lydyn

Twisted Magic

I linked it in the character's tab with what I thought was the most important information and the most relevant, but there's still a ton to learn about them if you want to go in depth. With that said, I'm going to bed. It's 1 AM here in South Korea. :p G'night!~ I'll work on Adley tomorrow. ^.-

Twisted Magic

I didn't expect to do this... but I found a ton of information on the Harpers and found a good part of it relevant, so... it's a bit of reading. I have tried to cut down on it though, but also included some bits and parts you can use yourself if you want to play around with Harper NPCs. I'm thinking I might stop here and link the original article if you want to know more. ^.^

Twisted Magic

Age: 26
Gender: Female
Occupation: Traveling Adviser and Scholar (Secretly; A novice Harper)
Organization: N/A (Secretly; The Harpers)

Skills & Talents
• Journeyman Swordsman: The second rank of experience, she is both more skilled than a novice and yet less adapt than an artisan. She is not skilled enough to teach others the arts of swordplay, but she does holds her own in most situations, though there are plenty of individuals in the world that can out maneuver and out think her in the arts of melee combat.
• Artisan Acting: Though Adley does slip up from time to time, she's become experienced enough that at least in situations she knows to be of importance, it's hard to see past her ruse. Though not impossible and certainly easier if caught off guard.
• Artisan Stealth: Experienced enough to be a tutor for others, Adley has learned more advanced techniques to keep herself from being spotted or heard. Though she's no master and thus cannot hide in seemingly impossible situations, she can make easy use of normal methods of stealth - hiding behind objects, using shadows to her advantage, rolling from one cover to another, etc.
• Novice Wilderness Survival: Only the basics for Adley, like setting up campfires, cooking hunted rabbits or deer, constructing basic shelter. The campfires don't normally last all night, the shelters are easily spotted, and she can't always tell which plants are deadly or safe.
• Master Lorekeeper: Her strongest suit, Adley has read countless books and scrolls of mythical, legendary, and long forgotten creatures, ruins, places, and kingdoms. Some of them pure fiction while others hold a hint of truth. There isn't much that she isn't at least partially familiar with.

Magic
• Rune of True Sight: An ancient artifact in the form of an arm band, branded with the symbol of an eye. The band itself is silver in color and the symbol is a light sky blue, giving a slightly mystic and yet pure feel to the color scheme. It's more than just jewelry however and serves as one of only a handful of runes that provide it's bearer with uniquely powerful magics. This one in particular grants the user 'True Sight,' the ability to perceive the true nature of all things.

• Magical Piercing: True Sight allows Adley to see through magical illusions, invisibility, concealment or otherwise any sort of magical-based cloaking.
• See the Unseen: The rune also allows Adley to spot things that are out of place, such as secret doors & traps. This does not extend living creatures, however, as they are not things out of place and practicing stealth just means hiding and being quiet which are both natural things in almost every setting.
• Ancient Knowledge: The last ability of True Sight is to give it's bearer knowledge of written and spoke barriers. The user can speak and understand all languages, decipher coded messages, and gain insight to symbolism in ancient lore.

Brief Personality
Normally speaking, Adley keeps to herself. She is a natural introvert and her secret holding within the Harpers makes it even more lonely due to having to travel as one of the 'adventuring' Harpers. However she is still friendly and has a warm heart and a dedicated resolve to see good done in this world. Bringing in with her more submissive personality, she tends to forgo the blade in favor of gathering intel to pass along or manipulate so that other, more direct orders (such as knights, adventurers, etc.) can take action in her place. Behind all the confidence and friendly nature of this woman though, is a pool of depression, not something most get to see or know outside some of the other Harpers.

Background
Adley was born in a small village surrounded by forests and small rivers. Though her early years were filled with caring and love, her parents quickly started to realize how different she was from the simple life that they had made for themselves. Adley was always a curious type, getting to everything and as soon as she could read, she would end up with her nose in a book at every chance she could get. Despite having extended family in the village and living with her parents, it slowly turned into a life of loneliness. She was the black sheep of the family so while everyone else played outside or sat around in circles telling stories after their work, Adley was in the corner reading.

