[OOC] Slayers

[Mogwar]

The Kingdom of Aauron is vast and powerful. Its borders stretch from the southern coasts of the continent to the very edge of the untamed wilds of the Everautumn in the North. Its unity and lack of opposing kingdoms has lead to an age of stability and plenty. There is but one threat to the land: the wild packs of Lycanthropes that dwell in the endless Everautumn. They raid and pillage the northernmost villages of man, slaughtering innocents any chance they get. To combat this threat, the Kingdom long ago established an elite force of rangers known as Slayers. Taken from only the most promising of volunteers, the Slayers are sent through grueling training meant to strengthen body and mind, and then grouped into tight-knit units whose teamwork in battle is the stuff of legends.

The selection process, known as the Choosing, is but one part of a great summer festival held in the capitol city of Roseview. Prospective recruits from all around the kingdom make their way to Roseview to be evaluated by a group of highly qualified Slayers. For those who end up being chosen, the festival is also their last chance to really let loose before their new, and very difficult lives begin.

Something is brewing to the North. Attacks on humanity's settlements on the borders of the Everautumn have increased exponentially, but they are more disjointed, less effective than normal. The Lycanthropes seem even more bestial than before, and some Slayers have reported observing fights among packs of Lycanthropes, something unheard of in the past.
__________

The premise of this RP is that your characters are all potential Slayers who are attending the summer festival in Roseview. Perhaps you went there for the express purpose of becoming a Slayer, or perhaps you take the evaluation for fun, with little expectation of actually being chosen. Whatever your reasons, your lives are about to change. You will be sent to basic training, after which you will be grouped into teams under a more senior Slayer for advanced training. Once your training is complete, you will either be accepted into an established group of Slayers, or even make your own.

The Kingdom

Though medieval in technology and fantasy in lore, the Kingdom of Aauron doesn't share many of the less desirable characteristics often associated with medieval cultures. The streets of most cities are clean and well maintained, with most main streets even paved. There are few beggars to be found, and these folks are often drunks or sick of mind and unwilling to seek help. The crown operates orphanages to shelter children, that while often quite cramped are well funded. The working class and farmers are considered the backbone of the Kingdom, and while they may never count themselves among the rich, most can get by just fine. Aauron is far from a utopian society, however. There is still crime, including human (and sometimes Lycanthrope) trafficking, and there is more than a little corruption among the ruling class. For the most part, however, Aauron is quite a pleasant place to live, unless you are a settler of one of the many villages slowly spreading into the Everautumn.

Roseview

Roseview is the capitol, and largest, city. It is home to the royal palace, an enormous castle of pale stone whose spires are capped with rose gold geodesic domes. Rose view is home to the Summer Festival, a yearly event that attracts tens of thousands of people from across the continent and beyond. Much of the kingdom's wealth is concentrated here, as evidenced by the large gated communities situated near the palace. The center of Roseview is a large public park and botanical garden that boasts the largest rose garden in the kingdom.

Grouburn

The Slayers may be selected in Roseview, but this is not where they are trained. Any prospective Slayers are taken North to the military city of Grouburn. This fortress-like city is the place where most of the kingdom's army is trained. It is set up in a very strict and deliberately planned fashion, with several outer walls with staggered gates. It is designed to resist siege indefinitely, though it hasn't been put to the test since ancient times, before the continent was united. At its center is a stone fortress known by the common folk as the Foundry. This is where the Slayers themselves are trained, and where many of them choose to live during their service. While not as grand as the palace in Roseview, it is nearly as large, and its interior could be described as crude but comfortable. Slayers can of course choose to live wherever they like, though most of them are out in the field for most of the year anyway.

The Everautumn

As its name suggests, the Everautumn to the North of the kingdom appears to be perpetually in a state of Fall. Its temperature remains near constant throughout the year, with a short hot season at the height of summer, and a long rainy season rather than a true winter. The Everautumn is incredibly expansive, to the point that no one really knows how long it extends, or what (if anything) is beyond it. Ships sent up the coasts are never seen again, although someone is bound to try every decade or so to explore beyond the forest. Within the Everautumn dwells innumerable packs of bloodthirsty Lycanthropes. They constant raid the outer settlements of man, but the Slayers have done well to beat them back every time. So effective have the Slayers been in recent years, that Aauron has actually managed to increase its holdings in the southernmost parts of the forest.

