Cu Chulainn

Cardinal Rift

Road to Harrow's Keep

---

A trio of men, all in some matter of dark apparel, meandered along the quiet dirt road on horseback, nearing Harrow's Keep. Leading the group at the front was a quite a large man, one who looked like a fortress atop the mountain-like steed who adorned him, his darksteel full-plate clattering almost rhythmically along with his horse's footfalls. The smaller man riding in the rear on the left sported a rather pale complexion, his long raven black hair matching his regal servant's outfit, humming what sounded like a catchy pop song from the North. At the right of the pale man was a much larger, masked figure with a fairer complexion. The veiled man wore a set of fine, black clothes only befitting of a Lord, stretching and threatening to tear from the man's ripped physique underneath. While he wore no armor, he wore a rather imposing sword at his hip.

"We've almost reached Harrow's Keep, Lord Balaur! I can see it!" The darksteel colossus at the front beckoned, his voice almost echoing within the confines of his metallic shell. The paler man humming the song smiled at the news, softly clapping as he turned to the well-dressed beefcake riding next to him.

"Ahh, it's almost time, m'lord! I wonder how the other lords will react to your sudden appearance, Lord Matthias..." The servant chuckled, placing a hand over his mouth. The eponymous 'Matthias' only grunted in response, producing a dark gray pocket watch from his coat pocket and keeping note of the current time.

"Don't worry, m'lord... we've still a day to spare. After we've finished finding our rooms and unpacking, I'm sure you have more than enough time to stretch those old legs of yours and enjoy the thrills of the outside world! I'm sure you of all people could use some fresh air, after all~"

Despite the annoyed tones 'Matthias' gave in response, he couldn't help but agree with the jovial butler. It has been so long since he has left the confines of House Balaur, and without his armor as well. The feeling was liberating, and Lord Balaur was tempted to cartwheel the rest of his way to Harrow's Keep, being held back by his own better judgement. Indeed, the Lord had intentionally chosen a rather slow method of making his way to the talks as he had a lot to think about. Lord Balaur had the unfortunate fate of being unfamiliar with all the lords on a personal matter, seeing as his generation seemed to have more or less died out. Times were changing quickly, and Lord Balaur knew that sooner or later, he would have to catch up with them, himself.

"I understand that it's in my best interest that I presented myself as my own heir, but by the Goddess, is the mask really necessary?" 'Matthias' finally broke his silence, his voice imposing and deep. "I'm sure the lords of this generation are unaware of what 'Lord Darius Balaur' looked like in his prime. I could easily pass off as an heir without it."

"Oho, but I'm afraid you are wrong, Lord Matthias. A mask does more than merely hide the wearer's visage. It creates a new identity, a new person for the wearer. A mask not only hides one's face, but creates a new one for others to behold. Take our brave escort, for example. Without his helmet, you would know him as Sir Hiram Bleakford, a down-to-earth nobleman who owns one of the largest ranches in House Balaur. With it on however, all you see is a dutiful Black Knight, a holy soldier of Anais and one of House Balaur's most elite warriors, grim and imposing!"

Lord Balaur grunted once more in response, though he couldn't hide how impressed he was at his servant's words of wisdom even with his mask on.

"Your insight and way with words have proven to me once again the only reason why I keep you as my advisor, Rohmani."

"Are you sure it's also not because of the mask you have me wear?" Rohmani quipped back with an almost sinister tone, his innocent smile doing its best at hiding whatever darker implications he made. Lord Balaur replied only in silence as the trio began to behold the impressive Harrow's Tower. Rohmani stared at awe, while Lord Balaur looked on with a sense of pride.

"The first Lord of House Balaur had the Stygian Spire constructed based off of this very tower. He had it built in one of the highest points of the land, so that he may be closest to Anais. How fitting it must be for history to be made here..."

The three representatives of House Balaur continued onward, closing in on the gates of Harrow's Keep.

Fate/Advent of Reckoning

Actually might be interested in Lancer. Willing to trade my Saber slot for whoever was going to go for Lancer since the Saber I had in mind might fit the Lancer class more.

★ Soul Eater : The Kishin Hunt ★

Friend of mine bribed me to partner up with them. Is this still open?

Fate/Advent of Reckoning

I've got a Saber in mind.