Sadly, this alone forced her to develop the talent of acting. In her teenage years this mostly presented itself in the form of pretending that everything was fine when she was really depressed. It had been even harder since being in a small town, it was very unusual to take a fancy to the same sex, but it was so hard for Adley to ignore the beautiful women and even harder for her to find any man appealing. Eventually, when she came of age, she decided to pack up and leave for the nearby city to try and find some work there - start her life over, away from people that ignored her to her face.

She found many odd jobs in the nearby kingdoms, from inn keeping, blacksmithing apprentice, courior, but she ended up spending the last few years as an irregular scout for the kingdom's military. Thankfully avoiding most of the 'normal' military training, she was still taught some discipline and mostly the arts of stealth and information gathering. She was often praised for her ability to quickly pick the skill up, but even more so for her ability to not only gather the intel, but also make her own connections due to how much she had read in her life.

However it wasn't until she had to go on a mission to spy on some slavers. She had been given orders - like all scouts - to not interfere at all. However when she saw a woman being drag through the mud and water, nearly drowning, she couldn't help but to try something. Just as luck would have it, the moment she jumped out with her short sword, so did another mysterious figure who was far more skilled. Together, the two individuals ended up either injuring, killing, or scaring off the slavers, effectively freeing all of the slaves. The man then turned to her and smiled, shaking her hand in thanks and said if she ever wanted to do some good in the world, to follow the breadcrumbs. He left as quickly as he appeared, leaving behind a small note in her hand to visit the inn, rent a room, and give a particular message to the keeper.

She had done so and found herself in the company of the legendary and mysterious Harpers. She was easily inducted into the service and given several assignments that capitalized on her skills as a scout and intel gatherer, finally using it for a purpose that seemed worth dying for - the freedom and happiness of others. Adley hadn't felt more at home than with the Harpers, though it was still a rather lonely journey. She had to admit though, she had never been so accepted in her life and the fact that her fellow Harpers welcomed her with open arms, even when they knew she fancied women, was a blessing on it's own.

Fate it seemed, still had plans for her however, even with her being a part of something so grand as the Harpers. One her missions lead her to some ancient ruins, where corrupt orcs were trying to bash down the door, ranting on about an artifact of great power and wisdom. Though she later reported that they were far from successful, she felt the urge to try and enter herself - after all, leaving something powerful to the hands of evil was not an option. By some miracle or perhaps by the grace of the Gods, she managed to find the trigger for the door and slowly inched inside only to find a single chamber that had layers of dust.

Taking time to try and decode the ancient messages, it eventually lead her to a giant silvery ring that was held in place on a pedestal. She figured perhaps it was the key to gaining further access, a series of puzzles to make sure this artifact was safe. She slipped her arm inside the circle, following vague instructions of a forgotten cult, when it suddenly lit up. Strings of light shot out and snapped themselves to Adley's bicep and then the giant silver ring began to shrink until it was eventually sitting on her arm like an armband. Bursting with a magical light, Adley could feel the effects of the rune right away...

Over the course of the next month, she and fellow Harpers gained insight to the full range of abilities this rune granted her (mostly in thanks to the rune's power to finally reveal what the ancient writings said) and seeing as they could not remove it without removing her arm, it gave her a special place within the Harper's organization. Since then, she has been invaluable to the Harper Scholars, but only a month ago she was pulled from her assignments to find the town of Melberry.

History with Aphrodite
Settling in the town, she was given information of an inn that a Harper friend ran, and upon arrival she was kindly given a free room until her business was concluded in the area. However she hadn't known was the assignment was for the moment, so she decided on a familiar and easy cover story; being a traveling adviser and scholar. This gave Adley the opportunity jot down coded messages about the comings and goings of people without drawing much or any suspicion.

However after a few days, a beautiful elf approached her, sharing some of her bread as they talked. Though Adley tried not to make much of it, the next day when she saw Aphrodite dancing, she couldn't help but quietly wander outside to watch. The surprise came when the elven woman suddenly stopped dancing, just to come over and talk to her, which made her unusually important.

They started to meet like that every day for about a week before someone forced both of them to face something that hadn't thought of before. Even though they were together at the bench, laughing lightly, one of the city guards came over and began to compliment Adley on her beauty and being even so bold as to ask her for a drink. It was not something Adley thought important, simply because the chances of another woman liking women at all was low, but the situation forced her to express her orientation.

