Just a regular university student, majoring in hospitality and tourism. Also a history and trivial knowledge nerd, aircraft aficionado, occasional trekker and a D&D player.
@shylarah Still, nobody expects the Spanish inquisition. Nor the Scandinavian raids. Or the Danes' Drakkars. Or the Jutes' huskarls. Maybe even the Geats' skirmishers. OR JUST SOME GOOD 'OL SHOCK CAVALRY.
Nobody expects the Polish winged hussars!
Or Finnish hakkapeliittas. Hakkaa päälle, Pohjan poika!
Jean landed smoothly. Maria and the siblings had landed just before him, but he couldn't yet to see them, thanks to the darkness. They had landed slightly farther than him, but Jean started to strip his parachute harness as he had trained. Jean assessed his surroundings as he took off the harness and started to fold his parachute. He didn't want to be surprised or be ambushed by the Germans. He didn't spot any threats, for now. Ying-mei was parachuting just behind him, and the others were still in the plane or jumping from the plane, taking their time.
What is keeping them there? Fear of heights? Jean thought for a second, but the threw the thought away. Now is not the time to look down on them, Jean.
Jean took his rifle, loaded it, and started to look for Maria and the others. They had fallen to the countryside surrounding Paris, but Jean didn't yet to have a clue where they had precisely been airdropped. There were a few fields and a forest nearby, but the darkness made it difficult to spot anything farther than a few metres. And Jean couldn't shout, either, as noise would attract unwanted attention.
He then heard a sound. It was the sound of a person landing, but not too softly, or so at least sounded to Jean. Jean approached the place carefully, and he kept his rifle ready, just in case if a curious German patrol had also heard the sound.
Jean soon found Ying-mei, on the ground, tangled in her parachute. She appeared unharmed. "Nurse Liu, I presume you enjoyed the flight?"
For most part of the flight, Jean had been slipping in and out of half-sleep and being awake. It had been mostly a monotone flight. There had been some gusts and sporadic AA fire. When the co-pilot came and shouted that they were nearing the drop-zone, Jean felt a bit drowsy. I shouldn't have slept so much, he thought, and tossed the thought away. He checked his equipment for the last time, and as Maria first and then the Swiss siblings jumped, Jean took the steps towards the door. At the door, he could only see darkness and dim outlines in the ground.
Don't look down. Hands outside the door. Jump, fall, pull, yank final thoughts ran in his head, as he stepped out of the door. La garde meurt, mais ne se rend pas. He jumped and fell. As Jean pulled the parachute's cord, he felt the relief of the yank, as the parachute opened.
Right, it's been a while since I've done my reading. I read William Urban's Teutonic Knights book, and aside from some video games and online research, that's where most of my knowledge comes from.
They were actually doing something similar in Hungary, I think. The King at the time had them defending against the Cumans, but the King's son believed they were "building a kingdom within a kingdom" or something, and so when the King died and the son became the next monarch, the Teutonic Knights decided it was time to up and leave. I think that's when Hermann von Salza had them sent to Prussia, as he saw it as a great training ground before sending his knights to Outremer.
I have the exact same book, and I am curious about the crusades and the Catholic knightly orders, like the Teutonic Knights and the Knights Templar. I ordered the book and Malcolm Barber's The New Knighthood a few weeks ago, and have been them for some time now.
Once, Erwyn Baird took part in the Swords & Septims RP. It went down fast.
Name: Erwyn Baird Role: Mage Gender: Male Race: Breton Age: 26 Place of origin: Wayrest, High Rock, raised in Imperial City Class: Battlemage
Appereance: A sly-looking young man with slightly pointy ears and burn marks in his hands, thanks to an accident during his training at the Arcane University. Erwyn is about five feet and eight inches (175 cm) tall, and sports a brown hair that is short on the sides and long on the top of his head. His skin is tanned thanks to his travels, and although he is not very muscular, Erwyn has a sinewy body, more resilient and enduring than outright strong. His eyes are deep green, the same as his mother's.
Personality: Erwyn is a natural-born mage, who might seem at first a lighthearted joker, but is actually much more serious thanks to his experiences as a mercenary. He feels a certain survivor's guilt after his band of mages was slaughtered by legionnaires, and humor might be his way of coping with the trauma.
