Tony Pajamas

ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴩᴀᴛʜ ᴏꜰ ꜱᴩɪᴅᴇʀ ʟɪʟɪᴇꜱ

The conversation would pull him from fidgeting with the bag, giving a nod to some of the old man's recollections.

"I had heard similar from my mother when I was young and she helped me prepare for lessons. Though... I am not sure I remember hearing of this third one? It certainly is strange they try so hard..." His gaze would look out to the sunset once more, the sky slowly growing darker as the deeper hues would start to overtake the warm orange once painting it. "Do you suppose the demons feel... frustrated? It is as if we are a sign of their failures. Perhaps a long time embarrassment of theirs. Maybe there is more to it than just mindlessness." He seemed to offer out as a theory, though uncertain himself.

"I wouldn't keep you out this late at the edge of the village. Even if the barrier is up it grows late and you should get some rest, eh? We'll have lots to do sorting through the recent gifts once the moon passes. I'll watch just a bit longer before I rest myself." Hikari would offer a disarming smile, hoping to put Amida at ease. All the same, he was curious to find what the first post ritual gift was in the bag. An inner wonder and curiosity having not faded from his 'adult age' yet. He would still act the part of a proper priest until the elder would accept and fade from view.

Glancing once more towards the falling sun, he'd pull open the top of the bag. Pulling out jewelry a slightly confused expression crossed his face. "Kanzashi?" Hikari muttered to himself, eyeing an ornate hair ornament. "Must be another joke from my sisters..." He'd add on with a sigh, depositing the gift back into the sack. Pulling the top closed his eyes would catch on the embroidered name. Hikari Asato.

The words Seemed to send a jolt into the man, blinking back disbelief as he seemed locked in place. The bag would nearly drop from his hands as he suddenly remembered to catch it. Surely it was just my imagination. It has been a long day. A free hand would wipe his forehead and eyes. Time to turn in myself, I'll harass them about their joke tommorow...

With a final long breathe and look to the fading light, Hikari would turn back towards Shiroiwa.

The Blackwood

And a obligatory last minute late submission just to really make you think.

Character Sheet Template

Emilio Virtoli

Dre Costa | 27 | Male

Appearance

Skin darkened by the sun and with a natural tan from his Dre Costa ancestry are immediately obvious when looking over the man. Black hair is kept managed and cut above or tied above his shoulders to keep it proper and controlled. Rich Hazel Eyes stand out surprisingly beside a strongly defined nose.

Personality

Emilio is boisterous and cordial to an almost obnoxious degree when meeting him. Aiming to please and get into people's good graces quickly. Its a learned but almost impossible to stop behavior as it leaks into his casual conversations. Both a benefit and off putting given the state of the world and the places he visits at times. He can be serious when it comes to things but he tries to use good spirits to catch people's attention.

Background

• Profession (Merchant)
• Class
• Heritage (Son of Alivse Virtoli, his father and a former merchant, now a simple laborer. Son of Gioia Vortoli, his mother and a part-time seamstress part time inn maid.)

History (Optional)
Emilio had been born into unfortunate times for his family, having to live effectively on the streets for the young years of his life as his father had been barred and denounced after a shipment went wrong. His superiors had shifted the blame of a lost caravan solely upon him and their word carried heavier weight. Conveniently of course this kept him not just from receiving any share of the last deals payment, but of his typical month and beyond share. Thankfully for Emilio, there was still some sympathetic contacts that had figured it was a stroke of bad luck and offered to take the boy in and apprentice him. Though he lacked any formal education at first, used to that of what was needed as a street urchin, he picked up fairly quickly to the work. He trained his mind for many of the tasks needed and practiced his silver tongue on convincing the other children of things fairly often.

Mostly kept to working as an assistant, helping pack and load different wares, eventually he was allowed to shadow other members of the local company to trade dealings and on travels. This still kept him mostly as the physical laborer grabbing whatever was needed, but it gave him some practical and on the job experience. It would be numerous years of this cycle but it all served as part of the apprenticeship. Eventually, he would be entrusted to handle smaller deliveries of good on his own and kept to smaller collections.

Slowly a realization set in that he wouldn't be entrusted to larger tasks locally given the damage done to his family's name. He'd have to set out as an independent for any hope of true forward progress. Quickly he made his mind up and gathered what savings he had to pursue it. Purchasing his own cart and pack animal, a (hopefully) reliable donkey named Bertillo, he had what bare supplies he needed. Ledgers would have to start small and personal, kept in a single smaller diary on his person but he would seek his own fortune.

As to where he would seek to find it? That would be wherever the world would drift him. Underscoring all this was the true harshness of the world he had yet to truly experience. Negotiations and belligerence of man was all well known to him. He had seen a small bestiary of animals on his travels, but he had yet to truly experience the terrors that lay out there.