The fact that he had taken it so well seemed odd to Adley, but when he said they looked cute together, Adley just blinked in surprise. Only her Harper family had ever made jests like that, but he seemed genuine in his comment, causing her to look at the elf. The red cheeks on the woman only confused her a bit more, but forced herself to justify it as embarrassment or surprise rather than true blushing. Adley then tried to wave it off like it wasn't a big deal.

She had to admit though, being invited over to Aphrodite's house right after did seem suspicious, but her reasoning of it raining the next day helped Adley reason past that, which she gladly accepted. Though she took care for her looks like any day before, the closer she came to the elf's home, the more her heart beat. She was trying not to, but she had been having light daydreams about the elven woman... she didn't want to develop feelings for her though because what if Aphrodite was just being a friend? Then Adley would just go through more hurt again.

The night went by much faster than she expected though. The two shared stories about how they ended up in town, how Adley had been in the militia as a scout before and even how her liking women had caused a wedge in her family. It was meaningful and fun for Adley to share those things with someone who seemed intently interested in what she had to say. Though seeing the elf blush time to time caused her pause, feeling her own cheeks glow as well, but all the while trying not to get her hopes up. After all, when she had to leave... Aphrodite - even if she did fancy her - probably wouldn't leave her home to be with her and she could never ask that.

Adley did have to admit after that night though.. she did fancy the elf.. perhaps if things had been different or they crossed paths at a different point in their life, they could make something work. With Adley being a Harper though and being called all over, that made it hard and how would Aphrodite react to her having magic? Magic was often seen as mystical and awe inspiring as it was filled with fear and distrust.

---

The Harpers - Full Article

"What makes a Harper? Well, different folk'll tell ye a lot of high and grand things, but t'me it seems the only crucial talent - the one they all have - is the ability to turn up at the wrong time in a place where they're neither wanted nor expected, and plunge right into whatever trouble's afoot...."

"What's a Harper? A good question, aye - and like most good questions, it has a lot of right answers. As many, in fact, as there are Harpers... and if that's too cute an observation for your liking, then you have my condolences. A mind so closed can only find life a small, sad cage."

Many definitions of the term 'Harper' have been made down the ages. Some of them have even been printable. Most folk in the Realms know what the Harpers stand for, more or less (which is about what most Harpers know), but there have always been rumors of a secret code of laws or rules that define Harper membership and behavior.

The truth is that there are and there aren't. (That phrase describes a lot of truths about the Harpers.) The disorganized and secretive nature of the fellowship of Those Who Harp makes it hard to define what a Harper is (and some-times, who is and who is not a Harper), and what Harpers do and may not do.

Who wears the Silver Harp

Lone wolves (misfits, solitary adventurers, the disfigured, or the brilliant but unbalanced) are tolerated in the ranks of the Harpers, per-haps even encouraged. This adds many crazies (or as they're known in the Realms, 'moon-witted') and difficult folk to the ranks of the Harpers, but it also brings some very powerful individuals into the fellowship, giving them friends and a direction in life. The elusive, mysterious, and - for purposes of defining, describing, or fighting them - very difficult quality of the Harpers is their lack of organization. This has also been their strength, the flexibility that allows them to melt away before a powerful foe into nothingness (complete lack of organized activity, sometimes for many years) instead of standing strong as a visible army and being smashed by an attack.

The complete story of the Harpers may never be told, because it's not that sort: of organization. Nothing is clear, nothing is formal - and nothing is ever finished. Wise Harpers know this only too well. In the absence of armed might, it's all that's enabled them to survive as a group, in the face of assassins and the soldiers of a hundred rulers, great and small.

Harpers do not gather in large armies to do battle with evil in the glorious clash of arms. Instead, more often than not, single Harper agents slip into places that have fallen under the sway of various shadows - from the halls of kings to thieves' dens-and do all that one being can do to thwart the ruling evil. Not a few have given their lives. As the Harper Caledan put it, "Isn't that how the Harpers operate? They send one person to slip in and do a job where an army couldn't go. If the agent fails, they've lost only one. But if the agent succeeds ..."

