and bleh. Everyone is panicking trying to get everything ready, very stressful day for all involved. I'll be around but not as present as I usually am.

Saint Valerius Academy - A Knight/Noble Fantasy

@Aqutanama

That very much is a lot and while I did read it, I don't think I retained much of it simply because I'm home from work and my brain is shutting down for the evening. However, I don't want to restrict magic to a list. I'd rather it be a little hand-wave-y in how we approach it. Like Savant said prior. Aldi does healing magic which isn't exactly one of the schools in dnd 5 e. Hell, one of the examples I gave is just animating a teddy to fight for you for a short period. (Though that would probably fall under illusion? Idk)

I don't want to get bogged down in rules or set hard limitations. Magic in the world is probably a much looser definition than you're thinking of. I'm going to allow you the creativity to think through powers and how *you* want your character to use them. Just.. you know. Give them reasonable limitations. Can't heal fatal wounds, can only heal cuts, scraps, etc. Takes on the wounds healed as a draw back.

And yes, @The Savant is right, @Kero. I'm mostly using bits and pieces. It's no hard and fast rule. Just whatever feels right or sounds cool.

Though I will say I would veto necromancy for at least their first year. The skills wouldn't teach dark magic. Maybe how to defend against it. (Thank you Harry Potter lmao)

Edit: also realizing that what I said might come across as mean or rude which I did not mean at all. I apologize if it did. I asked for your thoughts which you gave and I very much appreciate that! I just wanted to respond to that one bit right now. I'll read it again tomorrow when I have more brain power and see if we can't use at least some of it for our needs!

Saint Valerius Academy - A Knight/Noble Fantasy

@HylianRose Can I add eggs to Alpheus's habits with no further explanation till the IC happens?

@The Savant

... I suppose? LOL