History: Born in 4E 185 in Wayrest, Highrock to a Imperial named Camillus Gaeta and a Breton Miranda Baird, Erwyn inherited his mother's affinity to magic. Camillus, a customs officer for the Empire, was killed during the corsair attack in 188, and Erwyn and his mother escaped just before their home was torched by the corsairs.
The two escaped to Cyrodiil to Camillus' family estates. The Gaeta clan, a family with a moderate influece in the Imperial politics and economic life, provided a place to stay for the two refugees in the Imperial City. Erwyn was raised by many uncles, aunts and cousins, and when he showed signs of magic, he was sent to be trained by the Synod.
Around his sixteenth birthday in 201, the Skyrim Civil War erupted. Some of his older mage friends were sent to Skyrim as part of Imperial Legion as advisers, battlemages, spellswords and healers. Erwyn didn't know it yet, but only a few of them would survive the conflict. After the assasination of the Emperor, the Empire started to plunge into chaos.
Even in the Imperial City, the rising tensions between the Legions and independent mercenary companies could be felt. Erwyn's training was hastened, and he was taught mostly destructive and healing spells and the use of blades and axes and light armour. He also had lessons in military engineering, such as building rams and siege towers. The Legion was planning on conscripting after he was done with his training, but an accident concerning Erwyn and a legionnaire put an end to that. The legionnaire in question was given second and third degree burns all over his body after Errol unleashed a fireball at him by accident.
After this incident, Erwyn was brought to the Legion's barracks and court martialed for a prison term. He was ultimately saved by a group of mages who sought to escape the city but couldn't just leave Erwyn to his own devices. The group lead by an Imperial mage called Barius Artano freed him and during the following months they marched around Cyrodiil and Skyrim, taking jobs as battlemages, monster slayers and caravan guards. The chaotic state of the Empire gave them a lot of opportunities to work as freelancers and selling themselves to the highest bidder. They trained themselves as they gained more experience, and sometimes they even got their hands on a new spellbook.
Around this time, Erwyn adopted his mother's last name, and wondered what had happened to her. He barely heard any news from the Imperial City, and most were either bad or worse. After a year of working as a mercenary, Erwyn finally heard about his mother's fate. Miranda Baird had left the city and gone back to High Rock. Erwyn made a promise to find out what happened to her one day, when the peace settled down for good. Until then, Erwyn would fight for whoever paid him well enough.
At the end, their number came. An ambush set by a few straggling legionnaires killed most of the group and wounded the rest. Out of the group, only two escaped, Erwyn and a Conjurer named Julia, although she succumbed to her wounds soon after. Erwyn started to drift around Cyrodiil, avoiding other people for few weeks. After a month, Erwyn went to the city of Chorrol to search for work, and heard rumors of a new warlord who might be interested on a man like Erwyn, gathering men at Sancre Tor. Erwyn resupplied his provisions and set out towards the ancient fort.
Skills: Skilled in both destructive and healing magic. For example, Erwyn knows how to throw fireballs and other elemental projectiles, but is far from a master, as his formal training came to an end before its completion, although he has a lot of practical experience. His healing powers are mostly limited to close small-to medium-sized wounds and to help stop bleeding. In an emergency, Erwyn can also cauterise wounds. An adept with a blade and axe and he has a solid knowledge of medicinal herbs. Decent forager and has experience of surviving in the wilderness. Good horse rider. Basic knowledge of military engineering.
Equipment & other belongings: A horse named Roach, a saddle with saddle bags, a leather brigandine and boots, four shirts made of linen, a few pairs of wool socks, a travelling cloak, two pairs of trousers made of linen, a steel shortsword, a backpack and a small tent, one hundred (100) septims, a waterskin, food (salted bacon and beef, dried bread, carrots, apples, turnips...).
Appeareance: Conwood is a Caucasian male, about 185 centimeters tall and of British origin. He has black hair and strikingly blue eyes, like a bombardier's eyes. Conwood's face has strong features, and his jaw often catches the attention of ladies.
