[OOC] The Blackwood

[Jb]

Wēlanandaz the Smith

(Art can be found here!)

Wēlanandaz the Smith

Dwarve | 412 | Male

Appearance

For the most part Wēlanandaz bears the appearance of a friendly, yet mischievous, old grandfather or uncle... if somewhat shorter than those of other races.

His hair, grown impressive in length and kept neat and tidy with comb and time, matches his equally awe-inspiring beard in the sheer white of its colour and fullness of volume – a part of his 'look' that is as important to him as the dourness and granite-like elements of his personality.

Beneath the snow-coloured follicles is a broad face of blue eyes, glittering with roguery as much as the wisdom expected from one of his extended years, leathery flesh grown into such by decades and centuries at the forge – travelling when necessary under mountains and into dales, over seas and beyond tundras – marked by wrinkles and other signs that Humans would see on the older members of their race.

In body he is as broad and stout as the most well-built human, his arms like the trunks of an especially hardy tree attached to a torso as square and firm as the mountain rock from which he hails, legs like piston-powered pillars able to drive him through water, snow and mud as assuredly as the sun will rise.

Unlike those Dwarves known as warriors, all plate metal and whirling blades, his occupation as a smith has made it essential that he is able to move and shift freely. To this end he prefers hardened or stiffened leather, but generally chooses to wear a hauberk of mail over a gambeson if conflict is on the horizon, his ancestral helmet taken everywhere... as is his pipe and a supply of leaf, and the most basic tools of his lifelong vocation.

Capable of using most melee weapons with some competence due to his age and profession, he girds himself with a wickedly sharp axe, capable of being wielded with one or both hands when required, and a stout shield marked with the runic symbols and representations of his craggy Thudrim and ancestral line.

Personality

Wēlanandaz is old and experienced enough to bring with him an air of semi-arrogance that only those of his age and position can, probably seeming cocky and patronising when not staring into flames or nothingness with typical Dwarvish reticence, the one 'problem' being that he can usually back up with action whatever he claims or boasts with words.

That being said, he is even more reserved about his past and deeds than a Dwarf commonly is, more stone-like than others of his folk, something hanging over him that prevents him from ever truly being happy or joyous as he may – he does not speak of such things to anyone.

All-in-all he exemplifies in personality all that non-Dwarves believe from their outside viewings, an aged being seemingly carved from the very rock of the Earth, or by Runars divine hand, ostensibly robust enough to weather and endure seasons, battles and suffering as stolidly as a lighthouse in a thunderous sea and with as little change.

One thing that does become his delight is, of course, the art of the craftsman – and of working metal in particular – Wēlanandaz known by his own folk as a compulsive artisan, journeyman and tinkerer, 'magical' with a forge, an anvil, and a hammer so they say!

Background

• Journeyman and Smith
• Commoner
• Last in a long line of blacksmiths

History WIP

Motivation

To continue his travels, to extend his own skills beyond that of any other, and to redeem himself in the eyes of his people.

Capabilities

Attributes

Combat [1/1]

• One Handed Cleaving Weapon (1)
• Two-handed Cleaving Weapon (1)
• Cleave and Shield (1)

Intelligence [1/1]

• Blacksmithing (Craft) (2)
• Literacy (1)
• History (1)
• Religion (Runar) (1)

Charisma [0/1]

Health [1/1]

• Fortitude (1)
• Toughness (1)
• Stamina (1)

Faculties [1/1]

• Resolve (1)
• Willpower (1)

Agility [1/1]

• Balance (1)

Mysticism [0/3]

---

Equipment

• Hauberk of mail and ancestral helm
• Axe and Shield
• Pipe and pipe leaf
• Rudimentary smithing tool set

Money

3 Royals, 11 Lordlings and 13 Commons

Languages

Northern, Drimgoth, and the Dwarven tongue

Going to be honest here, I've no idea how the numbers work for stats, but I've given it a shot!

So, here's a character.

[Squad 404]

Character denied, character gone.

