Current
I do not "brainrot". I brainferment so my brain will become even smoother and even more potent than before in its smoothness.
2
likes
2 yrs ago
I live. I die. I live again!
1
like
4 yrs ago
I was gone for a lot longer than I thought >.>"
2
likes
4 yrs ago
Sorry for my absence! A Volunteering position suddenly turned into a Volunteer Leadership position I was not expecting at all so things have been hectic.
4
likes
4 yrs ago
Look at you posers, having to bang dragons or sell your soul for magic when you could just play a lute for some. Anyways, here's Wonderwall. - Bards
Humming himself a Yankee Doodle tune as he shaded in the final sketch of his improvised gas mask, Havalock's sharp ears perked up as he caught wind of a fairly distinctive accent asking someone about a book. Immediately he recognized it as belonging to one born into Stationary; a rare tone and accent as he believed them to be remarkably insular and encountering one of their sons or daughters in the wild was notably rare. Closing his journal, he swiftly and silently made his way towards the Stationari and what appeared to be a Dworf, overhearing their conversation. His heart skipped a beat as he recalled the Dworf who had originally crafted his precious Leenfind charger. With a polite tap on the shoulder, Havalock attempted to introduce himself into the conversation as gracefully as he could.
"Pardon me, but my name is Sir Havalock Orchily of Brand-House Orchily of Clothing. I couldn't help but overhear that you hail from the Fortress Pathfunder? Would you happen to know of the fate of one Fortress Skysem? If I remember correctly, their guidebook was called the 'Elder's Scrolls'; I ask for I wish to know the fate of the one who crafted my charger. Soon after he I was gifted this marvelous sporting good, he said he had to leave to defend his home and it has been many long years since I have heard from him again. Perhaps you could some how recognize him by his work? I was told by a previous employer that his work was of great quality and of some renown."
In a single motion, Havalock unslung his charger from his back and placed it in front of the Dworf with as much subtle and confident warmness as he could to ward off the inherent awkwardness of the situation before clearing his throat. In truth, he had a feeling that this Dworf was unlikely to know of another Dworf from a completely different Fortress, yet he often offered his sporting goods to others as a sign of peace and to give them something to which examine and (hopefully) expand his own knowledge of. Turning to the Stationari and giving a slight bow as a show of good manners, he extended a hand. Although he could clearly tell that the woman was from Stationary, he didn't recognize her outfit nor her weapons; at least by anything he could recall the last time he visited the department (which was admittedly a long time ago).
"Again, I must apologize for the abruptness of my introduction into this conversation, but I recognize your dialect and language as that of the Stationary Clans, yet I have yet to see any of your people dressed in a similar fashion. As for the Dworf, I do believe that his Fortress is that of a splinter group known as Fortress Deentdet, who split after a disagreement in dogma during their '3rd Era'. If memory serves me right, it was during a time of great crisis and turmoil as Nevergrow Wails were becoming more common but their strict adherence to the code was causing issues, especially when some of the decrees contradicted each other. Fortress Deentdet would reevaluate their holy Guidebooks and come into their 4th Era, where individual skill at arms was prized. Fortress Pathfunder traveled far from their home however and would come to settle in a section of Toys rich in LEGO and easy access to NERF sporting goods. They have a fairly militant, martial culture focused around individual heroism and valor."
Completely unaware of it himself, Havalock had begun espousing his travels and knowledge subconsciously, only realizing it mid-sentence and apologizing profusely for his ramblings.
Havalock stood proud at the front of the ship, arms behind his back and gazing out into the sea of filth that laid before him. He had been aboard many ships, boats, dinghies and vessel, some considerably less water worthy than this one. One of the few achievements he had done to match his great grandfather was to sail across the frozen waters of Seafod when it had thawed out, even if he didn't have to fight off a dozen sea-beast in the process.
With a stoic apathy, he ignored to blundering of the fools attempting to apparently intoxicate themselves to the point they would fancy a swim in this sludge below. Havalock covered the lower half of his face with a scarf with a urinal cake sewn into a makeshift pocket at the front to produce a sort of rudimentary cloth gas mask. It worked just enough to prevent the worse the the stench from bombarding his olfactory senses. For all the horrendous smells and terrible sights he saw, Havalock never could get used to the fact of just ignoring it. Of all the peoples he has met over the years, the Kleaners were by far the most unknown to him, although not for a lack of trying. He simply preferred not to stay in their department any longer than he had to less he violently regurgitate his innards.
Turning on his the heels of his LLBean Men's Gore-Tex Cresta Leather Hiking Boots and marching back towards the common area of the vessel with a precise tap of each step, he brushed past the many other colorful cast of characters and crew with his chin up and a friendly smile. Entering what could generously be described as a common area and at worse a holding pen with tables and chairs, the noble set up shop. Producing a journal, a pair of booklets and his canteen from his REEBOW GEAR Military Tactical Backpack 3 Day Assault Pack Army Molle Bag Backpacks Rucksack 35L, he focused on recording his notes and thoughts thus far as well as attempting to transcribe a booklet given to him by a Kleaner that spoke of a great hero called "Stanley Steamer". Supposedly he could deep clean any surface he walked upon and blast away Smilers and filth alike with great jets of steam.
The journey thus far sailing on the Spillway has been... acceptable. I cannot expect levels of luxury aboard every vessel I board. I am in good health and without any outstanding health concerns. It would seem that the scar I received from the Fanged Blood Chameleon I encountered last week is healing well and without pain (although I am still regularly washing the area with a "liquid charcoal skin cleanser" from Pharmacy. I know not of its effectiveness but since adding some strong spirits into the mix, my worries of infection have dropped considerably). The contents of the package I have been charged with protecting is secure and I am refraining myself from asking too many questions of what is within both as a professional courtesy and personal honor.
I am reminded of my time sailing with Clan Brisket from the Meat Section of Grocery, when I had contracted their aid in delivering me across the Sea of Food. We had gotten lucky that day as it was just starting to thaw, allowing us easy (if not difficult) passage through the icy sheets while leaving the more sonorous creatures entombed below. We only were engaged with two notable creatures during that time at which time the clan's warriors ("Tenderizers") dispatched them with great haste and enthusiasm with a combination of thrown cleavers and spiked mallets, boosted with courageous battle cries.
I can only hope for pleasant winds from here on out, even though the ship uses an engine over sails or oars. Following this passage, I have drawn a diagram of how to create a workable facial filter by combining a scarf, scraps of cloth and a (fresh) urinal cake. True that there is great risk in acquiring one from a Restroom, they are often sold by those intrepid scavengers who regularly visit there. In addition, there are few other alternatives more cost effective than this should you spend prolong periods of time in environments with can overwhelm your senses.
"Do not doubt the resolve of a gentleman who sets forth to prove his worth. I shall prove mine so none may deprive me of my bloodline. Tally. Ho."
PERSONAL ACCOUNT
NAME:"Sir Havalock Dominvan Orchily of House Orchily, Sports Masters of Clothing and Explorer Extraordinaire."
GENDER:"I liken myself to a refined yet rugged gentleman."
DEPARTMENT:"Although I have spent a good deal of time in Jewelry, I am a velvet-born noble of Clothing no matter who or what claims otherwise."
AGE:"I am 31 years of age; I like to consider myself a seasoned veteran with a responsibility to mentor those younger than I."
APPEARANCE:"I like to jest that I am extremely handsome, especially to maidens of the night. I am tall and upright with a trim but strong build that provides me the strength my adventures demand. My skin is a very light bronze, no doubt because of my particular heritage, with a fair complexion that bares a number of scars, bruises, boils and cuts as trophies of my experiences. My features are sharp and my gaze can be stern but I do try to smile as much as I can to appear welcoming to all. I possess trimmed, black hair that I do my upmost to keep tidy and out of the way.
My clothing is far more practical than that of most the velvet-born nobles of Clothing. Beneath my London Fog Black Signature Iconic Belted Trench Overcoat, I don a very comfortable Under Armor HeatGear Armor Crew Cut Mock which helps to regulate my temperature. Newchic Mens Outdoor Military Tactical Pants Camo Printing Breathable Wear-Resistant Casual Pants serve as my pants and I greatly appreciate the number of pockets it provides. I have gone through a number of backpacks and rucksacks but my favorite must be the REEBOW GEAR Military Tactical Backpack 3 Day Assault Pack Army Molle Bag Backpacks Rucksack 35L; I paid a smuggler good money to retrieve this from Clothing for me. I swap between a brown Dorfman Pacific All-Season Crushable Hat and a Land's End Men's Expedition Waterproof Winter Trapper Hat depending upon the climate.