Cardinal Rift

The Black Tyrant

ℂardinal ℝift

---

---

ℙersonal 𝕀nformation

Name: Darius Iosif Balaur
House: Lord of House Balaur
Age: Supposed to be in his 80s?
Race: Human (Mageborn)
Gender: Male
Appearance: 6'6, Herculean physique. Has always been seen at least partially adorned in magically-enhanced darksteel plate armor. Hasn't physically been seen in 50 years by all but his most closest confidants. Those who have seen him agree that he may look quite young for his age.

---

𝕊o 𝕆n & 𝕊o 𝔽orth

Reputation: Because he has been secluded for so long, most of what people know of Darius is mere rumors and speculations. To his fellow lords, he was described as a stereotypical Balauric lord, an honor-bound knight dutiful to further improve upon his family's work and a fervent follower of Anaism. To the citizens of Balaur, and more specifically to the serfs who work the mines and the mills, Darius is nothing but a cold and distant despot, cruelly ruling from an unreachable throne. Of course, more sinister rumors exist about the mysterious lord of House Balaur and what he may be doing within his Stygian Spire, but none have really held any ground.
Alignment: Mages. Like his forefathers, Darius has always worked towards progressing the goals and interest of the Southern powers.
Skills: What Darius lacked in interpersonal skills, he had in both might and intellect. Physically, he was said to be among the greatest knights that Balaur has produced, having both the natural talent and raw physical prowess of an ideal warrior. While one would assume Darius's combat skills have deteriorated during the years of his isolation, word has gone out that various rebellions were thwarted by the mysterious lord's hands alone. Darius is also quite intelligent, having spent much of his time in seclusion researching everything that is known about magic, among other things. While he isn't the most charismatic of lords, Darius still had the leadership skills necessary to bring Balaur to an age of prosperity, no matter how bleak it may seem. While his strength and tactical acumen are both nothing to scoff it, it could be said that Darius's greatest strength is his conviction.

Backstory:

Commitment: The Past

As the sole heir of House Balaur, many things were expected of the young Darius Iosif. Because of his apparent lack of magical talent, Darius worked hard to earn the approval his father, Lord Dragomir Balaur. Throughout much of his early life, Darius served his family to his upmost ability, ever being the dutiful son. However, fate took a turn for the worst when Dragomir succumbed to his sickness. On his deathbed, Dragomir entrusted his son with one duty: to bring Balaur into a new golden age, one that Dragomir believed only Darius could achieve.

When Darius took control of House Balaur, he quickly put into place a number of controversial policies in order to increase the house's production rate. Such policies included allowing unwanted second-class citizens- such as beastmen and criminals from other houses- to be placed in work camps with the rest of the peasants within the Balaur domain and creating a divide between the upper and lower class citizens of the region. While they indeed lead to an increase in production, Darius's citizens were left unhappy with these new policies. To the downtrodden of Balaur, it was clear that their line had to end, with their already squalid way of life on the line... so they had started a rebellion. They had killed their Lord.

Sadly, in this world, nothing can be ensured.

Tyranny: The Present

By some miracle, Darius Iosif Balaur survived the attempt at his life. Despite the countless spears that pierced through the lord's flesh, he endured to live another day. Stories were told of how quickly the rebellion was thwarted, with legions of rebels being decimated all at once with an unending torrent of steel spikes sprouting from the ground. It was as if Darius himself had commanded the land that belonged to him, to the Balaur, to slay all threats to his rule. Once that was done, Darius had sequestered himself within the Stygian Spire, a tower located within the highest peak of the mountains of Balaur, where he could watch the entirety of his land, and lead from the high heavens.

For fifty years, House Balaur had begun to prosper once more. A permanent rift was formed between the knights who made up Balaur's vassals and branch families, and the peasants who worked the mines and steel mills. Under the doctrines of Anais and the word of the Contemporary, those who made up the lower class would pay for their dissent through their own blood, sweat, and tears. Bodies of would-be revolutionaries would be pierced by spires of blackened iron, left to bleed out as a reminder that their blood, and everyone else's, belonged to the Balaur. The Serpent's Fangs were formed, a secret police force made to discourage any future defiance. Darksteel was produced at its highest. For fifty years, House Balaur finally reached its golden age, built off the backs of its people.

Miscellaneous: Darius's longsword, Vasilisc, is forged with the highest grade of darksteel his House could produce and is worn at his hip. Darius also carries a darksteel scepter, a family heirloom that serves as a symbol of Balauric rule.

---

𝕄agic

Gate: Metal. Capable of creating a high-grade steel alloy nearly matching the strength of darksteel.
Flow: Below average, compensated via the creation of spears and spikes.
Favour: High.
Field: Abnormally high, reaching a few kilometers.

---

ℍouse 𝕀nfo

Name: Balaur
Domain: Magic-Imbued Metal, Black Knights.
Location: Place 3.
Members:

• Rohmani Strigoi, Balaur Councillor, Public Face, Darius's Personal Physician...?
• Zmei Frumos, Commandant of the Black Knights.
• "Baubau", Head of the Serpent's Fangs

History: House Balaur was originally a more militant branch family of House Croan. Made up of zealous crusaders and knights, they sought off to conquer the territories southwest of Croan in the name of Anais and Ishtar. The land was full of petty warlords, who were all easily brought low by Balaur's powerful metal-based magic. Those who bent the knee were absorbed into Balaur as its own branch families, while those who didn't were forced into indentured servitude. While the territories were initially a part of Croan's borders, House Balaur earned ownership of the lands after they discovered a method of imbuing refined metals with magic.
Other Information: Blackened steel, House Balaur's main export, is a valuable form of steel forged and refined through Balaur's secret smithing techniques. The magic imbued within the steel causes it to take a darker hue. The darker the steel, the stronger and heavier the metal. The strongest blackened steel produced is aptly referred to as darksteel, and it is seen only adorned by Balaur's upper class. Notably, the Black Knights of Balaur are its most infamous users. Bred and trained to have enough strength to wear a full suit of darksteel plate, Black Knights served Croania historically as its elite shock troops, formed with the intention of rivaling the power-suited soldiers of Kothlin. Most Black Knight families are made up of House Balaur's branch families.

Cardinal Rift

The Black Tyrant

ℂardinal ℝift

---

---

ℙersonal 𝕀nformation

Name: Darius Iosif Balaur
House: Lord of House Balaur
Age: Supposed to be in his 80s?
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Appearance: 6'6, Herculean physique. Has always been seen at least partially adorned in magically-enhanced darksteel plate armor. Hasn't physically been seen in 50 years by all but his most closest confidants. Those who have seen him agree that he may look quite young for his age.

---

𝕊o 𝕆n & 𝕊o 𝔽orth

Reputation: Because he has been secluded for so long, most of what people know of Darius is mere rumors and speculations. To his fellow lords, he was described as a stereotypical Balauric lord, an honor-bound knight dutiful to further improve upon his family's work and a fervent follower of Anaism. To the citizens of Balaur, and more specifically to the serfs who work the mines and the mills, Darius is nothing but a cold and distant despot, cruelly ruling from an unreachable throne. Of course, more sinister rumors exist about the mysterious lord of House Balaur and what he may be doing within his Stygian Spire, but none have really held any ground.
Alignment: Pro-magic. Like his forefathers, Darius has always worked towards progressing the goals and interest of the Southern powers. House Balaur also prides itself in its magically-forged metals standing far above whatever the Aterians could produce.
Skills: What Darius lacked in interpersonal skills, he had in both might and intellect. Physically, he was said to be among the greatest knights that Balaur has produced, having both the natural talent and raw physical prowess of an ideal warrior. While one would assume Darius's combat skills have deteriorated during the years of his isolation, word has gone out that various rebellions were thwarted by the mysterious lord's hands alone. Darius is also quite intelligent, having spent much of his time in seclusion researching everything that is known about magic, among other things. While he isn't the most charismatic of lords, Darius still had the leadership skills necessary to bring Balaur to an age of prosperity, no matter how bleak it may seem. While his strength and tactical acumen are both nothing to scoff it, it could be said that Darius's greatest strength is his conviction.

Backstory:

Commitment: The Past

As the sole heir of House Balaur, many things were expected of the young Darius Iosif. Because of his apparent lack of magical talent, Darius worked hard to earn the approval his father, Lord Dragomir Balaur. Throughout much of his early life, Darius served his family to his upmost ability, ever being the dutiful son. However, fate took a turn for the worst when Dragomir succumbed to his sickness. On his deathbed, Dragomir entrusted his son with one duty: to bring Balaur into a new golden age, one that Dragomir believed only Darius could achieve.