[Duck]

@Jb Hey there friend, seems like you missed a little detail from the character guide. You might want to rethink your current build, as you're allowed a maximum of 19 points on stats (you've spent 33!).

[Jb]

@Jb Hey there friend, seems like you missed a little detail from the character guide. You might want to rethink your current build, as you're allowed a maximum of 19 points on stats (you've spent 33!).

@Duck

"Going to be honest here, I've no idea how the numbers work for stats, but I've given it a shot!" - Me.

Thanks for informing me though, I'll get on that.

[Luminosity]

I managed to get my sheet together today, and make this sheet post. I hope it makes someone say "holy sheet!" and I hope it can go on the GM's sheet list. Otherwise I'll have to send it up sheet creek.

Sorry, I'm just full of sheet today. Really got sheet for brains. Anyway, here's my sheet. Do let me know if any of my sheet needs changing.

Because I love talking sheet with people.

Mari!

Mari

Marisaya Njalsdottir || 20 || Female

Race

Half-Elf (Silvari and Norgardian)

Appearance

Mari's undoubtedly a little small for a fighter, but moves with the grace and poise of someone who has had thorough training, if not a great deal of experience. She can easily pass for human even if her auburn red hair isn't covering her lightly pointed ears. Her eyes are a bright sea blue-green, and she typically gives off the look of someone still full of life and energy.

She wears light armor, mostly embossed and studded leather that's probably more decorative than it is protective, with a minimum of cobbled-together plate. It's in Mari's interest to stay lightly geared, considering how often she finds herself on open water.

Personality

Mari is fierce, bold, and passionate, and a genuinely good woman at heart. She feels she has a great deal to make up for from her youth, and believes fully that the Daughters of Rán are her way to redemption.

When working Mari is serious, focused, and efficient, and though at times self-doubt can slow her down, she has enough courage to forge ahead even when she suspects she might fail. Recently she has found meaning and purpose in helping others, and will gladly take up a worthy cause even at risk to her own safety or fortune.

In quieter moments, Mari is fully capable of relaxing, unwinding, and sharing a drink and stories. She's not secretive about her past or her feelings, and finds that she connects with and empathizes easily with others.

The Ninth Daughter of Rán

---

Background

~Aspiring Mercenary Priestess
~Lower Class, Criminal Background
~Daughter of a runaway Silvari noblewoman and a Norgardian smuggler

History

Mari is the result of a love story that ended in tragedy, the child of a young High Elven woman forced to flee from a political power struggle and a common smuggler that long since left the north behind. She grew up in the Sea of Swords, and her parents were both killed when her mother's family rivals caught up with her. Mari was twelve at the time.

Her father's debts were passed down, and Mari found herself in the indentured servitude of a criminal and pirate lord, an Izyrian named Ihsan. She worked for him and his crews, hopping islands and pickpocketing, thieving, spying, eavesdropping, anything to earn her place and keep a roof over her head. As she grew, she graduated to more direct assistance, and took some part in piracy and raids.

Her life changed at 18, when she was caught stealing from a woman named Asherah, First of the Daughters of Rán, a small but respected and even feared group of women sellswords. Often known by other names such as Sisters of the Sea or Witches of the Waves or simply the Sirens, the Daughters belonged to the clever and cunning sea-goddess Rán. The gifts she granted her Nine Daughters were not always extraordinary, but it was believed that the presence of a Daughter aboard a ship could well be the difference between a smooth voyage and a death at the hands of a passing leviathan or vicious storm.

When Asherah unexpectedly took a liking to Mari, she felt the Goddess had guided them together. Rán's Daughters always numbered Nine, but recently one had passed, opening a place for Mari if she wanted it. Even knowing she'd make an enemy of Ihsan by betraying him, Mari accepted, and began two years of hard training with her new sisters, who protected her while she prepared to join their ranks. She learned slowly and with many mistakes, but learned all the same.

Now at the end of her training, Mari faces a rite of passage: venture into the Blackwood, alone, and make her way into the forgotten places with Rán's guidance, to find her hidden temple, a place supposedly only accessible to the Nine Daughters. There she will pray and accept the gifts the Goddess offers, seizing the power she feels she needs to fully make amends for her past.

