ShadowSunRisen

Grimoiric Heart

So I know this thing is full but I made a character anyway.

Valeria Weizenbaum

Name: Valeria Weizenbaum
Magical Girl Name: Waffenhändler
Age: Appears 20
Nationality: Germany
Appearance: Transformed

Untransformed


Description: A feisty and wild girl from Bavaria who has been an occasional ally of the Grand Ministry in recent years. She is fiercely independent and prefers to keep her own path, driving the world in her mystical van to collect trinkets, talismans, and most importantly to her, metal junk to smith guns and prosthetics. She proudly immerses herself in punk culture from her homeland and never plays well with authorities. Her and Ozma go way back, and she was one of the first magical girls to work with her. She offers her services to other magical girls these days as a vendor and sometimes helping hand.

History: She was born with hypochrondroplasia or small limbed dwarfism in the 1940s during the Hitler years. At this time it was German Nazi party policy to euthanize the genetically inferior. Her family attempted to plead with the government for her life while she lay in the hospital. During her stay, she’d discover the fable story that’d become her grimoire and restore her limbs with silver metal. Fleeing Germany afterward filled her with a sense of independence, and a demand to travel the world around her instead of the culture that rejected her. With her new magical girl powers, she constantly creates new limbs for herself and has found her trade in her producing, buying, finding, and selling just about any needed item in the magical world.
Grimoire: Das Mädchen ohne Hände (The Girl Without Hands)
Classification: Fable
Description: An old german story over a miller’s daughter who must give up her hands due to her father making a deal with the devil. She finds and falls in love with a King and is given new hands made of silver.
Grimoire’s Power: Incredible powers of creation with her prosthetic hands, able to mend and mold metal in seconds to create devices ranging from guns and artillery to cars and buildings. She is able to heat them up to smelt iron and adjust them into various tools to make herself into a living and breathing foundry. In a pinch, she can turn them into hand cannons and explode her enemies with shrapnel and cannon.
Misc: She is a huge fan of Einstürzende Neubauten, Kraftwerk, and Can.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWAK9W6o6Qw

Tower of Fable

"Katie! Please! Listen to me you big idiot! I know we haven't known each other for a while but you can't be that angry at me!"

The princess dug her feet into that scaly hide and held her ground, or the dragon in this case. She'd cling tight to the thrashing monster as Akiko offered her suggestions.

"I'm trying! It's a lot harder than it looks! This stupid card isn't giving me any suggestions either! We can do both! She can help us in this form I know it!" Riku wished to blame the card, but knew it was up to her at the end to summon the power forward.

With her resolve made up, Riku made the climb up the dangerous beast to reach into her ear. She'd summon the serei's power from her heart and imbue it into her voice as a golden power shined through her throat and mouth. With her voice so close that only Katie could hear, the princess would speak.

"Katie...I'm with you here. We can get through this together. Just follow me and I'll guide us both out of here!"

That was the last she is able to speak, as a black arrow sunk into her back and struck her down from the rampaging beast. The princess would scream and fall to the rocky ground. The arrow pierced her lung, causing blood to leak from her mouth instead of that potent voice, leaving Katie alone to continue her rampage.

Nephy stepped out from the cliff overlooking the scene. Her mother's bow disappearing into shadow, leaving her hands.

"I'm not letting the stupid runt doom us all. This is going to continue, and I will make sure of it."

Tower of Fable

Riku took cover and shelter among Akiko as she dealt with the hail of fire. She felt almost useless unable to withstand the fury of the unleashed dragon. Akiko and Thomas's support was motivating, and even Kanbaru seemed willing to help in her own way. The strain she was putting on the others was obvious and she would not have much time to make her attempt at talking to Katie. Once a clearing in the fire had been made, the princess ran ahead with brash confidence.

"Thank you! I won't forget this you guys! I'll do good for you, I promise!" The princess turned back to wave before nearly getting incinerated, dodging ahead and rushing up Katie's black tail.

Clutching onto a slimy scaly hide, the princess climbed up with her hands to pull up the beast's backside. She reached the spine scales of the dragon, calling out all the wild. She would follow Thomas's lead, spurred on by his success to move as fast as she could.

