Viciousmarrow

The Gladiators of House Valens

The most important pre-fight scene is where Illuria flirts with our dear leader (and begs for a place on her team), of course. xD

The Gladiators of House Valens

@Themerlinhawk
I used to play Herodius, better known as "Hero", who was a Shadowcraft Mage in DnD 3.5. He was Drow... but minor details aside, he was actually kinda OP. I didn't realize this until he exterminated an entire city by himself (yes, he was evil) with only 67hp. I modified his already existing history to fit Illuria's story. They have quite a bit common. >.>

The Gladiators of House Valens

So the Nariul line continues... From DnD campaign to gladiatorial arena. xD

The Gladiators of House Valens

Illuria Nariul

Illuria Nariul

"I'm going to restore my family's name... Right after this drink!"

Profile

Full Name: Illuria Dianne Nariul
Titles/Nicknames: Twilight's Harlot, Last Lady of House Nariul
Age: 26
Race: Human
Gender: Female
Sexual Orientation: Bisexual
Combat Role: Trickster Mage

Hair Color: Raven black
Eye Color: Deep blue
Height: 5'2"
Weight: 98lbs

Appearance: Illuria appears nothing like what a true gladiator should, quite the contrary actually. Her posture is proper for any born into the aristocracy: upright and as tall as her short frame allows. Her hair, styled in a bob cut, is as dark as any other Venatrian's, just as her skin complexion is ordinary in the Western Realm, albeit slightly paler. Though the garments she wears are finely made, they tend to be more revealing than any self-respecting noblewoman ought to be wearing, leading a good majority to judge her as nothing more than an upper class courtesan.

Personality

Overview: Illuria is an anomaly, characterized by her crippling alcoholism and her willingness to do anything to sate her addiction. As a person, she's carefree, whimsical, and quite the chatterbox. Her friendliness knows no bounds and she apparently lacks an understanding of personal space. Anybody that she feels any sort of attachment to can be expected to be subject to her clingy nature, which only worsens when she drinks. Drunk Illuria also gets incredibly flirtatious and touchy, much to the chagrin to any companions she might have. Due to her past travels, Illuria has come to like most people, though she is notably afraid of bestial races and those hailing from Torguren due to their supposed brutish natures.

Illuria hopes to one day restore her noble lineage and the former wealth her family had. Well, and to sustain her dependence. She's hardly a warrior, but her strength lies in her magic, something she's quite aware of. In fact, she loves to boast how great of a Shadowmancer she is, only ever admitting that her brother was greater than her. Her arrogance has earned more than a few rivals in the past, and she expects to only earn more in the arena. Despite her insistence on spreading the word about her magical might, when it comes down to it, Illuria isn't a brave soul. When faced with someone that clearly outmatches her, she will turn tail and run, if that's an option at all.

Combat

Strength: 1
Dexterity: 3
Intelligence: 5
Cunning: 6
Magic: 8
Willpower: 2
Endurance: 3
Charisma: 7

Weapons of Choice: None. She's not particularly adept at close quarters combat. However, Illuria does carry a fanciful, golden dagger at her side, mostly for show. It can be a the difference between life and death though, especially if she manages to get the drop on her foes.

Armor/Combat Apparel: Illuria dresses herself in a regal, yet impractical leather robe, if could be called that, complete with an elegant hood, styled shoulder pads, and spindly gloves. The bottom of half of her armor is almost non-existent, save for a single greave and a pair of reinforced boots. Her armor certainly looks glamorous, but it shows quite a bit of skin at the same time, contradicting the entire point of armor. As her raiment stands right now, it protects most of her right side while leaving ample amounts of her left undefended.

Fighting Style: Illuria relies on her magic, charisma, and cunning to get her through a fight rather than any physical set of skills. To put it simply, her fighting style is chaotic and unpredictable, sometimes entirely dependent on if she's sober or not. For the most part, her tactics involve distracting her opponent in a myriad of ways, ranging from her spells to even her body. As a mage, she does anything to avoid close combat. If she's sober (a rare occasion), Illuria will clearly suffer from serious withdrawals and make questionable decisions in the heat of combat. However, her command over magical abilities seem much more potent when she's sober. A good majority of the time though, an inebriated Illuria will focus on the thrill of the match and entertaining the crowd, win or lose. However, she seems to function with greater clarity when she's out of her mind.