On my person beyond clothing is all of the trinkets and charms I've garnered and gained through my travels, each with a story to tell, and plenty of space for more. I prefer light armor as to not hinder my movement but I am always keen to wear a breastplate, groin protector, shin guards, forearm braces and a metal cap under my hat made of layered tin cans for protection. Any number of configurations of pouches, bags and wearable containers are present on me at any given moment, their exact position daily if not hourly.
RESUME
"So you would like to know more about me eh? Well, let me regale you with a little history first. I hail from Clothing but do not confuse me for one of those silk-born Armani or Gucci snobs, nor the uncouth polyster-born of Nike or Adidas. I am but cotton-born of House Orchily, it is said that my ancestors came from across a great sea in the East. We never had much to our name in those days, a pittering little house we were. Yet our names were found in one of the Great Sam's "Codex Fashionista Regalia", even if it was but a small footnote nearing the conclusion of it, so they could not simply dismiss us.
It wasn't until my great grandfather, legendary explorer Advantagar Orchily, did our fortunes turn. It is said that he alone set out into the Wal to bring fame and fortune to his house. Everyone doubted him of course, presuming (or hoping) he would check out soon but he endured. He rode with the Mercuries of Auto & Tires to escape Stockers, dueled the tyrant queen Moriana le'Dry over a lake of toxic sludge in Cleaning, climbed Frozen Fruit Mountain with the Meatmen of the Grocery in its Frozen section, forged his own weapons with the help of Hardware, sung for the lords and ladies of the Courts of Music, and even once ventured alone through Baby Goods and came out alive and unshaken. His greatest achievement however, was entering the realm of the Sporting Goods and coming out with enough Sporting Goods that the other houses could no longer afford to simply ignore us and we were given a rightful spot among men of the clothes.
As for me? Well, I am a different tale for you see, my mother was what you could call a "ragged jacket", and had a preference for men that were... not cut of the same cloth. Needless to say, I was a result of a tryst between her and a copper from Jewelry. "Quilted" they called me when I was born, "Patchwork", I had long been shunned because of it and I rarely even saw my mother. But the patriarch of the house still graciously allowed me some benefits of nobility. I was given a fine education by a private tutor, taught the higher arts and practiced the art of dueling, even if my peers made very... particular strikes upon me. Yet I could never have been part of that world for the finest dresses are of a singular color, not multiple.
When I was but a decade and a half old, my mother had plotted a way for me to leave that world which did not accept me. And so, with my single bag packed, devoid of any luxuries I was delivered to Jewelry in the hopes my father could give me a better life than that which I received. However, to my horror upon arriving, my father was long dead; a lowly copper does not last long in that wretched department of liars and schemers without skill or luck, and my father lacked both. However, I had both and soon met a particular man who took interest in my sharp eye and higher learning. Don Mafiso Pierro Fortuna Calente Nomaz de Sanaterini, or the Don for short, he was in need of a both a bodyguard and an impartial adviser. The intense politicking that plagues Jewelry made him hesitant to select one of his own men but I had no connection nor interest in such things ensuring that I would not betray him when his other subordinates might.
For 8 years I had stayed with the Don who put me through rigorous training in athletics, marksmanship and combat to ensure that I would be able to protect him from any assailant. He gave me a purpose that in my young, impressionable mind made me feel complete and useful, so I doggedly followed his whims. I saved the Don from no less than 27 attempts upon his life during my service; I failed on the 28th. You see, I had fallen in love with his daughter and she, having grown up in such a environment of deceit and trickery, had used me as a pawn so that her true lover could take power. I had let her into my lord's chambers one darkness within the hour the Don was dead, the daughter wasn't in the room and his murder was blamed solely upon me. With the rest of the mobsters seeking my blood, I once again packed my things and ran. To where you ask? No where in particular, I held a Mercury at sporting good point and told him to drive as far as he could until I arrived at a Bargain Bin.
Since then, I have employed my skills to any man in need of a man with skills such as mine. I've done it all, guarding caravans, killing a rival, translate old documents, negotiate for one faction for another. I have fought wild beasts and Stockers, climbed to the rafters and swam in the icy waters of Seafood. But none of my achievements have come close to that of my great grandfather's, and I hope to rectify that one day. Those knock-off fools in Clothing will never dare call ME patchwork or quilted again when I come back with a receipt of honors and achievements longer than their scarves!"
RECEIPT
PERSONAL GOAL: "I wish to be elevated to the same status as my great grandfather, Advantagar the Bold. I seek to live up to his legacy and surpass it so that I may prove that I am not Quilted.
LIKES: "I find a particular appreciation of fellow intellectuals and refined explorers. New cultures have always fascinated me and I am loathed to admit I am quite proud of my marksmanship and weapons. I also find great enjoyment and amusement in sharing stories, sporting contests of skill and exploring the great outdoors."
DISLIKES: "Those blasted liars and cheats of Jewelry are not to be trusted with even a crumb of a Bakery Tribe's bread. Those whose mental facilities are too limited to appreciate refinement, the arts and my noble status I have no love for. This is equally shared with those who take pride in ignorance, especially about the numerous other cultures of the Wal.
REPUTE: "My repute is entirely self made; many in Clothing do not see me as worthy of my bloodline and my name is said with mixed feelings in Jewelry even if mine are resolute and clear. I have been to many places far afoot, so many that I must admit I have forgotten some of them unfortunately. Regardless, I do my best to display refinement and chivalry whenever possible for what separates a gentleman from a beast if not his ability to reason and respect?
HEEL:"I despise the foul insult of "Quilted" and "Patchwork" with a fury that no gentleman such as I should say in polite company. I am cotton-born of House Orchily and I shall let none dispute my claim upon my house's noble blood.
CODE:"I am to aspire to the ideals of an gentleman of Clothing and as an heir to the legacy of Advantagar. Chivalry and reason is what the Great Sam has given us to separate us from Smilers and I do not intent to loose it. I believe that respect is a given but disrespect is earned and tis a debt that is to be paid back in kind.
QUIRKS:"Quirks? I suppose I do carry a vast variety of trinkets, bobbles, mementos and artifacts from my travels on my person and have a habit of always attempting to acquire more. I also consider myself a connoisseur of refreshments and beverages, I know a fellow in Soda and Drinks who brews a most delightful cup of spiked tea.
PERFORMANCE REVIEW
[Marksmanship] ► "I've always had a sharp eye for detail, being able to point out frayed fabric in a rack of clothes. The Don taught me a good deal on sporting goods and their usage and I took to them quickly with deadly enthusiasm."
[Survival Ingenuity] ► "No matter how much you pack and plan, there is always going to something you need but don't possess. Over the years, I've acquired a number of useful skills such as making heavy coats out of carpets, how to sharpen a knife on the floor, how to make splits from toys, making signal fires with the only wood being that of a wooden ladled and how to make the most of the carcass of a wild beast."
[Noble Blood] ► "While of limited use in some circles, there are still those outside the silk-born of Clothing who respect nobility and do not know of my... past. I do not intend to tell them should they prove open to my claims. Those who know of my great grandfather but do not know the circumstance of my birth are most appreciated."
[Pack Mule] ► "I admit my physique is not particularly impressive, especially compared to some other muscle bound brutes of the Wal but the number of trinkets and amount of supply I carry has given me a great deal of long distance endurance and strength."
[Heir to a Legacy] ► "I am of the blood of Avantagar! If he could forge through Gardening while carrying fresh meat than so can I! If he does not fear the Baby Goods than I shall not let a single whisper of cowardice into my head! He was a legend, and so shall I!"
[An Eye for Design] ► I concede that I cannot hope to be well informed on the newest trends with Fashion or Jewelry, but my time in both departments has given me an uncanny ability to recognize any brand, style or article placed before me. I have even been able to discern a number of fraudulent creations.
GROCERIES
[Leenfind SMILE Mk. 4 Bolt Action Charger] ► "A gift from the Don. This device is a marvelous feat of ingenuity and craftsmanship built by a Dworf Master Crater in his service and based upon a famous model of sporting good I am told. It is capable of releasing all the energy of a battery with a single trigger pull, holding a grouping of 10 batteries within its frame, can mount upon itself a bayonet and accurate enough to land a blow between the eyes of a Greeter from nearly 600 paces away."
[Maverick-Pattern Koldt REV-6] ► "A fairly weighty six shooter charger sold to me by a man in Hardware. I admit I still have yet to fully master this weapon's mighty roar and kick but I appreciate its strength. It finds the most action in spaces where my full length Leenfind would be most uncomfortable. Tis has proven itself a worthy and reliable friend in darkness when I am forced to carry a torch or a lantern to ward off predators."
[Yat 3-oh-3 Bollant] ► "A part of a sporting good which my great grandfather brought back from his famous expedition into Sporting Goods. I was never allowed to even come close to looking at one of the treasures he found, this will be the closest I ever come. Tis my most dearly beloved trinkets."