"Katie! I know you're in there! We're on your side! Not your enemies! Something else is pushing you to be this way! This isn't like you!" The princess asserted. She was not sure if it were true, but she would like it to be true so said so anyway.

"You're hurting our team! I know we're not friends, but we're stuck in these worlds together! There are greater things for us all to do here, and I know you are more than just a mad beast! You've protected me and guided me the whole time you were here! I'm sorry I ran off with Runa, I really am! Don't you want to chew me out over that instead of lobbing fire everywhere! That's what friends are for right, and that's what we are! We're friends!"

Thinking on her serei card, Riku tried to draw on Lola's charm for her words.

"Dog lady you really need to help right now! And quickly, please!"

Tower of Fable

Much had happened since the princess was lost in the haze, but eventually snapped out of it by Thomas. When the visions of her mother had left her, her mind was still caught in a storm of mixed emotions in the illusion's wake. The loud beastial roars of the black dragon and Kanbaru's warnings soon snapped her back to reality.

"So that thing is Katie!? What!? We can't just go attack her!" The princess hesitated immediately.

"Can we try and speak to her? Being in that state can't be good for her and this isn't the way we should use to break out of here. Why don't we try and calm her? Maybe my Lola card could be put to work and speak to her."

Riku would channel the serei energy inside herself and prepare herself to try and talk down the mighty dragon.

"A dirty creature such as yourself couldn't match Katie anyways. I can speak to her on her own terms and there's no need to agitate her further. You'd likely just fuel her fire."

______________________________________________________



Nephy is indeed not her usual self. She is quiet and listless, keeping away from the group and observing the beast directly from afar. She'd check over the hilt of her blade and wonder what her family would've wanted for her. Her mother's dreams of her living a peaceful life fell away to Nephy's path to the sword. It did not sit well with her using Katie in such a manner.

"I am just feeling this is not the way we intended is all. Nor do I think this is our moment, as other forces that be have forced our hand in a way that I find annoying."

She did not want to speak any further of the JSTR, and would stick by Runa's side.

"I suppose they will know now that you are not who you say you are. Perhaps Katie will kill off some of the weaker runts of the litter and make our jobs easier."

Tower of Fable

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Riku wished to deny her mother's claims but finds her voice choking up. Her heart raced and she began to feel panic crawling up her back. She wanted to run and flee somewhere, escape this torment and Hideya's awful gaze that pierced through her being. She is tempted to lash out at the figure with her scythe and tries to tell herself that the apparition isn't real, but she can't compel her arms to make the move. Her mind can't erase the doubt, and the princess is left stuck in place.

"You don't understand. And you never understood. I do this exactly because of how you are, you control freak! You never let me have a life! You wanted to control every single thing I did, and I only existed to play my role in your story. I wanted to be my own person! Someone that was real!"

Working herself up with words, Riku steps forward. She then broke into a charge and tried to rush through the ghost and run right on through her mother and break through the mists to the other side. She could hear voices out there, and a male one she recognized. She'd nearly stumble over herself to scramble to the source of that noise and soon collide into something warm and fleshy.

"Thomas!"

Tower of Fable

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Knowledge or not, it was still an awful thing you did Runa. You are lucky no one was hurt. You don't seem to care about people putting themselves in danger over what you tell them to do. Just because I want peace doesn't mean I'm on your side."

The princess eyed Runa carefully as she talked up to her, summoning courage to go toe to toe with the elusive woman. Runa's power was still an unknown and that scared the princess but she couldn't let Runa go around and bully Thomas into dangerous schemes either. There was some guilt for herself at joining along, and she was regretting her choice.

Conversation began to fade as the crew pressed on further into the heart of the abyss. A dark mist began to settle overtop of them, obscuring vision and leaving Riku to feel stranded and alone when she was only a few feet away from her companions. In this cloaked shroud, a visage of a figure she knew all too well approached her. One of her mother, a figure that brought a storm of emotions ranging from rage, fear, pity, and love all at once. The shock of seeing her made the princess step back and reach for her weapon immediately. Her rational mind told her that Hideya couldn't be here, not now. It was impossible. But the sight of her and the sound of her voice sent shivers down Riku's back.

