Blackfridayrule

Forgotten Worlds

@Dinh AaronMk sounds good to me.

Forgotten Worlds

So question....I’ve never ever done a group RP of this scale before, so I have no idea how this works. Can we talk about posting order? I usually do 1x1’s where it’s super obvious so like...I have no idea what the norm is.

Forgotten Worlds

Anyone want to be a poor unfortunate soul lost out in the Dust Sea, near death or on the way to it, for Ridahne to find? You could come to Atakhara and get cuddles from Mitaja..... :D

Forgotten Worlds

@Willy Vereb I’ve been a little absent on the forum just becaue I maimed my fingertip a week ago and thus, typing is hard. Guess who could never be a hand model? Heheh.

Anyway I think it’s totally viable that this universe has different “types” of elves, and yours don’t have to be influenced by Azurei and Rhaetia much at all if you want. I think it would be fascinating to explore the differences in culture.

Forgotten Worlds

@Willy Vereb Azurei is also Elvish. A kind of dark skinned, tribal, desert nation. It'd be interesting to see how we interact, especially if your elves have a very different culture.

Forgotten Worlds

Kaija Tezusha had been up all night. She received reports of activity along the border to the East, though after sending out scouts to investigate, it turned out to be a false alarm. But Kaija-Sol took those kinds of things seriously. It wasn’t that people weren’t allowed to cross the border into Azurei, rather, she just wanted to know about it. To know, and to watch. For the most part, Azurei was a live-and-let-live nation, content to see to its own needs. Except, however, when some other entity gave the first offense. And then...well, nobody liked hearing the Azurei Eija, their military, were on their way, as that meant serious trouble. Nearly a decade ago, one of the Sorcerer-Kings to the East had dared to encroach on the Azurei border, and he did not live long enough to regret it. And while she and the Eternal Realm had something of a soft truce, Kaija-Sol trusted no one.

She lowered herself slowly into a wrought iron chair set with a plush cushion and motioned for her guardian, her chief Taja, to sit across from her at the little table. He obeyed without question or hesitation, plunking down almost mechanically in the other iron chair. She moved like a trickle of water, while he moved like a falling boulder in comparison.

On the table was already a silver decanter of spiced liquor that some foreigners, for lack of a better term, called ‘Azurian Rum’. Kaija stretched out one lightly wrinkled hand and took hold of the decanter as gently as a breath of wind, then poured herself a small silver cup full. She poured a second as well and gracefully slipped it across the small wooden table to her Taja.

“Shi’ir,” she instructed, gesturing to the glass.
The soldier stared, perplexed. “Sol....?” he muttered.
“I said drink, Ajoran. Did you not hear me?” Her tone was dangerous, though in her ancient golden eyes was a glimmer of jest that he had begun to recognize in the last several years.
Ajoran gave a polite nod, but his eyes were just as bright as hers. “Khi, Sol.” He agreed, and picked up the little cup between calloused fingers.

“I’m glad that was a false alarm. The last thing I want is to start another war. At least, not over this. And not with them.” She waved a tired hand. “Let Rhaetia deal with them. Besides, not everyone is suited to go up against a Sorcerer-King, except...” Ajoran looked down, studying the grain of the dark wood table. Kaija-Sol caught this and gave him a sharp look. “Best put those ideas out of your head, Ajoran. It can never be. Not after what she’s done. That ijurik is lucky she wasn’t put to the block. Considered banishing her to the Dust Sea but....” Kaija-Sol gave a nonplussed sigh, “that rat, of all people, might actually have survived. Instead I gave her shame. A shame she well deserves,” she growled sharply.
Ajoran did not know what to say, so he merely agreed, “Khi, Sol.”