[London Fog Black Signature Iconic Belted Trench Overcoat] ► "A fine specimen which I 'procured' during one of my more clandestine forays back into Clothing. Tis equal parts warm, light and water proof; perfect for any adventurous gentry such as myself. I have crafted a number of holsters, belts and pouches to be sewn into it to help store additional items."
[LLBean Men's Gore-Tex Cresta Leather Hiking Boots] ► "Another procured specimen, these boots are of a most rugged and durable construction having served me well for a number of years. I have had small nails inserted through the soles of the boots as to allow for greater grip upon difficult terrain and a steel toe cap which I've used against a number of very hostile groins to great effect."
[Cereai Sports Blade] ► "A fine blade I acquired during a trip to the lands of the Cereal Lords. I had assisted a number of them when their fortress was assailed by Suburbanites. What a ferocious battle that twas. I had put my training to good use, defending their Lord several times and gaining the scars to prove it. After the battle was won, I had been gifted this blade while recovering from my wounds. I admit I am not trained in the art of the Cereai Sports Blade but I do hope to master it one day.
[Adventuring Journel] ► "Every adventure must be noted and record so that others may one day learn from it. I never go anywhere without this beautiful little book. I acquired it during my first year as payment for a Stationari Daimyo after I brought back a number of Chargers (Blastas) and taught some of his men to use them. It is bound with this material they called 'leather' made from the skin of a mole and its paper is of the utmost quality".
[Glow Tron Lantern] ► "Ahh yes, the humble lantern, often the first thing many novices forget when packing I've discovered. I bought this from the Electronics Boys; its quite the ingenious design you see for it does not use any open flame at all! Instead it uses a number of colorful "Glow Rods", whose light is focused through a set of mirrors to project a bright light! This has become a most useful tool especially in areas which do not permit an open flame.
(Clarifications: Velvet-born is the catch all term for Nobility in Clothing that is further subdivided into other types based on what that brand/house is most known for. Sports Masters of Clothing is the title granted to House Orchily, not Havalock himself. Chargers are Blastas, Clothing calls them Chargers because it sounds more formal and fancy.)
"Do not doubt the resolve of a gentleman who sets forth to prove his worth. I shall prove mine so none may deprive me of my bloodline. Tally. Ho."
PERSONAL ACCOUNT
NAME:"Sir Havalock Dominvan Orchily of House Orchily, Sports Masters of Clothing and Explorer Extraordinaire."
GENDER:"I liken myself to a refined yet rugged gentleman."
DEPARTMENT:"Although I have spent a good deal of time in Jewelry, I am a velvet-born noble of Clothing no matter who or what claims otherwise."
AGE:"I am 31 years of age; I like to consider myself a seasoned veteran with a responsibility to mentor those younger than I."
APPEARANCE:"I like to jest that I am extremely handsome, especially to maidens of the night. I am tall and upright with a trim but strong build that provides me the strength my adventures demand. My skin is a very light bronze, no doubt because of my particular heritage, with a fair complexion that bares a number of scars, bruises, boils and cuts as trophies of my experiences. My features are sharp and my gaze can be stern but I do try to smile as much as I can to appear welcoming to all. I possess trimmed, black hair that I do my upmost to keep tidy and out of the way.
My clothing is far more practical than that of most the velvet-born nobles of Clothing. Beneath my London Fog Black Signature Iconic Belted Trench Overcoat, I don a very comfortable Under Armor HeatGear Armor Crew Cut Mock which helps to regulate my temperature. Newchic Mens Outdoor Military Tactical Pants Camo Printing Breathable Wear-Resistant Casual Pants serve as my pants and I greatly appreciate the number of pockets it provides. I have gone through a number of backpacks and rucksacks but my favorite must be the REEBOW GEAR Military Tactical Backpack 3 Day Assault Pack Army Molle Bag Backpacks Rucksack 35L; I paid a smuggler good money to retrieve this from Clothing for me. I swap between a brown Dorfman Pacific All-Season Crushable Hat and a Land's End Men's Expedition Waterproof Winter Trapper Hat depending upon the climate.
On my person beyond clothing is all of the trinkets and charms I've garnered and gained through my travels, each with a story to tell, and plenty of space for more. I prefer light armor as to not hinder my movement but I am always keen to wear a breastplate, groin protector, shin guards, forearm braces and a metal cap under my hat made of layered tin cans for protection. Any number of configurations of pouches, bags and wearable containers are present on me at any given moment, their exact position daily if not hourly.
RESUME
"So you would like to know more about me eh? Well, let me regale you with a little history first. I hail from Clothing but do not confuse me for one of those silk-born Armani or Gucci snobs, nor the uncouth polyster-born of Nike or Adidas. I am but cotton-born of House Orchily, it is said that my ancestors came from across a great sea in the East. We never had much to our name in those days, a pittering little house we were. Yet our names were found in one of the Great Sam's "Codex Fashionista Regalia", even if it was but a small footnote nearing the conclusion of it, so they could not simply dismiss us.
It wasn't until my great grandfather, legendary explorer Advantagar Orchily, did our fortunes turn. It is said that he alone set out into the Wal to bring fame and fortune to his house. Everyone doubted him of course, presuming (or hoping) he would check out soon but he endured. He rode with the Mercuries of Auto & Tires to escape Stockers, dueled the tyrant queen Moriana le'Dry over a lake of toxic sludge in Cleaning, climbed Frozen Fruit Mountain with the Meatmen of the Grocery in its Frozen section, forged his own weapons with the help of Hardware, sung for the lords and ladies of the Courts of Music, and even once ventured alone through Baby Goods and came out alive and unshaken. His greatest achievement however, was entering the realm of the Sporting Goods and coming out with enough Sporting Goods that the other houses could no longer afford to simply ignore us and we were given a rightful spot among men of the clothes.
As for me? Well, I am a different tale for you see, my mother was what you could call a "ragged jacket", and had a preference for men that were... not cut of the same cloth. Needless to say, I was a result of a tryst between her and a copper from Jewelry. "Quilted" they called me when I was born, "Patchwork", I had long been shunned because of it and I rarely even saw my mother. But the patriarch of the house still graciously allowed me some benefits of nobility. I was given a fine education by a private tutor, taught the higher arts and practiced the art of dueling, even if my peers made very... particular strikes upon me. Yet I could never have been part of that world for the finest dresses are of a singular color, not multiple.
When I was but a decade and a half old, my mother had plotted a way for me to leave that world which did not accept me. And so, with my single bag packed, devoid of any luxuries I was delivered to Jewelry in the hopes my father could give me a better life than that which I received. However, to my horror upon arriving, my father was long dead; a lowly copper does not last long in that wretched department of liars and schemers without skill or luck, and my father lacked both. However, I had both and soon met a particular man who took interest in my sharp eye and higher learning. Don Mafiso Pierro Fortuna Calente Nomaz de Sanaterini, or the Don for short, he was in need of a both a bodyguard and an impartial adviser. The intense politicking that plagues Jewelry made him hesitant to select one of his own men but I had no connection nor interest in such things ensuring that I would not betray him when his other subordinates might.
For 8 years I had stayed with the Don who put me through rigorous training in athletics, marksmanship and combat to ensure that I would be able to protect him from any assailant. He gave me a purpose that in my young, impressionable mind made me feel complete and useful, so I doggedly followed his whims. I saved the Don from no less than 27 attempts upon his life during my service; I failed on the 28th. You see, I had fallen in love with his daughter and she, having grown up in such a environment of deceit and trickery, had used me as a pawn so that her true lover could take power. I had let her into my lord's chambers one darkness within the hour the Don was dead, the daughter wasn't in the room and his murder was blamed solely upon me. With the rest of the mobsters seeking my blood, I once again packed my things and ran. To where you ask? No where in particular, I held a Mercury at sporting good point and told him to drive as far as he could until I arrived at a Bargain Bin.
Since then, I have employed my skills to any man in need of a man with skills such as mine. I've done it all, guarding caravans, killing a rival, translate old documents, negotiate for one faction for another. I have fought wild beasts and Stockers, climbed to the rafters and swam in the icy waters of Seafood. But none of my achievements have come close to that of my great grandfather's, and I hope to rectify that one day. Those knock-off fools in Clothing will never dare call ME patchwork or quilted again when I come back with a receipt of honors and achievements longer than their scarves!"
RECEIPT
PERSONAL GOAL: "I wish to be elevated to the same status as my great grandfather, Advantagar the Bold. I seek to live up to his legacy and surpass it so that I may prove that I am not Quilted.
LIKES: "I find a particular appreciation of fellow intellectuals and refined explorers. New cultures have always fascinated me and I am loathed to admit I am quite proud of my marksmanship and weapons. I also find great enjoyment and amusement in sharing stories, sporting contests of skill and exploring the great outdoors."
