It all started with a card game.
Way back, before there were stars in the sky, before there was an Earth to live on, before there were cattle to drive, and before there were guns to shoot, there was a table, cards, dice, and chips. Of course, a game needed players.
This is the world of Lucky Bastards. At the 'center' of the world is the Wasteland, the vast area of plains and desert that many call home, whether they be farmers, craftsman, gunslingers, or bandits. To the north lies Akaria, the kingdom of machines where steam is king. Even further north lies Rhys, a frozen hell where a tyrant rules. To the east is Shaq'ir, a desert land where gold, spice, and silk flow freely among the many merchant houses. To the south are the scattered island nations of Iris, where swordfighting, honor, and chivalry still live.
There were 4 players at this table.
The first was the Dealer, the first gunslinger. He bet his Book of Games, where he learned how to play all of these games.
The second was Snake-Eyes, the first of the magi. He bet his eyes, which granted him sight of things that were not meant to be seen by men.
The third was Lady Luck, the first thief. She bet her cards, which she had stolen from the Dealer a long, long.time ago.
The fourth was Roulette, the first craftsman. He bet his tools, which he had used to build many things, including the Dealer's revolver and the table at which they played.
This particular story will follow a small group of self-proclaimed vigilantes (the eponymous Lucky Bastards) coming from all walks of life, most of them... Not so savory. Despite this, they're dedicated to trying to protect the many towns scattered around the Wasteland, whether it be from monsters, bandits, or hostile tribes. Though they might be a bit over their head... A man who claims to be a reincarnation of the Dealer has gathered a rather large following and plans to unite the Wasteland, though many still don't believe him, despite his seemingly god-like powers. He has responded... Negatively. Sure, the Wasteland does need to unite, but not everything is as it seems.
The game took years to complete. It was a complicated game, and the only game from the book of games that the Five had never played. Finally, on the fifth year the Dealer set down the winning card, taking the whole pot. He then took the others aside, and explained an idea he had.
He was going to build a new world.
And they were to be gods.
So a few of you may have been part of the old Lucky Bastards, which followed the Prophet on her journey to find the Jokers, two legendary artifacts, at the behest of the Dealer himself, and this takes place after where I planned to take that story, and is connected (and the characters from that RP may or may not make an appearance...
Our characters will come from all walks of life, whether they were cattle rustlers, or bank robbers. Machinists from Akaria, tribal shamans, warriors from the Iris islands, preachers, or barmaids. Wherever your character came from, they ended up with the Lucky Bastards.
Keep in mind, while magic does exist it's fairly rare. A few followers of the Gambling Gods (and the other religions too,) can do minor magics (mostly of the healing sort), as well as tribal shamans and there's even a school for the magical arts in Akaria (though it's small and rather secluded). As such, I will only a allow a few characters with magical talent. Otherwise, magic is rather freeform with how it works. Make sure to describe your characters particular style of magic in your post.
The Dealer is a sort of "over god" and has no specific domain, though he's usually associated with justice, bravery, and herosim.
Lady Luck is goddess of grifters, gamblers, and luck.
Snake-Eyes is god of knowledge, magic, and bad things. He is also the god of death.
Roulette is god of craftsmen, smiths, and anybody else who makes things.
The Book of Games is part rulebook for various card and dice games, and part bible.
There are other gods who were not part of the original 4. They all have names associated with luck or games. A few examples would be Jackpot, god of miners and prospectors, and the Changer, god of coins and wealth.
Just a note, the different places in Lucky Bastards for the at least partially are inspired by real world countries, so look there for inspiration. The Wasteland is America, Akaria is England, Shaq'ir is the middle-east, Rhys is Russia, Iris is anything that's behind the times. There are of course other countries, so feel free to describe a new one that fits your character. For the most part, characters will probably be Wastelanders . Also know that the Gambling Gods are mostly a Wasteland and Akarian thing (though there is something closer to the Christianity with one God gaining popularity there), and there ARE other religions. The tribes of the Wasteland worship different spirits, Shaq'ir has it's own gods, etc.
The Wasteland - The Wasteland is the largest area in the the world of Lucky Bastards, and where the majority of the game will be taking place. The Wasteland is mostly deserts and plains, though to the west there are forests where most of the tribes are located. Towns are scattered around the Wasteland and a few of them are part of small alliances though most are independent. The largest alliance of towns is that of the "Dealer", though most call him an imposter.
Akaria - Akaria is a large country on the northern border of the Wasteland. They are the technological kings of the world, and harness the power of clockwork and steam. They have everything from powered armor to airships and from automatic rifles to elevators. They have a powerful military, with the most elite units outfitted with the best tech.
Shaq'ir - Shaq'ir is a vast desert peninsula to the east of the Wasteland. It hangs down from the eastern most tip of Akaria and is seperated from the Wasteland by a sea. Shaq'ir is home to large merchant houses that deal in silks and spices as well as other fine goods. They often travel to the Wasteland and other countries to trade.
Iris - Iris is an archipelago that has been left behind technologically. Firearms aren't as common, and the sword still lives. Iris is composed of small island nations that are constantly trading, making alliances, and warring. The isles usually mirror fuedal Japan or medieval Europe.
Rhys - Rhys is even further north than Akaria, and when they aren't fighting amongst themselves they're fighting against Akaria. Rhys is cold and harsh, and it's leaders are often short-lived.
Name:
Sex:
Age:
Nationality:
Appearance:
Personality:
Background:
Gear: (If you forget an item that you think is appropriate to your character, chances are I'll let you have it even if you don't have it here. Really, all you need here is your guns and any other significant items. Put your usual clothes in Appearance.)
Skills:
So here are my (currently WIP) characters
Name: Kaz "Lucky Bastard" Landon
Sex: Male
Age: 37
Nationality: Akarian
Appearance: Kaz is tall at 6'3" and thin and agile. He has short brown hair and a beard he cuts short. He wears a
Personality: Kaz is playful and friendly, though he often lets his emotions get the best of him and acts on a whim. He is still capable of acting serious, though it might take a bit of pushing or for him to realize the gravity of the situation. When he feels a situation requires him to be serious, he switched gears to be more business-like and methodical.
Background: Kaz is Akarian, though most would never be able to tell. Kaz grew up in the slums of Akaria with a poor family of his parents and a younger sister and he brought in money and food through pickpocketing and petty theft. He was a troublemaker and he ran with gangs of mostly homeless children, but when he came into his teen years he announced that he was going to go to the south to the edge of Akaria and he'd work the coal mines in the deserts that used to be part of the Wasteland. He went off with a bundle of his few posessions and took a train south to a small mining town and began his new career as a miner. Unfortunately, this town was very close to the border of Akaria and had little military presence. The other miners informed Kaz that bandits often tried to raid the towns on the border of Akaria and taught him how to shoot. His first few months were uneventful, and the pay was terrible but he still made just enough to send back home. Eventually, a bandit group who'd set up out in the woods to the west of the town. They attacked periodically, but always retreated before anyone got killed. The miners were confused, but carried on working. They received shipments of food and other supplies from Akaria, but one thing was running out that they never got more of: bullets.
The bandits attacked with a larger group than usual one night, and to the miner's chagrin they had few bullets between them. They had holed up inside the mine, and Kaz hatched a plan. They could lure the bandits into the mine and quietly escape, then blow the entrance to trap them inside. They set to work sneaking people out of the mine through other entrances and closed those off. Kaz stayed behind with a revolver in his hand to lure the bandits in. He had lined the entrance with explosives and he would lure the bandits in and make his escape through an entrance that they'd keep open for him.
Gear: Kaz wields dual revolvers he calls "the Twins" and has a double barreled shotgun slung over his back. He has brass knuckles and sticks of dynamite stuck in his belt. His bracer is Akarian tech, and it keeps his magical effects suppressed.
Skills: Kaz dual-wields pistols and is a good pickpocket and lockpick from his days on the street. If he takes off his bracer, everyone and everything is subject to his aura of chance... Which causes the chance of EVERYTHING happening to skyrocket. Bullets ricochet off walls, guns jam or even explode, people fall out of cover. It'd be damned funny if it wasn't so dangerous to everyone around him, friend or foe.
Name: Spades Dealer
Sex: Female
Age: 25
Nationality: Wastelander
Appearance: Spades has long, fiery red hair tied back in a pony tail and sun-tanned skin. Her face is dotted with freckles and she has a small scar on her cheeck. She wears a yellow dress that goes just past her knees, boots, and a leather jacket. She has a belt lined with pouches wrapped around her waist and a necklace with a spades symbol hanging around her neck.
Personality: Spades is tom-boyish and acts tough even when she doesn't feel tough. She's very faithful to the teachings of the Gambling Gods (which really boils down to don't be a dick, have fun but don't over do it, and freedom and justice. Live, drink, be merry!), but often slips (especially on the "don't be a dick" and "have fun" parts).
Background: Spades was found on the doorstep of a bar that doubled as a "church" of the Gambling Gods and was named after the card tucked in the blankets wrapped around her: the Ace of Spades. Spades took the last name of the Dealer and grew up being taught the stories of the Gods in the early days of the world and how to play games of chance. When she reached her teen years, she served drinks in the bar and was taught how to shoot. The world was a dangerous place, after all. One of the preachers in particular, named Liam, she looked up to as a father. He heard of a woman named the Prophet who could hear the voice of the Dealer himself and he wanted to find her and join her on her quest to find the "Jokers", two artifacts from the stories of the Book of Games. Her father disappeared, and Spades, now just past adulthood, set out to find him with a rifle slung over her shoulder and a revolver on her hip. Her search proved fruitless, and she found herself working a bar again. The early (and much smaller) Lucky Bastards were passing through town after some bandits and she joined up, hoping to do something with her skills.
Gear: Spades carries an antique revolver in her holster and has a lever action rifle slung over her shoulder. She has a deck of cards stuck in her breast pocket and her Book of Games strapped to her belt, opposite of her revolver. She also has two knives stuck in her boots.
Skills: Spades is a good shot, but by no means the best. She can mix up a good drink, and knows a bit about surviving off the land. During her search and her time with the Lucky Bastards, she picked up tracking skills for both animals and humans, as well as becoming their medic when needed, though she isn't good for much besides getting out bullets and bandaging wounds.
CharactersKaz "Lucky Bastard" Landon and Spades Dealer
Sam "Sandyeti" AdamsLovec "Rook" StautonRodolfo "Rondo" GalvanaCharles "Charlie" ParsonAbraham "All Time" StronghandBryan "Scalphunter" HudsonVel "Black Hat" Hawthorne