Blackfridayrule

Character driven 1x1

Hey all. I've got a character that I haven't played with in a while and I've got an itch for a new roleplay. I'm looking for someone who will post reasonably often (I certainly don't expect every day or anything), put some depth into their posts, characters, and the world we build. Looking for someone who will create the story and the world with me, using our characters as a jumping off point.

The character I have in mind is a shapeshifter. His race has many names, including simply Shifters, Silverbloods (as their blood is a shiny metallic silver), or by their own they are called Vokurians. Some uneducated rural folk just call them demons. Tales tell of their inhuman azure eyes and their thirst for blood, and most young children have at one point or another been warned of Silverbloods catching them and eating them if they stay out too late. This couldn't be further from the truth, of course, as the Vokurian people generally like to keep to themselves and fear humans about as much as humans fear them. Humans, after all, make a business of hunting them down. The only good shifter, they say, is a dead one. Shifters are not permitted to buy or sell in human society, nor are they welcome to walk among them. But if properly subdued, perhaps they could make decent slaves...

My character's name is Rohaan. The world gave him few options except to turn to a life of crime, but if you ask him, he's not all that sad about it. He learned to steal to survive, but found he was good at it and it was rather fun. He makes a hobby of thievery, nay, a career. With few ties to anything or anyone, Rohaan travels often to see what the wide world has to offer him. He answers to no one, follows no law if it cramps his style, and will not hesitate to kill anyone who gets in his way. But that'd be a terrible mess, so he'd rather avoid it. Bold. Adventurous. Cocky. Fiercely protective.

I figure we can come up with a basic scenario in which our characters meet/get entangled somehow, and build from there as we see fit. Possible scenarios including but definitely not limited to:
-- Someone hires/convinces him to help them with something. Revenge? Obtaining artifacts? Massive heist? Wilderness survival for a journey?
-- A royal/politician/somebody important forms a weird, loose, tentative relationship with him, using him as a spy/saboteur in order to play the political game/do some espionage, either internally or between other nations, or both.
-- A pair of thieves, long time partners, stealin' stuff and doing whatever they please.
-- Or some other scenario you come up with, I'm open.

As far as the world building stuff, sky's the limit. There is magic, there are some mythical creatures like dragons and mermaids/sirens and things of that nature. Outside of that, we can do whatever sounds good. Want to have a full roster of different fantasy races? Neat. Want to have just humans and shifters? neat. Technological era should range between high fantasy and 17th century flintlock-pistols-and-the-likes vibe. Can be any mix of those too.

A few things I'm not looking for:
--Romance, blech. I won't squash it if it comes up sort of organically, but I prefer platonic relationships.
--Vampires/werewolves/angels/demons/zombies/undead.
--Short posts. Doesn't have to be a novel, but gimme something to work with here...
--Fandoms. Feel free to draw inspiration from wherever you like, but ultimately keep things 'original'.

Anyone in?

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

Ridahne knew hearing Darin's response was going to be an effort in all the commotion, but she had actually expected to hear one at all. Ridahne turned, seeing a throng of Eluri milling about their business...and no Darin. If they were in some small town like Greyrock, she probably wouldn't have cared too much and would trust that nothing too horrible could happen. But Darin did not know how to do city life, not like Ridahne did. And she was generally more on edge since they'd been attacked near the borderlands weeks ago. Nothing had happened since then, though at one little town a woman asked a lot of questions. Nothing sinister, she was just the nosy sort, but they were the types of questions that didn't need to be in anyone else's heads. Darin probably hadn't noticed, but Ridahne had quietly threatened to liberate her of a finger if she didn't leave them alone, all the while playing up the 'grouchy standoffish Azurei' archetype to avoid any further curiosity. The lady beat feet after that.

Ridahne sighed. She wasn't about to leave Darin to drown in the sea of people if she could help it, though it wasn't like the farmer needed hand-holding or anything like that. Lihaelen was a relatively safe place, and the worst thing that would happen to someone there was usually pickpocketing. Or price gouging, she thought with a small huff. Still, it was wise to look for her. So the elf retraced the path she'd winded through, across wood bridges and over platforms. Ridahne was really more of a desert hunter, but more than once she'd been required to track a person through a dense crowd. She wasn't completely lost, here.