DISLIKES: "Those blasted liars and cheats of Jewelry are not to be trusted with even a crumb of a Bakery Tribe's bread. Those whose mental facilities are too limited to appreciate refinement, the arts and my noble status I have no love for. This is equally shared with those who take pride in ignorance, especially about the numerous other cultures of the Wal.
REPUTE: "My repute is entirely self made; many in Clothing do not see me as worthy of my bloodline and my name is said with mixed feelings in Jewelry even if mine are resolute and clear. I have been to many places far afoot, so many that I must admit I have forgotten some of them unfortunately. Regardless, I do my best to display refinement and chivalry whenever possible for what separates a gentleman from a beast if not his ability to reason and respect?
HEEL:"I despise the foul insult of "Quilted" and "Patchwork" with a fury that no gentleman such as I should say in polite company. I am cotton-born of House Orchily and I shall let none dispute my claim upon my house's noble blood.
CODE:"I am to aspire to the ideals of an gentleman of Clothing and as an heir to the legacy of Advantagar. Chivalry and reason is what the Great Sam has given us to separate us from Smilers and I do not intent to loose it. I believe that respect is a given but disrespect is earned and tis a debt that is to be paid back in kind.
QUIRKS:"Quirks? I suppose I do carry a vast variety of trinkets, bobbles, mementos and artifacts from my travels on my person and have a habit of always attempting to acquire more. I also consider myself a connoisseur of refreshments and beverages, I know a fellow in Soda and Drinks who brews a most delightful cup of spiked tea.
PERFORMANCE REVIEW
[Marksmanship] ► "I've always had a sharp eye for detail, being able to point out frayed fabric in a rack of clothes. The Don taught me a good deal on sporting goods and their usage and I took to them quickly with deadly enthusiasm."
[Noble Blood] ► "While of limited use in some circles, there are still those outside the silk-born of Clothing who respect nobility and do not know of my... past. I do not intend to tell them should they prove open to my claims. Those who know of my great grandfather but do not know the circumstance of my birth are most appreciated."
[Pack Mule] ► "I admit my physique is not particularly impressive, especially compared to some other muscle bound brutes of the Wal but the number of trinkets and amount of supply I carry has given me a great deal of long distance endurance and strength."
[Heir to a Legacy] ► "I am of the blood of Avantagar! If he could forge through Gardening while carrying fresh meat than so can I! If he does not fear the Baby Goods than I shall not let a single whisper of cowardice into my head! He was a legend, and so shall I!"
[An Eye for Design] ► I concede that I cannot hope to be well informed on the newest trends with Fashion or Jewelry, but my time in both departments has given me an uncanny ability to recognize any brand, style or article placed before me. I have even been able to discern a number of fraudulent creations.
GROCERIES
[Leenfind SMILE Mk. 4 Bolt Action Charger] ► "A gift from the Don. This device is a marvelous feat of ingenuity and craftsmanship built by a Dworf Master Crater in his service and based upon a famous model of sporting good I am told. It is capable of releasing all the energy of a battery with a single trigger pull, holding a grouping of 10 batteries within its frame, can mount upon itself a bayonet and accurate enough to land a blow between the eyes of a Greeter from nearly 600 paces away."
[Maverick-Pattern Koldt REV-6] ► "A fairly weighty six shooter charger sold to me by a man in Hardware. I admit I still have yet to fully master this weapon's mighty roar and kick but I appreciate its strength. It finds the most action in spaces where my full length Leenfind would be most uncomfortable. Tis has proven itself a worthy and reliable friend in darkness when I am forced to carry a torch or a lantern to ward off predators."
[Yat 3-oh-3 Bollant] ► "A part of a sporting good which my great grandfather brought back from his famous expedition into Sporting Goods. I was never allowed to even come close to looking at one of the treasures he found, this will be the closest I ever come. Tis my most dearly beloved trinkets."
[London Fog Black Signature Iconic Belted Trench Overcoat] ► "A fine specimen which I 'procured' during one of my more clandestine forays back into Clothing. Tis equal parts warm, light and water proof; perfect for any adventurous gentry such as myself. I have crafted a number of holsters, belts and pouches to be sewn into it to help store additional items."
[LLBean Men's Gore-Tex Cresta Leather Hiking Boots] ► "Another procured specimen, these boots are of a most rugged and durable construction having served me well for a number of years. I have had small nails inserted through the soles of the boots as to allow for greater grip upon difficult terrain and a steel toe cap which I've used against a number of very hostile groins to great effect."
[Cereai Sports Blade] ► "A fine blade I acquired during a trip to the lands of the Cereal Lords. I had assisted a number of them when their fortress was assailed by Suburbanites. What a ferocious battle that twas. I had put my training to good use, defending their Lord several times and gaining the scars to prove it. After the battle was won, I had been gifted this blade while recovering from my wounds. I admit I am not trained in the art of the Cereai Sports Blade but I do hope to master it one day.
[Adventuring Journel] ► "Every adventure must be noted and record so that others may one day learn from it. I never go anywhere without this beautiful little book. I acquired it during my first year as payment for a Stationari Daimyo after I brought back a number of Chargers (Blastas) and taught some of his men to use them. It is bound with this material they called 'leather' made from the skin of a mole and its paper is of the utmost quality".
[Glow Tron Lantern] ► "Ahh yes, the humble lantern, often the first thing many novices forget when packing I've discovered. I bought this from the Electronics Boys; its quite the ingenious design you see for it does not use any open flame at all! Instead it uses a number of colorful "Glow Rods", whose light is focused through a set of mirrors to project a bright light! This has become a most useful tool especially in areas which do not permit an open flame.
Holy shit, I never thought I'd see someone actually try to do a Walmart Apoc RP. Definitely throwing my hat into the ring for this! Haven't been on in a while but this seems like a good place to start up again.
Born from a dozen squabbling organizations and corporations, forged in the trials of the Solar War, the Korvat stand as an iron-wrought bastion of ruthless pragmatism and grim endurance. Having felt betrayed by both sides of the great conflict in human history, they have broken away to claim their own set of stars. Eager to put their industrial and mineral wealth of their worlds according to their wishes now, while others wait for an opportunity to appear, they build their own.
History
The history of the Syndorian first starts with the Haradoni. Their early history was much like any other, countless nation states that rose and fell with the tides of history. However, around the time they began to use gunpowder, a great comet fell from the sky and slammed into the world. At first people wondered if this was a sign from one of countless gods worshiped by the many peoples or what could have possibly brought this magical rock to their world. Unknowingly to them, this would have been the start of the Syndorian Outbreak.
The world had always been fertile and thus global population had reach around 1 billion by the time of the outbreak. At its end, less than 2.5 million survived. They called it a curse, a plague, a judgement of god, but the horrid infection kept tearing through kingdoms and nations alike. Soon any previous petty squabbling was ignored in favor forming a unified front. Although difficult due to rather limited communications, soon what remained of the population hid behind vast walled cities known as Kasrs and said Kasrs would form the Grand Order of the Defense of Haradoni, or just the Grand Order.
It would prove to be a blood century as Kasrs fell and land was lost but a constant need for better weaponry to fend off the threat would eventually come to head. Through the discovery of various radioactive minerals and materials, the Haradoni created "Starfire Throwers" that could burn away the corruption through a mix of flame and radiation. With this, they finally began to take back their lands. The told was great and the damage to their planet was greater, but finally they reclaimed their world, casting the virus back into the deepest shadow.
Finally, their nightmare was over, the demon plague had been destroyed. However, several samples remained, hidden away and taken by less scrupulous figures but never again would the Syndorian Virus cause such devastation. Civilization quickly rebuilt after that, going back out into their scarred world to rebuild. Again nations rose and fell but now there was always a link among them that at least a few of the greatest states paid service too.
However, this began to sew the seeds of hubris among the Haradoni, they had faced their worse demons and came out on top. Nothing could stop them for they had stopped an end of the world scenario with the greatest weapons of their age. When they finally reached the stars, it was under the Banner of House Vecaveia as the Haradoni Union. Still full of pride and arrogance despite their youth on the galactic stage, they went about trying to prove themselves the equals of those who have ventured the void for generations before them.
They colonized worlds which they touted as the next big hub of whatever, fought minor battles they endlessly glorified and built ships they claimed where without match. When the Great War broke out, they were all too eager to jump in carried on the backs of their pride and ambition.
Their first act was to make a surprise attack against an Asra fleet docked at a frontier port, battered by battles too vast for the Haradoni to ever compute. Exhausted and low on supplies, the Haradoni fell upon the much larger fleet and did considerable damage before the station's defense batteries began to open up on them. In reality, they had only damaged already damaged ships with few being fully destroyed and a handful of Asra thought them to just be pirates.
But the Haradoni proclaimed a great victory against "10 to 1 odds" as they "swept through the fleet and destroyed them all in a stunning display of tactical brilliance". A great amount of fanfare and praise was heaped upon the admirals and the crewmen with metals and accolades now proudly adorning their chests. Metals and accolades that would not comfort them when their bodies where sent adrift in space as an Asra fleet wiped the floor with them.
What was once a promise of glorious victory soon became a desperate defense with no way out as an Asra fleet bombarded their worlds, scuttled their fleets and began to prove the Haradon's hubris. As millions starved and thousands died in hundreds of last stands and brave counter charges, the Haradoni was clanged to whatever they could to give them just a chance of seeing the next day. What they thought was an apocalyptic retribution fleet, was in reality just another fleet moving through their system who remembered something about a Haradoni empire doing something to them. Attacking them was really an afterthought, just something to do and get some easy honors for themselves.
In the bleakest hour as all seemed to be lost, a now nameless prince rushed though the secret vaults and came upon a capsule containing the Syndorian Virus. Already bloody and bruised from fighting, the dying prince made an oath with the ancient sentience and would willingly become its host in exchange for it saving his kingdom. And like that, the deal was struck and the Haradoni had signed themselves away in a bargain with the greatest devil of their own history.
Almost instantly the tides of war began to shift as the dead rose and horrid monsters rose from charnel pits built of the remains of a dozen corpses each. Terrified at the sight of these new demons, the Asra forced fell back as the reborn Synordian Hosts gave chase. The tattered remains of their fleet would bear witness and first spread the news of how the Haradoni had unleashed some sort of curse or magic that turned them all into undead feral monsters.
For the remainder of the war, the Swarm rebuilt the homeworld of Haradoni in its own image, leaving the other planets of the Haradoni Union fall into ruin as it built its forces and bid its time. For the remainder of the war, it would wage a war of reconquest across the corpse of the Union and lash out at any who tried to navigate its systems. Rumors continued to spread of a sentience swarm of nightmares that turned even the most loyal of crew against each other as they mutated and changed in most ghastly ways. This war of reconquest continues even past the signing of the treaty, with the Demiurge Archive bent on retaking all of the systems that fell to pirates or refuse to be absorbed into the swarm for even if they refuse to serve in life, they can still be enslaved in death.
Government
The ultimate authority of the Hosts is the central collective conscious hivemind known as Archive. It is a superorganism which resides within the remains of the Royal Palace and is much like the Gravemind from Halo. While it can directly control almost all of the hosts at will, this action requires a huge energy demand, most of which is simply spent projecting its will across the void of space and analyzing the thoughts of the hosts. It has the ability to "amiplify" its own thoughts over the concious of a host effectly reducing its own individuality and thus mental thoughts. Much of the population at any given time is under this effect of called "the Mist" making most of them simply drones and grunts although those with skills and potential are chosen by the Archive to be given more individuality as to let their skills, abilities and personality shine through to better serve the greater good.
Although the Archive's power is great, it has its limits and cannot always maintain the Mist especially over long distances. As such, it delegates its immense power to special individuals called "Ordinals". These people are paradoxically the most independent yet most subservient of all hosts. They can leads their Broods however they wish but they cannot refuse orders from the Archive. They can disagree and argue among themselves yet they can never surely come to blows. Its been theorized that Ordinals are chosen based on a combination of the right genetic signals and certain traits. Once chosen, an Ordinal can never become fully effected by the Mist and it is a life time position. A new class of nobles has arisen from Ordinals intermarrying and interbreeding among one another in the hopes of continuing as "ordinal bloodline".
Territory
Much of Haradoni has since been taken over by the Syndorian Hosts, their void stations, asteroid bases and moons all tainted with the iconic growths of the virus. However, since the collapse of the Union, there still remains hold outs that the Syndorians still seek to reclaim. Worse yet, seeing the disarray of the frontiers of ex-Haradoni space, a number of pirates and renegades have made the abandoned systems their new homes, too clueless to know what now claims these worlds or too ignorant to care.
Major Holdings
Haradoni - Original homeworld of the Syndorian Virus and their Haradoni hosts. It is where the Demiurge Archive is located, the central hivemind and collective conscious resides.
Irithyll - A vast world famed for its sprawling biomass fields and production facilities which allow it the greatest number of hatcheries and breeding warrens. Incidentally it is also home to the greatest number of warriors and combat bioforms
Charace - Once an ocean world with seas that covered the world, it has since largely been drained to feed the world's bioforges and refineries that dot the coastal plains and carved into its canyons.
Salmina - The most "friendly" world in that it has the least amount of biomatter growths and the least threatening looking inhabitants, Salmina has the high pop of none infected persons. It also serves as a manufactory power house used for the creation of machinery and installation of cybernetics.
Demographics/Society
To the Syndorians, there is no species other than themselves and the "Others". Once someone has been infected, willingly or not, they are considered to Syndorian regardless of their past or even species. A tiny amount of non infected people live in Syndorian space but are largely considered mad men by the rest of the galaxy. These are often people who willingly seek out the virus in desperate attempts at immortality, restoration of lost limbs, or obtaining ascension with some religious cult promise. The Syndorian Ordinals do not mind such people at all as they pose little threat to their own power or the security of the hive and know that in due time, all of them will join the Horde.
Syndorian society is one of stratified hierarchy although because of the Chimeric Shadow, there is never any dissent about it. Society is organized into various Hive Houses which are separated into Noble Broods which are further separated into Vassal Nests. The head of a Hive House is the Ordinal, someone ordained by the Demiurge to lead the Hive House and thus are typically skilled in what they do or what they are told to do by the hivemind. Leaders of Nobles Broods are Brood Barons and those of Vassal Nests are simply Alphas. The Demiurge does not play an active hand in picking the lower ranked leadership; Brood Barons are chosen either by strength of combat or by some ingrained sense of loyalty by its peers and Alphas are picked almost excursively on strength or expression of a certain valuable skill. Politicking is rare among the Syndorians as they cannot keep secrets from the Demiurge and subsequently each other in addition to how the Chimeric Shadow affects them. They can never directly turn on one another but instead will often speak half truths, react sluggishly to calls for help or simply ignore their rivals.
A number of roles are delegated to the Drones of each Hive House. These include: Biomass Farmers who "farm" creatures and plants for biomass conversion, Breeders who are specially modified to have much faster gestation periods to allow for continuous growth, Vitasmiths and Genecrafters who continuously research and expriment with new traits to give to species within the Syndorian collective from their Bioforges, artisans who produce the materials and machines which the hive cannot produce through biomass, Warriors who protect and patrol the hives, simple Workers who procure mass and material and even a class of priest-like beings known as Hierophants. Beyond simply roles, there are three classifications of the Syndorian species. The first are Hosts, people who have been willingly infected while alive. The second is the Undead, people who were infected unwillingly alive or have been infect post mortum and typical have much more dramatic mutations and modifications than the Hosts. The third is the Bioforms, creatures made up entirely of biomass, sometimes with a "core" of another animal.
The Syndorian Virus
An ancient extraterrestrial diereses that once landed on the world of Haradoni and wreck havoc, it is what famously forced the world to unite in ancient time under the Grand Order of Haradoni to face it. It was only after great sacrifice and thousands upon thousands slain that the plague had been contained with a small part of secretly contained in what would become the Royal Palaces. This Grand Order is what lead the foundation for planetary unification as most major nations always had a hand in it or its successors.
The virus itself is a bacteria/virus hybrid with its own seemingly limited sentience. Its full origins and mechanics are still poorly understood even today. The Demiurge itself seems to be blocking many attempts to uncover the full truth for whatever reason. What is known is that those infected are given more durability, increased strength, regeneration, greater agility and an ability to ignore pain as well as be affected by the Chimeric Shadow, gain functional immortality (or at least drastically increasing longevity) and complete immunity from other diseases and infections as their immune systems are also now living beings.. Its ability to rapidly evolve and mutate is second to none with the Demiurge capable of force evolving its minions to grow additional appendages or alter their physiology. Its for this reason that some others from outside the Hive may choose to join the Hosts, out of a desire for immortality in pursuit of their own research and goals. Of course this comes its own downsides and the possibility of being completely subsumed but many gamble on their own skills are great enough that the hivemind will allow them to retain their own sense with limited interference.
The Chimeric Shadow
Sometimes called "the Mist" as it commonly physically manifests as anything between a light mist to a neigh impenetrable fog, all beings infected by the Chimeric Shadow give it off with larger beings giving off more. Ordinals can generate their own large fields and is typically how they control their Hives with each being unique to an Ordinal as to avoid giving the drones mixed signals.
The Shadow affects those under its control ina way most likened to a grand delusion. To a Sydorian, they will see the world completely different. In war they will see rows of stalwart warriors and loyal serfs lead by heroic commanders flanked by elite chivalrous knights atop mighty mounts lead by a glorious Ordinal with the blessing of the Demiurge. To everyone else, they will see a horde of monstrous trashing mockeries of life, mutated and deformed beyond recognition as hulking brutes and beasts towering above. Although they are aware of what they've become, they will always see each other in an almost medieval and deluded way. Mobs of Drones tending to biomass production or overseeing breeding warrens are instead seen as dutiful serfs plowing crop fields and salacious dens of pleasure and intimacy respectively.
To an outsider, the very presence of the Shadow is unnerving, as if there is something gnawing at the back of their head which demands them both fear and look upon Ordinals and their hosts with awe, as if their brains do not know if they should fear the monsters they are or be awed by what the Shadow makes them see. Indeed there are a few cases of weak willed individuals being so enthralled by the Chimeric Shadow that they end up submitting themselves to the Hosts. For those psionically in tuned however, the Shadow is a much more terrifying thing as they experience horrifying visions and find they can no longer summon up their powers without incredible difficulty making it almost impossible. This feeling of dread has made some psionics to straight up refuse to go anywhere were the Syndorians are thought to be.
The way which the Demiurge controls its subjects is through mental manipulation that can range from a very strong suggestion to outright mental domination. To do this, it effectively isolates minds from outside influences even to things such as smell. To a psionic however, this Shadow will greatly increase their ability to manifest their power in the presence of such a dominating force and will universally terrify them for they can see the delusion the Sydorians are under but do not accept it as they do.
Heirophants and Faith
While many presume that faith has no place in a hivemind dictated by reason and survival, many forget that every Syndorian host was once a mortal, a mortal with faith and hope. Whatever old gods the Haradoni once prayed to, they have all been but forgotten, replace by their centeral collective mind, the Demiurge Archive.
Penal drones pray to it and give offerings to it in twisted temples with even mindless bioforms capible of giving thanks in prayer in a crude mockery of faith. They pray that the Demiurge Archive can remake them into greater beings, that they will see the clarity of the Chimeric Shadow and that they will be possessed by its indomitable will.
While Ordinals possess great power, it is the Hierophants which makes up the priesthood. Born with a special mark that sets them apart from typical births, they are trained from birth to be able to commune with the Archive and understand its vast omnipotence. Indeed, only Hierophants are capable of witnessing the full glory of the Demiurge Archives' full, unrestrained psionic force, a feat which Ordinals cannot even dream of achieve for the most part.
Apart from being zealous preachers, they also lead the weak faithful into glorious martyrdom into the recycling pools where they are dissolved to be reborn anew in newer bioforms. Consummate scientists as well as clergy, they also often oversee the work of Vitasmiths and Genecrafters, coming up with ever more terrifying and incredible creations in the name of their Demiurge Archive.
Economy
Economically, the Syndorian Hosts are in a strange place as they have no need for interal trade and because of it find it difficult to trade with the greater galatic community despite wanting to do so. Internally, the Chimeric Shadow means that an individual's own wants and desires are greatly suppressed with only the Ordinals really capable of even wanting luxury items and exotic goods. Even then, there are still small things which many Drones and Workers can still have a limited want for and proudly showcase. Trinkets, small bits of cheap jewelry, scars and tattoos are popular forms to showcase one's self.
Internally, most trade is done either through a barter system of giving one good for another or using time itself as a currency. The training pits used to let Warriors duel each other and for Vitasmiths to showcase their newest discovery are a popular sport with people betting time and trinkets on their chosen warrior. Hosts may buy a trinket or some small upgrade to their rest spot in the hive warrens by doing someone else's work.
Externally, there really is not much that the Syndorians can offer. They can trade their own trinkets but they often have little worth outside of novelty or pure exoticness. However, the most popular trades is that of bioformed pets and animals. Purposely designed to be more pleasant on the eyes, they come in a variety of shapes and sizes from small mice to large dogs. They are unquestionably loyal, low maintenance and surprisingly strong.
The one big service that the Syndorians can offer however is waste disposal and their own lives. When a great deal of wasted trash and organic materials needs to be rid of, the Syndorians will happily trade what they can for it. Should there be a disaster too great or strong for normal mortals to deal with, the Syndorians can throw their own infected bodies and specially crafted bioforms to deal with it. Some Ordinals even offer to clear vast swathes of forested or otherwise hostile land needed for farming for a tiny price and the ability to keep all of the biomass gathered. Rumors have also spread that some other governments have secret deals with some Ordinals to discreetly get rid of political prisoners. No one has come forth to confirm these claims but then again, small personal ships sometimes have a tendency to warp off course into the space claimed by more… vicious Ordinals.
Technologies
Techno-Organic Interfacing: A keystone technology as it allows for the seamless integration of the Syndorian Virus into the technology and machinery, allowing for a degree of sentience to be achieved if only barely.
Corpse Engineering & Viral Incubation: Knowledge on how to effectively "force" bodies together in order to form a larger, tougher organism.
Synaptic Plyons: A way to artificially boost the strength of the Mist of the Archive without the need of an Ordinal
Regenerative Chitin: Highly effect plate armor capable of regeneration of damage
Genetic Alteration: The Syndorianare masters of altering their own genetic code allowing for greater adrenaline, cellular reconstruction, caustic acid blood and heightened scenes. There is a black market for this stuff on some worlds as rumors suggest that "Syndorian Blood" can restore youth, beauty, strength or limb function.
Photosynethic Bio-Plasma: A highly efficient energy source which stems from the metabolic processes of special Bio Plasmid Hearts which can also store energy in energy circuits as batteries. Found on starships and in cities alike.
Military
While capable of having a standard army of armored soldiers with guns, the Syndorian Hosts take advantage of their "gifts" and thus excel at terror tactics. Their standard naval doctrine is to board an enemy ship and let the virus infect the crew while aiming for the power generators. Should they be successful, they will turn the ship in a living nightmare straight from a horror film. Where infected crew turn on their allies as their bodies twist into horrid monsters with every sensory perception of the enemy turned into a terrifying ordeal. Shadows dart past the corner of their eyes, sounds are heard all around them with nothing to make them, distant whispers fill their ears with indecipherable sounds and the corpses of their friends desiccated beyond recognition as they are reveal before they lunge at them. Woe befall any who fail to equip a gas mask of any sort less the Syndorian spores enter their bodies and begin to transform them before their very eyes in a bloody, brutal demonstration of rapid mutation.
Navy
The Syndorian Navy is one which defies most conventional definitions. Whereas other fleets are expected to engage in long, drawn out gun battles at great ranges, the Syndorians seek to quickly close the gap to let loose boarding actions. It is in the tight corridors of ship that the terrifying blades, claws and maws of the monstrosities deal the most damage, targeting power systems and in effect, turning hostile ships into a death trap of fear and paranoid out of horror movies and games.
All vessels in the fleet are also "alive" to some extent, with larger ships capable of holding greater levels of intelligence and sentience. As such, many ship classes or even individual ships often exhibit certain behaviors or prefer certain actions. This is due to the living tissue within Syndorian ships as despite their outward appearance, are filled with internal blood vessels, nerves, muscles and bone covered in electronics, machinery and metal. Syndorian ships are as much grown as they are built. Captaining these vessels always fall upon Ordinals as they alone possess the strength of will to subdue their vessel's "Ship Spirit".
Directed energy weapons are popular as the highly efficient Metabolic Bio-Engines produce great deals of energy alongside Photosynthetic Solar Arrays and the cellular energy storage has proven to be highly efficient at storing excess energy with minimal loss. Bioplasma and energy lances are the most popular. In addition to more traditional weapons, Syndorian ships possess some weapons unique to themselves: the Devourer Maw and the Psionic Howl.
Many ships have an opening in their front or are capable of opening up their front alike a great gaping maw. Following the Syndorian's penchant for close combat and ramming actions, the Devourer Maws are terrifying constructs capable of literally biting chunks out of ships if not crushing smaller ships outright. The Psionic Howl is another strange and exotic weapon that can be unleashed by larger ships. This psionic shockwave fills the minds of the enemy with terrifying images of what lurks in the darkness of space, terrifying even the most veteran of crews; while the Psionic Thunder Clap is capable of acting like a short ranged EMP, disabling shields, weapons and power systems before the vessel closes in, making boarding and subsequent combat all the more devastating.
Ship Classes
An important vessel, the Outrider class specializes in creating gravitational fields and anomalies through its Void Eater Engine mounted at its front. Equipped with the best FTL drives, their primary duty is to go ahead of any main fleet and set up artificial gravity wells around the ship so the rest of the fleet can have a much faster time jumping in.
In combat, it is of little use as most of its power is directed into its Void Eater Engine leaving only a small amount of PD guns to defend itself. However it can use its Engine to create smaller gravitational wells that can slow larger ships or even lock down smaller ships while generally causing disturbances forcing enemy fleets to traverse treacherous gravity wells, breaking up their formation.
Built with a single duty and indeed a single main weapon, the Lancer Class Frigate is essentially a tachyon railgun mounted on a literal skeleton of a ship. Aside from life support, thruster and life support, all power is dedicated to the operation of this grand weapon. It is a sniper, capable of blasting munitions at incredible orbital ranges a fraction of the speed of light and typically assigned in hunting packs to strip shields off of ship through a constant barrage of shots or to destroy orbital defenses.
A dedicated back line support craft, the Squire Class Destroyer is largely a torpedo boat and scanning vessel. Its armament include a variety of nuclear, plasma, cluster, armor piercing, virus and EMP torpedoes all fired from torpedo tubes. In addition, it also acts as a recon ship equipped with several advanced sensor and transmitting interception suites. It can detect stealthed vessels, incoming attacks and intercept communications as an electronic attack craft.
What was supposed to be an upgrade to the Squire class which ended up turning into a sidegrade, the Yeoman Class Destroyer has forgone the scanner arrays and instead focused solely on munitions. Boasting even more torpedo tubes, it also comes with rows upon rows of missile silos, rocket pods, mine layers and a pair of highly unstable high yield macro cluster charges, capable of laying down a huge cloud of munitions. They are seldom used as mines in such quantities do not discriminate from friend or foe and are infamously difficult to remove.
A dedicated boarding vessel with a focus on close range brawling, Errant Class Destroyers are literally frothing at the mouth to have a go at any enemy in range (crew have noticed a tendency for strange white foam to appear on the flight deck of the vessel hence the "frothing". They have an extremely effective but close range PD system comprised of basically plasma shotguns that lay down a zone of denial around the vessel.
Such weapons are also effect against ships at close range and combined with its thick armor, means that a common tactic is to simply ram enemy vessels all guns blazing. It also hosts a variety of thermal cutter tipped boarding torpedoes meant to drill through an enemy's armor before disgorging the Syndorian's signature boarding bioforms. It also has several tentacle-like growths hidden on its inside armor meant to grasp and enemy, ensuring they cannot escape once in range.
The main stay of the Syndorian fleets, the Valiant Class is a good all around ship in a jack of all trades manner. Its armor is thick enough, shields strong enough and weapons powerful enough to hold a battle line while also quick enough and brutal enough to engage in close range boarding actions along with its Devourer Maw. However it lacks the ability to preform a Psionic Howl and lacks any sort of misses or torpedoes.
Considered an upgrade from the Valiant, the Gallant Class Cruiser is a more heavily armed and considered the bedrock of ranged firepower in the hive's fleets. Compared to the Valiant, it boasts more weapons and armor as well as dedicated missile bays and torpedo tubes. However, it still uses the same class of biogenerators meaning that its shields are actually weaker to its predecessor, mostly as the biting strength of the Maw has been sidelined in favor of being able to preform Psionic Howls.
What is for all intents and purpose a militarized civilian ship, the Herrimault is based on a popular Haradoni vessel favored by merchant ships. Even today, it is the most commonly seen ship of the Syndorian, ironic considering it is classified as a stealth vessel and equipped as such. It has lackluster weapons for its class but posses a biogenerator usually reserved for battle cruiser. It pumps this energy into great shields and thruster power making it commonly used in transport and convoy duties.
A specialized ship that is incredibly light armed for a naval vessel. Instead, it is a pure and dedicated support craft. Instead of guns and scanners, the Hospitalar holds hatcheries, bioforges, biostatsis vita-chambers and a fleet of repair drones, capable of quickly repairing, knitting and forcing rapid cellular growth on damaged Sydorian ships. Its main role is to act as part hospital ship, part ship repair and part crew replenishment vessel. As one would expect, they are put far in the back, well protected by the other ships.
The Oathkeeper battlecruiser is actually a very unique ship as it is one of the few vessels held over from the Haradoni Union. Instead of being scratch built, it has been retrofitted and repaired. As such its known for having a very slap-dash and makeshift appearance both inside and out. However it is still a more than powerful enough voidship armed with directed energy weapons, missile silos and sturdy shields; a demonstration in that even if the Haradoni were too ambitious for their own good, they at least knew how to build a solid ship.
Named after the ancient planetary alliance that fended off the first Syndorian Outbreak, the Grand Order class of Battle Cruisers is one built to emulate the aspects of the Demiurge Archive. Humongous, imposing, commanding, awe inspiring and relentless. They are known for their devastating lance broadsides and their compliment of living attack craft such as the Harridans and the Void Drakes, birthed from on board hatcheries and menageries, alongside mechanical strike craft and bombers
Army
There are three cornerstones to every ground assault done by the Lucinfern Hordes: Constant massed wave charges, nightly terror and psychological attacks and impossible levels of coordination.
The opening moves of an assault are designed to cause as much damage and chaos as possible. Miasmic spores bombard the planet spreading the yndorian Virus and the Mist of the Archive across the planet as rampaging infected beasts tear through cities along with swarms of lesser infected. The hope is to create as much confusion and more importantly create as many bodies as possible.
After a brief pause is allowed for the defenders so they may regroup and bury their dead however this is part of the plan. By allowing this window of reorganization, the horde can ensure they attack the greatest number of people with the fewest number of hosts and then the second phase begins. Near regular assaults are launched against the enemy as lesser organisms crash into the defenders as the greater infected charge through. Most Ordinals do not care of the lives lost as they know anybody who dies can be turned back into biomass to be formed into a new creature.
At night, psychological warfare is launched with the sole goal of causing confusion, paranoia and fear among the troopers, depriving them of restful sleep and never letting their nerves rest. Ambushes look to pick off unwary guards and replace them with infected hosts who will go to the most crowded area and explode, releasing the virus even further. Small bugs will make constant chattering and mummering sounds as if there is a Host behind every wall and around every corner. Rapid strike units dart in and out of shadows, cackling as they squirm through air shafts and trenches. Infiltrators will sneak in and try to gather information, contaminate supplies or take out individuals identified as beloved and whose death will bring a morale shock to the rest.
This goes on for as long as needed with increasing exhausted and paranoid soldiers fighting a horde that does not end while worried as to which one of his allies has secretly already been infected and waiting to turn. To top all of this off, the synaptic network of the Syndorian Horde means that their communications and coordination is perfect. A horde always attacks when the enemy is most disorganized after a boomer explosion. Strafing runs always come in just as the horde is being pushed back. Biomechanical vehicles move in sync and firing volleys as one deafening roar. Such a level of communication and instant feedback is the envy of commanders the galaxy over.
These tactics have only been employed twice but to outstanding effect. Once against a pirate stronghold on the moon of Karvar III where they had been trying to sell freshly butchered Syndorian meat. And a second against a Haradoni Union holdout that refused to be initiated into the swarm.
There are four general types of Hosts used in war.
The Lesser Organisms - Beings made almost entirely of biomass around a "core" of another animal and typically take the appearance of animals and beasts.
The Greater Organisms - Larger biomass creatures centered around a core host of a much larger animal with significantly more danger and mass. Most infamous of these are the savage Tyrannadon, the durable Orangafex and the flying Harridan.
The Trueborn Hosts - A catch all term for hosts pressed into service that can range from mindless mobs to those who still have enough individuality and skills to act as decent elite shock (and terror) troops.
The Bio Colossi - Huge beings comprised of hundreds of corpses and thousands of pounds of biomass who stand as tall as skyscrapers and crush those beneath them. Incredibly rare, they are only seen at the zenith of an assault are effectively heralds of an all or nothing attack.
Common low level infected:
Making up the bulk of any horde, they comprise of Hosts told to charge by their Ordinal or unwilling infected who have been forced to do so. They are a ravenous pack of claws, fangs, blades and tentacles in a seemingly undying tide of putrid flesh and decayed bodies. Their equipment varies wildly but in general, those willing Hosts are seen carrying weapons or at least wearing armors and are still capable o firing their guns wildly as they run. The unwilling infected are given no such luxuries.
Suppressors:
While the Swarm does not untilize guns very effectively, those it does have are infamous for their haunting sounds as they zip past the enemy and their rapid fire rates which force them to stay behind cover. A death sentence as other infected rush to close in and rip the enemy to shreads.