More settings will be added as necessary.

Magic

Magic is commonly known to exist, but is not openly practiced by many humans in the Kingdom of Aauron. Even tiny magical talent is exceedingly rare among humans of this region, and many who possess the potential never learn of it. Allegedly, the monarch of Aauron, the Rose King Baldwyn is the most powerful human mage currently alive. This is just rumor, however, as he has never displayed even slight magical prowess in public.

Slight magical talent is actually a requirement to become a Slayer. This is because at the end of their training, Slayers undergo a magical ritual that binds their minds together in a form of rudimentary telepathy. It allows them to communicate emotions and basic ideas at great ranges, though never actual words. Complete lack of magical potential makes one incompatible with this process. This same process also fortifies a Slayer's body. It increases their strength, endurance, and rate of healing to near peak human levels.

None of your characters will begin with any sort of magical prowess. Just the potential. But who knows what kinds of things will be discovered in their quest to defend their kingdom?

Lycanthropes

Called werewolves in other parts of the world, the Lycanthropes that dwell in the Everautumn Forest are humanoid beasts covered in fur and muscle. Their claws and teeth are as deadly as any blade, and their pack mentality makes them fierce and efficient hunters. Despite what some human myths would say, the official theory on Lycanthopes is that they always appear as beasts and have no "human" form. It is also believed that while clearly more intelligent than an average beast, they are still just that: beasts.

Slayers

Slayers operate in tightly-knit groups each known by a unique name. Many of these groups have long, storied histories. Perhaps the most famous of them are the Outer Guard, one of the oldest and most prestigious groups who are known to have delved deeper into the Everautumn than any other humans. The groups have no set number of Slayers, and fluctuate based on the whims of each group.

A full Slayer is stronger, faster, and more agile than a normal human, and possess a form of rudimentary telepathy with other members of their order.

Slayers are not usually commemorated for their actions until the time of their death or retirement. The only exception to this is when a Slayer or group of Slayers is seen to have done such an incredibly large service to the crown that it cannot be ignored. Such Slayers are awarded the Rose Cloak, a white garb with a blood red rose on the back, and a weapon of the highest craftsmanship possible. These Slayers are considered to be part of the sacred Order of Flowers, a title that is mostly ceremonial. There are only a handful of living Slayers in this order.

Character Sheet

Name:
Age:
Gender:
Appearance:
Skills:
History:
Other:

[Princeofhearts]

Can I join this RP? If so, can you reserve me a spot? I would make a CS tomorrow.

[Mogwar]

Of course you can.

[Twisted Fate]

I'll be getting a CS up relatively soon, probably today.

[WilsonTurner]

Aye, reserve me a spot too, would you? I'll write something up when I get home from school.

[geminironin]

I'll just reserve a spot here... But my CS should be up by tonight.

[WilsonTurner]

Name: Bellamy Speirs Valentine

Age: 20

Gender: Male

Appearance: Maybe just under 6', with an average set of shoulders and an equally average build. He's not particularly thick, nor thin. He's well muscled from his work, but not overly so. His hands are only slightly roughed, still being young, and his face has a sort of stillness to it. And like his face, his entire body, his stance, has a certain stillness, especially when he stands still and waits, or watches. He's tanned from working in the sun, and his hair is a light brown, kept a little long relative to other men. He has a face that could be friendly if he smiled, cold if he showed nothing, and hostile if he frowned or tightened his jaw.

Skills: Woodcutting, stew-making, occasionally hunting, and some basic hand-to-hand and knife combat, from training with his father. His father was a normal soldier, before settling down and opening an inn; Bellamy grew up as the innkeeper's son, well known for his knack with making anything taste good in a stew.

History: The innkeeper's son. He was born to a retired soldier and the local blacksmith's daughter, who had fallen in love sometime during Ronald's- his father- training. His father visited his mother- Elaina- as often as he could, and eventually settled down because of her. After marrying, they started up an inn by taking it off the hands of a dying owner (who died thirteen days afterwards). Shortly thereafter, Elaina became pregnant, and nine months later, Valentine was born.