Personality: Major Conwood has seen everything and done everything, and it has left a mark on him. Some of his collegues have referred him as "the real-life James Bond". Conwood is a risk taker and a hopeless gambler, often risking his own life to accomplish an objective. He distastes of risking the lives of soldiers under his command.
History: Born on June 6, 2056 into a upper-class family in England with long-running military history, Richard Conwood enlisted to the British Army as a tank commander. Soon rising in rank to the officer corps, he first lead a platoon and then his own company. Richard was reassigned due to his own initative to a secret British-Japanese test program in 2080, that was supposed to test a new bipedal tank concept known simply to the staff as "Walker REX Mk. I". The program idea was to combine the mobility of the infantry to the firepower of artillery and the protection of a main battle tank. During the program he was acquainted with one of the program's lead scientists, Doctor Kasumi Nakamura and began a relationship with her. But the relationship would not last, as they broke up two years later due to Richard's attitude and commitment issues. Still, despite their misgivings, they still care for each other. The test program was discontinued in 2082 due to Great Britain's defense budget downsizing and the lack of need for bipedal tanks in the battlefield. After Extraterrestial Incident One and the creation of CETM, new interest for the program was sparked and it was handed over to the committee's scientists and engineers. Richard, now a Captain, moved with the program to the Pacific Ocean to field test the new war machine. The research was feverous, and the REX was completed just before the Extraterrestial Incident Two occurred. Richard was commanded to take down the Beast, as it was nicknamed in the mission files. After days of fighting, the Beast was slain with the combined firepower of the Myrmidon Fleet and the Walker REX' prototype railgun. The Walker REX suffered heavy damage, and it was mostly rebuilt and upgraded after the battle to carry more armour and weapons, and it was improved during the years after the battle. It's current version number is Mark II, and an amphiphious model is currently being designed to replace the Walker REX. Richard was hailed as a hero after the battle and he's become the poster boy of CETM. He was promoted to the rank of Major.
Colossus codename: Walker REX MK. II
Colossus appearreance:
Colossus theme: A bipedal tank
Colossus abilities: Walker REX uses a Japanese RGTKL Type 79 (RailGun, Tank, Kinetic, Long) railgun as its the primary weapon to take down extraterrestials, and is also equipped with a heat-seaking Nimbus Rocket Launcher System (NRLS), two 12.7mm machine guns and two 45mm auto cannons. It also has different optical and targeting devices, like thermal sensors and night vision modes, as well a satelite-aided targeting computer and manual aiming system.
Weaknesses: Railgun need a lot of maintenance, and the barrel need to be replaced after twentyfive shots or else it will break down. Also, Walker REX consumes a lot of energy to operate, and is vulnerable to overheating, especially if railgun is used too rapidly.
Felix aep Caileach died at the ripe old age of three-and-twenty for the laziness of the author, in The Fruits of Contention, an Elder Scrolls RP. May Talos have mercy on him.
Basic Information Name: Felix aep Caileach (real surname Trentius) Race: Imperial Age: 23 Gender: Male Birthsign: The Steed Place of origin: Leyawiin, Cyrodiil
Appearance:
Felix aep Caileach is about six feet two, or about 185 centimeters tall. He is a handsome young man with slightly slender features, and after few weeks of martial life he has gained some athleticism. He's not very muscled or big-figured, but he's fast and agile. He has brown short hair and green eyes. His face has a long scar running from right temple to the jaw.
Background:
Felix was born to the Trentius family, who are prominent merchants and cultivators of arts and sciences. Felix was given the best education the family could afford from a very young age. In his teens Felix became an avid student of history and a novice bard, who had a reputation of visiting young and beautiful women at night time for "extracurricular activity". Due to this he has some skill with stealth. He also trained cartwheels and other acrobatic tricks in his childhood.
In his late teens during the Skyrim's Civil War, Felix took a part in a small protest against a hated tax that was levied to support the legions. An imperial patrol tried to control the crowd, but soon the protest flared up and casualties were suffered on both sides. He took a wound from a shortsword to his face and almost died, but he was saved by a Breton healer named Caileach that also took part in the skirmish. Caileach had personal reasons not to like the Empire, but he didn't share those with Felix. The Breton helped Felix to recover and escape.