Motivation
Emilio enjoys traveling the world and hopes to open his own proper trading company in the future. This is partially to spite those that had put his family in a rough spot and to bolster his family's name. Rich tales and getting to hear the going on-s of each new place keep invigorating him, and it is a comfort to revisit old stomping grounds and see how everyone has fared. There is the rare hope his talents might prove useful in some bigger way in the future that will land him big, but he's content to keep on with the way things are for now.

Capabilities

Attributes

Combat [1/1]

• One-handed Swords 1

Intelligence [1/1]

• Appraisal 2
• Literacy 1
• Math 1
• Linguistics 1

Charisma [1/1]

• Diplomacy 3
• Charm 1
• Voice 1

Health [1/1]

• Hearing 1

Faculties [1/1]

• Intuition 1

Agility [1/1]

Mysticism [0/3]

---

Equipment

• Cart + Draw Donkey
• Merchant Clothes
• Sabre

Money

4 royals, 2 lordlings, 85 commons

Languages

Dre Costan, Northern

ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴩᴀᴛʜ ᴏꜰ ꜱᴩɪᴅᴇʀ ʟɪʟɪᴇꜱ

"Ah, Amida!" Hikari would be taken by surprise by the old man.

His hands would outreach and accept the bag with a deep and respectful bow. "There is always those gathered and left at the shrine. A surprise they'd leave it at the ritual site instead..." An interest was obviously caught on the bag. He'd pull his attention away as to respond properly.

"It's no problem, truly! It's my honor to keep everyone here safe. I'd almost feel a drain if I had any other role, unlike some sisters..." The last part would be more softly muttered though followed with a smile. A joke or airing what small grievances he had. "With time the rituals will become easier I'm sure. Just wouldn't want the first one I've done before a red moon to be lacking." An almost nervous breath followed. Looking to the sunset as an escape, his attention would drift once more to the bag in his hands. A curiosity in-particular that made him fiddle with the drawstrings.

ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴩᴀᴛʜ ᴏꜰ ꜱᴩɪᴅᴇʀ ʟɪʟɪᴇꜱ

---

As the afternoon started to darken and the sun waned, the work of the day would die down with it.
Shiroiwa no Mura stood as a village that had been kept standing for generations due to the care taking of the Lunari Priests.

---

Villagers of Shiroiwa started to arrive back from the outer fields, mindful of those that lurked and waited at the bounds of any protection; creeping in as the shadow did. The village, a ill befitting classification given its size but a hold over from old time, bustled as people prepared for the next moon. Food would be stocked and arms sharpened if worst came to worst. Donations would be made to the shrine of the local Lunari Priests hoping to invoke an even stronger blessing and as a gratitude to their service. Finally, there would of course be those celebrating until the night came. Likely as a holdover tradition from before the local shrine was solidified with protection promised, believing good spirits would be welcomed in.

In the meanwhile rhythmic chants of Hikari would be heard in Shiroiwa's center plaza. Dressed in a fine white robe, red highlighted the edges and threading. Small symbolic designs were stitched in with red and gold threading. An abstraction of both the Priest receiving their gifts from the moon itself and its defense against the red moon below. A cycle both easily represented and defining. Seeming within his own trance he'd make sweeping motions about, almost like an elaborate dance. Long ribbons of red flowed about his shoulders and arms in the wnd as he moved. A symbolic ring had been made around him of blessed salts and rice wine. More old tradition that was kept up into current times. Kept in this state for hours now, a small crowd had gathered as their preparations had finished.

Ecce, preces nostras, et in testimonium illis. Benedicat nobis, ut lux lucet clara iuxta rubrum luna. Repellunt, daemones, ut resistere splendore et adolebit quibus culmus nocte.

Devotionem huius servus definit generationes contra premit. Praemium nobis omnibus, ut nos posset permanere in tuo servitio. Largior semper purus, ut album et meridiem, super populum meum, ut eorum praesentia ut regnavit impia.

Protege nos ab susurrat de nocte, ut nos, ut audiam mollis hum. Ostende eis et gratia tua, ut possent reverti in fide. Sit hoc castellum, quod scire tua virtus et resurgere, ut postero mane.

With one final movement, Hikari came to a stop in the center, collapsing to his knees as the prayer seemed to have finally taken its toll. One of the first times he'd be given chance to perform these duties solely on his own. Beads of sweat dripped from his forehead as he started sucking in deeper breathes. He'd do his best to recompose himself and sit up properly, offering a gracious smile to those gathered. The group would offer a collective bow in appreciation, offering out a rehearsed and practiced thanks before starting to disperse. Several came up to give more 'private' forms of appreciation. Either through kind words or containing slips. Offerings of thanks or bribes to the future head priest hoping to draw their favor were both easily options.

Ritual completed and stragglers having moved on it finally came that Hikari was alone once more. Picking himself up properly, he'd stow the gifts inside the robe, watching his step to not disturb the ring before departing towards the main entrance. A curiosity to watch for any stragglers and an opportune moment to get some fresh air. Moving through the village he'd plaster a warm smile on his face as he'd return bows to the residents as they were offered out. Eventually, he'd make it past to the gate of sorts.