"That's not you, mother! You're...you're not real!" Riku stays defiant, using her scythe as a comfort tool more than any intention to attack.

"I'm on my own now! Away from you! I'm my own person now so just...go away!" With that, she'd slash forward at the visage in an attempt to dispel it and cast that image from her mind.

"Thomas! Runa! Kanbaru! Someone! Are you out there!?" The princess called out, feeling desperate for help in her panicked moment.

Kingmakers: The Throne Alone (A Medieval Fantasy Succession Crisis)

______________________________________________________________________________________________

The carriage ride is uneventful but notable for the tension hanging over in the air. Egil travelled light, with only a few retainers of persons trusted deeply and known to be loyal. A gloomy overcast hung over much of the carriage ride, along with a grim quiet that made everyone appear stone faced, gray. and mute.

Marya, one of the last shield sisters from Illemania would tap the resting Egil on his shoulder.

“We’re approaching now, milord. Look sharp.”

Egil’s party had arrived later than most in a carriage with a lousy left wheel and tatters and scars on the right side from weather. The shabby and furred mule like horses of the Mistlands were scoffed at by their higher bred southern cousins.

“Are you prepared for this? It has been some time since Engelhardt visited here.”

“You mustn't speak to me that way. Not anymore. After today, I am a ruler and no longer a child.” Egil scoffed as he stood from the wagon, landing on his feet on the dry ground below.

“Do not forget your humility in power, my knyaz.” Marya smiled, glad to see the boy’s fighting spirit.

“And do not forget I have read all the books your whimsical proverbs come from.” Egil cocked a grin back at his lifetime companion. After this he would walk to the front of the wagon and made sure his gathered party could see and hear him about to speak.

“I will go the rest of the way with a small guard. The rest may stay and set up camp. The ceremony will go on for some time. Be prepared to leave at a moment’s haste however.”

“Why’s that sir?” A man spoke up. “Fraid somethin gonna happen?”

Egil felt a rage at the tone of the question. Still now his men looked at him but he was a mere child. They would’ve never acted like this to his father. Though that comparison brought with it a maelstrom of sorrow as well. Weight of expectations as Egil struggled to see himself as half the man his father was. He dare not voice such bottled up aggression. Marya looked intently at the lord, with eyes like that of a hawk. Be calm.

“No. Of course not. I just want to put miserable louts like you to work, now go on then.” Egil waved and dismissed the gathered men. Unceremoniously they’d turn to their given task and return to the baggage train for supplies.

Not the best encounter. Need to be better. Can’t have men second guess my judgement so openly. Maybe a punishment is necessary.

______________________________________________________________

These thoughts weighed on Egil’s mind as he moved on with his entourage of Marya and two other armored warriors through the castle gates. Servants and envoys would come to receive his gifts for the deceased’s family. Several hundred bags of coins and furs from a great gray wolf. The gold was pitiful compared to other donations and many didn’t understand the significance of the wolf hide, putting it along with the other miscellaneous junk.

Egil braced himself outside the cathedral doors, a sudden melancholia gripping his heart. He’d stare upward at the graceful marble statues hanging overhead. With wings outstretched and sword held high, they looked too serene and beautiful for the gloom that staggered him.

“Something wrong?” Simon, the foreign steward asked in a polite tone. Egil had been standing motionless for several moments.

“There was no fanfare such as this here, for my family. My family gave everything for the old crown. When they were hunted and killed like dogs…they were not remembered by the crown. The very same held by that madman who killed them.”

“Sire. This isn’t the time and place for this. You must collect yourself.” Simon insisted. “This is not their day. The Crown Prince’s death has had serious ripples across the entire kingdom and the situation is tense.” The servant feared for his master’s reputation with such outbursts.

“And mine did not? They were not important in the scheme of things?” Egil spat.

“Egil. This is not the way.” Marya again stepped in, standing in front of the boy and towering over him in her plate armor. “You want to go in there and demand justice? With the situation as it is? Do not be foolish. Such recklessness will get you killed in these times. Contain yourself, and preserve for the next battle. There will come a time, young knyaz.” A firm steel gauntlet clasped the lord’s shoulder as Marya straightened him out.