Felix fled from Leyawiin to Skyrim, assuming a new surname, aep Caileach to create a new identity. Felix escaped for the fear of imperial authorities and started to earn a living as a bard, even enrolling to the Bards' College for a term. After finishing his term, Felix traveled across Skyrim singing songs and telling tales of Dragonborn's deeds, but as the Dragonborn's tyranny continued and he became more disliked, Felix dropped those from his repertoire. In many taverns he is considered a talented lute player and a singer, but horrible at poetry and playing with dice.
One night, Felix played his lute in the Bannered Mare tavern in Whiterun. After a successful concert and an encore, many customers and locals bought him a few drinks and toasted for him several times. Soon, Felix was drunk. In the Bannered Mare was also a recruiter who looked for able young men and supplies for the Dragonborn's campaign against the Forsworn. Felix boasted to the recruiter that he could chronicle the campaign and fight at the same time, and so they struck a contract.
On the following morning Felix found himself with a hangover in a wagon bound for Markath. After arriving to Markath he bought his equipment with the money he had left. After that, they headed to the meeting point between Markath and Karthwasten. For the last two weeks, Felix has been trying to grasp the basics of soldiering and fighting with a weapon at hand.
Personality:
Born into wealth, Felix has hardly done any physical labour besides travelling in his life. He often wants to have some luxuries in his life or hopes of getting some in his immediate future, although mercenary life has humbled him as a person. Felix' experiences as a travelling bard have given him a taste for extravagance and good company.
One of the reasons why he hasn't deserted the mercenary company is because he wants to keep his word and to detail his adventures as a mercenary. Felix tries to keep his word as best as he can, but sometimes he speaks perhaps too eagerly, getting into trouble for his mouth. He acts sometimes without thinking everything through.
Felix enjoys good company, drinking and parties.
Felix wants to do the right thing and he is naive to an extend, although his world view has been expanded and evolved from the time he was in Leyawiin by his travels and experiences.
Capabilities
Skills: Expert in Speech Adept in Mercantile and Acrobatics Apprentice in Sneak, One-handed blunt weapons and Light armour Novice in Hand-to-hand, One-handed bladed weapons and Medium armour.
Weaknesses: Nervous: Many soldiers have nerves of steel in the heat of battle, but Felix gets nervous easily. Inexperienced: Felix lacks many of the basic skills a soldier needs, but is learning quickly by trial and error. Even the Lady Luck has mood swings: Felix has the uncanny ability of jumping from the frying pan into the fire without a burn or scratch, and ending up either ambushed or falling to the arms of a beautiful woman. This doesn't mean Felix ever gets injured, but he is prone of walking or talking himself into trouble.
Relations to other characters: Felix has lots of fair weather friends all around Skyrim, but not really anyone he call a true friend.
Affiliations: Neutral
Spells: None
Combat style: None at the moment, but Felix is trying to learn how to fight a battle-axe and shield.
Other capabilities: He is a charismatic person and a capable negotiator.
Inventory
Cash: 100 Septims
Keys and lockpicks: None
Clothing and armor: Boiled leather brigandine-like jerkin and a wool shirt beneath it, a thick wool cloak, two cotton trousers, four pairs of wool socks and leather boots. He bought the brigandine at Markath.
Weapons and ammunition: A steel battle-axe ornamented with runes, a steel dagger and a wooden round shield that has a silvery griffin painted on it. The shield seems to have been belonged to someone before him, as the shield is battered. He was given the weapons by the recruiter for a small price.
Potion and arcane supplies: None at the moment.
Jewelry and novelty items: A lute, a set of dice and an amulet of Talos
Books and documents: A manuscript titled The Devils of the Reach and a copy of his contract.
Food, drinks and provisions: Ingredients for porridge, some dark ale and bread with him.
Bags, pouches and packs: A large backpack made from cloth and strips of leather.
Other: Nothing comes to mind. I think I have finished my character building.
The royal Mawr family was used during the Dark Age of Brythunnia RP. May Mitras have mercy on them.
Name: Aedin Mawr
Gender: Male
Age: Died at the age of 42 in 963 AC
Occupation/Title: King of Brythunnia
Appearance: He had auburn hair and strong facial features. He was a tall and muscular man, but not bulky. He had dark green eyes, and he didn't grow a beard.