Slashers:
While most of the Hosts are just mindlessly grasping at whatever they can, relying on numbers, Slashers are infected Hosts who are speically deisgned for combat instead of being thrown into the grinder. Their armor chitin plating gives them the resistence they need as they leap and bound over the battlefield and dive in with their claws capible of ripping through armor.
Hulks:
Slow and lumbering, these beings are formed of rapidly regenerating biomass with strength to throw men like dolls and vehicles like toys. Most often used as walking walls of flesh or living battering rams, some are known to have the disgusting habit of incorporating wounded but still living enemies into their monstrous bulk.
Raviners
Bioforms who specialize in digging through the earth and suddenly rise out and wreck havoc in shock and awe attacks. The tunnels they make are often accompanied by a wave of lesser creatures who can use them to move through the battlefield. Typically used just to dig mines, tunnel networks and underground warrens in times of peace, anyone who is dragged down into the depths of their tunnels is never seen again.
Carronades:
Living artillery who like their Supressor cousins, focus a lot more on simply surpressing the enemy and making sure they are isolated and stuck in one location rather than outright killing things. However, some of the smaller varients are designed for the express purpose of accompanying hordes of infected for the express purpose of killing things. Some versions even have non-organic weapons mounted upon them in more recent years as Ordinals find that using captured weapons is more useful than breaking them down.
Brutes
Large, heavily armored bioforms that act as living tanks. While some are given ranged capibilites, more oftne than not they rely on ramming and incredible strength to rip open tanks and vehicles before devouring their crews. Once they start charging, nearly nothing can stop their rampage.
Hyperdread
When the dust had settled and the Great War was over, hundreds if not thousands of shipwrecks, floating hulks and blown out hulls filled the Haradoni system as a result of the desperate defense of the homeworlds. When the Sydorian Hosts rose from its ashes, one of its first act in a display of power was to command the creation of a vessel which combined all of the remains of the dead ships into one, grand monument of naval construction. With hundreds of thousands of workers and creatures working on the ship, it was built in record time as metal was bonded with flesh and wires were bound in biomass; no other ship can claim to be as "alive" to the point that it has its own sentience and has been officially ordained as an Ordinal capable of producing its own Mist nodes.
Its main standout feature is its front shredder maw and bioplasma particle lance. Running down the middle of the ship is a wide tunnel that many assume to just be part of the particle lance, however this is an illusion as the front of the ship can actually "open up" to reveal a huge animal-like maw that has swallowed smaller ships whole and taken chunks out of larger ships. Any ship that is swallowed can either be kept for later additions to the Terminus Est and have their crews infected an added to the ship's own, or the captured ship can be "harvested" for pure energy that is needed for the main gun. Although capable of firing the bioplasma particle lance by its own power, for a full power shot it actually requires more than the vessel can produce. Because of this its often accompanied by fueling ships or have captured/disabled enemy ships "sacrificed" to the Terminus Est.
Peter has always had a love of both games and attention. Growing up he was known to be the kid in class who would pull some stunt or prank that while impressive, would inevitably make him very familiar with the principle. Yet he found the cheers and awe of his classmates intoxicating, easily able to gather large crowds around him. As he grew older and after several long lectures, he eventually tempered such wildness and found a perfect outlet for his showmanship: streaming. He grew an avid fan base that cheered him on and fueled him through legendary 12 hour live streams and was in near constant competition for the title of number 1 Elder Tales stream, a title he still claims after the Apocalypse.
ShowStopper
Human || M || Swashbuckler || Gladiator
TALE
Self proclaimed greatest duelist and arena champion, ShowStopper has routinely made big shows at arena across the server and even a few on other serves. While the Gladiator style of play is infamously inefficient, ShowStopper has made it work much to everyone’s amazement. His flashy fighting style and boastful confidence pulls in crowds to every fight. He might spend his entire life around proving he’s better than you, but to him, that’s just because he IS better than you.
CLASSES
EQUIPMENT
RARITY: Magical CLASSIFICATION: Short Sword DETAILS: A gladius that deals additional bleed damage on hit and can preform a special execution which beheads a downed opponent granting incresaed drops and giving the wielder a <<Challenger's Skull>>. The Skull can either be used as a throwing weapon that debuffs and fears an enemy or crushed to gain XP for the Gladiator subclass. All Gladiators have some variation of this as its considered by far the best way to gain XP.
RARITY: Artifact CLASSIFICATION: Trident DETAILS: A powerful trident gained from the <<Sunken City>> quest line. It comes with a chain wrapped around the it allowing it to be thrown and recalled at will or preform a wide arc zone attack.
RARITY: Artifact CLASSIFICATION: Buckler Shield DETAILS: One of the items that ShowStopper is famous for as the "meta" bucklers are those which abuse super fast parries that allow for counter attacks. ShowStopper believes this to be too cheap, not glorious and otherwise boring to watch for his fans. So instead he uses a buckler that is more focused on using it as an offensive fist weapon to weave in stuns and often uses the time his enemies are stunned to taunt or otherwise troll his opponents before the stun is over.
RARITY: Phantasmal CLASSIFICATION: Trinket DETAILS: "Pyrithicus was a legendary gladiator famed for fighting beasts. Eventually he tired of fighting caged beasts in the arena and so he ventured into the wilderness to fight true monsters. Although never seen, the heads and pelts of slain monsters would routinely show up in front of the city's gates until one day they stopped coming completely."
What truly makes ShowStoppar's streams such a blast to watch. The Last Gamble greatly increases drop rates for loot and XP the lower your health is but also makes your weaker in the face of monsters that are larger than you. In addition, when at low health it provides a plethora of buffs such as increased damage, shorter cool downs, healing from attacks, increased movement. There are many clips of ShowStopper winning some truly spectacular fights with dazzling outplays thanks to this trinket.
@Nate1008 Going off of what @Aleranicus has said, here is a list of "have you tried" and similar things that might help you:
What do you plan on doing in the RP that will not only make it fun for everyone else but also for you? As it stands currently, people will not really want to interact with what is obviously a very hostile and treacherous hivemind meaning you will end up posting about yourself for a while as everyone is interacting with each other.
I believe you are trying to take inspiration from the likes of the Flood, the Tyranids and the Zerg but have you considered the option of not requiring to take all of them to create a "super parasite"? I know the word OP has been thrown around a lot, but that is honestly what it seems like you are trying to do, make an unbeatable creation that cannot be stopped and cannot be destroyed. Have you considered that the other players would not consider this nearly as amusing or interesting as you?
Have you considered any deeper history for your species? As it stands right now, it would seem that the government was astronomically inept at preventing what was basically a zombie outbreak to the point it has taken over a colony and a moon. No stable government would ever let this just slide but that also means you could have had a weak or ineffective government ignore or not dedicate enough resources to fixing the issue. In my own sheet, the Haradoni would have had enough resources to put down an outbreak of the Syndorian Virus but because they were terribly loosing a war, they decided to let it loose on themselves.
From personal experience, I would recommend against using precise numbers. As it stands on your NS right now they are only taking up space and not really giving any meaningful information. Same with the lists, they are just taking up space and could at least be put in hiders. On the topic of numbers, 718 people is a pitifully small force to the point that it is likely impossible to do any meaningful actions; I'm fairly certain the high school I went to had around 700 people.
I would suggest removing the infested naval vessels and coming up with some more of your own with pictures. To a lot of poeple just saying you "take over other player's stuff" is both lazy and bad writing. In addition your navy's weapons do not seem to be intimidating or even practical at all. I understand that you're trying to use the Tyranid hiveships as a basis, but your writing does not make it seem impressive. How about firing boney spikes and fleshy mass, you use bioplasma, rapid fire spore cannons that fire a super dense bone-like spike that mimics conventional kinetic munitions or even living creatures who can latch on to ships (if not stopped by shields) and start to dig into them.
Also the fact that you can take over another player's hyperdread is really off putting. Even if you don't plan on doing it, the fact that you list is as part of your active navy and allude to it as a possibility means that there's always a chance. A chance many don't want to take.
For what reason do you have slaves/non infected populations for? I know that you've mentioned somewhere that you turn some of them into sleeper agents with the virus in them, but you are relying on the fact that said agents won't simply say where they are coming from and authorities simply knowing that they're from infected space. You're also overlooking the fact that some people would be more than willing to just shoot down suspected infected craft. Instead, what if your hivemind was smart enough to start basically farming humans/other sentient beings for hosts and biomass. In addition, what was your original host species? There is more than just humans in this galaxy.
There is more but this is what I could quickly think of off the top of my head. Another word of advice, don't be upset if you have to change your NS a lot. Ask any veteran NRPer and they will tell you that they change their NS many times if not dozens of times. Hell, I know a decent number of NSs that their creators never consider "finish" and continuously work on it up until the RP itself ends up dying out.
Member
DX3214
Lunamaria Hawke
KTostada