Resentment built up in Egil for a moment, but came to pass. Marya’s words carried too much truth, but he would push his loyal maiden aside.

“I will go in alone. Wait here outside.”

Thinking deeply about the previous exchange and letting the doors close behind him, Egil stepped into the gathered crowd He would blend in wordlessly in the back of the group with no fanfare and a solemn look on his face. Other than some glances, the other lords paid him little mind as they focused on the ceremony. The claimants would give their speeches. Egil noted that Anyamara’s speech was full of passion and bravado, and genuine grief. It made Egil respect her much more, though it was undeniable there was a certain aura of malice in her actions. Something he could only detect since often he felt such malice too. A promising young woman but the tyranny of the mad king was not forgotten, least of all by the knyaz. Egil preferred a weaker king to rule. It would be a good remedy after the previous tyranny and inviting yet another person with Colyt’s blood seemed disastrous no matter what honeyed words she said.

Sharles seemed like the weak king to be. His speech had a tough act to follow up and to say he surpassed his rival would be a lie. Egil would politely offer his applause among the crowd, for political concerns than anything else. His gentle calm tone was reliving from Anyamara’s passion, though his strengths were mostly what he was not instead of any positive accomplishments. In these times perhaps that would be good enough.

After the funeral, Egil would gather up with other Sharles supporters. He’d peer over the stone casket at least once, staring over the beautiful effigy of the fallen prince proudly posed with his sword in hands. His avatar to represent the crown prince for rest of eternity.

There too will be a stone casket for you, some day. As one for your father, as for Daymian, as for you too.

The cold hand of mortality crept over his back. A panic that if he did not accomplish his goals, himself and his ancestors would be doomed to obliteration. Egil quickly turned and faced away from the casket, feeling a strong need for a hard drink. Hopefully discussion with the other lords would ease his mind, but that came with troubles all of its own.

too long didn't read lol

Egil Engelhardt arrives with his companions and inadequate gifts, questions on his authority and many grudges against the crown to bear. He likes Anyamara's talents and speech but fears her passion and blood will lead to another tyranny, keeping him on Sharles's side. He joins Sharles supporters to discuss. He has a brush with mortality and the beer served here probably stinks.

Kingmakers: The Throne Alone (A Medieval Fantasy Succession Crisis)

@ShadowSunRisen In the name of the Twin Gods and by judgement of the House of Loyce, the Archdukedom of the Mistlands is bestowed upon the Great House of Engelhardt, Counts of Nassau and Lords of Okenovo! May you rule with justice and serve with loyalty.

(Only two things that need to be changed is their recent adoption of the Adandion language and their neutrality. All great houses known Adandion for purposes of pure practicality and have since they were given their titles a few centuries ago, just like how French or Latin was the language of diplomacy for most of Europe regardless of where a king or noble came from. Although there is a solution that only recently there's been a push for Adandion Language in the wider populace of the Mistlands, especially in the more remote places. The second is a lot more minor but there is an expectation that a Great House is going to declare support for someone. You can keep it neutral if you really want, the main point of it is so that OOC starting out there's less hemming and hawing about whose on whose side.)

Also, everyone whose posted ahead of you also have been previously discussed, the second review here is since that the sheets were made before I had everything properly laid out so its here to catch things that might have otherwise slipped as well as generally taking another look.

@ClocktowerEchos

Sure, I'll get on those changes after I eat dinner. Thanks for the acceptance.

Kingmakers: The Throne Alone (A Medieval Fantasy Succession Crisis)

@ShadowSunRisen You didn't read the rules did you?

@ClocktowerEchos

well whoops, thought my place was already reserved there since we discussed it previously and there was a mention in the text above. Oh well.

Egil Engelhardt the Archduke of Mistland

Titles: Archduke of Mistland, Knyaz of the Illemani
Character Description: Long black hair that runs down his neck, wild and unkempt resembling the wildmen he lords over. Cold blue eyes like frozen water. A younger man only in his mid twenties. His usual outfit is a furred wool cape that covers much of his back. Prim and professional black coat that is held by a belt at his waist. He likes the colors of black and red, with a rich rose like red making up the interior of his cape. He likes a dignified but wild look, like a wolf dressed for court. Proud of his youthful handsome looks though rugged by some contemporary standards.