Personality: He was a natural warrior and could inspire loyalty and dread alike in men. He often followed his passions and instincts, spending most of his time pursuing his physical limits and enjoying being a king. Aedin hadn't much interest in governing the realm, but he was eager to defend it when the Rivanians attacked. On the battlefield, he led by example, often charging against the enemy with his men and lords. This proved fatal in the Siege of Oxford in the Southern Marches, when Aedin led his men to lift the siege. Aedin led a daring charge against a Rivanian flank, and he was hit by a crossbow bolt to his chest. He survived the charge, but his wounds infected, and he died two days later. The battle was a victory for Brythunnia, but it had cost them a king.
History: Born in 921 to King Lewyn and Queen Alys in Lundine, Aedin was their firstborn. King Lewyn fathered three sons and a daughter in the coming years, but two of the sons died in infancy. Aedin was groomed to be an heir to his father from early childhood, and was taught by the best teachers and knights of the realm. He grew close with his siblings, Rickard and Mathilde, often sparring with his brother with wooden swords and playing with Mathilde.
In his youth, Aedin fancied a young courtier named Luciena Cain, whose brother had been a high ranking and talented soldier in King Lewyn's army. Their relationship produced a son named Jaden, who is unaware of his background. When Aedin married Lenore of Laketown, the relationship was ended and Luciena moved to the Dragon Mountains. Aedin helped Luciena with donations to keep her silent and to provide a future for his bastard.
In 940, the royal family faced a tragedy when King Lewyn and Queen Alys died at sea after their ship, The Wyvern, sank. Aedin rose to the throne, and two years later married Lenore Badon of Laketown. The Badons are an old family and Laketown is their main fiefdom with the lands adjacent. It is said that the marriage wasn't a happy one, as the king chased skirts quite often, and Lenore endured until 958, when she died after a period of illness. She always was a woman of frail health, and she contracted a bad case of pneumonia. King Aedin didn't remarry, but had a few paramours before his death.
In 959, the Northern War erupted, when a Rivanian army led by Count Albert l'Ermont crossed the Panther River to the Southern Marches and captured a lot of territory. The attack ran out of steam, though, and King Aedin launched a counterattack to reconquer the lost lands. The king levied the troops of the Crownlands, the Dragon Mountains and the Highlands, leading them from victory to victory. Most of the Haertlander troops were bogged down in a campaign against bandits and guerrillas in the Heartlands.
The war took a few turns and twists, but in the end, King Aedin's army broke the Rivanian invasion and drove them back. During the last months of the war, Aedin came to know the talented assassin and spy the Lady Night, and hired her. Aedin gave her the lands of the late Count de Aren, who had died not too long ago, creating a cover story of a wealthy and enigmatic noblewoman. The Lady Night was sent to the court to keep tabs on those who didn't like Aedin ruling.
In one of last battles, the Siege of Osfred, Aedin led his army to lift the siege near the important crossing of Oxford. His army won the battle, but he took a mortal wound and died after the battle. The war ended three months later after both sides signed a peace treaty. This treaty has caused animosity in Rivania, and it might spark another invasion.
Name: Rickard Mawr
Gender: Male
Age: 39
Occupation/Title: Lord of Stonehold, royal adviser
Appearance: Lord Rickard is a tall man and dark haired. He is similar to his brother, but is described being more bulky and robust, and he's not very handsome. He has blue eyes and strong facial features.
Personality: Rickard is more thoughtful and mature than his brother the late King Aedin ever was. He sometimes makes pointy remarks, in conversation often goes straight to business, saying directly what he thinks of it.
History: Born in 925, four years later than Aedin, Rickard was always the second son of the family. Aedin always got what he he wanted, and Rickard was often left to the sidelines by their parents. Aedin and Rickard still had a warm relationship between them, although they were like night and day. Aedin was a man who got angry fast, but also calmed fast. Rickard was more gloomy and thoughtful, who spend his time indoors studying and often sparred with Aedin.