When Darius took control of House Balaur, he quickly put into place a number of controversial policies in order to increase the house's production rate. Such policies included allowing unwanted second-class citizens- such as beastmen and criminals from other houses- to be placed in work camps with the rest of the peasants within the Balaur domain and creating a divide between the upper and lower class citizens of the region. While they indeed lead to an increase in production, Darius's citizens were left unhappy with these new policies. To the downtrodden of Balaur, it was clear that their line had to end, with their already squalid way of life on the line... so they had started a rebellion. They had killed their Lord.

Sadly, in this world, nothing can be ensured.

Tyranny: The Present

By some miracle, Darius Iosif Balaur survived the attempt at his life. Despite the various spears that pierced the lord's flesh, he endured to live another day. Stories were told of how quickly the rebellion was thwarted, with legions of rebels being decimated all at once with an unending torrent of steel spikes sprouting from the ground. It was as if Darius himself had commanded the land that belonged to him, to the Balaur, to slay all threats to his rule. Once that was done, Darius had sequestered himself within the Stygian Spire, a tower located within the highest peak of the mountains of Balaur, where he could watch the entirety of his land, and lead from the high heavens.

For fifty years, House Balaur had begun to prosper once more. A permanent rift was formed between the knights who made up Balaur's vassals and branch families, and the peasants who worked the mines and steel mills. Under the doctrines of Anais and the word of the Contemporary, those who made up the lower class would pay for their dissent through their own blood, sweat, and tears. Bodies of would-be revolutionaries would be pierced by spires of blackened iron, left to bleed out as a reminder that their blood, and everyone else's, belonged to the Balaur. The Serpent's Fangs were formed, a secret police force made to discourage any future defiance. Darksteel was produced at its highest. For fifty years, House Balaur finally reached its golden age, built off the backs of its people.

Miscellaneous: Darius's longsword, Vasilisc, is forged with the highest grade of darksteel his House could produce and is worn at his hip. Darius also carries a darksteel scepter, a family heirloom that serves as a symbol of Balauric rule.

---

𝕄agic

Gate: Metal. Capable of creating a high-grade steel alloy nearly matching the strength of darksteel.
Flow: Below average, compensated via the creation of spears and spikes.
Favour: High.
Field: Abnormally high, reaching a few kilometers.

---

ℍouse 𝕀nfo

Name: Balaur
Domain: Magic-Imbued Metal, Black Knights.
Location: Place 3.
Members:

• Rohmani Strigoi, Balaur Councillor, Public Face, Darius's Personal Physician...?
• Zmei Frumos, Commandant of the Black Knights.
• "Baubau", Head of the Serpent's Fangs

History: House Balaur was originally a more militant branch family of House Croan. Made up of zealous crusaders and knights, they sought off to conquer the territories southwest of Croan in the name of Anais and Ishtar. The land was full of petty warlords, who were all easily brought low by Balaur's powerful metal-based magic. Those who bent the knee were absorbed into Balaur as its own branch families, while those who didn't were forced into indentured servitude. While the territories were initially a part of Croan's borders, House Balaur earned ownership of the lands after they discovered a method of imbuing refined metals with magic.
Other Information: Blackened steel, House Balaur's main export, is a valuable form of steel forged and refined through Balaur's secret smithing techniques. The magic imbued within the steel causes it to take a darker hue. The darker the steel, the stronger and heavier the metal. The strongest blackened steel produced is aptly referred to as darksteel, and it is seen only adorned by Balaur's upper class. Notably, the Black Knights of Balaur are its most infamous users. Bred and trained to have enough strength to wear a full suit of darksteel plate, Black Knights served Croania historically as its elite shock troops, formed with the intention of rivaling the power-suited soldiers of Kothlin. Most Black Knight families are made up of House Balaur's branch families.

Cardinal Rift - A Fantasy/Sci-fi adventure! [STILL RECRUITING]

ok zoomer

Reborn: Coming of Calamity

---

"Carrying a spear, huh? Emmett Tattle sounds about right..." Cinder stroked his chin as he thought about the figure that brought them into the world. Despite the god, their mission must be important if what happened to be a god of this world assigned them new bodies to accomplish this goal. And based on the memories that continue to flood back into Cinder's head, it seems that it was more than just bodies that were granted to himself and his newfound allies. Grasping a handful of wheat from his satchel, Cinder began to think of some of the new capabilities he was granted in this form. He wondered if everyone else had to ask permission to use them, however...