Claimant Support: Has professed support for Sharles but has his own personal beliefs he keeps to himself.

Personal Ambitions: Securing his bloodline and position through expansionism and alliance through marriage. A firm belief that power is all, and more must be acquired to protect what he loves. He is very aware how easily one’s position can be destroyed and how weak his own is. Conquer or die.

Aptitudes: Can be charming and extremely personable. Extensive contacts in both the noble and criminal worlds to get favors and more underhanded endeavors done. A very skilled administrator who revamped his county after the tyranny ended and known widely for his intellect. Can play many social roles from a peasant populist to a noble lord at a fine dinner. High emotional intelligence and very book smart. Adores military history and has good tactical aptitude if however inexperienced. He is very capable of dark deeds if it must come to that, though was not born cruel hearted.

Vulnerabilities: Suffers from seizures which can cripple him for some time. Nearly died several times from illness during childhood, leaving him frail. Although martially trained, will never be a full and capable warrior due to his ailments. Could sometimes be called out on this and seen as a weakling rather than a leader. Suffered tremendously with the death of both of his parents and had to learn to rule at a young age. Egil has many personal scars that could be pried at for further weakness and cause him great stress. Deep personal insecurities can lead to wrathful or anxious behavior and struggles occasionally with alcoholism. Young and although shrewd, inexperienced compared to older house members.

Additional Info: Deeply attached to his deceased mother and carries her amulet (cross or whatever equivalent Twin Faiths religious symbol) on his neck whenever possible. Deeply loyal to his surviving sisters which are a source of both strength and weakness.

House Engelhardt and the Mistland Domain

House Crest:



The motto means All in One, One in All

Reputation: Many would speak about how much of the family was decimated by the mad king’s terror. Egil is the last living male heir to his father’s prestigious line. House Engelhardtare also much less interested in usual noble customs and are derided as ‘peasant upstarts’ or ‘barbarians’ by older and more prestigious families. Many tales of their uncouth social behaviors are recounted often, though today they are firmly in the past as the House has advanced significantly. One of the oldest lines in Mistland, originating when it was forcibly incorporated into the wider Kingdom. Their lineage from the old warrior pagan hero Mokosh who famously resisted subjugation for some time before an inevitable defeat. Although noble in blood from their own heroes and marriages with other great houses in the past, they have always struggled to be accepted across the wider realm due to cultural differences. Although the nobility speak the Adadonian tongue for ages now and it is not yet the majority language in the Mistlands. There has been a push in recent decades to spread the language down to the peasantry which has caused some internal strife.

Domain Info: Has his court capital in Okenovo, in the County of Nassau. The mistlands region is home to arid tundra land that is notoriously difficult to farm on. Small scale farming, timber, iron, stone and furs are its biggest exports and influence much of the jobs and communities around. It is one of the smaller and poorest regions in the Kingdom with a very low standard of living. Commonly called a tough land for tough people. Was one of the last countries to be feudalized and still has some old pagan folk traditions in isolated pockets that are frowned upon by the Twin Faiths. Older titles such as Knyaz are widely used instead of lord, to the ire of some. Largest settlement is Okunevo, featuring an old warrior hall and turnip farms. Very unique cultural background that is a mix of the nomadic northern warlords, native Slavic inspired culture and intermingling with the wider Adonian cultural mix. Majority are a people called Illeman or Illemani plural who were conquered and brought into the faith of the twins long ago. Have their own language that is only heard often in the Mistlands only.
(For rough real world comparison. Russia. Think steppe nomads, and viking influenced slavic cultures. Frontier tundra land with a single large river. Lots of bears.)

Summary: Weak wolf king of a poor and desolate land in a bad position. A land with its own culture and language that is not widely accepted Must accumulate power for itself through diplomacy and potentially warfare to make the best of their desolate position.

Kingmakers: The Throne Alone (A Medieval Fantasy Succession Crisis)

Upped my character sheet finally. Picture hunting took forever.