As the innkeeper's son, he did all the chores for them. He lugged stuff about, served the various clients that came in, eavesdropped on his father and his old war buddies, and took care of the garden, of the chopped wood, and of the occasional need to get some venison without having to buy it or have Ronald go get it. Ronald, of course, taught Bellamy how to hunt on his tenth birthday- and on his thirteenth, started teaching him how to handle himself in a fight, after another kid gave him a black eye. Bellamy wasn't exactly looked at in friendly terms by everybody his age- whatwith living and working at the inn of a dead respected man, who died a foul number after he left the inn.

Kids learned not to mess with him after his soldier of a father started teaching him how to fight- because kids started ending up hurt, kids who had been known to try to humiliate and bully him. One kid, who began hating Valentine because Val took a liking to a girl- who he thought was his, but the girl adamantly demanded she was no one's- was said to have followed Val out into the woods on one of his hunts, and never returned, dead or alive. Val didn't appear to be overly concerned about it, and suddenly, people noticed how still he was, how often he stared but didn't seem to really see the person- just what they were and what they could do.

Valentine never corrected them that he had just kneed the kid who hated him before the kid could get even a dozen feet into the forest, and sent him back home. He didn't mind the controversy, the bad rep- people stopped messing with him, after all.

Valentine continued his life unhindered, though few people managed or dared to get close. He has a half dozen friends, none of them particularly close, though he does go to social events and the like.

Then, one day, while fixing a broken table from one of the weekly brawls, a drunk started taunting him. Valentine handled it as he did with other kids taunting him, or drunk patrons of the bar- he said nothing, except gave that cold stare. And the drunk taunted some more, and some more, and babbling nonsense every now and then. He was a drunk, after all. And when Valentine finally asked what he wanted from him, the drunk dared him to go to the Choosing- which was happening the next day.

So Valentine went, as distant from his family as he was from his friends.

Other:
He doesn't have very many friends, but he respected or even feared, with some amount of controversy about him. He unsettles many, and has always been known as a quiet child, even among friends. Though, he is respected, kids not wanting to screw with him.

[Mogwar]

Accepted, of course. ^_^ Feel free to post your sheet in the characters thread.

[WilsonTurner]

@Princeofhearts@Twisted Fate@geminironin
Ya'll still in? I'd hate for you guys to forget about this, or lose interest.

[Princeofhearts]

Yeah, I am. Sorry school has been too much but ill have a CS tomorrow, Promise.

[Mogwar]

Yeah, I am. Sorry school has been too much but ill have a CS tomorrow, Promise.

@Princeofhearts

No rush. Real life is always more important.

[Cubix]

Quite interested. I'll see if I can patch up a CS by tomorrow.

[Mogwar]

Quite interested. I'll see if I can patch up a CS by tomorrow.

@Cubix

Great!

And for the record, guys, I have a character but I'm not going to be playing him right off the bat. This is both due to his story (which ties into the plot) and because I'd rather focus on world-building and your characters rather than my own. He'll come in later, probably at the end of your Slayer training.

So, I'll be playing a few side characters that will be sticking around for a while, the first of which you'll meet at the Choosing.

[Cubix]

WIP

Name

Ilya Terres

Age

22

Gender

Female

Appearance

Ilya stands at a laughable height of 5'5, and has been that way for the entirety of her life ever since she came of age. After her first lover took her innocence (and left her the next day), Ilya refused to groom herself beyond the expected level of hygiene. As such, her auburn hair is always unkempt; sometimes tied in a ponytail, but nothing beyond it. The girl's emerald eyes is often noticed in a half-lidded state, showing her disinterest in the larger picture of things. Her build is slim yet athletic and toned due to her training as a marksman since she had to do something to distract her mind from the betrayal of her past. As an accomplished ranger and forager, Ilya wears a jet-black hooded cloak which covers her beige but fair complexion when doing her tasks-- after all, stealth is one's ally in the night. A large scar runs down on the right side of Ilya's lips-- a mark she obtained when a slight misstep caused her to fall from a twenty-foot tree, and into a Thornberry bush; although, numerous scars are found all over her lithe body.