Magical Affinity: Shadow Magic

• Mirror Image - A classic defensive spell. She manipulates shadow stuff to summon forth four copies of herself. These copies mimic her actions, but disappear when attacked.
• Dusk Shroud - A type of invisibility wherein Illuria blends into the shadows around her. Extremely powerful in dark arenas, but completely negated by any bright light.
• Shadow Tether - Just before an enemy strikes her, a cloak of shadow envelopes Illuria and pulls her just out of striking distance. While potentially a life saver, this spell requires more energy due to its hastened casting. Currently, she can only cast this once per battle, lest she risk total exhaustion.
• Shady Tendrils - A large mass of tentacles made from the essence of shadow attempt to grapple, disarm, or strike at her enemies. Very potent against other mages and weaker targets, but not super effective against strong types.
• Void Spear - Illuria casts a hardened spear of darkness at her enemy. If it hits, the spear explodes and eradicates most or all of the victim's body, usually resulting in a shower of body parts. Particularly powerful foes might be able to resist the death effect of this spell, but typically end up losing a limb or two in the process. Takes a post to prepare.
• Shadow Sculpture - A complicated spell that allows the Shadowmancer to create anything they can imagine out of shadow stuff. While they are tangible, items created in this manner usually disappear within an hour or two. Masters of the spell can manifest large objects, such as a heavy crate or two-handed sword, with little impact on their fatigue levels. Illuria can presently only create smaller objects. This spell isn't very useful in combat, but it can find creative uses.

Background

Place of Birth: Tarracina, Venatria
Social Status: Former noble.

History: Everybody knows about the fall of House Nariul, everyone who's anyone in Venatria anyway. It all began when Illuria's brother, Herodius, took up the title of Lord after their parents died in suspicious circumstances. Her brother, a masterful merchant and even greater Shadowmancer, had always been overly ambitious, always intent to seize more than he had, and for the first few years of his reign, things went quite well for the Nariuls. Illuria, still a child, enjoyed great wealth and was honored among the Venatrian elites. Her brother even taught her a great deal about magic. There were very few things she went without under Herodius' guidance. However, Herodius had been a strange sort of man, bordering the realms of insane. He cared nothing for laws and paid no heed to legalities, especially when it came to fulfilling his own dark desires. The young Lady of House Nariul accidentally stumbled upon one of Herodius' abyssal secrets, a horrible chamber that reeked of death. The image of disfigured bodies, some still living, strapped to eldritch devices burned a terrible scar into Illuria's memory. Worse still, Herodius stood there in the room, a wicked grin on his face, and beckoned his young sister to join him in the torture of a young nobleman. Needless to say, Illuria fled from the sight, but she said nothing on the matter.

It was only a matter of time before the authorities caught up with Herodius, and when they did, he did not go peacefully. What followed next still haunts the city of Tarracina. The master mage unleashed a great onslaught that devastated not only the Nariul estate, but also the authorities meant to apprehend him. Since he was quite aware he was going to die, he strode onto the main streets of Venatria's capital, slaughtering as many innocents as he could to sate his own sick desires. Only when his body could no longer manifest the arcane did Herodius fall, and with him, the reputation and prestige of the once great House Nariul. Following the news of her brother's death, Illuria hastily left the city on horseback with as much gold as she could carry, presumably enough to last a typical person their entire lifetime.

Following her departure from Tarracina, Illuria traveled the world and developed a dependency on alcohol to forget her brother's insanity along the way. There was no where else for her, save for the next tavern and the brew that awaited her. Sights she thought she'd have never seen before blessed her eyes, from the endless desert of Sariya to the sprawling plains of Markoth. The only realm she dared not venture to was Torguren, for fear that the brutish barbarians there might tear her apart if she set one foot upon their soil. As expected, her travels and the purchases she made on them have ended up nearly wiping out most of her money. Upon hearing of the tournament on the coast Venatria and the possible fortunes she could obtain as a gladiator, she immediately set out that way. Life as a gladiator was a noble profession, one that might even be able to restore her family's tarnished name...