After their parents died, the house's old castle of Stonehold was given to Rickard, and he was given the title of lord. Rickard has spent most of his adulthood trying to repair some of the damage the castle has endured during the centuries. He also has spent some time in Lundine, working as an adviser for his brother.
There has been rumours of an affair between Rickard and Queen Lenore, but both of them dismissed such rumours as false, although Rickard mourned deeply the passing of the queen. They had been close friends, and the queen's death still sometimes saddens him.
During the Northern War, Rickard took part in some of the battles in the Southern Marches, leading a cavalry detachment against Rivanian scavengers and looters. He was wounded a few times, but he didn't get injured badly like his brother did. After the war, he has spent time in Lundine advising his nephew, King Duncan the Second. He still hasn't married, despite the insistence from his close family.
Name: Mathilde Mawr
Gender: Female
Age: 36
Occupation/Title: High Lady of the Highlands
Appearance: Mathilde has a thick dark brown hair, a long face and green eyes. She is the shortest of King Lewyn's offspring, but is still taller than most Brythunnians. She never has been beautiful in a traditional womanly way, but she has had high birth in her favor. She is a lean lady.
Personality: Mathilde, or Matty to her siblings, spent much time playing with boys and grew up with them, and she has defied the set norms and habits of Brythunnia for not just being a silent housewife. She has taken much more active part in Brythunnian politics. Like Rickard, she often says what's on her mind and can be straight about something that bugs her. She believes that a man or a woman needs to earn their places in the world.
Lately, she has been taking some time off from kingdom's policy making and spent more time with her husband and children in Kaer Camlainn. She is protective of her family, but isn't too restrictive, remembering often her youth when she was much wilder than now.
History: Mathilde was born in 928, seven years after Aedin's birth and was the only daughter of King Lewyn's to reach adulthood. She mostly spent her time playing with boys and disliking any activities she believed "too womanly". Mathilde even insisted even having lessons in swordplay, besting his older brothers a couple times when they underestimated her prowess.
To strengthen the Mawrs' ties to the Highlands, Mathilde was promised to the High Lord of the region. She didn't enjoy her part, mostly she didn't have much to say about the match. At the age of sixteen, Mathilde was married to the High Lord Rodrik Hausland. She has given birth to three children since then, to two sons and a daughter.
She has used her position has the King Aedin's sister to influence some of the Highlands' politics. For example, she brokered a truce between two noble families who had been locked in a blood feud for generations.
During the Northern War, her lord husband Rodrik rode to war and taking most of the Highlander soldiers with him. Rodrik became one of the king's most trusted vassals and friends, as they saw eye to eye on many things. Mathilde stayed back in the Highlands to take care of their children and manage the Highlands.
Name: Duncan Mawr
Gender: Male
Age: 19
Occupation/Title King of Brythunnia
Appearance: Duncan has auburn hair and strong facial features of his father. He is shorter than Aedin, and not very muscular. He is a thin young man.
Personality: Duncan the Second is an intelligent young man, who has lived most of his life in the Crownlands. Born in 945, he is the only legitimate son of King Aedin. He seems to be a careful and thoughtful leader. Inside, he is slightly cynical and Machiavellian politician, often thinking the pros and cons of his actions and weighing his words and deeds.
History: Duncan was born officially in 945 to the royal couple, but there has been some rumours concerning his parentage. The royal family has dismissed such rumours, but for years they have persisted. Nonetheless, Duncan was raised and groomed to become the next king of Brythunnia. At the age of nineteen, he is still not married.
During the Northern War, Duncan spent his time in the capital and came acquainted with the Lady Night, one of his father's secrets. After Aedin's death, Duncan recruited the assassin to work both as a spy and an assassin. He is about to send her to find a young man called Jaden Cain, one of Aedin's bastards and his half-brother. He learned of his existence and general location by reading a letter his father left him and by asking his siblings.
Shortly.
Just a regular university student, majoring in hospitality and tourism. Also a history and trivial knowledge nerd, aircraft aficionado, occasional trekker and a D&D player.
<div style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Shortly.<br><br>Just a regular university student, majoring in hospitality and tourism. Also a history and trivial knowledge nerd, aircraft aficionado, occasional trekker and a D&D player. </div>
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