"I go into most places armed with my orders, my wits, and a little information about where I can find friends or weaknesses in the armor of the enemy," said the Harper agent Tarnshar Stormraven (a ranger). He added dryly, "So I go into most places very quietly."

What do Harpers do?

Harpers spread rumors, aid merchants and common folk in many small ways, thwart the schemes - and sometimes end the lives - of creatures who work evil ends, and try to manipulate the affairs of civilized races, both great and small, to keep kingdoms balanced and a general peace across the Realm.

The most powerful Harpers are the experienced adventurers who travel about the Realm taking direct action. This is not always a matter of spells and blades; some of the most capable Harpers are courtesans and merchants who have mastered the art of skillful acting. They act to mislead or sway other folk in ways that will aid Harper causes and confound those of Harper enemies. The largely behind-the-scenes method of Harper operation follows the watchword, 'The subtle plan outstrips the bared blade' (sometimes rendered as 'The soft caress moves more than the brutal fist').

Code of the Harpers - Watchwords

• Harpers work against villainy and wickedness wherever they find it - but they work ever mindful of the consequences of what they do.
• All beings should walk free of fear, with the right to live their lives as they wish.
• The rule of law aids peace and fosters freedom, so long as the laws are just and those who enforce them lenient and understanding.
• No extreme is good. For freedom to flourish, all must be in balance: the powers of realms, the reaches of the cities and the wilderlands into each other, and the influence of one being over another.
• Whatever it takes, a Harper will do. Pride never rules the deeds of a true Harper.
• Harpers can spare themselves less freedom than those they work to protect must have - but even a Harper must be free.
• Harpers police their own. A Harper who hears the call of personal power can no longer hear the sweet song of the harp. A Harper who seizes power, and holds it above all else, is a traitor to the harp. Traitors must die, for freedom to live.

Cares of a Harper

• Harpers who have Harper pins carry them unless going into situations where the discovery of their identity would endanger their mission. Harpers wear their pins openly only as a recognition-signal to other Harpers, or at Harper gatherings.
• Harpers don't give up; they always work on unfinished missions, however much time has passed. (This has led to Harpers encountering foes years after they first started looking, and taking swift action - a habit that has given rise to the folk saying, 'Harpers never forget.')
• Harpers help other Harpers without hesitation or thought of personal cost or credit.
• Harpers do not conceal their own short-comings or handicaps (such as disease, carried curses, and lycanthropy) from other Harpers.
• Harpers never stop listening and looking, no matter how tired, hurt, or affected by magic or wine. An awake Harper never relaxes. (As the sage Maldeth of Calimport once put it, 'A Harper is always alert, living his life as if every hanging moment is his last. Soon enough, he's right about that.')
• Harpers do not respect rank or power; Harpers do respect wisdom and good character. Harpers never discriminate on the basis of sex or race - but almost always take careful note of a being's religion and how loyal that being is to it. Strong religious belief can be a dangerous thing, if the deity's nature or commandments stand opposed to Harper ends.
• Harpers do the unexpected. Unless assuming a role so as to pass undetected by enemies, Harpers do not settle into a routine that invites easy attack or anticipation of their aims and activities.

Harper Communication

All Harpers can be briefed by any Herald (or any of the three 'informed' Harpers always on-duty in Twilight Hall, who study and discuss all Harper reports and try to keep track of what Harpers are where, and what of importance is going on at present, all across the Realms - information they'll share with any Harper). Harper messages can also be left by written means at Harper refuges, or carried as letters by Harpers, Harper friends or allies, and even by hired merchant-messengers of no loyalty to or even knowledge of the Harpers. Such missives are often sent on wax-sealed parchment scrolls, sometimes in code.

Adley's Place in the Harpers

Adley had a unique place within the Harpers, mostly due to the rune 'True Sight.' Though she is an excellent scout, her ability to gather and process intel is nigh impossible to match now, outside of other Harpers being able to read people better than she can. Outside of other people though, she can literally decipher any spoken or written information and even find things hidden from view. This gives her a dual-place within the organization as a scout and a scholar.