Skills

1. Longbow Mastery - Ilya specializes with her wooden longbow when in combat. She takes time and patience in finding the right spot to pick off beasts and other opponents from a distance. Her keen eye allows her, in the proper conditions, to strike a target from over 140 yards away. However, Ilya's craving for a 'perfect' and 'artful' aim causes her to dally between her shots, often leading to targets escaping her sights, and her losing a valued shot.
2. Dagger Decency - While close-combat was never her forte, Ilya has some modicum skill with the dagger and knife. As such, she keeps a silver dagger which hangs from her waist. When pitted against rookies and everyday criminals, Ilya can stand on her own, but against skilled professionals, the lass' dagger cannot hope to beat them, if not only delay the inevitable.
3. First-aid Knowledge - Wounds are inevitable in the woods. As such, Ilya taught herself the art of herbs and other medicinal ointments. She can also patch up wounds with splints and gauzes, but major wounds are out of her league.
4. Seduction - Living in the poorer rim of Aauron disables most from acquiring the vital things in life. Ilya circumvents around that problem by beguiling the wits of men with her allure and killer physique. She often seduces shopkeepers and other corrupt businessmen into providing her needs, only to find her gone the next day.

History

"Ilya? I know of her. Some say she came from the slums of Erekon, a small place in the outermost rims of Aauron. For the lass to survive in this barbaric rim, she seduced the will of men and sharpened the tip of her arrows. Kindness means nothing in the outer rim, and I know Ilya learned that lesson at a young age. Her innocence shone like a lotus in the dirt, and in a place of darkness like Erekon, it was naught but an eyesore. Barkus, a lad from a nearby district, trampled on Ilya's faith and innocence. He wrecked her being on that one fateful night, and the young lass never stayed the same since. She trained herself until her bones cracked, until every fibre in her being screamed for relief. Until she got in to the Forage Squads of Erekon-- a sub-division under the military. Ilya possessed a keen eye unknown to those who live in the outer rim, and her skills far surpassed that of her peers. No one came to hate her, because they all feared her prowess in and out of the woods. Still, a deep shadow looms around her eyes; a look of unknown suffering longing to be sated.

Her ambitions know no bounds, comrade. She grows stronger everyday. The Choosing is near, yes? I heard Ilya speaking of it, and her desire to partake in this event. I, as her commander, gave her the opportunity, and sent her to the main kingdom. Ilya's world is so contained in Erekon, and I want her to see the entirety of Aauron itself. She is naive at best, and while she knows a thing or two about the harshness of the world, she still has a lot to learn before her bow and arrow can slay those monsters.

She is not a bad person, comrade. Ilya just experienced a lot of tragedies in her life. She defiled herself in order to protect those who cannot; she sold herself so she could buy the freedom of those who she cared about. She just needs a lot of persuading that there is still a meaning to life. Her tongue might cut quick, and her attitude might be snide, but mistake not that under all of that hate-- a warm and caring core lies within.

Ilya is on her way to the capital by now, and I can only pray that she help herself first or nobody will."
-Yhagal, Erekon Forager Squad Commander

[Vermillion]

Is this still open? I like the look of this :)

[Guess Who]

[Vermillion]

@Guess Who

I like you. Hateful Eight, or not, awesome gif.

[Guess Who]

<Snipped quote by Guess Who>

I like you. Hateful Eight, or not, awesome gif.

@Vermillion

Why thank you.

[Vermillion]

@Guess Who

[Princeofhearts]

Elizabeth

Elizabeth Grimshaw

Age: 20
Gender: Female
Skills:

Martial Artist: Elizabeth is an expert in many fields of martial arts. She was trained by her father ever since she was a young girl.

Acrobatic: She is an athlete, gymnast, acrobat and aerialist capable of numerous complex maneuvers and feats.

Minor Marksman: Elizabeth knows how to use basic weapons like a knife, bat and so on. She has been trained how to use a gun as-well, by her father.

History: Elizabeth was born with one parent, her mother died when Elizabeth was a very young age. She died over fighting with cancer, and Elizabeth had to be raised with her father. But those years that she was with him, it didn't just mean candies and hugs. No no, Elizabeth was raised with a father that trained her in different fighting areas. He wanted her to be able to take care of herself and protect herself as she grows up to be a young adult. He took her off to fighting contests, programs and even made her fight against her bullies in school. It's also a reason for Elizabeth not attending school as much, but she did go to a private one.

[wip]

Other: