Red Wizard

Blackguards!

@POOHEAD189@BunniesOfDoom Hey, thanks! Welcome to the game. Do you have any ideas for characters? 🙂

Blackguards!

---

---

There’s a place where you really don’t want to be. A place where it’s cold and dark, and where no one can hear you scream. They call this place the Maw, because it swallows people whole and chews them up. Once you’ve checked in, you can never check out.

Unfortunetly, that’s where you are.

But it’s not like you didn’t do your best, or your worst, to get here. They don’t just feed anyone to the Maw. Only the worst of the worst are put here, and you’re worse than most. An enemy of the Kingdom, as it were. A proper blight on the land.

So why aren’t you dead?

It happens all the time, after all. People are killed for all manners of mischief, most of it far less terrible than what you’ve done. They’re hanged, beheaded, quartered and burned at the stake. So why keep you alive?

Because you’re useful, that’s why.

Your sort doesn’t come along every day. You’re smart, capable, powerful, and free of the moral inhibitions that keep the sheep from rising up. Talents like yours are hard to come by, so they have decided to save you for a rainy day.

Who are they, anyway?

They’re the King and all his men, or the tyrant and his cronies, depending on how you look at it. Rumor has it that he killed his brother and usurped his throne, and has been ruling with an iron fist ever since. No rebellion, coup or assassination has ever been able to topple his reign. Not that people haven’t tried. But he’s not the one who gives the orders. That’s the Warden.

She’s a piece of work, that one.

The Warden is scary, even to people like you. She’s… Different. Alien. She might look like a person, but she’s not. There’s something behind those dark eyes that makes your skin crawl and stomach churn with terror. She gets inside your head, somehow. Makes you do things you normally wouldn’t. No matter how much people try to avoid, cheat or kill her, they always end up doing what they’re told.

And now, it’s your turn.

You don’t know what it is, but they want something done, and you’ve been selected to do it. Could be a daring rescue. Could be a nefarious murder. What’s certain is, it’s probably going to get you killed. And in the unlikely event that you make it, the Maw will be waiting to swallow you up when you’re done…

…Unless you can do something about it.

---

---

Welcome to Blackguards!

This is the medieval fantasy version of Suicide Squad, in which a crew of colorful criminals get sent to their deaths trying to complete an impossible and sometimes (mostly) immoral mission, or quest, or thing. We will each take on the role of one of the inmates of the incredibly infamous prison the Maw, all terribly dangerous individuals, and portray their story as they do everything in their power to escape, survive, and possibly, but improbably, actually complete their mission.

Our motley crew of misfits will consist of the usual villainous archetypes; dark knights, heathen warlocks, deadly assassins, etc. You will have relatively free hands in creating your character but will have to abide by a few guidelines.

• You will use and fill out the provided CS. You may tweak the formatting if you wish.
• You will stick with fantasy races, either the usual ones or something more exotic. Nothing stupid, though.
• You will create an anti-hero or likeable villain; chaotic evil monsters or full on psychopaths are not what I’m looking for.
• Your character will be of a considerable power-level. Enough so that it poses a threat to the Kingdom if left unchecked, but nothing stupid. Could it take on a squad of the Kings finest? Without a problem. Could it solo a dragon? Not a chance.

A Little Lore

The King

His Majesty King Tyronde of Vortigern, alias the White Tiger, is the current ruler of the Westerlands. He is celebrated far and wide as a hero for having defeated his evil older brother, the Fallen King, who consorted with demons and preyed upon the populace. Under his reign, the people of the Westerlands have enjoyed peace and prosperity like never before throughout history. Together with the Temple of the Sun, he has ousted the old false gods of the heathens and unified the kingdom under one faith and tradition. Truly, there has never been a King like him.

If you believe the official story, that is.

Another, less tolerated, version claims that Tyronde conspired with the Heliarch of the Temple of the Sun to murder the old King and usurp his throne. In this version, the Westerlands used to be a diverse place of wonder where peoples of all creeds could live together in peace and harmony. The Tyrant and his Temple have demolished this society, forcing cohesion on the populace and banishing or outright slaughtering any and all who resist. Taxes are higher than ever, public executions are up, and children are sacrificed on massive pyres to the burning deity of the sun-worshipers.

The truth? Who knows. But you certainly know which version you subscribe to.