There was a silence then, penetrated only by the tiny trickle of water from the small fountain in the room, carved of bloody carnelian in the shape of a rearing seahorse. The sun hadn’t yet risen fully, but its light could be seen through the windows, which were covered in a sheer white fabric. Then, as if her voice was merely a part of the melody of burbling water and the whisper of wind, Kaija began, “You have always served me well, Ajoran.”
The Taja beamed, though his expression remained cold and stony. To receive such a compliment from the Sota-Sol herself was…well, it was beyond an honor. “I do what I can, Kaija-Sol. It is my duty and I bear it proudly.”
“Glad to hear it. Are you on duty tomorrow?”
Ajoran shook his head. “Je, Sol. Ghi’ain will take my post,” he informed her, and then his tattooed brow wrinkled as a thought came to him. “Is this…a problem, Sota-Sol? I can have—“

He was stopped short by the lifting of her thin hand, as elegant and graceful as the silk she wore. The movement was so small, so quiet and slow that it portrayed no sense of inherent force. But Ajoran knew better. He knew Kaija-Sol, knew she was the picture of elegance. And that was all the authority needed to make him clamp his mouth shut. “Ghi’ain’s performance is satisfactory, don’t worry. But I have a favor to ask of you on your day of rest.”
“Anything, my Sota-Sol.” And he meant it.
“I would like you to pay a visit to the Rhaetian fortress off to the east. Tonight might have been a…communication error, but I won’t take my chances. I’d like you to see if the Rhaetians have anything…planned. But until then, you should get some sleep,” she told him, more of an order than a suggestion. “You’ve been up all night with me and deserve some rest at last. Set out late tomorrow after the sun passes its peak.”
“Khi, Sota-Sol. I will do as you ask.” Ajoran dipped his head and touched two fingers to his forehead—the Azurian bow. And, without another word from either of them, he slipped away, soft leather shoes padding on the cool marble floor.

——

Nights in Azurei always got cold. After the heat of the day, the evening chill was often welcome, but in the small hours of the night, the red rock surrendered all its warmth to the black sky, leaving the sandy landmass quite cold by morning. This was when a lot of heavy labor was done—construction and repair, hauling, digging—since it would be murder to do it under the high sun. With no insulation to speak of, the small, cramped hovel of the Torzinei’s turned to a cold clay dungeon. It was for this reason that Ridahne awoke to find Mitaja sprawled out next to her, half laying on top of her, half draped beside her. The cat had silky fur that was wonderfully warm in the night chill, and for many years she had been Ridahne’s living blanket. When the woman rose, combing through her wild black hair as best she could, the large cat groaned her displeasure, got up, stretched, and then found Hadian’s bed and resumed her position but with him, this time. This woke the man, and without needing to open his eyes, he knew his sister was awake.

“Why so early?”
“Taking a trip out to the Dust to see what I can come up with. Hopefully meat, Maybe the trinkets of unlucky souls.”
“Ai, back again, mm?” Hadian’s voice rolled lazily, his eyes still not open. “You’re taking the horse then.”
“Khi. You’ll have to walk to the docks.”
“Not today,” Hadian groggily announced in tired triumph. “The Uva’aisi’da is on shore leave for another two days.”
“Shore leave.” Ridahne snorted. “Rats like me don’t get to have ‘shore leave’, or anything like it. Always have to work. Always doing something.”
“Good,” Hadian chuckled, “otherwise you’d get into fights. They’re lucky you don’t carry a blade when you drink, or half of those idiots would be dead by now.” Hadian rolled over, earning another low groan from Mitaja. “Don’t die out there, mm?” He offered casually, finally allowing his eyelids to crack open a little.
“You know me. I won’t be swallowed by the Dust.”

That was just the sort of way Ridahne and Hadian said goodbye to each other. Ridahne made sure her uri—the sarong-like garment she wore around her waist—was tied securely and properly, her hair was tied back, and that her cloak, if it could be called such a thing, was fastened over her shoulders. The garment was clearly quite worn, but because its color came from both a base layer of russet dye and years of heavy use in the Dust, it not only served as decent protection from the sun when needed, but as second-to-none camouflage in the rolling dunes of the Dust Sea. That, combined with her skill and knowledge of the Dust Sea, made Ridahne more like an apparition out in the sands than an elf. Some local merchants who were more familiar with the sea than the shifting sands of inland Azurei, and who hired her as a guide to help them reach the mountain pass out of Azurei, called her Aibhyra, or ‘ghost of the sands’.