Motivation

Mari must find the Hidden Temple of Rán, hidden somewhere in the Blackwood, and complete her initiation into the Daughters of Rán. After that, she can follow where the waters take her, and sell her sword and skills to those she feels need it most.

Witch of the Waves

Skills Mari is a former thief attempting to remake herself as a proper warrior. Her abilities are spread thin between combat, knowledge, and underhanded skills. Combat [1/1] ~Sword and Shield [1] ~Daggers [1] Intelligence [1/1] ~Literacy [1] ~Religion [1] ~Geography [1] Charisma [1/1] ~Diplomacy [1] Health [1/1] ~Cold Resistance [1] Faculties [1/1] ~Resolve [1] Agility [1/1] ~Pick Pocket [1] ~Lockpick [1] ~Balance [1] ~Swimming [2] Mysticism [0/3] Equipment ~One handed sword ~Wooden round shield ~Two small daggers ~Leather and partial plate armor ~Stitched hide and linen clothes ~Prayer bead necklaces with symbols of Rán Money ~1 Royal ~20 Lordlings ~40 Commons Languages ~Northern Tongue ~Grim Northern ~Bits and pieces of many other tongues

[POOHEAD189]

@Luminosity I'd like to point out my laugh emoji is for the intro and not the CS. The CS looks well done :)

[Fetzen]

Hider

Arden

Skayleigh (primarily) | 28 | Male

Appearance

Arden is a young man who so far has been spared from any imperfections inflicted upon him by the hardships of life. His skin is smooth and devoid of scars or similar things, his eyes crystal clear and slightly striking with their green color. He does not put much maintenance effort into his bronze-colored jungle of hair obviously: As long as it doesn't stick to his skin because of dirt and, as an added bonus, doesn't get into the way of his eyesight that exceedingly often he lets it grow with pleasure. The same can't be said about his beard though as it is strictly confined to the region about his chin and rather unusual for someone with elven blood in the first place. Aside from that it's worth mentioning that even by Skayleigh standards he's on the very tall side of things and that his overall build is not as lithe as one might expect from someone of his kind. It almost seems as if something is a little messed up with his bloodline...

Personality

In his very core Arden very much fulfills at least some of the expectations his Skayleigh blood is associated with: As long as there's food and liquor left he'll eat and drink in order to fill his stomach and, unlike many of the other races, he'd have to provoked very badly in order to even consider hurting one of his own kind. In fact he doesn't like hurting people in general for he has seen enough of a bloodshed early on and that was sufficient to leave some considerable marks in his mind. However it's a rough world where being a mercenary is a major source of income and, albeit grudgingly, he accepts that.

The big problem he has is that he himself has locked away his soul in what matches the paraphrase of a bank littered with booby traps and backup security measures. Not many people find their way through to discover his more warm-hearted self, the remainder fails when trying to talk about things he doesn't like talking about and gets firmly rebuffed. He's not the kind of guy for cover stories, but for straightforward approaches. Needless to say that this only helps to drag him into arguments frequently.

Background

• Lower class
• Small-time mercenary taking on jobs for training and making money until his great moment has arrived.
• Has family, but none he'd be aware of.

History

Oriel was an Andredian woman of noble descent whose family, like many of their kind, had gained hold of a notable patch of land on one the southern isles where she could live in wealth and relative peace. Coin and material had never been a problem for her and that had not changed during the transition from Andred as well, but her husband's health had not taken the long journey accross the sea with similar ease. He had broken his leg when slipping below decks in a storm and it never healed well using on-board methods. Whether the subsequent developments can be solely tracked back to this circumstance or if some other kind of frustration was involved as well is up to debate, but not only did he arrive partially crippled, but became a more and more heavy drinker. An increasing hazard to Oriel's relaxed way of life so far and, maybe even more importantly, to her reputation. She could only keep whitewashing and not telling certain things in her letters back home for so long until somebody would find out the true extent of what was going on behind the nice and thick walls of her remote home. Maybe someone would even find her husband completely drunk on the open street and know whom he 'belonged' to.