The Westerlands

The Westerlands, or the Sunset Lands as they’re sometimes called, is a realm with a long and complicated history. The Kingdom, now unified under His Majesty King Tyronde of Vortigern, was once a sprawling mess of minor feuding territories where a multitude of races and cultures coexisted in an uneasy balance. Dragon riders kept watch from the snow capped peaks of the Boreal Mountains, elven druids danced in the moonlit groves of the Sylvan Forests, dwarves delved deep into the dark caverns of the Underworld, and giants roamed the rocky Highlands in search of fallen stars. A thousand gods and spirits, great and small, rivalled for worship in an unending cycle of conflict and peace. The chaos (or freedom, if you’re so inclined) ended with the death of the old King and the purging fires of the Unification Wars. Under the Sigil of the Sun, the King (by some referred to as the Tyrant) brought law and order (or death and destruction) to the Westerlands. They proclaimed One King, One God, and One Tradition, casting everything else aside. Today, remnants of the old ways linger in faraway corners of the world, hiding from the scorching light of the Holy Sun in the shade and the dark.

The land itself is still the same, with its rolling hills, high mountains, deep valleys, flowing rivers and calm lakes. The ruins of the old world linger, teeming with secrets and mysteries, and the old magic still permeates everything, no matter how hard the King and his Temple tries to smother it out. Civilization is spreading, however, one day at a time, threatening to overtake the wilderness as time goes by.

The People

The Westerlands have always been a vast and diverse place, home to a plethora of more or less civilized races and peoples. The predominant race of the New Order under King Tyronde are the humans, who’s civilization previously ranked among the lesser ones of the land. They have expanded a lot in the decades since the White Tiger ascended the throne, and keep pushing the boundaries of other peoples territories.

Along with humans, the Westerlands are populated by elves, dwarves, orcs, and halflings, to name a few. These races are often divided into separate clans and peoples, derived from differances in culture and creed. Wood Elves, for instance, live in close connection with nature in the great forests of the world and see themselves as separate from the High Elves, who construct high towers and concern themselves with the skies and stars. Grey Dwarves, masters of stone and steel, have little in common with the Hill Dwarves practicing Runic Magic in the highlands. The Clan Orcs, who perfect the arts of martial prowess in secret fortified monasteries, want nothing to do with the Wild Orcs who pillage and burn along the coasts. The Hobbits, living in hidden close-knit communities in the wilds, can’t understand the nature of the Gnomes, solitary halflings who live as caretakers of mills, farmsteads and such in other peoples settlements.

There are other, less widespread races and peoples, too. The Naga of the Underworld waters, the Giants of the Highlands, the Fauns of the Forests, etc. Who knows what other beings are out there, among the forgotten places of the world?

Character Sheet Template

Character Sheet

Character Name

---

---

Name

Full Character Name

Race

Human/Elf/Orc/Dwarf/Halfling/Whatever

Gender

Male/Female/Whatever

Age

Character Age (Nothing Stupid)

Appearance

Hair/Eyes/Skin/Length/Weight/Build/Clothes/Whatever

Personality

Behavior/Quirks/Likes/Dislikes/Whatever

Background

Parents/Childhood/Education/Adulthood/Livelihood/Crimes against the Kingdom/Downfall/Whatever

Talents

Skills/Powers/Training/Whatever

Flaws

Fears/Vulnerabilities/Vices/Whatever

Equipment

The Stuff your Character checked in with (Nothing Stupid)

Miscellaneous

Whatever

Interested? Great! Let me know below, and apply with a character!

Umbra Rose Condos

---

Locations: Bldg 1, Tranquility Room → Bldg 1, Reception Interactions: None

---

Getting to pet the spirit fox had been amazing. It was a memory Ryū would cherish for a long time to come, and she was actively planning to get to do it again in the near future. It was fun, learning and exploring new avenues of life in her small, squishy human form. She'd never have thought, mere centuries ago, that she would one day end up petting a pupper. But here she was. Then again, she'd never have imagined having to live her day to day life as a lowly human mere centuries ago, either. Life sure took its twists and turns. The dragon had no doubt in her heart that her time would once again come, dominating the lesser races - as was her birthright! But for the time being she would do the best with what she was given. And, turns out, it wasn't all so bad.

But having to slog around all day being small and squishy took its toll on Ryū. She needed to stretch her neck, whip her tail, flap her wings for a bit. Needed to occupy space. So she'd gone to the tranquility room to let the glammer slip for a bit. Being big felt good. Felt right. Being terrifying was her natural state, after all. She even indulged in roasting some derelict furniture with her fire breath, just to catch that special scent. She loved the smell of dragonfire in the morning. Smelled like... victory. Once her appetite for wanton destruction was sated, she rang the bell for slime clean-up and glammered herself up once more. Now, what else did she want to do with her day? She should get some more human practice in - there was so much still to learn. Ryū was torn between trying the gym or the swimming pool; she'd never done anything like either before, but knew that humans seemed to enjoy both a lot. The prospect of immersing herself in water was however slightly intimidating. She could swim all right as a dragon, but doubted the procedure could be replicated with her glammered body. No tail, for one. And bipeds weren't really built for serpentine movement. But the gym sounded, well... boring. Hmm. Maybe she could find someone to join her, or help her make her mind up? That could do. The dragon would go looking for friends in the reception.

Umbra Rose Condos

Will have something up later today!

Umbra Rose Condos

@CitrusArms 3, naturally. It's the magic number, after all 😉

Umbra Rose Condos

---

Locations: Courtyard Interactions: @CitrusArms

---

Had Ryū been in any other situation, the rude shove she had recieved would no doubt have elicited a strong reaction. She was not used to being treated that way and would have sought vengeance, but she was too focused and transfixed with the golden pelt of the spirit fox to take heed of the slight. A slight grumble was her only response, but she made a mental note of saving her comeback for later. There was the matter of her pride having to be upheld, after all. Having recovered from the incident, she squatted down next to Yumeiko, her eyes glowing with barely concealed glee. The dragon reached out slowly, tentatively, and made contact with the fox over her back. Her hands were incredibly careful, her caresses soft and measured as she let the silky strands run between her fingers. It was everything she had hoped for, and a wide smile spread on her face as she let her hands explore.

So soft, heehee~ Ryū whispered, running her fingers from Yumeikos neck down her back, I like your fur very much! She took the chance to give the fox some scratches along her neck too, and behind the ears, as she'd seen humans do to doggos on the TV. Ryū couldn't tell if Yumeiko was enjoying it, but she hadn't objected yet, so she kept going. A part of her wanted to rub her belly too, having learned that doggos seemed to like that, although she thought better of it. It seemed a step to far, somehow. Maybe another time. But she did want to stroke the tails - they looked like the best part of the whole deal! She would ask for permission first, though. Ryū had a feeling that might be private too, but couldn't be sure.

Do you like it? she asked, looking Yumeiko in the eye, I can keep going, if you want. Perhaps I could pet your tails, too? They look so pretty! Ryūs expression was all excited innocense, like a child on christmas, despite her draconic nature. Her hands kept busy all the while, trying to make the best of it despite her inexperience and hoping against hope that Yumeiko would consent to her plea.

Umbra Rose Condos

@Xaltwind Oh, no need for jealousy little foxie! There's plenty of floofs to go around!

Umbra Rose Condos

@CitrusArms There you go! Let me know if it was too over the top :P

Umbra Rose Condos

---

Locations: Bldg 1, Restaurant → Courtyard Interactions: @CitrusArms

---

As Yumeikos frame started to transform, Ryū stared as if transfixed. She could of course alter her appearance too, her current human disguise being proof enough, but it was exciting to see a new way to do it. She particularly enjoyed the clothes disappearing in flames. Ryū would have to ask the fox about that later - perhaps she could learn to do something similar herself. Flames and fire fit her style, after all. When the transformation completed, Ryū couldn't help but gasp. The spirit fox was absolutely adorable. Her fingers twitched with need to fluff that soft, golden fur, but she managed to keep them at her side. Is that the real you? she chirped, That's awesome! I can do that trick too, but I don't turn into a cute little foxie. I could show you sometime, but we'd have to be in the tranquility room or in my place. I'm a big girl, can't fit in the cafeteria or the courtyard, heehee~

The dragon followed the fox through the foyer, her eyes locked on the tantalizing tails. The moment they came outside and the sun hit the foxes fur, Ryū gasped again. It lit up like molten gold, casting a soft heavenly glow, shining like an aura of royalty. The addition of the gold to the equation made Ryūs need spike to an irresistable temptation. It was one of her favourite things in the world, after all. She inched slowly closer, her yellow eyes wide and reflecting the glow, her hands slowly raising as she came closer. She wanted to touch it. Needed to. Just thinking about what it must feel like to have that golden fur slip through her fingers had a shiver run down her spine. I- she began, trembling and stuttering, I want to... Can, uh, may I, eh, p-please give you a little, uh, p-pet, sweet foxy lady? Please, please, please?~

Umbra Rose Condos

Sorry again about the delay. I will get a post up tomorrow.