Crimson Paladin

The Epic of Beginnings - Fragments of a weathered scroll

Novak

The conversation with the Illuminator was quite eye-opening. It was a relief to hear that Leannah was still okay, at least for now. It wasn't clear what sort of game that Iva’Krorh was playing with her, but it looked like the three of them wouldn't be able to do anything for her. Leannah would have to get through it on her own.

As for the stolen crystal, the Illuminator seemed to know nothing about the theft. He was able to read Novak like an open book, but knew nothing about the theft in his own temple, as if there was a blind spot within his mind. As unsettling as this god was, he couldn't help but feel a bit of sympathy for Iva’Krorh. Novak had chosen to give up his memories and even if he couldn't remember why he'd do such a thing, even though the gods themselves seemed to think it was a questionable move, he could accept that it was his decision. To have memories stolen away, however, to be unable to know who took them, it was something he didn't wish on anyone.

Once Iva’Krorh was done answering questions, he demanded that they hand Lazhira over. Even though she had nothing to do with the theft of the crystal herself, the Illuminator seemed convinced that Lazhira intended to, and would still do so if she had the chance. And after all of the disturbing things Novak had seen down here, he definitely didn't want Lazhira to fall into this person's hands.

"Now hold on,..." Novak blurted out, before catching himself. To directly say "no" to a god was a good way to bring disaster upon oneself, but perhaps the Illuminator could be reasoned with with good enough reasoning. "...we'll need her to find the crystal. You said you didn't know anything about the thieves, right? If Lazhira was planning to steal it herself, I'll bet she knows why someone would want it, what they'd do with it, and maybe she knows who beat her to the theft. If we want to get the crystal back, we'll need her help." Novak didn't actually know what Lazhira knew for sure, and he knew the Illuminator knew that Novak didn't know. But Iva’Krorh would also know that Novak wasn't trying to deceive him, and genuinely believed what he said. Or perhaps Novak was just as much of a fool as Narkissa and the Illuminator thought.

"You...err...do know these things, right, Lazhira?" Novak asked his companion nervously. "Please, this is not a time to be evasive."

@Rune_Alchemist@Click This

Dungeon Clearer! A Fantasy Adventurer RP

Léon Reverdin

Léon turned his head the moment Nuri described the second task, only barely resisting the urge to spit out his drink. As a cleric of Mayon, this news was very exciting, and he immediately knew that he wanted into the job. The chance to take part in uncovering a monastery lost since the time of Orodrunn was a very rare opportunity, and he'd be a fool to miss out on this.

I'd better get into the group before they can find another Cup for the mission...

The cleric got up from the barstool and made his way to the boisterous Reonite paladin advertising the quest. By the time he had reached her, several other adventurers- a male Ingvarr, a female Hundi, and a fairy- had already volunteered for the job. That'd make at least three Swords and one Coin. Fortunately, they still seemed to lack a Cup, and Léon ought to fit that bill. He knew a little about Nuri, the paladin giving the quest- she was a devotee of Reon, came from the south, and had an eagle companion. Personality-wise, she was outgoing, boisterous, and adventurous- everything Léon wasn't.

"Pardon me, Reonite sister, but it looks like you still need a Cup," he spoke up once he reached the paladin. "Léon Reverdin, cleric of Mayon, one of the Keepers of the Shrine of the Pierced Skull, and 5 of Cups. I'd like to join your group. I know I'm not exactly...tall," he admitted, looking up at the slightly-taller paladin, "But we shrine keepers know a thing or two about carrying heavy objects and properly handling relics." Léon knew that his normal appearance was quite unimposing, to the point that he had been mistaken for a guild customer more than once, but almost every adventuring group needed a healer.

@Zoey Boey

The Epic of Beginnings - Fragments of a weathered scroll

Novak

Upon getting a closer look at the inhabitant of the room, Novak eased up slightly. On one hand, it was an old woman dancing with what looked like a bunch of body parts stitched together into a dummy, in the sealed sublevel of an abandoned temple. On the other hand, she didn't react with hostility as they approached, and that alone made it seem like things were going better than he expected. And the woman's eyes...they were silver. Novak momentarily touched his face, assuring himself that he was not wearing the mask, that the silver color of the woman's eyes were not merely an effect of the mask's insight. What would I see, I wonder, if I were to look upon her with the mask on?

Before he could come to a decision, the woman introduced herself- or rather- himself- as Iva'Krorh, Illuminator. The very god whom this temple was dedicated to the worship of. This in itself was a rather alarming revelation- assuming this stranger was telling the truth, they were in the presence of a literal god. Lazhira appeared to be quite concerned about his revelation, pulling closer to Narkissa and refusing to converse when the stranger addressed her.

Curious...so Lazhira isn't one of the thieves that stole the crystal. This Illuminator seems to think she intended to, but the phantoms that I saw...they must have been someone else.

So far this stranger's knowledge seemed to fit their claim of being a god, but nothing that compared their analysis of Novak. When the Illuminator addressed Novak's amnesia- and acknowledged that it was by choice- there was no doubt in Novak's mind that this person standing before them was indeed a god. The fact that this god was calling him a fool, or that Narkissa openly concurred- seemed inconsequential compared to the realization that within a day of arriving on this world, Novak had already found himself face-to-face with a god. And that god didn't seem to think very highly of him.

Novak wisely chose not to rebuke the Illuminator's quip about him being foolish. Aside from the fact that angering a god could end very, very badly, he did not want to enlighten Narkissa and Lazhira to the full context of what Iva'Krorh meant about Novak's head being empty. If others knew he had given up his memories, and struggled to recall whatever was left behind without some sort of external stimulus, they might seek to manipulate him. Better to let them assume that the Illuminator was simply accusing Novak of being conventionally vacuous.

There were many questions he had. Narkissa had taken the initiative to ask about Leannah, so Novak opted to ask about questions to a topic that was clearly of interest to the Illuminator.

"If I may, Illuminator," Novak asked, unsure how to properly address this god, "You're the one showing me the things with the mask, right? The crystal you showed me, whispered about to me...what exactly is it? Who stole it? Why did they steal it?" Novak has so many more questions- why was this temple abandoned, why was a god dancing with a macabre dummy at the bottom of an empty temple, just what was the deal with Lazhira- but pestering a god with unwanted questions on topics whom they had not expressed interest in was a good way to get on their bad side.

@Rune_Alchemist@Click This

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Fantasy Knight RP

Fleuri Jodeau

The name Alette the Shark didn't ring any bells for Fleuri. Truth be told, he hadn't paid any attention to mercenary companies since the War of the Red Flag ended. Fortunately, the other knights in the group were not nearly as ignorant of such matters. Gerard, particularly, seemed to ease up at the mention of Alette, and if anyone here knew whether or not whether a soldier of fortune was the real deal, it'd be him. Fleuri couldn't yet be sure if the girl's story was to be believed, but he'd give her the benefit of a doubt for now.

I have to admit, her story makes more sense than this unexplained "come here and help the fort" message that the now-deceased messenger had sent. Many of the knights had suspected something was amiss before they got here, and this mercenary's story- that the fort's occupants had been killed and replaced by imposters- would explain the suspicious circumstances of the message.

With tensions eased up a bit, Fleuri dismounted so he could help investigate things more closely. The first thing he did was pick up his lance, drive it into the ground like a massive stake, and tie his horse to it as an impromptu hitching post. It wouldn't stop the powerful charger from pulling free if it was sufficiently motivated, but Fleuri just needed it to not wander off while they investigated the fort. By the time he was ready, however, Gerard had already made a key discovery. The corpses- including the one whom they had witnessed Alette kill- bore the mark of mercenaries whom Gerard recognized. His word is good enough for me. If Gerard thinks Alette is telling the truth, I believe her too.

With some of the knights investigating the corpses lying about the courtyard, and others interrogating Alette, Fleuri decided to heed the mercenary girl's suggestion and head inside. According to her, things were even worse inside, and it was where they'd find answers to what was really going on. Fleuri also figured it was where the rest of Alette's group would be found, and if so, it might be worth asking them about this mess.

"Captain, I'll head inside and see what I can find," he announced. Fleuri took off his helmet and stepped into the interior of the fort, mentally preparing himself whatever gruesome scene awaited him within.

@VitaVitaAR

Dungeon Clearer! A Fantasy Adventurer RP

Léon Reverdin

It appears that it will be a busy day for the Guild.

A young man stepped through the door, carrying a small basket with a few pieces of fruit and bottle of water. The first thing he noticed when he entered was the crowding around the job board, and the commotion coming from it. It looked like the jobs had just been posted, and there were more than usual. Instead of joining the bustling crowd in hopes of snagging a job, however, he sat down at one of the tavern tables next to a Hundi couple conversing in Ithillane. He couldn't understand it, and saw no need to pry.

Léon avoided making eye contact with the bartender. He didn't want to get dragged into a conversation about how he had not bought food from the guild tavern, and how he opted for simple water rather than one of the bar's drinks. He certainly meant no offense, it was just that as a Mayonite, he held a certain reverence for pure water and as a cleric, he preferred not to drink beverages that could muddy his mind.

He saw no need to get involved with the job boards. He wasn't a loner, but he didn't like pushing his way through crowds, and saw no point in doing so. Unless the people rushing to get the jobs intended to do them solo- a very dangerous endeavor- they'd need to gather a team. While the exact compositions of teams varied from job to job, his role as a Cup- someone whose job it was to use magic to keep people alive- was always welcome, and often indispensable. Once the jobs were divvied up and the people were looking to put their groups together, Léon would step in and volunteer himself. Until then, he'd just focus on enjoying his meal.

Dungeon Clearer! A Fantasy Adventurer RP

Mayonite Cleric

Name: Léon Reverdin

Age: 20

Gender: Male

Race: Human

Rank: 5 of Cups

Appearance: His normal appearance standing at 5'9", is more akin to that of a young Mayonite seminarian or scholar, rather than a hammer-toting cleric. When fully garbed in the attire of a shrine keeper, he seems like a different person.

Personality:
Having spent much of his life studying with the Mayonite church, Léon is personally familiar with hardship but not tragedy. He comes off as trusting and idealistic, but is not oblivious to the evils of the world, especially those that it is the duty of the Twin Churches to oppose. He isn't particularly adventurous or bold and perhaps is even a little apprehensive about stepping into caverns and dungeons, but it is Mayon's will, thus it is Léon's duty to carry it out even if it's not what he signed up for.

Brief Backstory:

Keepers of the Shrine of the Pierced Skull

The keepers of the Shrine of the Pierced Skull are a small group of of Mayonite clerics in Estival who maintain and guard a remote reliquary honoring Saint Elionne, a saint renowned for her deeds of heroism. When the shrine was first built, acquiring a relic to inspire pilgrims proved difficult because all of Elionne's possessions were in the hands of the Iron Roses, the knightly order that she had founded and led. The clerics were unable to convince the Iron Roses to hand anything over, but they managed to obtain what they felt to be a passable substitute- the skull of Volkstraad, the infamous dragon that Saint Elionne had slain, still bearing the wound from the fatal blow struck by the Starlight Sword. The skull was taken to Estival and placed in the shrine so that pilgrims could look upon the saint's handiwork.

While initially viewed as little more than a consolation prize, the skull became a revered symbol for the shrine and its clerics, and in time they took on a dragon motif in honor of it. Due to the shrine's remote location and the ever-present threat of thieves, bandits, or anyone with a grudge against Elionne, Mayon, or the Iron Roses, the keepers of the shrine adopted a martial tradition, training rigorously with maces and hammers to ensure the safety of pilgrims, the sanctity of the reliquary, and the security of its relic.

Léon was born to a poor but devout family in Estival. When he was a child, his parents took him on a pilgrimage to the Shrine of the Pierced Skull. He was awed not only by the relic itself, but also by the helmeted, hammer-wielding warrior-clerics who stood vigil over the shrine and its contents, and the image stuck in his head for years. His parents were quite pleased with the though of their son joining the clergy, and worked hard to give him the opportunity to do so. Many of his younger years were spent serving as an acolyte for the church, and when he was old enough, he formally became a cleric novice. During his studies, he specifically requested to be assigned to the shrine that had left such an impression on him, despite it being effectively a backwater assignment with little opportunity for upward mobility in the church. After several more years of scrubbing the shrine floors, rigorous martial training, and theological and magical study, he was ordained and granted the arms and vestments of a shrine keeper.

After a brief period of service, Léon was called to perform an unusual duty- the local Mayonite clergy had asked the shrine to spare someone to assist the Estival Adventurer's Guild and as the most junior keeper, he was picked. His duties were to spread the light of Mayon, lend his skills as a cleric to the adventurers, and in the process search the dark corners of the world for evidence of Elionne or any relics connected to her. It sounded like a bit more excitement than he had expected for his station, but he couldn't let Mayon down, so he set out to join the guild.

Equipment:
When adventuring or on duty, Léon wears the protective vestments and helmet of the shrine keepers, and wields a war hammer, their iconic weapon. He also carries a scepter topped with a perched dragon, serving as his spell catalyst, and can double as a light mace in a pinch.

Skills:
As a cleric of Mayon, Léon is trained in the use of magic to aid others. He can close wounds, bestow blessings against various forms of harm, and strengthen them spiritually, mentally, or physically. Additionally, he is versed in Mayonite water magic, able to manipulate water to form protective barriers or allow himself to wade through water without being slowed. In addition to his magical skills, Léon is a capable fighter with his warhammer, able to swing the heavy weapon far more adeptly and deftly than his appearance outside of his keeper attire would suggest. He also has a formal education in history and theology pertaining to the Church of Mayon.

Dungeon Clearer! A Fantasy Adventurer RP

Mayonite Cleric

Name: Léon Reverdin

Age: 20

Gender: Male

Race: Human

Rank: 5 of Cups

Appearance: His normal appearance standing at 5'9", is more akin to that of a young Mayonite seminarian or scholar, rather than a hammer-toting cleric. When fully garbed in the attire of a shrine keeper, he seems like a different person.

Personality:
Having spent much of his life studying with the Mayonite church, Léon is personally familiar with hardship but not tragedy. He comes off as trusting and idealistic, but is not oblivious to the evils of the world, especially those that it is the duty of the Twin Churches to oppose. He isn't particularly adventurous or bold and perhaps is even a little apprehensive about stepping into caverns and dungeons, but it is Mayon's will, thus it is Léon's duty to carry it out even if it's not what he signed up for.

Brief Backstory:

Keepers of the Shrine of the Pierced Skull

The keepers of the Shrine of the Pierced Skull are a small group of of Mayonite clerics in Estival who maintain and guard a remote reliquary honoring Saint Elionne, a saint renowned for her deeds of heroism. When the shrine was first built, acquiring a relic to inspire pilgrims proved difficult because all of Elionne's possessions were in the hands of the Iron Roses, the knightly order that she had founded and led. The clerics were unable to convince the Iron Roses to hand anything over, but they managed to obtain what they felt to be a passable substitute- the skull of Volkstraad, the infamous dragon that Saint Elionne had slain, still bearing the wound from the fatal blow struck by the Starlight Sword. The skull was taken to Estival and placed in the shrine so that pilgrims could look upon the saint's handiwork.

While initially viewed as little more than a consolation prize, the skull became a revered symbol for the shrine and its clerics, and in time they took on a dragon motif in honor of it. Due to the shrine's remote location and the ever-present threat of thieves, bandits, or anyone with a grudge against Elionne, Mayon, or the Iron Roses, the keepers of the shrine adopted a martial tradition, training rigorously with maces and hammers to ensure the safety of pilgrims, the sanctity of the reliquary, and the security of its relic.

Léon was born to a poor but devout family in Estival. When he was a child, his parents took him on a pilgrimage to the Shrine of the Pierced Skull. He was awed not only by the relic itself, but also by the helmeted, hammer-wielding warrior-clerics who stood vigil over the shrine and its contents, and the image stuck in his head for years. His parents were quite pleased with the though of their son joining the clergy, and worked hard to give him the opportunity to do so. Many of his younger years were spent serving as an acolyte for the church, and when he was old enough, he formally became a cleric novice. During his studies, he specifically requested to be assigned to the shrine that had left such an impression on him, despite it being effectively a backwater assignment with little opportunity for upward mobility in the church. After several more years of scrubbing the shrine floors, rigorous martial training, and theological and magical study, he was ordained and granted the arms and vestments of a shrine keeper.

After a brief period of service, Léon was called to perform an unusual duty- the local Mayonite clergy had asked the shrine to spare someone to assist the Estival Adventurer's Guild and as the most junior keeper, he was picked. His duties were to spread the light of Mayon, lend his skills as a cleric to the adventurers, and in the process search the dark corners of the world for evidence of Elionne or any relics connected to her. It sounded like a bit more excitement than he had expected for his station, but he couldn't let Mayon down, so he set out to join the guild.

Equipment:
When adventuring or on duty, Léon wears the protective vestments and helmet of the shrine keepers, and wields a war hammer, their iconic weapon. He also carries a scepter topped with a perched dragon, serving as his spell catalyst, and can double as a light mace in a pinch.

Skills:
As a cleric of Mayon, Léon is trained in the use of magic to aid others. He can close wounds, bestow blessings against various forms of harm, and strengthen them spiritually, mentally, or physically. Additionally, he is versed in Mayonite water magic, able to manipulate water to form protective barriers or allow himself to wade through water without being slowed. In addition to his magical skills, Léon is a capable fighter with his warhammer, able to swing the heavy weapon far more adeptly and deftly than his appearance outside of his keeper attire would suggest. He also has a formal education in history and theology pertaining to the Church of Mayon.

Dungeon Clearer: A Fantasy Adventurer RPer Interest check

Mayonite Cleric

Name: Léon Reverdin

Age: 20

Gender: Male

Race: Human

Rank: 5 of Cups

Appearance: His normal appearance standing at 5'9", is more akin to that of a young Mayonite seminarian or scholar, rather than a hammer-toting cleric. When fully garbed in the attire of a shrine keeper, he seems like a different person.

Personality:
Having spent much of his life studying with the Mayonite church, Léon is personally familiar with hardship but not tragedy. He comes off as trusting and idealistic, but is not oblivious to the evils of the world, especially those that it is the duty of the Twin Churches to oppose. He isn't particularly adventurous or bold and perhaps is even a little apprehensive about stepping into caverns and dungeons, but it is Mayon's will, thus it is Léon's duty to carry it out even if it's not what he signed up for.

Brief Backstory:

Keepers of the Shrine of the Pierced Skull

The keepers of the Shrine of the Pierced Skull are a small group of of Mayonite clerics in Estival who maintain and guard a remote reliquary honoring Saint Elionne, a saint renowned for her deeds of heroism. When the shrine was first built, acquiring a relic to inspire pilgrims proved difficult because all of Elionne's possessions were in the hands of the Iron Roses, the knightly order that she had founded and led. The clerics were unable to convince the Iron Roses to hand anything over, but they managed to obtain what they felt to be a passable substitute- the skull of Volkstraad, the dragon that Saint Elionne had slain, still bearing the piercing from the fatal blow struck by the Starlight Sword. The skull was taken to Estival and placed in the shrine so that pilgrims could look upon the saint's handiwork.

While initially viewed as little more than a consolation prize, the skull became a revered symbol for the shrine and its clerics, and in time they took on a dragon motif in honor of it. Due to the shrine's remote location and the ever-present threat of thieves, bandits, or anyone with a grudge against Elionne, Mayon, or the Iron Roses, the keepers of the shrine adopted a martial tradition, training rigorously with maces and hammers to ensure the safety of pilgrims, the sanctity of the reliquary, and the security of its relic.

Léon was born to a poor but devout family in Estival. When he was a child, his parents took him on a pilgrimage to the Shrine of the Pierced Skull. He was awed not only by the relic itself, but also by the helmeted, hammer-wielding warrior-clerics who stood vigil over the shrine and its contents, and the image stuck in his head for years. His parents were quite pleased with the though of their son joining the clergy, and worked hard to give him the opportunity to do so. Many of his younger years were spent serving as an acolyte for the church, and when he was old enough, he formally became a cleric novice. During his studies, he specifically requested to be assigned to the shrine that had left such an impression on him, despite it being effectively a backwater assignment with little opportunity for upward mobility in the church. After several more years of scrubbing the shrine floors, rigorous martial training, and theological and magical study, he was ordained and granted the arms and vestments of a shrine keeper.

After a brief period of service, Léon was called to perform an unusual duty- the local Mayonite clergy had asked the shrine to spare someone to assist the Estival Adventurer's Guild and as the most junior keeper, he was picked. His duties were to spread the light of Mayon, lend his skills as a cleric to the adventurers, and in the process search the dark corners of the world for evidence of Elionne or any relics connected to her. It sounded like a bit more excitement than he had expected for his station, but he couldn't let Mayon down, so he set out to join the guild.

Equipment:
When adventuring or on duty, Léon wears the protective vestments and helmet of the shrine keepers, and wields a war hammer, their iconic weapon. He also carries a scepter topped with a perched dragon, serving as his spell catalyst, and can double as a light mace in a pinch.

Skills:
As a cleric of Mayon, Léon is trained in the use of magic to aid others. He can close wounds, bestow blessings against various forms of harm, and strengthen them spiritually, mentally, or physically. Additionally, he is versed in Mayonite water magic, able to manipulate water to form protective barriers or allow himself to wade through water without being slowed. In addition to his magical skills, Léon is a capable fighter with his warhammer, able to swing the heavy weapon far more adeptly and deftly than his appearance outside of his keeper attire would suggest. He also has a formal education in history and theology pertaining to the Church of Mayon.

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Fantasy Knight RP

Sorry to hear about your computer. I hope you don't need to replace the GPU.

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Fantasy Knight RP

Fleuri Jodeau

The entrance of the fort looked normal enough, but upon entering, Fleuri beheld a gruesome sight. There were corpses all over the place, killed in various ways, and all of them appeared to be Thaln soldiers. It seemed that the fort had provided little defense against whatever had attacked, because the south gate had been destroyed and none of the bodies appeared to be those of the attackers. At least there appeared to be one survivor, perhaps they could get some information out of him.

Anything that can knock down a fort's gate and kill a garrison of soldiers without taking casualties could be a serious threat even to us, Fleuri thought to himself as he followed behind the captain. Any hope of getting some context to this attack from the survivor, however, was dashed as the was skewered from behind before the knights could reach him. Anticipating a fight, Fleuri discarded his lance and drew his greatsword, then waited for Fanilly to give the order.

To Fleuri's surprise, however, the assailant did not attack; in fact, she didn't even ready her bloodied spear. She simply and casually claimed to the captain that these weren't Thaln's soldiers and that the bloodbath had already happened before she got here.

She doesn't look like she's expecting a fight. She's either very confident, or she's set us up for an ambush. Fleuri nervously looked up at the walls, half-expecting expecting hidden foes to emerge and start pelting them with arrows from all sides, but he saw nothing of that sort. Just what was going on here, he wondered.

"I don't see anyone on the walls, Captain," he conveyed his observation to Fanilly. "If this was a trap to lure us in here, I think they'd have sprung it by now."

@VitaVitaAR