It was a scandal waiting to happen and other nobilities would feast upon it with pleasure and make a mock out of her -- or at least so she thought and started weighing alternative options to maintaining the strategy of hiding. Of course, given her societal standing, she had some idea about Andredian law, what people would consider to be befitting to her rank and how complicated both of these things were. Aiming for a proper divorce might have been the standard action, but it would have made things public even more quickly and cost her a fair amount of coin and property right away. More importantly however it would not have solved the main problem of getting an increasinly aggressive and unpleasant husband out of her life for sure. So Oriel decided to use the window of opportunity while it was still there. She looked at her once dearly-loved again and decided that he had not much of a ruined life left to lose, so she handed it over into the hands of professional disposal. It would leave the world with the mystery of the killer and the motive, but she would be the only one left truly knowing what kind of an unbearable man he had become and thus save her from a lot of problems and humiliation.

The hired assassin never told his name, but he came in the form of a quite impressive looking local from the Caelic isles: A Skayleigh whose primary line of work was finding unconventional solutions for unconventional customers. A drunkard was an easy target for any good archer, but that was not the only thing the man did. She, with certain desires that her former husband had been unable to fulfill properly for long and an attractive woman still, could not hold back and managed to seduce him in their second and last clandestine meeting. It was somewhat against a loner by profession's usual demeanor, but what bad thing should come out of it ? They both believed this way when he left.

Reality told Oriel a lesson a few months later when her belly started to grow. She ultimately gave birth to a triple-breed of man, elf and giant. How would nature think about this infernal concoction ? Would the child be able to grow up nicely or struggle for the entirity of its life ? And then there was the simple fact that she felt of having no way of calling back its father out of anonymity while she would have to explain how she had been able to become pregnant while not even having any official partner anymore. It dawned upon her that in the same night one of her biggest problems had ceased to exist she had accidentally laid the foundations for a new one. Arranging for her husband's death was something she had been able to justify to herself given the circumstances, but killing a newborn child was an entirely different matter she simply could not commit to. A different solution had to be found.

Arden, so the child's given and more Andredian-like name for the lack of knowledge about Skayleigh customs, was handed over to Oriel's most trusted servant and her family as sort of an adoption. Enough money was paid to keep everybody's mouth hopefully shut and the servant agreed, knowing that otherwise she might fall back into poverty. Arden was to grow up with the story of his father having died even before his birth and the servant being his mother. The solution kinda worked, at least considering that Arden grew up halfway happily and that Oriel had effectively outsourced a major issue. She visited him from time to time, but always pretending to be a friend and not telling the truth.

Nothing could prepare things for the sheer power of randomness though. A couple of years later on the assassin Oriel had once hired showed up again in town on his way through. At this point Arden already was in his early youth and sticking out of the crowd a bit. Just how many young Skayleigh happened to roam around in an Andred town who also had an eerie similarity to oneself ? The assassin was intrigued and stayed, only to finally remember that night a decade ago and to suspect what might have truly happened. Infuriated, he dragged the boy back to Oriel's residence and demanded answers. What followed was a less than fruitful argument about the chances of calling back a man without a name from the criminal underground in order to tell him he had just got a child, just how little courage one could posess in order not to just tell the truth to a newborn and more.

In his rage the assassin's cold blood started to boil and he attacked Oriel openly. No effort meant to be lethal, but enough to make her scream and alert the guards. Oriel seized the opportunity and ordered them to kill the 'intruder': He had become too dangerous for her as a pissed off, professional killer who the place inside out from his former job. Arden, who had just witnessed the death of the one man having claimed to be his father, ran away. He no longer knew whom he could trust, so he decided to trust none. Not wanting to see any human anymore he sought refuge in Skayleigh homeland. His father had actually helped to produce two more children in a much more regular way, but no longer lived to tell Arden about his siblings.