Ridahne found their horse lapping at some water under the shade of the woven palm roof of their sad excuse for a stable. She did not use a saddle, not unless she was going to travel great distances, but instead used a woven blanket that had once been black and brown, but now just seemed a faded, dilapidated russet color. Canvas bags strung together with narrow leather straps served as saddlebags, and these were filled with food supplies, a small collection of aid equipment, and multiple waterskins. Ridahne assembled these deftly, swung her short sword over her back, mounted the chestnut bay, and trotted out of the shanty-town of Atakhara towards the wobbling horizon that stretched near endlessly out before her to the North.

Forgotten Worlds

Name of nation: Azurei

Name of leader: Kaija Tezusha

Brief introduction to leader: Known to her subjects as Kaija-Sol (with the sol suffix denoting her role as a matriarch), she is ancient among Azurei standards (approximately 300 years, the normal elf lifespan being something close to a 150-200 years. They are NOT immortal) and is thus experienced and wise. She also has a temper. She concerns herself very little with the opinions of other races and nations, except when it directly influences her or her people. She is not considered to be a gentle ruler, but is not altogether evil and merely just leads with a firm hand. Her word is law in Azurei. She keeps a council of five other sub-rulers (called Sota) that see to the needs of each individual district of Azurei. And, in general, they all understand the notion that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

Others:

Ridahne Torzinei: A poor woman from the Atakhara district, overseen by Khaltira-Sol, she makes her living either at sea in the fishing trade, or out in the Dust Sea, hunting, searching for resources of value (usually silver), or occasionally guiding the inexperienced or the foreign through the dangers of the vast desert wasteland that makes up a large portion of Azurei's landmass. Was formerly a soldier in the service of her Sota, but after a bold act of defiance, she was dishonorably removed from the ranks. She is fire incarnate--a creature of passion and determination.

Hadian Torzinei: Ridahne's older brother. If she is fire, he is stone. Of the two, he is more even-keel, perhaps even somewhat cold in comparison, though tends to be the more reasonable one of the two. He is a fisherman, and when he is not away at sea, he is working the docks...or trying to keep his sister out of trouble. The two have been orphaned due to unfortunate accidents out at sea, and for a very long time, Hadian has been the force holding what remained of their family together.

Ajoran Te'kajih: The right-hand guard of Kaija-Sol. He is her arm, he is her sword, and if need be, he carries authority when speaking with others, though he usually defers to the will of his Sota-Sol. He is considered the best swordsman in Azurei, which is no small feat. When he was younger, he served alongside Ridahne and the two had a long-standing romance. This became complicated, however, when Ridahne betrayed her Sota and was thus forbidden to marry him. They have since grown apart, though not completely. Their current relationship is bittersweet, tangled, complicated, and uncertain.

Culture: The Azurei are warriors, first and foremost. They don't necessarily go out looking for wars to start, but they ARE the type to finish them. They are HIGHLY protective of their borders and don't like the idea of other nations encroaching on their space, or trying to dictate their ways. But if made an ally, they are a fierce one. Their army, like their nation, is small. But what they lack in numbers they make up for in skill and in stealth. The most dangerous asset their army has are assassins, especially utilized when a war could be won by taking out a few key figures rather than an ongoing siege, since they are ill-equipped for the latter. Their loyalties, however, are not steadfast through time. Kaija-Sol is a firm entity and if climates between nations change, so will their loyalties, unless their allies make good effort to keep them at their side. Respect is something that must be earned, but also maintained.