Sunset started to drape over the landscape as purple and orange hues started to color the sky. Certainly soon it would fall completely and the moon would make its way skyward once more. For now at least, he had some time to himself to appreciate the view.

ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴩᴀᴛʜ ᴏꜰ ꜱᴩɪᴅᴇʀ ʟɪʟɪᴇꜱ

Asato Hikari

Description: Hikari doesn’t seem he’d be that remarkable if it wasn’t for features and dress given to him by his role as a Lunari Priest. He once had warm hazel eyes that have slowly started to lose their color, picking up a grey and starting to fade in hue it seemed. Long silky black hair is held in a ponytail by a ribbon that compliments his attire. Given the female dominance in his family, he also seemed to inherit their generally softer features. When going about his everyday he seemed to dress in plainer robes, but would put on the more official attire to attend to his duties. He wasn’t sure whether to be glad he fit well without too many adjustments in the robe made for the women before him, height included.

Either way, training and his general activities kept Hikari fit and thin. Not in so much as to be muscular or trained for more physical fighting but he had stamina and endurance enough to fight demons should it come to it. Hopefully, something that wouldn't come to pass. The man after all was only nearing his 19th birthday.

Personality: Not wishing to stand out more than he obviously did in his family, Hikari tried to hold a gentle facade around the townspeople. Listening to their woes with a calm voice and carefully managing the stride and step all his ancestors seemed to carry. The same studied behavior he had picked up from his grandmother.

That of course was not and still is not the way he is want to act. You’d think the next Lunari Priest would get preferential treatment. To some extent that would be correct, with the residents revering the family and making sure they were well compensated for carrying out their duties. Growing up in a grossly female dominated household however, he had to stand up for himself in his own ways. Difficult as it was at times given him being the youngest of the siblings. Bullied and picked on, even if in mostly loving ways, by his sisters made him use to and endure the various treatments and tricks. Fighting them on one front while begrudgingly and eventually accepting his fate on another. His hair would be braided and styled one way or another. He’d be made to dress in the various outfits his family had collected over the years. Much as he was want to dispute and fight it, especially as he aged, the easier he realized it was to just accept their various requests and get it over with.

Character Image

Backstory WIP

Born in a matriarchal family, the Asato duty has been tending to the shrine for Shiroiiwa no Mura for generations. Seeming to have been chosen as ones to unlock the light. They have studied and practiced its sacred arts for as long as most of Shiroiiwa could remember, having been the ones to carve out its space and guarantee its safety. Those blessed with the gift would be each generation's Lunari Priest, almost always favoring the women. Two oddities would strike at once however, skipping a cycle that caused great concern. This was even more worrisome in that those with the gift tended to live shorter lives. Either through the toll of the work itself or being picked off in age by eager demons. The second oddity was the gift presenting in on of the male children, causing many a hushed whisper of what it could all mean. Thankful as everyone was at least to have a new future Priest, there would soon enough be a lack of relief once more as time would pass. The boy becoming man and coming of age was celebrated, but not for long. Rumors of Lunari Priest vanishing in thin air started cropping up from the rare traveler. Tales of the nightmares faced by the abandoned societies. Rare as this was, and as eager as people were to call it as madmen's ramblings, truth seemed to come to it as a few years passed. More Priests disappearing with the pace of their disappearances picking up caused concern enough for a meeting to be called of the overall (council?). This would jeopardize many places' safety, but the threat was deemed far greater should it be left to go on.

I'm typin here

Welcome to the Guild, @Tony Pajamas. Quite an introduction you have there. What are you looking to write while here?

@Hyde

Actually there's a lot of general ideas I've had floating around in my head for Roleplays that I've wanted to solidify down and work on running, as it's been difficult to get groups that will immerse themselves and play within a setting when doing tabletops. To get it to a state where I'd feel solid on running anything like that will likely take some months as I think through a lot of ideas about an overall world.

I've been in numerous (unfortunately) failed tabletop based games and a couple successful ones. Just had a notable one based in the Legend of the Five Rings setting that has ended and is wrapping up its epilogue. Haven't had extraordinary luck yet in a purely forum based roleplay, but always willing to give it another shot as people vary greatly. I'd have to look around more for what specifically interests me but I've made many a half-baked character that have yet to find homes.

As a generality I find myself enjoying most settings whether they fall into fantasy, historical, sci-fi, or whatever. So, I'm not too concerned about finding something that will pull me in, just have to find something I want to commit to (whether that ends up being playing in or running).

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome!

I mean uh-

I'm the one askin' the question around herrreeee. Tell me what's hot in these streets and I won't have to get my men on yuh.

I'm typin here

Eyyyyyy, Tony Pajamas here.

Been hearing around the block there's some fine cats around, had to have a look for myself. I heard you gots some nice threads full of potential and broads. Lookin' like a spiffy place to set up ah uh...operation if ya know what'm sayin'. I gots what you need. Good grammar, nice sentences, and a tommy gun loaded with emojis. Don't cross me or nothin' or you'll end up six feet under Miami bay wearin' concrete shoes.