The Gladiators of House Valens

This would probably be Illuria's theme song. Because alcohol. >.>

The Gladiators of House Valens

@Estella That was actually my intention with that particular spell since it's her "ultimate", so to speak xD I'll add a note to it though so everybody is aware.

The Gladiators of House Valens

@Estella She is done! I tried to balance the spells as much as possible. Let me know if anything needs modifying.

Illuria Nariul

Illuria Nariul

"I'm going to restore my family's name... Right after this drink!"

Profile

Full Name: Illuria Dianne Nariul
Titles/Nicknames: Twilight's Harlot, Last Lady of House Nariul
Age: 26
Race: Human
Gender: Female
Sexual Orientation: Bisexual
Combat Role: Trickster Mage

Hair Color: Raven black
Eye Color: Deep blue
Height: 5'2"
Weight: 98lbs

Appearance: Illuria appears nothing like what a true gladiator should, quite the contrary actually. Her posture is proper for any born into the aristocracy: upright and as tall as her short frame allows. Her hair, styled in a bob cut, is as dark as any other Venatrian's, just as her skin complexion is ordinary in the Western Realm, albeit slightly paler. Though the garments she wears are finely made, they tend to be more revealing than any self-respecting noblewoman ought to be wearing, leading a good majority to judge her as nothing more than an upper class courtesan.

Personality

Overview: Illuria is an anomaly, characterized by her crippling alcoholism and her willingness to do anything to sate her addiction. As a person, she's carefree, whimsical, and quite the chatterbox. Her friendliness knows no bounds and she apparently lacks an understanding of personal space. Anybody that she feels any sort of attachment to can be expected to be subject to her clingy nature, which only worsens when she drinks. Drunk Illuria also gets incredibly flirtatious and touchy, much to the chagrin to any companions she might have. Due to her past travels, Illuria has come to like most people, though she is notably afraid of bestial races and those hailing from Torguren due to their supposed brutish natures.

Illuria hopes to one day restore her noble lineage and the former wealth her family had. Well, and to sustain her dependence. She's hardly a warrior, but her strength lies in her magic, something she's quite aware of. In fact, she loves to boast how great of a Shadowmancer she is, only ever admitting that her brother was greater than her. Her arrogance has earned more than a few rivals in the past, and she expects to only earn more in the arena. Despite her insistence on spreading the word about her magical might, when it comes down to it, Illuria isn't a brave soul. When faced with someone that clearly outmatches her, she will turn tail and run, if that's an option at all.

Combat

Strength: 1
Dexterity: 3
Intelligence: 5
Cunning: 6
Magic: 8
Willpower: 2
Endurance: 3
Charisma: 7

Weapons of Choice: None. She's not particularly adept at close quarters combat. However, Illuria does carry a fanciful, golden dagger at her side, mostly for show. It can be a the difference between life and death though, especially if she manages to get the drop on her foes.

Armor/Combat Apparel: Illuria dresses herself in a regal, yet impractical leather robe, if could be called that, complete with an elegant hood, styled shoulder pads, and spindly gloves. The bottom of half of her armor is almost non-existent, save for a single greave and a pair of reinforced boots. Her armor certainly looks glamorous, but it shows quite a bit of skin at the same time, contradicting the entire point of armor. As her raiment stands right now, it protects most of her right side while leaving ample amounts of her left undefended.