They are a matriarchal culture, and women do not take the back-seat of the homestead like some other cultures. They believe firmly that if women have the ability to bring life into the world, they must also be capable of taking it out. Many are trained as warriors, and most, if not all, know how to handle themselves reasonably well. They are encouraged to be outspoken and spirited. Men are seen as protectors and defenders, and often providers as well. While women are thought of as precise and elegant, men are viewed as strong, steadfast, and bold. There is a general, unspoken understanding that both men and women have different roles in society, but both are equally as important and integral to the other's success.

Generally, Azurei value strength, loyalty to their own, honesty (this is a big one), and the honing of skills--whatever those may be. If it's worth doing, it's worth doing well. They have a deep respect for nature, as their very survival in a desert climate teeters on a delicate balance, and nothing is guaranteed. They can be, however, described by foreigners as loud, occasionally uncomfortably expressive, aloof, maybe a tad uncivilized or uncouth, abrasive, and generally stubborn. Tattoos and body art are a large part of their culture.

Religion: Speaking of tats, while they find inky adornment to be attractive and honorably traditional, the tattoos on their faces are sort of in a different league. Called an Ojih, the unique patterns of indigo, black, and white on their faces denote many things about a person, like their family origin, military rank or status as a civilian, high honor, and deep dishonor. Each one is like a record of that person's life. The Azurei believe that, if one chooses to take the Ojih, they gain entrance into the afterlife. However, what someone's marks say about them will determine what kind of place they will end up in said afterlife. If someone chooses not to take the Ojih, they forfeit any entrance into any sort of afterlife, and will simply cease.

It is extremely extremely frowned upon (horrific, even) to falsify an Ojih, either permanently or temporarily. Likewise, to willingly maim someone's Ojih is a gruesome, chilling crime that most would consider to be the worst thing someone can do, for it essentially erases that person's being, and, having a false, broken, or incomplete Ojih, their spirit is doomed to neither cease nor move on, and instead they linger in agony somewhere in between. It is believed that natural phenomenons like storms, dust devils, the ocean's rage, and the howling wind are all incarnations of the spirits of those 'in between'.

Attitude to magic: It's integral to their understanding of the world. Spirits are magic, in their eyes. Magic is sort of what knits the universe together. However, it's extremely rare for an Azurei to be particularly adept at using it. Most have some inclination of extremely basic elemental magic, but Azurei has never been considered to be a nation of mages.

Brief history: I'll save this section for when I start to talk relationships with other nations, I think?

Military: Taja: the elite, or the guardians of the Sota or the Sota-Sol. They are only ever men. Eija, however, are more the general military and can be men or women. Taja have superiority and authority over them at all times. Their military is small and not conventionally powerful (they don't have the resources to lay siege to a city, for example) but they are efficient. They rely on stealth, infiltration, and assassination rather than brute force.

Government: The Sota-Sol is the main ruler, and she is supported by a council of 5 lesser rulers called Sota. They are like governors of smaller sections of Azurei. Each one of these women are guarded by a handful of elite soldiers, Taja. They are always male. The Sota-Sol's rule is absolute and treason is a crime taken very seriously.

Main sources of income: They are a coastal hub for trade and make a lot of their money off of the fishing industry, exporting silver, and also crafting with silver.

Current goal: I'm not sure yet. Generally they like to protect what they have, so maybe that's been threatened?

Forgotten Lands, The Great Nations

I was gonna say, nowhere near Azurei haha. Or maybe the other side of the mountains, could be some weird topographical thing where it’s desert on one side and not on the other. West and east Washington is like that. Cross the cascades and it’s a different world.

Forgotten Lands, The Great Nations

I’m still in if y’all are.

Forgotten Lands, The Great Nations

@Liotrent seeing as how Azurei is not typical of most fantasy elves, I see no reason to be overly stereotypical. I mean, someone’s Gotta buy their silver.

I like the idea of a sort of tense relationship though, like everything is good.....for now. Depending on how they treat each other, that might change. Kaija is a fickle beast. Heheh.