Red Wizard

This Dark Age of Ours

Has this game been abandoned or are you guys simply really busy at the moment?

This Dark Age of Ours

Lorea

Eastern plains

Evening. The sun was setting, the sky turned a reddish orange where once it had been clear and blue. The air was thick with smells of grass and horses, as well as the fires burning around the camp. The party of warriors had settled down for the night, a small spot of light in a sea of darkness. Sounds of quiet conversation mingled with the soft breathing and neighing of the horses, and a lone singer carried a tune throughout the gathered crowd, but apart from that all was silent.

Sparrow sat looked at the fire, poking at it with a stick. She could feel Alvors gaze upon her from across the flames, but didn't meet his gaze. She knew what was coming, and it frustrated her. Lord or not, he could be quite bothersome at times. Besides, she didn't feel like speaking. Then again, she reckoned she'd have to before the night was over. Finally he broke the building tension.

"You do not agree with my decision today." he said. For once it was not a question. She still did not meet his gaze.

"I do not." she replied.

"What did you not agree with?" There you go. He just couldn't help himself. Sparrow closed her eyes and took a deep breath before answering.

"I do not think we should have let them go without paying." She thrust hard at the burning logs, sending up a crackling little cloud of sparks.

"I do not understand. As I recall, they did pay us." he droned. She grimaced at that.

"In silver, yes."

"Then I do not understand what it is that upsets you." But she knew that he knew all too well. He would have her spell it out non the less.

She put the stick in the fire, put her hands on her knees and looked him right in the eyes. His face was calm, searching. She was aware that others were listening now, but did not care. Let them hear her question him. Let them hear her speak the truth they all knew too well. She was his second, and as such the only one who could do it. Damn it, it was her duty.

"It was not sufficient, Alvor. They got away too cheap."

"But they did not have more to spare. You were there, Sparrow. You heard their master." As if she hadn't.

"They should have paid in blood, then."

He frowned. "Even after giving us what silver they could spare?"

She was losing her temper now. "Yes! As I said, it was not enough! First they disrespect our land and people by not paying homage and toll, as is customary. Then, when caught red handed, they moan about not having enough, further solidifying their position. We were righteous in our claim, and would have been righteous still to demand more of them! They will not respect us in the future if they can get away with slights such as this!"

More people were watching and listening now. She knew that many of the warriors agreed with her. She had heard the disappointed murmurs when they'd left the caravan behind without even half the bounty they'd set out to get. Alvor was silent a long time before he replied, a frown still on his face.

"Righteous, yes. But would we have been gracious?"

"Gracious?" she spat, "Why would we want to be graci-" He held up his hand, and she quit speaking in an instant.

"Let me finish." he said, now speaking not only to her but to all the nearby listeners, "Lady Aurelia teaches justice and harshness against those that are wicked, yes. But does she not also teach mercy and forgiveness against those who fail us?"

"I do not see how that is of any concern to us now." Sparrow retorted with a snort.

"Then let me put it like this. The master of the caravan was new to his trade. He has not come this way before and has not met us before. He might have known of the toll and our customs, but may also not have known how to, or where to, find us. If we had taken our due in blood today, what would he have learned? What news would he have given his countrymen back east? Perhaps that we are ruthless barbarians who steal and kill. What might he instead have learned from our mercy today? Hopefully that we Loreans are hard but fair in our dealings with others, and that paying the toll is worth the price. Do you understand my meaning?"

She tried to hold his gaze, but couldn't. She was still frustrated, but not because she didn't agree with him. He was right; he was always right, damnit, and now he'd made her make a fool of herself in front of all the others. Then again, many of the gathered seemed to shared her thoughts as they too looked away in shame or quiet contemplation.

"Yes" she admitted, "I understand your meaning."

He nodded and smiled. "This pleases me. Now, as they've payed the toll and homage, we are obliged to guide and protect them for as long as they tread our soil. Sparrow, I want you to take a dozen riders and intercept the caravan once more. Offer your services to them and speak for them when they encounter the other tribes. Return to Neme once you've seen them on their way."

Not letting me off easy, are you? "Yes, my lord. Your will be done."

This Dark Age of Ours

@Arianrhod Unfortunetly, the game is currently full. Would you like me to message you if we have dropouts?

This Dark Age of Ours

Lorea

Neme

At the village of Neme, in the east of the land, was a peculiar sight to behold. A structure of the ancient world; a tower of imposing height, fallen in ruinous disrepair, but never the less utilized by the horse lords of the plains as a watchtower. One such horse lord was there this day, and many riders with him.

Alvor sat atop his horse, peering through squinted eyes over the sunbathed grasslands that surrounded him. It was a great day; not a cloud as far as the eye could see, and a gentle breeze to cool the heat from the otherwise punishing sun. He could spot a few of the horses in the herd some distance away, almost obscured by a large hill. He turned to face the sun and closed his eyes, concentrating on the whispering sound and soft caress of the wind, and for a moment he was at peace. The moment didn't last, however.

He heard her approach before she spoke, but pretended not to. She came up right next to him and put a hand on his steed. It welcomed her touch.