Twisted Magic

I'll start research on the Harpers and stuff... and add some infos about the guild and everything. That way you can also GM some of the Harper agents too! Maybe you can come up with a reason her superior called her to that city. ^.^

A Knight's Scholar

Theren had been right to dash backwards because as soon as he had finished his sentence, she nearly jumped up in surprise, her wings flaring just slightly as she did so. Though she hadn't gained enough height to truly sit up, she did turn in her chair a bit after the scare to see who the stranger was. After hearing a demand of her magic, her eyes narrowed just slightly and only briefly as she took the moment to examine her questioner. She had lived in Ebonfort long enough, certainly, to catch the colors and uniform marking him as one of the knight captains which in of itself caused a slight curiosity in the Sylph. The more important matter though was how he knew of her abilities, but there was really only one conclusion that sprung to her mind, only one way to know something about something so subtle as her own magic. "Aurism..." she replied out loud.

Without giving pause, she stood up and pushed her chair in, closing her eyes and sighing. "It's really the only way you could've known... but are you here to arrest me?" Opening her eyes and gauging his reaction, she shook her head and leaned the small of her back against the chair, folding her hands onto her thighs. "No, you would have already then. So it's either you want something or you're really that curious." At this point, a light, but friendly smile painted her lips. "I wish I had a name for it, but there isn't any information about it that I've come across... anyways," she continued, brushing a strand of hair from her eyes, "I can decipher coded messages and read the memories of objects, normally within the last.. thirty days? Probably not the most useful magic to exist."

Gianna had come across most of the known magics in her studies of things unusual, but the more subtle magics had always been harder to record and document, especially since the 'Death of Magic.' However things such as summoning, familiary, elementlism, shielding - those were all easily found in some text or another because of their obvious effects on the outside world. She only came across Aurism in the sense of authors writing of men and women being able to 'sense' magic or otherwise 'perceive things others cannot.' Gianna had been quite sure of herself that had she not been given the sudden boon of whatever magic she had, Aurism was likely the next ability Fate would've granted her. That alone had made Gianna interested in the captain, curious how it felt to see the world in a different light - whether it was painted in new colors or perhaps the world just brighten or darkened just a tad.

A Knight's Scholar

Will reply to this tomorrow... I've been out all day, so I'm quite tired. =3

Seeking Dedicated Partner - FxF - Mature / Adult / 18+

Hider

All right... it's that time again. People have either dropped off or are so slow in replying to the current role-plays, that I can take on another one. I cannot stress this enough though - I know we all get excited and motivated by new ideas and hit the ground running, but I also know a lot of us lose that same motivation once the initial rush is past - so please, for the sake of my sanity, make sure you're willing to role-play for some time before PMing me.

On that note, I've had a particular craving for a certain type of character. I want to give the whole story, so I can help envision this character in your mind. First, a little background information... I used to play a game called Neverwinter Nights, which is a PC game based on D&D rules (it's based in Neverwinter of Fearun, go figure). I used to role-play a ton (10 years in fact) on that and the pace in which you role-play is a bit different than on the forums. This is important for later when I describe the whole idea. ^.-

Anyways, it was a click and point type of game - you clicked somewhere, your character would run there. Click an enemy, they'd attack, kind of like Diablo but much slower paced. Well, when you'd enter a server to role-play (they had custom built worlds) you would click by other characters and just talk as if you were that character. Kind of like chat room RPs, but talk was actually limited to a certain distance so the whole server didn't hear what your character had to say. You could even whisper and other characters had to be within like 5 feet to see the whispered text! The great thing about this was, on a server of like 50 people, you could run randomly into other characters you've never seen before and start weaving stories and character's emotions. Your character could've been on a server for two months, feeling lonely and not finding any love, and then randomly run into another character that's been there for three months (but they hadn't met) and fall in love.

---

Sooooo! The daydream I had was that I was playing a Bard and she was kind of like... a Harper, if anyone knows who they are. Essentially, she would scribble down notes about anyone and everyone she thought was important in order to gain intel about what was going on in the area. This was mostly so she could try and get ahead of things and stop really bad stuff from happening before it really had a chance to start. At times she'd even explore dungeons and ruins just to study them on the off-chance she finds something worth note - of course if she was caught in a crypt fighting skeletons by another adventurer, she'd play it off like she was lucky and really not skilled at combat at all.