Since then he's effectively battling his way through life, but has the strong desire to return to Oriel one day. He wants to squeeze every bit of truth out of her before she might die. He still holds a weak connection to the servant who actually raised him even though she's not his real mother and, in fact, she seems to exhibit more moral integrity than her employer. Appalled by Oriel's final act while still working for her she recently has given information that Oriel has started to make plans for a return to Andred mainland. With rumors about dragons being more and more restless however the old lady might deviate from the standard route, taking an alternative that will lead her caravan very close to or even through parts of the blackwoods at some point of time in the future. If there's a chance to confront her then it's there, before she re-enters the northern kingdoms.

Motivation

Prepare the best he can for not wasting a chance he might not get a second time in his life. And then hope that the odds are not stacked even more against him than they already seem to be.

Capabilities

Combat [1/1]

• Blunt and Shield (1)

Intelligence [1/1]

• Linguistics (1)

Charisma [1/1]

Health [1/1]

• Strength (3)
• Stamina (2)
• Toughness (2)

Faculties [1/1]

• Sanity (1)
• Perception (1)
• Concentration (1)

Agility [1/1]

• Ride (1)

Mysticism [0/3]
None.

---

Equipment

• One-handed hammer
• Shield
• Leather armor

Money
3 Royals, 6 Lordlings, 65 Commons

Languages
Northern, Wydarian

[POOHEAD189]

Eight characters so far! I'm waiting on 1-3 more, potentially. After that I will begin judging.

Remember, while there's quite a bit of info, I know much of it is vague. It needs to be. Those accepted and those on the backburner will find out about the world through the NPCs, discoveries, and knowledge rolls (if you filled in your initial intelligence slot). You will also be assigned classes based on you performing feats and interacting with the world or various peoples through the addition of points. I'm loving these sheets so far!

[Gunther]

I was thinking Ranger, as my character's class when I created him, but he has other skills that could lead to another.

[Flagg]

@Poohead189 sheets complete, minus the optional history which I'll try to throw together tomorrow.

[POOHEAD189]

Ok! So That is 9 applicants. I had 12 interested, so I will give them one more day to post and show their interest, as these are all of the character sheets I have spoken to people about or seen. In 24 hours, the sheets will be closed and I will judge. Then hopefully by Tuesday night (or early Wednesday morning) we will begin in earnest.

[POOHEAD189]

Big Happy Birthday to @Duck !

[Gunther]

Happy birthday, @Duck! I received your birthday present today. My son and I did some work in the backyard. We even spent time splitting wood. It was good father/son bonding time.

[POOHEAD189]

@Jb@Luminosity Are accepted!

@Penny will be accepted after she makes some changes. Once those are done she can move her character over to the tab.

---

How would you two @Romero@Duck

and you two @Gunther@Flagg

like having your characters travel together? If you consent to that, you are accepted. Your characters are good, they're somewhat similar in certain aspects and I'd be able to handle them without having to make 8 different posts for people. Also please fill out gold and language slots.

---

@Valor I hate to say it, but your character is not accepted. Not because he's poor quality, but after us speaking and after reviewing some of your ideas I think we don't see eye to eye on what the RP is about. You can always try again, however. But he will be on the backburner.

---

@Fetzen Your character will be on the backburner. I love your writing style and you're a fast friend, and your character is good. But his motivation I found a little less than focused.

[Tony Pajamas]

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

[POOHEAD189]

Before anyone questions it, I spoke to Tony earlier and I allowed him to try at making a character after hearing his concept. I'll decide on if it's possible as soon as I can.

[Fetzen]

I'd like to ask about the term 'being on the back burner'. I understand it from a language point of view, but what are the conditions for a transition back off the back burner?

[POOHEAD189]

I'd like to ask about the term 'being on the back burner'. I understand it from a language point of view, but what are the conditions for a transition back off the back burner?

@Fetzen

Essentially once someone stops RPing, or I get to a place where I feel comfortable adding another character, or someone's character dies, you're up. Though I would ask you refine his goals/motivations somewhat.