"We're getting ready to move, my lord" she said, her voice as deep and rich as always. He had always admired her for that voice; had quite frankly been jealous of it. "The day is not getting any younger."

He smiled and slowly turned his face from the sun and towards her, opening his eyes and meeting hers. "And neither are we, Sparrow. Tell me, how long have we been doing this? And for how much longer must we go on?"

She returned his gaze, unwavering. "We have been doing it for as long as we've had to, and will continue doing it for as long as is required."

He chuckled, slowly nodding his head. "Ah, yes. Then tell me, why are we doing this? To what end?"

"We do it for our people, my lord. So that they are provided for, and so that others know not to step on them for fear of us." Her expression, he noticed, did not change throughout her answer. Neither did her tone. She meant what she said, believed every word.

"Very well," he sighed, turning his face towards the sun once more. "One final question. What are we doing?"

Sparrow cocked an eyebrow. "We are intercepting a caravan, my lord."

"And why is that?"

"They did not pay proper respects, nor toll, as they entered our lands, my lord. We're making sure they pay."

"And what will they pay, Sparrow?"

"Silver, if they can."

"And if they cannot?"

"Blood."

He smiled a sad smile. Of course. Blood.

He grasped the spear that he'd stuck in the earth next to him and held it high. "Tell them to mount up, Sparrow." he said, his eyes on the horizon. "We're going hunting."

She nodded in reply and quickly marched off towards the camp. It wasn't long before he heard the horns and the drums of war sounding behind him, and soon after, the thunder of hooves. As they moved out of the village, he looked once again to the blue skies above. For all of its innocence, he felt a red day was coming.

This Dark Age of Ours

Name: Lorea

Location

Description: Following the fall of the old empires, there was a time of confusion and migration across the central plains of the Sunrise Lands. In the land currently known as Lorea were many tribes of elves and humes, which initially warred against each other for control of the region and its resources. As the years stretched on, however, the feuding ultimately settled and the tribes began to intermingle. The Loreans are the descendants of these tribes, united today not only under the rule of their sovereign but also in blood.

Loreans are neither elves or humes, but both, known elsewhere as half-elves. They have inherited some of the longevity of their elven forbears, but resemble humes more in appearance and constitution. They feel kinship with both, but are at the same time alienated because of the historical tension between the races.

Horses are central to the lives of the Loreans. They are herders and traders, and sometimes raiders, especially in wartime. They are however not a traditionally aggressive people but have responded harshly to provocations in the past. There is no central faith or religion among the Loreans; rather, they are polytheistic and inclusive in their beliefs. Worship of Aurelia is common in the east, while reverence for Mana and Luna are widespread in the west.

Inspirational Pictures

This Dark Age of Ours

The OOC is up. First IC soon to follow. Move your nations to the character tab in the new thread. It's time to start playing.

Click me to get there!

This Dark Age of Ours

This Dark Age of Ours

It is summertime in the sunrise lands of the east, but living sure is not easy.
Because, see, the sun may be shining and the rain may be falling, and that may be great.
But lurking amidst the humming activity of the villages and their fields,
and hidden beneath the surface of the bustling cities and their markets,
there is a foul thing brewing.

See, summer may be the season for farming, and growing, and living. Sure.
But it is also the season for raiding, and killing, and war. Oh yes.
And it does not matter that you say no, or that you fight back, or that you build high walls to keep them out.
Because, see, nothing is unobtainable to the sword.
Not in this dark age of ours.

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The Sunrise Lands

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Introduction

This Dark Age of Ours is a small scale early medieval fantasy nation roleplaying game set in a fictional world akin to earth in size and climate. Fantastical beings inhabit this world; humes coexist among elves, centaurs, kobolds and even dragons. Although magic is real to the inhabitants of the Sunrise Lands, it is but a word for that which is beyond the control of folk and beast, or for that which cannot be explained.

These are truly the dark ages of this world. All of the empires of old have collapsed, spawning numerous successor states across the land. The glory and grandeur of the ancient world has been replaced with petty nations ruled by petty sovereigns, waging petty wars and plotting petty schemes. Populations are declining, and much of what once was known has been lost to time.

Summer has come to the Sunrise Lands, and the kings and queens of the realm are preparing accordingly. The fields have to be farmed, and the animals herded, and the houses mended, and the gardens tended; but most importantly, the warriors must be mustered and the plans planned for the warfare that is to come. For summer may be many things in the Sunrise Lands, but it is war season above all.

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Players

Accepted
@Golem - Lorea
@Dedonus - Chelodon
@LightningLynx89 - Skræling
@Inkarnate - Môrogoed
@rush99999 - Calemviri
@neogreggory - Boros
@Isotope - Petaxaleena
@The Nexerus - Aontas
@Willy Vereb - Kyrennos
@Hyperdrive - Namorea

Pending
@Taengrid

This Dark Age of Ours

I suddenly got plans for tonight, so the OOC will be postponed a few hours.

This Dark Age of Ours

@Willy Vereb Accepted. Welcome to the game.

This Dark Age of Ours

Ok, so I want to move on to OOC and IC as soon as possible to avoid stagnation. I will give the remaining WIPs 24 more hours, then applications will close and we'll begin playing.