"Oh, going to the estate sounds fine! I was wondering if there were any friendly animals around for me to... borrow, for a moment. I need to try something out, first!"

Cinder walked along with the rest, humming the tune of a popular (and annoying, to a few) pop song from a different world. Strange as it may be, Cinder had hoped that they would run into something like a bear on the way, and if not, if he could find one nearby. Animals had always interested the boy, his thoughts currently occupied with fond memories of going to the zoo. For some reason, he couldn't help but think about running into just about any wild animal, with a nagging voice somewhere in the boy's head telling him to chase 'em all.

"... Wait, do we need food? Oh, I think I can make that! I think I can even make it taste better if anyone else knows how to prepare it..."

✲ Thalam Online ✲

Interactions: NPCs Ukkonen yawned as he made his way into town, spinning his newly attained poison daggers in his hands. Once he reached the town's gates however, he decided it would be best to put away his weapons. He's heard that the NPCs of this game were quite advanced, but he did not want to test the patience of the guards, especially when he's trying his best to save his money at the moment. As he entered the town, he was impressed with how lively it seemed, although it did not surprise him too much. The combat was quite advanced after all. As much as he wanted to try interacting with one of these NPCs, Ukkonen knew turning his quest in as soon as possible and getting the reward was paramount, both so that he could progress through this game faster and so he could have more coins to buy better gear. To him, it was important to stay as ahead as possible especially if he wished to top the PvP rankings at some point. Ukkonen did his best to avoid any other NPCs as he searched for this "Tu Tauri Al" so that he could turn his slime jellies in as soon as possible. Although at the same time, it didn't hurt to keep an ear out for any information he would overhear regarding a "Thief" class. According to that one chat mod, Ukkonen had completed a prerequisite needed to take on a new class, and any potential class advancements were more than welcome to the ambitious rogue...

Online ukk0nen Class: Rogue Level: 3 108//103//111 Stats & Info Body: 6 (+2) Spirit: 3 Tech: 8 (+3) Equipment: >Poison Dagger x2 >Green Bandana Inventory: >5 Slime Jelly >7 Copper >Basic Dagger x2

✲ Thalam Online ✲

@aviaire@Yankee@Versa@RC3@stone The first slime was a piece of cake! It took too long, and it clearly wasn't the most optimal enemy to attack, but to Ukkonen it was both a life lesson as well as a nice way to level up. In any case, he was sure that the next few slimes would have been a piece of cake with this new party of his! All they had to do was aim for the lower-leveled ones and head back to town, and this tutorial quest would be over in no time... If only they hadn't invited more people to tag along. What was worse is that they were both Rangers who had trouble bursting down a Blue Slime together. All Ukkonen wanted to do was kill the lower-leveled ones so he could level up faster, but the goodwill that came from the leader of his party lead the team to inviting more people. What Ukkonen thought was his three-role dream team turned out to be a much more sluggish experience. The time they were taking against this one blue slime was enough for the Rogue to briefly join another party and finesse one of the newer players for their weapons before joining his original party once more, only to find them still fighting the same slime. Sighing in irritation, Ukkonen acted in muscle memory, positioning himself behind the slime once more, and delivering his usual combo. What surprised him however was how much damage he was dealing with just one of these Poison Daggers. The sight of this damage gave Ukkonen a sudden realization: If he could deal this much damage in such a short amount of time on his own, then dealing with the lower-leveled slimes solo would be easy! He did not have to be held back by the expectations of his party anymore. All he needed was to upgrade his gear and continue grinding these slimes until he was at a level where he could be comfortable enough in soloing the rest of this starter zone... "You all are just slowing me down! I'll see you guys later, when I get your stupid hats!" And with that, Ukkonen left his party in search of greener pastures... or greener slimes.

Online ukk0nen Class: Rogue Level: 2 107//103//108 Stats & Info Body: 6 (+1) Spirit: 3 Tech: 7 (+1) Equipment: >Basic Dagger x2 >Poison Dagger