Fighting Style: Illuria relies on her magic, charisma, and cunning to get her through a fight rather than any physical set of skills. To put it simply, her fighting style is chaotic and unpredictable, sometimes entirely dependent on if she's sober or not. For the most part, her tactics involve distracting her opponent in a myriad of ways, ranging from her spells to even her body. As a mage, she does anything to avoid close combat. If she's sober (a rare occasion), Illuria will clearly suffer from serious withdrawals and make questionable decisions in the heat of combat. However, her command over magical abilities seem much more potent when she's sober. A good majority of the time though, an inebriated Illuria will focus on the thrill of the match and entertaining the crowd, win or lose. However, she seems to function with greater clarity when she's out of her mind.

Magical Affinity: Shadow Magic

• Mirror Image - A classic defensive spell. She manipulates shadow stuff to summon forth four copies of herself. These copies mimic her actions, but disappear when attacked.
• Dusk Shroud - A type of invisibility wherein Illuria blends into the shadows around her. Extremely powerful in dark arenas, but completely negated by any bright light.
• Shadow Tether - Just before an enemy strikes her, a cloak of shadow envelopes Illuria and pulls her just out of striking distance. While potentially a life saver, this spell requires more energy due to its hastened casting. Currently, she can only cast this once per battle, lest she risk total exhaustion.
• Shady Tendrils - A large mass of tentacles made from the essence of shadow attempt to grapple, disarm, or strike at her enemies. Very potent against other mages and weaker targets, but not super effective against strong types.
• Void Spear - Illuria casts a hardened spear of darkness at her enemy. If it hits, the spear explodes and eradicates most or all of the victim's body, usually resulting in a shower of body parts. Particularly powerful foes might be able to resist the death effect of this spell, but typically end up losing a limb or two in the process.
• Shadow Sculpture - A complicated spell that allows the Shadowmancer to create anything they can imagine out of shadow stuff. While they are tangible, items created in this manner usually disappear within an hour or two. Masters of the spell can manifest large objects, such as a heavy crate or two-handed sword, with little impact on their fatigue levels. Illuria can presently only create smaller objects. This spell isn't very useful in combat, but it can find creative uses.

Background

Place of Birth: Tarracina, Venatria
Social Status: Former noble.

History: Everybody knows about the fall of House Nariul, everyone who's anyone in Venatria anyway. It all began when Illuria's brother, Herodius, took up the title of Lord after their parents died in suspicious circumstances. Her brother, a masterful merchant and even greater Shadowmancer, had always been overly ambitious, always intent to seize more than he had, and for the first few years of his reign, things went quite well for the Nariuls. Illuria, still a child, enjoyed great wealth and was honored among the Venatrian elites. Her brother even taught her a great deal about magic. There were very few things she went without under Herodius' guidance. However, Herodius had been a strange sort of man, bordering the realms of insane. He cared nothing for laws and paid no heed to legalities, especially when it came to fulfilling his own dark desires. The young Lady of House Nariul accidentally stumbled upon one of Herodius' abyssal secrets, a horrible chamber that reeked of death. The image of disfigured bodies, some still living, strapped to eldritch devices burned a terrible scar into Illuria's memory. Worse still, Herodius stood there in the room, a wicked grin on his face, and beckoned his young sister to join him in the torture of a young nobleman. Needless to say, Illuria fled from the sight, but she said nothing on the matter.

It was only a matter of time before the authorities caught up with Herodius, and when they did, he did not go peacefully. What followed next still haunts the city of Tarracina. The master mage unleashed a great onslaught that devastated not only the Nariul estate, but also the authorities meant to apprehend him. Since he was quite aware he was going to die, he strode onto the main streets of Venatria's capital, slaughtering as many innocents as he could to sate his own sick desires. Only when his body could no longer manifest the arcane did Herodius fall, and with him, the reputation and prestige of the once great House Nariul. Following the news of her brother's death, Illuria hastily left the city on horseback with as much gold as she could carry, presumably enough to last a typical person their entire lifetime.