It took some doing, but eventually she did spot her companion. She was down several levels and walking with a humbly but well dressed man. Ridahne didn't get the feeling she immediately wanted to slice him open, and Darin didn't appear in any distress, so Ridahne kept her distance and watched from overhead, simply observing. If things went sour, she'd be there, suddenly appearing like a lioness in the dark. And if not? Then she'd join Darin after taking some time to figure out who this person was, though Ridahne had a good guess, as his clothing was a giveaway to a studied eye. Did the Council know they were coming? Did they know who they were? Either could be independently true, or perhaps both. Visions were strange that way, and who knew what news had come this way, if any.

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

Ridahne practically beamed at the suggestion of finding a marketplace. She grew up around places like that, bustling, loud markets and bazaars, and she loved the chaos of it. The sights, the sounds, the smells... Of course this time she'd have to be 'on duty' a bit, as she would still need to keep her eyes open for any threats against Darin or herself. But that didn't mean she couldn't have a little fun, too. "I could think of no better way to get to know these people. You want to know Astra and its people, and I think the best way to do that is through food and music. Food and music is born of culture, tradition, history, and the little circumstances that define how we became what we are. It is the heart and soul of any people, I think. The best way to get right to the heart of good local food is the marketplace. Street food is something of an elvish tradition, though the Eluri do it a bit less than Orosi or Azurei. Did you know, in Orosi, most people don't cook? They go from work to food stalls and eat together rather than go home and cook themselves. There's less of that here, but still some."

Ridahne unstrapped her sword from her back and carefully tucked it away, though she kept her knives close at hand. "There's a bath room downstairs, I asked for two baths and some soap. Hot baths," she said with relish. "We'll enjoy this city fresh and with a lot less dust." Ridahne gathered another set of clothes that were reasonably clean (she tended to keep her formal Azurei garb a little cleaner so she had something to wear on wash days) and headed down to a long room partitioned by wood and fabric dividers for a bit of privacy, and in each little section was a big wooden tub. There were two with steaming water at the ready, and bars of floral scented soap placed on little trays beside them. Ridahne disrobed and gladly sunk in, though the leather harness that held her two blades was always close at hand. She was trained to never be without them, but back then, it had been more about being comfortable with them than needing them. Now, things were a little different.

They enjoyed an indulgently hot bath with good soap to coax the grime out of their hair and fingernails. Ridahne (who was well used to life on the road) simply wrung out her dirty clothes in the bathwater to wash them, and would hang them to dry back in their room. After they were thoroughly clean, dry, and dressed, Ridahne said, "Alright, I think some good food is in order. The markets here are going to be larger and louder and generally a little crazier than what you're used to, I'm guessing. Though the Eluri tend to have a bit more order to these things than us. Azurei markets make no sense and are absolutely crazy." She said this with a kind of endearing love.

Ridahne went out wearing the sarong-like uri of her people, and the cropped, beaded top that made absolutely no effort to hide the two knives strapped flat against her back. Since it was warm, Ridahne opted for true Azurei style and did not wear shoes. She hated them mostly, but understood their necessity at times. The darker skinned Azurei woman stood out in the crowd, both because of her dark hair and suntanned skin, but also her clothing was a wash of indigo, a shade not commonly found in the fabrics of Eluri. They preferred earth tones and pale neutrals. Ridahne's height helped her stand out too. All elves were tall in comparison to most humans, but Ridahne was particularly tall. She'd be easy to pick out of a crowd if they ever got separated. Partly, Ridahne's clothing choice had been simply so that she could wash her regular road clothes, but there was some strategy there also. Anyone who felt like harassing Darin would see the Azurei warrior and think twice about their idea.

The path to the market was a series of wood and rope bridges spanning from massive tree trunk to trunk, or occasionally wide flat spaces where over the centuries, branches had been trained and woven together to form a tangled platform as steadfast as any stone foundation. As they neared the marketplace, more and more people seemed to be milling around, and somewhere was the distant sound of music. Gradually, carts or stalls began to appear, and all around were people browsing or haggling or shaking hands after a deal was made. There were lush fabrics and fine woodcrafts, jewelry, tools, staple-food items, exotic treats like chocolate (though it was sold at what Ridahne scoffed at as an exorbitant price, as it had to be shipped so far from Orosi to get there). There were food vendors too, touting what looked like savory tarts, still-steaming bread, buns, sweets, skewers of roasted meats and vegetables, and many more things. Ridahne indicated the whole scene with a sweep of one hand. "So, what do you think?"

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

Ridahne laughed softly. "Slow down! I can't answer them all at once. Lihaelen has been here....well...for a long time. Centuries. It's said that its settlers originally built the city on the ground, like usual cities. But the trees--this variety is called enuhin, or redheart in common speech--grew strong and tall, and the roots began to crack the foundations of their buildings. It is said that they, having a love for nature and not wanting to compete with it, began to build their homes around and into the trees. Over the long years they've formed somewhat of a symbiotic relationship. Yes, the Council of the Seven Winds is here, and somewhat like Azurei each of them oversees a district of the nation. But here they all have relatively equal power, they vote on decisions, and unlike Azurei, the rulers are chosen by the people rather than the previous ruler. A little chaotic if you ask me, but that's my Azurei sensibilities talking, they seem to get on just fine."

They found a long building with a trail of wholesome woodsmoke leaking out of a brick chimney on its far end, and rows of stalls and pens surrounding it. Ridahne had quick words with the stable master and soon they were shown where to keep their animals. Ridahne began removing Tsura's gear. "Yes, people all have jobs and work. But they work different jobs, or different versions of the jobs. Like that man we spoke to, he isn't just as shepherd, he's a guard. There are some farmers, yes, and builders and smiths and butchers and bakers, yes. But more traders and merchants. More sheriffs. There are historians, scribes, scientists--Lihaelen has the best healers and doctors in all of Astra. The Eluri value knowledge highly, and some people have devoted years to taking the dead and cutting them apart to understand anatomy better. Sort of a gruesome practice, but as the person is already dead, and the practice can help save lives later on, it's not really as awful as it sounds. There are people here who make a living on art--something you might not be used to from a small village. Musicians and performers and craftsmen. Yes, there are places like this in the other lands. I don't know a lot about the Siren people or their lands, but Azurei and Orosi both have large cities, and there are a few human ones too. Never been to them, but it's where your kings and queens and such are. I've seen paintings of those--big fortresses of stone with strategic parapets and portcullises. They're relics of a much older Astra, back when there was such a thing as war. And," she said with a lightheartedly dramatic intake of breath, "People made cities like this because wherever they are, there's some reason that lots of people want to come live there. It's why port cities are always large, there's lots of trade and exotic goods and work to be had, so people come there looking for those things. There's a kind of security in numbers, too. A band of marauders with a few torches could sadly level Lively in a night, but Lihaelen would be much harder to take. Plus, since there are more people working together for a common good, you have to toil a little less for your living. It's...sort of in the same way that you probably buy goods like cloth from someone else in your village, rather than try to run your farm and weave cloth and stitch it into clothes at the same time. People work well in a group."

Ridahne gave Mitaja instructions to stay with the horses for the most part (She was a nimble cat but was nonetheless built for desert sands, not treetops) except to go out and hunt as she pleased...provided it wasn't the livestock. With the horses untacked, brushed, watered, and fed, they left to go find lodging. Ridahne did not pick the first thing she found--she asked around a little and investigated the inns (which were large enough span across multiple trees) until she found one suitable. It was quieter than the other ones they looked at, and a little less crowded, though still lively and cheerful. Ridahne got them a private room at the end of the hall. It wasn't anything special--two beds, a washbasin, and a little iron wood stove that kept the room warm on cold nights.

"We should take the opportunity to clean ourselves up while we can, and then we can explore the city a bit. If we ever get separated, this will be our meeting place. If it's compromised for any reason, meet back at the stables. Sound like a plan?"

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

Mmmm never thought about it. Probably more a traditional king or queen rather than an oligarchy like Azurei. Ooh, or maybe a council, more like senators? Haha honestly I haven’t thought about it much. Go with whatever feels fun.

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

It was a little bumpy at first as the pair got back on the road after being off it for as long as they had. Though they were eager and ready to leave the little village and get on with their journey, that didn't negate some of the logistical challenges of being on the road, like suddenly sleeping just a little colder and with less padding, or being saddle-sore and dirty from riding all day. Ridahne struggled the first couple of days due to the remnants of her injuries, and though they kept their pace up, whenever they stopped for the night she wasn't as productive as usual and went to bed far sooner. But her body had been acclimated to road-life far longer than not, so she adjusted quickly enough. And as they settled more into a rhythm, they made their way further into the forest-rich land of Eluri.

After several weeks of travel, and stopping for a day or two at various small villages and hamlets along the way, the trees and undergrowth began to thicken, hindering their pace a little. It made for arduous riding, but Ridahne seemed to be in good spirits despite it. The capital city of Eluri, Lihaelen, happened to fall on one of their many zig-zags across the country, and Ridahne was excited to show it to Darin. The denser flora meant they were getting close, as did the healthy population of uloia--the large flying insects with bioluminescent thoraxes that were similar in appearance (if not size) to fireflies. The darkness of the thick canopy of trees was easily negated by their presence, and walking among them was like walking under bright moonlight.

"You probably haven't ever seen a city before, not really," Ridahne remarked. "I would say that they're merely larger villages, but that's not entirely true. I mean, it is, but...there's usually more to them. People trade for most of their foodstuffs instead of grow them, so they have more free time to pursue other things. As a result, they tend to have more art, and a stronger focus on learning and the study of history. This is especially true in Eluri. They value history like the Azurei value ritual and tradition. It is different than what you're used to, I think." Ridahne grew up in a port city not far from Azurei's capitol, so there was always a part of her that enjoyed the bustle of larger settlements, though she wasn't sure how Darin would like it. Probably be amazed or very irritated, Ridahne guessed.

Pretty soon the concentration of uloia grew even thicker, and the soft buzzing of their many wings was like a gentle hum of sweet music in the air. Odd lanterns started to appear: glass bubbles filled with a fragrant nectar that attracted uloia in bright clusters. These formed a path towards a massive cluster of hundreds of impossibly large redwood trees with trunks as wide as a small hut. There were winding steps built with care into each one, curling up into the heights of the tree's branches and splitting off to lead to little huts built on platforms along the way. There were pulley systems everywhere, many windows, and thousands of the little glass lanterns. On the ground level was its own little section of buildings and space for livestock, and a few fields for farming, but not many compared to the sheer number of people milling about in these tree structures or below them.

There was a man reclined in a net hammock between two trees; he was keeping watch over a flock of goats and saw the two travelers approaching. He got up and picked up the spear that leaned against a tree trunk beside him, though he used it more like a staff than a weapon as he approached them. He was not only a guard of the livestock, but a sentinel of Lihaelen. Despite the spear and his light leather armor, his demeanor was relaxed. "Greetings Azurei, greetings human. What's your business in Lihaelen?"
Ridahne nodded in greeting back at him, which was quite formal and had an air of ritual about it. "The Moon and the Tree bless the crossing of our paths, Eluri. We're mostly passing through, but I'd like to show my apprentice the city. Perhaps the Archives, if we're admitted. And in the meantime, a place for us and our animals."
The sentinel nodded, scratching his chin, though he gave a somewhat skeptical look towards Ridahne's sword, which was the only one of her blades visible. He gave a studying glance to Darin, then back to Ridahne. "Apprentice huh?" This seemed to explain some of his own thoughts and he added, "Understand, Azurei, that Lihaelen is a place of peace. We do not tolerate violence..."
Ridahne smiled. "Fear not. I might be armed, but I'm not looking for trouble, and neither is my apprentice. Yet we've come by a a hard road, and trouble finds us even when we don't seek it. I am honor bound to be ready to defend both myself and my apprentice at all times."
The sentinel nodded, satisfied. "Very well. The stable master is over that way, you can speak to her about the care of your animals." He bowed a little. "May the Tree and the sun bless your path." And then he returned to his post, leaning his spear once more against the tree trunk.

Ridahne smiled at Darin. "Well, what do you think?"

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

I think there’s some more exploration of Eluri that might be fun. Maybe they end up at the capital. I’ll think about it a bit and probably reply tomorrow.

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

Do we wanna do a time skip here, and to where? Or do you have other thoughts in mind?

In Dark Seas We Sail

Rohaan watched after Uban (and more importantly, Yawar) for a bit longer before he grew tired of sitting still. He did not yet tire of glaring at Yawar, though he did contemplate sneaking up to the stern where Wheel and that lady were whispering to each other. Wheel was always tight lipped about his personal life, and Rohaan was always naturally curious. He liked to know more about people, though with Wheel in particular he learned some time ago that as long as he stayed out of his way, he wouldn't hurt him, so he got a bit of a pass. Still, he did want to know. But no. There was a tension there he wanted no part of, like some sense of self-preservation that made him realize bothering Wheel was an especially bad idea today, so he instead settled for shifting to a little black cat and padding over to hop on Hana's lap with a small meow. He did a little circle and then settled down with his legs tucked underneath his soft body.

As a cat, his hearing sharpened and he was a bit more tuned into the movement of small things, so it wasn't until then that he noticed there were flies on the ship. Not that there weren't normally, but usually one or two up on deck and not quite so many as he was noticing. He sniffed the air, his tiny black nose twitching with each intake of breath, but there wasn't a rotting food smell, or something else foul. Maybe it was that dragon abomination. His tail twitched at the thought of what they must have done to that once majestic dragon to make it what it now was, because whatever it was, Rohaan did not think it was entirely natural. This bothered him deeply, as dragons were close to his heart, so he put his disgust into the stare he was still giving Yawar.

--

Uban, who was sipping and enjoying the subtleties of mint tea, heard Yawar's answer and actually choked. He tried to reel it in the moment it happened, which resulted in a very surprised, very awkward cough and a small mouthful of tea spewed into his shirt sleeve. The look he gave Yawar was some mixture of apology, confusion, shock, and a little bit of horror. "Y-you mean like a...like a...baby? It can--she can--he? Uh..." He wasn't even sure he wanted the answer to his half-formed question, so he chewed the inside of his lip and just said, "Uh...wow."

--

As Kaga-Met spoke, Berlin's gray eyes widened and he suddenly gasped in a whisper, "Barizian!" His expression went from pleasant and maybe a little embarrassed to suddenly urgent, but he kept his voice very low. "Look, I'm a reasonable man and I recognize that you're a different sort than them," he waved a vague hand towards where the slavers had gone, "But whatever you do, do not mention that in earshot of the boy. That sort of thing can be explained easily enough to the rest of my crew but not to him. Just two years ago Barizian slavers sacked his village, killed his parents, and took him captive. He watched his childhood friends one by one become human sacrifices, knowing his time was coming. He escaped and I found him not long after. We recently came across a ruined fishing town that had been raided and he's out for blood. It's part of why we're here. Unless you feel up to battling a cyradan, I strongly suggest you keep that bit of information secret."

Berlin looked over his shoulder as if to make sure the shifter was not lurking close by (even though he'd told him to mid his business), and let out the breath he didn't realize he held clenched in his stomach until that was confirmed. Friendly meetings at sea were a rare thing and he didn't want to see this one go up in flames. Literally.

"I'm glad to hear you're also looking to deliver some justice to them, though. As pirates, we value freedom, of course, but slavery makes me especially angry. Partly because I've seen what damage it can do to someone," he said, sneaking a glance over at the black cat on Hana's lap, "but more importantly, in order for a man...like me to stay sane, he has to value the sanctity of free will. I do. Deeply. We were on our way to destroy every last one of them when we ran into you, and we'd be honored to have you fight at our side. But ah...what sort of weapon did you have in mind?" Berlin had a dab of curiosity, but he also wanted to know how best to organize himself and his crew and play to their strengths as a conjoined team, not two separate factions.

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

For the most part, Ridahne just nodded and listened for a while as Darin discussed her thoughts on the plan. She'd guessed as much on her own, but it was nice to know clearly what Darin had in mind. And she was in it for the long haul, truly. She wasn't really sure what she'd envisioned when she first set out, but a quick jaunt with the Seed Bearer was never in the picture. No, deep down she always knew it would be a lengthy endeavor. Good. Ridahne had another 500 years of her life to fill, and she wasn't keen on going back to being an eija-alihn. An eija, maybe, but honestly she'd had enough of being a Sol's plaything, a pawn in someone else's game. And yet she never wanted to take up the family trade of fishing either, and that left her feeling more than a little lost. But for now, she was Darin's guardian, and Ridahne was content in that role. If it took many years to do this, well, then Ridahne would just have more time to figure out what to do with herself when it was over.

Something in Darin's voice changed, and a chill tickled Ridahne's back. It wasn't an unpleasant sensation, it was more like the shock of a brisk breeze after being in a hot room. There was a faint electricity in the air that, though she didn't know why she knew it, Ridahne was convinced that no one else but her would be able to sense. It was a familiar feeling in a way. It was Darin, and yet was the Tree. And though the question asked had been phrased as an option, Ridahne could feel the weight of being Seed Chained like a physical chain draped around her shoulders. Not pulling or binding, just...there.

But the elf (who was in a particularly good mood today) laughed brightly, and she felt the static in the air fade into the wind. "Don't worry, Darin. I had no intention of leaving you in Azurei. I did make a promise. And I did mean it. I'm with you to the end, however long that takes, and as long as you'll have me, and I'm happy to go where you see fit--I'll just guide you on safe paths the best I can. I think doing a thorough course through Astra is a wise plan. And if it takes years?" She shrugged. "I'm only a hundred and three years old you know, I've got time." She said this with a smile. "Really though, I have little to go back to besides Ajoran and Hadian. The life I built all these years is utterly destroyed, and any life built there hereafter will have to be something entirely new. It's a terrifying prospect. One I'm not sure I'm even ready to face yet. Half a century is a long void to fill when you don't have a plan."

She sighed. "No, I never imagined for a moment that our journey together would end for either one of us in Azurei. It's just...understandably, just passing through there is sort of a big thing after all that's happened, and somehow going to the Siren lands or the Human lands feels like much less of an 'event' in the looming shadow of having to face...everything back home. I understand that it might not feel that way to you, as Azurei doesn't likely hold much significance to you outside of the fact that it is part of Astra, and that by knowing Azurei you will know more of me. Maybe I'm wrong, I don't know. But for me it's...well it's a lot. I'm dreading it, I'm excited, it's going to be absolute chaos. But...I'm also really looking forward to showing you my home. Azurei gets a bad reputation sometimes, I feel, because we're kind of...abrasive, loud, intense, and yes, we can be brutish sometimes. We can be harsh in a lot of ways, and so can our environment. I can't imagine foreigners have a lot of good things to say about a country that's primarily made up of a burning, shifting desert wasteland. And while those things aren't necessarily untrue, it's not the whole story. There's a lot of under appreciated beauty in Azurei, both in its land and its people." Ridahne laughed. "I can only hope you'll like it, but it's going to be a shock compared to home. Anyway, I know it's not the end, but it's just...a big deal to me I guess."

Ridahne was a little embarrassed admitting that so freely, as she wasn't one to share all her deep feelings with just anyone. But she was getting more comfortable with Darin and it was easier to open up to her than it used to be.