So getting further into the actual situation, which again is more to paint my character's place in the world, I imagine my bard in the middle of a outside gathering. Like the outside part of a tavern... and she's taking notes. Well, suddenly, one of the more infamous (somewhat evil) women call her over. Playing the ruse of just an innocent bystander, she shuffles close hesitatingly only to be pulled down to sit next to the woman. Then with a quick swipe of her hand, the woman steals the bard's notebook and reads the last thing written; "I know I shouldn't stare.. that woman hasn't really been the most pleasant company to other patrons.. but I must admit her beauty is captivating." That's when the woman hands it over and just stares at the bard for a few moments and then blurts out, "you fancy women, do you?"

Embarrassed, mostly because it's not something she had shared for some time, she runs from the scene into the middle of town - hugging the book close to her chest. She stops to catch her breath when she hears a friend calling. Looking up, it's someone she's gotten to know better within the last week or so, and the friend comes up on her with a surprised grin. "You like women!?" The bard looks away bashfully, biting her lip in silence. "I wish you had told me!" the friend says. "I do think you're kind of cute..."

---

So that's where the daydream ends and that definitely doesn't need to be the actual scene. Like I said, it was merely an example of the type of character I'd be playing. However after some research, I wouldn't really be playing a bard. I'd probably be playing some sort of agent (like a Harper) that maybe has... I dunno. I guess you can color me undecided. I'm personally not good at singing or playing instruments (or poems) but I do love the idea of song magic. ^.^

Maximum Comics: Dawn of Justice | REBRANDING - PLEASE STAY TUNED

<Snipped quote by Dblade26>

lol I would actually hardcore critique someone, no worries. <3

Gimme a bit of time and I'll PM you my impressions on your writing.

@Ruby

Fixed. :p

Maximum Comics: Dawn of Justice | REBRANDING - PLEASE STAY TUNED

Well, got a post up, @Ruby... I don't think it's as fancy as everyone else's posts, but I hope it's good enough? ^.^'

Maximum Comics: Dawn of Justice | REBRANDING - PLEASE STAY TUNED

Date: March 20th, 2005
Time: 1403
Location: Shores of Themyscira

---

The waves of the ocean gently pulled themselves from the beach, giving off a soothing and relaxing aura, but the activity that was being hosted upon the shores was anything but calm. A small unit of the mythical Amazons were doing combat training, paired off into battle partners, learning how to swing a blade with the unstable and shifting sands beneath their feet. Yelling and cheering was a common sound outside of the small song birds that welcomed the early morning sun, giving off a militaristic and yet sister-bonding aura. However it was sharply interrupted by the screaming of metal above, causing all the Amazons to hold their swords and gaze to the skies above.

If anyone could see through the fire and smoke, they would make out a small pod-like ship that was wobbling as it descended towards the water at frightful speeds - how this monstrosity of technology was able to find it's way to the hidden city of the Amazons was beyond anyone's comprehension at the time, only able to watch at the ship crashed into the waters, sending small waves to ripple from the point of impact. After a few moments, the sword sisters gathered at the shore in patient wonder and yet still cautious of impending battle as the ship's fires were put down by the crashing of the ocean. Not one dared to swim out to check for survivors, for any moment they could be attacked and ambushed by an act of compassion.

After some minutes, a figure eventually pulled itself from the wreckage, hauling in it's hand a mace. Though it shocked the Amazons to see that it was a woman! And one that had wings no less, causing them to quickly whisper among themselves, curious if this was some sort of divine creature, though it hadn't ever been one they had heard of. Hawgirl dragged herself to the beach, her mind still in a fog from the crash - even with the new Nth metal infusion and her regeneration abilities, it was taking a while for her body to become accustom to the foreign agent. That and her blood was still pumping from her escape, even though it had been a while since then - she couldn't remember, time had seemed to meld together as she passed by stars and went through the wormhole.

Gripping her mace tightly in an act of self-defense, still hoping she wasn't being chased, her eyes shot up as she heard someone's voice. She couldn't make out the details of who was talking to her or what they were saying, but they looked like... they had armor? And they were branding weapons? Had they found her? In her sudden panic, with mixtures of injuries and the strange metal in her blood, she grabbed her mace in both hands and and swung, striking the blade from the Amazon's grip.

She was not going back!