Following her departure from Tarracina, Illuria traveled the world and developed a dependency on alcohol to forget her brother's insanity along the way. There was no where else for her, save for the next tavern and the brew that awaited her. Sights she thought she'd have never seen before blessed her eyes, from the endless desert of Sariya to the sprawling plains of Markoth. The only realm she dared not venture to was Torguren, for fear that the brutish barbarians there might tear her apart if she set one foot upon their soil. As expected, her travels and the purchases she made on them have ended up nearly wiping out most of her money. Upon hearing of the tournament on the coast Venatria and the possible fortunes she could obtain as a gladiator, she immediately set out that way. Life as a gladiator was a noble profession, one that might even be able to restore her family's tarnished name...

The Gladiators of House Valens

I will have a CS up for my alcoholic Shadowmancer/illusionist up either late tonight after my warhammer rpg session with friends or at some point tomorrow!

The Gladiators of House Valens

@Estella

Quite interested in this! Loved Gladius growing up!

I actually am quite fine with the revive system since it mimics the reality concerning gladiators in the Roman Empire. Gladiators were highly trained professionals, similar to modern day athletes, and it took a lot of money to train fresh recruits. So, outside of Hollywood movies, most gladiator matches didn't end with a fatality, and if they did, it was usually because a sponsor paid for a lethal match and reimbursed the lanista for his losses. I feel like, in this universe, its likely you'd want to revive any fallen gladiators after a match since its cheaper on time and money, otherwise you might end up bankrupt from having to keep replace your fighters. Really, there's a whole host of reasons you'd want to keep the same people, unless they're constantly failing to be worth anything at all.

Shine City V (Cancelled, RP Closed)

Bram Ripley

| Full Name: | Bram Antonius Ripley
| Age: | 27
| Height: | 6’2”
| Weight: | 150lbs
| Likes: |

• Spending money.
• His sister, who is an idiot.
• Ladies.
• Challenges.
• Attention.
• Action and adventure movies.
• Fights (both verbal and physical).
• Lording himself over everybody.

| Dislikes: |

• Fuck boys who try to get with his sister (she's an innocent virgin, after all)
• Boring dinner parties that his dad forces him to attend.
• Being told what to do.
• Losing.
• His idiot sister.
• Having to monitor his spending.
• People who think they're better and/or cooler than him. They're not.
• College.

| Party Trick:| If you asked him, he'd tell you he could do anything. This is far from the truth. In reality, Bram's only expert-level skill is sick ass yo-yo tricks. He's fucking awesome with yo-yos.
| Profession: | Trust fund baby. His only job is to spend money. Well, and he's a part time student, majoring in English Literature because it's fucking easy. He has been taking one class a semester since he was 18 and is still pursuing his Bachelor's. It's safe to say he will not be graduating any time soon.
| Bio/Personality: | Bram is the eldest child of the wealthy Ripley family. While his parents were already well-to-do property owners, after his grandparents died, he and his sister inherited quite the haul, more money than any kid could hope to have. Due to his family's immense fortunes, he's grown up with the wildest and most expensive luxuries available to him and has always been a spoiled brat. There are very few things he hasn't experienced in his life, honestly, and he's seen nearly everything there is to be seen. As the eldest child, Bram is expected to inherit the family's properties and various stocks, and as such, his father has placed emphasis on him earning a college education, much to Bram's disdain. The only perk of college, in his opinion, is to scout out the sweet, sweet girlies in the area. Alongside this, his father has been trying to teach him how to be more charismatic, so anytime a major event happens in the family or even with the city, Bram is required to help host it.

No matter how much he has experienced due to his wealth, Bram still has a lot to learn compared to others his age. His affluence has made him dependent on others to do menial chores for him. It's likely he has never had to do his own dishes or cook his own food. Living outside his family's estate would be an absolute nightmare for him. It's also very hard him to relate to the poorer denizens of Shine City.

Personality-wise, Bram is a lot like his father: a self-centered asshole who likes to mercilessly pick on people. He's the kind of guy that catcalls every attractive woman in sight, the immature dick that no one wants to be approached by. That's not to say he's not unsalvageable. For as much of an ass he is, Bram does have something resembling a heart and can be quite caring in his own way, maybe even overprotective, if he has any kind of attachment to someone. His sister could attest to that.
| Theme Song: | Calling Doctor Love - KISS